Candace Pilgrim o/b/o C.B.C. v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner, Social Security Administration

Summary

The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas reviews the Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of child’s supplemental security income benefits to C.B.C., whose mother brought the action on his behalf. The court concludes that substantial evidence supports the administrative law judge’s findings that C.B.C.’s epilepsy did not meet, medically equal, or functionally equal a listed impairment. The court affirms the Commissioner’s decision and directs entry of judgment.

Holdings

1. The ALJ's decision denying benefits was supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole and was affirmed.
2. C.B.C. did not establish that his epilepsy met Listing 111.02(A) or 111.02(B).
3. A child is functionally equivalent to a listed impairment when the child has marked limitations in two of the six regulatory domains or an extreme limitation in one domain.

Questions Presented

1. Whether substantial evidence supported the ALJ's determination that C.B.C.'s epilepsy did not meet, medically equal, or functionally equal a listed impairment.
2. Whether the ALJ properly evaluated the six domains of functioning used to determine functional equivalence in a child disability claim.
3. Whether the ALJ properly considered C.B.C.'s medical records, education records, and his mother's statements and testimony.

Disposition

affirmed