Cooper v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner

Claimant Cooper applied for Social Security disability benefits, alleging physical and mental impairments. An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) denied the claim, finding that Cooper could perform past relevant work. The district court affirmed the Commissioner's decision. On appeal to the Eleventh Circuit, Cooper argued that the ALJ improperly rejected the treating physician's opinion and failed to properly evaluate subjective pain testimony. The Court reviewed the record and held that the ALJ provided good cause for discounting the treating physician's opinion and that substantial evidence supported the residual functional capacity assessment. Accordingly, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of benefits.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the decision of the Commissioner, upholding the denial of Social Security disability benefits.

Whether the Administrative Law Judge erred by failing to give controlling weight to the treating physician's medical opinion and by improperly evaluating the claimant's subjective complaints of pain under the relevant Social Security regulations.

The decision reinforced the deference federal courts give to the Commissioner's factual findings under the substantial evidence standard. It also highlighted the procedural requirements for ALJs to articulate specific reasons for discounting a treating source's opinion, thereby guiding future administrative adjudications.