Jones v. Astrue

Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge GARLAND.

GARLAND, Circuit Judge:

Melvin Jones challenges a judgment of the district court affirming the Social Security Administration’s denial of his application for disability benefits. Jones contends that an Administrative Law Judge did not properly apply the “treating physician rule” in evaluating his application, and further argues that new evidence has come to light that warrants a remand to the agency. We agree with both contentions.

I

Jones suffers from a variety of health problems. He has been diagnosed with degenerative disk disease, lumbar…