FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEV EN T HC IRC U IT JULY 18, 2007 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 07- 10687 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D. C . Do c k e tNo . 0 6 - 0 0 1 8 0 - C V- T - 2 7 - MAP L E R O Y M I L L E R , P la in tif f - A p p e lla n t, v ersu s C O M M I S S I O N E R O F S O C I A L S E C U R I T Y , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lle e .

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe M i ddl e D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( Ju l y 18, 2007) B efo re D U B IN A , C A RN E S an d F A Y , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:2

L e r o y M ille rap p e a ls th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s a f f irm a n c e o f

th e S o c ia l S e c u r ity A dm i ni s tr a t i on’ s ( “ S S A ” ) de ni a l of s uppl e m e nt a l s e c ur i ty i nc om e ( “ S S I ” ) , 42 U .S .C . § 1 3 8 3 ( c ) ( 3 ) , a n d d is ab ility in s u r a n c e b e n e f its ( “D I B ” ) , 4 2 U .S .C . § 4 0 5 ( g ) . M ille ra r g u e s o n ap p e a l th a t th e A d m in is tr a tiv e L a w J u d g e ( “A L J ” ) e rr o n e o u s ly det erm i ned thatM i l l erw as a per son “ cl osel y app roac hi ng advanced age, ” a s op po se d t o a pers on “ of advanced age, ” i n d et erm i ni ng w hether he w as di sabl ed u n d e rth e S S A ’s M e d ic a l- V o c a tio n a l G u id e lin e s ( “g r id s ” ) . B e c a u s e th e A L J d id notr e l y e xc l us i ve l y on the gr i ds , a nd be c a us e s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e s uppor t s the A LJ ’ s f i n d i n g th a tM i l l e rw a s n o td i s ab l e d , w e a f f i rm. M i l l e rf i l e d a n appl i c a t i on f

orS S I a nd D I B i n M a r c h 2003, a l l e gi ng a di sabl i ng cond i t i on com m enci ng on F ebruary10 , 20 03 . H i s app l i ca t i on w as de ni e d i ni t i a l l y a nd on r e c ons i de r a t i on. M i l l e rr e que s t e d a nd w a s gr a nt e d a he a r i ng by a n A L J . A tthe t i m e of the he a r i ng, M i l l e rw a s 54 y e a r s ol d a nd a hi gh s c hool g r a d u a te . H is p a s t w o r k in c lu d e d d r iv in g a n d u n lo a d in g tru c k s a n d c le a n in g . M i l l erst op ped w orki ng because he c ou l d n otpass the re qu i re d p hysi ca l ex am i n at i o n . T h ereafter, fu rth er h e ex p eri en ced sev eral m ed i cal p ro b l em s, i ncl ud i ng : pass i ng ou t , l ow pu l se ra t e, di ff i cul ty s t andi ng for al on g p er i od of t i m e, f a llin g a s le e p a t a n y tim e , f r e q u e n t u r in a tio n , s w e llin g o f h is le g s , a r th r itis in h is kne e , pa i n i n hi s s houl de ra nd ha nds , a nd a n i nabi l i ty t o s t a nd f orm or e tha n f

i ve3

m i nu t es ata t i m e. A voc a t i ona l e xpe r t( “ V E ” ) a l s o t e s t i f i e d a tthe he a r i ng, i ndi c a t i ng tha the c h a r a c te r iz e d M ille r ’s p a s t w o r k a s m e d iu m to h e a v y a n d u n s k ille d to s e m is k ille d . T he V E t es t i fi ed that , w i th a m axi m um re si du al funct i on al capaci ty ( “ R F C ”) for a r e s tr i c t e d r a nge of

