Pugh v. Astrue (CONSENT)
Filing
17
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER. Signed by Honorable Judge Terry F. Moorer on 12/3/2012. (jg, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
GLORIA A. PUGH,
Plaintiff,
v.
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant.
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CASE NO. 1:12-cv-43-TFM
[wo]
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Gloria A. Pugh (“Plaintiff” or “Pugh”) originally applied for supplemental security
income (“SSI”) and disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) on February 19, 2009 alleging
she became disabled on July 11, 2008. (Tr. 18, 132-139). After being denied, Pugh
timely filed for and received a hearing before an administrative law judge (“ALJ”) who
rendered an unfavorable decision in November, 2010. (Tr. 15-35). Pugh subsequently
petitioned for review to the Appeals Council who rejected review of Pugh’s case on
December 13, 2011. (Tr. 1-6). As a result, the ALJ’s decision became the final decision
of the Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner”). Id. Judicial review proceeds
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), and 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). After careful scrutiny of the
record and briefs, for reasons herein explained, the Court AFFIRMS the Commissioner’s
decision.
Page 1 of 20
I. NATURE OF THE CASE
Pugh seeks judicial review of the Commissioner’s decision denying her application
for SSI and DIB. United States District Courts may conduct limited review of such
decisions to determine whether they comply with applicable law and are supported by
substantial evidence. 42 U.S.C. § 405. The Court may affirm, reverse and remand with
instructions, or reverse and render a judgment. Id.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The Court’s review of the Commissioner’s decision is a limited one. The Court’s
sole function is to determine whether the ALJ’s opinion is supported by substantial
evidence and whether the proper legal standards were applied. See Jones v. Apfel, 190
F.3d 1224, 1228 (11th Cir. 1999); Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th
Cir. 1983).
“The Social Security Act mandates that ‘findings of the Secretary as to any fact, if
supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive.’” Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553,
1560 (11th Cir. 1995) (quoting 42 U.S.C. §405(g)). Thus, this Court must find the
Commissioner’s decision conclusive if it is supported by substantial evidence. Graham v.
Apfel, 129 F.3d 1420, 1422 (11th Cir. 1997). Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla
— i.e., the evidence must do more than merely create a suspicion of the existence of a
fact, and must include such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as
adequate to support the conclusion. Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1440 (11th Cir.
1997) (citing Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S.Ct. 1420, 1427, 28 L.Ed.2d
Page 2 of 20
842 (1971)); Foote, 67 F.3d at 1560 (citing Walden v. Schweiker, 672 F.2d 835, 838 (11th
Cir. 1982)).
If the Commissioner’s decision is supported by substantial evidence, the district
court will affirm, even if the court would have reached a contrary result as finder of fact,
and even if the evidence preponderates against the Commissioner’s findings. Ellison v.
Barnhart, 355 F.3d 1272, 1275 (11th Cir. 2003); Edwards v. Sullivan, 937 F.2d 580, 584
n.3 (11th Cir. 1991) (quoting MacGregor v. Bowen, 786 F.2d 1050, 1053 (11th Cir.
1986)). The Court must view the evidence as a whole, taking into account evidence
favorable as well as unfavorable to the decision. Foote, 67 F.3d at 1560 (citing Chester v.
Bowen, 792 F.2d 129, 131 (11th Cir. 1986). The Court “may not decide facts anew,
reweigh the evidence, or substitute [its] judgment for that of the [Commissioner],” but
rather it “must defer to the Commissioner’s decision if it is supported by substantial
evidence.” Miles v. Chater, 84 F.3d 1397, 1400 (11th Cir. 1997) (quoting Bloodsworth,
703 F.2d at 1239).
The Court will also reverse a Commissioner’s decision on plenary review if the
decision applies incorrect law, or if the decision fails to provide the district court with
sufficient reasoning to determine that the Commissioner properly applied the law. Keeton
v. Dep’t of Health and Human Servs., 21 F.3d 1064, 1066 (11th Cir. 1994) (citing
Cornelius v. Sullivan, 936 F.2d 1143, 1145 (11th Cir. 1991)). There is no presumption
that the Commissioner’s conclusions of law are valid. Id.; Brown v. Sullivan, 921 F.2d
1233, 1236 (11th Cir. 1991) (quoting MacGregor, 786 F.2d at 1053).
