I was recently in a hearing where the claimant's doctor provided a written statement. The doctor said the claimant can sit for 2 hours per day and can walk for 3 hours and stand for 3 hours. He says she can lift up to 20 pounds occasionally and 10 pounds frequently. It sounded like she can perform light work.
However, tucked away in the doctor's report, he stated that her ability to reach, handle and perform fine manipulations with the fingers is limited to "occasional," which Social Security defines as "from very little up to one-third of the time."
Most experts recognize that work at all exertion levels requires adequate use of the upper extremities for reaching, handling or using the fingers. And it requires this ability on more than just an occasional basis. Therefore, light work is precluded with a person who can't adequately use their hands or upper extremities for reaching, grasping, handling, etc.
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