MEDICAL EVIDENCE DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE TALE!

I am sitting and looking at a doctor's medical opinion which, in short, limits my client to performing work at the sedentary exertion level. She can lift and carry 10 pounds frequently and 20 pounds occasionally. She can perform the sitting, standing and walking required of sedentary jobs. In a younger individual, Social Security would probably use this to deny the claim.

But in this client's case, the medical evidence doesn't tell the whole story. The claimant is 56 yeas old, has a GED and her past work experience has been at the medium exertion level, as an assembler in an automotive manufacturing facility.

Because of her age, education level and the fact that she has no transferable skills, the fact that she is limited to sedentary work will enable her to meet a Medical-Vocational Rule or "Grid Rule." Therefore, the fact that she could still perform sedentary work does not apply. She should be approved.

Hopefully, this claimant will be approved at Step 4 of the sequential determination process without having to consider "other jobs" that may exist in the US economy. If she cannot perform her past relevant work, she is disabled.