Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-06-02225/USCOURTS-ca8-06-02225-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 863
Nature of Suit: Social Security - DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
Cause of Action: 

---

1

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

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

Procedure 43(c).

2

The Honorable H. David Young, United States Magistrate Judge for the

Eastern District of Arkansas, to whom the case was referred for final disposition by

consent of the parties pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). 

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 06-2225

___________

June Kittler, *

*

Appellant, *

* Appeal from the United States

* District Court for the

* Eastern District of Arkansas.

Michael J. Astrue,1

 Commissioner, *

Social Security Administration, * [UNPUBLISHED]

*

Appellee. *

___________

Submitted: May 3, 2007

Filed: May 14, 2007

___________

Before SMITH, GRUENDER, and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges.

___________

PER CURIAM.

June Kittler appeals the district court’s2

 order affirming the denial of

supplemental security income. Kittler alleged disability since January 2001 from

Appellate Case: 06-2225 Page: 1 Date Filed: 05/14/2007 Entry ID: 3309123
-2-

dizziness, chest pain, and pain and numbness in her left arm. Following a second

hearing upon an Appeals Council remand, an administrative law judge (ALJ) found

that (1) Kittler’s medically determinable impairments--mild mitral valve click and soft

systolic murmur, and possible ischemia in her legs--were severe, but not of listinglevel severity; (2) her allegations and testimony about the nature and severity of her

impairments were not entirely credible; (3) she had the residual functional capacity

(RFC) to perform a full range of light work; and (4) considering her age, education,

work experience, and RFC, the Medical Vocational Guidelines directed a finding of

not disabled. Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm the denial of benefits.

See Gonzales v. Barnhart, 465 F.3d 890, 894 (8th Cir. 2006) (standard of review). 

Because the ALJ gave multiple valid reasons for finding Kittler’s subjective

complaints not entirely credible, we defer to those credibility findings. See Guilliams

v. Barnhart, 393 F.3d 798, 801 (8th Cir. 2005) (deference to ALJ’s credibility

determination is warranted if it is supported by good reasons and substantial

evidence). The ALJ’s RFC determination is also supported by the record. See Stormo

v. Barnhart, 377 F.3d 801, 807 (8th Cir. 2004) (in determining RFC, ALJ should

consider medical records, observations of treating physicians and others, and

claimant’s own description of limitations). Finally, Kittler has failed to provide

evidence of bias. See Rollins v. Massanari, 261 F.3d 853, 857-58 (9th Cir. 2001)

(quasi-judicial administrative officers, such as ALJs, are presumed to be unbiased, but

presumption can be rebutted by showing conflict of interest or another specific reason

to disqualify ALJ). 

Accordingly, we affirm. 

______________________________

Appellate Case: 06-2225 Page: 2 Date Filed: 05/14/2007 Entry ID: 3309123