Hubbard v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner
Filing
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MEMORANDUM OPINION and ORDER DISMISSING CASE that the decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED and costs are taxed against claimant as more fully set out in order. Signed by Judge C Lynwood Smith, Jr on 5/1/2015. (AHI)
FILED
2015 May-01 PM 03:57
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
WESTERN DIVISION
DERWIN HUBBARD,
Claimant,
vs.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting
Commissioner, Social Security
Administration,
Defendant.
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Case No. 7:14-CV-1718-CLS
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Claimant, Derwin Hubbard, commenced this action on September 8, 2014,
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 his claim for a period of disability, disability insurance, and
supplemental security income benefits. For the reasons stated herein, the court finds
that the Commissioner’s ruling is due to be affirmed.
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 contends that the ALJ improperly considered the opinion of John Goff,
Ph.D., the consultative psychological examiner, and that he should have been found
to be disabled under Listing 12.05C, addressing intellectual disability.
Listing 12.05C states as follows:
Intellectual disability. Intellectual disability refers to significantly
subaverage general intellectual functioning with deficits in adaptive
functioning initially manifested during the developmental period; i.e.,
the evidence demonstrates or supports onset of the impairment before
age 22.
The required level of severity for this disorder is met when the
requirements in A, B, C, or D are satisfied.
....
C.
A valid verbal, performance, or full scale IQ of 60 through
70 and a physical or other mental impairment imposing an additional
and significant work-related limitation of function. . . .
20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, appx. 1, § 12.05 (listings) (italics in original, ellipses
supplied).1
1
Effective September 3, 2013, the Social Security
Administration replaced the term mental retardation with the term
intellectual disability as a listed impairment. Change in Terminology:
“Mental Retardation” to “Intellectual Disability,” 78 Fed. Reg.
46,499, 46,4501 (Aug. 1, 2013) (to be codified at 20 C.F.R. pt. 404,
subpt. P, app. 1). This change was made because “the term ‘mental
2
The ALJ stated that “claimant does not have a valid verbal, performance, or full
scale IQ score of 60-through 70 . . . .”2 But he did not offer any explanation for that
finding, and the evidence does not support it. To the contrary, intelligence testing
conducted by Dr. John Goff, the consultative psychological examiner, resulted in a
full-scale IQ score of 65. There are no other contradictory scores in the record.
Moreover, it cannot seriously be contested claimant has physical impairments that
impose significant work-related limitations of function. Indeed, the ALJ found that
claimant’s chronic sinusitis was a “severe impairment.”3
Even so, the ALJ also found that claimant did not satisfy the prefatory criterion
of the Listing, i.e., “deficits in adaptive functioning initially manifested during the
developmental period.” The court agrees with that conclusion and finds that it is
supported by substantial evidence of record. Claimant’s long work history, which
apparently ended for reasons unrelated to his level of mental functioning, along with
his ability to perform basic personal tasks like driving, paying bills, and performing
retardation’ has negative connotations,” and “has become offensive
to many people.” Id. at 46,499. But this change “d[id] not affect the
actual medical definition of the disorder or available programs or
services.” Id. at 49,500.
Frame v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration, – F. App’x – , 2015 WL 150733, *2 n.2
(11th Cir. Jan. 13, 2015) (alteration in original). Thus, even though the ALJ’s decision was “issued
before the change took effect,” this court, like the Eleventh Circuit panel in Frame, will “follow the
agency’s new nomenclature.” Id. at *2 n.2.
2
Tr. 21 (emphasis in original).
3
Tr. 19.
3
self-care functions, indicate that he did not suffer from significant adaptive
limitations that manifested during the developmental period. See, e.g., Garrett v.
