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forthe D i s tr i ctof N ew J er s ey ( C i vi l A ct i on N o. 03- 3508) D i s tr i ctJ udge: H on. W i l l i am J. M art i ni Subm i t t ed underT hi r d C i r cui tL A R 34. 1( a)

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( O pi ni on fi l ed: A ugus t18, 2006)

OP I NI ON M cK E E , C i r cui tJ udge. G ai l J enki ns appea l s fr om the D i s tr i ctC our t ’ s or deraff i r m i ng the dec i s i on of the C o m m iss io n e r o f

S o c ial S e c u rityd e n y in g h e r a p p lica tio n f o r S u p p lem e n tal S e c u rity2

I ncome ( “SSI ”) underthe Soci al Secur i tyA ct . 42 U . S. C . § 423 et s eq. T h e D istri ct C o u rt had j ur i s di ct i on pur s uantt o 42 U . S. C . §§ 405( g) and 1383( g) , and w e have j ur i s di ct i on p u r s u a n tt o 2 8 U. S . C. § 1 2 9 1 . F o rth e r e a s o n s th a tf o l l o w, we wi l l a f

f i r m. I. I nas m uch as w e w r i t e pr i m ar i l yforthe part i es w ho ar e fa m i l i arw i th thi s di s put e, w e n ee d n o t r eit era te th e f ac tual o r pro ce d u ral ba ck g rou n d o f th is ap p ea l. T h e A L J’s decis i on i s the final decis i on of the C om m i ssi on er w hen the A pp eal s C ou ncil den i es a re q u e s t f o r r e v ie w . H

ar tr anf tv. Apf el , 181 F. 3d 358, 359. O urs cope of r evi ew i s l i m i t ed to d e te rm in in g if

th e C o m m is s io n e r’ s f

in a l d e c is io n is s u p p o rt e d b ys u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e . 4 2 U .S .C . § § 4 0 5 (g ), 1 3 8 3 (g ); H ar tr anf tv. Apf el , 181 F. 3d at360. Subst ant i al evi dence is “ su c h re lev a n t ev id e n c e a s a re a so n a b le m in d m ig h t ac c e p t as a d e q u a te to su p p o rt a concl us i on. ” I

d. ( quot i ng P i er ce v . U

nder w ood , 4 8 7 U . S . 5 5 2 , 5 6 5 (19 8 8 )). Itis “m o re than a mer e s ci nt i l l a butm aybe s om ew hatl es s than a pr eponder ance of the evi dence . ” G i ns bur g v. R i char ds on , 4 3 6 F . 2 d 1 1 4 6 , 1 1 4 8 (3d C ir . 1 9 7 1 ) (i n terna l ci tat ion o m itted). T he s t andar d of s ubs t ant i al evi dence i ncl udes defe r ence t o i nfer ence s dr aw n fr om the f a c ts th a t a re s u p p o rt e d b ys u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e . Sh a u d ec k v . C o m m ’r , 181 F. 3d 429, 431 ( 3d C i r . 1999) . A deci s i on bythe C om m i s s i onerthati s s uppor t ed bys ubs t ant i al evi dence w ill b e u p h e ld , e v e n w e m ig h t h a v e re a c h e d a d if f e re n t c o n c lu s io n f

ro m th e f a c ts . H a rtr a n ft , 1 8 1 F .3 d a t 3 6 0 . II.3

In order t o est abli sh a dis abil i tyun der the S ocial S ecuri tyA ct , a cl ai m ant m ust demonstr at e a “ m edi cal l ydet erm i nabl e bas i s foran i m pai r m entthatpr event s hi m fr om engagi ng i n any‘ s ubs t ant i al gai nful act i vi ty ’ fora s t atut orytw el ve- m onth per i od. ” P l um m erv. Apf

el , 186 F. 3d 422, 427 ( 3d C i r . 1999) ( quot i ng S tu n ka rdv . Se c ’y o f H e a lth & H um an Servs. , 841 F. 2d 57, 59 ( 3d C i r . 1988) and 42 U . S. C . § 423( d) ( 1) ) . T he c laim a n t is p re v e n ted f

