Opinion ID: 470409
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Assessing Subjective Complaints of Disabling Pain

Text: 32 Caulder's other main contention on appeal is that the ALJ applied an erroneous legal standard in evaluating his subjective complaints of pain. Caulder alleges that he suffers from chest pain as well as from low back pain and leg cramps. Both Caulder and his wife testified as to the extent of the pain. The ALJ stated that he did not find Caulder's testimony credible because his description of an invalid-type existence ... was not convincingly supported by the objective medical findings and other evidence in the record. Caulder asserts that it is improper to require objective clinical evidence to prove disabling pain. 33 This court recently has restated the standard of review for subjective allegations of pain in light of section 3(a)(1) of the Social Security Disability Benefits Reform Act of 1984, Pub.L. No. 98-460, 98 Stat. 1794. See Hand v. Heckler, 761 F.2d 1545 (11th Cir.), vacated and rehearing en banc granted on other grounds sub. nom. Parker v. Heckler, 774 F.2d 428 (11th Cir.1985). The Secretary as well as the district court are, of course, bound to apply the standard articulated in the new legislation. On remand, the Secretary must apply the new standard to this case in light of the new evidence and determine whether objective medical impairments could reasonably be expected to produce the pain complained of. Landry v. Heckler, 782 F.2d 1551, 1553 (11th Cir.1986); see also Davis v. Heckler, 759 F.2d 432, 437 (5th Cir.1985). As to Caulder's assertion that the ALJ did not assess the complaint of chest pains at all, we note that disregard of such complaints without articulating the reason is inappropriate because it deprives a reviewing court of the ability to determine the validity of that action. When rejecting the credibility of a claimant's testimony, an ALJ must articulate the grounds for that decision. Owens v. Heckler, 748 F.2d 1511, 1516 (11th Cir.1984).