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noting the limited relevance of records that predate the alleged disability onset date
Summary of this case from Lauderman v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec.Opinion
Case No. 15-CV-10820
03-22-2016
BRUCE A. MELIUS, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
ORDER ACCEPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION AND REMANDING ACTION
This matter comes before the Court on Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Stafford's Report and Recommendation. [#12] Plaintiff Bruce A. Melius filed this action on March 16, 2015, asking this Court to review the Commissioner's final decision to deny his application for supplemental security income benefits. The parties filed cross motions for summary judgment. The Magistrate Judge recommends that the Court deny the Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment, grant Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment to the extent he seeks remand but deny it to the extent it seeks reversal and a direct award of benefits, and remand this matter back to the Commissioner for further consideration, pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Neither party filed any objections to the Report and Recommendation.
Judicial review of the Commissioner's decision is limited in scope to determining whether the Commissioner employed the proper legal criteria in reaching his conclusion. Garner v. Heckler, 745 F.2d 383 (6th Cir. 1984). The credibility findings of an administrative law judge ("ALJ") must not be discarded lightly and should be accorded great deference. Hardaway v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 823 F.2d 922, 928 (6th Cir. 1987). A district court's review of an ALJ's decision is not a de novo review. The district court may not resolve conflicts in the evidence nor decide questions of credibility. Garner, 745 F.2d at 397. The decision of the Commissioner must be upheld if it is supported by substantial evidence, even if the record might support a contrary decision or if the district court arrives at a different conclusion. Smith v. Secretary of HHS, 893 F.2d 106, 108 (6th Cir. 1984); Mullen v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 535, 545 (6th Cir. 1986).
The Court has had an opportunity to review this matter and finds that the Magistrate Judge reached the correct conclusions for the proper reasons. Finding no error in the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation, the Court adopts the Report and Recommendation in its entirety. Furthermore, as neither party has raised an objection to the Report and Recommendation, the Court finds that the parties have waived any further objections to the Report and Recommendation. Smith v. Detroit Fed'n of Teachers Local 231, 829 F.2d 1370, 1373 (6th Cir. 1987) (a party's failure to file any objections waives his or her right to further appeal); Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149 (1985).
For the reasons stated above,
IT IS ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation [Docket No. 12, filed February 9, 2016] is ADOPTED as this Court's findings of fact and conclusions of law.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment [Docket No. 9, filed June 4, 2015] is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment [Docket No. 10, filed June 16, 2015] is DENIED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this matter is REMANDED back to the Commissioner, pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), for further consideration of the opinion(s) of Plaintiff's treating physician, Martin Jennings, D.O., and Plaintiff's credibility.
S/Denise Page Hood
Denise Page Hood
Chief Judge, United States District Court Dated: March 22, 2016 I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon counsel of record on March 22, 2016, by electronic and/or ordinary mail.
S/LaShawn R. Saulsberry
Case Manager