Jeanne Connett v. Jo Anne B. Barnhart, Commissioner, Commissioner of Social Security

Jeanne Connett appeals from the judgment of the district court affirming the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration’s denial of benefits. We affirm in part, and reverse and remand in part.

Connett applied for Social Security benefits, including disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income benefits, in September of 1997. Her applications alleged that she became disabled in 1994 as the result of a combination of impairments including back, shoulder and neck pain, migraine headaches, colitis, and a somatoform disorder. This appeal does not involve the last impairment. Her applications were denied initially and upon reconsideration, after which Connett re quested a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). After a hearing, the ALJ issued a decision concluding Connett was not disabled. The Appeals Council declined review, and the ALJ’s decision became the final order of the Commissioner. Connett appealed to the district court. The district court affirmed the Commissioner’s order denying benefits and dismissed the appeal.

We have jurisdiction over this timely appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review de novo a district court’s order…