ro m e n g a g in g in a n ysu b sta n tial g a in f u l ac tiv ity“ o n lyif

h is p h y sic a l o r m e n tal im p a irm e n t o r im p a irm e n ts a re o f su c h se v e rityth a t h e is n o t o n ly u n ab le t o d o h is prev iou s w o rk b u t can n o t, co n side ri n g h is ag e, ed u ca ti o n , an d w o rk exper i ence , engage i n anyotherki nd of s ubs t ant i al gai nful w or k w hi ch exi s t s i n the nat i onal economy . ” I

d. at 42 7 -28 (qu o ti n g 4 2 U . S . C . § 4 2 3 (d)(2 )(A )). A di s abi l i tycl ai m i s eval uat ed pur s uantt o the fi ve- s t ep pr ocedur e s etforth bythe Soci al Secur i tyA dm i ni s tr at i on i n 20 C . F. R . §§ 404. 1520 and 416. 920. See Pl um m er , 186 F. 3d at428. Fi r s t , the C om m i s s i onerm us tdet erm i ne i f the cl ai m anti s curr ent l yengagi ng in s u b s ta n tia l g a in f

u l a c tiv ity. If

s o , th e c la im w ill b e d e n ie d . P l um m er , 1 8 6 F .3 d a t 4 2 8 . S e c o n d , th e Co mmi s s i o n e rmu s td e t e r mi n e wh e th e rth e c l a i ma n ti s s u f f e r i n g f r o m a s e v e re im p a ir m e n t. I f

th e c la im a n t f

a ils to m a k e th is s h o w in g , h e r c la im w ill b e d e n ie d . I d. T hi r d, the C om m i s s i onerl ooks atthe i m pai r m ent s l i s t ed i n 20 C . F. R . § 404. 1520( d) and determ i nes w hetherthe clai m ant’ s m edical evidence d em on strat es one o f t hese im p a ir m e n ts o r i ts e q u iv a le n t. I d. If th e d e ter m in a tio n is in th e n e g a tiv e , the a n a ly sis pr ocee ds t o s t eps fourand fi ve. Four th, the C om m i s s i onerm us tcons i derw hetherthe4

c la im a n t p o s s e s s e s th e re s id u a l f u n c tio n a l c a p a c ity to p e rf o rm h e r p a s t r e le v a n t w o rk . I d. ( ci t i ng 20 C . F. R . § 404. 1520( d) ) . T he cl ai m anthas the bur den of e s t abl i s hi ng her in a b ility to re tu rn to h e r p a s t r e le v a n t w o rk . I d. St ep Fouri ncl udes the fol l ow i ng thr ee s ubs t eps : ( I ) “the A L J m us tm ake s peci fi c fi ndi ngs of fa ctas t o the cl ai m ant ’ s r es i dual funct i onal capa ci ty ”; ( i i ) “the A L J m us tm ake f i ndi ngs of the phy s i cal and ment al demands of the cl ai m ant ’ s pas tr el evantw or k”; and ( i i i ) “the A L J m us tcompar e the r es i dual funct i onal capa ci tyt o per form pas tr el evantw or k t o det erm i ne w hetherthe cl ai m anthas the l evel of capabi l i tyneede d t o per form the pas tr el evantw or k. ” B ur net tv. C om m ’ rof

Soc. Sec. A dm i n. , 220 F. 3d 112, 120 ( 3d C i r . 2000) . I f the cl ai m antm eet s her b u rd e n , the b u rd e n th e n sh if ts to th e C o m m iss io n e r f o r th e f if th a n d f in a l ste p . In th is fi fth s t ep, the C om m i s s i onerm us tdemonstr at e thatthe cl ai m anti s abl e t o per form other a v a ila b le w o rk ; o th e rw is e th e c la im o f d is a b ility m u s t b e g ra n te d . I d. (c itin g 2 0 C .F .R . § 4 0 4 . 1 5 2 0 (f)). III . Dr . E . V. M e d r a n o s a w J e n k i n s i n 1 9 9 2 a n d 1 9 9 3 f o rn e c k p a i n . T r . 1 1 2 - 1 3 . He compl et ed a r eporton J ul y15, 2000, w hi ch not ed thatJ enki ns ’ neur ol ogi cal exami nat i on w a s n o rm a l. I

d. H e r e x tr e m itie s a ls o w e re n o rm a l. I d. D r . F. B r and al s o s aw J enki ns for neck pa i n, i n 1999. T r . 120. D r . B r and di agnos ed J enki ns ’ pai n as cervi cal r adi cul opathy and dege ner at i ve di s c di s eas e. T r . 121. H e pr es cr i bed I ndoci n, col d compre s s , and p h y s ic a l th e ra p y . I

