Bagby v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner

Filing 13

MEMORANDUM OPINION Signed by Chief Judge Karon O Bowdre on 3/14/14. (SAC )

FILED
2014 Mar-14 PM 03:08
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
NORTHEASTERN DIVISION

PATRICIA ANN BAGBY,
Plaintiff,
v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Commissioner of the Social
Security Administration,
Defendant.

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 5-12-CV-2759-KOB

MEMORANDUM OPINION
I. Introduction
On October 28, 2009, the claimant, Patricia Ann Bagby, applied for supplemental
security income under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. (R. 108-114). The claimant alleges
disability commencing on October 22, 2009 because of post-traumatic stress disorder, a panic
disorder with agoraphobia, a major depressive disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder. (R. 35-36). The Commissioner denied the claim both initially and on reconsideration.
(R. 57-61).
The claimant filed a timely request for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, and
the ALJ held a hearing on January 20, 2011. (R. 64). In a decision dated February 25, 2011, the
ALJ found that the claimant was not disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act and,
thus, was ineligible for supplemental security income. (R. 10). On May 15, 2011, the Appeals
Council denied the claimant’s request for review; consequently, the ALJ’s decision became the

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final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. (R. 3-5). The
claimant has exhausted her administrative remedies, and this court has jurisdiction pursuant to 42
U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3).
For the reasons stated below, this court reverses and remands the decision of the
Commissioner.
II. Issues Presented
Whether the Appeals Council erred in evaluating newly submitted evidence and failing to
remand the case to the ALJ.
III. Standard of Review
The standard for reviewing the Commissioner’s decision is limited. This court must
affirm the Commissioner’s decision if he applied the correct legal standards and if substantial
evidence supports his factual conclusions. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Graham v. Apfel, 129 F.3d
1420, 1422 (11th Cir. 1997); Walker v. Bowen, 826 F.2d 996, 999 (11th Cir. 1987).
“No . . . presumption of validity attaches to the [Commissioner’s] legal conclusions,
including determination of the proper standards to be applied in evaluating claims.” Walker, 826
F.2d at 999. The court does not review de novo the Commissioner’s factual determinations, but
only affirms if substantial evidence supports his findings. “Substantial evidence” is “more than a
mere scintilla. It means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to
support a conclusion.” Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971).
The court must “scrutinize the record in its entirety to determine the reasonableness of the
[Commissioner]'s factual findings.” Walker, 826 F.2d at 999. A reviewing court must not look
only to those parts of the record that support the decision of the ALJ, but the court must also
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view the record in its entirety and take into account evidence that detracts from the evidence
relied on by the ALJ. Hillsman v. Bowen, 804 F.2d 1179 (11th Cir. 1986).
IV. Legal Standard

Under 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A), a person is entitled to disability benefits when the
person cannot “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). To make this determination, the Commissioner employs a five-step, sequential
evaluation process:
(1) Is the person presently unemployed?
(2) Is the person’s impairment severe?
(3) Does the person’s impairment meet or equal one of the specific impairments set forth
in 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, app. 1?
(4) Is the person unable to perform his or her former occupation?
(5) Is the person unable to perform any other work within the economy?
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.”
McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026, 1030 (11th Cir. 1986); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920.
When the claimant submits "new and material" evidence "relat[ing] to the period on or
before the date of the administrative law judge hearing decision" to the Appeals Council after the
ALJ hearing, and the Appeals Council makes the new evidence part of the record, this court may
determine that the failure of the Appeals Council to adequately consider that evidence warrants a
remand. Hyde v. Bowen, 823 F.2d 456, 459 (11th Cir. 1987). Such evidence is considered
material and potentially worthy of remand when the Appeals Council did not consider it if "there