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III. STATUTORY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
The Social Security Act’s general disability insurance benefits program (“DIB”)
provides income to individuals who are forced into involuntary, premature retirement,
provided they are both insured and disabled, regardless of indigence.1 See 42 U.S.C. §
423(a). The Social Security Act’s Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) is a separate
and distinct program. SSI is a general public assistance measure providing an additional
resource to the aged, blind, and disabled to assure that their income does not fall below
the poverty line.2 Eligibility for SSI is based upon proof of indigence and disability. See
42 U.S.C. §§ 1382(a), 1382c(a)(3)(A)-(C). However, despite the fact they are separate
programs, the law and regulations governing a claim for DIB and a claim for SSI are
identical; therefore, claims for DIB and SSI are treated identically for the purpose of
determining whether a claimant is disabled. Patterson v. Bowen, 799 F.2d 1455, 1456 n.
1 (11th Cir. 1986). Applicants under DIB and SSI must provide “disability” within the
meaning of the Social Security Act which defines disability in virtually identical language
for both programs. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d), 1382c(a)(3), 1382c(a)(3)(G); 20 C.F.R. §§
404.1505(a), 416.905(a). A person is entitled to disability benefits when the person is
unable to
Engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result
DIB is authorized by Title II of the Social Security Act, and is funded by Social Security taxes.
See Social Security Administration, Social Security Handbook, § 136.1, available at
http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.html
2
SSI benefits are authorized by Title XVI of the Social Security Act and are funded by general
tax revenues. See Social Security Administration, Social Security Handbook, §§ 136.2, 2100,
available at http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.html
1
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in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous
period of not less than 12 months.
42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A). A “physical or mental impairment” is one
resulting from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which are
demonstrable by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. 42
U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(3), 1382c(a)(3)(D).
The Commissioner of Social Security employs a five-step, sequential evaluation
process to determine whether a claimant is entitled to benefits.
See 20 C.F.R. §§
404.1520, 416.920 (2010).
(1) Is the person presently unemployed?
(2) Is the person’s impairment(s) severe?
(3) Does the person’s impairment(s) meet or equal one of the specific impairments
set forth in 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1?3
(4) Is the person unable to perform his or her former occupation?
(5) Is the person unable to perform any other work within the economy?
An affirmative answer to any of the questions leads either to the next
question, or, on steps three and five, to a finding of disability. A negative
answer to any question, other than step three, leads to a determination of
“not disabled.”
McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026, 1030 (11th Cir. 1986).
The burden of proof rests on a claimant through Step 4. See Phillips v. Barnhart,
357 F.3d 1232, 1237-39 (11th Cir. 2004). Claimants establish a prima facie case of
qualifying disability once they meet the burden of proof from Step 1 through Step 4. At
3
This subpart is also referred to as “the Listing of Impairments” or “the Listings.”
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Step 5, the burden shifts to the Commissioner, who must then show there are a significant
number of jobs in the national economy the claimant can perform. Id.
To perform the fourth and fifth steps, the ALJ must determine the claimant’s
Residual Functional Capacity (RFC). Id. at 1238-39. RFC is what the claimant is still
able to do despite his impairments and is based on all relevant medical and other
evidence. Id. It also can contain both exertional and nonexertional limitations. Id. at
1242-43. At the fifth step, the ALJ considers the claimant’s RFC, age, education, and
work experience to determine if there are jobs available in the national economy the
claimant can perform. Id. at 1239. To do this, the ALJ can either use the Medical
Vocational Guidelines4 (“grids”) or hear testimony from a vocational expert (VE). Id. at
1239-40.
The grids allow the ALJ to consider factors such as age, confinement to sedentary
or light work, inability to speak English, educational deficiencies, and lack of job
experience. Each factor can independently limit the number of jobs realistically available
to an individual. Id. at 1240. Combinations of these factors yield a statutorily-required
finding of “Disabled” or “Not Disabled.” Id.
IV. ADMINISTRATIVE FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
Plaintiff, Gloria Pugh, age 45 at the time of the ALJ’s decision, completed the
eleventh grade in special education classes. (Tr. 43). In the relevant past, Pugh performed
work as a chicken cutter, a light unskilled position for nine years, and then as a cashier at
See 20 C.F.R. pt. 404 subpt. P, app. 2; see also 20 C.F.R. § 416.969 (use of the grids in SSI
cases).
