Smalley v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner
Filing
13
MEMORANDUM OPINION - For the reasons set forth herein, and upon careful consideration of the administrative record and memoranda of the parties, the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying Humphreys claim for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits is REVERSED and this action REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this memorandum opinion. Signed by Magistrate Judge John H England, III on 3/30/2017. (KEK)
FILED
2017 Mar-30 AM 10:19
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
NORTHEASTERN DIVISION
LARRY LEE SMALLEY, JR.,
Plaintiff,
v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Case No. 5:15-cv-01469-JHE
MEMORANDUM OPINION1
Plaintiff Larry Lee Smalley, Jr. (“Smalley”) seeks review, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g),
§ 205(g) of the Social Security Act, of a final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security
Administration (“Commissioner”), denying his application for a period of disability, disability
insurance benefits (“DIB”), and supplemental security income (“SSI”).2 (Doc. 1). Smalley timely
pursued and exhausted his administrative remedies. This case is therefore ripe for review under
42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The undersigned has carefully considered the record and, for the reasons stated
below, the Commissioner’s decision is REVERSED, and this action is REMANDED.
Factual and Procedural History
Smalley protectively filed applications for a period of disability, DIB, and SSI in June
2012, alleging he became unable to work beginning August 1, 2008. (Tr. 155-164). The Agency
1
In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 73, the parties have voluntarily consented to have a United States Magistrate Judge
conduct any and all proceedings, including trial and the entry of final judgment. (Doc. 13).
2
The judicial review provisions for DIB claims, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), apply to claims for
SSI. See 42 U.S.C. § 1383(c)(3).
1
initially denied Smalley’s application and Smalley requested a hearing, where he appeared on
September 3, 2013. (Tr. 37-67). After the hearing, the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) denied
Smalley’s claim on December 13, 2013. (Tr. 21-31). Smalley was a fifty-five-year-old male on
his hearing date. (Tr. 40). Smalley has a high school education as well as three years of college.
(Tr. 40). Smalley’s past relevant work was as a construction laborer, CNC router, and warehouse
worker. (Tr. 44-45, 63-64). Smalley sought review by the Appeals Council, but it denied his
request on June 29, 2015. (Tr. 1-6). On that date, the ALJ’s decision became the final decision of
the Commissioner. On August 26, 2015, Smalley initiated this action. (See doc. 1).
Standard of Review3
The court’s review of the Commissioner’s decision is narrowly circumscribed. The
function of this Court is to determine whether the decision of the Commissioner is supported by
substantial evidence and whether proper legal standards were applied. Richardson v. Perales, 402
U.S. 389, 390 (1971); Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219, 1221 (11th Cir. 2002). This 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.
This Court must uphold factual findings supported by substantial evidence. However, it
reviews the ALJ’s legal conclusions de novo because no presumption of validity attaches to the
3
In general, the legal standards applied 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 refer to the
appropriate parallel provision as context dictates. The same applies to citations for statutes or
regulations found in quoted court decisions.
2
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 the proper legal analysis has
been conducted, it must reverse the ALJ’s decision. Cornelius v. Sullivan, 936 F.2d 1143, 114546 (11th Cir. 1991).
Statutory and Regulatory Framework
To qualify for disability benefits and establish his or her entitlement for a period of
disability, a claimant must be disabled as defined by the Social Security Act and the Regulations
promulgated thereunder.4 The Regulations define “disabled” as “the inability to do any substantial
gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can
be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period
of not less than twelve (12) months.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1505(a). To establish entitlement to
disability benefits, a claimant must provide evidence of a “physical or mental impairment” which
“must result from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which can be shown
by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1508.
The Regulations provide a five-step process for determining whether a claimant is disabled.
20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(i-v). The Commissioner must determine in sequence:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
whether the claimant is currently employed;
whether the claimant has a severe impairment;
whether the claimant’s impairment meets or equals an impairment listed
by the [Commissioner];
whether the claimant can perform his or her past work; and
whether the claimant is capable of performing any work in the national
economy.
The “Regulations” promulgated under the Social Security Act are listed in 20 C.F.R. Parts
400 to 499.
