Nathan Douglas v. Jo Anne B. Barnhart

Nathan E. Douglas appeals the district court’s * dismissal of Douglas’s action seeking judicial review of the Commissioner’s denial of disability insurance benefits. An administrative law judge decided that an earlier determination could not be reopened because it was issued more than four years ago, and res judicata barred consideration of the present application. The district court dismissed Douglas’s action because 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) does not allow judicial review of decisions to dismiss claims based on res judicata.

After de novo review, see Boock v. Shalala, 48 F.3d 348, 351 & n. 2 (8th…