Opinion ID: 222918
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: standard of review

Text: We review the district court’s social security determination de novo. Valley v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 427 F.3d 388, 390 (6th Cir. 2005). The Commissioner’s decision must be affirmed unless its factual determinations are unsupported by substantial evidence, or the decision was arrived at with reference to improper legal standards. Rogers v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 486 F.3d 234, 241 (6th Cir. 2007). We have interpreted “substantial evidence” to mean “more than a scintilla of evidence but less than a preponderance; and is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Brainard v. Sec. of Health and Human Servs., 889 F.2d 679, 681 (6th Cir. 1989). “Even if supported by substantial evidence, however, a decision of the Commissioner will not be upheld where the [Social Security Administration] fails to follow its own regulations and where that error prejudices a claimant on the merits or deprives the claimant of a substantial right.” 9 No. 09-4524 Bowen v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 478 F.3d 742, 746 (6th Cir. 2007) (citing Wilson v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 378 F.3d 541, 546-47 (6th Cir. 2004)).