Plaintiff, Michael Grice, seeks
judicial review of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration’s
denial of his application for Disability Insurance Benefits and Supplemental
Security Income. Grice contends that the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) erred
in concluding he has the residual functioning capacity (“RFC”) to perform light
work.
Specifically, Grice argues that
the ALJ erred in (1) failing to credit his treating physician’s opinion that he
has manipulative limitations, and (2) relying on the Medical-Vocational
Guidelines despite the ALJ’s finding that Grice suffers from both exertional
and nonexertional limitations.
As discussed below, it is
premature to rule on either of these issues because the ALJ does not appear to
have considered the illegible treatment notes of Grice’s treating physician.
Accordingly, the Court will GRANT Plaintiff’s motion to remand with an
instruction that the ALJ obtain a legible copy of the treatment notes so that
the ALJ’s RFC determination can properly take into account all relevant medical
evidence.
