Jackson v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner

Filing 10

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DISMISSING CASE that the decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED; costs are taxed against claimant; as more fully set out in order. Signed by Judge C Lynwood Smith, Jr on 9/27/2012. (AHI)

FILED
2012 Sep-27 AM 08:20
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
NORTHWESTERN DIVISION
JORJA SANDERS JACKSON,
Claimant,
vs.
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
Commissioner, Social Security
Administration,
Defendant.

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Civil Action No. CV-11-S-4115-NW

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Claimant, Jorja Jackson, commenced this action on December 6, 2011,
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), seeking judicial review of a final adverse decision of
the Commissioner, affirming the decision of the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”)
denying her claim for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits. For the
reasons stated herein, the court finds that the Commissioner’s ruling is due to be
affirmed.
The court’s role in reviewing claims brought under the Social Security Act is
a narrow one. The scope of review is limited to determining whether there is
substantial evidence in the record as a whole to support the findings of the
Commissioner, and whether correct legal standards were applied. See Lamb v.
Bowen, 847 F.2d 698, 701 (11th Cir. 1988); Tieniber v. Heckler, 720 F.2d 1251, 1253

(11th Cir. 1983).
Claimant contends that the Commissioner’s decision is neither supported by
substantial evidence nor in accordance with applicable legal standards. Specifically,
claimant asserts that the ALJ’s residual functional capacity finding was not supported
by substantial evidence, in particular because the ALJ improperly considered the
effect of claimant’s obesity on her functional impairments. Upon review of the
record, the court concludes that claimant’s contentions are without merit, and the
decision of the Commissioner is due to be affirmed.
The ALJ found that claimant had the severe impairments of type II diabetes
mellitus, hypertension, obesity, sleep apnea, psoriasis, mild degenerative disk disease
of the lumbar spine, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.1

Despite those

impairments, the ALJ concluded that claimant retained “the residual functional
capacity to perform the exertional demands of medium work as defined in 20 CFR
404.1567(c) except she can occasionally climb ladders, ropes, and scaffolds. She
should avoid all exposure to hazards and avoid concentrated exposure to extreme cold
and heat.”2 With that residual functional capacity, claimant would be capable of
performing her past relevant work as a school principal, assistant principal, and

1

Tr. 31.

2

Tr. 32.

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teacher.3 Consequently, the ALJ found that claimant was not disabled under the
Social Security Act.4
Claimant asserts that the ALJ’s assessment of claimant’s ability to perform
medium work was not supported by substantial evidence due to the additional
limitations imposed by her obesity.5 Social Security regulations classify medium
work as involving “lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or
carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.” 20 C.F.R. § 1567(c). The ALJ based
his conclusion that claimant could satisfy those exertional requirements primarily
upon the Physical Residual Functional Capacity Assessment form completed on
February 3, 2010 by state agency medical consultant Dr. Richard Whitney.6 Dr.
Whitney indicated that claimant could occasionally lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds,
frequently lift and/or carry up to 25 pounds, stand and/or walk for a total of about 6
hours in an 8-hour work day, sit for a total of about 6 hours in an 8-hour work day,
and perform unlimited pushing and pulling movements. She could only occasionally
climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds, but she had no limitations on any other postural
3

Tr. 39.

4

Tr. 40.

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On the date of the administrative hearing, claimant was five feet, two inches tall, and
weighed 220 pounds. Tr. 61.
6

See Tr. 39 (“As for the opinion evidence, the undersigned gives great weight to the
determination by a state agency medical consultant that the claimant can perform a limited range of
medium work. That determination is consistent with the objective, clinical findings from treating
and consulting examiners.”).

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movements, including climbing ramps and stairs, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and
crawling. Claimant had no manipulative, visual, or communicative limitations. Her
environmental limitations included avoiding concentrated exposure to extreme heat
and cold and avoiding all exposure to unprotected heights. Dr. Whitney stated that
he “would expect work limitation due to obesity.”7
As claimant points out, Dr. Whitney’s assessment (and, consequently, also the
ALJ’s) appears to have an internal inconsistency. Dr. Whitney advised claimant to
avoid all exposure to unprotected heights, but he nonetheless indicated that she could
occasionally climb ladders, ropes, and scaffolds. The assessment of ability to climb
ladders, ropes, and scaffolds also was inconsistent with the assessment of the
consultative examiner, Dr. Brad Ginevan, that claimant had a waddled gait and an
unbalanced heel-toe walk.8 Those inconsistencies do not warrant reversal of the
ALJ’s decision, however. Even if the court assumes that claimant could never climb
ladders, ropes, or scaffolds, there is no indication that those limitations would prevent
her from performing her past relevant work as a teacher, assistant principal, and
principal.
Claimant also asserts that the ALJ should have given Dr. Whitney’s assessment

7

Tr. 487-93.

