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Disabilities: Hypertension
Notice of Decision: Fully Favorable
Administrative Law Judge: Carol J. Pennock
Office of Disability Adjudication & Review (ODAR): Miami-Dade & Monroe County, Florida (including the Florida Keys (Key West))
FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
After careful consideration of the entire record, I make the following findings:
1. The claimant meets the insured status requirements of the Social Security Act through December 31, 2007.
2. The claimant has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since March 30, 2001, the alleged onset date (20 CFR 404.1520(b), 404.1571 et seq.; 416.92O(b) and 416.971 et seq.).
3. Prior to January 1, 2005, the date the claimant became disabled, the claimant had the following medically determinable impairment: hypertension. However, this impairment did not cause more than a minimal impact on the claimant's ability to perform basic work activities for 12 consecutive months; therefore, the claimant did not have a severe impairment or combination of impairments (20 CFR 404.1521 and 416.921).
The only medical evidence of record prior to January 1, 2005 is from Community Health of South Dade, Inc., (CHI) where the claimant was treated on 4 occasions in 2003 for hypertension. Toprol and Maxzide were prescribed apparently without much effect as the claimant's blood pressure was 189/90 on November 18, 2003, the date last seen. A complaint of chronic knee pain was noted and the claimant was prescribed Tylenol, but there is no documentation of any limitation of physical activity. (Exhibit 2F.)
The next evidence of any medical treatment, also from CHI, documents that the claimant was seen 3 times in January and March of 2005. Though this is after established onset of disability, I reviewed this evidence to determine whether it suggested the presence of any earlier impairment. When first seen on January 12,2005, the claimant was reported to be in no acute distress, and the physical examination was noted to be normal in every aspect except for blood pressure which was 178/94. The only diagnosis was benign essential hypertension. Maxzide and Metoprolol were prescribed. The later progress reports for this period show a new diagnosis of Type II diabetes mellitus based on elevated glucose and recent weight gain. No other complaint or abnormality was noted except for minor side effects to Maxzide. (Exhibit 4F.)
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