20 C.F.R. § 404.1520

At step two, the regulation requires the ALJ to determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment, meaning an impairment that significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities.

Winterton v. O'Malley · filed 2022-06-22(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two of the sequential analysis the ALJ is required to determine whether the claimant has an impairment or combination of impairments that is “severe.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). A “severe” impairment is an impairment or combination of impairments that “significantly limits [one’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).

Section 404.1520(c) requires an impairment to significantly limit a claimant’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities to qualify as severe at step two.

Hawkins v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration · filed 2022-06-22(c)

A “severe impairment” is one which “significantly limits [the claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” Id. § 404.1520(c).

At step two, § 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe when it significantly limits a claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

Pizer v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-07-01(c)

A “severe” impairment is one that “significantly limits [a claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). ... The ALJ concluded that the overall medical evidence did not establish a history of chronic headaches or ongoing headaches during the period under consideration with the frequency that Plaintiff alleged (Tr. 21, 52–53). Clearly, this evidence does not compel a conclusion that Plaintiff requires additional limitations in the RFC assessment but, rather, supports the ALJ’s conclusions.

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment; an impairment is severe if it has more than a minimal impact on work-related activities.

Bolin v. Social Security Administration Commissioner · filed 2022-07-06(c)

At Step Two of the sequential analysis, the ALJ is required to determine whether a claimant's impairments are severe. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). While “severity is not an onerous requirement for the claimant to meet…it is also not a toothless standard.” Wright v. Colvin, 789 F.3d 847, 855 (8th Cir. 2015) (citations omitted). To be severe, an impairment only needs to have more than a minimal impact on a claimant’s ability to perform work-related activities. See Social Security Ruling 96-3p. The claimant has the burden of proof of showing he suffers from a medically severe impairment at Step Two. See Mittlestedt v. Apfel, 204 F.3d 847, 852 (8th Cir. 2000).

Section 404.1520 requires disability claims to be evaluated through a five-step sequential process, with Step Two addressing the medical severity of impairments.

McAdams v. Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-07-06(a)(4)(ii)

To determine if an individual is “disabled” and eligible for benefits, an ALJ must conduct a five-step sequential process. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520. At Step Two, the ALJ considers the medical severity of a claimant’s impairments. 20 C.F.R. §404.1520(a)(4)(ii). If the ALJ finds that the claimant’s impairments “not severe,” they will find the claimant not disabled. Id. An impairment is non-severe only if the evidence shows that it is no more than “a slight abnormality that has no more than a minimal effect on an individual’s ability to work.”

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires the ALJ at step two to determine whether a claimant's impairment or combination of impairments has the requisite severity.

DEL GRIPPO v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY · filed 2022-07-13(a)(4)(ii)

Step two of the sequential evaluation requires the ALJ to determine whether the plaintiff’s claimed impairment and/or combination of impairments possesses the requisite severity. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). ... Accordingly, the ALJ’s decision to find Plaintiff’s obesity to be non-severe at step two is based on substantial evidence.

At step two, an impairment is severe only when it significantly limits a claimant's physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

Hasson v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-07-19(c)

At step two of the disability analysis, the ALJ must determine whether the plaintiff has a severe impairment that significantly limits his or her physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... Having reviewed the record in its entirety, this Court finds that the ALJ did not err in finding that Plaintiff’s anxiety was non-severe. ... Thus, even if Plaintiff’s anxiety was severe, the ALJ’s failure to find that at step two was harmless.

At step two, the ALJ must determine whether a claimant's medically determinable impairment is severe, meaning that it significantly limits the claimant's physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

BALTHASER v. SAUL · filed 2022-07-20(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two, the ALJ is required to consider the medical severity of any impairment. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). An impairment is severe when it “significantly limits [a claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.”

At Step Two, an impairment is severe only if it significantly limits the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities, and an erroneous non-severe designation may be harmless when the impairment is considered later in the evaluation.

Dearth v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-07-23(a)(4)(ii), (c)

The regulations define a severe mental impairment as one that significantly limits the mental ability to perform basic work activities. ... An ALJ’s failure to find a severe impairment where one exists may not constitute reversible error where the ALJ finds that the claimant “has at least one other severe impairment and continues with the remaining steps of the disability evaluation.” ... For the stated reasons, the ALJ’s finding that plaintiff’s depressive disorder was not a severe impairment at Step Two of the sequential evaluation process is supported by substantial evidence. ... However, even if the ALJ erred in failing to characterize plaintiff’s depressive disorder as a severe impairment, any such error would be harmless. ... The Court finds that the ALJ properly considered plaintiff’s depressive disorder in the residual functional capacity determination, regardless of whether the ALJ should have characterized this impairment as severe.

Section 404.1520 requires an ALJ at Step Two to treat an impairment as severe when it significantly limits basic work activities, while an impairment with no more than a minimal effect is not severe.

Walker v. Kijakazi · filed 2022-08-01(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At Step Two, the ALJ is tasked with determining whether a claimant’s impairments are “severe.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). A severe impairment is one which “significantly limits [the claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). The ALJ must evaluate the record and determine whether an impairment affects a claimant’s ability to work; if an impairment would have “no more than a minimal” effect on the claimant’s ability to work, it is not severe. Page v. Astrue, 484 F.3d 1040, 1043 (8th Cir. 2007); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).

At step two, an impairment is severe only if it significantly limits basic work activities, and the claimant bears the burden of showing that severity.

Spampinato v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-08-10(c)

Rather, an impairment is severe where it “significantly limits the plaintiff’s physical and/or mental ability to do basic work activities.” Truman v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., No. 14-CV-1195, 2015 WL 5512225, at *4 (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 17, 2015) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1521). The plaintiff has the burden at step two in the sequential evaluation process to demonstrate the severity of his impairment. Tryon, 2012 WL 398952, at *3 (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c)). To begin, the Court agrees with the Commissioner that the ALJ’s determination at step two is supported by substantial evidence, and Plaintiff has not met his burden to show otherwise.

Section 404.1520(c) requires a claimant at step two to show that her medically determinable impairments significantly limit her ability to perform basic work activities and are therefore severe.

Dye v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-08-15(c)

At step two, a claimant must make a threshold showing her medically determinable impairments significantly limit her ability to perform basic work activities, and are therefore severe. See Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 145 (1987); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).

At step two, § 404.1520 requires the ALJ to consider the medical severity of the claimant’s impairment(s).

BLACKBURN v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY · filed 2022-08-15(a)(4)(i)

At step two, the ALJ has to “consider the medical severity of a claimant’s impairment(s).” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(i).

At step two, an impairment is severe if it significantly limits basic work activities, and any severe impairment allows the claim to proceed to step three without requiring the ALJ to identify every severe impairment.

Johnson v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-08-18(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two, an ALJ considers the severity of a claimant’s impairments. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). An impairment or combination of impairments is not severe “if it does not significantly limit [a claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1522(a), 416.922(a). ... This inquiry “acts as a filter in that the finding of any severe impairment ... is enough to satisfy the requirement of step two and allow the ALJ to proceed to step three.” ... “Nothing requires that the ALJ must identify, at step two, all of the impairments that should be considered severe.”

Section 404.1520 requires an ALJ to determine at step two whether a claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities.

Hardy v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-08-24(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two of the sequential analysis, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has a “severe impairment” that “significantly limits [claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), (c). It is the claimant’s burden to present evidence demonstrating severity at step two.

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) treats step two as a threshold inquiry into impairment severity, and an omission is harmless when other severe impairments allow the evaluation to proceed beyond step two.

Montoya v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-08-29(a)(4)(ii)

At step two of the sequential analysis, the ALJ considers the medical severity of a claimant’s impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). Step two operates as a threshold inquiry. ... Here, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff had the following severe impairments: glaucoma, loss of peripheral vision, history of stroke, and degenerative disc disease (Tr. 18). Accordingly, since the ALJ determined that Plaintiff suffered from multiple severe impairments at step two, and thus proceeded beyond step two in the sequential analysis, any error in failing to find that Plaintiff suffered from other severe impairments is rendered harmless.

Section 404.1520(c) directs the ALJ at step two to determine whether a claimant has an impairment that is both medically determinable and severe.

Drey v. Commissioner Social Security Administration · filed 2022-08-29(c)

At step two, the ALJ determines whether the claimant has an impairment that is both medically determinable and severe. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... The step two threshold is low; the Ninth Circuit describes it as a “de minimis screening device to dispose of groundless claims.” Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1290. ... Although plaintiff points to evidence of her depression diagnosis, “[t]he mere diagnosis of an impairment . . . is not sufficient to sustain a finding of disability.” Young v. Sullivan, 911 F.2d 180, 183-84 (9th Cir. 1990); Febach v. Colvin, 580 F. App’x 530, 531 (9th Cir. 2014) (finding diagnosis of depression “alone [was] insufficient for finding a ‘severe’ impairment” when other evidence in record suggested that impairment was not severe). ... As such, plaintiff has failed to demonstrate that the ALJ erred at step two in determining plaintiff’s severe mental impairments.

At step two, the regulation requires evaluating whether the claimant has a severe impairment.

Meza v. Saul · filed 2022-08-30(a)(4)(ii)

Ms. Meza’s first contention disputes the ALJ’s analysis at step two, which requires assessing the claimant’s medical record and identifying all limitations that are “severe.” See 20 C.F.R. §404.1520(a)(4)(ii). ... The ALJ’s findings that Mr. Meza had more than mild deficits in two functioning areas reflect that Mr. Meza had “more than a ‘slight abnormality’” that affected his ability to work—i.e., a severe impairment. See Salmond, 892 F.3d at 817. ... The ALJ’s contradictory findings show that her classification of Mr. Meza’s depression as non-severe was unsupported by substantial evidence. This was error.

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires a claimant to show that a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities.

Roberts v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-08-30(c)

At step two, a claimant must make a threshold showing that her medically determinable impairments significantly limit her ability to perform basic work activities. See Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 145 (1987); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c).

Section 404.1520 establishes a five-step disability evaluation, including a step-two requirement to determine whether a claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits basic work activities.

(SS) Wilson v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-08-30(c)

The Social Security Regulations set out a five-step sequential process for determining whether a claimant is disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act. ... At step two of the sequential evaluation, the ALJ determines which of Plaintiff’s alleged impairments are “severe” within the meaning of 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). A severe impairment is one that “significantly limits” a claimant’s “physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” Id. ... Step two was resolved in Plaintiff’s favor when the ALJ determined that his severe impairments included degenerative disc disease, a personality disorder, and substance abuse; the ALJ then proceeded to the step three analysis. ... The Court finds that the ALJ properly weighed the medical evidence, the opinion evidence, and Plaintiff’s symptom claims and, as a result, the RFC incorporated the “moderate mental health limitations” that were supported by substantial evidence in the record (see AR 26), like his problems with verbal memory (see AR 551).

