Gibson v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner

Filing 13

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Abdul K Kallon on 11/19/12. (CVA)

FILED
2012 Nov-19 AM 10:29
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
NORTHWESTERN DIVISION
DIANA GIBSON,
Plaintiff,
vs.
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION,
Defendant.

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Civil Action Number
3:12-cv-761-AKK

MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff Diana Gibson (“Gibson”) brings this action pursuant to sections
205(g) and 1631(c)(3) of the Social Security Act (“the Act”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g)
and 1383(c)(3), seeking review of the final adverse decision of the Commissioner
of the Social Security Administration (“SSA”). Doc. 1. This court finds that the
Administrative Law Judge’s (“ALJ”) decision - which has become the decision of
the Commissioner - is supported by substantial evidence. Therefore, for the
reasons elaborated herein, the Court will AFFIRM the decision denying benefits.
I. Procedural History
Gibson filed her application for Title II disability insurance benefits and

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Title XVI Supplemental Security Income on January 22, 2009, alleging a disability
onset date of December 31, 2008, due to nerve damage in her hands. (R. 107-118,
138). After the SSA denied her applications, Gibson requested a hearing. (R. 8892, 95). At the hearing on May 17, 2010, Gibson was 40 years old with an
eleventh grade education, and her past relevant work included house cleaning and
car detailing. (R. 133, 139, 143, 72). Gibson has not engaged in substantial
gainful activity since December 31, 2008. (R. 138).
The ALJ denied Gibson’s claims, which became the final decision of the
Commissioner when the Appeals Council refused to grant review. (R. 34-48, 1-6).
Gibson then filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1383(c)(3). Doc. 1.
II. Standard of Review
The only issues before this court are whether the record contains substantial
evidence to sustain the ALJ’s decision, see 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Walden v.
Schweiker, 672 F.2d 835, 838 (11th Cir. 1982), and whether the ALJ applied the
correct legal standards, see Lamb v. Bowen, 847 F.2d 698, 701 (11th Cir. 1988);
Chester v. Bowen, 792 F.2d 129, 131 (11th Cir. 1986). Title 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g)
and 1383(c) mandate that the Commissioner’s “factual findings are conclusive if
supported by ‘substantial evidence.’” Martin v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1520, 1529
(11th Cir. 1990). The district court may not reconsider the facts, reevaluate the
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evidence, or substitute its judgment for that of the Commissioner; instead, it must
review the final decision as a whole and determine if the decision is “reasonable
and supported by substantial evidence.” See id. (citing Bloodsworth v. Heckler,
703 F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th Cir. 1983)).
Substantial evidence falls somewhere between a scintilla and a
preponderance of evidence; “[i]t is such relevant evidence as a reasonable person
would accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Martin, 849 F.2d at 1529
(quoting Bloodsworth, 703 F.2d at 1239) (other citations omitted). If supported by
substantial evidence, the court must affirm the Commissioner’s factual findings
even if the preponderance of the evidence is against the Commissioner’s findings.
See Martin, 894 F.2d at 1529. While the court acknowledges that judicial review
of the ALJ’s findings is limited in scope, it notes that the review “does not yield
automatic affirmance.” Lamb, 847 F.2d at 701.
III. Statutory and Regulatory Framework
To qualify for disability benefits, a claimant must show “the inability 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 twelve
months.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A); 42 U.S.C. § 416(i). A physical or mental
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impairment is “an impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, or
psychological abnormalities which are demonstrated by medically acceptable
clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(3).
Determination of disability under the Act requires a five step analysis.
20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)-(f), 416.920(a)-(f). Specifically, the Commissioner
must determine in sequence:
(1)

whether the claimant is currently unemployed;

(2)

whether the claimant has a severe impairment;

(3)

whether the impairment meets or equals one listed by the Secretary;

(4)

whether the claimant is unable to perform his or her past work; and

(5)

whether the claimant is unable to perform any work in the national
economy.

McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026, 1030 (11th Cir. 1986). “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.’” Id. at 1030 (citing 20
C.F.R. § 416.920(a)-(f)). “Once a finding is made that a claimant cannot return to
prior work the burden shifts to the Secretary to show other work the claimant can
do.” Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553, 1559 (11th Cir. 1995) (citation omitted).

