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Colon Martinez v. SHHS, 93-1336 (1993)

Court: Court of Appeals for the First Circuit Number: 93-1336 Visitors: 8
Filed: Nov. 15, 1993
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: November 15, 1993 [NOT FOR PUBLICATION] UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT ___________________ No. 93-1336 BENIS A. COLON MARTINEZ, Plaintiff, Appellant, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Defendant, Appellee. 1, 12.05C (Mental Retardation).
USCA1 Opinion




November 15, 1993
[NOT FOR PUBLICATION]

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT

___________________


No. 93-1336




BENIS A. COLON MARTINEZ,

Plaintiff, Appellant,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Defendant, Appellee.

__________________

APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO


[Hon. Hector M. Laffitte, U.S. District Judge]
___________________
___________________

Before

Cyr, Boudin and Stahl,
Circuit Judges.
______________

___________________

Raymond Riveral Esteves and Juan A. Hernandez Rivera on
_________________________ __________________________
brief for appellant.
Charles E. Fitzwilliam, United States Attorney, Jose Vazquez
______________________ ____________
Garcia, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Robert M. Peckrill,
______ ____________________
Assistant Regional Counsel, Department of Health & Human Service,
on brief for appellee.



__________________


__________________




















Per Curiam. We have carefully reviewed the parties'
__________

briefs and the record on appeal. Although contrary evidence

was presented, we find that substantial evidence supports the

finding that the claimant retained the mental and physical

capacity to perform the easy to learn, routine, unskilled

jobs as determined by the Secretary. We affirm the judgment

of the district court substantially for the reasons stated in

the magistrate judge's opinion dated January 22, 1993, and

the district court's opinion dated March 8, 1993.

We add only the following comments. First, claimant

contends that the ALJ erred in finding that claimant's

condition does not qualify as a listed impairment pursuant to

20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, 12.05C (Mental

Retardation). Two examining psychologists did find that

claimant had a verbal IQ of 68. However, a verbal IQ of 68,

standing alone, does not rise to the level of severity

required to establish a disorder under section 12.05C. A

claimant at that IQ level must also show "a physical or other

mental impairment imposing additional and significant work-

related limitation of function." 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpt.

P, App. 1, 12.05C. Viewing the record as a whole, and

giving due weight to the ALJ's evaluation of witness'

credibility and to his resolution of conflicts in the medical

evidence, we find that substantial evidence supports the

conclusion that claimant did not establish that his hearing



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impairment, and/or anxiety disorder imposes additional or

significant work-related limitations of function so as to

satisfy the second prong of section 12.05C.

Second, claimant's assertion that the ALJ disregarded

his subjective complaints of severe physical pain is belied

by the record. The ALJ properly considered not only

claimant's allegations of pain but his prior work record,

information from examining physicians and claimant's daily

activity. See Avery v. Secretary of Health & Human Services,
___ _____ ____________________________________

797 F.2d 19, 23 (1st Cir. 1986). On the basis of all

relevant evidence, the ALJ supportably found that there was

no indication that claimant suffered sufficient pain to

prevent or limit him from performing routine work activities,

provided that those activities did not involve working on

unprotected heights, being around moving machinery or being

in the presence of loud noises.

Affirmed.
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Source:  CourtListener

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