Ivan L. Martin v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner, Social Security Administration

Summary

The court reviews a Social Security Administration decision denying Ivan L. Martin’s claim for supplemental security income benefits. It concludes that the administrative law judge failed to articulate the persuasiveness of medical opinion evidence as required by 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520c. The court reverses the denial and remands the matter to the Commissioner for further consideration under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

Holdings

1. The ALJ's failure to articulate the persuasiveness assigned to Dr. Joseph Michel's medical opinion violated 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520c and warranted remand.
2. The Commissioner's decision denying benefits was not supported by substantial evidence because the ALJ failed to properly evaluate the medical-opinion evidence.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the ALJ's failure to articulate the persuasiveness of Dr. Joseph Michel's medical opinion complied with the medical-opinion evaluation requirements of 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520c.
2. Whether the Commissioner's denial of SSI benefits was supported by substantial evidence.

Disposition

reversed_and_remanded