Webb v. Astrue (CONSENT)
Filing
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MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Judge Charles S. Coody on 6/11/13. (djy, )
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
EASTERN DIVISION
WILLIE D. WEBB,
Plaintiff,
v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.
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CIVIL ACT. NO. 3:12cv506-CSC
(WO)
MEMORANDUM OPINION
I. Introduction
The plaintiff applied for disability insurance benefits pursuant to Title II of the Social
Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 401 et seq. and for supplemental security income benefits under
Title XVI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1381 et seq., alleging that she was unable
to work because of a disability. Her application was denied at the initial administrative level.
The plaintiff then requested and received a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge
(“ALJ”). Following the hearing, the ALJ also denied the claim. The Appeals Council
rejected a subsequent request for review. The ALJ’s decision consequently became the final
decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (Commissioner).1 See Chester v. Bowen,
792 F.2d 129, 131 (11th Cir. 1986). The case is now before the court for review pursuant
to 42 U.S.C. §§ 405 (g) and 1383(c)(3). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), the parties have
1
Pursuant to the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994, Pub.L. No.
103-296, 108 Stat. 1464, the functions of the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to Social
Security matters were transferred to the Commissioner of Social Security.
consented to entry of final judgment by the United States Magistrate Judge. Based on the
court's review of the record in this case and the briefs of the parties, the court concludes that
the decision of the Commissioner should be affirmed.
II. Standard of Review
Under 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(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
in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period
of not less than 12 months...
To make this determination2 the Commissioner employs a five step, sequential
evaluation process. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920.
(1) Is the person presently unemployed?
(2) Is the person's impairment severe?
(3) Does the person'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 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 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."
McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026, 1030 (11th Cir. 1986).3
2
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.
3
McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026 (11th Cir. 1986) is a supplemental security income case (SSI).
The same sequence applies to disability insurance benefits. Cases arising under Title II are appropriately
2
The standard of review of the Commissioner's decision is a limited one. This court
must find the Commissioner's decision conclusive if it is supported by substantial evidence.
42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Ingram v. Comm. of Soc. Sec. Admin., 496 F.3d 1253, 1260 (11th Cir.
2007). “Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla, but less than a preponderance. It is
such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a
conclusion.” Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971); Crawford v. Comm'r of Soc.
Sec., 363 F.3d 1155, 1158–59 (11th Cir. 2004). A reviewing court may not look only to
those parts of the record which supports the decision of the ALJ but instead must view the
record in its entirety and take account of evidence which detracts from the evidence relied
on by the ALJ. Hillsman v. Bowen, 804 F.2d 1179, 1180 (11th Cir. 1986). The court “may
not decide the facts anew, reweigh the evidence, or substitute . . . [its] judgment for that of
the [Commissioner].” Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1240 n. 8 (11th Cir. 2004)
(alteration in original) (quotation marks omitted).
[The court must, however,] . . . scrutinize the record in its entirety to determine
the reasonableness of the [Commissioner's] . . . factual findings . . . No similar
presumption of validity attaches to the [Commissioner's] . . . legal conclusions,
including determination of the proper standards to be applied in evaluating
claims.
Walker v. Bowen, 826 F.2d 996, 999 (11th Cir. 1987).
III. The Issues
A. Introduction. Willie D. Webb was 46 years old on the date of alleged onset of
cited as authority in Title XVI cases. See e.g. Ware v. Schweiker, 651 F.2d 408 (5th Cir. 1981) (Unit A).
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disability and 48 years old at the time of the hearing before the ALJ. (R. 47, 49). She has
at least a high school education. (R. 36, 47). Webb’s prior work experience includes work
as a cashier, hand packager, sewing machine operator and assistant manager. (R. 36).
Following the administrative hearing, the ALJ concluded that the plaintiff has severe
impairments of “status post shoulder surgeries, brain tumor, anemia and migraines.” (R. 27).
The ALJ concluded that the plaintiff was unable to perform her past relevant work, but, using
the Medical-Vocational Guidelines, 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P., App. 2, as a framework and
relying on the testimony of a vocational expert, he also concluded that there were a
significant number of jobs in the national economy that the plaintiff could perform. (R. 3637). Thus, the ALJ concluded that Webb was not disabled because she has the residual
functional capacity to perform sedentary work with restrictions.
