Partridge v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner

Filing 20

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Magistrate Judge Gray M Borden on 7/16/21. (MRR, )

FILED
2021 Jul-16 PM 04:10
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
MIDDLE DIVISION
DEBRA PARTRIDGE,
Plaintiff,
v.
KILOLO KIJAKAZI, 1 Acting
Commissioner, Social Security
Administration,

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Case No. 4:20-cv-741-GMB

Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
On April 18, 2017, Plaintiff Debra Partridge filed an application for a period
of disability, disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) and supplemental security income
(“SSI”).

Her alleged disability onset date is January 29, 2017.

Partridge’s

application was denied at the initial administrative level. She then requested a
hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). The ALJ held a hearing on
February 14, 2019, and denied Partridge’s claims on March 22, 2019. Partridge
requested a review of the ALJ’s decision by the Appeals Council, which declined
review on April 14, 2020. As a result, the ALJ’s decision became the final decision

1

Kilolo Kijakazi became the Acting Commissioner of Social Security on July 9, 2021. Pursuant
to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Kilolo Kijakazi should be substituted for
Andrew Saul. No further action need be taken to continue this suit by reason of the last sentence
of section 205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (the “Commissioner”) as
of April 14, 2020.
Partridge’s case is now before the court for review pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
§§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3). Under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1) and Rule 73 of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure, the parties have consented to the full jurisdiction of a
United States Magistrate Judge. Doc. 10.

Based on a review of the parties’

submissions, the relevant law, and the record as a whole, the court will deny the
motion to remand (Doc. 13) and affirm the decision of the Commissioner.
I. STANDARD OF REVIEW 2
The court reviews a Social Security appeal to determine whether the
Commissioner’s decision “is supported by substantial evidence and based upon
proper legal standards.” Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1439 (11th Cir. 1997).
The court will reverse the Commissioner’s decision if it is convinced that the
decision was not supported by substantial evidence or that the proper legal standards
were not applied. Carnes v. Sullivan, 936 F.2d 1215, 1218 (11th Cir. 1991). The
court “may not decide the facts anew, reweigh the evidence, or substitute its
judgment for that of the Commissioner,” but rather “must defer to the

2

In general, the legal standards are the same whether a claimant seeks 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 reference the appropriate
parallel provision as context dictates. The same applies to citations for statutes or regulations
found in excerpted court decisions.
2

Commissioner’s decision if it is supported by substantial evidence.” Miles v. Chater,
84 F.3d 1397, 1400 (11th Cir. 1997) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
“Even if the evidence preponderates against the Secretary’s factual findings, [the
court] must affirm if the decision reached is supported by substantial evidence.”
Martin v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1520, 1529 (11th Cir. 1990). Moreover, reversal is not
warranted even if the court itself would have reached a result contrary to that of the
factfinder. See Edwards v. Sullivan, 937 F.2d 580, 584 n.3 (11th Cir. 1991).
The substantial evidence standard is met “if a reasonable person would accept
the evidence in the record as adequate to support the challenged conclusion.”
Holladay v. Bowen, 848 F.2d 1206, 1208 (11th Cir. 1988) (quoting Boyd v. Heckler,
704 F.2d 1207, 1209 (11th Cir. 1983)). The requisite evidentiary showing has been
described as “more than a scintilla, but less than a preponderance.” Bloodsworth v.
Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th Cir. 1983). The court must scrutinize the entire
record to determine the reasonableness of the decision reached and cannot “act as
[an] automaton[] in reviewing the [Commissioner’s] decision.” Hale v. Bowen, 831
F.2d 1007, 1010 (11th Cir. 1987). Thus, the court must consider evidence both
favorable and unfavorable to the Commissioner’s decision. Swindle v. Sullivan, 914
F.2d 222, 225 (11th Cir. 1990).
The court will reverse the Commissioner’s decision on plenary review if the
decision applies incorrect law or fails to provide the court with sufficient reasoning

