Reaffirming Substantial Evidence Deference and Temporal Limits on Medical Records in SSA Disability Appeals

Introduction

In Simpson v. Commissioner of Social Security, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reviewed a Social Security Administration (SSA) determination denying supplemental security income benefits to Plaintiff‐Appellant Robert J. Simpson. Simpson alleged disabling physical and mental impairments. An SSA administrative law judge (ALJ) concluded that he retained the residual functional capacity (RFC) for light, routine work with occasional interaction with supervisors and coworkers. On appeal, Simpson challenged the ALJ’s factual findings as lacking in substantial evidence and contended that a dated treatment note—omitted from the ALJ’s analysis—compelled a finding of disability. The Second Circuit affirmed, reiterating the deference owed to ALJ factual findings supported by substantial evidence and the limited relevance of stale records outside the disability onset period.

Summary of the Judgment

The Second Circuit, speaking through a three‐judge panel, affirmed the district court’s judgment upholding the Commissioner’s denial of benefits. Key holdings include:

The ALJ’s RFC determination—that Simpson could perform light work and tolerate only occasional workplace interactions—was supported by substantial evidence in the form of medical opinions, treatment records, and Simpson’s daily activities.
Conflicting evidence suggesting more severe limitations did not undermine the ALJ’s decision; the court must defer to a reasonable factfinder’s resolution of evidentiary conflicts.
A four-and-a-half-year-old treatment note, outside the established period of alleged disability, was appropriately considered too remote to alter the disability determination.
The ALJ properly relied on vocational expert testimony when that testimony rested on RFC assumptions supported by record evidence.

Analysis

Precedents Cited

The panel invoked a series of well-established Second Circuit authorities to guide its review:

42 U.S.C. § 405(g) – Establishes that judicial review of SSA final decisions is limited to determining whether they are supported by “substantial evidence.”
Moran v. Astrue, 569 F.3d 108 (2d Cir. 2009) – Defines “substantial evidence” as “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.”
Schillo v. Kijakazi, 31 F.4th 64 (2d Cir. 2022) – Clarifies that the court does not reweigh evidence and that the Commissioner’s decision stands if a reasonable factfinder could reach the same conclusion.
Brault v. Soc. Sec. Admin., Comm’r, 683 F.3d 443 (2d Cir. 2012) – Emphasizes deference to factual findings unless a reasonable factfinder could not have made them.
Cage v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 692 F.3d 118 (2d Cir. 2012) – Confirms that conflicting evidence does not overturn an ALJ’s decision if the latter is supported by substantial evidence.
McIntyre v. Colvin, 758 F.3d 146 (2d Cir. 2014) – Permits reliance on vocational expert testimony grounded in a supported RFC.
Schaal v. Apfel, 134 F.3d 496 (2d Cir. 1998) – Reiterates that it is the ALJ, not the court, who weighs conflicting medical evidence.
Porteus v. O’Malley, No. 23-969, 2024 WL 2180203 (2d Cir. May 15, 2024) – Applied substantial evidence review in a recent disability appeal.
McManus v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 298 F. App’x 60 (2d Cir. 2008) – Affirms that evidence preceding the disability onset date may be excluded as untimely.
Zabala v. Astrue, 595 F.3d 402 (2d Cir. 2010) – Holds that discounting immaterial evidence is not reversible error when it would not change the outcome.

Legal Reasoning

The panel’s reasoning proceeded in two primary steps:

Substantial Evidence for RFC:
- Physical capacity findings rested on consistent medical opinions (Drs. Uppal, Kirsch, Kendrick) confirming light‐work capabilities.
- Mental capacity assessments (Drs. Juriga, Bhutwala; Nurse Practitioner Rosman) supported moderate limitations but preserved the ability to understand and carry out simple tasks with occasional social interaction.
- Simpson’s own activities—including full‐time college attendance with high grades, anger management classes, and independent living—corroborated an ability to perform routine work.
Temporal Scope of Medical Evidence:
- A 4½-year-old treatment note from Dr. Linden Schild, stating that Simpson was “totally unable to interact constructively,” fell outside the relevant onset period and could not override later, more contemporaneous opinions.
- Even if the note were treated as a medical opinion, it was not “reasonably likely” to change the RFC finding.

Impact

Although summary orders lack precedential effect in the Second Circuit, this decision reinforces several enduring tenets:

Strict adherence to the substantial-evidence standard, ensuring courts do not reweigh conflicting medical or lay evidence.
Clarity on the limited relevance of medical records dating too far before the alleged disability onset.
Validation of vocational expert reliance when their hypothetical questions mirror an ALJ’s well-supported RFC.
Guidance for claimants and practitioners on demonstrating disabling limitations with contemporaneous and consistent medical evidence.

Complex Concepts Simplified

Substantial Evidence Standard: A deferential review that upholds any conclusion supported by relevant, reasonable evidence—even if other conclusions are possible.
Residual Functional Capacity (RFC): An assessment of the most a claimant can do despite physical and mental impairments, expressed in exertional levels (sedentary, light, medium, etc.) and non-exertional limitations.
De Novo Review vs. Substantial Evidence Review: Courts do not retry SSA claims or re‐evaluate evidence from scratch; they ask only whether the record minimally supports the ALJ’s decision.
Hypothetical to Vocational Expert: A question posed by an ALJ describing a claimant’s RFC; the expert then identifies jobs in the national economy that the claimant could still perform.
Temporal Limits on Evidence: Only medical records and opinions pertaining to the period after a claimant’s alleged disability onset date are generally relevant to an SSA determination.

Conclusion

Simpson v. Commissioner of Social Security reaffirms the Second Circuit’s steadfast commitment to the substantial evidence standard and the district court’s role in SSA disability reviews. By upholding an ALJ’s reasoned RFC analysis and clarifying the temporal boundaries of admissible medical evidence, the decision serves as a reliable blueprint for practitioners and claimants navigating future appeals. It underscores that a claimant’s burden is not merely to produce evidence of impairment, but to supply consistent, contemporaneous medical documentation that compels a finding of disability under the SSA regulations.