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In Social Security disability cases, agency officials are not allowed to “play doctor.” Instead, administrative law judges (ALJs) are expected to look at the medical evidence presented to them. And if two doctors offer different medical assessments of a disability applicant, it is the ALJ's job to resolve that conflict.
ALJ Unable to Resolve Cause of Disability Applicant's “Exploding Head Syndrome”
Here is a recent Illinois disability case, John L. v. Berryhill, where the ALJ did not do that. In this case, the plaintiff applied for Social Security disability benefits seven years ago. At a 2015 hearing, an ALJ considered medical evidence related to the plaintiff's sleep parasomnia, i.e., his sleep disorder.
A sleep specialist diagnosed the plaintiff with “possible exploding head syndrome.” This refers to a rare type of parasomnia “in which affected individuals awaken from sleep with the sensation of a loud bang,” according to a 2013 report from the National Institutes of Health. The plaintiff told the specialist that he “heard sounds when he was sleepy 4 to 5 times a day or when he shifted his attention.”
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As advanced as medical technology is, it is not perfect. There are many people who suffer physical or mental ailments with no clear cause. Even trained doctors may look at the same patient presenting the same symptoms and reach different conclusions. But how does Social Security deal with such lack of consensus when assessing 
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