Key legal question
Whether the claimant made a credible material worsening of health since the last merits decision so that the IV office had to enter into the new application
Extracted holding
No. The new medical reports showed additional diagnoses and temporary or treatable complaints, but not a credible relevant deterioration affecting work capacity since 2015.
Extracted reasoning
For a new application after a prior final denial, only a credible change in the degree of invalidity matters. A mere new diagnosis is insufficient. The cited reports did not show a sustained, work-relevant worsening; the lumbar complaints were already known, and the respiratory/sleep-apnea issues were treated or not shown to cause lasting incapacity.