Facts

On March 28, 2016, Teresa M. Hensley applied for disability insurance benefits, alleging an onset date of January 1, 2016, that was later amended to April 25, 2016. Hensley's application was denied initially and upon reconsideration. After Hensley again appealed, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) held a hearing on February 4, 2019, where both plaintiff and a vocational expert testified. The ALJ found that Hensley was not disabled from the onset date through September 30, 2016, her date last insured. Hensley then filed an action requesting judicial review of the Commissioner's final decision.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Plaintiff alleged that she suffered from a bilateral foot fracture, chronic back pain, hypertension, morbid obesity, PTSD, anxiety, depression, agoraphobia, and insomnia from April 25, 2016 onward. Plaintiff contended that the ALJ erred in assessing the severity of her mental impairments and discounting her subjective symptom testimony and that remand was required to allow the ALJ to consider a post-hearing opinion by plaintiff's treating podiatrist. In particular, the ALJ failed to determine if plaintiff's impairments could be expected to produce the symptoms she described, which is the first step in the subjective symptom analysis. Plaintiff also contended that the ALJ erred in concluding that her PTSD, agoraphobia, anxiety, depression and insomnia were non-severe impairments. Finally, Plaintiff maintained that the ALJ's decision was not supported by substantial evidence given the contents of an RFC opinion from her longtime treating podiatrist, Dr. Chaney.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: Defendant denied all contentions.

Result

The court affirmed the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying plaintiff's social security insurance benefits request.