Powell v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner

Powell applied for Social Security disability benefits, alleging disabling impairments. The Social Security Administration denied the claim initially and on reconsideration. After a hearing, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) determined that Powell retained the residual functional capacity to perform a range of work and was not disabled. The Appeals Council denied review, making the ALJ's decision the final decision of the Commissioner. Powell appealed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, asserting that the ALJ improperly weighed medical opinions and failed to adequately evaluate subjective complaints. On June 20, 2018, the district court affirmed the Commissioner's final decision, finding that the ALJ's determinations were supported by substantial evidence in the record.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida affirmed the Commissioner's final decision, denying the claim for disability benefits.

Whether the Administrative Law Judge properly weighed the medical opinion evidence and appropriately evaluated the claimant's subjective symptoms in determining residual functional capacity.

The case applied long-established Social Security disability review standards and had no precedential or broad social impact beyond the individual claimant's benefit determination.