Case ID: f-appx_475/html/0458-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Derek Joseph MOORE, Plaintiff—Appellant, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant-Appellee, and Social Security Administration, Party-in-Interest.
    No. 11-2381.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
    Submitted: July 26, 2012.
    Decided: Aug. 20, 2012.
    Carter Zerbe, Carter Zerbe & Associates, PLLC, Charleston, West Virginia, for Appellant. Nora Koch, Acting Regional Chief Counsel, Andrew C. Lynch, Acting Supervisory Counsel, Social Security Administration, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; William J. Ihlenfeld, II, United States Attorney, Chantal Jenkins, Special Assistant United States Attorney, Wheeling, West Virginia, for Appellee.
    Before DIAZ, FLOYD, and THACKER, Circuit Judges.
   Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

PER CURIAM:

Derek Moore appeals the district court’s order accepting the recommendation of the magistrate judge and denying relief on his complaint for review of the Commissioner’s denial of disability insurance benefits. On appeal, Moore argues that the Commissioner ignored relevant medical evidence, failed to accord proper weight to medical opinion evidence, and failed to analyze the combined effect of his impairments in determining that he was not entitled to benefits.

Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (2006), we will “uphold the factual findings of the Commissioner if they are supported by substantial evidence and were reached through application of the correct legal standard.” Johnson v. Barnhart, 434 F.3d 650, 653 (4th Cir.2005) (internal quotation marks, citations, and alteration omitted). “Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). We do not reweigh evidence or make credibility determinations in evaluating whether a decision is supported by substantial evidence; “[wjhere conflicting evidence allows reasonable minds to differ,” we defer to the Commissioner’s decision. Id.

In order to establish entitlement to benefits, a claimant must provide evidence of a medically determinable impairment that precludes returning to past relevant work and adjustment to other work. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1508, 404.1520(g) (2012). The Commissioner uses a five-step process to evaluate a disability claim. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520 (2011). Pursuant to this process, the Commissioner asks, in sequence, whether the claimant: (1) worked during the alleged period of disability; (2) had a severe impairment; (3) had an impairment that met or equaled the severity of a listed impairment; (4) could return to his past relevant work; and (5) if not, could perform any other work in the national economy. Id. The claimant bears the burden of proof at steps one through four, but the burden shifts to the Commissioner at step five. See Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 146 n. 5, 107 S.Ct. 2287, 96 L.Ed.2d 119 (1987). If a decision regarding disability can be made at any step of the process, however, the inquiry ceases. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4).

We have thoroughly reviewed the record and conclude that the Commissioner’s decision is supported by substantial evidence and was reached through application of the correct legal standards. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s order. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.