Opinion ID: 486459
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Findings Regarding Pain

Text: 15 The Secretary is not required to believe Gamer's pain testimony and may disregard entirely such testimony if Gamer does not submit objective medical findings establishing a medical impairment that could reasonably be expected to produce the claimed pain. See Green, 803 F.2d at 531-32; 42 U.S.C. Sec. 423(d)(2)(A). The Secretary must, however, make specific findings justifying the decision. Martinez, 807 F.2d at 773. It is improper as a matter of law to discredit excess pain testimony solely on the ground that it is not fully corroborated by objective medical findings. Cotton, 799 F.2d at 1407. 16 In this case the ALJ made only a general finding that [t]he claimant's complaints of debilitating pain and functional loss are not supported by the medical evidence of record. The ALJ did not state to which complaint of pain he was referring or what medical evidence suggested that Gamer's claim of pain was not credible. 17 The findings regarding pain are not sufficient. Although the ALJ found that Gamer's complaints of pain were not supported by the medical record, he concluded that Gamer was incapable of lifting and carrying with the left upper extremity and fine manipulation and dexterity of the left upper extremity. The medical reports also confirm the existence of pain. Thus, the objective evidence establishes the existence of significant pain in Gamer's arm and hand, and the findings do not justify the ALJ's decision to disregard this evidence. 18 Even if the finding regarding pain is interpreted to disregard only the pain in excess of the medical evidence, the finding is inadequate. Gamer testified at the hearing to severe back pain in excess of that supported by the medical evidence. Because the excess pain is associated with a clinically demonstrated impairment, the ALJ is required to consider the testimony. Id. The fact that the testimony was not fully supported by the medical evidence is not in itself a sufficient reason for discrediting the testimony. Id.