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires an ALJ to determine whether a claimant's impairment is severe, meaning it has more than a minimal impact on the ability to perform work-related activities.

Jones v. Social Security Administration Commissioner · filed 2022-09-08(c)

At Step Two of the sequential analysis, the ALJ is required to determine whether a claimant's impairments are severe. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). While “severity is not an onerous requirement for the claimant to meet…it is also not a toothless standard.” Wright v. Colvin, 789 F.3d 847, 855 (8th Cir. 2015) (citations omitted). To be severe, an impairment only needs to have more than a minimal impact on a claimant's ability to perform work-related activities. See Social Security Ruling 96-3p.

Section 404.1520(c) governs step two and requires a claimant to establish a severe impairment; an additional impairment need not be found severe when another severe impairment allows the analysis to continue.

Core v. Kijakazi (CONSENT) · filed 2022-09-09(c)

An impairment is severe if it significantly affects a claimant’s ability to perform work related functions. Turner v. Kijakazi, 2021 WL 3276596, at *7 (M.D. Ala. July 30, 2021) (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 404.1521(a); Bridges v. Bowen, 815 F.2d 622, 625 (11th Cir. 1987)). ... Therefore, because classifying Core’s urological issues as a severe impairment would not have impacted the process at step two, the undersigned concludes that any mistake in considering them a non-severe impairment is harmless error.

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) directs the ALJ to assess the medical severity of a claimant's impairments at step two, and a non-severe finding is generally not reversible when another severe impairment is found and all impairments are considered in later steps.

Schram v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-09-23(a)(4)(ii)

At Step Two of the five-step sequential evaluation process, the ALJ considers the medical severity of the claimant’s impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). ... An ALJ does not generally commit reversible error by finding that an impairment is non-severe under two conditions: (1) the ALJ also found that the claimant has at least one severe impairment; and (2) the ALJ considered both the severe and non-severe impairments at the remaining Steps in the sequential evaluation.

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ at step two to determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits the ability to do basic work activities.

Lindsley v. Kijakazi · filed 2022-09-27(c)

At step two of the sequential process, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant suffers from a “severe” impairment, i.e., one that significantly limits her physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) makes impairment severity the issue evaluated at step two of the disability determination.

Luers v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-09-27(a)(4)(ii)

At Step Two of the five-step sequential evaluation process, the ALJ considers the severity of the claimant’s medically determinable impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). An impairment is considered “severe” unless it “has no more than a minimal effect on [the claimant’s] physical or mental abilit(ies) to perform basic work activities.”

Section 404.1520 requires an ALJ to use a five-step process, including deciding at step two whether the claimant has a severe impairment.

Self v. Kijakazi · filed 2022-09-29(a)(4)(ii)

If no severe impairment is found, the claimant will not be found to be disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... The evaluation at step two is a de minimis test intended to weed out the most minor of impairments. ... Here, the ALJ erred at step two by failing to even mention, let alone properly account for, Plaintiff’s learning disorder, his depression, his anxiety, or his PTSD – all of which yielded a substantial list of symptoms that are strongly indicative of substantial ensuing limitations (e.g., Plaintiff’s inability to read Dr. Catlin’s test questions, his extremely low frustration tolerance – as evidenced during the abortive evaluation before Dr. Catlin – as well as his low energy, poor motivation, social withdrawal, sleep disturbance, crying spells, anhedonia, problems with memory and concentration, poor appetite with weight loss, irritability, poor frustration tolerance, feelings of hopelessness, suicidal ideations, feelings of nervousness, excessive worry, ruminating thoughts, gastrointestinal distress, muscle tension, and frequent headaches).

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires the ALJ at step two to determine whether the claimant has any medically determinable severe impairments.

Bricker v. Saul · filed 2022-09-30(a)(4)(ii)

At step two of the sequential evaluation process, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has any medically determinable severe impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii).

Section 404.1520 requires the ALJ to determine at step two whether an impairment or combination of impairments is severe, and the court held that the ALJ could not omit diagnosed conditions from that evaluation.

Barton v. Kijakazi · filed 2022-10-12(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two, the ALJ decides whether the claimant’s impairment or combination of impairments is “severe” (see 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii)), “meaning that it significantly limits the claimant’s ‘physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.’” Ford, 950 F.3d at 1148 (quoting 20 C.F.R. § 404.1522(a)). If no severe impairment is found, the claimant will not be found to be disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... Here, the ALJ erred at step two by failing to mention, let alone properly account for, Plaintiff’s cervical radiculopathy, PTSD, personality disorder, and learning disorder.

Section 404.1520(c) requires an impairment to significantly limit a claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities to qualify as severe at step two; the court found the evidence of depression met this low threshold.

Winford v. Social Security Administration Commissioner · filed 2022-10-18(c)

To determine whether the adult claimant suffers from a disability, the Commissioner uses the familiar five-step sequential evaluation. He determines: ... (2) whether the claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities; ... See Cox, 160 F.3d at 1206; 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)-(f). ... A claimant suffers from a severe impairment if that impairment is more than slight and if that impairment affects the claimant’s ability to do his or her basic work activities. ... Furthermore, the standard for determining whether a claimant suffers from a severe impairment is a low standard. ... In the present action, Plaintiff alleges being disabled due to depression. ... This is sufficient evidence to meet the low standard for demonstrating a severe impairment. Thus, this case must be reversed and remanded for consideration of Plaintiff’s depression.

Section 404.1520(c) requires a claimant at step two to show that medically determinable impairments significantly limit the ability to perform basic work activities, making them severe.

Williams v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-10-19(c)

At step two, a claimant must make a threshold showing that his or her medically determinable impairments significantly limit his or her ability to perform basic work activities, and are therefore severe. See Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 145 (1987); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c).

At step two, an impairment is severe only if it significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

Burns v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-10-19(c)

A severe impairment is one that significantly limits the plaintiff’s physical and/or mental ability to do basic work activities. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c); see also 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1522(a), 416.922(a) (noting that an impairment is not severe at step two if it does not significantly limit a claimant’s ability to do basic work activities).

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires the Commissioner to determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits basic work activities.

Donahue v. Kijakazi · filed 2022-11-10(c)

At step two of the sequential process, the ALJ must determine whether a claimant suffers from a “severe” impairment, i.e., one that significantly limits her physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). ... The ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s ocular migraines are non-severe is supported by substantial evidence.

Section 404.1520(c) requires an impairment to significantly limit a claimant’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities to qualify as severe at step two.

(SS) Hernandez v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-11-10(c)

A “severe” impairment or combination of impairments is one that significantly limits physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520. ... Nevertheless, the evidence was sufficient to satisfy the low threshold for severity at step two, and the ALJ’s reasoning to the contrary is not persuasive.

At step two, the ALJ determines whether a medically determinable impairment has lasted or is expected to last at least twelve months and significantly limits the claimant's ability to perform work activities.

Agen v. Kijakazi · filed 2022-11-28(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two of the disability evaluation, the ALJ must determine whether a claimant has a medically determinable impairment that both lasts or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least twelve months and that significantly limits the claimant’s ability to do work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 404.1509; 404.1520(c).

Section 404.1520(c) requires a claimant to show at step two that her medically determinable impairments significantly limit her ability to perform basic work activities.

Weber v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-11-29(c)

At step two, a claimant must make a threshold showing that her medically determinable impairments significantly limit her ability to perform basic work activities. See Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 145 (1987); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c).

At step two, the Commissioner must determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

Patton v. O'Malley · filed 2022-11-30(c)

At step two of the sequential process, the ALJ must determine whether a claimant suffers from a “severe” impairment, i.e., one that significantly limits her physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c).

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ, at step two, to determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments; an impairment is non-severe when it has no more than a minimal effect on the ability to work.

(SS) Deacon v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-12-01(c)

At step two of the five-step sequential evaluation, the ALJ is required to determine whether a plaintiff has a “severe” medical impairment or combination of impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). An impairment, or combination of impairments, can be found to be non-severe if the evidence establishes a slight abnormality that has no more than a minimal effect on an individual’s ability to work.

At Step Two, § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires an ALJ to determine whether a claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments lasting or expected to last at least twelve months.

Mullins v. Kijakazi · filed 2022-12-02(a)(4)(ii)

At Step Two, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has “a severe medically determinable physical or mental impairment,” or “a combination of impairments that is severe,” that lasted or is expected to last for at least twelve months. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1509, 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.909; 416.920(a)(4)(ii). “An impairment is not severe if it amounts only to a slight abnormality that would not significantly limit the claimant’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.”

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe only when it significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

Cunningham v. Saul · filed 2022-12-05(c)

The severity requirement means that Plaintiff’s impairment must “significantly limit[] [her] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c); Schafenberg v. Saul, 858 F. App’x 455, 456 (2d Cir. 2021) (applying same regulatory standard to analyze severity requirement).

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe when it significantly limits a claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

Szczygielski v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-01-05(c)

“An impairment is ‘severe’ if it ‘significantly limits [the claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.’” Eralte v. Colvin, No. 14 Civ. 1745(JCF), 2014 WL 7330441, at *10 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 23, 2014) (quoting 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c)).

Section 404.1520 establishes a five-step disability sequence and allows a claim to end at step two only when the impairment is not severe, meaning it has no more than a minimal effect on basic work activities.

Bryant v. Commissioner Social Security Administration · filed 2023-01-06(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two of the sequential evaluation process, the ALJ determines whether the claimant has one or more impairments (or combination of impairments) based on review of the medical record, and then determines whether these impairments are “severe.” See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 404.1521. An impairment is severe if it “significantly limits your physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... Based on this record evidence, the ALJ’s decision that Plaintiff failed to meet her burden at step two is not supported by substantial evidence. The ALJ and the Commissioner appear to countenance the ALJ’s weighing of Plaintiff’s evidence and discounting that evidence in favor of other record evidence. That, however, is not the standard at step two. Step two eliminates “groundless” claims that contain no supporting record evidence. Webb, 433 F.3d at 687-88. ... The ALJ thus erred by finding that Plaintiff’s depression was non-severe at step two.

At step two, § 404.1520 requires the ALJ to determine whether the claimant has a medically determinable severe impairment.

