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Mason v. Barnhart
Citation: 96 F. App'x 30Docket: No. 02-6319
Court: Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; April 22, 2004; Federal Appellate Court
The judgment of the district court is vacated following Robert Mason's appeal of the October 25, 2002, order that affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ) decision from August 24, 1998. The appellate court emphasizes the necessity for the ALJ to provide a sufficient explanation regarding Mason's capacities related to sedentary work in light of his non-exertional limitations. The court notes that the ALJ's conclusion that Mason's capacity for full sedentary work was not significantly compromised lacks adequate grounding, particularly concerning Mason’s hand functionality, which is critical for unskilled sedentary jobs. The court highlights that the ALJ failed to fully address evidence regarding Mason's carpal tunnel syndrome and did not reconcile conflicting medical findings related to his grip and wrist motion, resulting in an unclear rationale for the decision. Consequently, the court instructs the ALJ on remand to reevaluate whether Mason's non-exertional limitations significantly hinder his ability to work beyond any exertional impairments. The court refrains from commenting on the ultimate outcome of the case and finds Mason's other arguments to be without merit. The district court's judgment is vacated, and the case is remanded to the Commissioner for further proceedings consistent with this order.