3

to determine that the Commissioner properly applied the law. Grant v. Astrue, 255
F. App’x 374, 375–76 (11th Cir. 2007) (citing Keeton v. Dep’t of Health & Human
Servs., 21 F.3d 1064, 1066 (11th Cir. 1994)). There is no presumption that the
Commissioner’s conclusions of law are valid. Id.
II. 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 12 months.”
42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A) & 416(i). A physical or mental 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). Partridge bears the burden
of proving that she is disabled and is responsible for producing evidence sufficient
to support her claim. See Ellison v. Barnhart, 355 F.3d 1272, 1276 (11th Cir. 2003).
A determination of disability under the Social Security Act requires a fivestep analysis. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a). The Commissioner must determine in
sequence:
(1) Is the claimant presently unable to engage in substantial gainful
activity?
(2) Are the claimant’s impairments severe?
(3) Do the claimant’s impairments satisfy or medically equal one of the
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specific impairments set forth in 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P,
App. 1?
(4) Is the claimant unable to perform her former occupation?
(5) Is the claimant unable to perform other work given her residual
functional capacity, age, education, and work experience?
See Frame v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 596 F. App’x 908, 910 (11th Cir. 2015).
“An affirmative answer to any of the above questions leads either to the next
question, or, [at] steps three and five, to a finding of disability. A negative answer
to any question, other than at step three, leads to a determination of ‘not disabled.’”
McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026, 1030 (11th Cir. 1986) (quoting 20 C.F.R.
§ 416.920(a)−(f)). “Once the finding is made that a claimant cannot return to prior
work the burden of proof shifts to the Secretary to show other work the claimant can
do.” Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553, 1559 (11th Cir. 1995) (citing Gibson v. Heckler,
762 F.2d 1516 (11th Cir. 1985)).
III. RELEVANT FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Partridge was born on October 20, 1959 and was 57 years old on her alleged
onset date. R. 414 & 440. Her primary complaints are pain she attributes to spinal
stenosis, diverticulitis, and fibromyalgia. R. 299–302.

She contends that her

stomach, back, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and lack of sleep prevent her from having the
ability to work. R. 307. In her disability report, Partridge alleged the following
medical conditions: spinal stenosis, diabetes, diverticulitis, hypertension,
hypothyroidism, heart attack, mood swings, arthritis, joint stiffness, and back pain.

5

R. 444.
Partridge graduated high school and completed about two years of college.
R. 296. She received a certification in business administration from Gadsden
Business Collage. R. 297. She has past work experience as an office manager, a
position she held with the same company for about 32 years. R. 297, 307 & 446.
Partridge testified that she has pain throughout the day and cannot sleep
because of the pain in her shoulders, hip, and lower back. R. 299 & 302. The pain
sometimes radiates to her ankles. R. 299. She rests and takes Aleve for her pain and
has to lay down two to three hours per day on “most days.” R. 299–300. She
averages about three “good” days per week when she does not wake up with pain
and nausea and is able to sleep at night. R. 300. Partridge testified that she is unable
to sit in the same position for more than an hour to an hour and a half. R. 302–03.
After that, she has to get up, change positions, and walk around briefly. R. 302. Even
so, she cannot stand for long and walking is difficult. R. 303. She estimates she can
lift about 10 pounds comfortably. R. 304.
On a normal day, Partridge wakes up, makes her coffee, reads her Bible, and
prays. R. 304. She then has breakfast and may do some light laundry or housework.
R. 304. Some days she visits her mother. R. 304. She used to help her mother with
housework and garden, but she is no longer able to do those things. R. 304–05.
The ALJ issued his decision on March 22, 2019. R. 237. Under step one of