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IV. The ALJ’s Decision
In performing the five step analysis, the ALJ initially determined that
Gibson met the insured status requirements of the Act through December 31,
2012. (R. 39). Moving to the first Step, the ALJ found that Gibson had not
engaged in substantial gainful activity since December 31, 2008, the alleged onset
date, and, therefore, Gibson met Step One. Id. Next, the ALJ found that Gibson
satisfied Step Two because she suffered from the severe impairments of “bilateral
carpal tunnel syndrome, status post-release surgeries; and cervical degenerative
disc disease.” (R. 40). The ALJ then proceeded to the next step and found that
Gibson failed to satisfy Step Three because she “does not have an impairment or
combination of impairments that meets or medically equals one of the listed
impairments.” (R. 41). Although the ALJ answered Step Three in the negative,
consistent with the law, see McDaniel, 800 F.2d at 1030, the ALJ proceeded to
Step Four where she determined that:
[T]he claimant has the following residual functional capacity
[“RFC”]: She can meet the exertional demands of light work. She
occasionally can perform gross handling and feeling with the nondominant (left) upper extremity.
(R. 41). In light of Gibson’s RFC, the ALJ determined that Gibson is “unable to
perform any past relevant work.” (R. 43). After considering Gibson’s age,

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education, work experience, and RFC, the ALJ determined in Step Five that “jobs
exist in significant numbers in the national economy that [Gibson] can perform.”
(R. 44). Consequently, the ALJ found that Gibson “has not been under a
disability, as defined in the Social Security Act, from December 31, 2008, through
the date of this decision.” (R. 45).
V. Analysis
The court turns now to Gibson’s contentions that the ALJ failed (1) to
present a proper hypothetical to the vocational expert that included all her
limitations and (2) to include any reach restrictions in her hypothetical or in her
ultimate RFC finding. See doc. 9 at 4-5. The court addresses each contention in
turn.
A.

Alleged failure to provide a proper hypothetical to the vocational
expert to include “gross” handling

Generally, “[i]n order for a vocational expert’s testimony to constitute
substantial evidence, the ALJ must pose a hypothetical question which comprises
all of the claimant’s impairments.” Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219, 1227 (11th
Cir. 2002). Gibson asserts that the ALJ erred by not specifying “gross handling”
limitations in the hypothetical to the vocational expert. Doc. 9 at 5. While Gibson
is correct that the ALJ omitted the word “gross,” the ALJ, however, posed a

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hypothetical that comprised all of Gibson’s impairments. Again, the ALJ
determined that Gibson had the RFC to meet the demands of “light work” with
occasional “gross handling and feeling with the non-dominant (left) upper
extremity.” (R. 41). In the hypothetical in contention, the ALJ asked the
vocational expert to consider an individual who is “limited to a light range of
work....and is limited to occasional...handling and feeling with the upper left
extremity or the upper non-dominant extremity.” (R. 80). Gibson’s contention
misses the mark because the hypothetical, in effect, included all of Gibson’s
limitations. Put differently, the omission of the word “gross” was harmless
because the ALJ still effectively conveyed the intended meaning. Indeed, based
on the limitations in the hypothetical, the vocational expert testified that Gibson
could not perform her past relevant work since it would “require frequent bilateral
handling with both upper extremities.” Id. This response showed that the
vocational expert understood Gibson’s limitations included gross or frequent
bilateral handling and feeling. Critically, Gibson has failed to show how the
omission prejudiced her or how its inclusion would have changed the ultimate
result.
In the final analysis, the ALJ’s hypothetical and the vocational expert’s
testimony reveal that the vocational expert considered Gibson’s actual limitations
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and still determined that jobs exist that Gibson can perform. Therefore, pursuant
to Wilson, 284 F.3d at 1227, the substantial evidence supports the vocational
expert’s testimony and the ALJ’s finding that Gibson is not disabled.
B.

