Lockhart v. Colvin

Filing 15

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER directing that the court concludes that this case is due to be reversed and remanded to the Commissioner for further proceedings consistent with this opinion; further ORDERED that in accordance with Bergen v. Comm'r, of Soc. Sec., 454 F. 3d 1273, 1278 fn. 2 (11th Cir. 2006), the plaintiff shall have ninety (90) days after she receives notice of any amount of past due benefits awarded to seek attorney's fees under 42 U.S.C. 406 (b).. Signed by Honorable Judge Terry F. Moorer on March 31, 2015. (scn, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
EASTERN DIVISION
JACQUELINE J. LOCKHART

)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
)
Acting Commissioner of Social Security, )
)
Defendant.
)

CASE NO. 3:13-cv-679-TFM
[wo]

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Jacqueline Lockhart (APlaintiff@ or ALockhart@) applied for disability insurance
benefits (ADIB@) under Title II of the Social Security Act (Athe Act@), 42 U.S.C. §§ 401 et
seq., on August 11, 2011 alleging that she became disabled on July 1, 2011 (Tr. 102). The
application was denied at the lower levels of determination. Upon a timely request, Lockhart
provided testimony at an administrative hearing held on January 28, 2013. The hearing was
held before the Honorable Maria Kusznir, U.S. Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”).
Lockhart received a fully favorable decision from the ALJ on May 6, 2013 (Tr. 11).
In her decision, the ALJ determined that Lockhart had not engaged in substantial
gainful activity at any time relevant to her decision. (Tr. 17). The ALJ found that Lockhart
suffered from the following medically severe impairment: obesity, pituitary tumor removal,
migraine headaches, hypertension, depression and cognitive disorder. Despite her medically
severe impairments, the ALJ concluded that Lockhart did “not have an impairment or
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combination of impairments that meets or medically equals one of the listed impairments in
20 CFC Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 (20 CFR 404.1520(d), 404.1525 and 404.1526)”
(Tr. 19).
Next, the ALJ determined that Lockhart had the following residual functional
capacity:
[T]o perform light work as defined in 20 CFR 404.1567(b) but she
cannot walk more than two hours in a day. From a mental perspective, the
claimant has the residual functional capacity to understand and recall simple
material but could not process detailed or complex information. The claimant
could execute simple one or two step commands, but could not follow detailed
or complex serial instructions. The claimant would show irritable
distractibility if required work in very close proximity to numerous others, but
effect would fade with exposure. The claimant’s contacts with the general
public in work situations should be brief, superficial and infrequent. The
claimant could be expected to respond adequately to direct, nonconfrontational supervision. The claimant could adapt to simple, gradual,
well-explained workplace changes. However, due to the combination of
physical (obesity, migraines, blood pressure irregularities, pituitary tumor
residuals, hormonal imbalances) and mental issues, she cannot sustain a 40hour workweek on a regular and continuing basis and would require more than
three breaks a day and more than two absences a month.
(Tr. 20).
Based upon the above RFC, the ALJ found that Lockhart was unable to perform any
of her past relevant work. (Tr. 22). The ALJ also found that Lockhart did not have any
acquired job skills that would transfer to other occupations within the RFC defined above.
Based on the testimony of the vocational expert, the ALJ held that considering Lockhart’s
“age, education, work experience, and residual functional capacity, there [were] no jobs that
exist in significant numbers in the national economy that [she could] perform” (Tr. 22). The
ALJ also found “that, considering the claimant’s age, education, work experience and
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residual functional capacity, a finding of “disabled” is appropriate.” (Tr. 23). As such, the
ALJ determined that Lockhart had been under a disability as defined by the Social Security
Act since July 1, 2001, the alleged onset date of disability (Tr. 23).
On July 1, 2013, however, Lockhart received a Notice of Appeals Council Action
indicating that it was reviewing the ALJ’s fully favorable decision and proposed to find that
she was not disabled (Tr. 95-99). Thereafter, Lockhart received Notice of Appeal Council
Decision Unfavorable dated August 28, 2013. In its decision, the Appeals Council found in
pertinent part, as follows:
The Administrative Law Judge found that the claimant can perform
light work as defined in 20 CFR 404.1567(b), with additional non-exertional
limitations that include, in pertinent part, that due to the combination of
physical and mental issues, she cannot sustain a 40-hour workweek on a
regular and continuing basis and would require more than three breaks a day
and more than two absences a month (Finding 5). She then found that the
claimant was disabled under the framework of Medical-Vocational Rule
202.21, 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2 (Finding 10). Upon careful
review of the entire record, including an audit of the hearing, we conclude that
substantial evidence does not support the decision.
Substantial evidence does not support the finding that the claimant
cannot sustain a 40-hour workweek on a regular and continuing basis, that she
would require more than three breaks a day, and that she would have more
than two absences a month. The hearing decision gave substantial weight to
the November 2, 2011, psychological consultative examination performed by
Lee Stutts, Ph.D. (Exhibits 10F and Decision, page 7). During the
examination with Dr. Stutts, the claimant reported that she has not felt the
same since her surgical procedure to remove a pituitary tumor (Exhibit 10f,
page 2). On examination, the claimant presented with a restricted affect and
reported some depressive symptoms (Exhibit 10F, pages 102). She was unable
to recall the day or date, perform serial 7s, or make change (Exhibit 10F, page
2). Dr. Stutts estimated the claimant’s IQ to be low average to borderline
(Exhibit 10F, page 3). This assessment is consistent with a September 10,
1980 administration of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Revised,
that assessed the claimant with a Full Scale IQ of 76 (Exhibit 1F, page 4).
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The decision also gave great weight to the November 22, 2011, mental
residual functional capacity assessment by the State agency psychiatric
consultant Samuel Williams, M.D. (Exhibit 12F and Decision page 7). Dr.
Williams’ assessment was largely consistent with the residual functional
capacity in the decision, except it did not include the limitation that the
claimant could not sustain a 40-hour workweek, that she would require three
breaks a day and that she would be absent for than twice a month (Exhibit 12
F, page 3). Dr. Williams did opine that the claimant would miss one day of
work per month because of her mental impairments (Exhibit 12 F, page 3). A
review of the record does not reveal any treatment for her mental impairments,
which is consistent with the claimant’s report to Dr. Stutts that she went to a
mental health clinic a month earlier, but did not obtain an appointment (Exhibit
10F, page 1). Additionally, the decision does not provide any rationale
supporting the greater limitations and specifically stated with respect to the
assessment of Dr. Williams that “the evidence received into the record after the
initial determination did not provide any new or material information that
would significantly alter findings about the claimant’s functional limitations”
(Decision, page 7). Accordingly, we adopt the mental residual functional
capacity assessment completed by Dr. Williams and the limitation to light
work assessed by the Administrative Law Judge in the decision.
(Tr. 4-5). As a result, the Appeals Council’s decision became the final decision of the
Commissioner of Social Security (ACommissioner@). Id. Lockhart appeals from the
Commissioner’s final decision and has exhausted all administrative remedies. 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 REVERSES and
REMANDS the Commissioner=s decision.
I. NATURE OF THE CASE
Lockhart seeks judicial review of the Commissioner=s decision denying her
application for disability insurance benefits. United States District Courts may conduct
limited review of such decisions to determine whether they comply with applicable law and