l i ghtw or k a c t i vi ty a nd l i m i t a t i ons i nc l udi ng ( 1) a l t e rna t i ng s i tt i ng a nd s t a ndi ng a tthr e e m i nut e i nt e rva l s , a nd ( 2) no c l i m bi ng, ba l a nc i ng, or dri vi ng , M i l l ercoul d n otperf orm any of hi s pas tw ork. T he V E further t es t i fi ed thatM i l l er ’ s s ki l l s thathe ac qu i re d as are sul tof hi s pas tw ork w ou l d n ottra nsfe r t o othe rs e m i s ki l l e d j obs tha tw e r e c ons i s t e ntw i th the above - de s c r i be d R F C , but th a t th e r e w e r e o th e ru n s k ille d jo b s th a t w o u ld h a v e b e e n ap p r o p r ia te , n a m e ly , a b e n c h w o r k e ro ra s s e m b le r , a p a c k a g e r , a n d ac a s h ie r . A ft erthe heari ng , the A L J i ss ued h i s dec i si on , fi rs tdet erm i ni ng thatM i l l er h a d n o te n g a g e d i n a n ys u b s t a n t i a l g a i n f u l a c t i v i ty s i n c e h i s a l l e g e d o n s e td a t e . As t o M i l l er ’ s i m pai rm ent s, the A L J det erm i ned thatthe m edi ca l evi dence i nd i ca t ed th atM i l l er su ffered fro m h i g h b l o o d p ressu re, o b esi ty, sl eep ap n ea, o st eo arth ri t i s, a nd di abe t e s . T he A L J not e d tha tdoc t or s ha d e va l ua t e d M i l l e r ’ s c om pl a i nt s of h a n d p a in a n d th a t “[ a ]p p a r e n tly [ M ille r ’s ] s y m p to m s [ w e r e ] n o t s e v e r e e n o u g h to w arra nttre atm ent . ” T hu s, the A L J f ou nd thatM i l l er ’ s i m pai rm ent s w er e s ever e, butdi d notm e e torm e di c a l l y e qua l a ny of the l i s t e d i m pa i rm e nt s . T he A L J ne xt4

f ound tha tM i l l e rr e t a i ne d the f ol l ow i ng R F C : “ a f

ul l r a nge of

l i ghtw or k w i th a si t/ st and o pt i on and n o w orki ng ar ou nd hei gh t s, no dri vi ng and n o b al anci ng . ” As t o wh a two r k , i f

a n y , M i l l e rc o u l d p e r f

o rm wi th th a tRF C, th e ALJ d e t e r mi n e d th a th e c o u l d n o tp e r f o rm a n y o f

h i s p a s tr e l e v a n two rk . Th e ALJ not e d tha t , a s a 54- y e a r - ol d, M i l l e rw a s “ a n i ndi vi dua l c l os e l y appr oa c hi ng advanced age” and thatM i l l erhad w ork ski l l s thatw er e tra nsfe rabl e t o o ther s e m is k ille d jo b s . T h e A L J th e n f o u n d th a t, u n d e rg r id s , if M ille rw e r e ab le to p e r f o rm a f u ll r a n g e o f

lig h t w o r k , a f

in d in g o f “n o t d is ab le d ” w o u ld b e r e q u ir e d . T he A L J f

ou nd , ho w ever , thatM i l l er ’ s abi l i ty t o p er form a f ul l ra ng e of l i gh tw ork wa s i mp e d e d b y h i s a d d i t i o n a l e x e r t i o n a l a n d n o n - e x e r t i o n a l l i mi t a t i o n s . Th e ALJ th en u sed th e V E ’ s t est i m o n y, th atso m eo n e o f M i l l er’ s ag e, ed u cat i o n , p ast r e l e va ntw or k e xpe r i e nc e , a nd R F C c oul d pe r f orm j obs a s a be nc h w or ke ror a s s e m bl e r , pa c ka ge r , orc a s hi e r , t o he l p de t e rm i ne w he the rthe r e e xi s t e d a s i gni f i c a ntnum be rof

j obs i n the na t i ona l e c onom y tha tM i l l e rc oul d pe r f orm . T he A L J th u s d e te r m in e d th a t, a lth o u g h M ille r ’s e x e r tio n a l lim ita tio n s p r e v e n te d h im f r o m p e r f o r m in g th e f

u ll r a n g e o f

lig h t w o rk , th e V E ’s te s tim o n y , to g e th e rw ith M i l l e r ’ s c ha r a c t e r i s t i c s a nd the f r a m e w or k of

gr i d rul e 202. 15, r e qui r e d a f i ndi ng of “ notdi s abl e d” be c a us e M i l l e rc oul d a dj us tt o w or k tha te xi s t e d i n s i gni f i c a nt nu m bers i n the nat i on al ec on om y. T he A L J deni ed M i l l er ’ s app l i ca t i on s f or D IB5

