Dimmett v. Colvin

Record failed to contain sufficient evidence to support ALJ’s denial of claimant’s application for Social Security disability benefits based on claimant’s asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asbestosis and heel spur. While ALJ could properly find that claimant’s asthma did not meet disabling level under relevant regulations, ALJ failed to consider effect of claimant’s asthma on his COPD and/or discuss how claimant’s low pulmonary function test score affected his residual functional capacity to work. Moreover, while vocational expert found that claimant could perform certain jobs, record showed that: (1) said expert was unaware that claimant could not work in conditions that would expose him to temperature extremes or lung irritants; and (2) expert found that claimant was able to work in said prohibited conditions.