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is a reasonable possibility the new evidence would change the administrative outcome." Id. The
Appeals Council may not merely "perfunctorily adhere" to the ALJ's general reasoning when it
considers the new evidence but upholds the ALJ’s decision; instead it must adequately explain
why it denied review. Epps v. Harris, 624 F.2d 1267, 1273 (5th Cir. 1987); see also Ingram v.
Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 496 F.3d 1253 (11th Cir. 2007) (holding that remand was
appropriate in light of new evidence presented to the Appeals Council to determine if the ALJ's
finding was still supported by substantial evidence). This court has the authority to remand a
case based on such new evidence pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), under a sentence four remand
or reversal. Id.; see also 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.940, 404.946.
V. Facts
The claimant has a high school education and was 51 years old at the time of the
administrative hearing. She has no past relevant work. The claimant alleges that she is unable to
work because of post-traumatic stress disorder, a panic disorder with agoraphobia, a major
depressive disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. (R. 35-36).
Mental Limitations
Dr. Benita Swartout of Hanceville Health Center examined the claimant three times,
initially on July 9, 2009. At that first visit, the claimant complained of two years of depression
and panic attacks and indicated that she could not stop crying. She further claimed to have lost
25 pounds during the previous six months. Dr. Swartout diagnosed the claimant with anxiety,
depression and panic disorder. She prescribed Celexa and encouraged the claimant to exercise
for stress relief. (R. 188-189).

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Dr. Swartout next examined the claimant two weeks later on July 23, 2009. At that
second visit, the claimant told Dr. Swartout that Celexa was “really helping” and that she felt
better but was still anxious and jittery. Dr. Swartout noted that the claimant’s anxiety and
agitation had improved, but that her depressive symptoms had not resolved. She instructed the
claimant to continue on Celexa and begin taking Buspirone as well. (R. 186-187).
The claimant last saw Dr. Swartout on August 7, 2009, less than a month after her initial
visit. The claimant complained of fatigue, sleep difficulties, dizziness, and excessive crying.
She further complained of side effects from her medications, black outs, diarrhea, and falling six
times in one week. She told the doctor that her sister had come to stay with her because she was
too nervous to stay alone. Dr. Swartout noted her depressive symptoms, anxiety and agitation,
and diagnosed her with depression and severe anxiety without suicidal ideations. Dr. Swartout
noted that medication was not helping, and that the claimant was willing to see a psychiatrist.
She referred the patient to Dr. Deborah Gordon at Cullman Primary Care Family Counseling
Center. (R. 184-185).
Dr. Deborah Gordon initially examined the claimant on October 20, 2009. The claimant
told the doctor about her panic attacks and waking in the middle of the night, but being able to
return to sleep. Dr. Gordon noted the claimant’s appropriate appearance, cooperative attitude,
clear and coherent speech, good eye contact, linear and logical thought, and adequate judgment.
She also noted the claimant’s poor memory, attention, and concentration. She described the
claimant as depressed, anxious, tremulous, sad, and tearful. She noted the claimant’s family
history of domestic violence and alcoholism. Dr. Gordon diagnosed the claimant with chronic
and severe post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, panic attacks, and attention
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deficit hyperactivity disorder. She prescribed Pristiq and gave the claimant a handout on
relaxation exercises. (R. 199-202).
Dr. Mary Arnold, the state’s psychologist, evaluated the claimant on December 8, 2009
and reviewed records provided by the Disability Determination Services. Her report noted that
the claimant, whom she deemed a reliable informant, denied substance abuse and had no history
of suicide attempt. She was seeing a psychiatrist, and had been taking Klonopin and Prestiq
since November, 2009. Dr. Arnold noted that the claimant was well-groomed and had refined
social skills, but that her mood was anxious with congruent affect. She found that the claimant
demonstrated fluid speech and made eye contact. Further, Dr. Arnold noted that the claimant
was alert and oriented in all spheres, was able to understand instructions, and could mentally
perform simple monetary calculations and numerical sequencing. Regarding her daily activity,
Dr. Arnold reported that the claimant groomed and dressed independently, maintained a neat
household, and managed her business affairs. Additionally, the claimant reported to Dr. Arnold
that she watches “House” and “Bones” on DVD, listens to classic rock and easy listening on the
radio, and maintains social relationships with her mother, her siblings and a close friend. Finally,
Dr. Arnold diagnosed the claimant with an adjustment disorder and an anxiety disorder, and
ascribed to her a GAF of 57. (R. 203-206).
At the request of the DDS, Dr. Robert Estock completed a Psychiatric Review Technique
on January 6, 2010 based on the claimant’s medical records. He found that the claimant had
adjustment disorder and anxiety disorder, but that neither of these impairments precisely satisfied
their respective diagnostic criteria. Regarding her functional limitation, Dr. Estock found that the
claimant had moderate restriction of activities of daily living; moderate difficulties maintaining
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social function; moderate difficulties maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; and no
episodes of decompensation of extended duration. Dr. Estock concluded that the claimant’s
allegations were moderately credible. (R. 210-222).
Dr. Estock also completed a Mental Residual Functional Capacity Assessment on January
6, 2010. Dr. Estock concluded that the claimant could understand and remember simple
instructions but not detailed ones, and that she could sustain attention to routine and familiar
tasks for extended periods. Further, due to her adjustment disorder and depression, the claimant
would benefit from a flexible schedule and should be expected to miss one-to-two days of work
per month. Dr. Estock stated that although the claimant would benefit from regular rest breaks,
she would nonetheless be able to maintain a work pace consistent with the mental demands of
competitive level work. (R. 22-226).
In 2010, Dr. Gordon again examined the claimant on January 26, April 20, August 11,
and November 26. At each of those visits, the doctor noted that the claimant was appropriately
dressed, neat, and clean; that she had a cooperative but guarded attitude, coherent speech and
good eye contact; that she was alert; and that she was oriented to time, place, person and
situation. Repeatedly, Dr. Gordon described the claimant’s mood as depressed and anxious with
feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness. She noted that the claimant had crying
spells, low energy, and a decreased appetite, but also that her speech was coherent, her thoughts
linear, and her judgment adequate. Dr. Gordon repeatedly reiterated her diagnoses of major
depressive disorder, chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Dr. Gordon prescribed Klonopin and initially increased