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the five-step evaluation process, he found that Partridge has not engaged in
substantial gainful activity since January 29, 2017. R. 228. The ALJ concluded that
Partridge suffers from the severe impairments of degenerative disc disease of the
lumbar and cervical spine with a history of cervical discectomy and hardware
placement, history of myocardial infarction, obesity, and osteoarthritis.3 R. 228–31.
The ALJ noted that these medically determinable impairments cause more than
minimal limitations to her ability to perform basis work activities. R. 228. But the
ALJ concluded at step three of the analysis that none of Partridge’s impairments
satisfied or medically equaled the severity of one of those listed in the applicable
regulations. R. 231–32.
Before proceeding to the fourth step, the ALJ determined that Partridge had
the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform a limited range of light work.
R. 232. More specifically, the ALJ found that Partridge had the following limitations
with respect to light work, as defined in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(b) and 416.967(b):
occasional climbing of stairs or ramps; never climbing ladders, ropes
or scaffolds; occasional balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching and
crawling; avoidance of unprotected heights and dangerous moving
machinery; and occasional reaching overhead.
R. 232. At the fourth step, the ALJ considered Partridge’s age, education, work
3

The ALJ found Partridge’s other alleged impairments to be non-severe. R. 228–31. Partridge
does not challenge these findings, other than stating that “[d]espite the medical evidence of spinal
stenosis, the ALJ failed to find spinal stenosis as a severe impairment.” Doc. 12 at 19. She provides
no legal analysis related to this statement or the ALJ’s alleged failure. The court therefore does
not deem this argument to be presented properly for review.
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experience, and RFC in determining that she was capable of performing her past
work as an office manager. R. 336. Therefore, the ALJ concluded that Partridge was
not disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act from January 29, 2017
through March 22, 2019, the date of the decision. R. 236–37. Based on these
findings, the ALJ denied Partridge’s application for benefits. R. 236–37.
IV. DISCUSSION
Partridge’s attack on the ALJ’s decision is two-fold. First, Partridge filed a
challenge to the Commissioner’s denial advancing five arguments. Specifically, she
contends that (1) the ALJ erred in finding that she does not have an impairment that
meets Listing 1.04; (2) the ALJ erred when he found that she can perform her past
relevant work; (3) the ALJ’s RFC finding is not supported by substantial evidence,
is conclusory, and violates SSR 96-8p; (4) the ALJ failed to credit her excellent work
history; and (5) the vocational expert testimony was not based on a correct statement
of her limitations and impairments. Doc. 12 at 17–30. Second, while this challenge
was pending, Partridge filed a motion to remand (Doc. 13) based on sentence four
and sentence six of 42 U.S.C. § 405. The court addresses the motion to remand and
then moves on to the five arguments in her general challenge of the ALJ’s decision.
A.

Motion to Remand
Partridge filed a Motion to Remand pursuant to sentence four and sentence

six of 42 U.S.C. § 405. Doc. 13. Sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) gives the court

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“power to enter, upon the pleadings and transcript of the record, a judgment
affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social
Security, with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
A remand under sentence four of § 405(g) “is based upon a determination that the
Commissioner erred in some respect in reaching the decision to deny benefits.”
Jackson v. Chater, 99 F.3d 1086, 1095 (11th Cir. 1996). On the other hand, sentence
six of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) provides the “sole means for a district court to remand to
the Commissioner to consider new evidence presented for the first time in the district
court.” Ingram, 496 F.3d at 1267. “The sixth sentence of § 405(g) plainly describes
an entirely different kind of remand [from the fourth sentence], appropriate when
the district court learns of evidence not in existence or available to the claimant at
the time of the administrative proceeding that might have changed the outcome of
that proceeding.” Sullivan v. Finkelstein, 496 U.S. 617, 626 (1990). A remand to
the Commissioner is proper under sentence six when new material evidence that was
not incorporated into the administrative record for good cause comes to the attention
of the district court. See Milano v. Bowen, 809 F.2d 763, 766–67 (11th Cir. 1987);
Cherry v. Heckler, 760 F.2d 1186, 1193–94 (11th Cir. 1985).
Although Partridge alleges that the court should remand under sentence four
based on the ALJ’s discounting of the opinions of Dr. Daniel Price and Dr. Jane
Teschner and failure to consider the side effects of her medication (Doc. 13 at 1),

