Christine Ratliff-Cueto v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner, Social Security Administration

Summary

The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas reviewed the Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of Christine Ratliff-Cueto’s application for Disability Insurance Benefits. The court held that the Administrative Law Judge’s residual functional capacity determination and findings regarding the medical equivalence of impairments were supported by substantial evidence. The court affirmed the denial of benefits.

Holdings

1. The ALJ's residual functional capacity determination and denial of benefits were supported by substantial evidence and therefore had to be affirmed.
2. Plaintiff failed to establish medical equivalence because she did not identify a specific listing or provide a clear explanation and supporting evidence showing that her impairments equaled a listing.

Questions Presented

1. Whether substantial evidence supported the ALJ's residual functional capacity determination.
2. Whether the ALJ erred by failing to find that Plaintiff's combination of impairments medically equaled a listed impairment.

Disposition

affirmed