Michele Mallonee v. Kilolo Kijakazi

BACKGROUND

In 2010, an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) found that Plaintiff was entitled to DIB beginning on September 28, 2007. See Administrative Record (“AR”) 163-71. A continuing disability review resulted in a determination that Plaintiff’s disability had ceased due to medical improvement as of March 5,

1 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. 2014. See AR 181-84. After that decision was affirmed on reconsideration, Plaintiff requested a hearing before an ALJ. See AR 222. A hearing was held on August 17, 2017, at which Plaintiff and an impartial vocational expert testified. See AR 139-60. On October 3, 2017, the ALJ issued a written decision finding that Plaintiff’s disability ended on March 5, 2014. See AR 72-88. The ALJ began by finding that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since the period of disability began. See AR 77. The ALJ concluded that, since March 5, 2014, Plaintiff had the severe impairments of obesity, status post bilateral carpal…