Opinion ID: 62183
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Hernandez’s Credibility

Text: Finally, Hernandez argues that the Commissioner’s finding that he lacked credibility was not based on the proper legal standard because the ALJ simply declared him not credible without supporting justification. This court has held that although an ALJ “is bound . . . to explain his reasons for rejecting a claimant’s complaints of pain,” he is not required to “follow formalistic rules in his articulation.” Falco v. Shalala, 27 F.3d 160, 164 (5th Cir. 1994). Here, the ALJ expressly recognized that he must consider “all symptoms, including pain, and the extent to which these symptoms can reasonably be accepted as consistent with the objective medical evidence and other evidence based on requirements of 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529 and SSR 96-7p.” In so doing, he gave Hernandez “the benefit of the doubt as to his subjective allegations of pain” but gave the “greatest weight” to Dr. Arizmendez’s opinion. As the district court explained, Dr. Arizmendez’s report acknowledges that Hernandez has significant impairment but notes inconsistencies between Hernandez’s subjective account of his symptoms and her diagnostic observations. As a result, the ALJ did in fact consider Hernandez’s subjective complaints but ultimately determined that they were inconsistent with Dr. Arizmendez’s evaluations—and with those of the “[o]ther treating practitioners [who had] released him to heavier levels of exertion” for that matter. An ALJ may discount a claimant’s subjective complaints when the alleged impairments contradict the medical evidence. Anthony, 954 F.2d at 295; Jones v. Heckler, 702 F.2d 616, 621 n.4 (5th Cir. 1983). Accordingly, the Commissioner applied the correct legal standard and substantial evidence supports his finding regarding Hernandez’s credibility.