Belew v. Kijakazi · filed 2023-01-09(a)(4)(ii)

At step two of the sequential evaluation process, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has any medically determinable severe impairments. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). ... The Court finds the ALJ erred by denying her claim at step two.

At step two, an impairment is severe only when it causes more than a slight abnormality or minimal effect on the claimant’s ability to perform the full range of work-related activities.

Handler v. Saul · filed 2023-01-23(c)

First, under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c), “severe” means a significant limitation that interferes with a claimant’s ability to work. Courts have construed “severe” to mean only more than “slight.” See, e.g., Colson v. Colvin, 120 F. Supp. 3d 778, 788 (N.D. Ill. 2015) (citing Anthony v. Sullivan, 954 F.2d 289, 293 (5th Cir. 1992)). Thus, a “disability claimant can be considered as not suffering from a severe impairment only if the impairment is a slight abnormality having only a minimal effect on a person’s ability to perform the full range of work-related activities.” Chapman v. Barnhart, 189 F. Supp. 2d 795, 804 (N.D. Ill. 2002).

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to determine at step two whether the claimant has a severe impairment, and section 404.1520(d) moves the inquiry to step three when at least one severe impairment is found.

Moreno v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-02-01(c), (d)

At step two, the ALJ must determine if the claimant suffers from any impairments that are “severe.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). As long as the claimant has at least one severe impairment, the disability inquiry moves on to step three. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(d).

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires a claimant to show that a medically determinable impairment significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities.

Vivier v. Kijakazi · filed 2023-02-06(c)

Step two requires that a claimant make a threshold showing that her medically determinable impairments significantly limit her ability to perform basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c), 416.920(c); Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 145 (1987). Therefore, the burden of proof is on the claimant to establish a medically determinable severe impairment that significantly limits his physical or mental ability to do basic work activities, or the “abilities and aptitudes necessary to do most jobs.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1521(a), 416.921(a).

Section 404.1520 requires a claimant to establish a severe impairment at step two, but omitting an impairment is harmless when its work-related limitations are included in the RFC.

Boggs v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-02-10(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two, the “medical severity” of a claimant’s impairments is considered. 20 C.F.R. 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), § 416.920(a)(4)(ii). An impairment is not considered to be “severe” if it does not “significantly limit” a claimant's mental or physical abilities to do basic work activities. ... A plaintiff has the burden to show (1) they have a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments; (2) the impairment or combination of impairments is severe; and (3) the impairment lasted at least 12 months. See Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 146, (1987); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). ... Since the ALJ ultimately decided step two in plaintiff’s favor, any error regarding these impairments is harmless. If the ALJ considers an impairment’s effect on a claimant’s ability to do work activities and includes those limitations in the RFC, the omission of the impairment from the step two evaluation is harmless error.

At step two, the regulation requires consideration of the severity of medically determinable impairments and treats an impairment as severe when it significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities.

PONDO v. KIJAKAZI · filed 2023-02-10(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two of the five-step evaluation process, the ALJ must consider the medical severity of any medically determinable impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). ... To be severe, an impairment (or combination of impairments) must “significantly limit[] your physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” Id. §§ 404.1520(c).

Section 404.1520(c) makes step two a threshold inquiry into whether an impairment or combination significantly limits basic work activities, and an error in finding one impairment non-severe is harmless when the ALJ finds another severe impairment and continues the sequential evaluation.

FLYNN v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY · filed 2023-02-14(c)

At step two, an ALJ determines whether the plaintiff has a “severe impairment” or combination of impairments that “significantly limits [the plaintiff’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities[.]” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... Accordingly, based on this record, even if the ALJ erred by not finding other severe impairments, including lumbar and cervical degenerative disc disease, any such error at step two is harmless.

Section 404.1520 requires the ALJ at step two to determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment that meets the duration requirement, with severity measured by significant limits on basic work activities.

Alls v. Social Security Administration · filed 2023-02-27(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At Step Two, an ALJ must determine whether the claimant has an impairment or combination of impairments that is “severe” and meets the duration requirement. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). ... Substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s Step Two finding that these conditions were non-severe.

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) treats step two as a threshold inquiry, and finding any severe impairment is sufficient to satisfy it.

Howland v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2022-09-26(a)(4)(ii)

At step two of the sequential analysis, the ALJ considers the medical severity of a claimant’s impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). Step two operates as a threshold inquiry. ... Notably, however, the finding of any severe impairment, whether or not it results from a single severe impairment or a combination or impairments that together qualify as severe, is enough to satisfy step two. ... Accordingly, since the ALJ determined that Plaintiff suffered from multiple severe impairments at step two, and thus proceeded beyond step two in the sequential analysis, any error in failing to find that Plaintiff suffered from other severe impairments is rendered harmless.

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires the Commissioner to assess the severity of a claimant’s impairment at step two, which is a de minimis screen for groundless claims.

Gamson v. O'Malley · filed 2022-09-29(a)(4)(ii)

At step two, the Commissioner considers the severity of the claimant’s impairment. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). “[T]he step-two inquiry is a de minimis screening device to dispose of groundless claims. Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1290 (9th Cir. 1996).

At step two, the regulation requires determining whether an impairment significantly limits a claimant's physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities; impairments causing only minimal effects are not severe.

Cardin v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-03-01(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two of the sequential analysis, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has a “severe impairment” that “significantly limits [claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), (c). It is the claimant’s burden to present evidence demonstrating severity at step two. See Briggs v. Astrue, 2011 WL 2669476, *3 (N.D.N.Y.), report and recommendation adopted by, 2011 WL 2669463 (N.D.N.Y. 2011). “An impairment or combination of impairments is ‘not severe’ when medical and other evidence establishes only a slight abnormality or a combination of slight abnormalities that would have at most a minimal effect on an individual’s ability to perform basic work activities.”

At step two, the ALJ determines whether an impairment is severe, and any error in failing to classify an additional impairment as severe is harmless when another severe impairment allows the sequential evaluation to continue.

Bard v. Social Security · filed 2023-03-13(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two, an ALJ considers the severity of a claimant’s impairments. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). ... With this standard in mind, even if the ALJ should have characterized Plaintiff’s bilateral knee pathologies and carpal tunnel syndrome/peripheral neuropathy as severe impairments, any error is harmless because the ALJ characterized other impairments – spine disorders; arthropathy; fibromyalgia; osteoarthritis; tachycardia; and hearing loss – as severe. ... With step two satisfied, the issue then becomes whether the ALJ considered all of Plaintiff’s impairments, including her bilateral knee pathologies and carpal tunnel syndrome/peripheral neuropathy in assessing the RFC.

At Step Two, § 404.1520(c) requires a claimant to show a medically determinable impairment that significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities.

Torre-Gonzalez v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-03-16(c)

Beginning with the first claim of error, at Step Two, a claimant must produce evidence that he has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, which must significantly limit his physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 404.1522.

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to identify severe impairments, but once any severe impairment is found, failure to label additional impairments severe is harmless if their functional limitations are considered later.

(SS) MacDowell v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-03-22(c)

At step two of the sequential evaluation, the ALJ determines which of claimant’s alleged impairments are “severe” within the meaning of 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). “An impairment is not severe if it is merely ‘a slight abnormality (or combination of slight abnormalities) that has no more than a minimal effect on the ability to do basic work activities.’” Webb v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 683, 686 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting Social Security Ruling (“SSR”) 96-3p, 1996 SSR LEXIS 10 (1996)). The step two severity determination is “merely a threshold determination of whether the claimant is able to perform his past work. Thus, a finding that a claimant is severe at step two only raises a prima facie case of a disability.” Hoopai v. Astrue, 499 F.3d 1071, 1076 (9th Cir. 2007). Here, the ALJ did not dispose of plaintiff’s disability claim as groundless at step two. AR 563-564. Indeed, the ALJ found that plaintiff satisfied the severity requirement, and went on to conduct the disability analysis. In doing so she was required to evaluate all functional limitations established by the reliable evidence, not just the ones identified as severe. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(2). To the extent she did not do this, it goes to error at step four (discussed below). Plaintiff’s assertion that certain other impairments were also “severe” does not provide grounds for reversal at step two. Once the ALJ determined the existence of a severe impairment or combination of impairments, the ALJ is required to consider all the functional limitations established by the reliable medical evidence, regardless of severity, at step four. Accordingly, any error at step two not has affected the ultimately disability determination, and therefore would be harmless as a matter of law.

Section 404.1520 requires a claimant at step two to establish an impairment or combination of impairments that significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities.

Grisales v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-03-22(a)(4)(ii)

The ALJ considers the medical severity of a claimant’s impairments at step two of the sequential analysis. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). Step two operates as a threshold inquiry. ... At step two, a claimant must show that he or she suffers from an impairment or combination of impairments that significantly limits his or her physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 404.1521, 404.1522(a).

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ at step two to determine whether an impairment or combination of impairments is medically determinable and severe, and a step-two error is harmless when the claimant proceeds based on other severe impairments.

Rohn v. Commissioner Social Security Administration · filed 2023-03-23(c)

At step two, the ALJ determines whether the claimant has an impairment, or combination of impairments, that is both medically determinable and severe. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... The step two threshold is low; the Ninth Circuit describes it as a “de minimus screening device to dispose of groundless claims.” ... Here, the ALJ found that plaintiff had a number of medically determinable and severe physical impairments at step two. ... The ALJ then went on to continue the sequential evaluation process and formulated an RFC that considered evidence and allegations pertaining to plaintiff’s mental impairments. ... Under well-established case law, any alleged error at step two error was harmless.

Section 404.1520(c) requires a claimant to have a severe impairment, or combination of impairments, that significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities to proceed beyond step two.

Elizaldi v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration · filed 2023-03-24(c)

To proceed beyond step two, a claimant must have a severe impairment, or a combination of severe impairments, that “significantly limits [his] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). “An impairment is not severe if it is merely ‘a slight abnormality (or combination of slight abnormalities) that has no more than a minimal effect on the ability to do basic work activities.’” Webb v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 683, 686 (9th Cir. 2005) (citations omitted). Notably, “[s]tep two is merely a threshold determination meant to screen out weak claims.” Buck v. Berryhill, 869 F.3d 1040, 1048 (9th Cir. 2017) (citation omitted).

At step two, § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires the agency to determine whether an impairment or combination of impairments is severe, and applying a stricter significant-limitation standard is legal error.