Astrue, 244 F. App’x 937, 939 (11th Cir. 2007) (holding that the claimant’s ability
to cook simple meals, perform household chores, build model cars, attend church,
watch television, play cards, and walk in the mall were inconsistent with a finding of
significant impairment of adaptive functioning); Outlaw v. Barnhart, 197 F. App’x
825, 827 (11th Cir. 2006) (stating that the claimant’s “long work history in
semi-skilled positions and daily activities were inconsistent with his adult IQ scores,”
which were below 70); Humphries v. Barnhart, 183 F. App’x 887, 889 (11th Cir.
2006) (holding that substantial evidence supported the ALJ’s finding that the
claimant did not have deficits in adaptive functioning when she worked in a school
cafeteria for 21 years and served as the manager for about 15 years).
Claimant contends that the ALJ should have relied upon the assessment of Dr.
John Goff, the consultative psychological examiner, because Dr. Goff found that
claimant did experience deficits in adaptive functioning. Social Security regulations
provide that, in considering what weight to give any medical opinion (regardless of
whether it is from a treating or consultative physician), the Commissioner should
evaluate: the extent of the examining or treating relationship between the doctor and
patient; whether the doctor’s opinion can be supported by medical signs and
4
laboratory findings; whether the opinion is consistent with the record as a whole; the
doctor’s specialization; and other factors. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d). See also
Wheeler v. Heckler, 784 F.2d 1073, 1075 (11th Cir. 1986) (“The weight afforded a
physician’s conclusory statements depends upon the extent to which they are
supported by clinical or laboratory findings and are consistent with other evidence as
to claimant’s impairments.”).
Dr. Goff examined claimant on March 22, 2012, upon referral by his attorney,
and reviewed claimant’s medical records, although they were “very sparse.”4 He also
reviewed claimant’s work history report, and stated:
I do not think [claimant] knew how to fill out the form and I really
cannot read it particularly. Under the job title he has written light foot
encon twice and then buddy and hou-encom. [sic] Then he has written
the word “lunnutt” [sic] repeatedly, 7 times and he has written the word
“turner” as his job title. Sometimes he has written the word “turnne”
[sic].5
During the examination, claimant reported having graduated from high school,
but he did not know whether he received a regular diploma or a certificate of
attendance. Claimant did recall repeating the seventh grade and being enrolled in
special education classes “throughout the majority of his academic career.”6
Claimant’s work history consisted primarily of digging tunnels, and Dr. Goff
4
Tr. 233.
5
Id. (alterations supplied).
6
Tr. 234.
5
surmised that when claimant wrote “turner” and “turnne” on the work history report,
he likely intended to write “tunnel” instead. Claimant reported working as a tunnel
digger for the same company until 2008, when the work “ran out.”7
Claimant denied any depression, delusions, hallucinations, apprehension, or
anxiety. His recent and remote memory were intact, and he was fully oriented in all
areas. He could recite the alphabet and count backwards from 20, but he made errors
in performing serial three addition. His logical memory for verbal material was very
poor.8
Intelligence testing revealed a full-scale IQ score of 65, which was within the
mild mental retardation range. Claimant also received a verbal comprehension score
of 63/1, a perceptual reasoning score of 67/1, a working memory score of 69/2, and
a processing speed of 84/14. Other than the processing speed score, which was lowaverage, all of those scores were within the mildly retarded range. An aphasia
screening test revealed good drawings, but “extraordinarily bad” spelling, inability
to read a sentence at the second grade level, and inability to perform simple
mathematical calculations. The informal clock drawing test resulted in a “fairly well
drawn clock,” but claimant “did not place the hands correctly.”9 Claimant’s math
7
Tr. 234-35.
8
Tr. 235.
9
Tr. 236.
6
ability scores were at the mid-fourth-grade level, suggesting that “he is able to
perform very simple mathematical calculations such as simple addition and
subtraction and perhaps multiplication but not division or the use of decimals or
fractions.”10 Claimant’s word reading and spelling scores were at the ending second
grade level, reflecting functional illiteracy.11
Dr. Goff concluded that claimant was functioning within the mildly mentally
retarded range of psychometric intelligence. He had not reviewed claimant’s school
records, but he doubted that claimant would be able to pass a graduation exit
examination due to his inability to read at a functional level. Claimant’s academic
achievements were at second grade and fourth grade levels.
functionally illiterate.
