Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-06-01939/USCOURTS-ca8-06-01939-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 

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1

Michael J. Astrue has been appointed to serve as Commissioner of Social

Security, and is substituted as the appellee pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate

Procedure 43(c)(2). 

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 06-1939

___________

*

Donna Arnold, on behalf of *

David Arnold, *

*

Plaintiff – Appellant, *

*

v. * Appeal from the United States

* District Court for the Eastern

Michael J. Astrue,1

 Commissioner, * District of Arkansas.

Social Security Administration, *

* [UNPUBLISHED]

Defendant – Appellee. *

*

*

*

___________

Submitted: February 16, 2007 

Filed: April 25, 2007

___________

Before LOKEN, Chief Judge, GRUENDER, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.

___________

PER CURIAM.

Appellate Case: 06-1939 Page: 1 Date Filed: 04/25/2007 Entry ID: 3302635
2

The Honorable James M. Moody, United States District Judge for the Eastern

District of Arkansas, adopting the report and recommendations of the Honorable Jerry

W. Cavaneau, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Neither party objected to Judge Cavaneau's findings and recommendations. 

-2-

Donna C. Arnold, on behalf of David J. Arnold, appeals the district court's2

affirmance of the Commissioner's denial of her application for supplemental security

income. The administrative law judge reasoned that although David, a fourth-grader,

had organic brain dysfunction – a severe impairment – he did not have any

impairment or combination of impairments that met, or medically or functionally

equaled, a listed impairment in the governing regulations. 

The ALJ noted that with the help of his resource teacher, David made fair-togood grades, with no serious difficulty working independently and completing tasks

on time. The ALJ found that David performed most daily activities without difficulty,

was able to dress and feed himself, got along reasonably well with others, was

independent in daily activity and self care, and had no significant limitation in his

health and physical well-being. The ALJ determined that the opinion of Dr. Vann

Smith was not persuasive because he completed the one-page checklist on the day of

the hearing, almost two years after last seeing David. Moreover, Dr. Smith's own

diagnosis was mild organic brain dysfunction, with no evidence of any other

psychological problems. Considering David's academic capability, interactions with

others, and medical records, the ALJ concluded that he leads a largely normal life and

was not disabled. The Appeals Council denied review. Having carefully reviewed the

record, this court finds that the Commissioner's final decision is supported by

substantial evidence on the record as a whole. See Travis v. Astrue, 477 F.3d 1037,

1040 (8th Cir. 2007) (standard of review); Cox v. Barnhart, 471 F.3d 902, 906 (8th

Cir. 2006) (same).

Accordingly, as an extended opinion would have no precedential value, the

judgment is affirmed. See 8th Cir. R. 47B. 

 ______________________________ 

Appellate Case: 06-1939 Page: 2 Date Filed: 04/25/2007 Entry ID: 3302635