Cutler v. Colvin(CONSENT)

Filing 15

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: It is the ORDERED that the decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED as further set out in the opinion and order. A final judgment will be entered separately. Signed by Honorable Judge Gray M. Borden on 8/25/2017. (dmn, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
NORTHERN DIVISION
MARILYN CUTLER,
Plaintiff,
v.
NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting
Commissioner of Social Security,1
Defendant.

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CASE NO. 2:16-cv-193-GMB
[WO]

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff Marilyn Cutler filed this action on March 22, 2016, seeking judicial review
of a final adverse decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying her application
for a period of disability, disability insurance benefits, and supplemental social security
income under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. Doc. 1. The case is ripe for
review pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3). The parties have consented to the
entry of a final judgment by the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 636(b), Rule 73 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rule 73.1 of the
Local Rules for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. Docs.
9 & 10. Based upon a review of the parties’ briefs, the evidentiary record, and the relevant

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Nancy A. Berryhill is now the Acting Commissioner of Social Security. Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Nancy A. Berryhill is substituted for Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting
Commissioner of Social Security, as the defendant in this lawsuit. No further action needs to be taken to
continue this lawsuit pursuant to section 205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The Clerk
of Court is DIRECTED to take the appropriate steps to reflect this change on the docket sheet.

authority, the court finds that the Commissioner’s decision is due to be AFFIRMED, as set
forth below.
I. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The court reviews a social security case to determine whether the Commissioner’s
decision “is supported by substantial evidence and based upon proper legal standards.”
Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1439 (11th Cir. 1997). The court “may not decide the
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) (internal quotation marks
omitted). Indeed, the court must affirm the Commissioner’s decision “if it is supported by
substantial evidence and the correct legal standards were applied.” Kelly v. Apfel, 185 F.3d
1211, 1213 (11th Cir. 1999) (citing 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.” Jones ex rel.
T.J.J. v. Astrue, 2011 WL 1706465, at *1 (M.D. Ala. May 5, 2011) (citing Lewis, 125 F.3d
at 1440). The court must scrutinize the entire record to determine the reasonableness of
the decision reached. Hale v. Bowen, 831 F.2d 1007, 1010 (11th Cir. 1987). “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 a finder of fact, and even if the
court finds that the evidence preponderates against the Commissioner’s decision.” Jones,
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2011 WL 1706465, at *2 (citing Edwards v. Sullivan, 937 F.2d 580, 584 n.3 (11th Cir.
1991)). The court will reverse the Commissioner’s decision on plenary review if the
decision applies incorrect law or fails to provide the court with sufficient reasoning to
determine that the Commissioner properly applied the law. Cornelius v. Sullivan, 936 F.2d
1143, 1145-46 (11th Cir. 1991); Jones, 2011 WL 1706465, at *2 (citing Keeton v. Dep’t
of Health & Human Servs., 21 F.3d 1064, 1066 (11th Cir. 1994)). There is no presumption
that the Commissioner’s conclusions of law are valid. Id.
II. STATUTORY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
To qualify for disability benefits, a claimant must show the “inability to engage in
any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental
impairment which can be expected to result 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); 42
U.S.C. § 416(i). A physical or mental impairment is “an impairment that results from
anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which are demonstrated by
medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(3).
Cutler bears the burden of proving that she is disabled, and she is responsible for producing
evidence to support her claim. See Ellison v. Barnhart, 355 F.3d 1272, 1276 (11th Cir.
2003).
Determination of disability under the Social Security Act requires a five-step
analysis. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a). Specifically, the Commissioner must determine in
sequence:

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(1) Is the claimant presently unemployed?
(2) Is the claimant’s impairment severe?
(3) Does the claimant’s impairment meet or equal one of the specific
impairments set forth in 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1?
(4) Is the claimant unable to perform his or her former occupation?
(5) Is the claimant unable to perform any other work within the economy?
McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026, 1030 (11th Cir. 1986). “An affirmative answer to any
of the above 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.’” Id. at 1030 (quoting 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)−(f)). “Once
the finding is made that a claimant cannot return to prior work the burden of proof shifts to
the Secretary to show other work the claimant can do.” Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553,
1559 (11th Cir. 1995) (citing Gibson v. Heckler, 762 F.2d 1516 (11th Cir. 1985)).
III. DISCUSSION
A.

