Jesus Hisquierdo v. Andrew Saul

INTRODUCTION

Jesus H. (“Plaintiff”) applied for Supplemental Security Income and Disability Insurance Benefits on April 29, 2015, alleging disability beginning December 31, 2013. See Dkt. 17, Administrative Record (“AR”) 187-96, 230.1 After being denied initially and on reconsideration, Plaintiff requested and received a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) on March 30, 2018. See AR 35-55 The ALJ issued an unfavorable decision on July 2, 2018. See AR 10-24. The ALJ followed the five-step sequential evaluation process for determining

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. whether an individual is disabled. At step one, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since the application date. See AR 15-16. At step two, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff had the severe impairments of “disorders of the neck, back, shoulders, and hips.” AR 16. At step three, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff did not have an impairment or combination of…