Wilder v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner
Filing
13
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Magistrate Judge John E Ott on 7/27/2017. (JLC)
FILED
2017 Jul-27 AM 09:22
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
MIDDLE DIVISION
CYNTHIA TIDMORE WILDER, )
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
NANCY A. BERRYHILL,
)
Acting Commissioner of
)
Social Security,
)
)
Defendant.
)
Case No. 4:16-cv-00500-JEO
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff Cynthia Tidmore Wilder brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §
405(g), seeking review of the final decision of the Acting Commissioner of Social
Security (“Commissioner”)1 denying her application for disability insurance
benefits. (Doc. 2 1). The case has been assigned to the undersigned United States
Magistrate Judge pursuant to this court’s general order of reference. The parties
have consented to the jurisdiction of this court for disposition of the matter. (Doc.
11
Nancy A. Berryhill was named the Acting Commissioner on January 23, 2017. See
https://www.ssa.gov/agency/commissioner.html. Under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), “[a]ny action
instituted in accordance with this subsection shall survive notwithstanding any change in the
person occupying the office of Commissioner of Social Security or any vacancy in such office.”
Accordingly, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, the Court has substituted Nancy A. Berryhill for Carolyn W. Colvin in the case
caption above and HEREBY DIRECTS the clerk to do the same party substitution on CM/ECF.
2
References herein to “Doc(s). __” are to the document numbers assigned by the Clerk of the
Court to the pleadings, motions, and other materials in the court file, as reflected on the docket
sheet in the court’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system.
12). Upon review of the record and the relevant law, the undersigned finds that the
Commissioner’s decision is due to be affirmed.
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In December 2012, Wilder filed an application for a period of disability and
disability insurance benefits, alleging disability beginning December 23, 2011. (R. 3
19, 164). Her application was denied initially. (R. 19). Wilder then requested a
hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). (R. 19). The hearing was
held on June 9, 2014. (R. 19). Wilder, her counsel, and a vocational expert
attended the hearing. (R. 19). At the hearing, Wilder, acting through her counsel,
amended her disability onset date to May 16, 2012. (R. 19, 37). The ALJ issued a
decision on September 12, 2014, finding that Wilder was not entitled to benefits.
(R. 19-29). The Appeals Council denied Wilder’s request for review on January
29, 2016. (R. 1-4). Wilder then filed this action for judicial review under 42
U.S.C. § 405(g). (Doc. 1).
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The court’s review of the Commissioner’s decision is narrowly
circumscribed. The function of the court is to determine whether the decision of
the Commissioner is supported by substantial evidence and whether proper legal
3
References herein to “R. __” are to the page number of the administrative record, which is
located at Docs. 7-1 through 7-8.
2
standards were applied. Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 390, 91 S. Ct. 1420,
1422 (1971); Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219, 1221 (11th Cir. 2002). The 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.
The court must uphold factual findings that are 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 that the proper legal
analysis has been conducted, it must reverse the ALJ’s decision. Cornelius v.
Sullivan, 936 F.2d 1143, 1145-46 (11th Cir. 1991).
III. STATUTORY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
To qualify for disability insurance benefits under the Social Security Act, 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
3
continuous period of not less than 12 months.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A); 42
U.S.C. § 416(i). A physical or mental impairment is “an impairment that results
from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which are
demonstrable by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic
techniques.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(3). To be eligible for disability insurance
benefits, a claimant must demonstrate disability on or before the last date she was
insured. See Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1211 (11th Cir. 2005) (citing 42
U.S.C. § 423(a)(1)(A)).
Determination of disability under the Social Security Act requires a five step
analysis. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a). Specifically, the Commissioner must
determine in sequence:
whether the claimant: (1) is unable to engage in substantial gainful
activity; (2) has a severe medically determinable physical or mental
impairment; (3) has such an impairment that meets or equals a Listing
and meets the duration requirements; (4) can perform [her] past
relevant work, in light of [her] residual functional capacity; and (5)
can make an adjustment to other work, in light of [her] residual
functional capacity, age, education, and work experience.