d. W e do no thav e anyasses sm ent byD r. B rand co ncerni ng Jenkins’5

resp o n se to tr ea tm en t. Jen k ins a lso h ad an M R I sca n o f h er c erv ical spin e in O ctob er, 1 9 9 9 , w h ic h s h o w e d a b u lg in g d is c w ith d e s s ic a tio n a t th e C 3 -4 a n d C 4 -5 d is c . T r. 1 3 1 . T hi s m edi cal i nform at i on pr edat es the r el evantper i od. T h e p e r i o d r e l e v a n tt o o u ra n a l y s i s i s f r o m Ma r c h 2 4 , 2 0 0 0 t o J u n e 2 8 , 2 0 0 2 . On J une 18, 2001, J enki ns ’ M R I of herl um bos acr al s pi ne w as nor m al , as w er e x- r ay s of her c h e s t, le f t s h o u ld e r, a n d lu m b o s a c ra l s p in e . T r. 1 7 7 , 1 4 0 . O n J une 20, 2001, J enki ns w as exami ned byD r . K enneth W . M ahan a tthe C om m i s s i oner ’ s r eques t . J enki ns r eport ed thats he had s uffe r ed an i nj uryt o herl eft s houl derand l efts i de w hi l e movi ng furni tur e i n 1993. T r . 149. X - r ay s atthe t i m e had s h o w n n o f

ra c tu re o r d is lo c a tio n . I d. D es pi t e s eei ng a chi r opr act orand phy s i ci an, s he c o n tin u e d to h a v e p a in in h e r l e f t s h o u ld e r a n d o n h e r l e f t s id e . I d. D r. M ah an ’s rep o rt s t at es thatD r . M ehet a pr es cr i bed phy s i cal ther apy , s kel et al m us cl e r el axant s , and p a in k ille rs in 1 9 9 3 . I

d. J e n k in s s till h a d a re c u rr e n t le f t p a ra s c a p u la r p a in . I

d. D r. M ahan no t ed thatJenkins w as 5' 4" and 21 3 p ou nd s. T r. 15 0. S he co uld dres s a n d u n d re ss w ith o u t d if f icu lty . T h e p h y sic ian o b se rv e d a lef t p a ra sc a p u lar p a in w ith ra d icu lo p a th yin to h e r le f t sh o u ld e r a n d d o w n h e r le f t ar m a n d lef

t latiss im u s d o rsi m u sc le ra n g e . I d. H e al s o obs erved moder at e par as pi nal m us cl e s pas m s bi l at er al l yand l os s of lu m b a r l o rd o s is . I

d. N o r adi cul arpai n w as carr i ed i nt o the l um bos acr al and t o the s acr al p a rt s , n o r w a s th e re m a rk e d te n d e rn e s s in th e lu m b o s a c ra l jo in ts . I d. J enki ns had s tr ai ght le g ra is in g o f

7 0 d e g re e s b ila te ra lly a n d h e r f o rw a rd f le x io n o f h e r s p in e w a s 6 0 d e g re e s .6

I d. J e n k in s w a s a b le to tip to e , h e e l w a lk , s q u a t, k n e e l, a n d b e n d . I d. H ers houl der mo t i o n s we r e n o r ma l , a s we r e th e d o r s i f l e x i o n a n d p a l ma rf

l e x i o n o f th e wr i s t s , e l b o w, a n d h a n d s . I

d. D r. M a h a n d iag n o se d Je n k in s w ith c h ro n ic lu m b a r stra in , tri g g e r p o in t m y o f a sc iti s o f th e le f t p a ra s c a p u la r r e g io n a n d th e le f t s h o u ld e r- a rm s yn d ro m e . I d. H e not ed thather M R Is a n d a ll r a d io g ra p h s w e re n e g a tiv e . I d. H e found no s ens orychange s i n herupper e x tr e m itie s in v o lv in g th e ra d ia l, u ln a r, a x illa ry, o r m e d ia n n e rv e . I d. D r . M ahan det erm i ned hers t atus w as pos tj erk i nj uryorovers tr et ch i nj ury , hyper ext ens i on i nj uryof th e le f t s h o u ld e r a n d th e le f

