Record failed to contain sufficient evidence to support ALJ’s denial of claimant’s application for SSI and disability insurance benefits based on claimant’s chronic back and hip problems, as well as her obesity and hypothyroidism. Although ALJ found that claimant was not credible, and that claimant was capable of performing light work while standing/walking for six hours per day, ALJ failed to adequately consider recent report from treating physician, who indicated that claimant had significant hip deformity and had need for total hip replacement. Moreover, ALJ failed to offer good reason for failing to credit treating physician’s opinion and improperly found that claimant’s need for hip replacement would not have affected her ability to stand/walk for 6-hour period, where no medical evidence supported such finding. Also, ALJ failed to properly evaluate claimant’s pain complaints and relied on improper ground (i.e., claimant’s failure to undergo invasive and expensive surgery) as reason to cast doubt on claimant’s credibility.
Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Social Security