Opinion ID: 1234912
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Tommasetti's Relevant Personal and Medical History

Text: Tommasetti was 53 years old on the alleged date of onset of his medical conditions at issue here, and he was 59 years old when his disability insurance expired in December 1999. Tommasetti attended college in Italy, has training in electronics, and previously worked as an electronics technician and TV repair person. He was involved in a car accident in April 1994 and was in pain until October 1994. Later that year he fell off a ladder while working. He was involved in subsequent car accidents in 1999 and 2000. While Tommasetti saw several physicians, at issue on appeal is Dr. Andrea Nachenberg's reports based on her intermittent treatment of Tommasetti. [1] Dr. Nachenberg first saw Tommasetti in March 1995, at which time she noted his claims of back pain and inability to stay in one position for more than ten minutes. Upon conducting a physical exam she noted no evidence of weakness and minimal tenderness on palpation. She diagnosed a probable lumbosacral strain superimposed on osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. She saw him again in July 1996 for right shoulder and right knee pain, and in October 1996 for lower back pain. An x-ray of his back revealed spurring and narrowing of the L4-5 and L5-S1 interspaces. Tommasetti again saw Dr. Nachenberg in March 1997 and November 1997 about lower back pain. In December 1997, Dr. Nachenberg wrote a letter that summarized Tommasetti's medical history and concluded that she did not expect him to recover significantly at this time. Dr. Nachenberg next saw Tommasetti in September 1998 and completed a Musculoskeletal System Residual Functional Capacity Questionnaire (Questionnaire). She stated that Tommasetti could sit continuously for ten minutes, and for up to four hours in an eight-hour workday; stand continuously for thirty minutes, and for up to two hours in an eight-hour workday; required use of a lumbosacral corset; and could at most occasionally lift ten pounds.