Sean Patrick McDonald v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security

Summary

The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania reviews the Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of Sean Patrick McDonald’s applications for disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income. The court concludes that the administrative record supports the ALJ’s findings and residual functional capacity assessment, rejects the plaintiff’s arguments concerning mental and physical impairments, denies his motion for summary judgment, and grants judgment for the Commissioner.

Holdings

1. The ALJ's decision denying disability benefits was supported by substantial evidence and complied with applicable legal standards.
2. The ALJ did not err by declining to treat Plaintiff's alleged recurrent carpal tunnel symptoms or vertebral-fracture-related limitations as work-preclusive impairments or include related restrictions in the RFC.
3. The ALJ reasonably evaluated and declined to adopt the more restrictive opinions of Plaintiff's treating psychiatrist.
4. The ALJ's RFC and hypothetical to the vocational expert were sufficient because they included the limitations credibly established by the record.

Questions Presented

1. Whether substantial evidence supported the ALJ's determination that Plaintiff was not disabled under the Social Security Act.
2. Whether the ALJ properly evaluated Plaintiff's alleged carpal tunnel syndrome and vertebral-fracture-related limitations.
3. Whether the ALJ properly evaluated the opinions and testimony of Plaintiff's treating psychiatrist under the applicable medical-opinion regulations.
4. Whether the ALJ properly evaluated Plaintiff's subjective symptoms and formulated the residual functional capacity.
5. Whether the ALJ properly relied on vocational-expert testimony based on a hypothetical reflecting the limitations credibly established by the record.

Disposition

affirmed