t tru n k in v o lv in g th e la tis s im u s d o rs i m u s c le g ro u p . I d. O n July5, 20 01 , S t at e agen cyph y si ci an D r. R aym on d B ri ski revi ew ed Jenk i ns’ m e d ica l ev id e n c e a n d f o u n d th a t sh e d id n o t h a v e a se v e re f u n c tio n a l o rth o p e d ic i m pai rm ent . T r . 134. A phy s i cal ther apyr eportof A ugus tof 2001 i ndi cat es J enki ns r eport ed thats he h a d in ju re d h e rs e lf

in 1 9 9 3 , b u t th a t th e p a in h a d b e c o m e w o rs e in th e p a s t th re e w e e k s . Tr . 1 7 9 . Th e r e p o r ta l s o r e l a y s th a tJ e n k i n s h a d a t t e n d e d s c h o o l f r o m 9 a . m. t o 5 p . m. eac h dayforthe pas tthr ee w eeks . T r . 180. T he r eporti ndi cat es thatJ enki ns had had tr oubl e w i th s t ai r s i n the pas tthr ee w eeks and the pai n i n herl efthi p and s i de had w o rs e n e d . I

d. T he r eports t at es thatJ enki ns r eport ed bei ng unabl e t o w al k fardi s t ance s on s om e day s and thats he coul d notdo a l otof hous ew or k beca us e i tcaus ed t oo m uch p a in a f te rw a rd s . I

d. A l s o not ed on the r eportw er e as thm a, anemi a, and obes i ty , and the7

m e d ic a tio n s th a t w e re b e in g u s e d to tr e a t th o s e c o n d itio n s . I d. O n A ugus t18, 2001, Je n k in s h a d a c h e st x -ra yth a t w a s n o rm a l an d a n x -ra yo f h e r lu m b a r sp in e re v e a lin g m ild n a rr o w in g o f

th e L 5 -S 1 s p a c e , b u t n o f ra c tu re o r l is th is is . T r. 1 7 8 . J enki ns att ended thr ee s es s i ons of phy s i cal ther apy , buts he w as di s m i s s ed fr om furthers es s i ons aft ertw i ce f ai l i ng t o att end. T r . 173. H ow ever , s he had e xper i ence d s om e i m pr ovementi n herpr evi ous vi s i t s . T r . 174. A tthe hea r i ng, D r . A l bertG . M y l od, an orthopedi c s ur geon, t es t i fi ed af t er r evi ew i ng J enki ns ’ m edi cal r ecor ds . H e r ei t er at ed thatthe x- r ay s al l w er e norm al and m os tof the otherevi dence w as nor m al , al though he di d s t at e thata D r . B r anthad s ai d one x- r ays how ed dege ner at i ve di s c di s eas e atC 6- 7. T r . 44, 49. H e s t at ed thatbeca us e the M R I w as notent i r el yr eadabl e, “[w ] e know the ce r vi cal i s notnor m al , w e j us tdon’ tknow t o w hatext enti ti s beca us e w e ca n’ tr ead i tal l . ” Tr. 49. T he M R I of the l um bars pi ne w as nor m al . T r . 49. V. T he A L J concl uded thatJ enki ns had nots uffe r ed fr om a di s abi l i tyunderthe Soci al S e c u rityA c t at a n ytim e th ro u g h th e d a te o f h is d e c isio n . F o llo w in g th e f iv e -ste p a n a ly sis re q u ire d , the A L J f

irst f o u n d th a t Je n k in s h a d n o t en g a g e d in su b sta n tial g a in f u l ac tiv ity si nce h er al l eged on setdate of M arch 24 , 20 00 . S econ d, he d et erm i ned that J enk i ns has a s ever e orthopedi c condi t i on r el at i ng back t o her1993 i nj ury . T he A L J then exa m i ned J enki ns ’ i m pai r m ent s . H e found thatan O ct ober15, 1999 M R I of hercervi cal s pi ne8

r e v e a l e d a n t e r i o rb u l g i n g o f th e C5 - C6 d i s c a n d d e s s i c a t i o n o f th e C3 - C4 a n d C4 - C5 di s cs , and a l efti nt ernal componentof a he rni at ed C 4- C 5 di s c, w i th l eftnerve compre s s i on. H e found thatJ enki ns had had c hi r opr act i c tr eatm entfr om J ul y26, 1999 thr ough D ece m ber1, 1999, butr emai ned s ym pt om at i c. X - r ay s t aken on J une 19, 2000 of J e n k in s ’ c h e s t, le f

