Staggers v. Comm Social Security , 106 F. App'x 104 ( 2004 )


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  •                                                                                                                            Opinions of the United
    2004 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
    for the Third Circuit
    7-19-2004
    Staggers v. Comm Social Security
    Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential
    Docket No. 03-4507
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    Recommended Citation
    "Staggers v. Comm Social Security" (2004). 2004 Decisions. Paper 488.
    http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2004/488
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    NOT PRECEDENTIAL
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
    No. 03-4507
    DAVID STAGGERS,
    Appellant
    v.
    JO ANNE B. BARNHART, COMMISSIONER
    OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
    ____________
    APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
    FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
    (D.C. Civ. No. 02-cv-02593 )
    District Judge: Honorable James K. Gardner
    ____________
    Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)
    July 16, 2004
    Before: SLOVITER, BARRY and WEIS, Circuit Judges.
    Filed July 19, 2004
    ____________
    OPINION
    WEIS, Circuit Judge.
    Claimant was granted SSI benefits as of March 9, 1999 when he attained
    the age of 55 years. His claim in this case is for past due benefits for Social Security
    Disability and/or SSI for the period beginning on December 30, 1993.
    1
    Claimant was born in 1944 and has a sixth-grade education. He was
    previously employed as a laborer in the construction industry.
    Following the standard pattern of evaluating the claimant’s ability to work,
    the ALJ at the fifth step found that claimant was unable to return to his previous heavy
    labor employment. After reviewing the exhibits and hearing evidence from a medical
    expert, as well as a vocational expert, the ALJ determined that claimant could perform
    such jobs as a light-duty hand packer or packager, a light-duty hand trimmer or cutter, and
    a general laborer at both the light and sedentary levels. These findings took into account
    the claimant’s need for the option to sit or stand as described by the medical expert.
    The decisions of both the ALJ and the magistrate judge detail the claimant’s
    medical history. We need not repeat it here. Essentially, the record established that
    claimant suffers from hypertension, hypertensive-cardiovascular disease, discogenic
    disease of the lumbar spine, and very limited vision in the left eye. The medical reports
    noted that claimant had not been taking the medication prescribed for his hypertension.
    During the hearing, Dr. Lewis testified that claimant had the ability to perform light work
    with a sit or stand option.
    On appeal to the District Court, the case was assigned to a magistrate judge
    who prepared a comprehensive report and recommended that summary judgment be
    granted to the Commissioner. The District Judge adopted the report and entered
    judgment for the defendant.
    2
    On appeal to this Court, claimant contends that the ALJ failed to consider
    the erosion of the occupational base and its significance. Claimant also argues that there
    was insufficient evidence to support the ALJ’s finding that he could perform light and
    sedentary jobs.
    Claimant relies on Boone v. Barnhart, 
    353 F.3d 203
    (3d Cir. 2004), where
    we remanded for further proceedings. In that case, we said, “we shall not interpret SSR
    83-12 to mandate reversal whenever the ALJ does not set out specific findings concerning
    the erosion of the occupational base if, as here, the ALJ has received the assistance of a
    vocational expert in considering the more precise question whether there are a significant
    number of jobs in the economy that the claimant can perform.” 
    Id. at 210.
    In the case before us, the ALJ had the benefit of vocational expert
    testimony, particularly with respect to the limitations imposed by the sit or stand option.
    We conclude that Boone is distinguishable and does not control the outcome here. See
    also Jones v. Barnhart, 
    364 F.3d 501
    , 506 n.6 (3d Cir. 2004).
    From our review of the record, we are persuaded that the ALJ did not err in
    concluding there were a substantial number of light and sedentary jobs in the national
    economy that claimant can perform.
    Accordingly, we will affirm the judgment of the District Court.
    3
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 03-4507

Citation Numbers: 106 F. App'x 104

Judges: Sloviter, Barry, Weis

Filed Date: 7/19/2004

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 11/5/2024