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she does nothing more. She does not identify where these opinions are located in
the record, describe their substance, or explain the particular side effects of her
medication. She does not analyze or explain how the opinions conflict with the
ALJ’s decision. The court cannot guess at Partridge’s arguments and must deem her
sentence four remand request to have been abandoned. Sapuppo v. Allstate Floridian
Ins. Co., 739 F.3d 678, 681 (11th Cir. 2014) (“We have long held that an appellant
abandons a claim when he either makes only passing references to it or raises it in a
perfunctory manner without supporting arguments and authority.”).
As for her request for remand under sentence six, Partridge submitted a Notice
of Award dated August 20, 2020. 4 Doc. 13-1. The Notice of Award was based on
another application for disability benefits and advised Partridge that she had been
determined to be disabled as of March 29, 2020. Doc. 13-1. A later favorable
decision is not evidence for purposes of remand pursuant to sentence six of § 405(g).
Hunter v. Soc. Sec. Admin., Comm’r, 808 F.3d 818, 822 (11th Cir. 2015). The
August 20, 2020 Notice of Award alone does not constitute newly discovered
evidence warranting remand of this case.5

4

Partridge alludes to additional medical evidence (Doc. 13 at 7) but did not submit that evidence
to the court.
5
Partridge’s reliance on Lindsey v. Commissioner of Social Security, 741 F. App’x 705, 710 (11th
Cir. 2018), is misplaced. In Lindsey, the Eleventh Circuit noted that a subsequent favorable
decision is not newly discovered evidence, but the evidence supporting a subsequent favorable
decision may constitute newly discovered evidence. Id. Partridge, however, has not identified any
evidence underlying the August 20, 2020 Notice of Award that was not considered in the course
of adjudicating her first applications for DIB and SSI.
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B.

Listings
To meet the requirements of a Listing, a claimant must “have a medically

determinable impairment(s) that satisfies all of the criteria in the listing.” 20 C.F.R.
§ 404.1525(d). The Listings of Impairments in the Social Security Regulations
identify impairments so severe as to prevent a person from engaging in gainful
activity. See 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App’x 1. If a claimant meets a listed
impairment or otherwise establishes an equivalence, the regulations conclusively
presume a disability. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(d). To meet a Listing, a plaintiff’s
impairment must “meet all of the specified medical criteria. An impairment that
manifests only some of those criteria, no matter how severely, does not qualify.”
Sullivan v. Zebley, 493 U.S. 521, 530 (1990) (emphasis in original). The burden is
on Partridge to show that her impairments meet a listed impairment. Barron v.
Sullivan, 924 F.2d 227, 229 (11th Cir. 1991).
Listing 1.04 provides as follows:
1.04 Disorders of the spine (e.g., herniated nucleus pulposus, spinal
arachnoiditis, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease,
facet arthritis, vertebral fracture), resulting in compromise of a nerve
root (including the cauda equina) or the spinal cord. With:
A. Evidence of nerve root compression characterized by neuroanatomic
distribution of pain, limitation of motion of the spine, motor loss
(atrophy with associated muscle weakness or muscle weakness)
accompanied by sensory or reflex loss and, if there is involvement of
the lower back, positive straight-leg raising test (sitting and supine); or
B. Spinal arachnoiditis, confirmed by an operative note or pathology
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report of tissue biopsy, or by appropriate medically acceptable imaging,
manifested by severe burning or painful dysesthesia, resulting in the
need for changes in position or posture more than once every 2 hours;
or
C. Lumbar spinal stenosis resulting in pseudoclaudication, established
by findings on appropriate medically acceptable imaging, manifested
by chronic nonradicular pain and weakness, and resulting in inability to
ambulate effectively, as defined in 1.00B2b.
20 C.F.R. § Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1. The ALJ found that the medical evidence did
not establish nerve root compression, spinal stenosis, or lumbar spinal stenosis, as
required by Listing 1.04. R. 231. He noted that “[t]here is no indication of an
inability to ambulate effectively, as defined in 1.00(B)(2)(b), or an inability to
perform fine and gross motor movements effectively, as defined in 1.00(B)(2)(c).”
R. 231.
Substantial evidence supports this finding. An examination on January 25,
2017, four days before her alleged onset date, showed a normal musculoskeletal and
neurological examination, including a normal range of motion in her extremities and
normal sensation. R. 678–79. Similarly, a physical examination dated March 13,
2018 showed normal ambulation with normal muscle tone, normal strength, normal
movement of her extremities, and normal gait and station. R. 689–70, 693 & 696. A
January 20, 2015 MRI of her cervical spine indicated some disk space narrowing
with osteophyte formation, but no prevertebral soft tissue swelling. R. 683. Based
on complaints of lower back pain, a lumbar spine MRI was done on April 29, 2016.

