McDonald v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner
Filing
12
MEMORANDUM OPINION and ORDER; the decision of the Commissioner is affirmed; costs are taxed against claimant. Signed by Judge C Lynwood Smith, Jr on 05/30/14. (SPT )
FILED
2014 May-30 AM 10:15
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
JASPER DIVISION
VICKIE MCDONALD,
Claimant,
vs.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting
Commissioner, Social Security
Administration,
Defendant.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Case No. 6:13-CV-1369-CLS
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Claimant, Vickie McDonald, commenced this action on July 23, 2013, pursuant
to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), seeking judicial review of a final adverse decision of the
Commissioner, affirming the decision of the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”), and
thereby denying her claim for supplemental security income benefits.
The court’s role in reviewing claims brought under the Social Security Act is
a narrow one. The scope of review is limited to determining whether there is
substantial evidence in the record as a whole to support the findings of the
Commissioner, and whether correct legal standards were applied. See Lamb v.
Bowen, 847 F.2d 698, 701 (11th Cir. 1988); Tieniber v. Heckler, 720 F.2d 1251, 1253
(11th Cir. 1983).
Claimant contends that the Commissioner’s decision is neither supported by
substantial evidence nor in accordance with applicable legal standards. Specifically,
claimant asserts that: (1) the ALJ’s mental residual functional capacity findings are
not based on substantial evidence; (2) the ALJ failed to comply with Social Security
Ruling 02-1p in evaluating her obesity; (3) the ALJ failed to comply with Social
Security Ruling 83-12 in discussing the exertional limitations of sitting and standing;
and (4) the ALJ failed to properly develop the record because he did not obtain a
medical source opinion. Upon review of the record, the court concludes that these
contentions lack merit, and that the Commissioner’s ruling is due to be affirmed.
A.
Mental Residual Functional Capacity Finding and Substantial Evidence
The ALJ found that claimant had the severe mental impairments of borderline
personality disorder and major depressive order.1 In conducting the Psychiatric
Review Technique to determine her eligibility under the Listings, the ALJ found that
she had mild restriction of activities of daily living, mild difficulties in social
functioning, and moderate difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, and
pace.2 Despite these problems, claimant retained the residual functional capacity to
“understand, remember, and carry out to successful completion the simple
instructions involved in unskilled work.”3
1
Tr. 17.
2
Tr. 19.
3
Tr. 20.
2
To the extent claimant suggests that the ALJ’s findings are internally
inconsistent, the court disagrees. Even with moderate difficulties in maintaining
concentration, persistence, and pace, claimant should still be able perform the simple
tasks involved in unskilled work.
Claimant also asserts that the ALJ’s mental residual functional capacity finding
failed to account for all her mental impairments. The court again disagrees, and finds
that the ALJ’s residual functional capacity finding was supported by substantial
evidence. The ALJ relied heavily upon the opinion of Dr. Bonnie Atkinson, who
conducted a consultative examination on March 3, 2010. Dr. Atkinson noted that
claimant’s dress, grooming, hygiene, and behavior were normal during the evaluation.
Claimant was oriented as to person, place, time, and situation, and she could maintain
focus sufficient to respond to interview questions. Claimant’s general information,
thought, and concentration were normal. Her reasoning and language comprehension
were good, and her speech was clear. Claimant’s immediate memory, delayed recall,
recent memory, and remote memory all were normal. Dr. Atkinson opined that
claimant’s overall mental status was within the average range. Dr. Atkinson observed
an intense affect, anxiety, and depressed mood. Hallucinations, ideas of reference,
phobias, obsessions, and compulsions all were denied. Dr. Atkinson opined that
claimant had sufficient judgment to make simple acceptable work decisions, and to
3
direct or manage her own funds. She assessed claimant with a history of cocaine
dependence, nicotine dependence, and borderline personality disorder, and assigned
a GAF score of 60, indicating moderate impairment. Dr. Atkinson’s conclusory
remarks were: “This individual is mentally ill. The claimant is not mentally retarded.
It is my opinion that the claimant gave adequate information for this evaluation. It
is unlikely that this claimant’s condition will significantly change in the coming 12
months. These results are based only on psychological data.”4 The ALJ found Dr.
Atkinson’s assessment “persuasive as it is based on an examination of the claimant
and is consistent with the medical record as a whole.”5 His limitation of claimant to
unskilled work was in accordance with Dr. Atkinson’s assessment.6
In contrast, the ALJ was less persuaded by the assessments of claimant’s
treating therapist, who assigned GAF scores of 42 on August 24, 2010,7 and 45 on
February 23, 2011,8 indicating serious symptoms. After reviewing the therapist’s
treatment notes, the ALJ concluded that many of claimant’s symptoms “seem to be
precipitated by external stressors, such as family and financial problems.”9 Thus, the
ALJ found the “relatively low” GAF scores assessed by the therapist to be “less
4
Tr. 481-86.