Evans v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 551 F. App’x 521, 524 (11th Cir. 2014) (citing 20
C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)).4 The claimant bears the burden of proving that she was
disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act. Moore, 405 F.3d at 1211.
4
Unpublished opinions of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals are not considered binding
precedent; however, they may be cited as persuasive authority. 11th Cir. R. 36-2.
4
The applicable “regulations place a very heavy burden on the claimant to
demonstrate both a qualifying disability and an inability to perform past relevant
work.” Id.
IV. FINDINGS OF THE ALJ
Wilder was 52 years old at the time of her hearing before the ALJ. (R. 37).
She has a high school education, but does not possess a diploma, and has past work
experience in the fast food industry and performing general labor in a warehouse.
(R. 25, 39, 198). She alleged in her disability report that she had been unable to
work since October 20, 2010, due to degenerative disc disease and curvature of the
spine. (R. 197). She was insured for Social Security disability insurance benefits
through December 31, 2014. (R. 21).
At her administrative hearing, Wilder testified that she was unable to work
during the relevant period due to spinal scoliosis and degenerative disc disease.
She further testified that she experiences shooting pain in her leg, back and arm.
(R. 41).
The ALJ found that Wilder had severe impairments of degenerative disc
disease, mild scoliosis, and degenerative joint disease. (R. 21). The ALJ further
found that Wilder’s impairments did not meet or medically equally any listed
impairments. (R. 24). The ALJ found that Wilder had the residual functional
capacity (“RFC”) to perform light, unskilled work with the following restrictions:
5
no climbing; no work at unprotected heights; no more than occasional stooping
crouching, or crawling; no more than frequent handling bilaterally; and no more
than frequent interaction with co-workers, supervisors, or the general public.5 (R.
25).
Based on the testimony of the vocational expert, the ALJ found that Wilder
could not perform her past relevant work. (R. 27-28). He further found, however,
that Wilder was capable of performing a number of other jobs that exist in
significant numbers in the national economy, including marker, inspector/hand
packager, and office helper. (R. 28-29). The ALJ concluded that Wilder was not
under a disability at any time from her alleged onset date of May 16, 2012, through
the date of the decision. (R. 29).
V. DISCUSSION
Wilder argues that the Commissioner’s decision should be reversed and
remanded because the ALJ failed to properly evaluate the credibility of her
complaints of pain and failed to articulate good cause for according less weight to
the opinions of her treating physician. (Doc. 9 at 4-12). The Commissioner
responds that the decision of the ALJ is supported by substantial evidence. (Doc.
10 at 3-10).
5
Residual functional capacity is the most a claimant can do despite her impairment(s). See 20
C.F.R. §404.1545(a)(1).
6
A. Complaints of Pain
To establish a disability based on subjective testimony of pain and other
symptoms, a claimant must establish “(1) evidence of an underlying medical
condition; and (2) either (a) objective medical evidence confirming the severity of
the alleged pain; or (2) that the objectively determined medical condition can
reasonably be expected to give rise to the claimed pain.” Wilson v. Barnhart, 284
F.3d 1219, 1225 (11th Cir. 2002). If the ALJ discredits a claimant’s subjective
testimony regarding pain, the ALJ must articulate “explicit and adequate reasons
for doing so.” Id. “[T]he ALJ need not cite to ‘particular phrases or formulations’
to support the credibility determination, … [but] must do more than merely reject
the claimant’s testimony, such that the decision provides a reviewing court a basis
to conclude that the ALJ considered the claimant’s medical condition as a whole.”
Mijenes v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., -- F. App’x -- , 2017 WL 1735236, * 5 (May 3,
2017) (quoting Dyer v. Barnhart, 395 F.3d 1206, 1210 (11th Cir. 2005) (quotations
omitted)).
As noted previously, the ALJ found that Wilder suffers from three severe
impairments: degenerative disc disease, mild scoliosis, and degenerative joint
disease. The ALJ determined that these impairments could reasonably be expected
to cause Wilder’s alleged symptoms, but that her statements concerning the
intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of her symptoms were not entirely
7
credible. (R. 26). Wilder contends that the ALJ’s reasons for refusing to fully
credit her subjective testimony are not supported by substantial evidence. (Doc. 9
at 5). She raises two primary challenges to the ALJ’s credibility determination.
