Raymond H. Smith v. JO ANNE BARNHART, Commissioner of Social Security (Pursuant to F.R.A.P. 43(c)) On…

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NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
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No. 02-3640
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RAYMOND H. SMITH,
Appellant
v.
*JO ANNE BARNHART, Commissioner of Social Security
*(Pursuant to F.R.A.P. 43(c))
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On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. Civil No. 01-cv-04340)
District Court Judge: The Honorable Clarence C. Newcomer
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Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)
March 6, 2003
Before: ROTH, BARRY, and FUENTES, Circuit Judges.
(Opinion Filed: March 21, 2003)
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OPINION OF THE COURT
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1On September 29, 2002, the District Court adopted Magistrate Judge Melinson’s
Report and Recommendation, which was filed on September 11, 2002. We therefore
consider the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation to be the opinion of the
District Court.
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FUENTES, Circuit Judge:
Plaintiff Raymond Smith appeals the District Court’s affirmance of the decision of the
Commissioner of Social Security denying his claim for disability insurance benefits under 42
U.S.C. §§ 401-433. We have jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
Our review is limited to determining whether the Commissioner’s decision is supported
by substantial evidence. See Fargnoli v. Massanari, 247 F.3d 34, 38 (3d Cir. 2001). The
factual findings of the Commissioner must be accepted as conclusive so long as they are
supported by substantial evidence. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S.
389, 390 (1971). “Substantial evidence” is “‘more than a mere scintilla. It means such
relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate.’” Fargnoli, 247 F.3d at 38
(quoting Plummer v. Apfel, 186 F.3d 422, 427 (3d Cir. 1999)).
We have carefully considered Smith’s arguments in this appeal and find that they lack
merit. For the reasons substantially stated in the District Court’s well-reasoned and thorough
opinion, we find that substantial evidence supported the Commissioner’s determination that
Smith retained the residual functional capacity to perform light work and its decision to deny
Smith disability insurance benefits.1 We therefore affirm.

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TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT:
Kindly file the foregoing Opinion.
/s/ Julio M. Fuentes
Circuit Judge

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