Case Name: David STAGGERS, Appellant, v. Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-07-19
Citations: 106 F. App'x 104
Docket Number: No. 03-4507
Parties: David STAGGERS, Appellant, v. Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 106
Pages: 104–106

Head Matter:
David STAGGERS, Appellant, v. Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration.
No. 03-4507.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a) July 16, 2004.
Decided July 19, 2004.
Peter J. Pinnola, Pinnola & Bomstein, Elkins Park, PA, for Appellant.
Sandra Gavin, Social Security Administration, Philadelphia, PA, for Appellee.
Before: SLOVITER, BARRY and WEIS, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION
WEIS, Circuit Judge.
Claimant was granted SSI benefits as of March 9, 1999 when he attained the age of 55 years. His claim in this case is for past due benefits for Social Security Disability and/or SSI for the period beginning on December 30,1993.
Claimant was bom in 1944 and has a sixth-grade education. He was previously employed as a laborer in the construction industry.
Following the standard pattern of evaluating the claimant's ability to work, the ALJ at the fifth step found that claimant was unable to return to his previous heavy labor employment. After reviewing the exhibits and hearing evidence from a medical expert, as well as a vocational expert, the ALJ determined that claimant could perform such jobs as a light-duty hand packer or packager, a light-duty hand trimmer or cutter, and a general laborer at both the light and sedentary levels. These findings took into account the claimant's need for the option to sit or stand as described by the medical expert.
The decisions of both the ALJ and the magistrate judge detail the claimant's medical history. We need not repeat it here. Essentially, the record established that claimant suffers from hypertension, hypertensive-cardiovascular disease, disco-genic disease of the lumbar spine, and very limited vision in the left eye. The medical reports noted that claimant had not been taking the medication prescribed for his hypertension. During the hearing, Dr. Lewis testified that claimant had the ability to perform light work with a sit or stand option.
On appeal to the District Court, the case was assigned to a magistrate judge who prepared a comprehensive report and recommended that summary judgment be granted to the Commissioner. The District Judge adopted the report and entered judgment for the defendant.
On appeal to this Court, claimant contends that the ALJ failed to consider the erosion of the occupational base and its significance. Claimant also argues that there was insufficient evidence to support the ALJ's finding that he could perform light and sedentary jobs.
Claimant relies on Boone v. Barnhart, 353 F.3d 203 (3d Cir.2004), where we remanded for further proceedings. In that case, we said, "we shall not interpret SSR 83-12 to mandate reversal whenever the ALJ does not set out specific findings concerning the erosion of the occupational base if, as here, the ALJ has received the assistance of a vocational expert in considering the more precise question whether there are a significant number of jobs in the economy that the claimant can perform." Id. at 210.
In the case before us, the ALJ had the benefit of vocational expert testimony, particularly with respect to the limitations imposed by the sit or stand option. We conclude that Boone is distinguishable and does not control the outcome here. See also Jones v. Barnhart, 364 F.3d 501, 506 n. 6 (3d Cir.2004).
From our review of the record, we are persuaded that the ALJ did not err in concluding there were a substantial number of light and sedentary jobs in the national economy that claimant can perform.
Accordingly, we will affirm the judgment of the District Court.