SSR 85-28

Social Security Ruling 85-28 states that medical evidence must clearly establish an individual’s impairment(s) considered in combination, is not medically severe before the case can be denied at the initial stages. Although often unhelpful in some respects, the assessments by consultative examiners hired by the Social Security Administration can be used to establish the presence of severe impairments. These opinions cannot be ignored by the Administrative Law Judge.