Jenkins

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

Plaintiff filed this action for judicial review of the decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (the “Commissioner”) denying plaintiffs application for disability insurance benefits. The parties have filed a Joint Stipulation (“JS”) setting forth their contentions with respect to each disputed issue.

Administrative Proceedings

The parties are familiar with the procedural history of this case, which is summarized in the Joint Stipulation. [See JS 2]. In a February 2003 hearing decision, an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) denied plaintiffs benefits application on the ground that he retained the residual functional capacity. (“RFC”) to perform medium work and was not precluded from performing his past relevant work. [Administrative Record (“AR”) 123-127]. The Appeals Council granted plaintiffs request for review, vacated the February 2003 ALJ decision, and remanded the case for another hearing. [See JS 2; AR 135-137],

Following a supplemental hearing, a second ALJ issued a written decision denying benefits in July 2006. [AR 21-26]. The second ALJ found that plaintiff retained the RFC to perform light work with the option of…