5
Tr. 23.
6
Id.
7
Tr. 667
8
Tr. 663.
9
Tr. 23.
4
persuasive as they are influenced by these external stressors.”10 That conclusion was
supported by substantial evidence of record.11 It also was in accordance with
applicable law, as the ALJ is entitled to assign more weight to the opinion of a
consultative examiner than a treating provider if he concludes that the consultative
opinion is more supported by the record. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d) (setting forth
the factors the Commissioner should consider in assigning weight to any medical
opinion).
B.
Obesity and Social Security Ruling 02-1p
Claimant also asserts that the ALJ failed to properly consider her obesity under
Social Security Ruling 02-1p, which provides:
Obesity can cause limitation of function. The functions likely to
be limited depend on many factors, including where the excess weight
is carried. An individual may have limitations in any of the exertional
functions such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing,
and pulling. It may also affect ability to do postural functions, such as
climbing, balancing, stooping, and crouching. The ability to manipulate
may be affected by the presence of adipose (fatty) tissue in the hands
and fingers. The ability to tolerate extreme heat, humidity, or hazards
may also be affected.
The effects of obesity may not be obvious. For example, some
people with obesity also have sleep apnea. This can lead to drowsiness
and lack of mental clarity during the day. Obesity may also affect an
individual’s social functioning.
10
Id.
11
See Tr. 686-705.
5
An assessment should also be made of the effect obesity has upon
the individual’s ability to perform routine movement and necessary
physical activity within the work environment. Individuals with obesity
may have problems with the ability to sustain a function over time. As
explained in SSR 96-8p (“Titles II and XVI: Assessing Residual
Functional Capacity in Initial Claims”), our RFC assessments must
consider an individual’s maximum remaining ability to do sustained
work activities in an ordinary work setting on a regular and continuing
basis. A “regular and continuing basis” means 8 hours a day, for 5 days
a week, or an equivalent work schedule. In cases involving obesity,
fatigue may affect the individual’s physical and mental ability to sustain
work activity. This may be particularly true in cases involving sleep
apnea.
The combined effects of obesity with other impairments may be
greater than might be expected without obesity. For example, someone
with obesity and arthritis affecting a weight-bearing joint may have
more pain and limitation than might be expected from the arthritis alone.
For a child applying for benefits under title XVI, we may evaluate
the functional consequences of obesity (either alone or in combination
with other impairments) to decide if the child’s impairment(s)
functionally equals the listings. For example, the functional limitations
imposed by obesity, by itself or in combination with another
impairment(s), may establish an extreme limitation in one domain of
functioning (e.g., Moving about and manipulating objects) or marked
limitations in two domains (e.g., Moving about and manipulating objects
and Caring for yourself).
As with any other impairment, we will explain how we reached
our conclusions on whether obesity caused any physical or mental
limitations.
SSR 02-1p, 2000 WL 628049, at *6-7.
The ALJ found obesity to be one of claimant’s severe impairments.12 He also
12
Tr. 17.
6
acknowledged that, in assessing claimant’s residual functional capacity,
“consideration must be given to any additional and cumulative effects of obesity.”13
He considered claimant’s obesity in combination with her other impairments and
concluded that it “reasonably limits her to work at the light exertional level with
postural limitations, consistent with” his residual functional capacity finding.14 That
conclusion is supported by substantial evidence. The ALJ’s failure to explicitly
mention Social Security Ruling 02-1p is of no consequence, because the ALJ’s
analysis was consistent with that Ruling. Moreover, claimant did not make any
substantive argument about what additional limitations the ALJ should have found
as a result of her obesity.
C.
Sit-Stand Option and Social Security Ruling 83-12
The ALJ’s residual functional capacity finding included a limitation that
claimant could stand and walk for six hours in an eight-hour workday, and sit for six
hours in an eight-hour workday, but that she must be able to alternate sitting and
standing at will.15 Claimant asserts that the ALJ’s finding lacks the specificity
required by Social Security Ruling 83-12, which states:
In some disability claims, the medical facts lead to an assessment
of RFC which is compatible with the performance of either sedentary or
13
Tr. 18.
14
Tr. 23.
15
Tr. 20.
7
light work except that the person must alternate periods of sitting and
standing. The individual may be able to sit for a time, but must then get
up and stand or walk for awhile before returning to sitting. Such an
individual is not functionally capable of doing either the prolonged
sitting contemplated in the definition of sedentary work (and for the
relatively few light jobs which are performed primarily in a seated
position) or the prolonged standing or walking contemplated for most
light work. (Persons who can adjust to any need to vary sitting and
standing by doing so at breaks, lunch periods, etc., would still be able to
perform a defined range of work.)