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R. 671. The MRI showed grade I anterolisthesis with disk bulging, central spinal
canal and foraminal stenosis, and early degenerative disc disease. R. 671. “No
definite herniation or spinal stenosis [was] identified.” R. 671.
Although Partridge contends that she meetings Listing 1.04 because of her
diagnosis and treatment of stenosis of the lumbar spine (Doc. 12 at 17–19), a
diagnosis is not enough to meet the requirements of Listing 1.04. Instead, she must
establish one of the three criteria set out in A, B, and C. She has not done so. In
fact, she has not pointed to any specific medical evidence that supports such a
finding. When it is Partridge’s duty to demonstrate that she meets the listing, the
court will not scour the record for evidence that Partridge’s condition satisfied one
of these requirements. For these reasons, the court rejects Partridge’s arguments6
regarding the ALJ’s finding that her impairments do not meet or equal Listing 1.04.
C.

Past Relevant Work
The heading of Partridge’s second argument is “The Finding that Claimant

Can Perform Past Work Is Not Supported by Substantial Evidence and Is Not in
Accordance with Proper Legal Standards.” Doc. 12 at 19. The Commissioner argues
(Doc. 15 at 10) and the court agrees that Partridge has abandoned her argument on

6

Partridge’s other arguments (Doc. 12 at 19) provide no legal or factual support. The court will
not imagine the arguments for Partridge and deems these issues to have been abandoned. Sapuppo,
739 F.3d at 681. Even if the court were to consider the arguments, the court rejects them for the
reasons stated by the Commissioner. Doc. 15 at 8.
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this point. “[A] legal claim or argument that has not been briefed before the court is
deemed abandoned and its merits will not be addressed.” Access Now, Inc. v. Sw.
Airlines Co., 385 F.3d 1324, 1330 (11th Cir. 2004). “[A]n appellant’s brief must
include an argument containing appellant’s contentions and the reasons for them,
with citations to the authorities and parts of the record on which the appellant relies.”
Singh v. U.S. Atty. Gen., 561 F.3d 1275, 1278 (11th Cir. 2009) (quotation marks
omitted).
Other than identifying the issue, Partridge does not provide any analysis of
the purported error identified in her initial brief. Instead, the brief employs block
quotations, summarizes, or simply provides citations to cases in which various
federal courts have remanded other cases for reevaluations of a claimant’s past
relevant work. Doc. 12 at 19–22. The brief thus does not provide any substantive
analysis of the purported error. This perfunctory discussion does not give the
Commissioner or the court any guidance about Partridge’s argument aside from the
simple fact that she claims error. This is insufficient. See Singh, 561 F.3d at 1278
(“[A]n appellant’s simply stating that an issue exists, without further argument or
discussion, constitutes abandonment of that issue and precludes our considering the
issue . . . .”); see also Sapuppo, 739 F.3d at 681 (“We have long held that an appellant
abandons a claim when he either makes only passing references to it or raises it in a
perfunctory manner without supporting arguments and authority.”).

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In apparent recognition of this lack of analysis, in her reply brief Partridge
excerpted her hearing testimony “as summarized in the initial brief.” Doc. 16 at 6–
8. But Partridge still did not provide any meaningful analysis of how her testimony
establishes an error on the part of the ALJ. This issue has been abandoned.
D.