Alleged failure to include reach restrictions in Gibson’s RFC and
hypothetical to the vocational expert

Gibson also contends that the ALJ erred by not including “reach
restrictions” in the RFC finding or in the hypothetical. Doc. 9 at 5. Gibson asserts
that her history of pain and limitation of motion of her cervical spine warrant such
a restriction. Id. The court notes that the responsibility for assessing the RFC falls
on the ALJ, and that, in doing so, the ALJ considers “all the relevant evidence in
[the claimant’s] case record.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.945(a)(1); 416.946(c). Consistent
with this charge, the ALJ reviewed the medical records of Gibson’s treating
physicians, Drs. R. Lee Nichols, Kenneth Kiser, and George Evans. (R. 40). As it
relates to Dr. Nichols, an orthopaedist, the ALJ noted that Dr. Nichols treated
Gibson from 2007 to 2008, and that the December 2007 treatment records showed
that Gibson was “delighted” with the outcome of her right carpal tunnel release
and was eager for surgery on her left wrist. (R. 40, 187). Moreover, after
receiving a repeat left carpal tunnel release surgery, Gibson returned for two
follow-up visits and had no complaints other than mild residual tingling at the

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radial aspect of her ring finger. (R. 185-86). However, in April 2008, Gibson
returned with recurrent left carpal tunnel symptoms caused by her return to work
detailing cars. (R. 184). Gibson reported that her right hand continued to perform
well. Id. At that point, Dr. Nichols recommended that Gibson obtain an
evaluation from a hand surgeon since Gibson had undergone two unsuccessful
carpal tunnel releases on the left hand. Id.
The ALJ also reviewed the records of Dr. Kiser, a family practice physician
who treated Gibson from 2008 to 2010. (R. 40). During the course of his
treatment of Gibson, Dr. Kiser diagnosed Gibson with atrial fibrillation,
hyperlipidemia, abnormal weight gain, constipation, insomnia, and headaches. (R.
421-445). According to the ALJ, none of these impairments constituted a “severe”
impairment because each caused no more than minimal limitation on Gibson’s
ability to perform basic work activities. (R. 40). Gibson does not contest this
finding. As it relates to Gibson’s complaints about her left wrist, Dr. Kiser
ordered a consult with a radiologist. The radiologist obtained an MRI of Gibson’s
left wrist in November 2008 and found that Gibson had “small nonspecific wrist
joint effusion,” “[n]o significant bone signal abnormality,” and “[f]indings
consistent with carpal tunnel surgery with residual scarring.” (R. 388).
The ALJ also reviewed the treatment records of Dr. Evans, a family practice
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physician who treated Gibson from 2005 to 2007, for back and neck pain, mood
disorder, hypertension, and anxiety. (R. 40, 259-322). Dr. Evans’ treatment notes
indicated that Gibson’s conditions were “well controlled,” (R. 262, 266), and
consequently his records do not help Gibson’s claim. To the contrary, the records
of Dr. Evans and the other physicians support the ALJ’s determination that
Gibson’s testimony regarding the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of her
impairments was not fully credible because the medical record contradicted
Gibson’s contentions. (R. 42, 73, 78-79).
In sum, the medical record supports the ALJ’s decision not to include reach
restrictions in Gibson’s RFC or in her hypothetical to the vocational expert.
Critically, no physician ever made such a recommendation. Moreover, the ALJ
adequately addressed the medical evidence regarding Gibson’s pain in her left
hand in the RFC which found that Gibson could perform “light work” with only
occasional “gross handling and feeling with the non-dominant (left) upper
extremity.” (R. 41). Ultimately, Gibson has the burden of proving that she is
disabled. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.912(c). Gibson failed to make that showing here or
why the medical record warrants a reach restriction. Therefore, the substantial
evidence supports the ALJ’s RFC determination.

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VI. Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, the court concludes that the ALJ’s determination
that Gibson is not disabled is supported by substantial evidence, and that the ALJ
applied proper legal standards in reaching this determination. Therefore, the
Commissioner’s final decision is AFFIRMED. A separate order in accordance
with the memorandum of decision will be entered.
Done the 19th day of November, 2012.

________________________________
ABDUL K. KALLON
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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