Gunn v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner
Filing
15
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by US Magistrate Judge T Michael Putnam on 3/31/2014. (MSN)
FILED
2014 Apr-01 AM 08:45
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
MEEKA GUNN, o/b/o
D.E.C.-M., a minor child,
Plaintiff,
vs.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.
I.
Introduction
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2:13-cv-160-TMP
MEMORANDUM OPINION
The plaintiff, D.E.C.-M., a minor, appeals from the decision of the
Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (ACommissioner@) denying her
application for Children=s Supplemental Security Income (ASSI@).
1383(c).
See 42 U.S.C. '
The plaintiff, in the action brought by her mother,1 timely pursued and
exhausted her administrative remedies, and the decision of the Commissioner is ripe
for review pursuant to 42 U.S.C. '' 405(g), 1383(c)(3). Based upon the court=s review
of the record and the briefs submitted by the parties, the court finds that the decision
of the Commissioner is due to be affirmed.
1
The court will refer to the child, who is represented here by her mother, as the plaintiff.
Plaintiff=s mother will be referred to as Ms. Gunn.
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Plaintiff was a school-age child, 12 years old, at the time of the Administrative
Law Judge=s (AALJ@) decision. She claims to be disabled, beginning at age 7, because
of borderline intellectual functioning, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (AADHD@), and post traumatic stress disorder (APTSD@).
When evaluating the disability of a child under the Social Security Act, the child
must Ahave a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or combination
of impairments that cause marked and severe limitations, and that can be expected to
cause death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of
not less than 12 months.@ 20 C.F.R. ' 416.906.2 A physical or mental impairment is
defined as Aan impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, or
psychological abnormalities which are demonstrable by medically acceptable clinical
and laboratory diagnostic techniques.@ 20 C.F.R. ' 404.1508. In evaluating a child=s
claims, the regulations prescribe a three-step sequential evaluation process. See 20
C.F.R. ' 416.924(a); see e.g. Wilson v. Apfel, 179 F.3d 1276, 1277 n.1 (11th Cir. 1999);
Cole v. Barnhart, 436 F. Supp. 2d 1239, 1241 (N.D. Ala. 2006).
The first step requires a determination of whether the claimant is engaging in
Asubstantial gainful activity,@ which is defined as work activity that involves doing
2
There is no dispute that the plaintiff=s mental conditions have persisted for more than 12
months.
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significant physical or mental activities for pay or profit. 20 C.F.R. ' 416.972. If he or
she is, the claimant is not disabled and the evaluation stops. 20 C.F.R. ' 416.924(b).
At the second step, the ALJ must determined whether a child has a medically
determinable impairment or a combination of medical impairments that are Asevere.@
20 C.F.R. ' 416.924(c). ASevere@ requires that the child have a medically determinable
impairment or combination of impairments that are more substantial than a slight
abnormality that causes only minimal functional limitations. Id. If the claimant=s
impairments are not severe, the analysis stops. Id.
If the severity requirement is met, the analysis continues to step three, which
is a determination of whether the child=s impairments meet or equal the severity of an
impairment listed in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. 20 C.F.R. ''
416.924(d). If the claimant=s impairments meet a listing, he or she will be found
disabled without further consideration. Alternatively, if the child=s impairment or
combination of impairments functionally equal a listing, he or she will be declared
disabled. Id. In determining whether the impairments meet a listing, the ALJ must
consider the child=s functional capacity with regard to six domains. 3 20 C.F.R. '
3
A domain is a broad area of functioning. The six domains considered are: (1) acquiring and
using information; (2) attending and completing tasks; (3) interacting and relating to others; (4)
moving about and manipulating objects; (5) caring for yourself; and (6) health and physical wellbeing. 20 C.F.R. ' 416.926a(b)(i)-(vi).
