Adaire v. Colvin, No. 14-1116 (7th Cir. 2015)
Annotate this CaseWhen the applicant was 15 years old, “Harrington rods” were inserted into his spine to correct a 57-degree curvature of the spine. He then developed chronic back pains. He also has cognitive difficulties. At age 20 he was determined to be eligible for social security disability benefits, but he later obtained a job at a nonprofit organization, driving disabled clients, helping with cooking and cleaning, and performing clerical tasks. The Social Security Administration determined in 1999 (when the applicant was 32) that he was not disabled and tried to recover the $65,000 in benefits. He declared bankruptcy. Three years later, he was fired because he could not keep up with the demands of the job. Two years later he reapplied for social security disability benefits. Several physicians and mental-health professionals diagnosed: chronic back pain; cubital tunnel syndrome; a somatoform disorder; depression, anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, low intelligence, dizziness, migraine headaches, and deficient short-term memory. The applicant and his father testified to sleeplessness, loss of balance, blurred vision, and abdominal pain. The ALJ concluded that he was capable of unskilled light work of a routine and repetitive character and was not disabled. The Seventh Circuit reversed the denial of benefits, finding the opinion “riddled with errors.”
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