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the claimant’s dosage of Pristiq before ultimately taking the claimant off Pristiq and putting her
on Atterall. (R. 232-235, 239).
In contrast to previous visits, on August 11 and November 26, 2010, Dr. Gordon left
unchecked all of the boxes on her session notes relating to depression, anxiety, and despairing
feelings. She also billed those appointments as CPT code 90862, referring to pharmacological
management with a minimal amount of psychotherapy. In contrast to all previous visits, on
November 26, 2010, Dr. Gordon described the claimant’s motor behavior as normal and her
affect as euthymic. (R. 232-233).
On November 9, 2009, the claimant completed Function Report – Adult, where in her
own words she described her daily functioning and emotional limitations. The claimant wrote
that typically she awakens and cries, cares for her dog, sometimes makes her bed, attempts to do
housework and laundry, and cooks one meal a day. She wrote that she maintains her personal
hygiene and motivates herself when she doesn’t “feel good.” She wrote that she checks her
calendar to confirm if she has appointments, or needs to go shopping. If she must leave the
house, she attempts to hurry, so that she can return quickly. Regarding her limitations, the
claimant wrote that some days she sits and cries all day; that loud noises disturb her; that she is
afraid to be outside; that she has trouble focusing, remembering, and concentrating; and that she
experiences feelings of anxiety and panic. (R. 144-150).
On November 29, 2010, Dr. Gordon completed, at the claimant’s request, a Medical
Assessment of Ability to do Work-Related Activities (Mental). Dr. Gordon rated the claimant as
poor in the occupational adjustment categories of follows work rules, relates to co-workers, deals
with the public, uses judgment, interacts with supervisors, deals with work stresses, and
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maintains attention and concentration. She rated the claimant as fair only in the category of
functions independently. She also noted the claimant’s extreme sensitivity to noises, exaggerated
startle response, and tendency to curl in the fetal position for self-protection. Dr. Gordon
diagnosed the claimant as having chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, severe panic disorder
with agoraphobia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and severe major depressive disorder.
(R. 228-229).
In her assessment, Dr. Gordon wrote that, because of the claimant’s extreme anxiety and
depression, she had impaired memory and concentration, and her thoughts became easily
fragmented and disorganized. She concluded that the claimant had no ability to understand,
remember, or carry out either simple, detailed, or complex job instructions. Dr. Gordon also
noted that the claimant had frequent panic attacks triggered by reminders of trauma, leaving her
house, and being around others. Dr. Gordon further concluded that the claimant was unable to
demonstrate reliability, relate predictably in social situations, or behave in an emotionally stable
manner. Dr. Gordon described only as fair the claimant’s ability to maintain her personal
appearance. She opined that all work-related areas were affected by the limitations she
described. (R. 252).
After the ALJ’s decision, the claimant submitted additional evidence from Dr. Gordon to
the Appeals Council. Some of this evidence had already been before the ALJ when he made his
decision. Information that the ALJ had not seen were Dr. Gordon’s notes from two treatment
sessions, her completed Medical Source Statement of Ability to Do Work-Related Activities
(Mental) dated April 4, 2011, and her letter “to whom it may concern” dated March 14, 2011.
(R. 248-258).
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The two additional treatment session notes were from November 19, 2009 and January 5,
2010. In both, Dr. Gordon observed that the claimant was appropriately dressed, neat, and clean;
and described the claimant as depressed and anxious, with excessive worrying, feelings of
helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness. In the November 19 notes, Dr. Gordon wrote that
that the claimant was not doing well and that her medication was not working, and she therefore
started the claimant on Klonopin and increased her dosage of Pristiq. In the January 5 notes, Dr.
Gordon noted that the claimant’s medication was starting to work, but that her condition was
worsening. (R. 248-249).
In the Medical Source Statement of Ability to Do Work-Related Activities (Mental) dated
April 4, 2011, Dr. Gordon described the claimant’s limitations as marked in understanding,
remembering and carrying out simple instructions. She described the claimant’s limitations as
severe in all other work related categories, including making simple or complex judgments and
understanding and carrying out complex instructions. Throughout the document, Dr. Gordon’s
handwritten notes simply referred back to the same form she completed on November 29, 2010,
which was already in the record when the ALJ made his decision. (R. 253-255).
The last of the newly submitted evidence was Dr. Gordon’s letter dated March 14, 2011,
where she explained that her practice was to bill indigent and uninsured patients for brief
medication management visits under CPT code 90862, even when she gave them more extensive
treatment. She wrote that although she coded some of the claimant’s visits to her office as
90862, she was actually providing 30 to 60 minutes of treatment each visit. (R. 257-258).

