Thomas Scott Duval v. Andrew Saul

INTRODUCTION

In 2017, Thomas D. (“Plaintiff”) applied for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits, alleging disability beginning February 1, 2009. See Dkt. 16, Administrative Record (“AR”) 296-97.2 After the claim was denied initially and on reconsideration, Plaintiff requested a hearing before an Administrative

1 Kilolo Kijakazi was appointed acting commissioner on July 9, 2021 and is substituted in as the correct Defendant. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d). 2 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.

Additionally, all citations to the AR are to the record pagination. All other docket citations are to the CM/ECF pagination. Law Judge (“ALJ”). See AR 208-20. The ALJ conducted a hearing on April 9, 2019. See AR 158-181. The ALJ denied Plaintiff’s claim by written decision on April 19, 2019. See AR 130-46. The ALJ followed the five-step sequential evaluation process for determining whether an individual is disabled. At step one, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had not engaged in…