4
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WalMart, a light semi-skilled position, for eleven years. (Tr. 43-46, 63, 164). The record
demonstrates that Pugh completed a function report on April 2, 2009, (Tr. 172-180)
wherein she states that she can pay her bills, handle a savings account, use a check book
and money orders, and count change. (Tr. 176). She also reported that she left the house
two to three times a week, went shopping twice a month for about four hours, had family
over during the day, and her hobbies included playing cards, reading the Bible, going to
church, and going to Bible study with friends twice a week. (Tr. 46, 52, 176-77, 259). In
April 2008 and again in August 2010, a month before her administrative hearing, hospital
records reported that Plaintiff did not need assistance with activities of daily living. (Tr.
231, 358).
At the September 16, 2010 hearing, Pugh testified that she tried working for one
week at a condom factory as a packager, but could not do the job because of her hands.
(Tr. 44). Pain in her left knee also prevented her from working as a cashier at Wal-Mart.
(Tr. 44-45). She said that her supervisor at Wal-Mart worked with her for about two
months before she understood how to make change for a customer and that her daughter
handles her finances. (Tr. 45-46). Pugh also testifed that she cannot use her hands to lift
and that she can “barely walk a half a mile without stopping” because of pain in her knee.
(Tr. 47). At the hearing Pugh wore splints on her wrists and told the ALJ that her hands
prevent her from using a cane she needs for walking and that she can not lift a gallon of
milk. (Tr. 54). Pugh also testified that she has sleep apnea and uses a C-pap machine to
sleep at night. (Tr. 49).
Page 7 of 20
The ALJ determined that Plaintiff’s “bilateral tendinitis in the upper extremities;
sleep apnea; borderline intellectual functioning; depressive disorder, not otherwise
specified; osteoarthritis of the left knee; and obesity” were all severe impairments (Tr.
20). She specifically explained that she did not consider Plaintiff’s CTS severe because it
had not been confirmed through electromyogram. (Tr. 21). The ALJ ultimately assessed
an RFC for light work with significant restriction. (Tr. 24). The ALJ included the
following limitations: (1) for Plaintiff’s wrist pain, Plaintiff was limited to occasionally
using her upper extremities for pushing and pulling, and frequently reaching, handling,
fingering, and feeling; and (2) for her mental impairments, the ALJ found Pugh was “able
to perform simple routine tasking involving no more than simple, short instructions and
simple work related decisions with few work place changes.” (Tr. 24).
In making this determination, the ALJ thoroughly analyzed the medical records
and hearing testimony; relied upon Vocational Expert testimony (see Tr. 62-68), assigned
weight to certain medical source opinions; and found Pugh less that fully credible. In
making the credibility finding the ALJ noted Pugh failed to seek treatment, received only
conservative treatment, and participated in activities inconsistent with her allegations of
pain.
(Tr. 25-30).
She specifically found Pugh was capable of performing the
requirements of representative occupations such as an information clerk, garment folder
and garment bagger. (Tr. 31).
V. MEDICAL HISTORY
On September 6, 2008, Dr. Ghostley performed a consultative examination. (Tr.
259-261). Pugh complained of tendinitis in her right hand and right knee pain. (Tr. 259).
Page 8 of 20
She also reported, “becoming increasingly depressed due to her inability to work.” (Tr.
259). Dr. Ghostley performed IQ testing. (Tr. 260). He diagnosed depressive disorder,
learning disorder, and borderline intellectual functioning. (Tr. 26). He also opined that
Pugh’s “ability to understand, remember, and carry out instructions, as well as to respond
appropriately to supervisors, co-workers, and work pressures in a work setting, is
moderately impaired.” (Tr. 261). However, Dr. Ghostley further opined that “Pugh’s
prognosis should improve with medical/psychiatric help.” (Tr. 261).
On September 9, 2008, Dr. Banner performed a consultative examination. (Tr.
263-266).
Pugh reported to Dr. Banner that “she drops objects frequently and has
difficulty doing her and her daughters hair due to pain with repetitive movement. She
complains of numbness at times in the right hand.” (Tr. 263). Dr. Banner noted Pugh
was unable to make a complete fist with her right hand, (Tr. 264) and that she “limps
heavily on left leg without use of cane.” (Tr. 265). Dr. Banner reported that fine and
gross motions in the right hand were diminished. (Tr. 266).