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416.926a. To functionally equal a listing, the child=s impairment or combination of
impairments must result in Amarked@ limitations in two of the domains or an
Aextreme@ limitation in one domain. 20 C.F.R. ' 416.926a(d). A Amarked@ limitation
is one that Ainterferes seriously with [the child=s] ability to independently initiate,
sustain, or complete activities.@
20 C.F.R. ' 416.926a(e)(2)(i).
It is Amore than
moderate@ but Aless than extreme@ and is equivalent to the functioning one Awould
expect to find on standardized testing with scores that are at least two, but less than
three, standard deviations below the mean.@ Id. An Aextreme@ limitation is one that
Ainterferes very seriously with [the child=s] ability to independently initiate, sustain, or
complete activities.@ 20 C.F.R. ' 416.926a(e)(3)(i). A finding of Aextreme@ limitation
requires a limitation that is Amore than marked@ and is Athe equivalent of the
functioning [one] would expect to find on standardized testing with scores that are at
least three standard deviations below the mean.@ Id. In assessing whether the child
has a Amarked@ or Aextreme@ limitation or combination of limitations, the ALJ must
consider the functional limitations from all medically determinable impairments,
including impairments that are not severe. 20 C.F.R. ' 416.926a(a). The ALJ must
consider the interactive and cumulative effects of the child=s impairment or
combination of impairments in any affected domain. 20 C.F.R. ' 416.926a(c). The
regulations recognize that an impairment or combination of impairments may have
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an effect in more than one domain; thus, the SSA evaluates a child=s impairments in
any domain in which they cause limitations. 20 C.F.R. at ' 416.926a(c).
Applying the sequential evaluation process, the ALJ found that plaintiff has not
engaged in substantial gainful activity and has a combination of severe impairments
that satisfies step two of the analysis. (Tr. at 28). The ALJ found that plaintiff=s
borderline intellectual functioning and her ADHD were Asevere.@ However, he found
that these impairments neither meet nor medically equal any of the listed impairments
in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. (Tr. at 29). He noted that Ano treating
or examining physician has mentioned findings equivalent in severity to the criteria of
any listed impairment@ and that Aneither the claimant nor her attorney contend so.@
(Tr. at 29). The ALJ further found that the impairments did not functionally equal the
listings of 20 C.F.R. ' 416.924(d) and 926(a). In examining the six domains, the ALJ
determined that the plaintiff had Aless than marked limitation in acquiring and using
information,@ based upon his examination of her school records, showing that her
grades had progressed with treatment and that she was able to do well when given
time to complete her work. (Tr. at 32). He further found that she showed Aless than
marked limitation in attending and completing tasks,@ relying upon the reported
improvements in her school performance and behavior. (Tr. at 33). The ALJ found
that plaintiff had Aless than marked limitation@ in her interactions with others, noting
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that her family therapy and her medication helped her to control her behavioral
problems. (Tr. at 34). The ALJ further determined that plaintiff had no limitations in
Amoving about and manipulating objects,@ and Acaring for [her]self,@ and had not
made any such allegations. (Tr. at 34). The ALJ thus determined that the claimant
had not been disabled, as defined in the relevant Social Security law and regulations,
since the date the application was filed.
II.
Standard of Review
This Court=s role in reviewing claims brought under the Social Security Act is a
narrow one. The scope of its review is limited to determining (1) whether there is
substantial evidence in the record as a whole to support the findings of the
Commissioner, and (2) whether the correct legal standards were applied.
See
Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 390, 401 (1971); Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219,
1221 (11th Cir. 2002). 4 Substantial evidence is "more than a scintilla and is such
relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a
conclusion." Crawford v. Commissioner of Soc. Sec., 363 F3d 1155, 1158 (11th Cir. 2004),
quoting Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1439-40 (11th Cir. 1997).
4
The Court
The legal standards applied are the same regardless of whether a claimant seeks Disability
Insurance Benefits (ADIB@) or SSI under the Act. However, separate, parallel statutes and
regulations exist for DIB and SSI claims. Citations in this opinion that may relate to DIB claims
should be considered to refer to the appropriate parallel SSI related authority. The same applies to
citations of statutes or regulations found in quoted court decisions.
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approaches the factual findings of the Commissioner with deference, but applies close
scrutiny to the legal conclusions. See Miles v. Chater, 84 F.3d 1397, 1400 (11th Cir.
1996). The Court may not decide facts, weigh evidence, or substitute its judgment for
that of the Commissioner.
Id.
