Case ID: f-appx_33/html/0243-01.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

Joyce M. CLINKSCALE, Appellant, v. JoAnne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of Social Security Administration, Appellee.
    No. 01-3675.
    United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
    Submitted April 22, 2002.
    Decided April 29, 2002.
    Before LOKEN, BEAM, and RILEY, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM.

Joyce M. Clinkscale applied for Social Security disability insurance benefits, alleging disability since September 1997 from carpal tunnel syndrome surgery; severe pain in her hands, -wrists, arms, shoulders, neck, and chest; finger numbness; and wrist swelling. After two administrative hearings, an administrative law judge (ALJ) denied her application, finding that Clinkscale could not perform her past relevant work but could perform jobs a vocational expert (VE) identified in response to the ALJ’s work hypothetical. Clinkscale appeals the district court’s order affirming the denial of benefits. After careful review, we conclude that substantial evidence in the administrative record supports the Commissioner’s decision and therefore affirm. See Roberts v. Apfel, 222 F.3d 466, 468 (8th Cir.2000) (standard of review).

Clinkscale argues the ALJ ignored evidence of fibromyalgia. We disagree. The ALJ included fibromyalgia as one of her severe impairments, and the medical evidence did not establish that the condition was disabling. Clinkscale further argues the ALJ failed to consider each of the factors listed in Polaski v. Heckler, 739 F.2d 1320, 1322 (8th Cir.1984). The ALJ need not methodically discuss each Polaksi factor, however, as long as the factors are acknowledged and examined. See Lowe v. Apfel, 226 F.3d 969, 972 (8th Cir.2000). The ALJ’s credibility findings were adequately explained and supported. Finally, Clinkscale challenges the ALJ’s residual-functional-capacity (RFC) findings and his hypothetical to the VE. The RFC findings were consistent with limitations recommended by an occupational health physician and a rehabilitation specialist, respectively. See Anderson v. Shalala, 51 F.3d 777, 779 (8th Cir.1995). The ALJ’s hypothetical properly included the impairments that were supported by substantial evidence and accepted as true by ALJ, see Hunt v. Massanari, 250 F.3d 622, 625 (8th Cir.2001), and the VE’s response provided substantial evidence that Clinkscale was not disabled, see Haggard v. Apfel, 175 F.3d 591, 595 (8th Cir.1999). Accordingly, we affirm.

A true copy. 
      
      . The HONORABLE WILLIAM A. KNOX, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Missouri.