Lounsburry

I. Factual And Procedural Background

On February 24, 2000, Lounsburry filed a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”) under Title II of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 401 et seq. Lounsburry alleged that her disability arose on August 16, 1999, when she was sixty-two years of age. As the basis of her disability, Lounsburry alleged “easy fatigue, pains & discomforts on [the] upper and lower extremities, severe pain in both hips, joints, back & shoulder, not feeling well at times, [and] bunio- nous . . . toes.” A series of medical evaluations between May 1999 and December 2000 resulted in diagnoses of (1) degen- erative joint disease, resulting in chronic bilateral lower extremity, knee, ankle, heel, and foot pain, and pain in the lumbar spine, (2) adult-onset diabetes mellitus, (3) hyperten- sion, and (4) sick sinus syndrome — for which Lounsburry received a permanent dual-chamber pacemaker implant.

Lounsburry completed high school and two years of post- secondary education. She was employed as a certified nurse’s assistant from October 1985 to May 1999 and was employed as a certified home health aide from June 1998 to November 1999. She has not engaged in…