Record failed to support ALJ’s denial of claimant’s application for Social Security disability benefits based upon claimant’s back and obesity conditions, which, according to claimant, left her in too much pain to work. While ALJ adequately considered claimant's obesity condition and claimant waived most of her arguments regarding whether ALJ could properly rely on opinion of vocational expert who indicated that claimant could perform certain sedentary jobs, remand was required, since ALJ improperly violated Treating Physician Rule by rejecting opinion of claimant’s treating doctor who stated that claimant was unable to sit or stand for any prolonged period of time, and by failing to explain why claimant’s activities were inconsistent with her treating physician’s opinion.
Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Social Security