Last Update: 9/13/05 (Transmittal I-4-15)
If a court remands a case to the Commissioner and the Appeals Council (AC) subsequently remands the case to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) for further proceedings and a new decision, the AC will generally vacate the final decision of the Commissioner (see chapter I-
4-3 for procedures for processing court remands and section I-2-8-18 for ALJ procedures in court remand cases).
NOTE:
Occasionally, a court will affirm a decision in part through the date when issued while reversing and remanding the balance of the decision for additional proceedings (e.g., reconsidering a treating physician's opinion, obtaining vocational expert testimony, etc.). In these cases, including Title II claims having a date last insured in the past, the AC may vacate the prior hearing decision, but only to the extent not affirmed by the court.