I-3-5-15.Consideration of Legal Arguments or Contentions

A. Brief Background

Prior to July 20, 1995, the Appeals Council (AC) required analysts to respond directly to the issue(s) raised in contentions. However, due to workload concerns and resource issues, the AC implemented a new initiative on July 20, 1995, suspending the requirement to provide a detailed discussion of additional evidence and provide specific responses to contentions in the denial notice. This change in no way lessened the analyst's responsibility to determine whether additional evidence should be considered under Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual I-3-3-6, review any contentions, and make an appropriate recommendation to the adjudicator.

In 2012, the AC officially adopted this initiative.

B. Addressing Contentions When a Denial Is Appropriate

An analyst must appropriately handle additional evidence and contentions when making a recommendation to an adjudicator. The analyst will follow the procedures in HALLEX I-3-3-6 and I-3-5-20 when processing any additional evidence. Additionally, the analyst will provide a detailed analysis in the Appeals Review Processing System (ARPS) of any specific arguments or contentions. The ARPS analysis should be sufficient to explain to the adjudicator why the administrative law judge (ALJ) hearing decision is supported by substantial evidence.

Denial notices must:

• Acknowledge receipt of and exhibit legal arguments or contentions submitted in connection with the request for review;

• State that the AC considered the arguments presented; and

• Conclude that the information does not provide a basis for changing the ALJ's decision.

Regardless of whether the folder is paper or electronic, the analyst will include a request for review (e.g., form HA-520, Request for Review of Hearing Decision/Order) in Part B – Jurisdictional Documents/Notices of the claim(s) file, and legal arguments or contentions in Part E – Disability Related Development of the claim(s) file.

The analyst will exhibit legal arguments or contentions. An exhibit list and accompanying order must be prepared for documents that the AC exhibits.