Can a disability adjudicator discredit a claimant's testimony of pain and deny disability benefits?
MultiRegion, United States of America
The following excerpt is from Lee v. Shalala, 81 F.3d 168 (9th Cir. 1996):
So long as the adjudicator makes specific findings that are supported by the record, the adjudicator may discredit the claimant's allegations based on inconsistencies in the testimony or on relevant character evidence. But the adjudicator may not discredit a claimant's testimony of pain and deny disability benefits solely because the degree of pain alleged by the claimant is not supported by objective medical evidence.
Bunnell v. Sullivan, 947 F.2d 341, 346-347 (9th Cir.1991).
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