Top 10 Remand Reasons Cited by the Court on Remands to SSA
Longitudinal report detailing the top 10 reasons for remands captured by the Appeals Council (AC) in cases remanded by federal courts when returning cases to the agency during each of Fiscal Years 2010 – 2024. The report also contains the percentages of the top 10 reasons as compared to all cited remand reasons during the same years.
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XML| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2010 Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 15.7 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 8.7 | Claimant Credibility - Failed to Discuss Appropriate Credibility Factors | |
| 6.7 | Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed | |
| 5.2 | Other | |
| 3.1 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 2.9 | Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered | |
| 2.7 | Claimant Credibility - Other Issue | |
| 2.2 | Treating Source - Weight Accorded Opinion Not Specified | |
| 2.0 | Impairment Incorrectly Found "Not Severe" | |
| 2.0 | *RFC - Other | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2011 Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 15.2 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 7.6 | Claimant Credibility - Failed to Discuss Appropriate Credibility Factors | |
| 4.6 | Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed | |
| 4.3 | Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered | |
| 3.7 | Other | |
| 3.4 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | |
| 3.4 | *RFC - Other | |
| 3.3 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 3.1 | Claimant Credibility - Other Issue | |
| 2.3 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2012 Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 15.1 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 7.6 | Claimant Credibility - Failed to Discuss Appropriate Credibility Factors | |
| 4.7 | Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered | |
| 4.6 | Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed | |
| 3.8 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 3.2 | Other | |
| 3.2 | *RFC - Other | |
| 3.0 | Claimant Credibility - Other Issue | |
| 2.7 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | |
| 2.2 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2013 Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 15.7 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 7.6 | Claimant Credibility - Failed to Discuss Appropriate Credibility Factors | |
| 4.4 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 4.0 | Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered | |
| 4.0 | *RFC - Other | |
| 3.8 | Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed | |
| 3.5 | Claimant Credibility - Other Issue | |
| 3.1 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 2.4 | New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review | |
| 2.3 | Other | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2014 Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 15.9 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 8.3 | Claimant Credibility - Failed to Discuss Appropriate Credibility Factors | |
| 4.4 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 3.9 | Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered | |
| 3.8 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 3.6 | Claimant Credibility - Other Issue | |
| 3.4 | Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed | |
| 3.1 | *RFC - Other | |
| 2.8 | New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review | |
| 2.2 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2015 Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 14.9 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 9.8 | Inadequate Rationale for Credibility Finding | |
| 6.1 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 4.6 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 3.2 | New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review | |
| 3.1 | Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 3.0 | Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed | |
| 3.0 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | |
| 2.5 | Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered | |
| 2.5 | *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2016 (52 Weeks) ** Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 15.0 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 10.1 | Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding | |
| 6.6 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 5.8 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 3.5 | Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 3.1 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | |
| 2.9 | New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review | |
| 2.9 | Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed | |
| 2.5 | *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 2.3 | Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| ** For FY 2016, each of the individual reports have a listing for the normal 52 week fiscal year that ended on 9/23/2016 and a second listing to include the extra 53rd week covering the period from 9/24/2016 – 9/30/2016. Most fiscal years have just 52 weeks, however, FY 2016 had 53 weeks, which is an anomaly that occurs every five or six years. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2016 (53 Weeks) ** Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 15.0 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 10.1 | Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding | |
| 6.6 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 5.8 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 3.4 | Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 3.1 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | |
| 2.9 | Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed | |
| 2.9 | New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review | |
| 2.5 | *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 2.3 | Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| ** For FY 2016, each of the individual reports have a listing for the normal 52 week fiscal year that ended on 9/23/2016 and a second listing to include the extra 53rd week covering the period from 9/24/2016 – 9/30/2016. Most fiscal years have just 52 weeks, however, FY 2016 had 53 weeks, which is an anomaly that occurs every five or six years. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2017 Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 16.9 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 10.4 | Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding | |
| 7.4 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 4.4 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 3.8 | Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 3.8 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | |
| 2.5 | New Evidence Presented to Agency (Reasonable Probability) | |
| 2.4 | Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed | |
