LAW.coLAW.co

Shirley M. SLONE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant-Appellee

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit2012-09-13No. No. 12-1542
481 F. App'x 844

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

PER CURIAM:

Shirley M. Slone appeals the district court’s order adopting the recommendation of the magistrate judge and upholding the Commissioner of Social Security’s decision to deny her a period of disability insurance benefits. We have reviewed the record and affirm.

Our review of the Commissioner’s disability determination is limited to evaluating whether the findings are supported by substantial evidence and whether the correct law was applied. See Johnson v. Barnhart, 434 F.3d 650, 653 (4th Cir.2005) (per curiam) (citing 42 U.S.C.A. § 405(g) (2006)). “Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). We do not reweigh evidence or make credibility determinations in evaluating whether a decision is supported by substantial evidence; “[wjhere conflicting evidence allows reasonable minds to differ,” we defer to the Commissioner’s decision. Id.

According to Slone, the administrative law judge (“ALJ”) improperly failed to find that Slone suffered from severe mental impairments, and improperly failed to base his residual functional capacity (“RFC”) assessment on the combined effects of Slone’s physical impairments. Our review of the record convinces us otherwise. None of Slone’s treating physicians opined that she suffered from a severe mental impairment, and the record amply supports the ALJ’s conclusion that her mental infirmities did not significantly affect her ability to perform work-related tasks. The record likewise supports the ALJ’s RFC assessment.

Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court. 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.