Court Opinion

ID: 728221
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-04-17 10:43:27+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:14:15.007288
License: Public Domain

98 F.3d 1335
NOTICE: Fourth Circuit Local Rule 36(c) states that citation of unpublished dispositions is disfavored except for establishing res judicata, estoppel, or the law of the case and requires service of copies of cited unpublished dispositions of the Fourth Circuit.Henry TANNER, Plaintiff-Appellant,v.Shirley S. CHATER, Commissioner of Social Security,Defendant-Appellee.
No. 95-3058.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Oct. 3, 1996.

Belinda S. Morton, Fayetteville, West Virginia, for Appellant.  Charlotte Hardnett, Chief Counsel, Region III, Shawn Carver, Assistant Regional Counsel, Office of General Counsel, SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;  Rebecca A. Betts, United States Attorney, Stephen M. Horn, Assistant United States Attorney, Charleston, West Virginia, for Appellee.
Before NIEMEYER, HAMILTON, and MOTZ, Circuit Judges.
OPINION
PER CURIAM:

1
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

2
Henry Tanner appeals the magistrate judge's refusal to disturb the Secretary's determination that he was not entitled to supplemental security income benefits.*  In support of his appeal, Tanner contends that the Secretary's decision was not supported by substantial evidence.  Tanner also objects to the weight the administrative law judge (ALJ) assigned to his own testimony denying any mental disability.  This court, like the district court, will uphold the Secretary's disability determination if it is supported by substantial evidence.  42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (1994);   Coffman v. Bowen, 829 F.2d 514, 517 (4th Cir.1987);   see Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971).  Substantial evidence "consists of more than a mere scintilla of evidence but may be somewhat less than a preponderance.  If there is evidence to justify a refusal to direct a verdict were the case before a jury, then there is 'substantial evidence.' "   Hays v. Sullivan, 907 F.2d 1453, 1456 (4th Cir.1990) (quoting  Laws v. Celebrese, 368 F.2d 640, 642 (4th Cir.1962)).  Because substantial evidence supports the ALJ's findings here, there is no reason to disturb the decision of the Secretary.  Accordingly, we affirm the magistrate judge's order.

3
In a disability case, the ALJ must consider objective medical facts and opinions and the diagnoses of treating and examining doctors, which constitute a major part of the proof in disability cases.   McLain v. Schweiker, 715 F.2d 866, 869 (4th Cir.1983).  Here, the medical evidence of record was divided, but sufficiently supported the ALJ's conclusion that Tanner was not mentally disabled.  Tanner's own testimony denying any mental disability notwithstanding, the evidence of record supports the ALJ's finding.

4
After a protracted evaluation at Huntington State Hospital, Dr. Galvez concluded that Tanner exhibited no psychiatric symptoms, nor was there any evidence to substantiate a previous diagnosis of psychiatric disorders.  A psychologist also evaluated Tanner and reported that he was an appropriate candidate for rehabilitation services without recommending specific psychiatric treatment.  Since his stay at the state hospital, Tanner has not undergone any psychiatric treatment or taken medication to treat any mental or emotional problem.  Although Tanner's anti-social behavior following the initial denial of benefits is some evidence of instability, there is substantial evidence to support the ALJ's conclusion that Tanner was not mentally disabled.  Consequently, we decline to disturb the Secretary's decision denying Tanner's benefits.

5
We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the Court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

*
 The parties consented to the jurisdiction of the magistrate judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) (1994)