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The ALJ Hearing
After the Commissioner denied the claimant’s request for supplemental security income,
the claimant requested and received a hearing on January 20, 2011 before an ALJ. (R. 33).
At the hearing, the claimant testified that she traces the origins of her chronic posttraumatic stress disorder, severe panic disorder with agoraphobia, severe major depression
disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to parental alcoholism and domestic violence
that she witnessed in childhood, an abortion in early adulthood, and the recent dissolution of her
long-term marriage. (R. 45-46).
The claimant testified that she was divorced and lived alone, although one of her sons
stays with her sporadically. She stated that she shops by herself once or twice a month, driving
only to the closest store. She stated that she tries to shop at off hours, when the store is less
likely to be crowded. She testified that she does her own housework, but only a little at a time.
(R. 36-37). The claimant explained that on a typical day, she awakens and cries, but then
attempts to make lists of what she needs to do, and makes check marks on the lists after
completing tasks. She stated that she pays her own bills, but tries to make all of her bill
payments at once, thereby minimizing her trips outside. (R. 46-47). She testified that she has
general aches and pains that she attributed to her depression. (R. 38).
The claimant testified that she is afraid of strangers, people, crowds, and noise. She
stated that if she sees people laughing, she fears they are laughing at her. (R. 36-37). She
testified that when she once witnessed an altercation at the market, she abandoned her cart and
left the store. She stated that she associates the general noises of her household appliances and
the screeching of tires with angry voices. That association triggers flashbacks and causes her to
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want to hide. She stated that she can tolerate watching the weather report on television, but
newscasts and action scenes in movies are intolerable. She stated that even chirping birds are
upsetting. (R. 44-47).
The ALJ asked the claimant to reconcile this noise intolerance with statements she made
to Dr. Arnold in December, 2009 that she watches “Bones” and “House” on television. The
claimant told the ALJ that she no longer watches those programs because of both the noise and
the disturbing content. She further testified that she can now only tolerate listening to upbeat
radio music at low volumes, which has the added benefit of drowning out disquieting household
noises, like her refrigerator. (R. 50).
Regarding her social interactions, the claimant stated that she does not go to church and
does not make friends easily. She said that she makes phone calls to her sons, her mother, and a
cousin, but only when she has available cell phone minutes. She said she fears her youngest son,
and has had confrontations with him over his alcohol use and his relationships with women. (R.
48-49).
The ALJ next questioned Patsy Bramlett, a vocational expert. The ALJ posed a
hypothetical to Ms. Bramlett for an individual aged 50 to 52 with a high school education, no
work history, and no physical impairments. He asked that she assume that work be nonexertional, unskilled, and require only occasional interaction with supervisors and coworkers.
(R. 51-52).
The vocational expert testified that the following jobs exist for such an individual:
inspector, with 800 jobs existing in Alabama and 49,000 nationally; hand packager, with 900