First, Wilder argues that the ALJ “determined that the level of pain and limitations
alleged by [her] was not supported by the objective medical evidence” and that in
making his determination, the ALJ did not properly consider “the objective
evidence as well as the longitudinal treatment record.” (Id.) Instead, she argues,
the ALJ “relies upon isolated notations in the record to support his finding.” (Id. at
7). Within this argument, Wilder asserts that the objective evidence and her
medical record support both her allegations of debilitating pain and her limitations.
(Id. at 5-10).
In support of her contention, Wilder cites to her testimony from the
administrative hearing. She testified at the hearing that she is unable to lift more
than five pounds; she spends her day on the couch and doing some dishes; she goes
outside “every now and then” and walks to her mailbox; she cannot sit or stand for
very long without hurting; she can sit for 30 minutes to an hour at one time and
stand for maybe one to two hours at one time; and she spends approximately six
hours during the day in her recliner. (R. 41-46).
8
1.
The Medical Evidence
In December 2009, Wilder visited Dr. Stephen F. Blackstock, complaining
of low back pain she had been experiencing for three months. (R. 303). X-rays
demonstrated degenerative disc disease. Dr. Blackstock prescribed antiinflammatories and muscle relaxers. (Id.) An MRI of her lumbar spine dated May
18, 2010, showed “diffuse degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine,”
“essentially [a] complete collapse of the L1 intervertebral disc,” “herniated L4
disc,” “significant broad based disc bulging at L5,” and mild stenosis at L2 and
L3.” (R. 300).
Wilder was referred to a neurosurgeon. (R. 250). On October 24, 2011, Dr.
William Woodall, a neurosurgeon, noted no weakness or tenderness of the spine
and normal range of motion of all extremities. (R. 237-242). Dr. Woodall
diagnosed Wilder as experiencing back pain with radiculopathy. He prescribed
Lysine, Ultram and over-the-counter Ibuprofen. (R. 242).
Wilder underwent another MRI of her lumbar spine on November 7, 2011,
which documented disc space narrowing at L1-2 with a moderate bulge and disc
bulges left paracentral L4-L5 and L5-S1, but no obvious root compression or
evidence of anything on the right. (R. 235, 244-245). An x-ray of her lumbar
spine on that same day documented L1-L2 mild degenerative retrolisthesis with
severe discovertebral joint degenerative change, mild idiopathic curvature convex
9
to the left and mild discovertebral joint degenerative change. (R. 246). Dr.
Woodall determined Wilder suffered from mild scoliosis and degenerative
changes, but did not find any disc rupture or nerve pinching on the right. He
further determined there was “no obvious surgical problem” and recommended
physical therapy and a facet block at L4-5, L5-S1 if the pain did not improve. (R.
235).
On June 26, 2012, Wilder was treated by Dr. Vicente Torregosa for
complaints of back pain and swelling/numbness in her hands. (R. 253-55). Wilder
complained of tightness and discomfort in her spine. (R. 253). She stated she had
“radicular pain when standing for long periods … [as well as] numbness in her
hands.” (Id.) Dr. Torregosa recommended aquatic exercise and smoking
cessation. (R. 254-55). He prescribed Meclazine, Norco and Ibuprofen for Wilder.
(R. 254-55).
On February 4, 2013, Dr. Zakir Khan examined Wilder. (R. 272-74). Dr.
Khan noted tenderness in Wilder’s lower thoracic spine, and pain with rotation of
the hips. (R. 273). Wilder exhibited normal range of motion of her extremities,
normal grip strength, and the ability to squat. (Id.) Dr. Khan also noted normal
gait and an ability to tandem heel walk. (Id.) Dr. Khan diagnosed Wilder with
gastroesophageal reflux disease and low back pain. (R. 274). He found that
10
Wilder could sit, stand, walk, lift, carry, handle objects, hear, speak, and travel, and
had normal fine motor activity and dexterity in her hands. (Id.)