Claimant was
He could drive, but he depended on his father for
transportation because he lost his license as a result of failure to pay parking tickets.
Dr. Goff did not assess any thought or mood disorders “or any other significant
functional psychological disturbance,” and claimant had no history of mental health
treatment.12 Dr. Goff’s conclusions were as follows:
1.
[Claimant] obtains IQ test scores within the mildly retarded range
of psychometric intelligence.
2.
He is functionally illiterate.
10
Id.
11
Id.
12
Tr. 237.
7
3.
There are other adaptive skills deficits present.
4.
He indicates a history of special education placement though we
do not have any school records.
5.
His finger apparently hurts but I do not think it is a substantial
interfering factor. It may interfere with some kinds of vocational
activity.
6.
Diagnosis:
Axis I: Reading Disorder, Moderate to Severe
Axis II: Mental Retardation, Mild.13
Finally, Dr. Goff stated: “This man’s cognitive deficits represent severe
impairment.”14
Dr. Goff also completed a “Mental Source Opinion Form (Mental),” although
the form was neither signed nor dated. He indicated that claimant experienced mild
limitations of his abilities to carry out and remember simple instructions, respond
appropriately to supervision and co-workers, respond to customary work pressures,
maintain activities of daily living, and maintain personal habits. Claimant would
experience moderate limitations of his abilities to understand simple instructions,
remember detailed or complex instructions, deal with changes in a routine work
setting, respond appropriately to customers or other members of the general public,
13
Id. (alteration supplied).
14
Tr. 238.
8
and use judgment in simple one-or-two-step work-related decisions. He would
experience marked limitations of his abilities to understand and carry out detailed or
complex instructions, use judgment in detailed or complex work-related decisions,
maintain attention and concentration for periods of at least two hours, and maintain
personal interests. All of those limitations had been present for at least twelve
months, and they were expected to last the remainder of claimant’s lifetime. Claimant
would not be able to manage benefits in his own best interest. Finally, Dr. Goff
indicated that claimant demonstrated deficits in adaptive functioning manifested prior
to age 22 in three areas: i.e., self-direction; work; and functional academic skills.
Other adaptive functioning areas (i.e., communication, health, self-care, safety, home
living, leisure, social/interpersonal skills, and use of community resources) were
listed on the form, but Dr. Goff did not indicate that claimant was impaired in those
areas.15
The ALJ afforded Dr. Goff’s assessment only “limited weight” for three
reasons: i.e., (1) because the opinion was “not consistent with the totality of the
evidence”; (2) because “Dr. Goff was a one-time examiner who had no treatment
relationship with the claimant”; and (3) because “Dr. Goff was ‘hired by the
claimant’s attorney to render an evaluation in preparation for litigation.’”16 Those are
15
Tr. 239-40.
16
Tr. 24.
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all permissible considerations, so the only remaining question is whether ALJ’s
conclusions were supported by substantial evidence of record.
As an initial matter, the ALJ criticized “the speculative nature of Dr. Goff’s
estimating and approximating an IQ score of the claimant . . . .”17 That observation
simply is not supported by the record. Dr. Goff did not speculate as to claimant’s IQ
score; he determined the score after conducting standardized intelligence testing.
It appears that a major reason for the ALJ’s rejection of Dr. Goff’s opinion was
that Dr. Goff’s methods had been criticized in an opinion from another district court
in this Circuit.18 In King v. Apfel, No. CIV.A. 99-0132-RV-M, 2000 WL 284217
(S.D. Ala. Feb. 29, 2000), an unreported decision, the Magistrate Judge (whose
findings were adopted by the district court) approved of the ALJ’s rejection of Dr.