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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).
AThe 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 C
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 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.
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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 Amay not decide facts anew, reweigh the evidence, or
substitute [its] judgment for that of the [Commissioner],@ but rather it Amust 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).
III. STATUTORY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
The Social Security Act=s general disability insurance benefits program (ADIB@)
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 (ASSI@) is a separate and

1

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
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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 Adisability@ 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 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 Aphysical 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).

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
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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 Anot 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 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

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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 Guidelines 4 (Agrids@) 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
ADisabled@ or ANot Disabled.@ Id.
VI. ISSUES
Lockhart raises a single issue for review:
(1) Whether the Commissioner’s decision should be reversed and benefits awarded
due to the unrebutted pain standard finding entered by the ALJ which credited Lockhart’s
pain and other subjective symptoms. See Doc 12 at p.5.
VII. ANALYSIS
Plaintiff argues that that the Commissioner’s decision should be reversed and benefits
awarded due to the unrebutted pain standard finding entered by the ALJ which credited
Lockhart’s pain and other subjective symptoms testimony. The Eleventh Circuit has
established a three-part pain standard which applies when a claimant asserts disability
through testimony of pain or other subjective symptoms. That standard requires 1) evidence
This subpart is also referred to as Athe Listing of Impairments@ or Athe Listings.@
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).
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3
4

of an underlying medical condition, and either 2) objective medical evidence confirming the
severity of the alleged pain arising from that condition or 3) that the objectively determined
medical condition is of such a severity that it can reasonably be expected to cause the alleged
pain. Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553, 1560 (11th Cir. 1995).

