The important parts of the remand notice:
The Appeals Council grants the request for review under the substantial evidence provision of the SSA regulations. THe AC vacates the hearing decision and remands the case to an ALJ for resolution of the following issues:
The decision found that, through the date last insured, the claimant had the residual functional capacity "to perform medium work as defined in 20 CFR except that the claimant is moderately limited in her ability to carry out detailed instructions; manintain attention and concentration for exted periods; perform activities with a schedule, maintain regular attendance, and be punctual within customary tolerances and interact appropriately with the general public" The decision does not define the term "moderately limited." Further consideration should be given to the claimant's maximum residual functional capacity.
The decision found that the claimant was capable of performing past relevant work as a clerical worker, assistant teacher, insurance processor and office assistant. A review of the claimant's work history and earnings record reveals that the claimant does not appear to have performed work as and asst teacher at a level suffient to constitute substantial gainful activity. Additionally, the decision classifies the clerical worker, insurance processing and office asst jobs as being semi-skilled work, by referencing Dictionary of Occupational Titles. However, it appears that the performance of these jobs may require mental ability that exceeds the assessed residual functional capacity. Thus, further consideration should be given to whether the claimant is capable of performing any of her past relevant work.
Upon remand, the ALJ will:
Further evaluate the claimant's mental impairments in accordance with the special techniques escribed in 20 CFR documenting application of the technique in the decision by providing specific findings and appropriate rationale for each of the functional areas described.
Give further consideration to the claimant's maximum residual fuctional capacity and provide appropriate rationale with specific references to evidence of record in support of the assessed limitations. In doing so, nonspecific qualifying terms should not be utilized since they do not describe function and do not usefully convey the extent of the claimant's limitations.
Further evaluate whether the claimant is able to return to any of her past relevant work.
If warranted, obtain evidence from a vocational expert to clarify the effect of the assesed limitations on the claimant's occupational base. They hypothetical questions should reflect the specific capacity/limitations established by the record as a whole. THe ALJ will ask the VE to identify examples of appropriate jobs and state the incidence of such jobs in the national economy. Further, before relying on the VE evidence the ALJ will identify and resolve any conflicts between the occupational evidence provided by the VE and information in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and its companion publication, the Selected Characteristics of Occupations.
In compliance with the above, the ALJ will offer the claimant an opportunity for a hearing, take any further action needed to complete the administrative record and issue a new decision.