Goff’s assessment of disabling limitations. Specifically, the Magistrate Judge found
that “Dr. Goff’s assessment of [the claimant’s] abilities was so out of line with the
balance of the evidence that the ALJ found it lacking objective support.” Id. at *2
(alteration supplied). The Magistrate Judge also observed that “everything else in the
record is counter to the extreme findings of Goff.” Id. Those statements amount to
nothing more than the court’s agreement with the ALJ’s decision to reject Dr. Goff’s
17
Tr. 25.
18
Id. (“In viewing a neighboring Eleventh Circuit Federal Court opinion, there appears to be
a history of questionable veracity to the opinions submitted by this consultant as Judge Milling has
been critical of Dr. Goff’s paid-for opinions.”).
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findings in that case as unsubstantiated and contrary to the record. The rejection of
Dr. Goff’s opinion in a single case that was decided fifteen years ago cannot
reasonably form the basis for rejecting, or even affording extra scrutiny to, his
opinions in this case. Instead, Dr. Goff’s assessment will be independently evaluated
for its supportability and consistency with the remainder of the record.
The remainder of the ALJ’s observations require closer consideration. The
ALJ stated:
Another area of Dr. Goff’s report that is inconsistent with the
evidence of record is his opinion of a serious degree of adaptive deficits
of the claimant. The evidence of record does not support such extreme
adaptive deficits, but rather just lays out indicators of borderline
intellectual functioning by history with some corroboration by reported
psychometric testing. Specifically, the claimant has had no difficulty in
maintaining employment as the record had indicated a well-established
history of work activity with several years of work activity in excess of
substantial gainful activity levels. Dr. Goff completely failed to address
the claimant’s work history in his overall assessment of his intellectual
capability as well as his ability to adapt to the various work
environments, handle work stress, follow instructions, and interact with
co-workers and supervision, all of which are reasonably implied by such
sustained work activity. Moreover, and of significance in this case, the
claimant testified that he left his job after the “job played out” and the
record supports the same as well as testimony that he could still perform
his former job as a tunnel machine operator. While the claimant does
have a history of special education, he was able to receive a certification
of completion of the twelfth grade. In addition, according to part of Dr.
Goff’s sub-testing (WRAT), the claimant scored word reading, spelling
and math at the mid-fourth grade level, which the vocational expert
testified would allow the claimant to perform the jobs indicated below.
Accordingly, the undersigned does not accept Dr. Goff’s conclusions
with regard to the claimant’s mental functional capacity and very limited
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weight is given to the assessment/opinions for reasons set forth above.19
Two of those statements are incorrect. First, claimant’s hearing testimony was
not that he could still perform his former job. Instead, he testified that, at the time the
job came to an end in 2006, he could still have performed it. He testified that he
would not be able to perform that job at the time of the administrative hearing, which
was conducted on May 9, 2012.20 Secondly, only claimant’s math scores were at the
mid-fourth-grade level. His scores for spelling and reading were at the ending
second-grade level, indicating functional illiteracy.
Those errors aside, both of which appear to have been careless, this court
concludes that the ALJ’s decision to discredit Dr. Goff’s opinions about claimant’s
adaptive functioning was supported by substantial evidence. As discussed above,
Claimant’s long work history, which apparently ended for reasons unrelated to his
level of mental functioning, along with his ability to perform basic personal tasks like
driving, paying bills, and performing self-care functions, support the ALJ’s decision
to reject Dr. Goff’s opinion about claimant’s adaptive functioning.
In summary, while the ALJ’s administrative decision was not perfect and
contained several incorrect observations about the record, his essential findings about
claimant’s disability were supported by substantial evidence and in accordance with
19
Id. (emphasis in original).
20
See Tr. 41, 59.
12
applicable law. Accordingly, the decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED.
Costs are taxed against claimant. The Clerk of Court is directed to close this file.
DONE this 1st day of May, 2015.
______________________________
United States District Judge
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