He diagnosed right wrist
pain, left knee pain and obesity. (Tr. 266).
On October 9, 2008, Dr. Nolan performed a psychological exam. (Tr. 270). He
noted that Pugh was “alert and oriented to time, person, place and circumstance”; that
“[h]er thought process is rational, coherent, informed and proceeding at normal pace, in
no acute distress and evidencing no sensory deficit”; that her “[m]otor, speech, and
language skills were noted to be intact”; that she “generally understood instructions and
seemed to maintain good interest and effort”; and that “[c]oncentration was noted to be
variable, as she tended to make careless mistakes.” (Tr. 271-72). Noting concern for the
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inconsistencies “between her current cognitive level of function and her work history,”
Dr. Nolan ultimately assessed “overall mild deficit in intellectual functioning.” (Tr. 27273). In April, 2009, Dr. Hinton, a state agency psychologist, reviewed Pugh’s records and
opined that her mental health caused mild restrictions in activities of daily living; mild
difficulties in maintaining social functioning; moderate difficulties in maintaining
concentration, persistence, or pace; and no episodes of decompensation. (Tr. 294).
On March 10, 2009, Pugh was diagnosed with DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis at
Southern Bone and Joint. (Tr. 277). On August, 24, 2010, she was prescribed wrist
splints at the emergency room for carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis. (Tr. 350;
357). On May 31, 2011, Pugh presented to the hospital and was diagnosed with bilateral
pulmonary embolism, left-sided chest pain, morbid obesity, sleep apnea, and newly
diagnosed diabetes. (Tr. 263) She was discharged from the hospital on June 7, 2011. (Tr.
382).
VI. ISSUES
Pugh raises three issues for judicial review:
(1) Whether the ALJ erred by failing to properly evaluate Pugh’s carpal tunnel
syndrome?
(2)
Whether the ALJ’s Residual Functional Capacity Findings are based on
substantial evidence?
(3) Whether the ALJ erred by asking an incomplete hypothetical to the Vocational
Expert?
(See Doc. 12 at pp. 4-15).
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VII. DISCUSSION
I. The ALJ properly evaluated Pugh’s carpal tunnel syndrome
Plaintiff complains that the ALJ failed to properly evaluate Pugh’s carpal tunnel
syndrome (“CTS”). First, Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred by failing to find her CTS
severe at step two.
At step two “an impairment . . . is considered ‘severe’ if it
significantly limits an individual’s physical or mental abilities to do basic work
activities.” SSR 96-3 p, 1996 WL 374181 at *1. A claimant bears the burden at step two
of showing that he has a medically severe impairment or combination of impairments.
Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 146 n.5 (1987).
The only medical evidence in this case which would support a diagnosis of CTS is
from Plaintiff’s visit to the emergency room at Southeast Alabama Medical Center in
August 2010.
(Tr. 344-57).
The clinical impression included CTS.
Indeed, the
examining doctor, Dr. Hughes, administered two physical tests: the Phalen’s test and the
Tinel’s Sign; both were positive. ( Tr. 357).
CTS may be diagnosed through
electrodiagnostic testing, including electromyogram testing, or physical tests, including
Phalen’s Test and Tinel’s Sign. See, University of Maryland Medical Center (2011)
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/how_carpal_tunnel_syndrome_diagnosed_000034
_7.htm. However, other medical evidence contradicts this diagnosis. Dr. Banner, a
consultative physician, who examined Pugh in September 2008 noted that Pugh was
negative for Tinel’s (Tr. 264-66) and in March 2009, Dr. Lolley noted that Pugh was
negative for Tinel’s, but did diagnose De Quervain’s tenosynovitis in Plaintiff’s right
wrist. (Tr. 277).
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Even if Pugh is correct that the ALJ erred in failing to find CTS to be a “severe”
impairment at Step 2, this is not reversible error, so long as the ALJ considered both
severe and non-severe impairments, including CTS, in the subsequent steps of the
sequential process. See Newsome ex rel. Bell v Barnhart, 444 F. Supp. 2d 1195, 1201
(M.D. Ala. 2006). (Failure of ALJ to make determination as to severity of impairment
was harmless error where ALJ thoroughly discussed the evidence of the impairment.)