AThe substantial evidence standard permits
administrative decision makers to act with considerable latitude, and >the possibility of
drawing two inconsistent conclusions from the evidence does not prevent an
administrative agency=s finding from being supported by substantial evidence.=@ Parker
v. Bowen, 793 F.2d 1177, 1181 (11th Cir. 1986) (Gibson, J., dissenting) (quoting Consolo
v. Federal Mar. Comm=n, 383 U.S. 607, 620 (1966)). Indeed, even if this Court finds that
the evidence preponderates against the Commissioner=s decision, the Court must
affirm if the decision is supported by substantial evidence. Miles, 84 F.3d at 1400. No
decision is automatic, however, for Adespite this deferential standard [for review of
claims] it is imperative that the Court scrutinize the record in its entirety to determine
the reasonableness of the decision reached.@ Bridges v. Bowen, 815 F.2d 622, 624 (11th
Cir. 1987). Moreover, failure to apply the correct legal standards is grounds for
reversal. See Bowen v. Heckler, 748 F.2d 629, 635 (11th Cir. 1984).
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III.
Discussion
Ms. Gunn alleges that the ALJ=s decision should be reversed and remanded
because, she asserts, the ALJ's decision regarding severe impairments and functional
equivalence are not supported by substantial evidence. (Doc. 12, p. 5). Specifically,
she argues that the ALJ failed to comply with SSR 09-1p by failing to consider the
Awhole child,@ and that he failed to properly credit the opinion of one of the child=s
teachers and the report of the consultative psychologist. (Doc. 12, pp. 5-7).
The Court must also be aware of the fact that opinions such as whether a
plaintiff is disabled are not A medical opinions, . . . but are, instead, opinions on issues
reserved to the Commissioner because they are administrative findings that are
dispositive of a case; i.e., that would direct the determination or decision of disability.@
20 C.F.R. '' 404.1527(e), 416.927(d). Whether the plaintiff meets the listing and is
qualified for Supplemental Security Income benefits is a question reserved for the
ALJ, and the court Amay not decide facts anew, reweigh the evidence, or substitute [its]
judgment for that of the Commissioner.@ Dyer v. Barnhart, 395 F.3d 1206, 1210 (11th
Cir. 2005).
A. Weight Given to Dr. Lowery=s Report
At the request of the Social Security Administration, claimant underwent a
consultative psychological examination performed by Dr. Dan Lowery. Claimant=s
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mother reported to Dr. Lowery that she had Adepression and bipolar disorder and
has difficulty getting along with boys.@ (Tr. at 238). She further reported that the
child was disruptive in class, was verbally aggressive with siblings, cried, was moody,
had difficulty sleeping, had a poor appetite, and was unable to concentrate. Id. She
further reported that her daughter had been sexually abused at age 7 by the mother=s
boyfriend, and that she had lived with relatives and in foster homes for a few years
after that until the mother regained custody. Id. The claimant also described to Dr.
Lowery manic episodes, frequent nightmares, and flashbacks. Id. She reported that
she took Focalin and Seroquel, and that she was compliant, although she had not
taken her medication the day of the interview. (Tr. at 239). Dr. Lowery noted that, at
the interview, plaintiff was appropriately groomed, was Aattentive and cooperative,@
coped well when her mother refused to let her play games in the waiting room, and
showed a Astable@ mood. (Tr. at 239-40).
Dr. Lowery found the claimant to be well-oriented to time, place and person,
but noted that her concentration and attention Awere difficult to assess.@ He noted
that she was able to answer some basic arithmetic problems, but had problems with
questions regarding making change. Her memory was normal, her Ageneral fund of
information@ was consistent with her level of education, and her thought process was
Alogical, coherent, and goal-directed.@ (Tr. at 240). Dr. Lowery administered the
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Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, a widely used IQ test, and found her
cooperative but hyperactive. She received a full-scale IQ score of 68. (Tr. at 241).
Dr. Lowery noted that she likely would have scored higher had she taken her
medication that day, and further noted that Aadaptive functioning testing is required to
diagnosis MMR; borderline functioning is suspected.@ (Tr. at 241).
Dr. Lowery=s diagnostic impressions, based upon the interview and test, were
that she had ADHD, with PTSD suspected, along with Arule out@ findings as to
bipolar disorder and mild mental retardation. 5
He further noted that she had
academic and behavioral problems, and he assigned to her a Global Assessment of
Functioning (AGAF@) score of 50. Id.
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has noted that the GAF scale is of very
limited application to a disability finding in that the score has no Adirect correlation to
the severity requirements of the mental disorders listing.@ Wind v. Barnhart, 133 Fed.
Appx. 684, 692 (2005)(in which the claimant=s score was 50-55). See also, Oates v.
