Salerno v. Commissioner of Social Security

152 F. App'x 208

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Decided: October 25, 2005
• Docket: 04-4549
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

STAPLETON, Circuit Judge:

The District Court granted summary judgment to the Commissioner in this social security disability case. It accurately described the findings of the ALJ as follows:

After reviewing plaintiffs medical records and hearing testimony from plaintiff and a vocational expert, the ALJ concluded that plaintiff is not disabled within the meaning of the Act. The ALJ found that although the medical evidence establishes that plaintiff suffers from the severe impairment of back pain secondary to scoliosis and mild osteoarthritis, that impairment does not meet or equal the criteria of any of the impairments listed at Appendix 1 of 20 C.F.R., Part 404, Subpart P.

The ALJ also found that plaintiff retains the residual functional capacity for the full range of medium work activity. Relying on the testimony of a vocational expert, who classified plaintiffs past relevant work as a waitress and cook as medium unskilled work, the ALJ concluded that plaintiff is capable of performing her past relevant work in light of her age, education, work experience and residual functional capacity. Accordingly, the ALJ determined that plaintiff is not disabled within the meaning of the Act.

App. at A-2. The Appeals Council denied review.

Petitioner’s sole argument on this appeal, as before the District Court, is that the ALJ improperly evaluated the medical evidence in arriving at his residual functional capacity finding. Specifically, she insists that the ALJ erred in giving more weight to an opinion of Dr. Kumar, a non-examining state agency reviewing psychologist, than to the opinions of plaintiffs treating physician, Dr. Catena, and the consultive examiner, Dr. Jew. For essentially the reasons set forth in the thorough opinion of the District Court, we agree that there was no improper evaluation of the medical testimony and that the ALJ’s residual functional capacity finding was supported by substantial evidence.

As the ALJ explained at some length, Dr. Catena’s assessment was inconsistent with the clinical medical evidence of record, including his own prior records. Accordingly, the ALJ was not required to give that assessment controlling weight. Similarly, the restrictions found by Dr. Jew were inconsistent with the medical evidence of record, including the results of his own physical examination of petitioner.

The ALJ found that Dr. Kumar’s assessment was entitled to greater weight because it was more consistent with the objective medical findings. He explained this at some length, pointing to substantial record evidence supporting his opinion.

The judgment of the District Court will be affirmed.