4
3
Pope v. Shalala, 998 F.2d 473, 477 (7th Cir. 1993) (citing to the formerly applicable C.F.R.
section), overruled on other grounds by Johnson v. Apfel, 189 F.3d 561, 562-63 (7th Cir. 1999);
accord McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026, 1030 (11th Cir. 1986). “Once the claimant has
satisfied steps One and Two, she will automatically be found disabled if she suffers from a listed
impairment. If the claimant does not have a listed impairment but cannot perform her work, the
burden shifts to the [Commissioner] to show that the claimant can perform some other job.” Pope,
998 F.2d at 477; accord Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553, 1559 (11th Cir. 1995). The Commissioner
must further show such work exists in the national economy in significant numbers. Id.
Findings of the Administrative Law Judge
After consideration of the entire record and application of the sequential evaluation
process, the ALJ made the following findings:
At Step One, the ALJ found Smalley last met the insured status requirements of the Social
Security Act on December 31, 2012 (his date last insured or “DLI”) and Smalley had not engaged
in substantial gainful activity after his alleged onset date of August 1, 2008. (Tr. 23). At Step
Two, the ALJ found Smalley has the following severe impairment: sensorineural hearing loss
bilaterally (20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c) and 416.920(c)). (Id.). The ALJ also considered Smalley’s
medically determinable mental impairments of dysthymic disorder, alcohol abuse, and personality
disorder and found, whether singly or in combination, did not cause more than minimal limitation
in Smalley’s ability to perform basic mental work activities and, therefore, that they were nonsevere. (Tr. 23-24). At Step Three, the ALJ found Smalley did not have an impairment or
combination of impairments that meets or medically equals one of the listed impairments in 20
C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. (Tr. 25).
4
Before proceeding to Step Four, the ALJ determined Smalley’s residual functioning
capacity (“RFC”), which is the most a claimant can do despite his impairments. See 20 C.F.R. §
404.1545(a)(1). The ALJ determined that, through his DLI, Smalley had the RFC
to perform a full range of work at all exertional levels and can understand normal
conversations with hearing aids. In order to preserve further hearing loss and for
safety reasons, the claimant should avoid work in loud areas without wearing
hearing protection and around moving dangerous unguarded machinery.
(Tr. 26).
At Step Four, the ALJ determined that, through the date last insured, Smalley was able to
perform his past relevant work as a CNC router, as this work was not precluded by the limitations
identified in the ALJ’s assessment of Smalley’s RFP. (Tr. 29). At Step Five, the ALJ made the
alternative determination, based on Smalley’s age, education, work experience, and RFC, jobs
other than CNC router exist in significant numbers in the national economy that Smalley could
perform, including hand packager, assembler, and janitor. (Tr. 30). Therefore, the ALJ determined
Smalley has not been under a disability and denied his claim. (Tr. 31).
Analysis
Although the court may only reverse a finding of the Commissioner if it is not supported
by substantial evidence or if improper legal standards were applied, “[t]his does not relieve the
court of its responsibility to scrutinize the record in its entirety to ascertain whether substantial
evidence supports each essential administrative finding.” Walden v. Schweiker, 672 F.2d 835, 838
(11th Cir. 1982) (citing Strickland v. Harris, 615 F.2d 1103, 1106 (5th Cir. 1980)). The court,
however, “abstains from reweighing the evidence or substituting its own judgment for that of the
[Commissioner].” Id. (citation omitted).
5
Smalley argues the ALJ erred in various ways to correctly evaluate his mental illnesses,
failing to develop the record as to his joint and back pain, and erroneously concluding Smalley did
not meet the criteria for one or more of the listings in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1.
The ALJ’s Application of the Mental Impairment Criteria Was Not Supported by
Substantial Evidence
Smalley challenges the ALJ’s assessment of his mental illnesses in several ways, all of
which relate to the ALJ’s assessment of his functional limitations due to mental impairment at Step
Two: failing to find Smalley’s mental illness severe, ignoring the opinion of the his own consultant
physician, failing to develop the record on disabling mental impairments, ignoring the vocationally
relevant evidence provided by a non-examining non-treating physician, and relying solely on an
ear specialist for mental evaluations.
The undersigned considers these attacks together in
evaluating the ALJ’s application of the mental impairment criteria.
The ALJ found Smalley had medically determinable impairments of dysthymic disorder (a
species of depression), alcohol abuse, and personality disorder, but found they were non-severe,
either alone or in combination. (Tr. 23). Applying the criteria for analysis of mental impairments
in 20 C.F.R. 404.1520a and 416.920a, the ALJ found
the claimant has no restrictions of activities of daily living, no difficulties in
maintaining social functioning, mild difficulties in maintaining concentration,
persistence, or pace, and no episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration.