Ramos v. Kijakazi · filed 2023-03-31(a)(4)(ii)

At step two, which is the focus of Ramos’s challenge in this lawsuit, the agency considers whether the alleged impairment or combination of impairments is severe, as defined by controlling regulations and caselaw. Id. at § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). If the impairment or combination of impairments is severe, the agency proceeds to step three. Otherwise, the agency concludes that the claimant is not disabled and ends the analysis. Id. ... Ramos more than met her burden to present evidence of her conditions’ severity sufficient to show that during the disability period, she experienced symptoms that exceeded “a slight abnormality having such minimal effect on an individual that it would not be expected to interfere with the individual’s ability to work, irrespective of age, education or work experience.” Loza, 219 F.3d at 392 (emphasis removed and added). It is apparent from the Decision that the ALJ held Ramos to a higher standard, requiring her to show significant limitations in her ability to work. In doing so, the ALJ applied the incorrect legal standard. Her conclusion that Ramos did not suffer from a severe impairment or combination of impairments is not supported by substantial evidence.

At step two, an ALJ determines whether the claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments; an error in failing to identify an additional severe impairment is harmless when another severe impairment permits the evaluation to proceed, but all limitations must still be considered in the RFC.

Larson v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-05-02(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two, the ALJ must determine whether the impairment or combination of impairments from which the claimant allegedly suffers is “severe.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), (c); 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)(4)(ii), (c). ... With this standard in mind, even if the ALJ should have characterized Plaintiff’s mental impairments as severe impairments, any error is harmless because the ALJ characterized other impairments – a back disorder (cervical spine degenerative disc disease), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and trigeminal neuralgia – as severe. ... With step two satisfied, the issue then becomes whether the ALJ considered all of Plaintiff’s impairments, including his mental impairments in assessing the RFC.

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ at step two to determine whether a claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments; an impairment is non-severe when it has no more than a minimal effect on the ability to work.

(SS)Thompson v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-05-03(c)

At step two of the five-step sequential evaluation, the ALJ is required to determine whether a plaintiff has a “severe” medical impairment or combination of impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). An impairment, or combination of impairments, can be found to be non-severe if the evidence establishes a slight abnormality that has no more than a minimal effect on an individual’s ability to work.

At Step Two, § 404.1520(c) uses a de minimis severity threshold, so an impairment is non-severe only when it has no more than a minimal effect on the claimant's ability to perform basic work activities.

Falcone v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-05-08(c)

A “severe” impairment is defined as, “any impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits [a claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities,” 20 CFR §404.1520(c), and which meets the 12-month durational requirement. See 42 USC §423(d)(1)(A). Notwithstanding the regulation’s use of the word “significantly,” the Step Two evidentiary requirement is de minimis, and intended only to screen out the truly weakest of cases. Dixon v. Shalala, 54 F.3d 1019, 1030 (2d Cir. 1995). Thus, a Step Two finding of non-severity is only appropriate where “the medical evidence establishes only a slight abnormality . . . which would have no more than a minimal effect on an individual’s ability to perform basic work activities.”

At step two, § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires determining whether a claimant has a severe impairment that meets the duration requirement and significantly limits basic work activities.

Coleman v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-05-11(a)(4)(ii)

Step two is a threshold determination of whether a claimant has a severe impairment that meets the twelve-month duration requirement and significantly limits the claimant’s ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). ... Having performed the technique and having found only mild limitations, the ALJ properly determined Plaintiff’s psychiatric impairments were not severe. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520a(d)(1), 416.920a(d)(1) (“If we rate the degrees of your limitation as ‘none’ or ‘mild,’ we will generally conclude that your impairment is not severe”).

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe when it significantly limits a claimant's ability to perform basic work activities.

Jeffery v. Kijakazi · filed 2023-05-16(c)

“An impairment or combination of impairments is ‘severe’ within the meaning of the regulations if it significantly limits an individual’s ability to perform basic work activities.” Campbell, 596 F. Supp. 2d at 450; see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... The ALJ specifically did not consider Plaintiff’s HIV to be “severe” because “the claimant has routinely been described as asymptomatic and stable with a largely undetectable HIV RNA and increased CD4 cell count.” ... Accordingly, on de novo review, the Court agrees with the Magistrate Judge that the ALJ did not err in concluding that Plaintiff’s HIV was non-severe.

Section 404.1520 requires a five-step disability evaluation, with step two asking whether the claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits basic work activities.

Cochran v. Social Security Administration · filed 2023-05-22(a)(4)(ii) (c)

The ALJ considers the “medical severity” of a claimant’s impairments at step two of the sequential evaluation. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). An impairment is “severe” if it significantly limits a claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). A claimant who does not have a severe medically determinable impairment, or a combination of impairments that is severe, is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii).

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires a claimant to show that an impairment or combination of impairments significantly limits the claimant's physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.

Rudd v. Social Security Administration · filed 2023-05-22(c)

At step two, Plaintiff bears the burden of showing the existence of an impairment or combination of impairments which “significantly limits [his] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).

At step two, § 404.1520 does not require an ALJ to label every impairment severe or non-severe; the severity inquiry is only a threshold for proceeding to later steps.

Young v. SSA · filed 2023-05-30(a)(ii)

The regulations do not require an administrative law judge to designate each impairment as “severe” or “non-severe.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(ii). The severity standard at step two is merely a threshold inquiry that, if satisfied by the evidence presented by a claimant, allows the administrative law judge to proceed to the remaining steps of the evaluation process. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1523(c). ALJ Mangus determined that Plaintiff had severe impairments sufficient to proceed to step three. Therefore, “[t]he fact that some of [claimant]’s impairments were not deemed to be severe at step two is [] legally irrelevant.”

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to find an impairment severe when it significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

Ocampo v. Kijakazi · filed 2023-06-22(c)

At step two of the sequential process, the ALJ must determine whether a claimant suffers from a “severe” impairment, i.e., one that significantly limits his physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). ... Even if the ALJ erred in failing to consider the medication, the error was harmless because step two of the analysis was resolved in Plaintiff’s favor and the ALJ accounted for Plaintiff’s mental limitations when considering his residual functional capacity. See Tr. 41 (finding Plaintiff capable of performing only light work); Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 682–83 (9th Cir. 2005); Lewis v. Astrue, 498 F.3d 909, 911 (9th Cir. 2007).

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires an ALJ to determine whether a claimant has a medically severe impairment or combination of impairments at step two of the disability evaluation.

Shank v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-06-22(a)(4)(ii)

Step Two of the administration’s evaluation process requires the ALJ to determine whether the claimant “has a medically severe impairment or combination of impairments.” Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1290 (9th Cir. 1996) (citation omitted); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii) (1996).

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires an ALJ to determine whether a claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits the claimant's physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.

Reynolds v. Kijakazi · filed 2023-06-23(c)

At step two of the sequential process, the ALJ must determine whether a claimant suffers from a “severe” impairment, i.e., one that significantly limits her physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). ... This is a valid basis to find impairments non-severe. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1522, 416.922; see also Bagdasaryan v. Saul, 787 F. App’x 423, 424 (9th Cir. 2019) (upholding finding impairments were non-severe when “well-controlled with medication and did not required specialist care”).

At step two, an impairment or combination of impairments is severe only if it significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

King v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-06-26(c)

An impairment or combination of impairments is severe if it significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). An impairment is not severe if it is merely “a slight abnormality (or combination of slight abnormalities) that has no more than a minimal effect on the ability to do basic work activities.”

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe when it significantly limits a claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

Boehm v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration · filed 2023-06-26(c)

At step two of the sequential evaluation process, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant suffers from a “severe” impairment or combination of impairments. ... “[A]ny impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits [a person’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities” is considered “severe.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... Plaintiff has failed to establish that the ALJ erred when making the step-two finding of non-severity. ... Thus, on this record, substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s step-two finding of non-severity.

At step two, an impairment is severe when it significantly limits a claimant's ability to perform basic work activities; without such an impairment, the claimant may not claim disability.

Phelps v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-06-26(c)

Second, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has a medically determinable impairment or a combination of impairments that significantly limits the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). Absent such impairment, the claimant may not claim disability.

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to determine whether a medically determinable impairment significantly limits a claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities at step two.

Serrianni v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-06-29(c)

Second, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has a medically determinable impairment or a combination of impairments that significantly limits the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... Here, consistent with case law and the regulations, the ALJ concluded Plaintiffs mental impairments were non-severe because she had mild limitations in the four broad areas of mental functioning.

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires determining whether an impairment significantly limits a claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities; an impairment that does not meet that threshold is not severe.

(SS) Lo v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-07-17(c)

At step two of the sequential process, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant suffers from a “severe” impairment, i.e., one that significantly limits her physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... Based on the foregoing, substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s conclusion that Plaintiff’s claimed mental health limitations were not severe. ... The ALJ did not err in finding Plaintiff did not establish a severe impairment at step two of the sequential analysis.

Section 404.1520 uses step two to screen for severe impairments, and once any impairment is found severe, the ALJ must consider all impairments at the remaining steps.

Figueroa v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-07-18(a)

An ALJ decides whether an impairment is severe at step two of the five step analysis. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a), 416.920(a). “This step acts as a filter; if no severe impairment is shown the claim is denied, but the finding of any severe impairment, whether or not it qualifies as a disability and whether or not it results from a single severe impairment or a combination of impairments that together qualify as severe, is enough to satisfy the requirement of step two.” ... Rather, if any impairment or combination of impairments qualifies as “severe,” step two is satisfied and the claim advances to step three. ... Once a case advances beyond step two, the ALJ must consider all impairments, severe or not, at the remaining steps. ... Because the ALJ considered all Ms. Figueroa’s impairments—including her migraine headaches—in determining whether she could work and with what limitations, any error by the ALJ in failing to identify Ms. Figueroa’s migraine headaches as severe was harmless.

Section 404.1520 requires an ALJ to determine at step two whether a claimant’s impairment or combination of impairments is severe before proceeding to the next step.

Quinn v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-07-24(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two, an ALJ considers the severity of a claimant’s impairments. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). An impairment or combination of impairments is not severe “if it does not significantly limit [a claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1522(a), 416.922(a). In other words, a severe impairment is an impairment or combination thereof that significantly limits a claimant’s abilities to perform basic work activities. See SSR 85-28, 1985 WL 56856, *4 n.1; 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 404.1522(a), 416.920(c), 416.922(a). ... With this standard in mind, even if the ALJ should have characterized Plaintiff’s mental or other physical impairments as severe, any error is harmless because the ALJ characterized other impairments –as stated above – as severe. (Tr. 31). The ALJ then advanced to step three of the sequential evaluation. See Ball, 714 F. App’x at 993. With step two satisfied, the issue then becomes whether the ALJ considered all of Plaintiff’s impairments, including her mental impairments and other physical impairments in assessing the RFC.

