Alejandro Rodriguez Rivera v. Nancy A. Berryhill

I. BACKGROUND

On November 25, 2013, Plaintiff applied for DIB, alleging disability beginning February 8, 2013. See Administrative Record (“AR”) 180-82. After being denied initially and on reconsideration, Plaintiff requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). See AR 25. Plaintiff appeared

' The Court partially redacts Plaintiff's name in compliance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2(c)(2)(B) and the recommendation of the Committee on Court Administration and Case Management of the Judicial Conference of the United States.

and testified at a hearing held on May 17, 2016. See AR 43-79. On August 19, 2016, the ALJ issued a written decision finding Plaintiff ineligible for disability benefits. See AR 19-42. The ALJ found that Plaintiff had the severe impairments of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with pacemaker implantation; cervical facet syndrome with multi-level protrusions and annular tear; lumbar spondylosis with multi-level protrusions, radiculitis and facet syndrome; hypertension; obesity; major depressive disorder; general anxiety disorder; agoraphobia with panic disorder; and adjustment disorder. See AR 27. The ALJ found that Plaintiff…