Here, the ALJ found that Ms. Saleem had no past relevant work. Reaching step five, he found, however, that she retained the residual functional capacity to perform the full range of light work, reduced by her need to avoid climbing, heights, moving machinery, and driving automotive equipment. Ms. Saleem challenges the ALJ's decision that her personality disorder and substance abuse disorder did not meet a listed impairment. We agree that the ALJ failed to evaluate properly Ms. Saleem's pain. This failure is closely tied to his evaluation of her substance addiction.
Drug addiction is a nonexertional impairment.
In order to establish disability based on drug addiction, a claimant must prove both that she has lost the ability to control her use of the drug, and that her addiction, either alone or in combination with her other impairments, precludes her from engaging in substantial gainful activity. The Appeals Council remanded this case to the ALJ to determine whether Ms. Saleem could control her intake of her prescription medications. He employed a consulting psychologist, psychiatrist, and neurologist, all of whom opined that Ms. Saleem was addicted to her medications. P, App. 1, 12.09. The ALJ's decision is less than ideally clear on this point.