and S S I pay m ent s. T he A pp ea l s C ou nci l deni ed re vi ew . T he di stri ctcourt a f f i r m e d the S S A ’ s de c i s i on. O n appe a l , M i l l e ra r gue s tha tthe A L J s houl d ha ve tr e a t e d hi m a s a pe r s on of advanced age, ra ther than a pers on cl osel y app roac hi ng advanced age because, at th e tim e th e A L J r e n d e r e d th e d e c is io n , M ille rw a s “le s s th a n 2 m o n th s s h y o f h is 55th bi r thda y . ” M i l l e rc ont e nds tha tthe di s t i nc t i on w a s s i gni f i c a ntbe c a us e , ha d he be e n c ons i de r e d a pe r s on of a dva nc e d a ge , the f

a c ttha thi s s ki l l s w e r e not tr a ns f e r abl e w oul d ha ve r e qui r e d a f i ndi ng of “ di s abl e d, ” w he r e a s , be i ng c o n s id e r e d a p e r s o n c lo s e ly ap p r o a c h in g a d v a n c e d a g e , th e tr a n s f e r ab ility o f

h is ski l l s w as of no consequence t o the ul t i m at e di sabi l i ty f i nd i ng . M i l l eradm i t s that the A L J w ou l d h ave been corr ec ti n fi nd i ng hi m no tdi sabl ed un der R ul e 202 . 14 , as op po se d t o R ul e 202 . 15 , up on w hi ch the A L J r el i ed. H e non ethel es s a rgues that th e A L J sh o u l d h av e co n si d ered h i m a p erso n o f ad v an ced ag e an d , co n seq u en t l y, f o u n d h im d is ab le d u n d e rR u le 2 0 2 .0 6 . W e r ev iew a s o cial se cu rity ca se to d eter m in e w h eth erth e C o m m issio n er ’s deci si on i s s up po rt ed by subst ant i al evi dence and w hether the corre ctl egal s ta n d a r d s w e r e ap p lie d . L e w is v . C a lla h a n , 1 2 5 F .3 d 1 4 3 6 , 1 4 3 9 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 7 ) . T h e C o m m i ssi o n er’ s d eci si o n w i l l n o tb e d i stu rb ed “ i f, i n l i g h to f th e reco rd as a w hol e , i tappe a r s t o be s uppor t e d by s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e , ” w hi c h i s “ m or e tha n a6

s c in tillaa n d is s u c h r e le v a n t e v id e n c e a s a r e a s o n ab le p e r s o n w o u ld a c c e p t to s u p p o r t ac o n c lu s io n .” I d . a t 1 4 3 9 - 4 0 . A c la im a n t ap p ly in g f

o rd is ab ility b e n e f

its m u s t p r o v e th a t h e is d is ab le d . 2 0 C .F .R . § 4 0 4 .1 5 1 2 ; M o o r e v . B a rn h a r t, 4 0 5 F .3 d 1 2 0 8 , 1 2 1 1 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) . T h e S o ci al S ecu ri ty reg u l at i o n s o u t l i n e a fi v e-st ep seq u en t i al ev al u at i o n p ro cess f orde t e r m i ni ng w he the ra c l a i m a nti s di s abl e d. 20 C . F . R . § 404. 1520; J one s v. A pf e l , 190 F . 3d 1224, 1228 ( 11th C i r . 1999) . F i r s t , the c l a i m a ntm us ts how tha the ha s note nga ge d i n s ubs t a nt i a l ga i nf ul a c t i vi ty . J one s , 190 F . 3d a t1228. S e c ond, he m ustprov e thathe has ase vere i m pai rm entor com bi nat i on of i m pai rm ent s. In s te p th r e e , if

h is im p a irm e n t m e e ts o re q u a ls a lis te d im p a irm e n t, h e is aut om at i ca l l y f

ou nd di sabl ed. If

i tdo es no t , he m ustm ov e on t o st ep four, w here he m us tpr ove tha the i s unabl e t o pe r f orm hi s pa s tr e l e va ntw or k. F i na l l y , i f the c l a i m a ntc a nnotpe r f

or m pa s tr e l e va ntw ork, the n the bur de n s hi f t s t o the C om m i s s i one ri n the f

i f th s t e p t o s how tha tothe rw or k i s a va i l abl e i n s i gni f i c a nt n u m b e r s in th e n a tio n a l e c o n o m y th a t th e c la im a n t is ab le to p e r f o rm . I d . I n a tt e m pt i ng t o m e e ti t s bur de n, the C om m i s s i one rm a y r e l y upon the gr i ds to e s tab lis h th a t o th e rw o r k e x is ts in th e n a tio n a l e c o n o m y th a t th e c la im a n t is ab le t o pe r f or m . P a tt e r s on v. B ow e n, 799 F . 2d 1455, 1458 ( 11th C i r . 1986) . “ T he gr i ds ar e bas ed on the cl ai m ant ’ s r es i du al funct i on al capaci ty, age, educat i on and w ork7

