Facts

Kristina Oglesby-Watts applied for disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income, which were denied both initially and on reconsideration. Oglesby-Watts then requested a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. The ALJ issued a finding that Huerta was not disabled based upon her residual functional capacity and denied her applications for benefits. Oglesby-Watts asked the Appeals Council to review the ALJ's decision but they denied her request for review. Oglesby-Watts then brought suit against Nancy Berryhill seeking judicial review of the denial.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Plaintiff contended that the ALJ failed to properly evaluate the medical opinion of her examining physician.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: Defendant argued that the ALJ was not required to discuss her examining physician's opinion because decisions had already been issued based on that report and was thus barred by res judicata.

Result

The court affirmed defendant's decision to deny plaintiff's applications for benefits, finding that the examining physician's opinion had been written during a previous adjudication period and was not significantly probative evidence of plaintiff's current disability.