United States Fourth Circuit

Reversal of Social Security Administration's denial of claim for disability benefits, based on Sickle Cell Disease, is affirmed where the SSA ALJ applied an improper standard to disregard the treating physician's opinion that plaintiff was fully disabled.

Appellate Information

• Argued 12/01/2005
• Decided 07/11/2006
• Published 07/11/2006

Judges

• Before WILKINS, Chief Judge, GREGORY, Circuit Judge, and WALTER D. KELLEY, JR., United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, sitting by designation.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  Catherine Yvonne Hancock, United States Department of Justice, Civil Division, Appellate Staff, Washington, D.C., for Appellant.   Susan Marie O'Malley, Keel, O'Malley, L.L.P., Tarboro, North Carolina, for Appellee.   ON BRIEF:  Peter D. Keisler, Assistant Attorney General, Frank D. Whitney, United States Attorney, Thomas M. Bondy, Civil Division, Appellate Staff, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Appellant.