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Nadon v. Bisignano: Lessons from a 9th Circuit Disability Case
Sometimes you read a case and want to bang your head against the wall. Nadon v. Bisignano from the Ninth Circuit is one of those. It’s a...
Ninth Circuit Narrows Scope for Challenging VE Testimony in SSDI Denials
In Boonthong v. Commissioner of Social Security , No. 24-3921 (9th Cir. July 22, 2025), the Ninth Circuit reminds us that not all...
When Checkbox Forms Fall Short
In Drumgold v. Commissioner of Social Security (4th Cir. 2025), the court affirmed the ALJ’s denial of disability benefits, offering a...
Missteps in SSDI Ruling Lead to Reversal
Let’s talk about Walls v. Bisignano , a case that highlights the continued tension between ALJ discretion and the requirement for...
A Win for Structural Integrity in Flinton v. Commissioner
Flinton applied for Social Security disability benefits in 2015 after being hospitalized for schizophrenia. Her claim was denied in 2018...
Morrow v. Bisignano: Credibility and Medical Opinion Review
In Morrow v. Bisignano , the Ninth Circuit affirmed the ALJ’s denial of disability benefits, but the opinion offers a lot for disability...
ALJ Discretion & Mental Health RFC Limits
What attorneys should note when mental health, RFC, and treating opinions collide. In Taylor v. Commissioner , the Third Circuit upheld...
Jones v. Commissioner of Social Security.
On November 6, 2023, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the ALJ’s decision in Jones v. Commissioner of Social Security. Let’s dive in… Jones...
Ninth Circuit Upholds ALJ in Disability Case
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an important decision in Higgins v. Kijakazi (Nov. 2, 2023), reinforcing the standards that...
11th Circuit Remand in Wheeler Reinforces SSR 96‑8p Requirements
⚖️ The Critical Issue in Wheeler Omitted moderate limitations : Dr. Austin, a consulting psychologist, identified moderate restrictions...
9th Circuit Affirms SSD Denial in Rose v. King: Key Disability Law Insights
Rose applied for SSDI and SSI, citing bipolar disorder and other mental health impairments. The ALJ denied the claim, the district court...
Ninth Circuit Remands Fibromyalgia SSDI Denial
In Lynnae , the Ninth Circuit reversed a denial of Social Security benefits and remanded the case due to several fundamental errors in...
Revisiting Adame v. Apfel: A Key PTSD SSDI Case
This older case offers important lessons for anyone handling Social Security disability applications involving PTSD, especially with...
Ninth Circuit's SSDI Denial Reaffirmed
On May 21, 2025, the Ninth Circuit upheld the denial of SSDI benefits in Severns v. Bisignano (No. 24 4644). Severns applied for SSDI...
What Was Missing in the Thorlton Disability Case?
Context & Case Summary On February 11, 2025 , the Seventh Circuit affirmed the ALJ’s denial of Joshua Smitson’s Social Security...
Ninth Circuit: ALJs Can Reverse Course on Remand
An affirmance from the Ninth Circuit arose out of a Social Security remand on May 19, 2025. Years earlier, Johnson’s mental health...
Key Lessons from Pahl v. Bisignano
The Ninth Circuit’s recent opinion in Pahl v. Bisignano (May 16, 2025) reinforces two enduring themes in Social Security appeals: The...
Eighth Circuit Upholds ALJ Discretion in Disability Claims
In Cropper v. Dudek , the Eighth Circuit upheld the denial of disability benefits, reinforcing the Social Security Administration's (SSA)...
SSA Rule Changes Upheld: Lessons from Jones v. O’Malley
On July 12, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals delivered a pivotal decision in Jones v. O’Malley , affirming the denial of Joshua...
When Is a Victory Fee Too Much? A Deep Dive into Tucker v. Commissioner of Social Security
Attorney’s fees in Social Security disability cases under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b) often spark debate, and frustration. While a 25% contingency...
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