Stark 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 severe pain associated with her back, neck and leg conditions, where ALJ made faulty credibility assessment of claimant’s testimony regarding her claims of severe pain. While state doctor opined that claimant could do light physical demand activities, including her prior work as yard driver for automobile factory, claimant testified that her pain arising out of her diagnosed radiculopathy and degenerative disc disease was debilitating. Moreover, ALJ failed to consider treating physician’s conclusion that claimant will always have neuropathic leg pain that would account for her pain becoming progressively worse. Fact that claimant was able to perform some household chores or could perform some tasks between long breaks did not correlate to finding that she could manage requirements of fulltime work. ALJ also improperly disregarded claimant’s long, steady work history, which would indicate that claimant was not malingerer.