Jason Bowers v. Kilolo Kijakazi, No. 21-1819 (8th Cir. 2022)
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After voluntarily leaving his job due to back problems, Plaintiff applied for disability insurance benefits. The Social Security Administration found that he was not disabled and denied his application. Plaintiff sought judicial review and the district court1 affirmed. He appealed, arguing that the agency’s decision was not supported by substantial evidence.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed, explaining that when reviewing the denial of disability insurance benefits, the court decides whether the findings are supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole. Here, Plaintiff claims that his treating physician’s opinion was entitled to deference. However, the court explained, that under the current regulations, however, treating physicians are not entitled to special deference. And although Plaintiff may disagree with the ALJ’s conclusion, it is supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole.
Court Description: [Kobes, Author, with Colloton and Kelly, Circuit Judges] Civil case - Social Security. The ALJ's determination that claimant retained the residual functional capacity to do a wide range of light work was supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole; the ALJ did not err in relying on State agency physicians' opinions as they were familiar with the disability evaluation process and their opinions were consistent with the medical evidence.
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