Summary
upholding the ALJ's RFC determination where it was supported by some medical evidence such as assessments of a consulting physician and the RFC findings of reviewing physicians
Summary of this case from Schwettman v. BerryhillOpinion
No. 16-2688
02-03-2017
Rodney McCain Plaintiff - Appellant v. Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security Defendant - Appellee
Appeal from United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas - Jonesboro [Unpublished] Before SMITH, ARNOLD, and COLLOTON, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM.
Rodney McCain appeals the district court's order affirming the denial of disability insurance benefits. We agree with the district court that substantial evidence on the record as a whole supported the administrative law judge's (ALJ's) determinations as to credibility and residual functional capacity (RFC). See Harvey v. Colvin, 839 F.3d 714, 715 (8th Cir. 2016) (reviewing de novo district court's decision, and affirming if Commissioner's decision is supported by substantial evidence on record as whole, including new evidence considered by Appeals Council). Because the ALJ gave several valid reasons for finding Mr. McCain's subjective complaints not entirely credible, we find that the credibility determination is entitled to deference. See Julin v. Colvin, 826 F.3d 1082, 1086 (8th Cir. 2016) (if ALJ's credibility determination is supported by good reasons and substantial evidence, this court will defer to ALJ's determination). As to the RFC determination, it was supported by some medical evidence, such as the assessments of a consulting physician, and also the RFC findings of reviewing physicians, which were less restrictive than those of the ALJ. See Boyd v. Colvin, 831 F.3d 1015, 1020 (8th Cir. 2016) (it is ALJ's responsibility to determine RFC based on all relevant evidence: medical records, observations of treating physicians and others, and individual's own description of his limitations); Hensley v. Colvin, 829 F.3d 926, 932 (8th Cir. 2016) (RFC is medical question, and must be supported by some medical evidence of claimant's ability to function in workplace). Further, we agree with the ALJ that no treating or examining physician found any greater limitations. Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is affirmed, and Mr. McCain's motion to supplement the record is denied.
The Honorable Jerome T. Kearney, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas, to whom the case was referred for final disposition by consent of the parties pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). --------