On July 24, 2013, Dr. Pat Herrera began treating Wilder for complaints of
anxiety and back pain. (R. 286). Dr. Herrera noted Wilder was experiencing a
spasm of her lower back, and stated he had not reviewed an MRI. (Id.) He
diagnosed Wilder as experiencing back pain, degenerative joint disease, insomnia,
and anxiety. (Id.) He reported her pain at a level 5 on a 10-point scale. (Id.) On
August 7, 2013, Wilder’s pain was rate as a level 5 during her office visit. (R.
283). On August 23, 2013, an x-ray of Wilder’s lumbar spine revealed “minor”
scoliosis with degenerative disc and facet disease. (R. 282). On September 6,
2013, Dr. Herrera noted that Wilder complained of severe back pain; however, he
rated her pain at a level 5. (R. 281). His findings were normal except for noting a
decreased range of motion (“ROM”) of Wilder’s lower back. (Id.) Wilder’s pain
level was recorded as a 7 during her October 7, 2013 office visit. (R. 294).
On November 5, 2013, Dr. Herrera noted Wilder had a pain level of 6, but
was “doing well” on her medication. (R. 293). On December 5, 2013, Dr. Herrera
noted a pain level of 7. (R. 292). On January 2, 2014, Dr. Herrera examined
Wilder and noted a pain level of 6. (R. 291). Dr. Herrera’s only finding during
this examination was a reduced ROM of the lower back. (R. 291). On January 2,
2014, Dr. Herrera completed a physical capacity evaluation indicating Wilder
11
could not perform even sedentary work. (R. 288-89). On a pain assessment form,
Dr. Herrera indicated Wilder would experience a moderately severe level of pain,
and would miss more than two days of work per month. (R. 290). On February 3,
2014, Dr. Herrera noted Wilder’s pain level was 5 with “stable” findings. (R. 309).
On March 20, 2014, Dr. Herrera noted Wilder’s pain level was 7 with “stable”
findings. (R. 308). On April 17, 2014, he noted Wilder’s pain level as 6 with
“stable” findings. (R. 307). On May 15, 2014, he noted Wilder’s pain level as 7
with “stable” findings. (R. 306).
2.
Analysis
Wilder argues her longitudinal history of complaints and treatment for back
pain demonstrates her disability. Specifically, she points to her complaints of pain
that date back to 2009 and continue to May 2014, her diagnosis of degenerative
joint disease, and her consistent treatment with medication. (Doc. 9 at 8-9). She
also argues that the ALJ’s “reliance on the absence of a recommendation of
surgery and isolated physical examinations to support his negative credibility
finding is in error.” (Id. at 9). She further highlights her hearing testimony as
support for her position. Wilder concludes that she is limited to work at the
sedentary level of exertion, which given her age, education, and past experience,
12
leads to the conclusion that she is disabled. (Id. at 10 (citing Medical Voc.
Guideline 201.146)).
The ALJ provided an extensive analysis of Wilder’s testimony and the
medical evidence. He stated:
[Wilder] alleged in her Function Report that she has problems bending,
standing, squatting, reaching, walking, sitting, kneeling, completing tasks,
and climbing stairs (Exhibit 9E). She alleged that she can only lift 5 pounds.
As discussed above, [Wilder] alleged at the hearing that she can only sit for
30 minutes to an hour and can only stand for 1 hour. She alleged that she
has to spend 6 hours in an 8-hour day reclining on her couch. However, the
level of pain and limitation alleged by [Wilder] is not supported by the
objective medical evidence in the record. X-ray imaging from November
2011 showed only mild left convex rotoscoliosis and disc space narrowing
and only marginal osteophyte at Ll -2 with instability in flexion and
extension (Exhibit lF). As discussed above, X-ray imaging from August
2013 showed only minor disc space loss and only moderate degenerative
facet degenerative change at 5/ 1 (Exhibit 7F). She only had minimal
changes at 4/5 and minimal Sl joint sclerosis. She was noted to have only
minor scoliosis. MRI results were also noted to show only a moderate bulge
at Ll-2 and no obvious root compression (Exhibit lF). Her MRI results were
noted to show only mild scoliosis.