Moreover, under agency regulations the ALJ considers all of Plaintiff’s impairments, both
“severe” and “nonsevere”, in the sequential evaluation process. See 20 C.F.R.§ 416.923
(“In determining whether your physical or mental impairment or impairments are of a
sufficient medical severity that such impairment or impairments could be the basis of
eligibility under the law, we will consider the combined effect of all of your impairments
without regard to whether any such impairment, if considered separately, would be of
sufficient severity.”)
In this case, the ALJ considered Pugh’s CTS and wrist pain generally at later steps
in the sequential process. (Tr. 25-26). The ALJ found Pugh’s allegations of CTS and
tendinitis to be “less than fully credible,” observing that while Pugh alleged her wrist pain
persisted since 1990, she failed to seek treatment for it until September 2008, despite
seeking care for other maladies. (Tr. 25-26; 202-57; 280). Further, the ALJ noted that
after starting care, Pugh allowed more than a year to pass between treatments. (Tr. 26,
61, 277). Moreover, the ALJ recognized that in contrast to the CTS diagnosis, a wrist xray was “normal” and that both Dr. Banner and Dr. Lolley reported that Plaintiff was
negative on a Tinel’s test. (Tr. 27, 264-66, 268, 277). Given the ALJ’s thorough review
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of the record evidence concerning Pugh’s wrist pain, the ALJs exclusion of her CTS as a
severe impairment at step two is harmless error in the course of his ultimate determination
that Pugh is not disabled. Id. at 1201.
Pugh next argues that the ALJ erred by substituting her opinion for that of a
medical provider when he rejected Pugh’s CTS diagnosis because it had not been
confirmed by an electromyogram. See Marbury v. Sullivan, 957 F. 2d 837, 840-41 (11th
Cir. 1992). (“An ALJ may not arbitrarily substitute her own hunch or intuition for the
diagnosis of a medical professional.”) However, this argument, at its core, is essentially a
restatement of Pugh’s earlier argument that the ALJ erred in not finding her CTS severe
because an electromyogram had not confirmed the diagnosis.
However, as more
thoroughly discussed above, because the ALJ reviewed the record evidence of Pugh’s
wrist pain and alleged CTS and tendinitis and considered it in the course of his ultimate
determination that Pugh is not disabled, this argument fails.
Pugh next argues that the ALJ erred in failing to order a consultative exam to
complete an electromyogram. The law is clear; a Commissioner’s duty to develop the
records includes ordering a consultative examination if one is needed to make an
informed decision. Reeves v. Heckler, 734 F. 2d 519, 522 n.1 (11th Cir. 1984)(finding
error where an ALJ failed to order a consultative exam when an agency doctor had
recommended it). However, in Browning v. Astrue, the district court held that the ALJ
was under no obligation to order an additional consultative examination because the
ALJ’s decision discussed “a wide range of medical evidence” including both treating and
consultative examinations and because neither Plaintiff’s counsel nor any physician of
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record had recommended or requested an additional consultative examination. 2012 WL
1424909, *7 (N.D. Ala. April 23, 2012).
Here no physician of record recommended an additional consultative exam
regarding Plaintiff’s alleged CTS. (Tr. 202-360). While the ALJ expressed a willingness
to order additional examinations if necessary (Tr. 67), there is no evidence that Plaintiff
or her counsel pursued a request for additional examinations or attempted to obtain
additional records supportive of Plaintiff’s CTS. Moreover, in this case prior to the
hearing, the agency developed a record that spanned from 2002 through 2010. (Tr. 208 344). In addition to substantial records from Plaintiff’s treating physicians (Tr. 202-257;
274-82;312-60), the Agency ordered three consultative examinations (Tr. 258-73), x-rays
of Plaintiff’s knee and wrist (Tr. 267-68), and several non-examining evaluations of the
medical evidence. (Tr. 283-311). Based upon the court’s independent review of the
record, the court concludes that the ALJ thoroughly analyzed all of the relevant records,
articulated the weight provided to certain health care providers, and gave sufficient
reasons for discounting Pugh’s credibility. (Tr. 20-30). Accordingly, the court concludes
that the ALJ properly evaluated Plaintiff’s CTS.
II. The ALJ had substantial evidence to make her residual functional capacity
determination and posed a proper hypothetical to the VE.
