Opinion ID: 462376
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Proper Consideration of Pain Evidence and Resulting Credibility Determination

Text: Mrs. Gibson contends that the ALJ erroneously required objective medical evidence to support her testimonial assertions of severe, disabling pain. The ALJ held: While pain, in itself, can be of sufficient severity to produce a disability, the Administrative Law Judge concludes that the claimant's allegations of pain so severe that she cannot engage in any substantial gainful activity are not credible; therefore, claimant's pain is not of sufficient severity to produce disability. ALJ opinion of June 30, 1982 (emphasis added). It is well established that reversible error exists if complaints of subjective pain are disregarded simply because they are not supported by objective clinical and laboratory medical findings. Diorio v. Heckler, 721 F.2d 726, 728-29 (11th Cir.1983); Smith, 646 F.2d at 1082 (citation omitted); Walden, 672 F.2d at 840. In this case, however, the ALJ did not ignore Mrs. Gibson's claim of severe pain; he merely determined that her claim was not credible. Gaultney v. Weinberger, 505 F.2d 943, 945-46 (5th Cir.1974). This credibility decision was within the realm of the Secretary's judgment. See Arnold v. Heckler, 732 F.2d 881, 884 (11th Cir.1984) (citing Chaney v. Califano, 588 F.2d 958, 960 (5th Cir.1979)). The ALJ must necessarily review the medical evidence and make a credibility determination in assessing the claimant's disability on the basis of pain. Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1242 (11th Cir.1983). When the ALJ's statement is read in context, it is clear that the ALJ determined that the claims of severe pain were not credible and that Mrs. Gibson's pain was not sufficient to be disabling in itself. See Arnold, 732 F.2d at 883-84. This determination was not clearly erroneous.