B. The Plaintiff's Claim. As stated by the plaintiff, her claim is that “[t]he ALJ’s
residual functional capacity (RFC) findings are not based on substantial evidence.” (Doc.
# 14 at 4). The plaintiff argues that “there is no valid medical source opinion” in the record,
and the ALJ improperly relied on a residual functional capacity assessment completed by a
non-examining state agency reviewing physician.
IV. Discussion
A disability claimant bears the initial burden of demonstrating an inability to return
to her past work. Lucas v. Sullivan, 918 F.2d 1567 (11th Cir. 1990). In determining whether
the claimant has satisfied this burden, the Commissioner is guided by four factors: (1)
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objective medical facts or clinical findings, (2) diagnoses of examining physicians, (3)
subjective evidence of pain and disability, e.g., the testimony of the claimant and her family
or friends, and (4) the claimant’s age, education, and work history. Tieniber v. Heckler, 720
F.2d 1251 (11th Cir. 1983). The ALJ must conscientiously probe into, inquire of and explore
all relevant facts to elicit both favorable and unfavorable facts for review. Cowart v.
Schweiker, 662 F.2d 731, 735-36 (11th Cir. 1981). The ALJ must also state, with sufficient
specificity, the reasons for his decision referencing the plaintiff’s impairments.
Any such decision by the Commissioner of Social Security which involves a
determination of disability and which is in whole or in part unfavorable to such
individual shall contain a statement of the case, in understandable language,
setting forth a discussion of the evidence, and stating the Commissioner’s
determination and the reason or reasons upon which it is based.
42 U.S.C. § 405(b)(1) (emphases added).
After stating the issue, the plaintiff then argues that the ALJ made three discrete
errors. First, she complains that “there is no valid medical source opinion statement
contained in the medical evidence of record.” (Doc. # 14 at 9). Next, she asserts that the
ALJ failed to include her headaches in his RFC. (Id.) Finally, she faults the ALJ for relying
on a non-examining state agency physician to determine her RFC. (Id.). The ALJ concluded
that the plaintiff has the residual functional capacity
to perform less than the full range of sedentary work as defined in 20 C.F.R.
§ 404.1567(a). Sedentary work is defined in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(a) as work
that involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasional lifting or
carrying up to 20 pounds. A sedentary job usually involves mostly sitting, but
may involve a certain amount of walking and standing, usually 2 hours out of
8 hours. Additionally, there should be no overhead reaching, no pushing and
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pulling with upper extremities, no climbing of ladders, stairs or balancing.
Occasional climbing of ramps and stairs, balancing, kneeling, crouching,
crawling, and stooping. The work should not have exposure to extreme heat
or extreme cold and no exposure to unprotected heights.
(R. at 28).
An ALJ is required to independently assess a claimant’s residual functional capacity
(“RFC”) “based upon all of the relevant evidence.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(3) (“We will
assess your residual functional capacity based on all of the relevant medical and other
evidence.”); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1546(c) (“Responsibility for assessing residual functional
capacity at the administrative law judge hearing ... level. If your case is at the administrative
law judge hearing level ..., the administrative law judge ... is responsible for assessing your
residual functional capacity.”) See also Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1440 (11th Cir.
1997) (“The residual functional capacity is an assessment, based upon all of the relevant
evidence, of a claimant’s remaining ability to do work despite his impairments.”). “Residual
functional capacity, or RFC, is a medical assessment of what the claimant can do in a work
setting despite any mental, physical or environmental limitations caused by the claimant’s
impairments and related symptoms. 20 C.F.R. § 416.945(a).” Peeler v. Astrue, 400 Fed.
Appx. 492, 494 n.2 (11th Cir. 2010).
The plaintiff argues, in essence, that the record must contain a residual functional
capacity determination by an examining or treating physician. However, the plaintiff’s
argument conflates the nature of residual functional capacity with the responsibility for
making the residual functional capacity determination. The Commissioner’s regulations
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clearly show who is responsible for making the residual functional capacity determination
when a case has reached the administrative law judge hearing.
