Justia Public Benefits Opinion Summaries

The Fourth Circuit vacated the district court's judgment affirming the denial of disability benefits to plaintiff. The court agreed with plaintiff and held that the ALJ improperly assessed the medical opinion evidence and disregarded the treating physician rule in rendering his residual functioning capacity (RFC) determination and finding that plaintiff could persist through an eight-hour workday. Accordingly, the court remanded for further proceedings. View "Brown v. Commissioner Social Security Administration" on Justia Law

Plaintiff appealed the denial of her application for disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income. The Fourth Circuit held that the ALJ did not give appropriate weight to the opinions of plaintiff's treating physicians and failed to adequately explain his decision to deny her benefits. Accordingly, the court vacated and remanded for further proceedings. View "Lewis v. Berryhill" on Justia Law