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such jobs in Alabama and 49,000 nationally; and gluer, where 900 jobs exist in the state and
68,000 nationwide. (52-53).
The ALJ next posed to Ms. Bramlett a hypothetical where the individual from the first set
of facts has psychiatric problems that would preclude her from following work rules, relating to
coworkers, dealing with the public, using judgment, managing work stresses, and maintaining
attention or concentration. The ALJ also added that such an individual would be unable to
understand, remember and carry out even simple job instructions; would be unable to
successfully behave in an emotionally stable manner; and could not relate traditionally in social
situations or demonstrate reliability. The vocational expert testified that the limitations posed in
that hypothetical would eliminate all jobs. (R. 53).
The ALJ then asked the effect if the same individual would be unable, because of poor
stress management, to sustain a regular eight-hour work day and a 40-hour work week. The
vocational expert answered that such limitations would eliminate all jobs. (R. 53).
The ALJ then asked if jobs would exist if the same individual would regularly miss a
range of work days per month, starting at two, but going up to “five, or even higher.” The
vocational expert answered that no jobs would exist for such an individual. (R. 53-54).
Finally, the ALJ asked about the effect if the same individual would have to take
excessive breaks. The vocational expert again testified that no jobs would be available. (R. 54).
The ALJ’s Decision
On February 5, 2011, the ALJ issued a decision that the claimant was not disabled under
the Social Security Act. The ALJ found that the claimant had not engaged in substantial gainful
activity since October 22, 2009, the initial application date. (R. 15).
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The ALJ further found that the claimant had the severe impairments of post-traumatic
stress disorder, a panic disorder with agoraphobia, and a major depressive disorder. Although the
claimant’s records also showed a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the ALJ
found that the treatment records failed to show any specific findings, so he deemed that
impairment non-severe. (R. 15).
In assessing the claimant’s mental impairments, the ALJ found evidence of only moderate
restrictions of activities of daily living; moderate difficulties in maintaining social functioning;
and moderate difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace. Additionally, he
found no evidence of episodes of decompensation of an extended duration. The ALJ, therefore,
concluded that the claimant’s impairments, when considered individually or in combination, do
not meet or equal a listing. (R. 15).
The ALJ then considered whether, in spite of her impairments, the claimant has the
residual functional capacity to work. In assessing her RFC, the ALJ applied the pain standard to
the claimant’s subjective allegations and other symptoms. The ALJ found that, while the
claimant’s impairments could reasonably be expected to cause limitations, the claimant’s
statements concerning the intensity, persistence and limiting effects of her symptoms were not
credible. The ALJ concluded that the claimant’s description of her activities did not represent
disabling limitations and were not supported by medical evidence in the record. (R. 16-17).
The ALJ based his conclusion on the inconsistency between the plaintiff’s subjective
description of her ability to perform activities of daily living and other evidence in the record.
The ALJ considered specifically the November 2009 Function Report – Adult, the claimant’s
statements to Dr. Mary Arnold in December 2009, and the claimant’s other statements at the
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hearing, where she reported no significant limitations in her ability to take care of her personal
needs, finances, housekeeping, and shopping. The ALJ also noted that the claimant’s description
of her inability to tolerate television and other household noises was inconsistent with statements
made 14 months earlier to Dr. Arnold. (R. 16-17).
The ALJ then articulated three reasons for giving little weight to Dr. Deborah Gordon’s
opinion, in her November 29, 2010 report, that the claimant was unable to adapt to or perform
work-related activities in 13 out of 15 areas, and had serious limitations in the remaining two
areas. First, the ALJ found that Dr. Gordon’s assessment was not supported by substantial
treatment records, which he characterized as only showing occasional treatment from Hanceville
Health Center and Cullman Primary Care Family Counseling Center during a period beginning in
