Amy Kay Parsons v. Social Security Administration

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, social security disability lawyer represented the Plaintiff seeking review of the denial of her application for disability insurance and supplemental security income benefits.



Parsons claimed that the Commissioner failed to evaluate her providers' progress notes as "medical opinions,” but these records do not satisfy the governing regulatory definition of a "medical opinion.



Parsons claimed she was disabled by degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease, depressive disorder, schizoaffective disorder, anxiety disorder, and chronic pain disorder. After a hearing, an administrative law judge (ALJ) determined she was not disabled at step five of the five-step sequential process for determining whether a claimant is disabled. See Fischer-Ross v. Barnhart, 431 F.3d 729, 731 (10th Cir. 2005) (describing the five-step process). The ALJ reasoned that, despite her severe and non-severe impairments, Parsons retained the residual functional capacity (RFC) to perform a limited range of light work. The ALJ explained that she could not perform her past relevant work, but she could transition to other jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy, including jobs as a marker, a garment sorter, and a cleaner/housekeeper. The Appeals Council denied review, and the district court affirmed the Commissioner's decision.

Affirmed