James Lucas v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration

Summary

This Report and Recommendation addresses James Lucas’s appeal under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) from the Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of Disability Insurance Benefits and Supplemental Security Income. The United States Magistrate Judge recommends affirming the Commissioner’s decision, concluding that the ALJ’s residual functional capacity determination and vocational-expert hypothetical were supported by substantial evidence.

Holdings

1. An ALJ is not required to adopt an entire medical opinion, even when the opinion is considered persuasive; the ALJ may accept some portions and reject or omit others when the RFC is otherwise supported by the record.
2. The ALJ's RFC determination was supported by substantial evidence and should be affirmed.
3. The hypothetical question fully set forth the impairments accepted by the ALJ and supported by the record; therefore, the vocational expert's testimony constituted substantial evidence supporting the finding that Plaintiff could perform other work.

Questions Presented

1. Whether substantial evidence supported the ALJ's residual functional capacity determination.
2. Whether the ALJ erred by failing to include every limitation identified by state-agency psychological consultant Dr. Rachel Morrisey despite finding the assessment persuasive.
3. Whether the ALJ's hypothetical question to the vocational expert included all limitations supported by the record.

Disposition

affirmed