Cleveland v. Apfel
The case involves Richard Cleveland, a 54-year-old man, appealing the Commissioner of Social Security's denial of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits based on disability due to back pain and hypertension. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) initially denied benefits, a decision affirmed by the Appeals Council. The District Court reviewed the Commissioner's decision, focusing on the ALJ's treatment of the treating physician's rule and the development of the record. The court found that the ALJ failed to adequately develop the record by not seeking additional information from the treating physician, Dr. Small, whose opinion of disability lacked objective clinical findings. Consequently, the court reversed the Commissioner's decision and remanded the case for further proceedings to obtain a more complete report from Dr. Small.