There are some jobs in the national economy — typically
professional and managerial ones — in which a person can sit or stand
with a degree of choice. If an individual had such a job and is still
capable of performing it, or is capable of transferring work skills to such
jobs, he or she would not be found disabled. However, most jobs have
ongoing work processes which demand that a worker be in a certain
place or posture for at least a certain length of time to accomplish a
certain task. Unskilled types of jobs are particularly structured so that
a person cannot ordinarily sit or stand at will. In cases of unusual
limitation of ability to sit or stand, a [vocational specialist] should be
consulted to clarify the implications for the occupational base.
SSR 83-12, at 3 (alteration supplied).
Claimant also makes a passing, one-sentence argument that the ALJ’s finding
lacks the specificity required by Social Security Ruling 96-8p, which states, in
pertinent part, as follows:
The RFC assessment must include a narrative discussion
describing how the evidence supports each conclusion, citing specific
medical facts (e.g., laboratory findings) and nonmedical evidence (e.g.,
daily activities, observations). In assessing RFC, the adjudicator must
discuss the individual’s ability to perform sustained work activities in
an ordinary work setting on a regular and continuing basis (i.e., 8 hours
a day, for 5 days a week, or an equivalent work schedule), and describe
8
the maximum amount of each work-related activity the individual can
perform based on the evidence available in the case record. The
adjudicator must also explain how any material inconsistencies or
ambiguities in the evidence in the case record were considered and
resolved.
SSR 96-8p.
The ALJ’s findings satisfy both of these Rulings. The ALJ did specify the
amount of time claimant could perform the functions of sitting, standing, and
walking: she is limited to six hours of sitting, and six hours of standing and walking,
during an eight-hour workday. As an additional limitation, she must be able to
alternate sitting and standing whenever she feels the need. There is no reasonable
way for the ALJ to be more specific than that in his limitations.
Moreover, the ALJ used a vocational expert, as required by the SSR 83-12, to
determine what impact the sit-stand option would have on claimant’s ability to do
work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy. The ALJ’s
hypothetical question to the vocational expert during the administrative hearing
included the same limitations as the ALJ’s residual functional capacity finding. Even
with those limitations, including the sit-stand option, the vocational expert
determined that there would be jobs available for claimant.16
D.
Medical Source Statement and Failure to Develop the Record
Claimant next argues that the ALJ erred by assessing her physical residual
16
Tr. 58-59.
9
functional capacity without the benefit of a medical source opinion from a treating
source or medical expert, or an additional consultative examination. It is true that the
ALJ
has an obligation to develop a full and fair record, even if the claimant
is represented by counsel. Cowart v. Schweiker, 662 F.2d 731, 735
(11th Cir. 1981). The ALJ is not required to seek additional
independent expert medical testimony before making a disability
determination if the record is sufficient and additional expert testimony
is not necessary for an informed decision. Wilson v. Apfel, 179 F.3d
1276, 1278 (11th Cir. 1999) (holding the record, which included the
opinion of several physicians, was sufficient for the ALJ to arrive at a
decision); Holladay v. Bowen, 848 F.2d 1206, 1209-10 (11th Cir. 1988)
(holding the ALJ must order a consultative exam when it is necessary
for an informed decision).
Nation v. Barnhart, 153 F. App’x 597, 598 (11th Cir. 2005) (emphasis supplied).
Furthermore, claimant bears the ultimate burden of producing evidence to support her
disability claim. See Ellison v. Barnhart, 355 F.3d 1272, 1276 (11th Cir. 2003)
(citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.912(a), (c)).17
The court concludes that the record in this case was sufficient, even absent any
additional consultative report or medical source statement, for the ALJ to arrive at an
informed decision. Accordingly, the ALJ’s decision will not be disturbed on these
17
Claimant acknowledges that “there is no express requirement for an MSO or RFC
assessment to be of record in order for the ALJ to make RFC findings,” but he nonetheless implies
that it would have been a good idea for the ALJ to obtain such an assessment in this case. Doc. no.
10 (claimant’s brief), at 12 (“[A]s a practical matter, to avoid substituting his or her judgment for
that of a physician, an MSO of some kind is crucial to the analysis of functioning based on the
medically determinable impairments (MDIs) determined).” (alteration supplied).
10
grounds.
E.
Conclusion and Order
In summary, the court concludes the ALJ’s decision was based upon substantial
evidence and in accordance with applicable legal standards. Accordingly, the
decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED. Costs are taxed against claimant. The
Clerk is directed to close this file.
DONE this 30th day of May, 2014.
______________________________
United States District Judge
11
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?