e xpe r i e nc e , a nd i n c a s e s w he r e the y appl y , the y di r e c ta c onc l us i on on the i s s ue of w he the rthe c l a i m a nti s c apabl e of pe r f or m i ng s ubs t a nt i a l ga i nf ul a c t i vi ty i n the na t i ona l e c onom y . ” I d. H ow e ve r , “ [ e ] xc l us i ve r e l i a nc e on the gr i ds i s not ap p r o p r ia te e ith e rw h e n [ a ] c la im a n t is u n ab le to p e r f o rm a f u ll r a n g e o f

w o rk a t a gi ven fun ct i on al l evel or w hen a cl ai m anthas non -e xert i on al i m pai rm ent s that s i gni f i c a nt l y l i m i tba s i c w or k s ki l l s . ” W a l ke rv. B ow e n, 826 F . 2d 996, 1002- 03 ( 11th C i r . 1987) ( quot a t i on om i tt e d) . “ W he n the gr i ds a r e notc ontr ol l i ng, the pref erre d m etho d o f dem on stra t i ng j ob avai l abi l i ty i s throu gh expertvo ca t i on al t e s t i m ony . ” I d. a t1003. W e ha ve e xpl a i ne d tha tthe C om m i s s i one r“ m a y notappl y the gr i ds i n a m ech an i st i c fash i o n o n th e b asi s o f a cl ai m an t ’ s ag e, i n o rd er t o est ab l i sh c o n c lu s iv e ly a c la im a n t’s a d ap tab ility to a n e w w o rk e n v ir o n m e n t.” I d . a t 1 0 0 2 . W hi l e the C om m i s s i one rm a y r e l y upon the c l a i m a nt ’ s a ge a s e vi de nc e of adapt abi l i ty t o a new w ork env i ronm ent , the cl ai m antm aythen p roff er“ subst ant i al c r e di bl e e vi de nc e tha thi s abi l i ty t o a dapti s l e s s tha n the l e ve l e s t abl i s he d unde rthe g r id s f o rp e r s o n s h is a g e .” R e e v e s v . H e c k le r , 7 3 4 F .2 d 5 1 9 , 5 2 5 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 8 4 ) . I f the c l a i m a ntpr e s e nt s s uc h e vi de nc e , the C om m i s s i one r“ c a nnotr e l y on the a ge f a c t orof the gr i ds a nd m us ti ns t e a d e s t abl i s h the c l a i m a nt ’ s abi l i ty t o a daptt o a new w ork env i ronm entby i nd ependentevi dence” and , thu s, the di stri ctcourt8

w oul d be r e qui r e d t o r e m a nd the c a s e t o the C om m i s s i one rf orr e c ons i de r a t i on of the i s s ue . I d. ; s e e a l s o P a tt e r s on, 799 F . 2d a t1458- 59. “ I f , on the othe rha nd, the c l a i m a ntdoe s notm a ke s uc h a pr of f e r , the A L J ’ s m e c ha ni s t i c us e of the a ge gr i ds w oul d be ha r m l e s s e rr ora nd the r e w oul d be no ne e d t o r e m a nd t o the [ C o m m is s io n e r ].” P a tte r s o n , 7 9 9 F .2 d a t 1 4 5 9 . In co n si d eri n g a cl ai m an t ’ s ag e as a v o cat i o n al fact o r, th e S S A d efi n es a

