Case Name: Deborah E. RUSH, Appellant, v. Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of Social Security Administration
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2002-08-15
Citations: 45 F. App'x 191
Docket Number: No. 02-1066
Parties: Deborah E. RUSH, Appellant, v. Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of Social Security Administration
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 45
Pages: 191–193

Head Matter:
Deborah E. RUSH, Appellant, v. Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of Social Security Administration
No. 02-1066.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted July 30, 2002.
Decided Aug. 15, 2002.
Before BECKER, Chief Judge, ROTH, and RENDELL, Circuit Judges.
(Pursuant to F.R.A.P. 43(c)).

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
RENDELL, Circuit Judge.
Deborah Rush applied for Supplemental Security Insurance and Disability Insurance Benefits, alleging disability due to carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative joint disease, arthritis, and hypertension. The Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") denied Rush's claims, finding that she was not "disabled" as defined by the Social Security Act.
The District Court affirmed, holding that "substantial evidence" supported the ALJ's denial of Rush's claim. Rush appeals from the District Court's grant of summary judgment in favor of the Commissioner of Social Security.
The District Court had jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), and we have jurisdiction on appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Our standard of review requires us to determine whether there the ALJ's determination was based on "substantial evidence." Substantial evidence is "such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Richardson v. Pe-rales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S.Ct. 1420, 28 L.Ed.2d 842 (1971).
The ALJ denied Rush's application at step five of the sequential evaluation process, finding that she retained the residual functional capacity ("RFC") to perform the physical exertion requirements of light work with certain specified restrictions and that jobs existed in the national economy which she was able to perform. The ALJ's decision regarding her RFC was based in part upon the objective medical evidence, including the medical records of Rush's treating physicians, and in part upon the fact that Rush continued to maintain a full range of daily living activities. In reaching her conclusion, the ALJ specifically rejected Rush's subjective complaints due to conflicts with objective medical evidence. Finally, the ALJ relied on the vocational expert's opinion that based on Rush's RFC, age, education, and past work, a significant number of jobs existed in both the regional and national economies.
Rush first claims that the ALJ failed to adequately consider the Medical Listings at step three of the sequential process. We decline to address this issue, however, as Rush raises it for the first time on appeal.
Rush raises three additional arguments considered by the District Court: (1) the ALJ erred in finding that Rush's RFC relegated her to a range of light rather than sedentary work, (2) the ALJ did not properly evaluate the medical evidence of record, and (3) the, ALJ did not properly evaluate Rush's credibility. After a thorough review of the record, and giving due consideration to the briefs filed in this appeal, we believe that the ALJ carefully considered the evidence in this case and his denial of her claim was supported by substantial evidence.
We do agree with Rush that the range of work the ALJ concluded she was able to perform is more properly characterized as sedentary rather than light work as defined at 20 C.F.R. § 416.967. Specifically, the ALJ determined that "claimant has the residual functional capacity to perform the exertional demands of light work, with the restrictions that she needs a sit-stand option, must not engage in any prolonged standing or walking, must not engage in continuous repetitive motions of her hands and wrists, and needs to elevate her legs." Based on this detailed RFC, and not a general ability to do "light work," the ALJ determined that there were jobs existing in the national economy which she could perform. Rush adduced no medical evidence that any of her medical impairments rendered her unable to do the type of work the ALJ found her capable of. Therefore, whether her capacity was labeled as light or sedentary, the ALJ's ultimate conclusion would remain the same.
Accordingly, we will AFFIRM the District Court's order.