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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MAINE

WAYNE A. RITCHIE, Plaintiff v. KENNETH S. APFEL, Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant

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Docket No. 98-226-B

REPORT AND RECOMMENDED DECISION1

This Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") appeal raises the questions whether the commissioner was required to seek the assistance of a medical advisor in determining the plaintiff's residual functional capacity ("RFC"), failed to evaluate the collective effect of the plaintiff's claimed disabilities, improperly disregarded the reports of the plaintiff's treating physician, erred in discounting the plaintiff's reports of pain, and misapplied the Grid. I recommend that the court remand the case for payment of benefits. In accordance with the commissioner's sequential evaluation process, 20 C.F.R.

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