Facts
Cutler applied for disability benefits on May 31, 2014, alleging a disability onset

date of February 25, 2014. Doc. 14-2. Cutler alleges disability due to a brain contusion,
slow speaking, memory loss, cervical stenosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, a knee
contusion, and pain in her neck, back, and knee. Docs. 14-2, 14-3 & 14-4. Cutler’s claims
were denied at the initial administrative level. Docs. 14-2, 14-3 & 14-4.
Cutler requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”), and she
received two of them. Docs. 14-2 & 14-4. The first hearing was held on March 2, 2015.
Doc. 14-2. During that hearing, the ALJ explained that, despite Cutler’s claims that she
cannot work, there was presently no medical evidence before him to establish disability.

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Doc. 14-2. Cutler’s non-attorney representative “concur[red]” with this assessment.2 Doc.
14-2. However, rather than deny Cutler’s claims at that point, the ALJ ordered Cutler to
undergo a neurological consultative examination with NCV and EMG3 testing, and he
agreed to make his final decision after reviewing the results of those tests. Doc. 14-2.
Dr. Larry Wayne Epperson performed this exam. Docs. 14-2 & 14-8. After
receiving the results, the ALJ held a second hearing on June 1, 2015, and he subsequently
denied Cutler’s claims in a written decision dated September 23, 2015. Doc. 14-2. In his
decision, the ALJ found that Cutler had the severe impairments of obesity, hypertension,
cervicalgia, history of lumbago, mild foraminal stenosis of the cervical spine, history of
small bone contusion of the left knee, and history of laceration of the head, but that none
of those impairments or combination of those impairments meets or medically equals the
severity of one of the listed impairments in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 (20
C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(d), 404.1525, 404.1526, 416.920(d), 416.925 & 416.926). Doc. 14-2.
The ALJ determined that Cutler had the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform
the full range of medium work as defined in 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(c) and 416.967(c).4

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During the March 2, 2015 hearing, the ALJ asked Cutler’s representative, “What do I have that tells me,
specifically, that this young lady is unable to work from a documentary standpoint?” Doc. 14-2 at 48. In
response, Cutler’s representative stated, “Short of the positive MRI report showing the stenosis of her spine,
judge, there’s not much medical evidence in there to support.” Doc. 14-2 at 48. Later in the hearing, the
ALJ stated, “What I have in the file right now does not tell me that this young lady is disabled,” to which
Cutler’s representative responded, “I concur, judge.” Doc. 14-2 at 52.
3
NCV stands for nerve conduction velocity and EMG stands for electromyography.
4
“Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of
objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium work, we determine that he or she can also
do sedentary and light work.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(c).

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Ultimately, based on these findings, the ALJ concluded that Cutler was not disabled within
the meaning of the Social Security Act and denied her claims. Doc. 14-2.
Cutler requested a review of the ALJ’s decision by the Appeals Council. That
request was denied on January 28, 2016, making the ALJ’s decision the final decision of
the Commissioner as of September 23, 2015. Doc. 14-2. Cutler was 36 years old at the
time of the ALJ’s decision.
B.

Issues Presented
Cutler presents two issues for the court’s review: (1) whether the ALJ properly

addressed the medical opinion of Dr. Epperson, and (2) whether the ALJ properly
considered the side effects of Cutler’s medications on her ability to work.5 Doc. 12. For
the reasons that follow, the court finds that neither issue merits reversal, and the ALJ’s
decision is due to be affirmed.
C.

Analysis
1.

The ALJ properly addressed the medical opinion of Dr. Epperson.