“ pe r s on c l os e l y appr oa c hi ng a dva nc e d a ge ” a s s om e one w ho i s be tw e e n the a ge s of 50 a nd 54, a nd a “ pe r s on of a dva nc e d a ge ” a s s om e one 55 y e a r s ’ ol d orol de r . 20 C .F .R . § 4 0 4 .1 5 6 3 ( d ) , ( e ) . A c c o r d in g to th e g r id s , T ab le 2 ap p lie s to p e r s o n s w ith a R F C th a t a llo w s lim ite d to lig h t w o rk . 2 0 C .F .R . p t. 4 0 4 , s u b p t. P , ap p . 2 , tab le n o . 2 . U n d e rR u le 2 0 2 .0 6 , a p e r s o n o f a d v a n c e d a g e , w h o is a h ig h s c h o o l g r a d u a te or m ore, w here thateducat i on al l evel do es no tprov i de for di re ctentryi nt o ski l l ed w ork, and h as ski l l ed or se m i -s ki l l ed ski l l s thatar e nottra nsfe rabl e i s c at egori ze d as “ di sabl ed. ” 20 C . F . R . pt . 40 4, subp t . P , app. 2, t abl e no. 2, § 2 02 . 06 . H ow ever , a p e r s o n w ith th o s e s a m e c h a r a c te r is tic s , e x c e p t th a t h is s k ills a r e tr a n s f e r ab le , is c a t e gor i z e d a s “ notdi s abl e d. ” I d. a t§ 202. 07. A pe r s on c l os e l y appr oa c hi ng a dva nc e d a ge , w ho i s a hi gh s c hool gr a dua t e a nd ha s e i the rtr a ns f e r abl e ornontr a n s f e r ab le s k ills , is c a te g o r iz e d a s “n o t d is ab le d .” I d . a t § § 2 0 2 .1 4 , 2 0 2 .1 5 . M i l l e r ’ s a r gum e nt , tha tthe A L J s houl d ha ve tr e a t e d hi m a s a pe r s on of9

advanced age, i s w i tho utm er i tfor tw o rea sons. F i rs t , the tre atm entof M i l l eras e i the ra pe r s on of

a dva nc e d a ge orc l os e l y appr oa c hi ng a dva nc e d a ge unde rthe gr i ds i s e s s e nt i a l l y the or e t i c a l be c a us e the A L J di d notr e l y e xc l us i ve l y on the gr i ds in m a k in g th e d is ab ility d e te r m in a tio n . A s d is c u s s e d ab o v e , w h e r e a c la im a n t is un abl e t o p er form a f

ul l ra ng e of w ork ata gi ven fun ct i on al l evel or has n o n -ex ert i o n al i m p ai rm en t s th atsi g n i fi can t l y l i m i tb asi c w o rk sk i l l s, th e A L J m u st note xc l us i ve l y r e l y upon the gr i ds ; r a the r , the A L J s houl d c ons i de rt e s t i m ony of the V E t o e s t abl i s h j ob a va i l abi l i ty . S e e W a l ke r , 826 F . 2d a t1002- 03. H e r e , the A L J c orre ct l y f

ol l ow ed W al ker’ s r equi re m ent s. A tst ep fi ve of the se qu ent i al e v a lu a tio n p r o c e s s , th e A L Jd e te rm in e d th a t, a lth o u g h th e g r id s w o u ld o r d in a r ily s uppor ta f

i ndi ng of “ notdi s abl e d” i n M i l l e r ’ s c a s e , the A L J ne e de d t o ut i l i z e the V E ’ s t es t i m on y t o est abl i sh w hether asi gn i fi ca ntnu m ber of j ob s e xi st ed for M i l l er in th e n a tio n a l e c o n o m y b e c a u s e M ille r ’s ab ility to p e r f o rm a ll o rs u b s ta n tia lly a ll of the r e qui r e m e nt s of

l i ghtw or k w a s i m pe de d by hi s e xe r t i ona l a nd none x e r tio n a l lim ita tio n s . M ille rd o e s n o t c h a lle n g e th e A L J ’s f a c tu a l f in d in g s w ith r e ga r d t o hi s R F C orthe c onc l us i on tha the c oul d notpe r f orm a f ul l r a nge of

l i ght w or k. G i ve n the V E ’ s t e s t i m ony tha tthe r e e xi s t e d thr e e ty pe s of j obs i n s i gni f

i c a nt n u mb e r s i n th e n a t i o n a l e c o n o my th a ta p e r s o n w i th M i l l e r ’ s RFC c o u l d p e r f o rm, subst ant i al evi dence s up po rt s the A L J’ s c on cl usi on that , because the C om m i ss i on erIt is noteworthy that the ALJexpli citly

indicated that his determination was base d upon 1 the VE’s te stimony , Miller’s RFC and other characteristics, and the framewor k of Rule 202.15. Rul e20 2. 15 c on sidersa

pers on c los e ly a pp ro a c hinga dv anc e d ag e . 2 0 C. F .R. pt. 40 4, su bp t. P , app. 2, table no. 2, § 202.15. Even assumingwithout decidingthat the ALJ ’s findingthat Miller wa s a pers on c los e ly a pp ro a c hinga dv anc e d ag ewa s erron e ou s, that error wa s h armle ss b e c a

