[Download] "Dolph v. Barnhart" by Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals # eBook PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Dolph v. Barnhart
- Author : Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
- Release Date : January 21, 2002
- Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 52 KB
Description
Submitted: June 14, 2002 Diane K. Dolph applied for social security disability benefits in early 1995, alleging a disability onset date of July 12, 1994. Dolph suffers from polycystic kidney disease, degenerative disease of the cervical spine, and carpal tunnel syndrome, all of which allegedly cause her disabling stomach, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as pain and numbness in her arms and hands. The administrative law judge (ALJ) discounted Dolph's complaints of disabling pain and found that she is not disabled because she has the residual functional capacity to perform her past relevant work as an apartment and hotel manager. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(e). The district court 1 affirmed the decision to deny benefits, concluding that the ALJ properly analyzed Dolph's pain complaints under Polaski v. Heckler, 739 F.2d 1320 (8th Cir. 1984), and that substantial evidence on the record as a whole supports the ALJ's findings and conclusion that Dolph is not disabled. Dolph appeals, arguing that the ALJ erred in rejecting the uncontradicted opinion of a treating physician and in discrediting her complaints of disabling pain. The administrative record includes medical records covering an extended period and testimony at three administrative hearings. 2 We must determine whether the ALJ's findings are supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole. We may not reverse the Commissioner's decision merely because substantial evidence would support a contrary outcome. See Prosch v. Apfel, 201 F.3d 1010, 1012 (8th Cir. 2000). Applying this deferential standard of review, we affirm.