Cutler was involved in a motor vehicle accident on February 25, 2014. She was
treated at Shelby Baptist Medical Center emergency room and diagnosed with a traumatic
hematoma of the forehead, abrasions in multiple places, right wrist pain, and pain in her
lower left leg. Doc. 14-8 at 429. Her radiology results were unremarkable. Her brain CT
showed only an extracranial hematoma on the left forehead/scalp with no acute findings;

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These are the issues as presented by Cutler in her brief. See Doc. 13 at 4. Any issue she has not raised is
deemed to be waived. See Dial v. Berryhill, 2017 WL 459859, at *3 (M.D. Ala. Feb. 2, 2017) (citing
Simpson v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 423 F. App’x 882, 885 (11th Cir. 2011) (concluding in a social security
case that issues not raised before the district court are waived)).

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her cervical spine CT showed no acute findings; and her left tibia and fibula and right wrist
x-rays showed no acute findings. Doc. 14-8 at 430-32. Cutler was prescribed muscle
relaxers and pain medications and discharged the same day with instructions to follow up
with her primary care physician. Doc. 14-8 at 444.
Following her discharge, Cutler was treated on multiple occasions for pain in her
neck, back, fingers, and knee. Docs. 14-7, 14-8 & 14-9. On February 27, 2014, Cutler was
treated by her primary care physician for cervicalgia, pain in her joints, lumbago, and pain
in her shoulder, lower leg, and around her eye. Doc. 14-7 at 314–16. Again, her radiology
results were largely unremarkable.6 Doc. 14-7 at 330–31.
From March 4 to May 12, 2014, Cutler was treated by Dr. Gilberto Sanchez for
complaints of neck, back, eye, and knee pain. Doc. 14-7 at 345–58. Dr. Sanchez ordered
Cutler to complete twelve weeks of physical therapy and prescribed her pain medications.
Doc. 14-7 at 345–46. He also ordered several diagnostic tests, including a CT scan of
Cutler’s head and an MRI of her lumbar and cervical spine, left knee, left hand, and brain.
Doc. 14-7 at 345–58. The CT scan of her head showed only left frontal scalp swelling with
no acute findings; her cervical spine MRI showed only mild C3-5 bony foraminal stenosis
with no other acute injury; and her knee MRI showed a small bone contusion lateral tibial
plateau but no fracture. Doc. 14-7 at 353, 355 & 357. The other MRIs were unremarkable.
Doc. 14-7 at 354, 356 & 358. Cutler’s last appointment with Dr. Sanchez was on May 12,
2014, during which he noted that she had completed three months of physical therapy and

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Cutler’s L/S spine x-ray was normal with no acute findings. Doc. 14-7 at 330. Her cervical spine x-ray
was abnormal but only to the extent it showed decreased normal curvature. Doc. 14-7 at 331.

