M.A.O. v. Social Security Adminstration

Baltimore, Maryland social security disability lawyer represented the Plaintiff seeking review of the denial of his application for SSA benefits by HHS.



Michael Anthony Owens appeals the district court order upholding the Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ) denial of Owens' application for Social Security benefits. On appeal, Owens assert that the ALJ's determination that he is not disabled due

to his severe urinary and gastrointestinal conditions was legally flawed and not based on substantial evidence.



The Commissioner uses a five-step process to evaluate a disability claim. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4). "Steps 1 through 3 ask: (1) whether the claimant is working; (2) if not, whether []he has a severe impairment; and (3) if []he does, whether the impairment meets or equals a listed impairment.” Patterson, 846 F.3d at 659 (internal quotation marks omitted). "If the claimant fails at step [3], the ALJ must then determine the claimant's residual functional capacity ('RFC'),” which is the most a claimant can still do despite his physical and mental limitations. Brown v. Comm'r Soc. Sec. Admin., 873 F.3d 251, 254 (4th Cir. 2017). "After determining the claimant's RFC, the ALJ proceeds to step [4]” and determines whether the claimant is "able to perform his past work.” Id. at 255 (internal quotation marks omitted). If the claimant is unable to perform his past work, "the ALJ finishes at step [5], where the burden shifts to the Commissioner.” Id. To withhold

benefits, "the Commissioner must prove . . . that the claimant can perform other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy, considering the claimant's RFC, age, education, and work experience.” Id. (cleaned up).

Affirmed