If your case is at the administrative law judge hearing level or at the Appeals
Council review level, the administrative law judge or the administrative
appeals judge at the Appeals Council (when the Appeals Council makes a
decision) is responsible for assessing your residual functional capacity.
20 CFR § 404.1546.
But that observation does not end the enquiry. The essential question raised by the
plaintiff is whether it is necessary to have a residual functional capacity assessment by a
medical provider as part of the evidence which an ALJ must consider in reaching a
determination. In this case, the answer is no. The ALJ stated that he
considered all symptoms and the extent to which these symptoms can
reasonably be accepted as consistent with the objective medical evidence and
other evidence, based on the requirements of 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529 and SSRs
96-4p4 and 96-7p.5 The undersigned has also considered opinion evidence in
accordance with the requirements of 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527 and SSRs 96-2p,
96-5p, 96-6p, and 06-3p.6
(R. at 28)
Although Webb also complains that the only RFC in the record was completed by a
4
This Ruling clarifies the policy of the Social Security Administration on the evaluation of
symptoms in the adjudication of claims for disability benefits under title II and title XVI of the Social
Security Act.
5
This Ruling clarifies when the evaluation of symptoms, including pain, requires a finding about
the credibility of an individual and explains the factors to be considered in assessing the credibility of the
individual's statements about symptoms.
6
Generally, these Rulings describe how the Commissioner evaluates and uses medical source
opinions.
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non-examining state agency physician, the ALJ considered the opinion of the State Agency
physician, giving it great weight and noting that his opinion was “based upon the medical
evidence.” (R. 35) However, the ALJ also considered and gave great weight to the
claimant’s doctors and their assessments found in their treatment records
including those from Dr. Goldhagen, Dr. Holcombe, Dr. Davis, Dr. Law, Dr.
Michna, Dr. Champion and Dr. Hamo, and hospital physicians, as their
opinions are based upon their own examinations and treatment and are
generally consistent with each other and with the evidence as a whole.”
(R. at 35) See Edwards v. Sullivan, 937 F.2d 580, 584-85 (11th Cir.1991) (ALJ did not err
in relying on the opinion of a nonexamining physician where the physician’s opinion was
consistent with the opinions of examining physicians).
Webb has cited no evidence from the record to contradict the ALJ’s RFC
determination, and, as the ALJ noted, the opinions of Webb’s own treating physicians are
consistent with the opinion of the non-examining state agency physician. An ALJ is entitled
to rely on the opinion of a non-examining reviewing physician whose opinion is supported
by the record. See Sharfarz v. Bowen, 825 F.2d 278, 280 (11th Cir. 1987) (“The opinions of
non-examining, reviewing physicians, . . . when contrary to those of examining physicians,
are entitled to little weight in a disability case, and standing alone do not constitute
substantial evidence.” (emphasis added.)). See also Villa v. Sullivan, 895 F.2d 1019, 1024
(5th Cir.1990) (holding that an ALJ may rely on the assessment of a non-examining doctor
whose opinion is based on careful evaluation of the medical evidence, is not the sole medical
evidence upon which the ALJ relies, and is supported by or does not contradict the opinion
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of the examining doctor). In this case, the ALJ did not abandon his task of assessing Webb’s
residual functional capacity to the non-examining state agency physician, but, as required by
20 C.F.R. § 404.1546(c), the ALJ independently assessed Webb’s residual functional
capacity based on all of the evidence in the record. See Lewis, supra. It is further clear from
the context of the ALJ’s opinion, and from the record as a whole, that the ALJ relied on the
non-examining state agency physician’s RFC assessment only insofar as it coincided with
the medical records of the plaintiff’s own treating physicians as supported by the medical
records. The ALJ reviewed and considered all the medical evidence in the record in
determining Webb’s RFC. The court has independently considered the record as a whole and
finds that the record provides substantial support for the ALJ’s conclusions. Consequently,
the court concludes there was sufficient medical evidence before the ALJ from which he
properly could made a residual functional capacity assessment.