RFC Formulation
Partridge next argues that the ALJ’s RFC finding is not supported by

substantial evidence. Docs. 12 at 23–27 & 16 at 8–12. Specifically, she contends
that the RFC is conclusory and violates Social Security Ruling (“SSR”) 96-8p, 1996
WL 374184. The Commissioner contends that this argument lacks merit and
overlooks certain of the ALJ’s findings. Doc. 15 at 12–17. The court agrees.
SSR 96–8p regulates the ALJ’s assessment of a claimant’s RFC. Under SSR
96–8p, the “RFC assessment must first identify the individual’s functional
limitations or restrictions and assess his or her work-related abilities on a functionby-function basis. . . . Only after that may RFC be expressed in terms of exertional
levels of work, sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy.” SSR 96–8p at 1.
The regulation specifically mandates a narrative discussion of “the individual’s
ability to perform sustained work activities in an ordinary work setting on a regular
and continuing basis . . . and describ[ing] the maximum amount of each work-related
activity the individual can perform based on the evidence available in the case
record.” SSR 96–8p at 6.

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The Eleventh Circuit has held that an ALJ meets the requirements of SSR 96–
8p by considering all of the evidence even when the ALJ could have been “more
specific and explicit” in his or her findings with respect to a plaintiff’s “functional
limitations and work-related abilities on a function-by-function basis.” Freeman v.
Barnhart, 220 F. App’x 957, 959 (11th Cir. 2007); see also Castel v. Comm’r of Soc.
Sec., 355 F. App’x 260, 263 (11th Cir. 2009) (holding that an ALJ’s RFC finding is
sufficiently detailed despite lacking an express discussion of every function if there
is substantial evidence supporting the ALJ’s RFC assessment). In addition, the ALJ
need not “specifically refer to every piece of evidence in his decision” as long as the
decision allows the court to conclude that the ALJ considered the plaintiff’s medical
condition as a whole. See Dyer, 395 F.3d at 1211.
The court is satisfied that the ALJ complied with SSR 96-8p.7 The decision
includes a through discussion and examination of all of the evidence of Partridge’s
impairments, including the objective medical evidence, the longitudinal treatment
history, her daily activities, and testimony and other statements concerning her
alleged limitations. R. 232–36. The decision also explains the basis for the ALJ’s

7

Numerous opinions of courts sitting within this district have rejected a similar argument made
by Partridge’s attorney. See, e.g., Turley v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 2019 WL 1466260, at *6 (N.D.
Ala. Apr. 4, 2019); Morgan v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 2019 WL 1466259, at *4 (N.D. Ala. Apr. 3,
2019); Ragland v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 2019 WL 1125573, at *7 (N.D. Ala. Mar. 3, 2019); Brown
v. Berryhill, 2018 WL 5024086, at *6 (N.D. Ala. Oct. 17, 2018); Washington v. Comm’r of Soc.
Sec., 2018 WL 1403895, at *7 (N.D. Ala. Mar. 20, 2018); Caves v. Berryhill, 2018 WL 888885,
at *5 (N.D. Ala. Feb. 14, 2018); Hickman v. Berryhill, 2018 WL 582438, at *4–5 (N.D. Ala. Jan.
29, 2018).
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determination that Partridge could perform a reduced range of light work. R. 232–
36. And Partridge’s argument that the ALJ must rely on a physical capacities
evaluation from a treating or examining physician (Doc. 12 at 25) is unavailing.8
The RFC determination is an issue reserved to the Commissioner, and the ALJ is not
compelled to base his RFC finding on the opinion of a physician. See 20 C.F.R.
§§ 404.1546(c) & 416.946(c); Beegle v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 482 F. App’x 483, 486
(11th Cir. 2012) (“A claimant’s [RFC] is a matter reserved for the ALJ’s
determination, and while a physician’s opinion on the matter will be considered, it
is not dispositive.”). Accordingly, the court finds this argument to be without merit.
E.