The Court has carefully

reviewed the opinion of the Appeals Council and observes that the pain standard is not
discussed in the opinion (Tr. 4-7). Nor is there any discussion by the Appeals Council of the
Plaintiff’s credibility. Id. at 1562 (citing Smallwood v. Schwieker, 681 F.2d 1349, 1352
(11th Cir.1982) (“[a] lack of explicit credibility finding becomes a ground for remand when
credibility is critical to the outcome of the case.”) . On this basis alone the court concludes
that this case is due to be remanded for further consideration of Plaintiff’s testimony of pain
and application of the pain standard.
Indeed, it is the function of the Commissioner, and not the courts, to resolve conflicts
in the evidence and to assess the credibility of the witnesses. Savor v. Shalala, 868 F. Supp.
1363, 1366 (M.D. Fla. 1994). This Court has recognized that
[i]n Social Security cases, claimants allege disability. At the administrative level,
their benefits, and their livelihoods, in essence, may have been denied. When sitting with
their families and their lawyers to determine the bases for denial of benefits, they are
entitled to know and understand, with a reasonable certainty, the reasons for the
denial. The ALJ’s opinion in this case does not adequately address that entitlement.
Moreover, the ALJ is required to explain his findings explicitly not just for the claimant’s
benefit. Clear and specific findings are also the sine qua non of effective review in this
court.
Cook v. Barnhart, 347 F. Supp. 2d 1125, 1132 (M.D. Ala. 2004). In this instance the
Appeals Council has wholly failed to perform its function.

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In her decision, the ALJ found that Lockhart’s “medically determinable impairments
could reasonably be expected to produce the alleged symptoms, and that [her] statements
concerning the intensity, persistence and limiting effects of these symptoms [were] generally
credible” (Tr. 20). (Emphasis added). In so holding, the ALJ provided detailed rationale
writing that:
Social Security Ruling 96-7p authorizes me to make and consider personal
observations before rendering a decision, and I note that I observed the claimant’s statements
of record and her hearing testimony to be honest and candid; spontaneous; straightforward;
responsive to questions presented; sincere; and generally consistent with her medical
history, including the evidence noted above.
(Tr. 21). (Emphasis added).
The court also concludes that the ALJ specifically determined that Lockhart’s
medically severe impairments could be reasonably expected to produce the alleged symptoms
and that Lockhart’s statements regarding the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects were
generally credible.

In support of such finding, the ALJ provided detailed rationale

articulating how her credibility finding was supported by both the evidentiary record and
Social Security Ruling 96-7p (Tr. 18-22). Indeed, the Court concludes after a close reading
of the ALJ’s opinion and an independent review of the record, that the ALJ properly
exercised her regulatory discretion and credited Lockhart’s testimony of pain and other
subjective symptoms and included the effects caused thereby into her RFC finding (Tr. 20).
See Holt v. Sullivan, 921 F.2d 1221, 1223 (11th Cir. 1991) (the ALJ has discretion to
determine whether or not the claimant’s complaints of pain or other subjective symptoms are
credible.)
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The Commissioner argues that the residual functional capacity finding made by the
Appeals Council is supported by substantial evidence. Specifically, the Commissioner argues
that its RFC is supported by testimony of Dr. Williams, the state agency psychiatrist and Dr.
Stutts, the examining psychologist. Because neither of these doctors found that plaintiff was
disabled, the Commissioner argues its RFC is supported by substantial evidence. This
argument, however, totally ignores the Plaintiff’s testimony of her depression and cognitive
disorder and other severe impairments which the ALJ credited.

(Tr. 18-19).

The

Commissioner argues, in essence, that since Dr. Williams considered all of Plaintiff’s
subjective complaints, when he opined that Plaintiff could perform work within certain
mental functional limitations, that this somehow absolved the Commissioner from applying
the pain standard and making credibility findings. The Commissioner further implicitly
argues that the medical opinions of record also relieved the Commissioner from explaining
why the ALJ erred in finding Plaintiff’s testimony credible and why the ALJ’s findings of
additional functional limitations were erroneous. This argument is not supported by law. See
Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d at 1560.
Accordingly, the court concludes that remand to the Appeals Council is proper for the
Commissioner to fully consider the Plaintiff’s testimony, make findings of credibility, and
apply the pain standard in accordance with Foote v. Chater, id., and to more fully explain its
reasons for discounting the ALJ’s findings as to Plaintiff’s RFC.

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VIII. CONCLUSION
Accordingly, the court concludes that this case is due to be reversed and remanded
to the Commissioner for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. It is ORDERED
that in accordance with Bergen v. Comm=r, of Soc. Sec., 454 F. 3d 1273, 1278 fn. 2 (11th Cir.
2006), the plaintiff shall have ninety (90) days after she receives notice of any amount of
past due benefits awarded to seek attorney=s fees under 42 U.S.C. ' 406 (b). See also Blitch
v. Astrue, 261 Fed. Appx. 241, 242 fn. 1 (11th Cir. 2008).
A separate order shall accompany this opinion.
DONE this 31st day of March, 2015.
/s/ Terry F. Moorer
TERRY F. MOORER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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