t s h o u ld e r, a n d lu m b o s a c ra l s p in e w e re n o rm a l. T he A L J found thatD r . M edr ano, J enki ns ’ tr eat i ng phy s i ci an s i nce M ar ch 3, 1992, i ndi cat ed i n a J ul y15, 2000 r eportthatJ enki ns had i nfr equentvi s i t s and thats he s uffe r ed fr om U R I , neck pa i n, and l ow back pa i n fr om 1993. H e had s een J enki ns l as ton February6, 1993. A s ubs equenttr eat i ng phy s i ci an, D r . B runt , i ndi cat ed i n a J ul y11, 2000 r eportthathe had l as ts een J enki ns on J une 1, 1999 and thats he had a s i x- y ear hi s t oryof nec k pai n r adi at i ng t o herarm s . H e obs erved nec k pai n, s pas m of the s c a p u a l a e , a n d , f

r o m th e x - r a yi ma g e s , d e g e n e r a t i v e d i s c d i s e a s e a tth e C6 - C7 l e v e l . He di agnos ed ce r vi cal r adi cul opathyand dege ner at i ve di s c di s eas e. H e not ed J enki ns had u n d e rg o n e p h y sic a l th e ra p ya n d tak e n c o ld c o m p re ss e s a n d In d o c in , b u t th a t th e re su lts w er e unknow n. A s not ed above , the A L J not ed thatthe M R I per form ed on J une 18, 2001 on J enki ns ’ l um bos acr al s pi ne w as nor m al , al though J enki ns cont i nued t o have pa i n. T he A L J r ecount ed thatbas ed on hi s cons ul t at i ve eva l uat i on on J une 20, 2001, J enki ns re p o rte d to D r. M a h a n , the sta te a g e n c yp h y sic ian , tha t sh e h a d su sta in e d a jer k in ju ryto herl efts houl derand s i de w hi l e movi ng heavyfurni tur e i n 1993. She al s o r eport ed9

h a v i n g d e v e l o p e d a “ s t i n g e r ” i n h e rl e f ts h o u l d e ra n d n e c k , a n d th a th e rx - r a y s a tth e t i me of the i nj uryw er e norm al . C hi r opr act i c tr eatm enthad notbeen s ucce s s ful , and s he con t i nu ed to hav e pain on her l eftsi de. T he A L J r est at ed D r. M ahan ’s con cl usi on s, w h ic h w e h a v e re c ite d a b o v e . Th e ALJ a l s o n o t e d th a tth e M c k e n z i e I n s t i tu t e Lu mb a rS p i n e As s e s s me n tf o r m, dated A ug ust23 , 20 01 , i nd i cat ed thatJenkins had b een lai d o ff from her j ob as a desk cl erk i n 1 99 9, that hersym ptom s i ncluded l efthip pai n, part i cular l yw hen cl i m bing st ai rs , and thats he had ha d pai n i n herl efts i de s i nce 1993. I tal s o not ed thatJ enki ns s uffe r ed f ro m a s th m a , h yp e rt e n s io n , a n e m ia , a n d o b e s ity. T o c o m p lete th e th ird ste p , the A L J e v a lu a ted th e se v e rityo f Je n k in s’ “ o rth o p e d ic c on di t i on ori mpai r ment s ” un de rthe Li s t i ng of I mpai r ment s i n Appe nd i x 1 , Sub pa r tP, R e g u latio n s N o . 4 , se c tio n 1 .0 0 , h o w e v e r, h e d e ter m in e d th a t th e re c o rd d id n o t m e rit a f in d in g a t th is le v e l. I n undert aki ng the fourth s t ep, the A L J exami ned w hetherJ enki ns had the r es i dual funct i onal capa ci tyt o per form herpas tr el evantw or k. T he A L J concl uded that , al though J enki ns had w or ked unt i l Sept ember30, 1999, w hen the A r m ybas e w her e s he w as w or ki ng cl os ed, s he di d nots eek w or k ther eaf t eronce the bas e cl os ed. H ow ever , s he c o n tin u e d to liv e w ith h e r te n -y e a r-o ld so n w ith o u t re c e iv in g h e lp f ro m a n y o n e to a ss ist in m ai nt ai ni ng the hous ehol d. M or eover , the A L J w as s kept i cal aboutJ enki ns ’ s ubj ect i ve compl ai nt s . T he A L J concl uded thatJ enki ns di d nots t op w or ki ng beca us e of he r10

