(SS) Derek W. Carlon v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. INTRODUCTION

19 On August 13, 2018, Plaintiff Derek Wade Carlon (“Plaintiff”), proceeding pro se, filed a complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) seeking judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (the “Commissioner” or “Defendant”) denying his application for disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) under Title II of the Social Security Act (the “Act”). The matter is currently before the Court on the parties’ briefs, which were submitted, without oral argument, to the Honorable Sheila K. Oberto, United States Magistrate Judge.1 ///

1 The parties consented to the jurisdiction of a U.S. Magistrate Judge. (Docs. 6, 7.) 1 On August 28, 2013, Plaintiff protectively filed an application for DIB payments, alleging 2 he became disabled on June 15, 2013 due to back problems, including “herniated discs 14 to s1,” 3 “c4-c6 ddd with reverse lordosis,” L6 (extra lumbar vertebrae) spina bifida occulta, C3-7 degenerative disc disease/foraminal encroachment, cervical reverse lordosis, L4-5 herniated disc, 6 and L5-S1 (L6) herniated disc. (Administrative Record (“AR”) 18, 20–21, 99, 109, 170–76, 198.) 7…