The “Manual of Second Circuit Disability Decisions” (“Manual”) excerpts principal holdings in published Second Circuit disability decisions issued before the date of the Stieberger settlement, June 18, 1992.

The holdings contained in the Manual will be applied by decisionmakers (and their reviewers) making disability determinations.

Many of the holdings contained in the Manual discuss how an Administrative Law Judge should handle an issue. These principles are included in the Manual to provide background information on how claims are developed and decided by OHA and may show a more general principle applicable in DDS development and decisionmaking. For further information, see DI 42586.095, Exhibit 8. Any questions concerning the application of a Second Circuit holding should be immediately directed to:

Disability Programs Branch New York Regional Office.