Facts

Plaintiff Romika Pahalad applied for disability insurance benefits and supplemental social security income under the social security act. Pahalad's application was denied initially and on reconsideration. Pahalad then requested a hearing before an administrative law judge, who determined that Pahalad suffered from the severe impairments of osteoarthritis of the knees, morbid obesity, opioid dependence, degenerative disc disease, and affective disorders with diagnoses including depression. Pahalad filed for judicial review and moved for summary judgment. Defendant cross-motioned for summary judgment.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Plaintiff contended that defendant inappropriately disregarded the medical opinions of plaintiff's treating physician, examining doctors, and her treating physician's assistant. Additionally, plaintiff claimed that defendant inappropriately rejected her testimony and failed to support every step of defendant's findings in plaintiff's residual functional capacity assessment with substantial evidence.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: Defendant denied the allegations and contended that she gave the appropriate amount of weight to the medical testimony provided.

Result

The court entered judgment granting plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and denying defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment. The court also remanded the case for further proceedings on the grounds that defendant did not give the appropriate amount of weight to the medical opinions provided nor did defendant adequately assess plaintiff's testimony regarding her symptoms, nor plaintiff's RFC.