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires an ALJ to assess impairment severity at step two, and § 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe only when it significantly limits basic work activities.

Ali v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-07-26(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two of the disability analysis, the ALJ considers the medical severity of the claimant’s impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). A “severe impairment” is “any impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits [the claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” Id. at §§ 404.1520(c), 404.1521. ... Here, contrary to Plaintiff’s argument, the ALJ relied upon sufficient record evidence to conclude at Step Two that Plaintiff’s anxiety and depression did not cause “more than a minimal limitation in the claimant’s ability to do basic work activities” and were nonsevere. Tr. 19.

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to determine at step two whether an impairment significantly limits a claimant’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.

Linebeck v. Kijakazi · filed 2023-08-14(c)

At step two of the sequential process, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant suffers from a “severe” impairment, i.e., one that significantly limits her physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... Plaintiff has not met her burden in demonstrating the ALJ erred at step two. Plaintiff is not entitled to remand on these grounds.

At step two, an impairment is severe only if it significantly limits a person’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities; a slight abnormality with no more than a minimal effect is non-severe.

Morell v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-08-21(c)

An alleged impairment will be considered severe only where “it significantly limits an individual’s physical or mental abilities to do basic work activities.” Clark v. Saul, 444 F. Supp. 3d 607, 622 (S.D.N.Y. 2020) (quoting SSR 96-3P, 1996 WL 374181); see also 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.1520(c). “A non-severe impairment is one that is a slight abnormality (or a combination of slight abnormalities) that has no more than a minimal effect on the ability to do basic work activities.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). ... The ALJ’s conclusion that Morell’s depression and anxiety were non-severe limitations was adequately explained and is supported by the record. See R. 23.

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires an adequate basis for finding that an impairment is not severe because it causes no more than a minimal limitation on the ability to perform basic work activities.

Wilson v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-08-23(c)

The ALJ found Plaintiff “has a history of migraines” but found Plaintiff’s migraines to be not severe “in that they do not cause more than minimal limitation of physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” AR 18 (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c)). ... The ALJ failed to explain how or why this evidence indicates Plaintiff’s migraines have no more than a minimal effect on Plaintiff’s ability to work. See SSR 85-28. Therefore, the ALJ’s evaluation of Plaintiff’s migraine impairment and conclusion that the impairment is not severe lack the support of substantial evidence.

Section 404.1520 requires disability claims to be evaluated through a five-step sequential process, and an error at step two is harmless when the ALJ finds other severe impairments and proceeds to later steps.

Ramirez v. Kijakazi · filed 2023-09-11(a)(4)(ii)

The ALJ reached this conclusion after proceeding through the five-step sequential analysis provided in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4). ... The Court is not persuaded by Ramirez’s argument that the ALJ failed to account for additional limitations caused by her alleged impairments of hypersomnia, bilateral shoulder pain, fatigue, and sleep disorder. First, the ALJ found in Ramirez’s favor at step two, finding that she had several other severe impairments, and then proceeded on to step three of the five-step sequential evaluation process. (Doc. 9-2, at 19-20). Thus, any error with respect to evaluation of the severity of any other alleged impairments at step two was harmless and provides “no valid basis for remand.”

Section 404.1520(c) requires the Commissioner to determine at step two whether an impairment or combination of impairments significantly limits basic work activities and to assess its severity before continuing the sequential evaluation.

Berlingeri-Otero v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-09-11(c)

At step two of the sequential analysis, the ALJ concluded that Plaintiff’s post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder were severe pursuant to 20 CFR 404.1520(c)) and SSR 85-28. Tr. 23-24. But did not take into consideration (or even mention) Plaintiff’s allegations of headaches. The ALJ did not categorize Plaintiff’s headaches as an impairment. ... The ALJ was required to consider the evidence of Plaintiff’s headaches and to make a determination as to the severity of the impairment. The ALJ did not do so. The ALJ’s error at step two was not harmless because it could not be remedied by continuing the sequential analysis. Plaintiff’s headaches were not considered in the RFC determination made by the ALJ. A remand on this issue is warranted.

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) and (c) require a claimant to establish a severe impairment that significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities; without one, the claimant is not disabled.

Tankersley v. SSA · filed 2023-09-12(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two, the claimant—in this case, Tankersley—has the burden of establishing an impairment or combination of impairment that is/are “severe.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 404.1520(c), 416.920(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(c). “If you do not have any impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits your physical or mental ability to do basic work activities,” an ALJ will find that the claimant does not have a severe impairment and “are, therefore, not disabled.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c).

At step two, § 404.1520 requires determining whether the claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits the physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities and has lasted or is expected to last at least twelve months.

Lilly v. Kijakazi · filed 2023-09-13(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two of the disability analysis, the ALJ determines if a claimant’s impairments are severe and have lasted or are expected to last for at least twelve months. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), (c); 416.920(a)(4)(ii), 416.909. To show an impairment is severe, a claimant must show she has (1) a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments, (2) which significantly limits her physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities, without regard to age, education, or work experience. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), (c); 404.1521(a); 416.920(a)(4)(ii), (c); 416.921(a). Basic work activities are those “abilities and aptitudes necessary to do most jobs.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1521(b).

At step two, § 404.1520 requires determining whether a claimant has a severe impairment, and the Paragraph B criteria used at step three do not determine whether the impairment is severe.

Pine v. Kijakazi · filed 2023-09-14(a)(4)(ii), (c)

Paragraph B criteria are not the measure of whether a condition is severe for purposes of Step 2. The Court finds that the ALJ’s analysis improperly conflates Steps 2 and 3 with respect to Claimant’s alleged mental impairments.

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ at step two to determine whether an alleged impairment is severe; an impairment is not severe if it has no more than a minimal effect on the ability to do basic work activities.

(SS) Parker v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-09-18(c)

At step two of the sequential evaluation, the ALJ determines which of claimant's alleged impairments are “severe” within the meaning of 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). “An impairment is not severe if it is merely ‘a slight abnormality (or combination of slight abnormalities) that has no more than a minimal effect on the ability to do basic work activities.’” Webb v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 683, 686 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting Social Security Ruling (“SSR”) 96-3p, 1996 SSR LEXIS 10 (1996)). The step two severity determination is “merely a threshold determination of whether the claimant is able to perform his past work. Thus, a finding that a claimant is severe at step two only raises a prima facie case of a disability.” Hoopai v. Astrue, 499 F.3d 1071, 1076 (9th Cir. 2007). At the second step, plaintiff has the burden of providing medical evidence of signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings that show that his or her impairments are severe and are expected to last for a continuous period of twelve months. Ukolov v. Barnhart, 420 F.3d 1002, 1004-05 (9th Cir. 2005); see also 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1509, 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.909, 416.920(a)(4)(ii). Here, the ALJ did not dispose of plaintiff’s claim as groundless but found that plaintiff met the severity requirements as to degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and therefore continued with her analysis. AR 23. While the ALJ misconstrued the durational requirement, which may be met by conditions that “can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months,” this error was not harmful.

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) and (c) require the Commissioner to assess impairment severity at step two; failing to identify additional impairments is not reversible error when at least one severe impairment is found and evaluation proceeds.

Russell v. Social Security Administration · filed 2023-09-18(a)(4)(ii), (c)

The ALJ considers the “medical severity” of a claimant’s impairments at step two of the sequential evaluation. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). An impairment is “severe” if it significantly limits a claimant’s ability to perform work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). A claimant who does not have a severe medically determinable impairment, or a combination of impairments that is severe, is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). ... Since the ALJ found Claimant had at least one severe impairment and proceeded to the subsequent steps of her analysis, any failure in identifying additional medically determinable impairments at step two does not constitute reversible error.

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe when it significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

Braunschweig v. Kijakazi · filed 2023-09-19(c)

A severe impairment is one that significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).

At step two, § 404.1520 requires the ALJ to determine whether an impairment is severe, meaning it significantly limits the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities.

Fairchild v. Commissioner Social Security Administration · filed 2023-07-26(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two of the sequential evaluation process, the ALJ determines whether the claimant has one or more impairments (or combination of impairments) based on review of the medical record, and then determines whether these impairments are “severe.” See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 404.1521. An impairment is severe if it “significantly limits your physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... There is sufficient evidence in the record to raise the question of whether Plaintiff’s fibromyalgia diagnosis is a severe, medically determinable impairment. ... This error at step two was not harmless.

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) and (c) require the ALJ at step two to determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments, and any severe impairment is enough to move the claim to step three.

Watkins v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-09-07(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two, an ALJ considers the severity of a claimant’s impairments. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). An impairment or combination of impairments is not severe “if it does not significantly limit [a claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1522(a), 416.922(a). ... This inquiry “acts as a filter in that the finding of any severe impairment ... is enough to satisfy the requirement of step two and allow the ALJ to proceed to step three.”

At step two, § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires determining whether a claimant has a severe medically determinable impairment; being medically determinable does not by itself make an impairment severe.

Harris v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration · filed 2023-09-14(a)(4)(ii)

At step two, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has a “severe medically determinable” impairment. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). ... Medical determinability and severity are distinct concepts. This means that an impairment can be medically determinable but not severe.

Section 404.1520(c) requires an impairment to significantly limit a claimant’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities to be considered severe at step two.

Fink v. O'Malley · filed 2023-09-27(c)

At step two of the sequential process, the ALJ must determine whether there is a medically determinable impairment established by objective medical evidence from an acceptable medical source. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1521, 416.921. A statement of symptoms, a diagnosis, or a medical opinion does not establish the existence of an impairment. Id. After a medically determinable impairment is established, the ALJ must determine whether the impairment is “severe;” i.e., one that significantly limits his or her physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). ... The ALJ reasonably concluded Plaintiff's migraines were not a severe impairment.

At step two, § 404.1520 requires the SSA to assess the medical severity of an impairment and treats an impairment as severe only if it significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

Mullins v. Kijakazi · filed 2023-09-27(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two of the sequential evaluation process, the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) considers the medical severity of the claimant’s impairment. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). To establish that a medically determinable impairment is “severe,” the claimant must show that it “significantly limits [her] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to determine at step two whether the claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities.

Bollar v. Saul · filed 2023-09-27(c)

At step two of the sequential process, the ALJ must determine whether a claimant suffers from a “severe” impairment, i.e., one that significantly limits her physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c).

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires the ALJ at step two to determine whether a claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments and to consider medically determinable impairments before denying benefits.