July 2009. The ALJ indicated that the insubstantial treatment record led him to conclude that Dr.
Gordon was augmenting her assessment of the claimant’s limitations to assist her in qualifying
for disability benefits. (R. 18).
Second, the ALJ found that the record showed a lack of duration of the claimant’s
limitations for the requisite 12 continuous months. The ALJ supported this conclusion by
examining Dr. Gordon’s records. He found that Dr. Gordon’s use of the CPT code of 90862 in
her session notes beginning in August 2010 demonstrated a significant change in the claimant’s
mental status, because that billing code indicates primarily a pharmacological visit with a
minimal degree of psychotherapy. The ALJ reasoned that minimal psychotherapy would be
inappropriate treatment for a patient in the condition that Dr. Gordon described in November
2010, and inferred that those 90862 visits indicated that the claimant’s condition had improved.
(R. 18).
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Finally, the ALJ stated he gave little weight to the opinion of Dr. Gordon because her
opinion was inconsistent not only with her own more recent treatment records, but also with the
opinion of Dr. Mary Arnold. The ALJ noted that in her evaluation of the claimant in December
2009, Dr. Arnold assigned her a GAF of 57, consistent with moderate symptoms and moderate
limitations. Dr. Arnold, therefore, concluded that the claimant should only have occasional
interaction with supervisors, co-workers and the public. The ALJ further noted that Dr. Estock,
the state agency’s medical consultant agreed with Dr. Arnold’s assessment, as he also opined the
claimant had no more than moderate limitations in her ability to manage work-related demands.
The ALJ gave Dr. Estock’s opinion considerable weight, finding that it was consistent with the
treatment the claimant received. (R. 18).
Regarding her ability to work, the ALJ found that the claimant had a high school
education and was able to communicate in English; that she had no past relevant work history
and, therefore, transferability of job skills was not an issue; and that those facts combined with
her residual functional capacity availed her of jobs existing in significant numbers in the national
economy. (R. 19).
The ALJ found that the claimant’s ability to perform work at all exertional levels was
compromised by her nonexertional limitations. The ALJ explained that, at the hearing, he posed
to the vocational expert hypothetical qualifications for an individual that matched the claimant’s
age, education, work experience, and residual functional capacity. The ALJ noted that the
vocational expert replied that a range of work existed in the national economy for such an
individual. The ALJ, therefore, concluded that the claimant would be capable of making a
successful adjustment to working, that jobs did exist in significant numbers for her in the
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national economy, and that she is, therefore, not disabled. (R. 19).
Discussion
1. The Appeals Council improperly evaluated newly submitted evidence.
The claimant argues that the Appeals Council erred in failing to remand the matter to the
ALJ based on claimant’s newly submitted evidence from Dr. Gordon. The court agrees and finds
that a reasonable possibility exists that the evidence that the claimant submitted to the Appeals
Council after the ALJ decision may have changed the administrative result had that evidence
been before the ALJ initially.
The claimant in a proceeding may submit evidence without restriction until the ALJ
renders his decision. 42 U.S.C. § 402(j)(2). The claimant may present new and material evidence
to the Appeals Council, and the Council must consider such evidence in determining whether to
review the ALJ’s decision. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.967, 404.970(b); Falge v. Apfel, 150 F.3d 1320,
1322-24 (11th Cir. 1998). New evidence is material if a reasonable possibility exists that the new
evidence would change the administrative result. Falge, 150 F.3d at 1323.
The Appeals Council must adequately explain why it denied review. Epps v. Harris, 624
F.2d 1267, 1273 (5th Cir. 1987); see also Ingram v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 496 F.3d 1253
(11th Cir. 2007) (holding that remand was appropriate in light of new evidence presented to the
Appeals Council to determine if the ALJ's finding was still supported by substantial evidence).
After the ALJ’s decision, the claimant submitted to the Appeals Council additional
evidence, most of which was already in the record. Not duplicative, however, were Dr. Gordon’s
psychiatric session notes from November 19, 2009 and January 5, 2010. As these session notes

