Stillwater v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration

MEMORANDUM

Pearla Stillwater appeals the determination by an Administrative Law Judge that she is not disabled and does not qualify for SSI benefits. Stillwater alleges disability since May 1, 1995. She argues that the ALJ erred in rejecting (1) her testimony, (2) the opinion of Dr. Greenburg, (3) the opinions of two agency medical experts, and (4) lay witness testimony; and in finding that Stillwater has no severe mental impairment. She also assigns error to the posing of an incomplete hypothetical to the vocational expert.

At step one of the five-step test for determining whether a claimant is disabled, the ALJ found that Stillwater had not engaged in “substantial gainful activity” during the period of alleged disability. At steps two and three, the ALJ found that Stillwater has medically determinable impairments of vestibular dysfunction, diabetes, back pain, and obesity, but that Stillwater’s impairments did not meet or equal the requirements of a listed impairment. At step four, the ALJ found that Stillwater retained the ability to perform a limited range of light work. The ALJ also found that Stillwater was limited in her ability to climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl.…