Subjective Complaints of Pain
In addressing a claimant’s subjective description of pain and symptoms, the

law is clear:
In order to establish a disability based on testimony of pain and other
symptoms, the claimant must satisfy two parts of a three-part test
showing: (1) evidence of an underlying medical condition; and
(2) either (a) objective medical evidence confirming the severity of the
alleged pain; or (b) that the objectively determined medical condition
can reasonably be expected to give rise to the claimed pain. If the ALJ
discredits subjective testimony, he must articulate explicit and adequate
reasons for doing so.
Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219, 1225 (11th Cir. 2002) (citations omitted); see
8

The court is not persuaded by Partridge’s citation to Thomason v. Barnhart, 344 F. Supp. 2d 1326
(N.D. Ala. 2004), for the proposition that the RFC assessment is unsupported by substantial
evidence because there was no opinion evidence from a physician matching the limitations in the
RFC finding. Again, the determination of a claimant’s RFC is an administrative determination left
for the Commissioner and not one reserved for medical advisors. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1546.
17

also 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529. If a claimant satisfies the first part of the test, the ALJ
must evaluate the symptoms’ intensity, persistence, and effect on the claimant’s
ability to work. See 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(5)(A); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529(c) & (d);
20 C.F.R. §§ 416.929(c) & (d). While evaluating the evidence, the ALJ must
consider whether inconsistencies exist within the evidence or between the claimant’s
statements and the evidence, including her history, medical signs and laboratory
findings, and statements by medical sources or other sources about how her
symptoms affect her. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529(c)(4) & 416.929(c)(4). In determining
whether substantial evidence supports an ALJ’s credibility determination, “[t]he
question is not . . . whether the ALJ could have reasonably credited [the claimant’s]
testimony, but whether the ALJ was clearly wrong to discredit it.” Werner v. Comm’r
of Soc. Sec., 421 F. App’x 935, 939 (11th Cir. 2011). The ALJ is not required to
conduct an explicit symptom analysis, but the reasons for his or her findings must
be clear enough that they are obvious to a reviewing court. See Foote v. Chater, 67
F.3d 1553, 1562 (11th Cir. 1995). “A clearly articulated credibility finding with
substantial supporting evidence in the record will not be disturbed by a reviewing
court.” Id. (citation omitted).
The ALJ found that Partridge’s medically determinable impairments could
reasonably be expected to produce the alleged symptoms, but her statements
regarding the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of these symptoms were not

18

entirely consistent with the medical evidence and other evidence in the record.
R. 233. This determination is supported by substantial evidence.
The ALJ thoroughly examined the medical evidence in determining that
Partridge’s subjective complaints of pain were not entirely credible. R. 232–36. In
discounting her subjective complaints, the ALJ specifically noted the following:
• Despite regularly reporting back and generalized joint pain,
Partridge’s physical examinations reflected generally normal
musculoskeletal findings with normal gait and station. R. 542–43,
546–47, 608, 689–90, 692–63 & 696.
• The medical records indicate Partridge received conservative
treatment with medication and steroid injections, and she reported
improvement with the injections. R. 602 & 605.
• Her daily activities including cleaning, housework, driving, and
shopping. R. 235, 455 & 458–59.
• Notwithstanding her reported inability to work, “she was reportedly
simultaneously pursuing retraining for a different job position and
making crafts to supplement her income.” R. 235 & 696.
Based on this information, the ALJ found that Partridge’s complaints of disabling
pain were “somewhat inconsistent with the longitudinal record of evidence on exam,
conservative treatment of her impairments and her own statements about her ability
to engage in most of her daily activities of living.” R. 235.
On this record, the court finds that the ALJ’s conclusion about Partridge’s
subjective complaints of pain is supported by substantial evidence. Partridge’s
medical examinations were largely normal with few abnormalities and the treatment
notes show evidence of improvement with medication and treatment. See Belle v.
Barnhart, 196 F. App’x 558, 560 (11th Cir. 2005) (noting that normal findings on
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examination support an ALJ’s decision to discount subjective complaints); Dawkins
v. Bowen, 848 F.2d 1211, 1213 (11th Cir. 1988) (“A medical condition that can
reasonably be remedied either by surgery, treatment, or medication is not
disabling.”). Partridge’s treatment and medication were conservative and noted to
be effective by her doctors. Additionally, the record reflects that Partridge engaged
in a somewhat normal level of daily activity. R. 455–60. Her daily activities further
undermine her claim of disabling limitations. See Meehan v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec.,
776 F. App’x 599, 603 (11th Cir. 2019) (affirming ALJ properly found subjective
complaint inconsistent with a record of simple daily activities).
Partridge does not address the ALJ’s reasons for discounting her subjective
complaints, but instead challenges the ALJ’s assessment of her credibility based
solely on her good work history. Doc. 12 at 27–29. Work history alone does not
establish a plaintiff’s credibility. See Edwards v. Sullivan, 937 F.2d 580, 584 (11th
Cir. 1991) (upholding ALJ’s credibility determination despite plaintiff’s good work
history). Moreover, “‘there is no rigid requirement that the ALJ specifically refer to
every piece of evidence in [his] decision,’ so long as the decision enables the
reviewing court to conclude that the ALJ considered the claimant’s medical
condition as a whole.” Lewen v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 605 F. App’x 967, 968 (11th
Cir. 2015) (quoting Dyer, 395 F.3d at 1211); see also Cooper v. Comm’r of Soc.
Sec., 521 F. App’x 803, 808–09 (11th Cir. 2013) (holding that “the ALJ stated that