Next, Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred in assessing her residual functional
capacity (“RFC”) because she did not include limitations Plaintiff alleges are necessary in
either her hypothetical questions to the VE or her ultimate RFC. The court notes that the
exertional level and limitations in the ALJ’s hypothetical question to the VE (Tr. 63-64)
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are identical to those in her RFC. (Tr. 24). However, Plaintiff argues that the RFC
should have contained additional limitations regarding (1) her wrist pain and (2) her
“moderate difficulties” in social functioning. (Doc 12; Pls. Br. 12-14).
An RFC assessment is used to determine the claimants’ capacity to do as much as
they are possibly able to do despite their limitations. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(1)
(2010). An RFC assessment will be made based on all relevant evidence in the case
record. Id.; Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d at1440. At an ALJ hearing, “the [ALJ] is
responsible for assessing [the claimant’s] residual functional capacity.” 20 C.F.R. §
404.1546(c) (2010). The claimant is “responsible for providing the evidence [the ALJ]
will use to make a finding about [the claimant’s] residual functional capacity.” 20 C.F.R.
§ 404.1545(a)(3) (2010).
The ALJ is “responsible for developing [the claimant’s]
complete medical history, including arranging for a consultative examination(s) if
necessary, and making every reasonable effort to help [the claimant] get medical reports
from [their] own medical sources. Id.; Holladay v. Bowen, 848 F.2d 1206, 1209-10 (11th
Cir. 1988). (The ALJ is not required to order a consultative examination unless the
record establishes it is necessary to render a fair decision). The ALJ’s finding must be
supported by substantial evidence. “Substantial evidence is less than a preponderance,
but rather such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to
support a conclusion.”
Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1211 (11th Cir. 2005)
(citations omitted).
Here, Plaintiff argues the ALJ’s finding that she could “frequently reach, handle,
finger, and feel” is inconsistent with both the hospital’s direction to wear wrist splints and
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to ice and rest the wrist when swelling or pain occurs, and Dr. Banner’s findings of
diminished strength and motor skills in Plaintiff’s right hand. (Pl. Br. 14). However,
none of the physicians of record placed any restrictions on Plaintiff’s use of her hands for
reaching, handling, fingering, and feeling. (Tr. 262-68, 274-82; 344-57). In fact, both
Dr. Simmons and Dr. Foster found no manipulative restrictions were necessary. (Tr. 298305; 310-11). While Dr. Banner observed in his examination diminished strength and
motor skills in Plaintiff’s right wrist, he assessed no limitations arising from this finding.
Indeed, the x-ray he ordered showed no abnormalities in Plaintiff’s wrist. (Tr. 263-68).
The Emergency Room records note Plaintiff’s wrist was placed in a wrist splint,
but nothing in the record suggested Plaintiff must wear these wrist splints permanently or
that the splints would prevent Pugh from “frequently” reaching, handling, fingering and
feeling. (Tr. 344-57). Similarly, the instruction to ice and rest Plaintiff’s wrist were part
of a discharge sheet and were not specific instructions for Pugh to continue such
treatment on a permanent basis. (Tr. 347). Thus, the court concludes that the limitations
assessed by the ALJ for Pugh’s wrist pain are supported by substantial evidence.
Next Pugh argues that the ALJ’s RFC does not account for the “moderate
difficulties” in “social functioning” that the ALJ found earlier in her decision. (Tr. 22,
24). The ALJ found Pugh “is able to perform simple routine tasks involving no more
than simple, short instructions and simple work related decisions and few work place
changes.” (Tr. 24). Pugh points to Winschel v. Comm. of Social Sec.,631 F. 3d1176 (11th
Cir. 2011) for the proposition that “an ALJ must incorporate the results of the PRT into
his findings and conclusions.” Id. at 1181 n. 1.
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At step two, the ALJ assessed Pugh’s limitations and restrictions from her mental
impairment as part of a Psychiatric Review Technique (“PRT”) Form, which is not an
RFC assessment.
See SSR 96-8p, 1996 WL 374184, at *4 (“The adjudicator must
remember that the limitations identified in the ‘paragraph B’ and ‘paragraph C’ criteria
[of the PRT from] are not an RFC assessment but are used to rate the severity of mental
impairment(s) at steps 2 and 3 of the sequential evaluation process. The mental RFC
assessment used at steps 4 and 5 of the sequential evaluation process requires a more
detailed assessment by itemizing various functions contained in the broad categories
found in paragraphs B and C of the adult mental disorders listings in 12.00 of the Listing
of Impairments, and summarized on the PRT” form). In other words, an ALJ is not
required to include severity ratings (such as “moderate limitations”) in the ultimate RFC;
rather, the ALJ is required to translate these ratings into concrete restrictions on work
activities, as appropriate.