Despite the severe pain and limitation alleged by [Wilder], the record
indicates that only conservative treatment has been prescribed for [her] and
no surgery was recommended (Exhibit lF). When examined at Birmingham
Neurosurgery and Spine Group in October 2011, she had no numbness,
tingling, or weakness. She was noted to have no spinal deformity or
scoliosis. Despite the limitations in walking and moving alleged by
[Wilder], she had a normal posture and gait. She had normal heel and toe
walking. She also had a negative straightleg raising test. Dr. Khan also
6
“Guideline 201.14 provides that a person is disabled if she is limited to sedentary work, is
closely approaching advanced age, is a high school graduate or more, and her past relevant work
experience is skilled or semiskilled with skills that are not transferrable. 20 C.F.R. § 404, Subpt.
P, App’x 2.” Bull v. Colvin, 2014 WL 692886, *7 (D.S.C. Feb. 21, 2014) (bold in original).
13
found that [she] has a normal gait as well as a normal heel and toe walk
(Exhibit 5F). He reported that [Wilder] was able to squat without problems.
Further, [she] had a normal range of motion over the lumbar spine and again
had a negative straight leg-raising test bilaterally. Dr. Khan stated that
[Wilder] demonstrates an ability to sit, stand, walk, lift, carry, and handle
objects.
In addition, the record indicates that [Wilder’s] back pain is effectively
controlled by medication. When seen at Birmingham Neurosurgery and
Spine Group in October 2011, she reported that she is typically able to
tolerate her back pain. In November 2013, her neck and back pain were
described as doing well on medication (Exhibit 8F). [Wilder] reported in her
Function Report that she is able to clean, do her laundry, and prepare her
own meals (Exhibit E). She testified that she is able to drive. The objective
medical evidence and [Wilder’s] reported activities of daily living do not
support the level of limitation alleged by [her] and do not support a
finding that [she] experiences symptoms so severe as to be disabling. The
undersigned has accounted for [her] degenerative disk disease, mild
scoliosis, and degenerative joint disease by limiting [her] to light work with
no climbing of ropes, ladders, or scaffolds, no work at unprotected heights or
with hazardous machinery, no more than occasional stooping, crouching,
or crawling, and no more than frequent handling bilaterally.
Although the record does not support a finding that [Wilder’s] arm and hand
pain is a severe impairment, the undersigned has accounted for these
impairments by limiting [her] to no climbing of ropes, ladders, or scaffolds,
and no more than frequent handling bilaterally. The undersigned has also
accounted for [her] nonsevere impairments of depression and anxiety by
limiting her to unskilled work with no more than frequent interactions with
coworkers, supervisors, or the general public.
(R. 26-27).
Wilder has failed to adequately challenge the foregoing findings of the ALJ.
While she complains that the ALJ relied upon “isolated notations in the record,”
the foregoing discredits that argument. The discussion is extensive and detailed.
14
Wilder has failed to show where the assessment is inaccurate or where it fails to
account for significant evidence. Thus, the court finds that the ALJ’s determination
is supported by substantial evidence.
B.
Wilder’s Treating Physicians
In her second claim, Wilder asserts that the ALJ failed to properly articulate
good cause for according less weight to the opinion of her treating physician, Dr.
Herrera, when he determined that she was not disabled. (Doc. 9 at 10). The
Commissioner responds that the ALJ properly discounted the limitations noted in
Dr. Herrera’s physical capacity evaluation and pain assessment form. (Doc. 10 at
8).
1.
Standard of Review
In assessing the weight to be given an acceptable medical source such as a
physician, an ALJ is to consider numerous factors, including whether the physician
examined the individual, whether the physician treated the individual, the evidence
the physician presents to support his or her opinion, whether the physician’s
opinion is consistent with the record as a whole, and the physician’s specialty. See
20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527(c), 416.927(c). A treating physician’s opinion generally is
entitled to more weight, and an ALJ must give good reasons for discounting a
treating physician’s opinion. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527(c)(2), 416.927(c)(2);
Winschel v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 631 F.3d 1176, 1179 (11th Cir. 2011). This is
particularly true when the treatment “has been over a considerable period of time.”
