Craig v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner
Filing
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MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Magistrate Judge John H England, III on 9/29/2016. (KEK)
FILED
2016 Sep-29 PM 01:14
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
GARY CARL CRAIG,
Plaintiff,
v.
COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION,
Defendant.
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Case Number: 2:15-cv-00880-JHE
MEMORANDUM OPINION1
Plaintiff Gary Carl Craig (“Craig”) seeks review, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), §
205(g) of the Social Security Act, of a final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security
Administration (“Commissioner”), denying his application for supplemental security income
(SSI). (Doc. 11). Craig timely pursued and exhausted his administrative remedies. This case is
therefore ripe for review under 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3). The undersigned has carefully
considered the record and, for the reasons stated below, the Commissioner’s decision is
AFFIRMED.
I. Factual and Procedural History
Craig filed his Title XVI application for SSI on January 19, 2012, alleging he became
unable to work beginning January 2, 1995. (Tr. 171-176). Craig was a forty-two year old male
with an eleventh grade education and past relevant work as a painter. (Tr. 56, 67, 201). The
Agency initially denied Craig’s application, and Craig requested a hearing where he appeared on
1
In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 73, the parties have voluntarily consented to have a United States Magistrate Judge
conduct any and all proceedings, including trial and the entry of final judgment. (Doc. 9).
September 6, 2013. (Tr. 39, 83). After the hearing, the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”)
denied Craig’s claim on November 12, 2013. (Tr. 18-27). Craig sought review by the Appeals
Council, but it declined his request on March 24, 2015. (Tr. 1-6). On that date, the ALJ’s
decision became the final decision of the Commissioner. On October 28, 2015, Craig initiated
this action. ( Doc. 11).
II. Standard of Review2
The court’s review of the Commissioner’s decision is narrowly circumscribed. The
function of this Court is to determine whether the decision of the Commissioner is supported by
substantial evidence and whether proper legal standards were applied. Richardson v. Perales,
402 U.S. 389, 390 (1971); Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219, 1221 (11th Cir. 2002). This Court
must “scrutinize the record as a whole to determine if the decision reached is reasonable and
supported by substantial evidence.” Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th Cir.
1983). Substantial evidence is “such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as
adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. It is “more than a scintilla, but less than a preponderance.”
Id.
This Court must uphold factual findings supported by substantial evidence. However, it
reviews the ALJ’s legal conclusions de novo because no presumption of validity attaches to the
ALJ’s determination of the proper legal standards to be applied. Davis v. Shalala, 985 F.2d 528,
531 (11th Cir. 1993). If the court finds an error in the ALJ’s application of the law, or if the ALJ
fails to provide the court with sufficient reasoning for determining the proper legal analysis has
2
In general, the legal standards applied are the same whether a claimant seeks Disability
Insurance Benefits (“DIB”) or Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”). However, separate,
parallel statutes and regulations exist for DIB and SSI claims. Therefore, citations in this opinion
should be considered to refer to the appropriate parallel provision as context dictates. The same
applies to citations for statutes or regulations found in quoted court decisions.
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been conducted, it must reverse the ALJ’s decision. Cornelius v. Sullivan, 936 F.2d 1143, 114546 (11th Cir. 1991).
III. Statutory and Regulatory Framework
To qualify for supplemental security income and establish his or her entitlement for a
period of disability, a claimant must be disabled as defined by the Social Security Act and the
Regulations promulgated thereunder.3 The Regulations define “disabled” as “the inability to do
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 twelve (12) months.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1505(a). To
establish entitlement to disability benefits, a claimant must provide evidence of a “physical or
mental impairment” which “must result from anatomical, physiological, or psychological
abnormalities which can be shown by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic
techniques.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1508.
The Regulations provide a five-step process for determining whether a claimant is
disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(i-v). The Commissioner must determine in sequence:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
whether the claimant is currently employed;
whether the claimant has a severe impairment;
whether the claimant’s impairment meets or equals an impairment listed
by the [Commissioner];
whether the claimant can perform his or her past work; and
whether the claimant is capable of performing any work in the national
economy.
Pope v. Shalala, 998 F.2d 473, 477 (7th Cir. 1993) (citing to the formerly applicable C.F.R.
section), overruled on other grounds by Johnson v. Apfel, 189 F.3d 561, 562-63 (7th Cir. 1999);
accord McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026, 1030 (11th Cir. 1986). “Once the claimant has
3
The “Regulations” promulgated under the Social Security Act are listed in 20 C.F.R.
Parts 400 to 499.
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satisfied steps One and Two, she will automatically be found disabled if she suffers from a listed
impairment. If the claimant does not have a listed impairment but cannot perform her work, the
burden shifts to the [Commissioner] to show that the claimant can perform some other job.”