Young v. Social Security Administration · filed 2023-09-28(a)(4)(ii)

At step two of the sequential evaluation, the ALJ determines whether a claimant has a medically severe impairment or combination of impairments. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii); Williams, 844 F.2d at 750. ... The Court concludes Plaintiff’s hypertension and ununited lumbar fracture are medically determinable impairments that the ALJ was required to consider before denying benefits at step two of the sequential evaluation process.

At step two, § 404.1520(c) defines a severe impairment as one that significantly limits a claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

Rufener v. O'Malley · filed 2023-09-29(c)

A severe impairment is defined as an impairment that significantly limits one’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... The ALJ’s analysis on the severity of Plaintiff’s carpal tunnel syndrome appears to be supported by substantial evidence on the record and on remand need only be reevaluated to the extent the ALJ finds appropriate in light of the medical opinions and the proper age category.

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe at step two when it significantly limits a claimant’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.

(SS) Felkins v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-10-06(c)

Under the Commissioner’s regulations, an impairment or combination of impairments is deemed to be severe at step two if it “significantly limits [a claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... Disregarding these of the ALJ’s findings, the question becomes: what relevant evidence did the ALJ cite to that properly supports her non-severity finding at step two regarding plaintiff’s vision? From the ALJ’s recounting, as well as the undersigned’s review of the record, the answer appears to be a lack of evidence showing any vision impairment in 2012-13.

At step two, § 404.1520 requires an ALJ to assess impairment severity and find a claimant not disabled if no severe impairment or combination satisfies the duration requirements; an impairment is severe if it significantly limits basic work activities.

Long v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-10-06(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two of the evaluation process, an ALJ must consider the medical severity of a plaintiff’s impairments and if the ALJ finds that the plaintiff does not have a severe medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments satisfying the duration requirements, the ALJ will find that the plaintiff is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). ... To qualify as severe, an impairment must significantly limit a claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 404.1522(a).

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to determine at step two whether the claimant has a medically determinable severe impairment, and finding another severe impairment permits the evaluation to proceed.

McGee v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner · filed 2023-11-06(c)

At step two, the ALJ had to determine whether Plaintiff had a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments that is “severe.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). ... Therefore, if the ALJ finds one severe impairment, they will continue to the next step of the process. ... Any error by the ALJ in omitting Plaintiff’s anxiety from the list of severe impairments was harmless because she found other severe impairments, proceeded to step three, and considered all of Plaintiff’s impairments in determining whether Plaintiff had a listed impairment.

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) and (c) require the Commissioner to assess impairment severity at step two, and finding any severe impairment is enough to proceed with the sequential evaluation.

LAWRENCE v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY · filed 2023-11-06(a)(4)(ii), (c)

Under the regulations, the Commissioner uses a five-step procedure to determine if a claimant is disabled. Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1237 (11th Cir. 2004); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4). ... Second, the Commissioner determines the severity of the claimant’s impairment or combination of impairments. Id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). A claimant must have a “severe impairment” which is one that “significantly limits [a claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” Id. § 404.1520(c). ... Step two “‘acts as a filter’ in that the ‘finding of any severe impairment . . . is enough to satisfy the requirement of step two[.]’” Ball v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 714 F. App’x 991, 993 (11th Cir. 2018) (per curiam) (first alteration in original) (quoting Jamison v. Bowen, 814 F.2d 585, 588 (11th Cir. 1987)). ... Having found at least one severe impairment at step two, the ALJ continued in the sequential evaluation. That was all that was required at step two.

At step two, the ALJ must assess the medical severity of the claimant’s impairment or combination of impairments and determine whether it is severe.

Sedgwick v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner of · filed 2023-11-16(a)(4)(ii)

At step two in the sequential process, the ALJ must “consider the medical severity of [the claimant’s] impairment(s),” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), and whether the impairment or combination of impairments is “severe.” ... The Court identifies no error in the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s mental impairments were not severe.

At step two, an impairment is severe only if it significantly limits the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities.

(SS) Balwinder v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-12-07(c)

To qualify for benefits, the plaintiff must have an impairment severe enough to significantly limit the physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c).

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires an ALJ at step two to determine whether a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments is severe enough to significantly limit basic work activities.

Baker v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-12-15(a)(4)(ii)

At step two, the ALJ must determine if the claimant has a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments that are severe, such that they would significantly limit the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities. See Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1289–90 (9th Cir. 1996) (citation omitted); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii).

At step two, Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires the ALJ to decide whether the claimant has a severe medically determinable impairment; if at least one impairment is severe, the evaluation proceeds to step three.

Terriquez v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration · filed 2023-12-19(a)(4)(ii)

At step two of the review process, an ALJ must determine whether a claimant has a severe medically determinable physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments that is severe. Allman v. Colvin, 813 F.3d 1326, 1330 (10th Cir. 2016) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii)). If the ALJ finds that a claimant has no severe impairment, she will find that the claimant is not disabled and deny benefits. Id. But if the ALJ finds at least one severe impairment, she must proceed to step three analysis. Id. Therefore, “the failure to find a particular impairment severe at step two is not reversible error when the ALJ finds that at least one other impairment is severe.” Id.

Section 404.1520(c) makes step two a de minimis threshold inquiry into whether an impairment significantly limits basic work activities, and a severe-impairment finding does not itself determine the claimant’s residual functional capacity.

Montez v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2023-12-22(c)

“But at that point in the sequential evaluation process, the required showing is de minimis and does not account for the ALJ’s assessment . . . of a claimant’s ability to work at a given exertional level.” Johnson v. Berryhill, 679 F. App’x 682, 687 (10th Cir. 2017) (cleaned up) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c)); see also Salmond, 892 F.3d at 817 (“This second step requires the claimant to make a de minimis showing.”). ... “Thus, a finding that an impairment is severe at step two is not determinative of the claimant’s RFC.”

Section 404.1520(a) and (c) require consideration of medically determinable impairments at step two and treat an impairment as severe when it significantly limits basic work activities.

MARKWARDT v. KIJAKAZI · filed 2024-01-17(a), (c)

At step two, the ALJ is required to consider the medical severity of any medically determinable impairments. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)(4)(ii). An impairment is “severe” where it significantly limits the claimant's ability to perform “basic work activities.” See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a), (c), 416.920(a), (c); see also 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1522, 416.922.

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires an ALJ to determine at step two whether a claimant has a severe impairment.

Brakefield v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-01-26(a)(4)(ii)

At step two, an ALJ considers the severity of a claimant’s impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). When, as here, the claimant alleges a mental impairment “the ALJ makes determinations as to the claimant’s abilities in four broad functional areas known as Paragraph B criteria. The four areas consider the claimant’s ability to (1) understand, remember, or apply information; (2) interact with others; (3) concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; and (4) adapt or manage herself.” ... Ultimately, “to find the presence of a [severe] mental impairment, the ALJ must find that a claimant has an extreme limitation in one of the four functional areas or a marked limitation in two.” ... Based on his review of the evidence, the ALJ determined Brakefield’s mental impairments resulted in no more than “mild limitations” in each category. ... Thus, Brakefield’s mental impairments were not severe.

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to find that a claimant has no severe impairment when the claimant’s impairments do not significantly limit the ability to perform basic work activities.

Rhine v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration · filed 2024-02-20(c)

The SSA’s “severity regulation,” see 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c), governs the determination. Id. at 141. Under the regulation, “[i]f [the claimant] do[es] not have any impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits [her] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities, [the ALJ] will find that [he claimant] do[es] not have a severe impairment and [is], therefore, not disabled.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). See Williams v. Bowen, 844 F.2d 748, 751 (10th Cir. 1988). Although the claimant must make only a “de minimis” showing that the medical condition is medically severe, he or she “must show more than the mere presence of a condition or ailment.” Hinkle v. Apfel, 132 F.3d 1349, 1352 (10th Cir. 1997). ... This is particularly so here, where the ALJ’s analysis at the RFC stage – that the prior administrative medical findings were well-supported by the evidence and generally persuasive – is at odds with he ALJ’s finding at Step Two – that Plaintiff’s impairments were not severe under the de minimis standard.

Section 404.1520(c) requires an ALJ to determine whether an impairment is severe by assessing whether it significantly limits the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities.

Cutre, Jr. v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-02-27(c)

At step two of the disability analysis, the ALJ determines whether the claimant has an impairment, or combination of impairments, that is “severe” within the meaning of the Act, in that it imposes significant restrictions on the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c); ... Here, the ALJ assessed Plaintiff’s learning disability as non-severe and found that Plaintiff had no work-related mental functional limitations. ... In light of other evidence in the record supporting that Plaintiff does experience some cognitive deficits, this was error.

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe when it significantly limits the claimant's physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

FERRARO v. Kijakazi,Acting Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-03-04(c)

A severe impairment occurs when there is an “impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits [the applicant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe when it significantly limits a claimant’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.

Fusselman v. Commissioner Social Security Administration · filed 2024-03-12(a)(4)(ii), (c)

An impairment is severe if it “significantly limits” a claimant’s “physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). ... Accordingly, the ALJ did not err in finding Plaintiff’s migraines non-severe.

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe when it significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

Roane v. Kijakazi · filed 2024-03-29(c)

An impairment or combination of impairments is severe if it significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities. See id. (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c)).

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to determine at step two whether an impairment significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities before finding the impairment severe.

Daly v. O'Malley · filed 2024-05-20(c)

The Court begins by analyzing Plaintiff’s claim under step two. As mentioned, the claimant must suffer from “any impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits [his] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities” in order for the ALJ to find the plaintiff’s condition severe at step two. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires a claimant to show that an impairment or combination of impairments significantly limits the ability to do basic work activities.

Letbetter v. Social Security Administration · filed 2024-05-31(c)

At step two, Plaintiff bears the burden of showing the existence of an impairment or combination of impairments which “significantly limits [her] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... Here, the ALJ found Plaintiff’s chronic kidney disease was a non-severe impairment and did not result in any functional limitations in the RFC. ... Thus, the Court finds no error by the ALJ.

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires an ALJ to determine whether an impairment significantly limits a claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities.

White v. O'Malley (CONSENT) · filed 2024-06-12(c)

At step two of the sequential evaluation process, the ALJ must determine whether an impairment is severe—that is, whether it “significantly limits [the claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” Gray v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 550 F. App’x 850, 853 (11th Cir. 2013) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c)); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). ... The Court finds that substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s determination that White’s seizure disorder is non-severe.

