Case ID: f-appx_280/html/0194-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "TASHIMA, Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Robert GIBBS, Appellant v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY.
    No. 07-2535.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) on March 27, 2008.
    Filed: May 21, 2008.
    Abraham S. Alter, Langton & Alter, Rahway, NJ, for Appellant.
    Karla J. Gwinn, Social Security Administration, Office of General Counsel — Region II, New York, NY, for Commissioner of Social Security.
    Before: McKEE, RENDELL and TASHIMA , Circuit Judges.
    
      
       Honorable A. Wallace Tashima, Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, sitting by designation.
    
   OPINION OF THE COURT

TASHIMA, Circuit Judge.

Robert Gibbs applied for Disability Insurance Benefits and Supplemental Security Income, asserting an April 6, 2001, onset date of disability. After a hearing, the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) issued a decision finding Gibbs disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A), beginning on April 6, 2001. Gibbs appealed to the District Court, claiming a disability onset date of November 1, 1999. The District Court affirmed the agency’s decision that the onset date of Gibbs’ disability was April 6, 2001, not November 1,1999.

On appeal to this court, Gibbs argues that, under Social Security Ruling (SSR) 83-20, his disability may be inferred back to November 1, 1999. He contends that if he was limited to less than sedentary work after April 6, 2001, it can be inferred, due to the progressive nature of his medical ailments, that he was limited to sedentary or light work as of November 1, 1999.

Under SSR 83-20, the ALJ is required to call a medical expert in cases such as this where the onset date of disability must be inferred. SSR 83-20; see Newell v. Comm’r of Soe. Sec., 347 F.3d 541, 549 (3d Cir.2003) (stating that “[t]he ALJ should have consulted a medical advisor to help him infer the onset date as required by SSR 83-20”). While the determination of Gibbs’ disability onset date involves consideration of his allegations, work history, and medical and other relevant evidence, any judgment made must have a legitimate medical basis. SSR 83-20.

In this case, the ALJ properly followed SSR 83-20’s requirements by calling a medical expert to help determine the onset date of Gibbs’ disability. Gibbs provided no medical evidence that supported an onset date of November 1, 1999. We therefore will affirm the well-reasoned opinion and the order of the district court. 
      
      . Although Gibbs argues that the Commissioner used the wrong onset of disability date, April 6, 2001, instead of November 1, 1999, the facts show that on Gibbs' application, the onset date of April 6, 2001, was crossed out, and November 1, 1999, was inserted by hand. Moreover, he stated on his May 15, 2001, Disability Report that his back condition first arose on April 4, 2001, and he only raised the November 1, 1999, date on a subsequent Disability Report.