Pope, 998 F.2d at 477; accord Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553, 1559 (11th Cir. 1995). The
Commissioner must further show such work exists in the national economy in significant
numbers. Id.
IV. Findings of the Administrative Law Judge
After consideration of the entire record and application of the sequential evaluation
process, the ALJ made the following findings:
At Step One, the ALJ found Craig had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since
the application date of January 19, 2012. (Tr. 23). At Step Two, the ALJ found Craig had the
medically determinable impairment of a status post stab wound to the neck but concluded the
impairment was not severe enough to hinder his ability to perform basic work related activities.
(Id.). The ALJ determined that, despite Craig’s alleged back and leg pain from a gunshot wound
roughly a decade earlier, no objective medical evidence of continuing medical treatment existed
for the condition. (Tr. 25-26). The ALJ further noted that Craig had received one prescription
for Naprosyn in December 2012, for knee pain but failed to fill the prescription or undergo any
other medical treatment for back or leg pain. (Id.). Additionally, the ALJ determined that Craig’s
alleged pain levels were not credible based on his reported daily activities of personal care,
cooking, and occasional household chores combined with the results of a consultative
examination establishing Craig had full range of motion of the lumbar and cervical spine
enabling him to walk at a normal gait, squat, dress himself, and seat himself on a chair and
examination table. (Id.). The ALJ also found that Craig’s status post stab wounds were treated in
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the emergency room with Lortab on November 30, 2011, with only one subsequent follow up
visit on December 14, 2011, and no further medical treatment provided due to his normal levels
of motion range and strength making the stab wound a superficial impairment. (Tr. 26). Finally,
the ALJ determined that Craig’s alleged depression was not classifiable as a medically
determinable impairment because no objective evidence existed for diagnosis or treatment. (Tr.
25). Therefore, the ALJ found Craig was not disabled by his stab wound, back pain, or
depression and denied Craig’s claim. (Tr. 21).
V. Analysis
Although the court may only reverse a finding of the Commissioner if it is not supported
by substantial evidence or because improper legal standards were applied, “[t]his does not relieve
the court of its responsibility to scrutinize the record in its entirety to ascertain whether
substantial evidence supports each essential administrative finding.” Walden v. Schweiker, 672
F.2d 835, 838 (11th Cir. 1982) (citing Strickland v. Harris, 615 F.2d 1103, 1106 (5th Cir. 1980)).
The court, however, “abstains from reweighing the evidence or substituting its own judgment for
that of the [Commissioner].” Id. (citation omitted).
Here, substantial evidence shows the ALJ applied the proper standards to reach this
conclusion and supports the ALJ’s determination that Craig failed to demonstrate a disability.
Craig challenges the Commissioner’s decision on the claim that the ALJ violated SSR 96-8p by
failing to consider the effect of Craig’s degenerative disc disease, emphysema, and status post
gunshot wounds on his ability to work. (Doc. 11 at 3-10). This challenge does not support
reversal.
A. The ALJ Was Not Required to Search for Medical Evidence Establishing a Severe
Impairment.
Receipt of supplemental security income requires the plaintiff prove he is disabled. 20
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C.F.R. § 416.912(a). The plaintiff must show he suffers from a severe impairment or
combination of impairments for at least twelve months that affects the plaintiff’s ability to
conduct basic work activities. Doughty v. Apfel, 245 F.3d 1274, 1278 (11th Cir. 2001); 20 C.F.R.
§§416.905(a), 416.909. A diagnosis of a medical condition does not automatically create a
disability unless the condition “severely” impairs the plaintiff’s ability to work. Wind v.
Barnhart, 133 F. App’x 684, 690 (11th Cir. 2005) (quoting McCruter v. Bowen, 791 F.2d 1544,
1547 (11th Cir. 1986)). Additionally, a condition must be mentioned either on disability forms or
during hearings for the court to be required to consider the condition a physical or mental
impairment. See Robinson v. Astrue, 365 F. App’x 993, 995 (11th Cir. 2010)(citing Pena v.
Charter, 76 F.3d 906, 909 (8th Cir. 1996)); East v. Barnhart, 197 F. App’x 899, 902 (holding the
ALJ has to consider all alleged impairments but is not required to search through the submitted
medical record trying to find a “disabling” impairment).
The plaintiff erroneously presents an argument under SSR 96-8p, that the ALJ is required
to consider the impact of all impairments, both severe and non-severe, in their totality to
determine the plaintiff’s ability to perform work activities. (Doc. 11 at 3-4).4 However, SSR 968p addresses the Residual Functional Capacity (“RFC”) assessment on the individual’s ability to
continue working in his previous employment. SSR 96-8p, 1996 WL 374184 (July 2, 1996).