or thopedi c i nj ur i es orpai n. R ather , the A L J concl uded thats he s t opped bec aus e herj ob no l on ger exi st ed. T hat i s consi st ent w i th the factthat, al tho ug h she returned to w ork as a hot el cl erk onl yone mont h aft erher1993 i nj ury , s he di d notfi l e herdi s abi l i tycl ai m or s eek tr eatm entforherl efts houl derunt i l i m m edi at el yaft ers he w as l ai d off. I n eval uat i ng the ext entt o w hi ch J enki ns ’ s houl dercondi t i on pr event s herfr om w o rk in g , the A L J c o n sid e re d a n O c to b e r 1 5 , 1 9 9 9 M R I th a t sh o w e d a p ro b lem w ith Jen k ins’ ce rvica l spine , an d the f ac t th at ch ir o p rac ti c treatm en t had n o t bee n v ery su cc essf u l. H o w ev er, th e A L J also p o inted to the n o rm al x-ray s o f th e lef t sho u lder, l um bos acr al s pi ne, and che s tof J une 20, 2001. H e al s o not ed thatJ enki ns ’ i nfr equent vi s i t s t o D r . M edr ano w er e cons i s t entw i th herabi l i tyt o w or k dur i ng thatt i m e, and her v isi ts t o D r. B run t occ u rred af ter th e b ase clos ed . T h e A L J also d iscu ssed D r. M ah an ’s f in d in g s . T he A L J concluded that J enk i ns proba blyw ou l d st i l l be w orki ng as a hotel desk cl erk i f the bas e had notcl os ed. N othi ng i n the r ecor d i ndi cat ed thats he coul d notl i ft w ei ghtthatdi d notexce ed 20 pounds , orthatper form otheract i vi tyexpec t ed of a hot el c le rk s u c h a s f

re q u e n t r e a c h in g a n d p u s h in g o r p u llin g u s in g th e le f t u p p e r e x tr e m itie s . A c c o rd in g ly , the A L J d e ter m in e d th a t Je n k in s h a d th e re sid u a l f u n c tio n a l ca p a c ityto p e rf o rm h e r p a s t r e le v a n t w o rk a s a h o te l d e s k c le rk , a n d th a t s h e w a s n o t d is a b le d . V I. A s s t at ed above , w e mustdet erm i ne w hethers ubs t ant i al evi dence s uppor t s the11

d e c i s i o n o f

th e AL J . T h u s , we mu s td e c i d e wh e th e rth e r e c o r d a s a wh o l e wo u l d a l l o w a re a s o n a b le f

a c t f in d e r t o a c c e p t th e c o n c lu s io n s re a c h e d b yth e C o m m is s io n e r. I n ar gui ng agai ns tthe A L J ’ s concl us i on, J enki ns fi r s tcl ai m s thats he s uffe r s fr om tw el ve s ever e i m pai r m ent s , and thatthe A L J di d notcl ar i fyw hi ch he f ound s ever e ats t ep tw o o f h is i n q u iry . H o w ev er, nine o f th ese im p airm en ts are su b su m ed into the A L J’s det erm i nat i on thatJ enki ns s uffe r ed fr om a s ever e orthopedi c condi t i on r el at i ng t o her 1993 i nj ury . M or eover , i n m aki ng thatdet erm i nat i on, the A L J di d s peci fi cal l ym ent i on the ni ne i m pai r m ent s . T he fa ctthata s ever i tydet erm i nat i on w as notm ade a s t o eac h of the n ine im p airm en ts co m p ri sing the u lt im ate d eterm ination that Jen k ins h ad a se v ere o rt h o p e d ic c o n d itio n is n o t s ig n if ic a n t. See 2 0 C .F .R . § § 4 0 4 .1 5 2 0 © ), 4 1 6 .9 2 0 © ). N o r is it s ig n if ic a n t th a t th e A L J f

a ile d to lin k re s tr ic tio n s w ith im p a ir m e n ts . J enki ns ar gues thatthe A L J err ed i n notexpl ai ni ng w hythe thr ee i m pai r m ent s that w e r e c l e a r l y n o tp a r to f th e s e v e r e o r th o p e d i c c o n d i t i o n – a s th m a , a n e m i a , a n d o b e s i ty – w e re n o t se v e re . H o w e v e r, an im p a irm e n t is n o t se v e re if it d o e s n o t sig n if

ica n tlylim it the cl ai m ant ’ s phy s i cal abi l i tyt o do bas i c w or k act i vi t i es , i ncl udi ng w al ki ng, s t andi ng, s ittin g , lif

tin g , p u s h in g , p u llin g , re a c h in g , c a rr y in g , o r h a n d lin g . 20 C . F. R . §§ 4 0 4 .1 5 2 0 (c ), 4 0 4 .1 5 2 1 (a ); N ew el lv. C om m ’ rof