| 2.3 | Non-Examining Source-Opinion Accepted Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 2.3 | Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2018 Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 15.4 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 10.2 | Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding | |
| 7.0 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 6.6 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 3.4 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | |
| 3.3 | Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 2.9 | VE and DOT Not Reconciled (e.g., sit/stand limitations , time off task, etc.) | |
| 2.8 | Non-Examining Source-Opinion Accepted Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 2.7 | *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 2.4 | New Evidence Presented to Agency (Reasonable Probability) | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2019 Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 15.9 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 10.9 | Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding | |
| 6.8 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 6.7 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 3.3 | Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 3.1 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | |
| 3.1 | *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 2.9 | *RFC - Other | |
| 2.8 | VE and DOT Not Reconciled (e.g., sit/stand limitations , time off task, etc.) | |
| 2.6 | Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2020 Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 13.2 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 10.3 | Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding | |
| 6.7 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 6.4 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 3.6 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | |
| 3.4 | Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 3.2 | VE and DOT Not Reconciled (e.g., sit/stand limitations, time off task, etc.) | |
| 3.0 | *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 2.4 | *RFC - Other | |
| 2.4 | Non-Examining Source-Opinion Accepted Without Adequate Articulation | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2021 Remand Reason |
|
|---|---|---|
| 10.5 | Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding | |
| 10.2 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | |
| 6.0 | *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 4.9 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| 3.2 | VE and DOT Not Reconciled (e.g., sit/stand limitations, time off task, etc.) | |
| 3.2 | Inadequate Articulation of Supportability of Medical Source Opinion(s) | |
| 3.0 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | |
| 2.8 | *RFC - Other | |
| 2.8 | *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | |
| 2.7 | Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | |
| * RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions. | ||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2022 (52 Weeks) * Remand Reason |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.8 | Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding | ||
| 8.0 | Inadequate Articulation of Supportability of Medical Source Opinion(s) | ||
| 5.9 | Inadequate Articulation of Consistency of Medical Source Opinion(s) | ||
| 5.4 | RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | ||
| 4.6 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | ||
| 4.0 | VE and DOT Not Reconciled (e.g., sit/stand limitations , time off task, etc.) | ||
| 2.6 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | ||
| 2.5 | Medical Source Opinion(s) Not Identified or Discussed | ||
| 2.3 | Assessed Persuasiveness Of Medical Source Opinion(s) Unsupported By Record Or Age | ||
| * For FY 2022, each of the individual reports have a listing for the normal 52 week fiscal year and a second listing to include the extra 53rd week. Most fiscal years have just 52 weeks, however, some fiscal years have 53 weeks. | |||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2022 (53 Weeks) * Remand Reason |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.8 | Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding | ||
| 8.0 | Inadequate Articulation of Supportability of Medical Source Opinion(s) | ||
| 5.9 | Inadequate Articulation of Consistency of Medical Source Opinion(s) | ||
| 5.4 | RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated | ||
| 4.6 | Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation | ||
| 3.9 | VE and DOT Not Reconciled (e.g., sit/stand limitations , time off task, etc.) | ||
| 2.6 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed | ||
| 2.5 | Medical Source Opinion(s) Not Identified or Discussed | ||
| 2.3 | Assessed Persuasiveness Of Medical Source Opinion(s) Unsupported By Record Or Age | ||
| 2.1 | Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion | ||
| * For FY 2022, each of the individual reports have a listing for the normal 52 week fiscal year and a second listing to include the extra 53rd week. Most fiscal years have just 52 weeks, however, some fiscal years have 53 weeks. | |||
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2023 Remand Reason |
|---|---|
| 11.7 | Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding |
| 9.9 | Inadequate Articulation of Supportability of Medical Source Opinion(s) |
| 8.2 | Inadequate Articulation of Consistency of Medical Source Opinion(s) |
| 5.0 | RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated |
| 4.4 | VE and DOT Not Reconciled (e.g., sit/stand limitations , time off task, etc.) |
| 4.2 | Found Persuasive Without Adequate Articulation |
| 2.6 | Inadequate Articulation of Supportability of Prior Administrative Medical Findings |
| 2.6 | Medical Source Opinion(s) Not Identified or Discussed |
| 2.4 | Assessed Persuasiveness Of Medical Source Opinion(s) Unsupported By Record Or Against Law/Policy |
| 2.4 | Limitations not Supported by Evidence in the Record (SSR 96-8p) |
| Percent of All Cited Reasons | FY 2024 Remand Reason |
|---|---|
| 11.2 | Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding |
| 11.0 | Inadequate Articulation of Supportability of Medical Source Opinion(s) |
| 9.1 | Inadequate Articulation of Consistency of Medical Source Opinion(s) |
| 7.2 | VE and DOT Not Reconciled (e.g., sit/stand limitations , time off task, etc.) |
| 5.5 | Found Persuasive Without Adequate Articulation |
| 4.8 | RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated |
| 3.3 | Inadequate Articulation of Supportability of Prior Administrative Medical Findings |
| 2.4 | Medical Source Opinion(s) Not Identified or Discussed |
| 2.3 | Limitations not Supported by Evidence in the Record (SSR 96-8p) |
| 2.0 | Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed |
Disclaimer: These data are being made publicly available for research purposes. Any findings and conclusions derived from analyses of these data are attributable to the researcher(s) and do not reflect those of the Social Security Administration.