Astrue, 2009 WL 1154133 *6-7 (S.D. Ala. April 27, 2009)(in which the claimant was
5
A Arule out@ diagnosis indicates that the medical provider found information to suggest
such a disorder, but had insufficient information to diagnose it. A Asuspected@ diagnosis indicates
that there is more information to support a diagnosis than when the Arule out@diagnosis, is used; but
there is not enough information to decisively state that the patient has the disorder or disease.
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given one score as low as 25).
Another court within this district has examined the
importance to be placed on a GAF of 50:
The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale is used to
report an individual's overall level of functioning. Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 30 (4th Edition) (ADSMBIV@). A
GAF of 41B50 indicates: A[s]erious symptoms (e.g., suicidal ideation,
severe obsessional rituals, frequent shoplifting) or any serious
impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., no
friends, unable to keep a job).@ DSMBIV at 32. Several courts of appeal
have, in unpublished or nonprecedential opinions, considered the impact
of a claimant's GAF score of 50 or below. The courts generally find that
a GAF score of 50 or below is not in and of itself determinative of
disability. See Hillman v.Barnhart, 48 Fed.Appx. 26, 30, n.1 (3d Cir.
2002)(not precedential)(noting that a GAF of 50 would indicate a
claimant could perform some substantial gainful activity); Rutter v.
Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 91 F.3d 144 (Table), 1996 WL 397424 at *2 (6th
Cir.1996)(unpublished opinion)(exclusive reliance on GAF score not
appropriate); Roemmick v. Shalala, 59 F.3d 176 (Table), 1995 WL 299894
at *2, n. 1 (9th Cir. 1995)(noting that an inability to work is only one
example of the level of adaptation meriting a GAF of 40); Seymore v.
Apfel, 131 F.3d 152 (Table), 1997 WL 755386 at *2 (10th Cir.
1997)(AContrary to claimant's contention, a GAF rating of 45 may
indicate problems that do not necessarily relate to the ability to hold a
job; thus standing alone without further narrative explanation, the rating
of 45 does not evidence an impairment seriously interfering with
claimant's ability to work.@); Stalvey v. Apfel, 242 F.3d 390 (Table), 2001
WL 50747 at *2 (10th Cir.1999)(AThe GAF is not an absolute determiner
of ability to work.@). But cf. Lloyd v. Barnhart, 47 Fed. Appx. 135, 135, n.2
(3rd Cir. 2002)(not precedential) (noting that a vocational expert at the
administrative hearing testified that a GAF of 50 or lower would indicate
claimant would not be able to keep a job).
Jones v. Astrue, 494 F. Supp. 2d 1284, 1289 (N.D. Ala. 2007).
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In this case, the claimant=s attorney argues that the ALJ findings are
inconsistent with Dr. Lowery=s GAF score, which the attorney argues indicates
Aserious symptoms including suicidal ideation and/or serious impairment in school
functioning.@ Dr. Lowery=s report, however, did not find that the child had any
suicidal ideation. To the contrary, he noted that her Athought process appeared
logical, coherent, and goal-directed,@ and that she Adenied experiencing depressive
cognitions.@ (Tr. at 240). The ALJ noted that Dr. Lowery=s findings were Aconsistent
with the record as a whole,@ giving Aconsiderable weight@ to the finding, except that he
did not credit the IQ score. (Tr. at 31). He noted that Dr. Lowery opined that the
claimant had not taken her medication, which was prescribed to treat her ADHD. He
further noted that Dr. Lowery stated that claimant=s test scores likely would have been
higher had she taken her medication. The ALJ explained that his assessment of the
claimant=s IQ was worthy of Ano weight@ both because Dr. Lowery noted the
hyperactivity on that date and because an IQ test given a month later resulted in a
considerably higher score of 75. (Tr. at 31).
In light of the entire record, the court finds that the ALJ properly assessed the
report of Dr. Lowery, and that his finding regarding the weight to be given to that
report was supported by substantial evidence.
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B. Weight Given to Ms. Langford=s Assessment
Counsel further asserts that the ALJ=s functional equivalence findings Aconflict
with the opinion offered by the school.@ (Doc. 12, p. 6). Specifically, the plaintiff
asserts that the ALJ failed to place sufficient weight on the questionnaire submitted by
a teacher, Kimyum Langford. (Tr. at 144-151). Because Ms. Langford=s assessment
was inconsistent with other evidence in the record, counsel argues that the ALJ
should have sought the opinion of a Amedical expert with expertise in mental health.@
(Doc. 12, p. 10).
