Newark, NJ – A federal judge has affirmed the Social Security Administration’s decision to deny disability insurance benefits to a 60-year-old Essex County woman who claimed she could not work due to multiple health conditions.
In an opinion filed September 8, Judge Claire C. Cecchi of the District of New Jersey upheld the ruling of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who found that Sheila B. was not disabled under the Social Security Act.
Sheila, who previously worked as a fast-food worker, deli cutter-slicer, and retail sales clerk, applied for benefits in February 2022, alleging disability dating back to October 2021. She cited asthma, hypertension, sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and right shoulder osteoarthritis as impairments preventing her from maintaining full-time employment.
Medical records reviewed in the case showed a long history of asthma treatment, occasional exacerbations that responded to medication, and stable oxygen levels. Doctors also documented mild-to-moderate hearing loss and tinnitus, with recommendations for hearing aids, as well as shoulder arthritis that limited motion but improved with medication.
The ALJ concluded in November 2023 that while Sheila had severe impairments, she retained the capacity to perform certain work available in the national economy. The Appeals Council declined review in July 2024, making the ALJ’s decision final.
Judge Cecchi, after reviewing the record, determined that the ALJ’s decision was supported by substantial evidence and should be affirmed. The ruling means Sheila will not receive disability insurance benefits.
Key Points
- A Newark woman, 60, was denied Social Security disability benefits.
- She cited asthma, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and arthritis as impairments.
- A federal judge upheld the ALJ’s ruling that she could still perform some work.
The decision closes the case at the federal district court level, leaving further appeal options to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.