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Critical Case Breakdown: Robbins v. Commissioner of Social Security
On October 29, 2024 , the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the denial of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for a young...
Green v. Commissioner: A Tenth Circuit Veterans Disability Case
The case of Green v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration (2018) is a powerful reminder of how Veterans’ disability ratings...
Seventh Circuit Upholds ALJ SSD Case
In December 2024, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided a case called Schmitz v. Colvin . The case involved a 52-year-old woman...
Case Spotlight: Mejia v. Commissioner
When it comes to Social Security disability appeals in federal court, there are always two battles: Winning the case. Getting paid for...
Lessons from a Child’s Asthma SSI Case
When handling children's disability claims, the SSA’s Listing of Impairments (20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, Appx. 1) is our first...
Denial of Fibromyalgia Disability Claim
The Seventh Circuit recently weighed in on a Social Security disability appeal that highlights a recurring tension in our field: how ALJs...
When SSA Disability Meets Employment Discrimination
Background: Who Is Herkert and What Happened Mary Frances Herkert , a GS-13 Branch Chief at the Social Security Administration (SSA) with...
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...
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