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while she still complained of neck pain, “her overall symptoms regarding MVA, have
subsided.” Doc. 14-7 at 352. Dr. Sanchez discharged Cutler from his care with instructions
to follow up with her primary care physician. Doc. 14-7 at 352.
Cutler was employed as a dietary aide of the time of her accident. Doc. 14-2. The
record reflects that Dr. Sanchez gave Cutler work excuses on two occasions. The first
excuse covered one week of work. Doc. 14-7 at 346. The record reflects that a second
excuse was written but does not specify the length of time it covered. Doc. 14-7 at 347.
Despite the record reflecting only that Cutler was excused from work for at least one week,
she admittedly never attempted to return to work after exhausting 12 weeks of medical
leave because she “felt like [she] wasn’t able to go any further with it.” Doc. 14-2.
Cutler’s physical therapy ended on June 19, 2014, after which she did not receive
any medical care for her alleged disabling conditions until March 9, 2015, when she
presented to Prattville Baptist Hospital emergency room after she slipped and fell at a
casino. Docs. 14-7 at 242–43 & 14-9 at 560-74. Cutler was alert and oriented at the
emergency room, and her x-rays from that event were unremarkable. Doc. 14-9 at 560-74.
This fall occurred only a few days after Cutler’s March 2, 2015 hearing before the ALJ
during which she claimed to have such severe “nerve problems” that she can do essentially
“nothing” with her right side and that her neck will “freeze up” on her. Doc. 14-2 at 49.
On March 22, 2015, Cutler returned to Prattville Baptist Hospital emergency room for a
cervical stenosis flare up with pain in her neck, lower back, and numbness down her right
side. Doc. 14-9 at 535. Cutler did not report fatigue at this visit and was described as alert.
Doc. 14-9 at 535–37. She was discharged the same day and prescribed medication. Doc.
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14-9 at 535-37.
During Cutler’s March 2, 2015 hearing, the ALJ noted the lack of evidence
supporting her disability claims. Doc. 14-2. However, rather than dismiss her claims, the
ALJ ordered Cutler to undergo a neurological consultative examination, which was
performed by Dr. Epperson. Doc. 14-2. Dr. Epperson, who examined Cutler on this one
occasion, opined that she had an impairment of 20% of the whole person (8% impairment
of the cervical spine, 8% impairment of the lumbar spine due to spasm, and 4% impairment
of gait because she was dragging her right leg). Doc. 14-8 at 519. Dr. Epperson also
completed a Medical Source Statement in which he opined that Cutler could lift and carry
up to 50 pounds occasionally; could sit, stand, and walk a total of 8 hours at one time
without interruption and 8 total hours in the work day; could reach, handle, finger, feel,
push, and pull occasionally; could operate foot controls with her right foot frequently and
her left foot occasionally; could climb stairs, ramps, ladders, and scaffolds and balance,
stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl occasionally; and could work in humidity and wetness,
dust, odors, fumes, extreme heat and cold, and vibrations occasionally. Doc. 14-8 at 521–
25. Dr. Epperson also concluded that Cutler could shop, travel without a companion,
ambulate without assistive devices, walk a block on uneven terrain at a reasonable pace,
use standard public transportation, climb a few steps at a reasonable pace, prepare a simple
meal and feed herself, care for her personal hygiene, and sort and handle paper files, but
she could never work at unprotected heights, with moving mechanical parts, or operate a
motor vehicle. Doc. 14-8 at 521–26.
Dr. Epperson formed these opinions, including Cutler’s 20% total disability rating
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and her various postural, manipulative, and environmental limitations, despite
acknowledging in his own treatment records that the MRI of Cutler’s brain was grossly
normal, her head CT showed only a small scalp hematoma, and her cervical spine MRI
showed mild bony foraminal stenosis at C3-C5, “which is an old finding.” Doc. 14-8 at
518. Indeed, Dr. Epperson’s own objective NCV and EMG results led him to conclude
that “there is no electrophysiological evidence of a bilateral C5-C8 radiculopathy, bilateral
carpal tunnel syndrome, a bilateral ulnar neuropathy, bilateral tardy ulnar palsy, or a diffuse
sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy in the right or left upper extremities.” Doc. 14-8 at
510. X-rays obtained two days after Dr. Epperson’s exam were also unremarkable except
for “minimal posterior spurring on C2, C3 and C4.” Doc. 14-8 at 531. Apart from Dr.
Epperson’s opinion, there is no other evidence or opinion from Cutler’s physicians
suggesting that she is disabled—much less disabled to the degree she claims. Docs. 14-7,
14-8 & 14-9.
Against this backdrop, the ALJ considered but ultimately rejected Dr. Epperson’s
opinions, stating:
The undersigned ordered a physical consultative examination, which the
claimant attended on March 18, 2015 (Exhibit 8F). The claimant discussed
her motor vehicle accident on the alleged onset date and reported ongoing
pain in her neck as well as burning, tingling, and numbness affecting her right
side. Larry Epperson, M.D., assessed hypertension, cervicalgia, and chronic
pain; however, his objective findings of his examinations were
unremarkable. Indeed, the only abnormalities he detected were spasms in
the claimant’s neck and lumbar area along with an antalgic gait due to her
“dragging her right leg.” He noted that diagnostic tests administered in
March 2014 shortly after the claimant’s accident, including MRI’s of her
brain, lumbar, and cervical spine yielded normal findings except mild bony
foraminal stenosis and scalp swelling. . . .

