Hall v. Colvin, an appeal from the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, features an opinion written by Judge Posner.
Judge Posner is an appellate judge who typically drafts opinions rather critical to administrative law judges (ALJ) who denies an application for benefits, despite obvious evidence claimant is disabled and entitled to benefits.
In Hall, claimant applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and an ALJ denied his claim. Claimant was an aviation mechanic discharged from military service in 2001. He suffered an ankle injury, and the Veteran’s Administration determined claimant to be 70 percent disabled, and, “more importantly” to Judge Posner, to be unemployable in any substantially gainful employment and therefore “totally disabled.”
Claimant applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in 2010, and Social Security Administration (SSA) denied his application. He based his application for benefits on grounds his ankle problem, back problems, and other impairments made it impossible for him to work.
Continue reading