Section 404.1520 requires the disability decisionmaker at step two to determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments that meets the duration requirement, and a severe impairment significantly limits basic work activities.

Pirtle v. Social Security Administration · filed 2024-06-13(a)(4)(ii), (c)

Step Two involves a determination of whether the claimant has an impairment or combination of impairments which is “severe” and meets the duration requirement. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii); 416.920(a)(4)(ii). If not, benefits are denied. Id. A “severe” impairment significantly limits a claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c); 416.920(c). ... The ALJ erred by not properly considering her physical impairments at Step Two, which rendered the RFC determination defective. Therefore, reversal is required.

At step two, § 404.1520 requires the ALJ to determine whether a claimant has a severe medically determinable impairment or combination; failing to address evidence that an impairment is medically determinable can be harmful when it excludes the impairment’s limitations from the RFC.

Bauer v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-06-13(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two, the ALJ determines if the claimant has a severe medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). ... An impairment is considered “severe” if a claimant’s physical or mental ability to complete basic work activities are significantly limited. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... The Court finds the ALJ’s failure to discuss CRPS and apply SSR 03-2p was error. ... Instead, under the regulations, the determination that Plaintiff’s CRPS was not medically determinable means the ALJ did not incorporate her alleged limitations from CRPS into the RFC. ... Based on the foregoing, the Court concludes that the ALJ harmfully erred.

At step two, § 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as non-severe when it does not significantly limit the claimant’s ability to do basic work activities.

(SS) James v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-06-07(c)

“‘[A]n impairment is not severe if it does not significantly limit [the claimant’s] . . . ability to do basic work activities.’” Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1290 (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c) & 404.1521(a)).

At step two, an impairment is not severe when it does not significantly limit a claimant's ability to perform basic work activities.

(SS) Devera v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-06-18(c)

“[A]n impairment is not severe if it does not significantly limit [the claimant’s]…ability to do basic work activities.” Id. (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c); 404.1521(a)).

At step two, § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires an ALJ to determine whether the claimant has a severe medically determinable physical or mental impairment, or a severe combination, meeting the duration requirement.

Adams v. Kijakazi · filed 2024-06-24(a)(4)(ii)

At the second step, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has “a severe medically determinable physical or mental impairment that meets the duration requirement in § 404.1509, or a combination of impairments that is severe and meets the duration requirement.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii).

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires an impairment to be treated as severe when it significantly limits an individual's ability to perform basic work activities.

Vanderbilt v. Commissioner Social Security Administration · filed 2024-06-25(c)

An impairment is severe “if it ‘significantly limits’ an individual’s ‘ability to do basic work activities.’ ” Id. (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c)). ... Because the ALJ failed to support his decision finding that Plaintiff could not clear the “de minimis” hurdle at step two with substantial evidence, this Court reverses and remands with instructions to proceed past step two.

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ at step two to determine whether an impairment significantly limits the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities.

Saffer v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-07-11(c)

At step two of the sequential evaluation process, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits his or her physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). ... Here, substantial evidence supports the conclusion that Plaintiff does not have a medically determinable mental impairment. ... Moreover, even assuming arguendo that Plaintiff did have a medically determinable mental impairment, any error in the ALJ’s failure to expressly apply the special technique is harmless. Substantial evidence supports the conclusion that Plaintiff’s cognitive and attention issues do not significantly limit his ability to meet the mental demands of basic work activity. ... The Court finds no error in the ALJ’s assessment of Plaintiff’s claim of work-related mental impairments and finds substantial evidence supporting the conclusion that Plaintiff can meet the mental demands of basic work-related activity without limitation.

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe when it significantly limits an individual's physical or mental abilities to do basic work activities.

Simon v. Kijakazi · filed 2024-05-21(c)

An impairment is considered severe if it "significantly limits an individual's physical or mental abilities to do basic work activities," 20 C.F.R. 404.1520(c), or if it is "something beyond ‘a slight abnormality which would have no more than a minimal effect on an individual’s ability to work.’"

At step two, an impairment or combination of impairments is severe when it significantly limits a claimant's ability to perform basic work activities.

Latham v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-07-11(a)(4)(ii)

At step two, the ALJ must determine if the claimant has a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments that are severe, such that they would significantly limit the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities. See Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1289–90 (9th Cir. 1996) (citation omitted); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). ... Here, the ALJ reasonably found Plaintiff’s gastrointestinal issues not severe. ... Plaintiff points out she still presented symptoms even with medication and was diagnosed with chronic diarrhea, Dkt. 8 at 5, but she has not sufficiently shown her cited evidence would necessarily significantly limit her ability to perform basic work activities.

At step two, § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) and (c) require an ALJ to determine whether a claimant has a medically determinable impairment or combination that significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities.

Collings v. Kijakazi · filed 2024-08-06(a)(4)(ii), (c)

As discussed above, the ALJ must consider the medical severity of a claimant’s impairments at step two, and must determine whether the claimant has any “severe impairments,” which are defined as impairments or a combination of impairments that significantly limit the claimant’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities, and which have lasted or are expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), (c); 404.1509.

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe when, for at least 12 months, it significantly limits a claimant’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.

Cross v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-08-09(c)

A severe impairment is one that for a period of a least 12 months “significantly limits [one’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 404.1520(a)(4)(ii).

Section 404.1520 requires an ALJ to determine at step two whether a claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments.

(SS) Jenkins v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-08-21(c)

At step two of the five-step sequential evaluation, the ALJ is required to determine whether a plaintiff has a “severe” medical impairment or combination of impairments. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920.

Section 404.1520 requires the ALJ at step two to determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment, meaning one that interferes with the ability to perform basic work activities.

Dovico v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-08-28(a)(4)(ii), (c)

Step two of the sequential evaluation process requires the ALJ to determine whether a claimant suffers from a severe impairment. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). ... A severe impairment interferes with a claimant’s ability to perform “basic work activities.” See Bowen, 482 U.S. at 141; Simon v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 7 F.4th 1094, 1101 (11th Cir. 2021) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c)).

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as nonsevere when it does not significantly limit a claimant's ability to perform basic work activities.

Spatola v. O'Malley · filed 2024-08-29(c)

The Court finds that the ALJ properly assessed Spatola’s medical records and determined that her symptoms from colitis did not significantly limit her ability to perform work. See Kirby v. Astrue, 500 F.3d 705, 707 (8th Cir.2007) (“An impairment is not severe if it amounts only to a slight abnormality that would not significantly limit the claimant's physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.”); see 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 404.1521(a); Berry v. Colvin, 74 F. Supp. 3d 994, 997 (N.D. Iowa 2015).

At step two, § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) permits an impairment to be found non-severe only when the evidence shows a slight abnormality with no more than a minimal effect on the claimant’s ability to work.

Hester v. OMalley · filed 2024-09-10(a)(4)(ii)

At step two of a Social Security disability inquiry, an impairment or combination of impairments may be found not medically severe “only if the evidence establishes a slight abnormality that has no more than minimal effect on an individual’s ability to work.” Social Security Act, § 223(d)(1)(A), 42 U.S.C.A. § 423(d)(1)(A); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii); Webb v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 683, 686 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1290 (9th Cir. 1996)); see Yuckert v. Bowen, 841 F.2d 303, 306 (9th Cir. 1988). ... The Court finds that the ALJ erred at step two in evaluating the severity of Plaintiff’s back condition. The ALJ’s determination that Plaintiff’s degenerative disc disease and back pain are not severe is not clearly established by medical evidence in the record. ... Accordingly, Plaintiff has satisfied her burden of demonstrating that her back pain has more than a minimal effect on her ability to work, and thus has satisfied the de minimis test to proceed with step two of the sequential analysis.

Section 404.1520(c) requires a claimant at step two to show a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments that significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities; the impairment must last or be expected to last at least 12 months.

McGhee v. O'Malley · filed 2024-09-18(c)

At step two, the claimant bears the burden of proof and must show they have a severe medically determinable impairment. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c) and 416.920(c). A severe impairment is “any impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits your physical or mental ability to do basic work activities” and must have “lasted or must be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4ii) and 404.1509.

At step two, § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) and (c) require the Commissioner to determine whether a claimant has a severe impairment, meaning one that significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities.

Prosa v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-09-17(a)(4)(ii), (c)

Second, if the claimant is not engaged in substantial gainful activity, the Commissioner must decide if the claimant has a “severe medically determinable physical or mental impairment,” id. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii), which is an impairment or combination of impairments that “significantly limits” the claimant’s “physical or mental ability to do basic work activities,” id. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). ... Accordingly, the ALJ did not err in finding Prosa’s mental impairments non-severe at step two of the analysis.

Section 404.1520 requires an ALJ to assess impairment severity at step two and, after finding at least one severe impairment, consider the limitations of all impairments, including non-severe impairments, in the remaining sequential evaluation.

Oliver v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-09-24(a)(4)(ii), (c)

As to this argument, at Step Two, the ALJ considers the severity of a claimant’s impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). The evaluation of impairments at Step Two is “a de minimus hurdle, intended to ‘screen out totally groundless claims.’” Kestel v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 756 F. App’x 597 (6th Cir. 2018) (citations omitted). A severe impairment is one that “significantly limits [a claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities[.]” See 20 C.F.R. §404.1520(c). Once an ALJ finds that a claimant has at least one severe impairment, the ALJ must consider “the limitations and restrictions imposed by all of an individual’s impairments, even those that are not severe.” Kestel, 756 F. App’x at 597 (quoting Fisk v. Astrue, 253 F. App’x 580, 583 (6th Cir. 2007) (emphasis added and internal citations omitted)). Harmless error evaluation applies to an ALJ’s failure to find additional severe impairments at Step Two, so long as the ALJ considered all impairments at the remaining steps of the sequential evaluation. Id. (citations and quotations omitted). But, where an ALJ fails to consider the potential functional limitations arising out of non-severe impairments, harmless error analysis will not apply. See Baumiller v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 627 F. Supp. 3d. 885, 806 (N.D. Ohio 2022).

Section 404.1520(c) establishes a de minimis step-two severity threshold: an impairment is severe only if it more than minimally limits a claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities.

Bolaski v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration · filed 2024-09-24(c)

A “severe” impairment is defined under the regulations as “any impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits your physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” Griffeth v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 217 F. App’x 425, 428 (6th Cir. 2007) (quoting 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c)); see also Long v. Apfel, 1 F. App’x 326, 330–32 (6th Cir. 2001). The Sixth Circuit has construed Step Two as a de minimis hurdle, explaining that “an impairment can be considered not severe only if it is a slight abnormality that minimally affects work ability regardless of age, education, and experience.” Higgs v. Bowen, 880 F.2d 860, 862 (6th Cir. 1988). ... For the reasons stated above, the undersigned finds that Plaintiff has not met her burden to show that the ALJ lacked substantial evidence to support her finding that Mr. Mills’s mental impairments were non-severe and did not cause more than minimal functional limitations. Accordingly, the undersigned finds the first assignment of error to be without merit.

