Top 10 Remand Reasons Cited by the AC on Remands of RRs or Own Motion Reviews

Longitudinal report detailing the top 10 reasons for remands cited by the Appeals Council (AC) when returning requests for review (RRs) or own motion review actions to the hearing level offices during each of Fiscal Years 2010 – 2020. The report also contains the percentages of the top 10 reasons as compared to all cited remand reasons during the same years.

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Percent of All Cited Reasons
FY 2010
Remand Reason
6.3 *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
5.1 Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed
4.7 New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review
4.5 Claimant Credibility - Failed to Discuss Appropriate Credibility Factors
4.4 Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered
4.0 Other
3.2 Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation
2.9 Failure to Appear Dismissal - Other
2.9 *RFC - Other
2.7 *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
* RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions.

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Percent of All Cited Reasons
FY 2011
Remand Reason
8.0 *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
4.7 Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed
4.7 Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered
4.3 New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review
3.8 Claimant Credibility - Failed to Discuss Appropriate Credibility Factors
3.1 Other
2.9 *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
2.9 Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation
2.7 *RFC - Other
2.6 Failure to Appear Dismissal - Other
* RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions.

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Percent of All Cited Reasons
FY 2012
Remand Reason
9.0 *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
5.0 New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review
4.9 Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered
4.1 Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed
3.4 *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
2.9 Failure to Appear Dismissal - Other
2.8 *RFC - Manipulative Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
2.8 Claimant Credibility - Failed to Discuss Appropriate Credibility Factors
2.6 Other
2.6 Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation
* RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions.

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Percent of All Cited Reasons
FY 2013
Remand Reason
9.4 *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
6.3 New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review
4.4 Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered
3.9 Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed
3.5 *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
3.4 *RFC - Manipulative Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
3.2 Failure to Appear Dismissal - Other
2.6 Other
2.6 Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation
2.3 Claimant Credibility - Failed to Discuss Appropriate Credibility Factors
* RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions.

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Percent of All Cited Reasons
FY 2014
Remand Reason
8.7 *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
6.2 New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review
3.9 Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed
3.8 Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered
3.8 *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
2.7 *RFC - Manipulative Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
2.6 Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
2.4 Non-Examining Source - Opinion Not Identified or Discussed
2.4 Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation
2.2 Other
* RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions.

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Percent of All Cited Reasons
FY 2015
Remand Reason
7.6 *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
6.2 New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review
3.7 Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed
3.5 *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
3.2 Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
3.0 Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered
2.7 Non-Examining Source - Opinion Not Identified or Discussed
2.3 Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
2.3 Miscellaneous - Other
2.0 Treating Source - Opinion Rejected Without Adequate Articulation
* RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions.

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Percent of All Cited Reasons
FY 2016 (52 Weeks) **
Remand Reason
7.0 *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
7.0 New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review
3.0 Treating Source - Opinion Not Identified or Discussed
3.0 *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
3.2 Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
3.0 Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered
3.0 Inadequate Proffer of Post-Hearing Evidence
2.3 Other
2.3 Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
2.0 Failure to Appear Dismissal - Notices Sent to Incorrect Address/Person
* RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions.
** For FY 2016, each of the individual reports have a listing for the normal 52 week fiscal year that ended on 9/23/2016 and a second listing to include the extra 53rd week covering the period from 9/24/2016 – 9/30/2016. Most fiscal years have just 52 weeks, however, FY 2016 had 53 weeks, which is an anomaly that occurs every five or six years.

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Percent of All Cited Reasons
FY 2016 (53 Weeks) **
Remand Reason
7.0 *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
7.0 New Evidence Presented Upon Administrative Appeal / Review
3.0 Treating Source - Opinion Not Identified or Discussed
3.0 *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
3.2 Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
3.0 Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered
3.0 Inadequate Proffer of Post-Hearing Evidence
2.3 Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
2.3 Other
2.0 Failure to Appear Dismissal - Notices Sent to Incorrect Address/Person
* RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions.
** For FY 2016, each of the individual reports have a listing for the normal 52 week fiscal year that ended on 9/23/2016 and a second listing to include the extra 53rd week covering the period from 9/24/2016 – 9/30/2016. Most fiscal years have just 52 weeks, however, FY 2016 had 53 weeks, which is an anomaly that occurs every five or six years.

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Percent of All Cited Reasons
FY 2017
Remand Reason
5.6 New Evidence Presented to Agency (Reasonable Probability)
3.7 *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
3.5 Other
3.3 Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed
2.9 Failure to Appear Dismissal - Notices Sent to Incorrect Address/Person
2.9 Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
2.8 Inadequate Proffer of Post-Hearing Evidence
2.5 Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered
2.5 Inadequate Support/Development of Onset Date/Closed Period/CDR
2.5 Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
* RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions.

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Percent of All Cited Reasons
FY 2018
Remand Reason
5.0 *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
4.0 Other
3.0 Failure to Appear Dismissal - Notices Sent to Incorrect Address/Person
3.0 *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
2.6 Inadequate Proffer of Post-Hearing Evidence
2.5 Treating Source - Opinion Not identified or Discussed
2.4 Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
2.4 New Evidence Presented to Agency (Reasonable Probability)
2.3 Mental Disorder Not Adequately Considered
2.2 Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
* RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions.

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Percent of All Cited Reasons
FY 2019
Remand Reason
5.8 *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
4.9 Other
3.4 *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
3.4 Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed
2.7 New Evidence Presented to Agency (Reasonable Probability)
2.5 Consultative Examiner - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
2.4 Treating Source - Opinion Not Identified or Discussed
2.3 Non-Examining Source - Inadequate Support/Rationale for Weight Given Opinion
2.3 Failure to Appear Dismissal - Notices Sent to Incorrect Address/Person
2.2 Inadequate Proffer of Post-Hearing Evidence
* RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions.

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Percent of All Cited Reasons
FY 2020
Remand Reason
5.7 *RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
3.8 SPECIAL CASE PROCESSING
3.6 Evidence In The Record Not Considered Or Exhibited
2.7 *RFC - Exertional Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
2.2 Incomplete / Inaccurate Record - Record Inadequately Developed
2.1 Inadequate Proffer of Post-Hearing Evidence
1.9 Medical Source Opinion(s) Not Identified or Discussed
1.9 VE and DOT Not Reconciled (e.g., sit/stand limitations, time off task, etc.)
1.8 Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding
1.8 Other
* RFC = Residual functional capacity or the most a claimant can do despite his or her limitations or restrictions.

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Disclaimer: These data are being made publicly available for research purposes. Any findings and conclusions derived from analyses of these data are attributable to the researcher(s) and do not reflect those of the Social Security Administration.