United States First Circuit

In a case in which an Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ) decision denied petitioner's claim for disability insurance benefits (DIB) under the Social Security Act, the District Court's judgment, finding that the ALJ erred as a matter of law when he failed to consult a medical expert before reaching this conclusion, is reversed where: 1) the medical evidence was not ambiguous and thus the ALJ did not need to draw inferences as to whether petitioner's onset date preceded the expiration of her insured status; and hence 2) SSR 83-20 did not require the ALJ to consult a medical expert.

Appellate Information

• Published 2016/07/29

Judges

• LIPEZ

Court

• United States First Circuit

Counsel