Administrative: Social Security Disability Benefits-Denial of Benefits-Residual Functional Capacity

Petitioner appealed from respondent’s denial of Social Security disability benefits. Petitioner suffered a heart attack and brain bleed that required multiple surgeries; he claimed that he continued to suffer from constant migraines and chest pain that required him to lie down 10 to 12 hours a day. However, although the ALJ found that petitioner had limitations, he denied benefits based on the vocational expert’s opinion that petitioner could work as a short-order cook.

Where the medical evidence showed that petitioner had largely normal health scans and was conservatively managing his conditions, the ALJ properly found petitioner to have a residual functional capacity where other evidence demonstrated he was capable of performing everyday tasks.

Judgment is affirmed.

Halley v. Kijakazi (MLW No. 79925/Case No. 22-1934 – 3 pages) (U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit, per curiam) Appealed from U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, Pitlyk, J.