us e substantial evidence(e.g ., the VE’s te stimony and Miller’s RF C) supported the f inding that other jobs wereavailablethat Miller could perform. See Jones, 190 F.3d at 1228; W alker , 826 F.2d at1003. 10 m e ti t s b u r d e n a ts t e p f

i v e , Mi l l e rd i d n o td e m o n s tr a t e th a th e wa s d i s ab l e d . As 1 s u c h , th e A L J ’s d e c is io n w a s n o t m a d e in r e lia n c e u p o n th e g r id s a n d , th u s , a d e te r m in a tio n o f

w h e th e rM ille rw a s a p e r s o n o f a d v a n c e d a g e o rc lo s e ly ap p r o a c h in g a d v a n c e d a g e w a s n o t n e c e s s a ry . S eco n d , assu m i n g w i th o u td eci d i n g th atth e A L J rel i ed so l el y u p o n th e g ri d s, th e A L J ’s c a te g o r iz a tio n o f M ille ra s a p e r s o n c lo s e ly ap p r o a c h in g a d v a n c e d a g e is s uppor t e d by s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e . A dm i tt e dl y , M i l l e rw a s 54 y e a r s ’ ol d a tthe t i m e of the heari ng and the A L J’ s dec i si on . T here fore , the A L J’ s i ni t i al det erm i nat i on thatM i l l erw as a per son cl osel y app roac hi ng advanced age w as corr ec t . S ee 20 C . F . R . § 4 04 . 15 63 (d). U nd erou r pre ce dent , i f acl ai m antw i shes t o e s t abl i s h tha thi s abi l i ty t o a daptw a s l e s s tha n the l e ve l e s t abl i s he d unde rthe g r id s f o rp e r s o n s h is a g e , h e m u s t p r o f f e re v id e n c e te n d in g to e s tab lis h th a t f a c t. S ee R ee ves, 73 4 F . 2d at52 5. If the cl ai m antm akes such a s ho w i ng , the di stri ct c o u r t is r e q u ir e d to r e m a n d th e c a s e to th e C o m m is s io n e rf o rr e c o n s id e r a tio n in l i ghtof the e vi de nc e . S e e P a tt e r s on, 799 F . 2d a t1458- 59. I n hi s br i e f s be f or e theMiller also argues that the district cour t erre d in concludingthat the ALJcould have 2 properly found, under

Rule 202.08, that Miller was a person of advance d ag e and not disable d. However, bec ause w e review the ALJ ’s deter mination, and, here , that decision is supported by substantial evidence , we ne ed not consider the district court’s reasoning . See Graham v. B owen, 790 F.2d 1572, 1575 ( 11th Cir. 1986) (explaining that, “[t]he question is notwhether substantial e videnc esu

pp or ts a findingmadeby

thedis tric t c ourt

but whether sub sta

nti al evidenc esu

pp or ts a findingmade by

the” Commissioner). 11 di stri ctcourtand thi s C ou rt , M i l l er ’ s onl y r ea son i n sup po rtof hi s c on t ent i on that h e s h o u l d h a v e b e e n tr e a t e d a s a p e r s o n o f a d v a n c e d a g e i s th a th e wa s o n l y two m o n th s s h o r t o f

tu rn in g 5 5 a t th e tim e o f th e h e a r in g a n d th e A L J ’s d e c is io n . N othi ng i n M i l l er ’ s a rgum entsugg es t s thathi s abi l i ty t o adaptt o n ew w ork e n v ir o n m e n ts w a s le s s th a n th e le v e l e s tab lis h e d u n d e rth e g r id s f o rp e r s o n s h is ag e. T h u s, to th e e x ten t th at th e A L J r elied ex clu siv ely o n th e g rid s, th e A L J’s m ec hani st i c use of the age gri ds w as harm l es s e rr or. S ee P att er son, 79 9 F . 2d at 1459. 2 In co n cl u si o n , th e q u est i o n o f w h eth er M i l l er sh o u l d h av e b een treat ed as a pers on of advanced age or cl osel y app roac hi ng advanced age w as i ncon se qu ent i al because the A L J di d n otre l y e xcl usi vel y on the gri ds and sub st ant i al evi dence s uppor t e d the A L J ’ s de t e r m i na t i on tha tM i l l e rw a s notdi s abl e d. A c c or di ngl y , the d is tr ic t c o u r t’s a f

f irm a n c e o f

th e C o m m is s io n e r ’s d e n ia l o f D I B a n d S S I p a y m e n ts is AF F I RME D.