8th Circuit upholds denial of disability benefits for Ciara Carter, agreeing the ALJ properly weighed…
Ciara Carter v. Frank Bisignano
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8th Circuit upholds denial of disability benefits for Ciara Carter, agreeing the ALJ properly weighed her doctor's opinion, pain symptoms, and testimony, and that jobs existed she could perform.
Why it matters
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the lower court's decision upholding the Social Security Administration's denial of disability insurance benefits to Ciara Carter. The court found that the administrative law judge properly evaluated her treating physician's opinion, considered her chronic pain syndrome, assessed her testimony, and correctly determined that jobs she could perform existed in significant numbers in the national economy. The appeals court reviewed the arguments Carter raised and agreed fully with the district court's analysis.
Who it affects
- Subjective pain testimony
- Vocational evidence
What happens next
Current
Decision issued Jul 16, 2026
Unpublished opinion
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- Decision issued Jul 16, 2026Unpublished opinion
- Possible rehearingParties can ask the same court to reconsider.
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Decision issued
Jul 16, 2026 · Unpublished opinion
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Long-form analysis, legal background, and source material
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DEEPER READ
Ciara Carter applied for Social Security disability insurance benefits and was denied by the Commissioner of Social Security. She challenged that denial in federal court, arguing that the administrative law judge made errors in evaluating her case. The district court issued a detailed nineteen-page ruling affirming the Commissioner's decision on multiple grounds. On appeal, the Eighth Circuit reviewed the district court's conclusions without any deference, a process called de novo review. Carter repeated the same arguments she had made in the district court. The appeals court considered those arguments alongside the administrative record and agreed with every conclusion the district court reached. Specifically, the court found that the ALJ correctly evaluated the opinion of Carter's treating doctor, Dr. Lombardo, and that the ALJ's conclusions were supported by substantial evidence. The ALJ also properly accounted for Carter's chronic pain syndrome when determining what work she was still capable of doing, a determination called her residual functional capacity. The ALJ's handling of Carter's own testimony, including a decision not to fully accept her subjective complaints about her condition, was also found to be properly supported. Finally, the court confirmed that the ALJ correctly found, based on testimony from a vocational expert, that jobs existed in significant numbers in the national economy that Carter could perform, and that the hypothetical questions posed to that expert were appropriate. Because the appeals court agreed with the district court on all points, it affirmed the judgment without a published opinion. There was no dissent noted in the opinion.
CITATION AND RECORD
Record source: CourtListener
United States Court of Appeals For the Eighth Circuit ___________________________ No. 25-2042 ___________________________ Ciara Tiffiny Carter, lllllllllllllllllllllPlaintiff - Appellant, v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security, lllllllllllllllllllllDefendant - Appellee. ____________ Appeal from United States District Court for the District of Minnesota ____________ Submitted: February 12, 2026 Filed: July 16, 2026 [Unpublished] ____________ Before COLLOTON, Chief Judge, BENTON and KELLY, Circuit Judges. ____________ PER CURIAM. Ciara Carter appeals a judgment of the district court* affirming the Commissioner’s denial of her claim for disability insurance benefits. In a thorough, nineteen-page order, the district court affirmed the Commissioner’s decision. The district court concluded that (1) the administrative law judge properly evaluated the opinion of Carter’s treating physician, Dr. Lombardo, and reached conclusions that were supported by substantial evidence, (2) the ALJ properly considered Carter’s symptoms of chronic pain syndrome in determining her residual functional capacity, (3) the ALJ properly evaluated Carter’s testimony, declined to accept her subjective complaints entirely, and reached conclusions that were supported by substantial evidence, (4) the ALJ reached a conclusion, supported by substantial evidence, that there were jobs that existed in significant numbers in the national economy that Carter could perform, and (5) the ALJ posed proper hypothetical questions to a vocational expert based on an appropriately tailored residual functional capacity. On appeal, Carter reiterates the arguments that she advanced in the district court about the ALJ’s decision. On de novo review, having considered those arguments and the administrative record, we agree with the district court’s analysis and conclusions. We therefore affirm the judgment. See 8th Cir. R. 47B. ______________________________ * The Honorable Douglas L. Micko, United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota, to whom the case was referred for final disposition by consent of the parties under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). -2-
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