Patricia A. Mitchell v. Richard Schweiker, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Patricia A. Mitchell (the Claimant) appeals from an order of the district court affirming the Secretary’s determination that she does not qualify for Social Security disability insurance benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits because she failed to prove an impairment which had lasted or could be expected to last for a continuous period of at least twelve months. The Claimant had asserted severe depression and a nervous condition as such an impairment.

We conclude that the Secretary improperly disregarded the clinical findings of Claimant’s treating physician in the absence of some…