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he considered the record in its entirety, and he was not required to discuss every
piece of evidence in denying her application for disability benefits”).
Here, the court finds that the ALJ considered Partridge’s medical condition as
a whole in making his credibility determination. The ALJ properly found Partridge’s
allegations of severe pain and physical limitations not to be credible because they
conflicted with the evidence of record, including evidence that she had normal
physical examination findings, her condition improved with conservative treatment,
she maintained her activities of daily living, and she could perform light work
according the state agency medical consultant. R. 232–36. In sum, the ALJ correctly
considered “the consistency of [Partridge’s] statements” with the remainder of the
evidence. See SSR 16-3p, 2017 WL 5180304, at *8. The ALJ’s determinations are
supported by substantial evidence and this claim is without merit.
F.

Vocational Expert’s Testimony
Partridge’s final argument is that the VE’s testimony is not supported by

substantial evidence because it was based on an inaccurate and incomplete
hypothetical. Doc. 12 at 29–30.

Specifically, Partridge contends that “the

hypothetical question relied upon did not accurately state Claimant’s pain level or
her residual functional capacity,” but instead assumed Partridge could perform light
work. Doc. 12 at 29. The court disagrees.
“In order for a vocational expert’s testimony to constitute substantial

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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).
“The hypothetical need only include the claimant’s impairments, not each and every
symptom of the claimant.” Ingram v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 496 F.3d 1253,
1270 (11th Cir. 2007). Further, the ALJ is “not required to include findings in the
hypothetical that the ALJ had properly rejected as unsupported.” Crawford v.
Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 363 F.3d 1155, 1161 (11th Cir. 2004).
Here, the ALJ found that the evidence demonstrated Partridge could perform
her past relevant work as an office manager. R. 236. The ALJ’s hypothetical
questions to the VE fully accounted for Partridge’s impairments and limitations, as
demonstrated by the medical evidence of record. This is all that is required of the
ALJ. See Jones v. Apfel, 190 F.3d 1224, 1229 (11th Cir. 1999); McSwain v. Bowen,
814 F.2d 617, 619–20 (11th Cir. 1987); see also Borges v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 771
F. App’x 878, (11th Cir. 2019) (“[B]ecause Borges’s RFC, which is supported by
substantial evidence . . . matched the ALJ’s first hypothetical question at the hearing
he did not need to rely on these more restrictive hypotheticals.”). Other than her
subjective complaints of pain, which the ALJ discredited, Partridge does not specify
the information that the ALJ stated inaccurately or left out of the hypotheticals posed
to the VE. The court has concluded that substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s
determinations with respect to her complaints of pain. Partridge has not challenged

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any other portion of the hypotheticals posed to the VE. The court, therefore,
concludes that the hypotheticals were not incomplete or inaccurate, and this claim is
without merit.
V. CONCLUSION
The Commissioner’s decision is supported by substantial evidence and based
upon the proper legal standards and the decision of the Commissioner is due to be
affirmed. The Motion to Remand (Doc. 13) is due to be denied.
A final judgment will be entered separately.
DONE and ORDERED on July 16, 2021.

_________________________________
GRAY M. BORDEN
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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