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are substantially similar to those already submitted, the court finds no reasonably possibility that
they would change the ALJ’s decision.
However, the newly submitted evidence included a letter dated March 14, 2011, from Dr.
Gordon in which she explained why her treatment notes showed billing for medication visits
only. In the letter, Dr. Gordon explained that she billed indigent and uninsured patients for brief
visits under CPT code 90862, although she would actually provide 30 to 60 minutes of treatment
per visit. (R. 257-258).
In the present case, the Appeals Council acknowledged the new evidence and included it
in the record, but in doing so only provide a truncated analysis; it stated that it considered the
additional evidence but that the evidence “does not provide a basis for changing the [ALJ’s]
decision.” (R. 4). The Appeals Council gave no explanation or discussion regarding the reasons
for its finding.
Dr. Gordon’s letter bears careful review, as it addresses two of the three reasons the ALJ
articulated for discounting the treating doctor’s opinion. The ALJ noted specifically that Dr.
Gordon’s use of code 90862 indicated to him both that the claimant’s condition had improved
and that she was not receiving treatment in line with her alleged disability.
This court finds that, had the ALJ had before him and accepted Dr. Gordon’s explanation
in her March 14, 2011 letter regarding the use of the billing codes, a reasonable possibility exists
that the ALJ may have given Dr. Gordon’s opinion greater weight and, thus, possibly changed the
ALJ’s decision. The ALJ repeatedly relied on Dr. Gordon’s billing codes to support his decision
to give little weight to her medical opinion. Because Dr. Gordon is a treating physician, the ALJ
must afford her opinion great weight unless he shows good cause for discrediting her opinion.
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See Crawford v. Comm’r, 363 F.3d 1155, 1159 (11th Cir. 2004). Because Dr. Gordon’s March
14, 2011 letter negates two of the three reasons the ALJ articulated for discrediting Dr. Gordon’s
medical opinion, the court finds that the ALJ may have reached a different conclusion regarding
the weight to give the opinion had he had this new evidence before him.
As such, this court finds that the Appeals Council erred by failing to properly consider the
new evidence submitted by the claimant and for not remanding the case to the ALJ based on that
evidence. This case should be reversed and remanded pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
VI. Conclusion
For the reasons as stated, this court concludes that the decision of the Commissioner is
due to be REVERSED and REMANDED.
The court will enter a separate Order in accordance with this Memorandum Opinion.
DONE and ORDERED this 14th day of March, 2014.

____________________________________
KARON OWEN BOWDRE
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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