Opinion ID: 2996078
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: analysis

Text: We must affirm the factual findings of the ALJ if they are supported by substantial evidence. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Scott v. Barnhart, 297 F.3d 589, 593 (7th Cir. 2002). However, where the Commissioner’s decision “lacks evidentiary support or is so poorly articulated as to prevent meaningful review, the case must be remanded.” Steele v. Barnhart, 290 F.3d 936, 940 (7th Cir. 2002). No. 02-1365 3
The Social Security Administration’s determination of Robert’s claim was made under the Interim Final Rules adopted by the Commissioner in accordance with the changes to children’s disability benefits in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. See 42 U.S.C. § 1382c. Under the Act, to be considered disabled, a child must have a “physical or mental impairment, which results in marked and severe functional limitations, and which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” Id. § 1382c(a)(3)(C)(I). In order to understand the ALJ’s determination in this case we think it necessary to outline the process of determining disability under the new rules. A three-step process is employed to decide whether a child is disabled. First, if the child is engaged in substantial gainful activity, his or her claim is denied. 20 C.F.R. § 416.924(a). Second, if the child does not have a medically determinable “severe” impairment or combination of impairments, then his or her claim is denied. Id. Finally, for a child to be considered disabled, the child’s impairment(s) must meet, medically equal, or functionally equal the requirements of a listed impairment in 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1. Id. To find an impairment functionally equivalent to a listing, an ALJ must analyze its severity in five age-appropriate categories and find an “extreme” limitation in one category or a “marked” limitation in two categories. 20 C.F.R. § 416.926a(a).1 It is at this third step—determining whether Robert’s impair- 1 For children ages three to six, an ALJ examines the categories of limitation including cognition/communication, motor skills, social skills, personal skills, and concentration/persistence/pace. 20 C.F.R. § 416.926a(g)-(1). 4 No. 02-1365 ments meet or medically equal a listing or are functionally equivalent to a listing—that the ALJ determined Robert is not disabled. We begin our discussion with the ALJ’s finding that Robert’s impairment does not meet nor is medically equal to a listing. See 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1 (the “listings”). Robert applied for benefits under three listings: 102.08 (hearing impairments), 112.06 (anxiety disorders),2 and 112.11 (attention deficit hyperactive disorder).3 See id. The ALJ’s finding that Robert did not qualify as disabled because he did not meet listing requirements 102.08, 112.06, or 112.11 is extremely brief: The claimant has a combination of severe impair- ments which include: speech and language delays, recurrent otitis media, and ADD. However, none of these impairments meet the requirements of