Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-5_06-cv-05184/USCOURTS-arwd-5_06-cv-05184-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 865
Nature of Suit: Social Security - RSI (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:0405g Review of HHS Decision (RSI)

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Michael J. Astrue became the Social Security Commissioner on February 12, 2007. Pursuant to Rule 

1

 25(d)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Michael J. Astrue has been substituted for acting Commissioner 

 Jo Anne B. Barnhart as the defendant in this suit.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION

ROBERT S. VALLELY PLAINTIFF

vs. Civil No. 5:06-cv-05184

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE1 DEFENDANT

Commissioner, Social Security Administration 

MEMORANDUM OPINION

On May 2, 2007, the Defendant filed a Motion to Remand (Doc. No. 15). This motion is

unopposed. The Defendant requests a remand so that the Commissioner may conduct further

administrative proceedings, update the record, and obtain new medical records and/or testing.

Specifically, the Defendant seeks a remand in order to accomplish the following: 

Update the record by obtaining new internal medicine and mental status consultative

examinations with psychological testing and medical source statements about what

the claimant can still do despite the impairments. The ALJ will request the treating

sources, including Drs. Hiett and Phillips to provide additional evidence and medical

sources statements. The ALJ will further evaluate the claimant’s mental impairments

by providing sufficient rationale for the findings in the decision. The ALJ will

further consider all evidence of record, including the treating doctors, and the state

agency consultants; Drs. Williams and Henderson. The ALJ will further evaluate the

claimant’s maximum residual functional capacity (RFC), providing a sufficient

rationale and specific references to the evidence in support of the assessed

limitations. If necessary, the ALJ will obtain evidence from a medical expert to

clarify the nature and severity of the claimant’s impairments. If the claimant is found

disabled considering all impairments, the ALJ will consider the claimant’s drug

addiction and alcoholism (DA & A) and determine whether the claimant’s DA & A

is a contributing factor material to the determination of the claimant’s disability by

determining what impairment and resulting limitations remained after excluding the

claimant’s DA & A. If necessary, the ALJ will obtain evidence from a vocational

expert to clarify the effect of the assessed limitations on the claimant’s occupational

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base. (Doc. No. 15). 

The Court finds this motion is well-taken and should be granted. The Commissioner’s

decision is reversed and this matter is hereby remanded pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. §

405(g) for further proceedings. In addition, the undersigned finds that the Plaintiff’s Complaint

should be and hereby is dismissed without prejudice. The Plaintiff may still, however, file a motion

for attorney’s fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412. This Court directs

the ALJ to make additional findings on remand as are necessary to fully and adequately develop the

record. 

A judgment incorporating these findings will be entered pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure 52 and 58. 

ENTERED this 4 day of May, 2007. th

 

 /s/ Barry A. Bryant 

 Honorable Barry A. Bryant 

 United States Magistrate Judge

 

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