Herrmann v. Colvin

Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Social Security
Citation
Case Number: 
No. 13-3624
Decision Date: 
December 4, 2014
Federal District: 
N.D. Ind., Ft. Wayne Div.
Holding: 
Reversed and remanded
Record failed to contain sufficient evidence to support ALJ’s denial of portion of claimant’s application for Supplemental Security Income seeking benefits prior to her 55th birthday, based on claimant’s diagnosis of fibromyalgia and spinal disk disease. Claimant’s treating physicians and three consultative physicians found that claimant had difficulty walking and gripping objects, and record otherwise failed to present sufficient grounds for ALJ to disbelieve opinion of one treating physician, where ALJ relied on said physician’s lack of detailed notes to support his opinion. Ct. further observed that ALJ: (1) failed to consider key medical evidence that supported physician’s opinion that claimant suffered from significant spinal disease that affected her limitations on gait, gripping and ability to rise up from seated position; and (2) failed to estimate number of jobs claimant would be able to perform in nation as whole, as opposed to jobs in claimant's region. Ct. also noted that there was nothing in record to show how vocational expert calculated number of jobs to which he testified.