It is true that the ALJ gave Ano significant@ weight to Ms. Langford=s notations
assigning Aserious to very serious problems in Domains I, II, and III,@ (Tr. at 30). He
noted, however, that Ms. Langford had known the claimant for only 12 days. Prior to
the report by Ms. Langford, the claimant=s academic performance had been fair, and
her record of disruptive behavior, as reflected in suspensions, had improved.
Claimant=s report card from a month before Ms. Langford=s assessment showed that
the claimant had received one A, three Bs, five Cs, and two Ds. (Tr. at 179). Her
grades before transferring to the school where Langford taught were one A, six Bs,
and one C. (Tr. at 186). Her attendance record was generally good.
The ALJ properly considered Ms. Langford=s report, and provided a detailed
analysis and reasoning for according to it Ano significant weight.@ He further
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considered all of the other academic and medical records, including the disability
evaluation form prepared by Lee Blackmon, M.D. The ALJ simply found that, based
upon all the evidence, the claimant=s conditions are not so severe as to render her
disabled.
Although claimant argues that the ALJ had a duty to further develop the
record, such supplementation is not required where the record contains sufficient
evidence from which the ALJ may make an informed decision. Ingram v. Commissioner
of Soc. Sec., 496 F.3d 1253, 1269 (11th Cir. 2007). The ALJ=s failure to seek an opinion
from yet another mental health expert, having already considered the opinions of Dr.
Lowery, Dr. Blackmon, and the plaintiff=s treating physicians and therapists, provides
no basis for the remand or reversal of his decision.
C. Severity of Claimant=s medical conditions
The plaintiff further argues that the ALJ failed to properly find that the
claimants PTSD was sufficiently severe. The medical evidence provided, and the
ALJ=s discussion, indicate that the ALJ properly evaluated plaintiff=s mental and
psychological conditions. Although Dr. Lowery diagnosed Asuspected@ PTSD, the
only symptoms reported to Dr. Lowery, or otherwise present in the medical records,
are trouble sleeping, nightmares, and flashbacks to the abuse. The nightmares and
trouble sleeping could not be determined to be highly problematic in light of Ms.
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Gunn=s report that her daughter sleeps more than 9 hours per night. Dr. Kahn, a
treating physician, had noted that plaintiff was sleeping better after she was prescribed
Seroquel. There is nothing in the evidence made part of this record that suggest that
the PTSD caused any symptoms more severe than nightmares and flashbacks, or that
the nightmares or flashbacks had any significant effects on the child=s functioning.
The ALJ relied upon records from Drs. Lowery, Blackmon, and Kahn to support his
conclusion that the child was progressing in both academics and behavior, was
receiving medications that helped her, and was successfully participating in mental
health counseling and family therapy. The ALJ further relied upon plaintiff=s own
testimony that her daughter did her homework, helped with chores at home, read,
and had improved with medication and counseling.
Accordingly, the ALJ=s
determination is supported by substantial evidence.
The decision was both
comprehensive and consistent with the applicable SSA rulings. The objective medical
and other evidence supports the ALJ=s conclusion that claimant=s conditions did not
cause disabling limitations.
C. Application of the Correct Legal Standard
Ms. Gunn asserts that the ALJ applied improper legal standards in assessing
plaintiff=s disability. The proper legal framework for determining whether a child is
disabled is set forth supra.
The ALJ applied the proper legal methodology in
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concluding that the plaintiff is not disabled within the meaning of the Social Security
Act. The ALJ first found that plaintiff has never been employed, satisfying the first
element.
The ALJ then found that plaintiff has severe impairments, as required at
the second step. Then he determined that plaintiff=s impairments neither meet,
medically equal, nor functionally equal an impairment listed by the Secretary. (Tr. at
28-29). Because the ALJ appropriately applied the statutory disability framework for
children and correctly considered the requirements needed to find a functional
equivalent to a listing, he did not err in making his determination that plaintiff was
not disabled.
IV.
Conclusion
Upon review of the administrative record, and considering all of Ms. Gunn=s
arguments, the Court finds the Commissioner=s decision is supported by substantial
evidence and is in accord with the applicable law. A separate order will be entered.
DATED the 31st day of March, 2014.
T. MICHAEL PUTNAM
U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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