Additionally, the undersigned does not find the record shows that the claimant’s
mental disorders have resulted in such marginal adjustment that even a minimal
increase in mental demands or change in the environment would be predicted to
cause the individual to decompensate, or that the claimant has a current history of
one or more years’ inability to function outside a highly supportive living
arrangement with an indication of continued need for such an arrangement, or the
inability to function independently outside the area of one’s home.
(Tr. 24). While Smalley does not appear to contest the ALJ’s finding his alcohol abuse was nonsevere, he does challenge the ALJ’s findings as to his paranoid personality disorder and depression.
6
The record contains two reports bearing on Smalley’s mental health, both of which were
assigned little weight by the ALJ. (Tr. 25). First, the Disability Determination Service referred
Smalley to Dr. Roger C. Rinn, who evaluated him on August 8, 2012. (Tr. 309-313). In describing
Smalley’s presenting problem, Dr. Rinn observed Smalley had “a history of explosiveness and had
walked off many jobs because of his misunderstandings or difficulties with supervisors and
coworkers.” (Tr. 310). Additionally, Dr. Rinn noted Smalley “distrusts others . . . spends a great
deal of time in bed . . . [and] has ‘no energy.’” (Id.). Dr. Rinn’s mental status examination
indicated:
[Smalley’s] verbal skills were certainly adequate. He appeared to be depressed and
mildly irritable. There were no indications of any psychotic thought processes and
bizarre mentation was not found. He showed no evidence of delusions of
persecution and/or grandeur. Perceptual disturbance in the form of hallucinations
and illusions was not found. His fund of knowledge appeared to be at least high
average. His memory for immediate, recent, and remote functions was intact. He
knew who the President was. He was knowledgeable of the Olympics. He was
oriented as to time, place, person, and circumstances. His sensorium was clear. He
was interpersonally adequate but certainly not outgoing. There were no signs of
any lethality in terms of suicidal or homicidal mentation or intent.
(Tr. 311). Based on this, Dr. Rinn diagnosed Smalley with dysthymic disorder (a species of
depression) and paranoid personality disorder. (Tr. 312). In his report, Dr. Rinn characterized
Smalley’s mental impairment as “[m]oderate to severe” and noted Smalley “appears to be
moderately impaired.” (Id.). Dr. Rinn concluded Smalley would “have difficulty with supervisors
and coworkers due to his suspicious nature.” (Tr. 312). Dr. Rinn also assesses Smalley a Global
Assessment of Functioning (“GAF”) score of 60, indicating moderate mental impairment. (Tr. 25,
312).
The second report came from Dr. Robert Estock, a state agency consultant, who provided
a medical source statement indicating Smalley’s mental RFC warranted numerous limitations due
to understanding and memory, sustained concentration and persistence, social interaction, and
7
adaptation. (Tr. 89-90). Specifically, Dr. Estock indicated Smalley would probably miss between
one and two days per month due to his psychological symptoms. (Tr. 90).
Smalley appears to argue Dr. Rinn (but not Dr. Estock) was a treating physician, or,
because his was the only medical opinion as to mental health, his opinion should be accorded the
same weight as a treating physician’s opinion. (Doc. 10 at 10). Under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2),
a treating physician’s opinion is given controlling weight where it is “supported by medically
acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques and is not inconsistent with the other
substantial evidence in [the] case record.” Accordingly, “[t]he ALJ must clearly articulate the
reasons for giving less weight to the opinion of a treating physician, and the failure to do so is
reversible error.” Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1440 (11th Cir. 1997). However, the opinions
of nontreating physicians are not entitled to any special weight or deference. See McSwain v.
Bowen, 814 F.2d 617, 619 (11th Cir. 1987). The Commissioner is correct neither doctor had an
ongoing treating relationship with Smalley such that they qualify as treating physicians; Dr. Rinn
examined Smalley one time and Dr. Estock did not examine him at all. (Doc. 11 at 11). Therefore,
the ALJ was not required to give the opinions of Dr. Rinn and Dr. Estock any particular weight at
all. That said, the ALJ could not simply substitute his own opinion for that of examining
physicians; he was required to articulate reasons for assigning little weight to the opinions of Dr.