Pugh again points to Winschel v. Comm. of Soc. Sec., 631 F.3d1176, 1181 (11th
Cir. 2011) for her argument that the ALJ did not indicate that Pugh’s ability to work
would not be limited by a moderate limitation in social functioning (Tr. 24) and further
failed to account for this limitation when questioning the VE. (Tr. 64-67). (Doc. 12; Pls
Brief at p. 14). Indeed, the Winschel Court held that the ALJ must pose a hypothetical to
the VE which “include[s] or otherwise implicitly account[s] for all of
. . .[Plaintiff’s]
impairments in order for the VE’s testimony to constitute “substantial evidence.” Id. The
ALJ, in the instant case, specifically included in the hypothetical to the VE that the
individual “[i]s able to perform simple routine tasks involving no more than simple short
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instructions with simple work-related decisions with few work place changes.” (Tr. 64).
An independent review of the record demonstrates that the ALJ found Pugh
suffered “moderate difficulties” in social functioning at step 2, but that the ALJ
adequately explained how the medical evidence established Pugh could still perform
limited mental tasks.
Indeed, the ALJ in step 2 discussed medical evidence which
demonstrated a “mild” degree of limitation. First, Dr. Ghostley observed that Plaintiff
was attentive, made good eye contact, had no abnormal mannerisms, had normal
productivity and flow of speech, spoke in expressive tones and was fully coherent and
understandable, and had no receptive language deficits. (Tr. 22; 259-60). Second, Dr.
Nolan observed that Pugh was alert and oriented to time, person, place, and circumstance,
that her thought process was rational, coherent, informed and proceeded at a normal pace;
that her capacity to relate to others appeared to be intact, noting that she reported getting
along with supervisors, grocery shopping and attending church.
(Tr. 22; 270-72).
Finally, Dr. Hinton determined Pugh was only mildly limited in social functioning. (Tr.
22; 294).
Nevertheless, the ALJ concluded that “[d]espite claimant’s numerous
admissions of appropriate social functioning activities and the findings [of] Dr. Ghostley,
Dr. Nolan, and Dr. Hinton, the undersigned will give the claimant the benefit of the doubt
that she is moderately limited in this area.” (Tr. 22).
Later in the sequential process when assessing Plaintiff’s RFC, the ALJ described
medical evidence which established Pugh’s ability to do mental tasks, even though the
ALJ had concluded previously Pugh had moderate social limitations. Indeed, the ALJ
referred to both Dr. Ghostley and Dr. Nolan’s observations that despite Pugh’s mental
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impairment, she had successfully worked at WalMart as a cashier, helping customers with
purchases and customer service, for eleven years, which evidences a higher intelligence
and adaptive functioning. (Tr. 28-29; 157; 260; 273). Furthermore, the ALJ provided
great weight to Dr. Hinton, who explicitly assessed Plaintiff’s difficulty with social
functioning as “mild”, noting Plaintiff could perform light, unskilled work. (Tr. 28).
The ALJ explicitly concluded that “[t]o the extent that claimant’s mental
impairment may have some limited effect on her current ability to function in the work
place, the residual functional capacity finding includes sufficient accommodation.
Specifically, she is limited to performing simple routine tasks involving no more than
simple, short instructions and simple work related decisions with few work place
changes.” (Tr. 28). Thus, the Court concludes that the ALJ adequately explained, relying
on the medical record, how Pugh could still perform light unskilled work despite a step 2
finding of moderate difficulty in social functioning. Moreover, the Court concludes that
the ALJ tailored specific limitations in Pugh’s RFC to the level of Pugh’s impairments
actually established in the record and adequately presented those impairments in the
hypothetical to the VE. Accordingly, Pugh’s contrary argument fails.
VII. CONCLUSION
Pursuant to the findings and conclusions detailed in this Memorandum Opinion,
the Court concludes that the ALJ’s non-disability determination is supported by
substantial evidence and proper application of the law. It is, therefore, ORDERED that
the decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED. A separate judgment is entered
herewith.
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DONE this 3rd day of December, 2012.
/s/ Terry F. Moorer
TERRY F. MOORER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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