15
Chester v. Bowen, 792 F.2d 129, 131 (11th Cir. 1986). “However, the nature of
the relationship between the doctor and the claimant is only one factor used to
determine the weight given to a medical opinion.” Chambers v. Astrue, No. 1:11cv-02412-TWT-RGV, 2013 WL 486307, at *27 (N.D. Ga. Jan. 11, 2013) (citing
20 C.F.R. § 404.1527). An ALJ may discount a physician’s opinion, including a
treating physician’s opinion, when the opinion is conclusory, the physician fails to
provide objective medical evidence to support his or her opinion, the opinion is
inconsistent with the record as a whole, or the evidence otherwise supports a
contrary finding. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527(c)(3), (c)(4); Crawford v. Comm’r of
Soc. Sec., 363 F.3d 1155, 1159-60 (11th Cir. 2004); Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d
1232, 1240-41 (11th Cir. 2004); Edwards v. Sullivan, 937 F.2d 580, 583 (11th Cir.
1991).
2.
Analysis
As noted above, Dr. Herrera completed a physical capacity evaluation of
Wilder on January 2, 2014. Therein, he opined that Wilder could do the following:
sit for two hours, stand for one hour, and walk for one hour at “one time.” (R.
288). He also stated that during an eight hour workday Wilder could sit for a total
of four hours, stand for a total of three hours, and walk for a total of two hours.
(Id.) He further opined she could occasionally lift and carry up to 5 pounds. (R.
289). He also stated that she suffered from chronic, continuous moderately severe
16
pain which was objectively verified by X-rays and joint deformity. (R. 290).
Finally, he opined Wilder would need frequent rest periods during the day to
relieve her pain and would likely miss two or more days of work per month. (Id.)
Wilder argues that the ALJ erred when he afforded Dr. Herrera’s opinion only little
weight. (Doc. 9 at 11). She asserts that the ALJ incorrectly found that (1) Dr.
Herrera’s opinions are inconsistent with the objective findings of Dr. Khan and the
objective medical evidence in the record and (2) Dr. Herrera’s opinion was “based
almost exclusively on [Wilder’s] subjective complaints.” (Id. (citing R. 27)).
The ALJ found as follows:
The undersigned affords little weight to the opinions of Dr. Herrera found in
his medical source statement (Exhibit 8F). Dr. Herrera’s opinions are not
consistent with the objective findings of Dr. Khan discussed above or the
objective medical evidence in the record including the MRI and
X-ray imaging discussed above. Dr. Herrera indicates that his opinions,
including that [Wilder] is limited to sedentary work, are also based on [her]
arm pain, hand pain, anxiety, and insomnia. There are no objective findings
from Dr. Herrera to support this opinion. Dr. Herrera’s opinion is based
almost exclusively on [Wilder’s] subjective complaints. In addition, as
discussed above, Dr. Khan found [Wilder] to have a normal range of motion
in her upper extremities and normal grip and dexterity (Exhibit 5F). The
undersigned also notes that Dr. Herrera is not a psychiatrist and that the
record does not support a finding that [Wilder’s] anxiety causes more than
minimal work-related limitations as discussed above.
(R. 27). This court finds that the ALJ properly discounted the limitations noted in
Dr. Herrera’s physical capacity evaluation. (R. 27, 288-290). For instance, as just
quoted, the ALJ noted that the severity of the limitations identified by Dr. Herrera
17
was not consistent with the objective findings from Dr. Khan, the MRI requested
by Dr. Woodall, or some of Dr. Herrera’s own objective findings. (R. 27).