Rinn and Dr. Estock. See McCloud v. Barnhart, 166 F. App'x 410, 419 (11th Cir. 2006); 20 C.F.R.
404.1527(e)(2)(ii).
The ALJ’s primary justification for assigning little weight to Dr. Rinn’s report and GAF
score was Dr. Rinn’s reliance on Smalley’s subjective descriptions of his symptoms, but it is not
clear how the ALJ made that determination. This is especially puzzling because the ALJ credited
the portions of Dr. Rinn’s report that the ALJ believed did not support mental illness, with no
8
explanation for why those portions were more reliable than the portions supporting mental
impairment: “the claimant’s consultative psychological examination in August 2012 noted the
claimant’s verbal skills as adequate with only a mildly irritable attitude, intact memory, an
estimated high average fund of knowledge, no evidence of delusions, hallucinations, or psychotic
thoughts, and adequate but not outgoing interpersonal skills.” (Tr. 24). The ALJ’s reliance on this
cherrypicked portion to undermine Smalley’s reported paranoid personality disorder and
depression is additionally problematic because it is tantamount to suggesting Smalley lacks any
mental impairment simply because he does not have every mental impairment.
The ALJ contrasted the evaluations of Dr. Rinn and Dr. Estock with other physicians’
findings, placing greater weight on “[c]linical examinations of record [which] noted the claimant
as alert and oriented in time, place, and person with normal mood and appropriate affect.” (Tr.
24-25). To support this, the ALJ cites visits by Smalley to Dr. Bruce A. Morgan, a consulting
ENT whom Smalley saw to evaluate his hearing, (tr. 314-320), and Dr. Randle Middleton, who
treated Smalley for pneumonia, (tr. 325-331). But the ALJ offers no reason for elevating these
physicians’ notes on conditions unrelated to those Smalley sought treatment for above the opinions
of specialists, especially when the notes are brief, cursory, and undeveloped with any supporting
facts. An ALJ “cannot pick and choose among a doctor’s records to support his own conclusions,”
which is what the ALJ seems to have done here. Chambers v. Astrue, 671 F. Supp. 2d 1253, 1258
(N.D. Ala. 2009).
The ALJ cited Smalley’s report of his own mental function as “fairly good,” indicating he
could “use a computer, watch television, handle money accounts, spend time with others, follow
instructions, and play video games and the guitar.” (Tr. 24). Apart from “spend[ing] time with
others,” none of this contradicts the severity of Smalley’s mental health diagnosis, which is
9
primarily about his interactions with others. As to Smalley’s reports of social activities, he stated
he “lives with his mother,” whom he sees on a daily basis, and “has a friend he sees once a month.”
(Tr. 237). In a purely technical sense, this is “spend[ing] time with others,” but no reasonable
person would accept this evidence as adequate to conclude Smalley has “no difficulties in
maintaining social functioning,” (tr. 24), such that it undermined Dr. Rinn and Dr. Estock.
The ALJ also cited the sparseness of the record as evidence of the non-severity of Smalley’s
mental impairments; the ALJ noted Smalley had not initially alleged a mental component in his
disability filing, nor had he sought treatment, received a formal diagnosis, or been prescribed
medication for mental health issues. (Id.). The ALJ thus took the absence of particular kinds of
medical evidence to be evidence of the conditions’ lack of severity, and this was the primary basis
for discrediting Dr. Estock’s opinion. (Tr. 25). Lack of treatment for a condition can supply
substantial evidence for an ALJ to conclude that condition is not severe. See Manzo v. Comm'r of
Soc. Sec., 408 F. App'x 265, 269 (11th Cir. 2011). However, lack of treatment is relevant to
discredit a claimaint’s testimony, not medical evidence. See SSR 96-7P (“[T]he individual's
statements may be less credible if the level or frequency of treatment is inconsistent with the level
of complaints, or if the medical reports or records show that the individual is not following the
treatment as prescribed and there are no good reasons for this failure.”). A diagnosis is not invalid
simply because the condition had previously been undiagnosed.
