Interesting article here indicating that SSA is asking for feedback regarding whether claimants seeking disability benefits opine that level of pain was adequately taken into consideration regarding their claim for benefits. Pain is subjective and therefore potentially difficult to have a clear cut application of how that impacts ability to work. Objective evidence from XRays or MRIs can reveal conditions that would have a reasonable connection to level of pain and resulting physical limitations/resulting RFC and off-taskedness; yet, the subjective component is always to some degree a factor where pain level on a scale of 1 to 10 is reported by the patient and regardless of whether consistent with objective evidence that may/ may not exist.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/y9n7e273