Beginning with Dr. Khan, the record shows that he (Khan) evaluated Wilder
on February 4, 2013, for a “disability determination examination” premised upon a
history of back pain. (R. 272). Wilder complained during the examination that her
pain was getting worse. (Id.) She told Dr. Kahn that she could walk
approximately 200 feet before her back starts to hurt. She also stated that she
occasionally experiences numbness in her left arm and in her right leg, and cannot
sit or stand for extended periods of time. (Id.) She denied unilateral motor
weakness or sensory deficits. (Id. at 273). She had tenderness to palpation over
the lower thoracic spine and mild thoracic scoliosis. (Id.) She was noted to have a
normal range of motion over the lumbar spine and she had a negative straight legraising test bilaterally. (Id.) The rotation of her hips elicited pain in the lower
back. She had a normal range of motion in all joints tested in the upper and lower
extremities. She was described as being able to squat without problems. Her
dexterity and grip strength were noted to be normal. (Id.) She had an intact motor
and sensory exam in both her upper and lower extremities. (Id.) Her tandem heel
and toe walking and her gait were normal. (Id.) In pertinent part, she was assessed
with lower back pain. (Id. at 274). Dr. Khan also stated that Wilder demonstrated
an ability to sit, stand, walk, lift, carry, handle objects, hear, speak, and travel. He
18
reported that her fine motor activity and dexterity in her hands is normal
bilaterally. (Id.) This assessment does not evidence an individual with debilitating
infirmities. Wilder does not demonstrate any particular failing in Dr. Khan’s
assessment other than to point out Dr. Herrera’s “extensive treatment history” with
her. (See Doc. 9 at 11-12). Accordingly, the court will next examine Dr. Herrera’s
history with Wilder in assessing the ALJ’s discounting of his opinions.
First, Dr. Herrera did not begin treating Wilder until July 2013. (R. 286).
Before that point, Wilder’s treatment was intermittent, with visits occurring about
once or twice a year. Thereafter, Dr. Herrera saw Wilder monthly from July 2013
until May 2014. During this period, he assessed Wilder with a range of pain levels
from 5 to 7. (R. 281, 283, 286, 291-294, 306-09). Nothing in Dr. Herrera’s notes
significantly challenges the ALJ’s decision to afford little weight to his opinions.
Additionally, nothing therein challenges the observations and assessments by Dr.
Khan. Second, Wilder’s last MRI was in November 2011. (See R. 235, 244-26).
Dr. Herrera did not review her previous MRIs, nor did he order a new one.
Instead, he appears to have relied upon an x-ray that was ordered on August 23,
2013. It showed “minor” scoliosis with degenerative disc and facet disease. (R.
282). In Wilder’s subsequent office visit on September 6, 2013, Dr. Herrera
continued her on her medications, including Lortab. (R. 281, 297-98). This does
not support Wilder’s challenge to the ALJ’s evaluation of Dr. Herrera’s opinions in
19
any substantial way. Third, Dr. Herrera’s records fail to show that Wilder should
be limited to sedentary work premised on Wilder’s complaints of arm pain, hand
pain, anxiety, and insomnia. Dr. Herrera’s records do not demonstrate objective
evidence of the limitations to the degree specified in his report. Additionally, Dr.
Kahn’s examination and evaluation of Wilder demonstrated that she had a normal
range of motion in her upper extremities and normal grip and dexterity. (R. 27274). Still further, Dr. Herrera’s reliance on Wilder’s anxiety as a significant
limiting factor is not supported by the record – particularly since he is not a
psychiatrist or psychologist and no other records show this to be a debilitating
factor.
The totality of the record supports the ALJ’s finding that Wilder is not
disabled. Overall, her treatment has been relatively infrequent and conservative.
She does well with her medication. There have been no recommendations of
invasive medical procedures. The ALJ factored all Wilder’s limitations into his
RFC assessment. Wilder has not adequately challenged the decision of the ALJ.
The ALJ evaluated the medical evidence and correctly found that Wilder could
perform light work with additional limitations. (R. 21-27).
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CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, the court finds that the decision of the
Commissioner is due to be affirmed. A separate order consistent with this opinion
will be entered.
DONE, this the 27th day of July, 2017.
_________________________________
JOHN E. OTT
Chief United States Magistrate Judge
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