The Commissioner argues Smalley’s activities support his ability to perform basic work
activities notwithstanding his mental condition and undermine the limitations placed by Dr. Rinn
and Dr. Estock, but she does not specifically identify which activities bolster this conclusion. She
first cites the ALJ’s decision, but the portion she references discusses only Smalley’s hearing loss
and has no bearing on Smalley’s mental impairment. (See doc. 11 at 10, 12) (citing tr. 27). The
10
Commissioner also cites Smalley’s hearing transcript, (see doc. 11 at 10, 12), but, again, the
portions she cites are irrelevant to whatever limitations Smalley may experience due to his mental
impairments: they discuss yard work and household chores (tr. 46-48), lifting, (tr. 50), balancing
a checkbook, (tr. 59), and doing laundry, (tr. 62). This is not inconsistent with severe impairment
due to depression and paranoid personality disorder and is not substantial evidence supporting the
ALJ’s finding.
Taken as a whole, the ALJ’s findings as to Smalley’s functional limitations due to mental
illness were replete with error and not supported by substantial evidence. This warrants reversal
and remand.
The ALJ Was Not Required To Develop The Record Regarding Smalley’s Back And
Joint Pain
Next, Smalley argues it was error for the ALJ not to develop the record regarding his
complaints of back and joint pain. (Doc. 10 at 19-20). In support of this, Smalley points to Dr.
Morgan’s notes, which indicate Smalley admitted “joint pain, chronic back or neck problems” and
daily use of four Advil and four Tylenol over the previous three weeks. (Id. at 19; Tr. 315-316).
Since the ALJ was on notice this condition was present, Smalley says, he should have developed
the record further to determine what physical limitations it placed on Smalley. The Commissioner
argues it was immaterial the ALJ failed to conclude Smalley’s joint and back pain was a severe
impairment, as the ALJ found another severe impairment and therefore did not stop his analysis at
Step Two. (Doc. 11 at 13). Smalley counters this misses the mark; whether the ALJ found Smalley
disabled at Step Two due to a different condition does not bear on whether the ALJ took Smalley’s
back and joint pain into account in determining his RFC. (Doc. 12 at 8).
“It is well-established that the ALJ has a basic duty to develop a full and fair record.
Nevertheless, the claimant bears the burden of proving that [she] is disabled, and, consequently,
11
[she] is responsible for producing evidence in support of [her] claim.” Ellison v. Barnhart, 355
F.3d 1272, 1276 (11th Cir. 2003) (internal citations omitted). While Plaintiff is correct “[t]he
record is devoid of any medical evidence with regard to Mr. Smalley’s physical limitations,” (doc.
10 at 19), Smalley stated his back pain was not debilitating. When asked by the ALJ to describe
his back pain after sitting still for an hour, Smalley stated: “[m]y lower back will start having like
a dull pain, but it’s not—it’s not like a bad pain.” (Tr. 50). Smalley characterized the pain as
“between three and five” on a scale from zero to ten, and stated “it’s not anything that would
disabilitate [sic] me maybe.” (Id.). The record also contains no evidence Smalley ever sought
treatment for back or joint pain, and Smalley explicitly denied he was being treated for back
disorders. (Tr. 49). Where the ALJ’s findings are supported by evidence sufficient for a decision,
the ALJ is not obligated to seek additional medical testimony. See Wilson, v. Apfel, 179 F.3d 1276,
1278 (11th Cir. 1999). Faced with a denial from Smalley and the absence of any other indication
Smalley’s back pain caused him limitations, the ALJ had no duty to solicit medical evidence to
prove Smalley wrong.
The ALJ’s Erroneous Evaluation of Smalley’s Functional Limitations Due to Mental
Impairment Warrants Remand to Consider Whether Smalley’s Mental Impairment
Meets or Equals One or More of the Listings
Because the ALJ erroneously discounted the opinions of Dr. Rinn and Dr. Estock in
assessing Smalley’s functional limitations due to mental impairment, he did not adequately
consider whether those mental impairments (whether alone or in combination with Smalley’s other
severe impairments) met or equaled one or more of the listings.
On remand, if, after
reconsideration of the medical evidence, the ALJ determines Smalley’s mental impairments, alone
or in combination, constitute a severe impairment, the ALJ should consider whether those mental
impairments meet or equal a listing.
Conclusion
12
For the reasons set forth herein, and upon careful consideration of the administrative record
and memoranda of the parties, the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying
Humphrey’s claim for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits is REVERSED and
this action REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this memorandum opinion.
DONE this 30th day of March, 2017.
_______________________________
JOHN H. ENGLAND, III
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
13
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?