8

See Tr. 484.

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only little weight, because he was not a non-examining, reviewing physician.
Contrary to claimant’s suggestion, the opinions of state agency medical examiners are
entitled to substantial consideration.

See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527(f)(2)(i) &

416.927(f)(2)(i) (stating that, while the ALJ is not bound by the findings of a State
Agency physician, the ALJ should consider such a physician to be both “highly
qualified” and an “expert” in Social Security disability evaluation). See also Oldham
v. Schweiker, 660 F.2d 1078, 1084 (5th Cir. 1981) (“The Secretary was justified in
accepting the opinion of Dr. Gordon, a qualified reviewing physician, that was
supported by the evidence, and in rejecting the conclusory statement of Dr. Harris,
a treating physician, that was contrary to the evidence.”). Here, because Dr.
Whitney’s assessment was consistent with the remainder of the medical evidence,
there was no reason for the ALJ to discredit his opinion.
Finally, claimant asserts that Dr. Whitney’s assessment (and, consequently, also
the ALJ’s) otherwise failed to properly take into account her obesity. An ALJ’s
duties in evaluating the effect of a claimant’s obesity on her residual functional
capacity are set forth in Social Security Ruling 02-1p, which states the following:
Obesity can cause limitation of function. The functions likely to
be limited depend on many factors, including where the excess weight
is carried. An individual may have limitations in any of the exertional
functions such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing,
and pulling. It may also affect ability to do postural functions, such as
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climbing, balancing, stooping, and crouching. The ability to manipulate
may be affected by the presence of adipose (fatty) tissue in the hands
and fingers. The ability to tolerate extreme heat, humidity, or hazards
may also be affected.
The effects of obesity may not be obvious. For example, some
people with obesity also have sleep apnea. This can lead to drowsiness
and lack of mental clarity during the day. Obesity may also affect an
individual’s social functioning.
An assessment should also be made of the effect obesity has upon
the individual’s ability to perform routine movement and necessary
physical activity within the work environment. Individuals with obesity
may have problems with the ability to sustain a function over time. As
explained in SSR 96-8p (“Titles II and XVI: Assessing Residual
Functional Capacity in Initial Claims”), our RFC assessments must
consider an individual’s maximum remaining ability to do sustained
work activities in an ordinary work setting on a regular and continuing
basis. A “regular and continuing basis” means 8 hours a day, for 5 days
a week, or an equivalent work schedule. In cases involving obesity,
fatigue may affect the individual’s physical and mental ability to sustain
work activity. This may be particularly true in cases involving sleep
apnea.
The combined effects of obesity with other impairments may be
greater than might be expected without obesity. For example, someone
with obesity and arthritis affecting a weight-bearing joint may have
more pain and limitation than might be expected from the arthritis alone.
For a child applying for benefits under title XVI, we may evaluate
the functional consequences of obesity (either alone or in combination
with other impairments) to decide if the child’s impairment(s)
functionally equals the listings. For example, the functional limitations
imposed by obesity, by itself or in combination with another
impairment(s), may establish an extreme limitation in one domain of
functioning (e.g., Moving about and manipulating objects) or marked
limitations in two domains (e.g., Moving about and manipulating objects
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and Caring for yourself).
As with any other impairment, we will explain how we reached
our conclusions on whether obesity caused any physical or mental
limitations.
SSR 02-1P, 2000 WL 628049, at *6-7.
The ALJ specifically mentioned this Ruling in his administrative decision. He
noted that claimant had identified medical conditions, including diabetes,
hypertension, and sleep apnea, that could be exacerbated by obesity. Even so, he
concluded that the medical records did not reflect severe limitations in claimant’s
ability to perform work-related activities, even taking into consideration the
additional effect of claimant’s obesity. That conclusion was supported by substantial
evidence.
Consistent with the foregoing, the court concludes the ALJ’s decision was
based upon substantial evidence and in accordance with applicable legal standards.
Accordingly, the decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED. Costs are taxed
against claimant. The Clerk is directed to close this file.
DONE this 27th day of September, 2012.

______________________________
United States District Judge
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