Soc. Sec. , 3 4 7 F . 3 d 5 4 1 , 5 4 6 (3d C ir . 2003) . I tw as J enki ns ’ bur den t o es t abl i s h thatanyi m pai r m entr es ul t s i n w or k- r el at ed lim ita tio n s . S h e f

a ile d to d o s o w ith re g a rd to h e r c la im s o f a s th m a , a n e m ia , o r o b e s ity. N ext , J enki ns ar gues thatthe A L J ’ s det erm i nat i on vi ol at es ourdi r ect i ve i n B u rn e tt12

v . C o m m iss io n e r o

f So c ia l Se c u rity , 220 F. 3d 112 ( 3d C i r . 2000) . T her e, w e found the A L J’s ste p th re e d e ter m in a tio n w a s n o th in g m o re th a n a b a re c o n c lu sio n a n d th u s c o u ld n o t b e m e a n in g f

u llyre v iew e d . 2 2 0 F .3 d a t 1 1 9 . W e d ire c ted th e A L J th e re to f u lly devel op the r ecor d and expl ai n hi s s t ep thr ee f i ndi ngs , i ncl udi ng an ana l y s i s of w hythe c la im a n t’ s im p a ir m e n ts w e re n o t e q u iv a le n t in s e v e ri ty to th o s e lis te d . I d. a t 1 2 0 . H er e, how ever , the A L J s peci fi cal l yi ndi cat ed thathe had c ons i der ed s ect i on 1. 00, w h ich p ertains to a ll im p airm en ts r elated to the m u scu losk eletal sy stem . 2 0 C . F . R . P art 4 0 4 , S u b p art P , A p p . 1 , § 1 . 0 0 . T h e M R I an d rad iog rap h s o f th e re leva n t areas w ere negat i ve. A ddi t i onal l y , J enki ns had t o s how thats he w as unabl e t o per form fi ne and g ro s s m o v e m e n ts e f

f e c tiv e ly. I

d. Sect i on 1. 04 r el at es t o di s or der s of the s pi ne r es ul t i ng i n compromi s e of a nerve r ootorthe s pi nal cor d. 20 C . F. R . Par t404, Subpar tP, A pp. 1, § 1. 04. Forthe r eas ons e x p la in e d b yth e A L J , J e n k in s s im p ly d o e s n o t m e e t a ll th e c ri te ri a lis te d in s e c tio n 1 .0 4 . T he A L J pr oper l yfound that“[t ] her e w er e no s i gni fi cantfi ndi ngs w i th r es pectt o the l um bos acr al ar ea orneur ol ogi cal defi ci t s . ” Tr. 16. J enki ns had no s ens orychange s i n the u p p e r e x tre m iti e s a n d c o u ld p e rf o rm h e r stra ig h t leg ra isin g tes t to 7 0 d e g re e s. S h e c o u ld t i pt oe, heel w al k, s quat , kneel , and bend w i thoutappar entdi ffi cul tyand had norm al re f le x e s in th e u p p e r e x tr e m itie s w ith f u ll g ri p s tr e n g th . A ccordi ng l ysubst anti al evidence sup po rt s the A L J’ s det erm i nati on that J enk i ns’ im p a irm e n ts d id n o t m a tch a n yo f th o se listed . A lth o u g h th e A L J d id n o t sp e c if ica lly13

stat e w h ich s u b sec ti o n s h e c o n side red in m ak ing h is de term ination , h is find ing s are su f f icie n tlye x p lain e d to a llo w m e a n in g f u l ju d icia l re v iew , an d th a t is w h a t B u rn e tt re q u ir e s . 2 2 0 F .3 d a t 1 1 9 . Jenkins next ar gu es that the A L J i m properl yfou nd she cou l d p erform her past r el evantw or k. W e have al r eadym ent i oned the thr ee s ubs t eps thatar e r el evantt o an in q u ir ya t s te p f