At step two of the disability analysis, § 404.1520(c) requires determining whether the claimant has a severe medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments.

KACZYNSKI v. O'MALLEY · filed 2024-09-25(c)

At Step Two of the Social Security Administration (“SSA”)’s sequential analysis, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has a medically determinable impairment that is severe or a combination of impairments that is severe. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to decide at step two whether a medically determinable impairment is severe, meaning it significantly limits the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities; an omission is harmless when the ALJ considers the impairment’s effects later in the RFC.

Brokaw v. Commissioner Social Security Administration · filed 2024-09-26(c)

At step two, the ALJ determines whether the claimant has an impairment that is both medically determinable and severe. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). ... Even though the ALJ mischaracterized the record in his analysis at step two, this error is harmless because the ALJ found at least one severe impairment at step two and proceeded to consider plaintiff’s fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, and chronic fatigue syndrome in determining her RFC.

Section 404.1520(c) requires an ALJ to find an impairment not severe at step two only when it is a slight abnormality that has no more than a minimal effect on the claimant's ability to work.

Alva v. Kijakazi · filed 2024-09-30(c)

Step two of the Commissioner’s five-step evaluation process requires the ALJ to determine whether an impairment is severe or not severe. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a), 416.920(a). “[A]n ALJ may find an impairment or combination of impairments ‘not severe’ at step two only if the evidence establishes a slight abnormality that has no more than a minimal effect on an individual’s ability to work.” Glanden v. Kijakazi, 86 F.4th 838, 844 (9th Cir. 2023) (citing Webb v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 683, 686 (9th Cir. 2005)); see also 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c).

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires an impairment or combination of impairments to be severe, and a diagnosis alone does not establish that severity.

Ratliff v. O'Malley · filed 2024-10-29(c)

While Ratliff identifies portions of the record that describe his symptoms and the diagnoses he received, a diagnosis does not itself demonstrate “severe impairment.” See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c) (requiring an “impairment or combination of impairments” that is “severe”); Glanden v. Kijakazi, 86 F.4th 838, 843 (9th Cir. 2023) (“An impairment is severe if it ‘significantly limits’ an individual’s ‘ability to do basic work activities.’” (quoting 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c))).

Section 404.1520 requires the ALJ at step two to determine whether a claimant has a medically determinable impairment that is severe because it significantly limits basic work activities.

(SS) Lopez v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2024-11-27(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two of the sequential process, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant suffers from a “severe” impairment. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). This a two-step inquiry. First, the ALJ must determine if a claimant has a medically determinable impairment, meaning it “must result from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that can be shown by medically acceptable clinical or laboratory diagnostic techniques.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1521. More specifically, it “must be established by objective medical evidence from an acceptable medical source,” and a claimant's “statement of symptoms, a diagnosis, or a medical opinion” is not enough to establish a medically determinable impairment. Id. Second, the ALJ must determine whether the medically determinable impairment is “severe,” meaning it significantly limits a claimant’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to determine whether an impairment significantly limits the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities.

LaRose v. OMalley · filed 2024-12-02(c)

As discussed above, once an impairment is considered an MDI, the ALJ is then required to consider whether the impairment is “severe,” or, in other words, whether it “significantly limits” the claimant’s “ability to do basic work activities.” See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.921(c); SSR 16-3p, 2017 WL 5180304, at *3; see also Forrette, 2020 WL 5803166, at *10; 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) and (c), 416.920(a)(4)(ii) and (c).

Section 404.1520(c) requires the ALJ to determine at step two whether an established impairment significantly limits the claimant's ability to do basic work activities, and an omitted severe impairment is harmless if considered at later steps.

Mayer v. O'Malley · filed 2024-12-04(c)

After a medically determinable impairment is established, the ALJ must determine whether the impairment is “severe;” i.e., one that significantly limits his or her physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). ... When an ALJ fails to identify a severe impairment at step two, but nonetheless considers at subsequent steps all of the claimant’s impairments, including the erroneously omitted severe impairment, the error at step two is harmless.

At step two, § 404.1520 requires a claimant to show a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments that significantly limits, or is expected to significantly limit, the ability to perform basic work-related activities for twelve consecutive months.

Colon-Ortiz v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2025-03-28(a)(4)(ii), (c)

The step two severity test is a de minimis screening for the ALJ to weed out groundless claims that would clearly result in a finding of non-disability, even if vocational factors were considered. McDonald v. Sec’y of Health and Human Servs., 795 F.2d 1118, 1125–1126 (1st Cir.1986). The step two analysis is two-fold: (1) whether a claimant has a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments, and (2) whether the impairments or combination of impairments is severe, that is, that significantly limits or is expected to significantly limit the ability to perform basic work-related activities for twelve consecutive months. López-González v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 59 F.Supp.3d 372, 377 (D.P.R. Sept. 19, 2014). See also 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) and 404.1520(c).

Section 404.1520 requires the ALJ at step two to determine whether an impairment significantly limits the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities; because step two is only a de minimis screen, the sequential evaluation should continue when the impairment’s effect cannot be clearly determined.

(SS) Higbee v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2025-04-04(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two, “the ALJ assesses whether the claimant has a medically severe impairment or combination of impairments that significantly limits his ability to do basic work activities. See Webb v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 684, 686 (9th Cir. 2005) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520). “If the ALJ finds that the claimant lacks a medically severe impairment, the ALJ must find the claimant not to be disabled.” Id. at 686. Step two is a “de minimis screening device used to dispose of groundless claims.” ... If an ALJ is unable to determine clearly the effect of an impairment on an individual’s ability to do basic work activities, then the sequential evaluation should not end with a step two finding of not severe. Id. (citing Social Security Rule (“SSR”) 85-28). ... Here, the ALJ erred in finding Plaintiff’s ulcerative colitis was non-severe at step two.

At step two, § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) requires an ALJ to determine whether a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments is severe; an impairment is severe when it significantly limits the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities.

Jones v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2025-03-27(a)(4)(ii), (c)

The ALJ then analyzes in the second step whether the applicant has a medically determinable impairment, or a combination of impairments, that meets the definition of “severe.” See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). An impairment is “severe” if it significantly limits the person’s ability to perform basic work activities. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(c). ... With all this, the ALJ had substantial evidence to support his finding that Plaintiff’s irritable bowel syndrome and rectal fissures are non-severe impairments.

Section 404.1520 requires disability claims to be evaluated through a five-step sequence, with step two serving only as a minimal screen for impairments that impose more than minimal limitations.

LEMP v. DUDEK · filed 2025-05-06(a)(4)(ii)

When reviewing a claim, the ALJ must utilize a five-step sequential analysis to evaluate whether a claimant has met the requirements for disability. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920. ... As the Court of Appeals for this and other Circuits have held, and as this court and our sister district courts have accordingly repeatedly observed, an ALJ’s analysis at step 2 – which is “in practice . . . to determine whether or not an alleged impairment is ‘severe’”, i.e., “more than minimal” - is “no more than a ‘de minimis’ screening device to dispose of groundless claims.” ... “Step 2 merely serves a minimal gate-keeping function, and Plaintiff’s burden [to demonstrate a more than minimal impairment (singularly or in combination)] is not an exacting one.” ... And “reasonable doubts regarding the evidence are to be construed in the light most favorable to the claimant”.

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as severe when it more than minimally affects a claimant's ability to perform basic work-related tasks.

Williams v. Bisignano · filed 2025-05-19(c)

By definition, this means the ALJ found that Claimant’s obesity more than minimally impacted her ability to perform basic work- related tasks. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1522(a).

At step two, § 404.1520(c) requires the Commissioner to decide whether a claimant has a medically severe impairment or combination of impairments; if not, the claimant is not disabled.

Yanez v. O'Malley · filed 2025-03-27(c)

Under SSA regulations, disability claims are evaluated according to a five-step sequential evaluation. Reddick v. Chater, 157 F.3d 715, 721 (9th Cir. 1998). At step one, the Commissioner determines whether a claimant is currently engaged in substantial gainful activity. Id. If so, the claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(b). At step two, the Commissioner determines whether the claimant has a “medically severe impairment or combination of impairments,” as defined in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). Reddick, 157 F.3d 715 at 721. If the answer is no, the claimant is not disabled. Id. If the answer is yes, the Commissioner proceeds to step three and determines whether the impairment meets or equals a listed impairment under 20 C.F.R. § 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(d). If this requirement is met, the claimant is disabled. Reddick, 157 F.3d 715 at 721. ... The Court finds that the ALJ erred. Again, at step two, the question is whether there is evidence establishing that the impairment “has no more than a minimal effect on an individual’s ability to work.” Webb, 433 F.3d at 686. There is no dispute that Plaintiff was diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy and possible carpal tunnel, and that Plaintiff had limitations based on these diagnoses, yet the ALJ rejected these diagnoses based solely on the lack of specific diagnostic examinations. (AR 37, 43, 925, 936.) As to the neuropathy, the ALJ did not address this diagnosis at all, and thus gave no reasons for the Court to review.

Section 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) and (c) require a step-two inquiry into whether a claimant has a medically determinable impairment that significantly limits the ability to perform basic work activities.

DeVore v. Commissioner Social Security Administration · filed 2025-07-11(a)(4)(ii), (c)

At step two, the ALJ determines “whether the claimant had severe impairments during the period for which he seeks disability benefits.” Glanden v. Kijakazi, 86 F.4th 838, 843 (9th Cir. 2023) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii)). “This involves a two-step process: 1) determining whether the claimant has a medically determinable impairment, and 2) if so, determining whether the impairment is severe.” Michael K. v. Bisignano, No. 1:24-CV-3195-EFS, 2025 WL 1517234, at *4 (E.D. Wash. May 28, 2025) (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii)). An impairment is severe “if it ‘significantly limits’ an individual’s ‘ability to do basic work activities.’” Id. (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c)).

Section 404.1520(c) treats an impairment as not severe when it does not significantly limit a claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities.

GARCIA v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY · filed 2025-08-12(c)

According to the Commissioner’s regulations, an impairment or combination of impairments are “not severe” if they do not “significantly limit [the claimant’s] physical ability to do basic work activities.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).