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Given the claimant’s neurological allegations, here, Dr. Epperson conducted
nerve conduction studies and electromyography, which determined, “there
is no electrophysiological evidence of a bilateral C5-C8 radiculopathy,
bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a bilateral ulnar neuropathy, bilateral
tardy ulna palsy, or a diffuse sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy in the
[the claimant’s] right or left uppers extremities” (Id. at pgs. 2-5)
(emphasis added).
In conjunction with this examination, Dr. Epperson completed a medical
source statement (“MSS”) finding that the claimant could lift and carry up to
50 pounds without any restrictions in sitting, standing, or walking in a normal
8-hour workday. He indicated that she did not need an assistive device and
could perform activities like shopping, walk a block on uneven terrain, climb
a few stairs, prepare a simple meal and feed herself, care for her personal
hygiene, and go out independently. Rather perplexingly, Dr. Epperson
indicated that the claimant had several postural, manipulative, and
environmental limitations (Id. at pgs. 13-18). Though none of these
limitations suggested a finding of disability, the undersigned still afforded
them no weight, particularly since Dr. Epperson offered no explanation for
these findings that so blatantly contravened the objective results of the
aforementioned examination, wholly normal neurological findings, and
longitudinal medical record.
Doc. 14-2 at 28-29. Ultimately, the ALJ concluded that “neither the objective medical
evidence, nor the claimant’s objectively unsupported documentary and testimonial
statements establishes that her ability to function has been so severely eroded as to preclude
all work activity.” Doc. 14-2 at 29.
Cutler challenges the ALJ’s rejection of Dr. Epperson’s opinions (which would
preclude a medium work RFC finding, if adopted), arguing that he failed to express
adequate reasons for rejecting his opinions. The court finds no merit in this argument.
“The ALJ may reject the opinion of any physician if the evidence supports a contrary
conclusion.” Adams v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 586 F. App’x 531, 533 (11th Cir. 2014)
(citing Sryock v. Heckler, 764 F.2d 834, 835 (11th Cir. 1985)). “In assessing medical

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evidence, an ALJ is required to state with particularity the weight he gave the different
medical opinions and the reasons therefor.” Id. (citing Sharfarz v. Bowen, 825 F.2d 278,
279 (11th Cir. 1987)). However, there is no rigid requirement that the ALJ specifically
refer to every piece of evidence in his decision, so long as the ALJ’s decision enables the
district court to conclude that the ALJ considered the claimant’s medical condition as a
whole. Id. Here, the ALJ adequately explained his reasons for rejecting Dr. Epperson’s
opinions, and his reasons are supported by substantial evidence.
As the ALJ detailed in his opinion and as the court referenced above, the postural,
manipulative, and environment limitations Dr. Epperson placed on Cutler are contradicted
by his own objective clinical findings and by the other medical evidence in the record,
including multiple unremarkable MRI and CT exams and a history of conservative
treatment of Cutler’s ailments. Indeed, Dr. Epperson noted that several MRIs and other
diagnostic tests performed shortly after Cutler’s accident yielded normal findings apart
from mild bony foraminal stenosis and scalp swelling. Despite these unremarkable
diagnostic findings, Dr. Epperson placed a number of postural, manipulative, and
environmental limitations on Cutler’s ability to perform work-related activities, but he
provided no explanation for her postural and manipulative limitations and referred
generally to his treatment notes—which appear to be based primarily on Cutler’s subjective
complaints rather than objective medical findings—to explain her environmental
limitations. Ultimately, the ALJ rejected Dr. Epperson’s limitations, finding that they
“blatantly contravened the objective results of [his] examination, wholly normal
neurological findings, and longitudinal medical record.” Doc. 14-2.
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The court agrees that Dr. Epperson’s opinions were not supported by the objective,
longitudinal medical evidence and his own clinical findings. Accordingly, the court finds
that the ALJ adequately considered Dr. Epperson’s opinions, that he adequately articulated
his reasons for rejecting these opinions, and that these reasons are supported by substantial
evidence. See D’Andrea v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 398 F. App’x 944, 948 (11th Cir.
2010) (per curiam) (concluding that the ALJ had ample reason for rejecting consulting
physician’s RFC assessment when the physician’s own clinical findings undermined the
assessment).
2.