Considering that determining the claimant’s RFC is the fourth step of the sequential evaluation
process, the analysis is unnecessary because the ALJ ended her analysis at the second step,
finding Craig failed to prove he suffered from a severe impairment. Craig also minutely cites to
SSR 96-3p, which addresses the consideration of alleged symptoms in the finding of a medical
4
The plaintiff’s brief contains the statement that “SSR 96-3p requires considering the
impact of both severe and non-severe impairments on the ability to work” followed by a block
quote discussing RFC and the consideration of combinations of impairments. This is an apparent
typo, as the text is a direct quote from SSR 96-8p and not SSR 96-3p. (Doc. 11 at 3-4).
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impairment, a more appropriate provision relating to this case. SSR 96-3p, 1996 WL 374181
(July 2, 1996). However, SSR 96-3p explains that a condition that only minimally affects the
plaintiff’s ability to perform work activities is non-severe and that symptoms like pain “will not
be found to affect an individual’s ability to do basic work activities unless the individual first
establishes by objective medical evidence (i.e., signs and laboratory findings) that he or she has a
medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) and that the impairment(s) could
reasonably be expected to produce the alleged symptom(s).” Id. Moreover, regardless of medical
documentation, allegations of a condition will be compared to the plaintiff’s past statements,
actions, and medical history in determining the complaints’ credibility. 20 C.F.R. 416.929 (c)(4).
Craig contends the ALJ erred because she failed to consider the effect of his degenerative
disc disease, emphysema, and status post gunshot wounds, and Craig also points to his additional
conditions of depression and arthritis. (Doc. 11 at 3-10). However, the cases Craig cites to
support his argument that failure to address all physical limitations or conditions affects an ALJ’s
ruling are all distinguishable because they involve a finding of at least one severe impairment or
contain only persuasive authority. Heatley v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 382 F. App’x 823, 824-25
(11th Cir. 2010) (holding that no error occurred by not recognizing all possible severe
impairments because one was designated as severe). Instead based on Robinson and East’s
holdings, Craig’s condition of emphysema is not required to be considered because it was not
listed on his application for disability or function report and not addressed during the
administrative hearing. (See Tr. 37-70, 72, 216). While Craig did mention back pain and
depression on the application and arthritis at the hearing, the allegations of depression and
arthritis are not supported by objective medical evidence anywhere in the record and thus not
required to be considered in the finding of a severe impairment. (Tr. 49, 72, 216).
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While medical records do attest that Craig had degenerative disc disease, gunshot
wounds, and emphysema, Craig’s diagnosis does not prove he is unable to perform work
activities based on a medical examination’s findings and issues regarding Craig’s credibility. (Tr.
311-312). After visiting the emergency room with multiple stab wounds to his neck, Craig
visited the UAB Hospital Trauma Clinic for a follow up examination and was noted as doing
extremely well and instructed to take over the counter pain medicine. (Tr. 315). Dr. Kuremsky’s
examination on March 3, 2012 failed to suggest that the conditions of degenerative disc disease,
emphysema, or status-post gunshot wounds all diagnosed on November 30, 2011, affected
Craig’s ability to work. (Tr. 255, 311-312). Instead, Dr. Kuremsky noted that Craig had full
range of motion in his spine and was able to walk, squat, and dress himself. (Id.). Additionally,
Craig’s complaints of frequent ten out of ten level pain from his gunshot wounds remain non
credible based on his inaction in visiting a physician or filling his prescription. (Tr. 25-26, 43,
57-58). Though Craig has suffered inconvenience from a house fire which destroyed his state ID,
birth certificate, and insurance card and caused him to miss the originally scheduled ALJ hearing
on April 16, 2013, there is a gap from December 2012 to April 2013 where medical treatment
was possible but never received for any of his alleged conditions. (Tr. 129, 135). Finally, Craig’s
occasional employment as a painter after his gunshot injury along with his capability to care for
himself and perform basic household chores suggests Craig is capable of performing some
degree of work activities. (Tr. 53-54, 65-66).
There is sufficient evidence to support the ALJ’s determination that Craig did not have an
impairment or any combination of impairments that significantly limited his ability to work.
Despite the ALJ’s finding of the impairment of a status post stab wound, Craig failed to meet his
burden to prove this or any of the other alleged conditions constituted a severe impairment
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altering his ability to perform work related activities for twelve months. Though existing medical
documentation identifies Craig’s different medical conditions, there is no record evidence, other
than Craig’s own statements, that his conditions affect his ability to conduct basic work related
activities leaving the ALJ’s finding supported by substantial evidence.
VI. Conclusion
For the reasons set forth herein, and upon careful consideration of the administrative
record and memoranda of the parties, the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security
denying Craig’s claim for supplemental security income is AFFIRMED and this action
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
DONE this 29th day of September, 2016.
_______________________________
JOHN H. ENGLAND, III
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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