Opinion ID: 222830
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: analysis

Text: We review an ALJ's disability determination deferentially, upholding it if it is supported by substantial evidence. Skinner v. Astrue, 478 F.3d 836, 841 (7th Cir.2007). Evidence is substantial if a reasonable person would accept it as sufficient to support the decision. Jens v. Barnhart, 347 F.3d 209, 212 (7th Cir.2003). While we will not hesitate to reverse a ruling that lacks evidentiary support, we will not reweigh the evidence that the parties presented or substitute our judgment for that of the ALJ. Schmidt v. Apfel, 201 F.3d 970, 972 (7th Cir.2000). To receive disability benefits under the Social Security Act, a claimant must be disabled as defined by the Act. 42 U.S.C. § 423(a)(1)(E). A claimant qualifies as disabled if he is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment 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. 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). Moreover, a claimant's physical or mental impairment or impairments must be of such severity that he is not only unable to do his previous work but cannot, considering his age, education and work experience, engage in any other kind of substantial gainful work which exists in the national economy. 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(2)(A). When determining whether or not an individual is disabled, we use a five-step sequential analysis. Craft v. Astrue, 539 F.3d 668, 673 (7th Cir.2008). The first step considers whether the applicant is engaging in substantial gainful activity. The second step evaluates whether an alleged physical or mental impairment is severe, medically determinable, and meets a durational requirement. The third step compares the impairment to a list of impairments that are considered conclusively disabling. If the impairment meets or equals one of the listed impairments, then the applicant is considered disabled; if the impairment does not meet or equal a listed impairment, then the evaluation continues. The fourth step assesses an applicant's residual functional capacity (RFC) and ability to engage in past relevant work. If an applicant can engage in past relevant work, he is not disabled. The fifth step assesses the applicant's RFC, as well as his age, education, and work experience to determine whether the applicant can engage in other work. If the applicant can engage in other work, he is not disabled. Id. at 674. The claimant bears the burden of proof in each of the first four steps. Briscoe v. Barnhart, 425 F.3d 345, 352 (7th Cir.2005). The government bears the burden of proof at the fifth step and must present evidence establishing that the claimant possesses the residual functional capacity [2] to perform work that exists in a significant quantity in the national economy. 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(2)(A); Liskowitz v. Astrue, 559 F.3d 736, 740 (7th Cir.2009). ALJs often rely heavily on two sources of occupational information to determine whether the government has met its burden: the DOT and Vocational Experts. The DOT, published by the Department of Labor, provides standardized occupational information, including the most typical characteristics of jobs as they exist throughout the American economy. It classifies jobs based on a number of factors, such as worker actions, exertional level and skill requirements in order to facilitate the placement of applicants in positions that match their qualifications. The DOT has played a prominent role in social security hearings and ALJs are required to take administrative notice of the DOT under Social Security regulations. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1566(d)(1); 20 C.F.R. § 416.966(d)(1). Vocational Experts often supplement the information provided in the DOT by providing an impartial assessment of the types of occupations in which claimants can work and the availability of positions in such occupations. Liskowitz v. Astrue, 559 F.3d 736, 743 (7th Cir.2009). The decision whether to employ a VE at a hearing is a matter entrusted to the discretion of ALJs, Ehrhart v. Secretary of H.H.S., 969 F.2d 534, 540 (7th Cir.1992), but once an ALJ decides to rely on a VE's testimony, he must make sure that the testimony comports with the rules set forth in the Commissioner's Social Security Rulings. For instance, Social Security Ruling 00-4p requires ALJs to ask whether a VE's testimony conflicts with information provided in the DOT before relying on the VE's testimony. Social Security Ruling 00-4p at 4; Overman v. Astrue, 546 F.3d 456, 462-63 (7th Cir.2008). Ruling 00-4p does not require ALJs to wholly disregard a VE's testimony because part of it disagrees with the DOT, but it does require ALJs to resolve discrepancies between the two before relying on the conflicting testimony. Overman, 546 F.3d at 464; Jens, 347 F.3d at 213. On appeal, Weatherbee argues that the ALJ committed three discrete errors when determining whether he could work in other positions and that each of these errors is serious enough to merit setting aside the ALJ's findings. First, he contends that the ALJ did not adequately inquire into whether the VE's testimony was consistent with the DOT. Second, he asserts that the ALJ failed to investigate and resolve discrepancies between the VE's testimony and the DOT. Finally, he challenges the ALJ's determination that the jobs he could perform existed in significant numbers. These objections get us to a fine-tuned disentanglement of the relevant arguments.