Facts

Plaintiff Bernardino Manzano applied for disability insurance benefits and supplemental social security income under the social security act, which was denied initially and on reconsideration. Manzano then requested a hearing before an administrative law judge, who determined he was not disabled. Manzano filed for judicial review and moved for summary judgment. Defendant cross-motioned for summary judgment.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Plaintiff contended that defendant erred when it did not give the appropriate amount of weight to the medical opinions of plaintiffs examining physician, Dr. Manuel Hernandez. Additionally, plaintiff claimed that his residual functional capacity assessment was supported by insufficient evidence, and that defendant improperly discounted plaintiff's testimony.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: Defendant denied all allegations and contended that Manzano suffered from the impairments of congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, gout, osteoarthritis and hallux deformity at the left foot (status post bunionectomy and first metatarsophalangeal fusion), osteoarthritis and hallux deformity at the right foot, and obesity, but was not disabled. Defense contended the ALJ appropriately assessed plaintiff's RFC when he determined that she was not disabled. Additionally, defendant argued that he gave the appropriate amount of weight to the testimony provided.

Result

The court entered judgment granting plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and denying defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment on the grounds that plaintiff's RFC was unsupported by substantial evidence.