To the extent that Webb asserts that the ALJ’s RFC determination is flawed because
it does not include the severity of her headaches, she is entitled to no relief. It is undisputed
that Webb suffers from headaches.7 However, the medical records do not demonstrate that
the headaches are as severe as alleged.8 For example, Webb asserts that the headaches affect
7
The medical records demonstrate that Webb has been diagnosed with a brain lesion. On April 10,
2003, a MRI revealed a brain lesion. (R. 299). However, an October 30, 2008, MRI indicated “only very
mild enhancement,” with a minimal increase in size. (R. 481, 548). No doctor has determined that this brain
lesion is disabling.
8
It is unclear from her brief whether the plaintiff is arguing that the ALJ should have accepted her
testimony about her headaches and associated symptoms. What is clear, however, is that the plaintiff does
not challenge the ALJ’s credibility findings. Moreover, the ALJ had good cause to discount her testimony.
This court must accept the factual findings of the Commissioner if they are supported by substantial evidence
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her vision. (Doc. # 14 at 9). However, in 2003, she denied any visual problems including
blurred vision. (R. 315-16). On January 19, 2009, three days after the alleged onset date,
Webb complained of headaches but denied dizziness, double vision or other vision problems.
(R. 396-97). On March 3, 2009, Webb completed a medical history in which she noted
headaches but did not indicate any difficulties with her vision. (R. 635-36). On June 21,
2010, Webb again denied blurred vision or vision loss. (R. 661). Finally, on August 27,
2010, Webb was diagnosed with dry eyes but her vision was 20/20. (R. 676).
Lastly, Webb attempts to improperly shift to the Commissioner the burden of
establishing the evidentiary basis from which her residual functional capacity may be
determined. In the fourth step of the sequential analysis, the ALJ determines the claimant's
RFC and her ability to return to her past relevant work. Phillips, 357 F.3d at 1238. While
the ALJ has the responsibility to make a determination of plaintiff's RFC, it is plaintiff who
bears the burden of proving her RFC, i.e., she must establish through evidence that her
impairments result in functional limitations and that she was “disabled” under the Social
Security Act. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1512 (instructing claimant that the ALJ will consider “only
impairment(s) you say you have or about which we receive evidence” and “[y]ou must
provide medical evidence showing that you have an impairment(s) and how severe it is
during the time you say that you are disabled”). See also Pearsall v. Massanari, 274 F.3d
1211, 1217 (8th Cir. 2001) (it is claimant's burden to prove RFC, and ALJ's responsibility
and based upon the proper legal standards. Bridges v. Bowen, 815 F.2d 622 (11th Cir. 1987).
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to determine RFC based on medical records, observations of treating physicians and others,
and claimant's description of limitations). The ALJ was not required to secure a medical
source opinion about Webb’s residual functional capacity.
In support of her position, Webb relies on a case from another district for the
proposition that the Commissioner’s fifth-step burden must be supported by a residual
functional capacity assessment of a physician. See Doc. 14 at 10 (an ALJ cannot rely on the
opinion of a non-examining physician as evidence of the claimant’s RFC but “must be
supported by the residual functional capacity assessment of a treating physician or examining
physician.” citing Coleman v. Barnhart, 264 F.Supp.2d 1007, 1010 (S.D. Ala. 2003)).
But Coleman is most assuredly not the last word on this issue. In Packer v. Astrue,
___ F.3d ___, 2013 WL 593497 (S.D. Ala. Feb. 14, 2013), Chief Judge Granade rejected the
absolutism of Coleman, noting that “numerous court had upheld ALJ’s RFC determinations
notwithstanding the absence of an assessment performed by an examining or treating
physician.” Id. at *3. Like those other courts, this court rejects Coleman’s seemingly
mandatory requirement that the Commissioner’s fifth-step burden must be supported by an
RFC assessment of a physician.9 The ALJ had before him sufficient medical evidence from
which he could carry out his responsibility to make a reasoned determination of Webb’s
residual functional capacity. Thus, he was not required to secure from a medical source a
9
The court notes with dismay that the plaintiff failed to cite for the court the many cases which
disagree with Coleman v. Barnhart, 264 F.Supp.2d 1007, 1010 (S.D. Ala. 2003). Counsel is reminded of
his obligation of candor to the court.
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residual functional capacity assessment.
V. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the court concludes that the decision of the Commissioner
is due to be affirmed. A separate final judgment will be entered.
Done this 11th day of June, 2013.
/s/Charles S. Coody
CHARLES S. COODY
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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