o u r. S e e B u rn e tt , 220 F. 3d at120. “R es i dual funct i onal capa ci ty ” i s w hat the cl ai m anti s “s t i l l abl e t o do des pi t e the l i m i t at i ons caus ed byhi s orheri m pai r m ent ( s ) . ” I d. at121 ( quot i ng Apf

el , 1 8 1 F .3 d a t 3 5 9 n .1 ). T h e A L J d eterm ined that Jen k ins’ o n lyli m it ati o n s w ere in li fti n g o r ca rry ing m o re than 20 pounds and fr equentr eac hi ng and pus hi ng orpul l i ng i nvol vi ng the l eftupper extr emi ty . H e al s o found thatJ enki ns ’ pas tr el evantw or k as a hot el des k cl erk di d not requi re hert o p erform anyw ork-r el at ed acti vit i es that w ere pr ecl ud ed b ythese l i m i t at i ons . T hes e fi ndi ngs ar e s uppor t ed bys ubs t ant i al evi dence , s peci fi cal l y , the o p in io n s o f

D rs . M a h a n a n d B ri s k i, a s w e ll a s D r. M y lo d , a s d is c u s s e d a b o v e . F urtherm ore, i n Jenk i ns’ i nit i al app l i cat i on for ben efi t s, she i nd i cat ed thather hotel desk cl erk j ob had entai l ed w al king, st and i ng , and si t t i ng for fou r hours each, and l i ft i ng l ess than t en pounds . T r . 76. T he D i ct i onar y of O ccupat i onalTi t l es i dent i fi es the j ob of hot el c ler k a s lig h t w o rk , w h ich in v o lv e s lif tin g n o m o re th a n tw e n typ o u n d s a t a tim e , w ith f re q u e n t lif

tin g o r c a rr y in g o f

o b je c ts w e ig h in g u p to te n p o u n d s . D i ct i onar y of O ccupat i onalTi t l es , I. C o d e N o s . 2 3 8 .3 6 7 -0 3 8 , V o l. 1 , p .2 0 9 (4 th e d . R e v . 1 9 9 1 ).A s stated a b o v e, i t i s the claim an t’ s b u rde n to es tablish tha t she is un ab le t o return

to h e r p a s t r e le v a n t w o rk . P l um m er , 1 8 6 F .3 d a t 4 2 8 . O n th is re c o rd , itw a s re a so n a b le forthe A L J t o concl ude thatJ enki ns coul d per form the r equi r ement s of herpas tr el evant w or k. M or eover , the A L J doubt ed the ver aci tyof J enki ns ’ s ubj ect i ve compl ai nt s . I tw as J enki ns ’ bur den t o demonstr at e bym edi cal i ndi cat i ons orfi ndi ngs thatan under l y i ng c o n d i t i o n e x i s t e d , wh i c h wo u l d r e a s o n a b l yb e e x p e c t e d t o p r o d u c e th e s ymp t o ms compl ai ned of. 42 U . S. C . § 423( d) ( 5) ( A ) ; 20 C . F. R . §§ 404. 1529( b) , 416. 929( b) . I f the s ym pt om s s ugges ta gr eat erfunct i onal r es tr i ct i on than i s demonstr at ed bythe obj ect i ve evidence alone, the C om m i ssi on er consi ders evi den ce such as the clai m ant’ s st at em ents , dai l yact i vi t i es , dur at i on and fr equenc yof pai n, m edi cat i on, and tr eatm ent . 20 C . F. R . §§ 404. 1529( c) ( 3) , 416. 929( c) ( 3) . T he C om m i s s i onerhas di s cr et i on t o eval uat e the cr edi bi l i tyof the cl ai m ant ’ s compl ai nt s and dr aw a conc l us i on bas ed upon medi cal f in d in g s a n d o th e r a v a ila b le in f o rm a tio n . T he A L J ’ s r ej ect i on of J enki ns ’ s ubj ect i ve compl ai nt s i s cons i s t entw i th the m e d ic a l e v id e n c e in th is re c o rd . V. A cc o rdin g ly , fo r all the re aso n s set fo rth ab o v e, th e o rde r of the D istri ct C o u rt a f f ir m in g th e A L J ’s re

je c tio n o f

J e n k in s ’ c la im w ill b e a f f ir m e d .