The ALJ properly considered the side effects of Cutler’s medications on
her ability to work.

Cutler contends that the ALJ’s decision should also be set aside because he failed
to consider the side effects of her medication on her ability to work. The court is not
persuaded by this argument. While Cutler did report in a disability report dated October
15, 2014 that her medications made her drowsy, dizzy, and sick, there is no indication in
her medical records that she ever reported or complained about side effects of her
medication to a health care provider or that her health care providers observed or noted any
side effects of her medications. Doc. 14-6 at 278. To the contrary, in March 2015, Dr.
Epperson described Cutler as “awake, alert and oriented x3,” “good recent and remote
memory, normal speech cadence and normal rhythm,” and “good concentration and
attention.” Doc. 14-8 at 517. Several other medical providers described Cutler as alert and
oriented during her post-accident visits. Docs. 14-7, 14-8 & 14-9. In fact, there is no

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evidence in the record, other than Cutler’s subjective claims, that her medications had
disabling side effects.
The court is satisfied that the ALJ adequately considered the side effects of Cutler’s
medications on her ability to work. Indeed, the ALJ noted that the medical records showed
that she had a good memory, good concentration and attention, and normal speech. The
ALJ also accounted for any medication side effects in the hypotheticals given to the
vocational expert, and the vocational expert’s testimony with respect to jobs that Cutler
could perform accounted for potential side effects.7 Doc. 14-2 at 76. Although the ALJ’s
decision did not discuss medication side effects in great detail, he did note that Cutler
testified at the June 1, 2015 hearing that she took pain medication and that it had alleged
side effects, such as drowsiness. Doc. 14-2 at 29. However, the ALJ ultimately concluded
that Cutler’s testimony was not credible and was unsupported by the objective medical
evidence. The court finds that, in doing so, the ALJ implicitly considered and found that
Cutler’s allegations of disabling medication side effects were not credible. See Reed v.
Colvin, 2015 WL 12856783, at *8 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 21, 2015) (rejecting claimant’s
argument that ALJ failed to consider medication side effects when ALJ referenced
claimant’s medications and the record failed to show that claimant complained to
physicians about side effects); Tyson v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 2011 WL 1326833, at *6
(M.D. Fla. Apr. 6, 2011) (rejecting claimant’s argument that ALJ did not consider side
effects of medication when ALJ explicitly noted claimant’s testimony that medications

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Cutler’s representative did not object to any portion of the vocational expert’s testimony and declined to
examine the vocational expert. Doc. 14-2 at 77.

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made her sleepy but ultimately found this testimony not credible because the medical
records did not reflect any complaints from claimant about medication side effects); see
also Ledbetter v. Colvin, 2015 WL 476219, at *5-6 (M.D. Ala. Feb. 5, 2015).8 For these
reasons, the court finds that the ALJ adequately considered the side effects of Cutler’s
medications on her ability to work and that this assessment is supported by substantial
evidence.
IV. CONCLUSION
Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above, it is ORDERED that the decision of
the Commissioner is AFFIRMED.
A final judgment will be entered separately.
DONE this 25th day of August, 2017.

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Moreover, even if the ALJ had erred in considering the side effects of Cutler’s medications on her ability
to work, she has failed to show that she was harmed by this error. See Ledbetter, 2015 WL 476219, at *6.

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