Timmons v. Colvin
Filing
20
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER that the Commissioner's decision denying plaintiff's application for disability be AFFIRMED under sentence four of 42:405(g). Signed by Magistrate Judge Katherine P. Nelson on 11/17/2016. (srr)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
LADONNA C. TIMMONS,
Plaintiff,
v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting
Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.
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CIVIL ACTION NO. 16-00131-N
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff Ladonna C. Timmons has brought this action under 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g)
and 1383(c)(3) seeking judicial review of a final decision of the Defendant Commissioner
of Social Security (“the Commissioner”) denying her applications for a period of
disability and disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) under Title II of the Social Security
Act, 42 U.S.C. § 401, et seq., and for supplemental security income (“SSI”) under Title
XVI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1381, et seq.
With the consent of the
parties, the Court has designated the undersigned Magistrate Judge to conduct all
proceedings and order the entry of judgment in this civil action, in accordance with 28
U.S.C. § 636(c), Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73, and S.D. Ala. GenLR 73. (See Docs.
17, 19).
Upon consideration of the parties’ briefs (Docs. 13, 14) and those portions of the
administrative record (Doc. 12) (hereinafter cited as “(R. [page number(s) in lower-right
corner of transcript])”) relevant to the issues raised, 1 the Court finds that the
Commissioner’s final decision is due to be AFFIRMED under sentence four of § 405(g).
With the Court’s consent, the parties jointly waived the opportunity for oral argument.
(See Docs. 16, 18).
1
I.
Background
On September 27, 2012, Timmons filed applications for a period of disability,
DIB, and SSI with the Social Security Administration (“SSA”), 2 alleging disability
beginning May 6, 2012. 3
After her applications were initially denied, Timmons
requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) for the SSA, which
was held on March 13, 2014. On August 22, 2014, the ALJ issued an unfavorable
decision on Timmons’s applications, finding her “not disabled” under the Social Security
Act and thus not entitled to benefits. (See R. 15 – 29).
The Commissioner’s decision on Timmons’s applications became final when the
Appeals Council for the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review denied Timmons’s
request for review of the ALJ’s decision on February 1, 2016. (R. 1 – 5). On March 29,
2016, Timmons filed this action under §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3) for judicial review of the
Commissioner’s final decision.
(Doc. 1).
See 42 U.S.C. § 1383(c)(3) (“The final
determination of the Commissioner of Social Security after a hearing [for SSI benefits]
shall be subject to judicial review as provided in section 405(g) of this title to the same
extent as the Commissioner’s final determinations under section 405 of this title.”); 42
U.S.C. § 405(g) (“Any individual, after any final decision of the Commissioner of Social
DIB provides income to individuals who are forced into involuntary, premature
retirement, provided they are both insured and disabled, regardless of indigence. See 42
U.S.C. § 423(a). SSI is a general public assistance measure providing an additional
resource to the aged, blind, and disabled to assure that their income does not fall below the
poverty line. Eligibility for SSI is based upon proof of indigence and disability. See 42
U.S.C. §§ 1382(a), 1382c(a)(3)(A)-(C).
2
“For DIB claims, a claimant is eligible for benefits where she demonstrates disability on or
before the last date for which she were insured. 42 U.S.C. § 423(a)(1)(A) (2005). For SSI
claims, a claimant becomes eligible in the first month where she is both disabled and has an
SSI application on file. 20 C.F.R. § 416.202–03 (2005).” Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208,
1211 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam).
3
Security made after a hearing to which he was a party, irrespective of the amount in
controversy, may obtain a review of such decision by a civil action commenced within
sixty days after the mailing to him of notice of such decision or within such further time
as the Commissioner of Social Security may allow.”); Ingram v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec.
Admin., 496 F.3d 1253, 1262 (11th Cir. 2007) (“The settled law of this Circuit is that a
court may review, under sentence four of section 405(g), a denial of review by the
Appeals Council.”).
II.
Standards of Review
“In Social Security appeals, [the Court] must determine whether the
Commissioner’s decision is ‘ “supported by substantial evidence and based on proper
legal standards. Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla and is such relevant
evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” ’ ”
Winschel v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 631 F.3d 1176, 1178 (11th Cir. 2011) (quoting
Crawford v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 363 F.3d 1155, 1158 (11th Cir. 2004) (per curiam)
(internal citation omitted) (quoting Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1439 (11th Cir.
1997))). However, the Court “ ‘may not decide the facts anew, reweigh the evidence, or
substitute our judgment for that of the [Commissioner].’ ”
Id. (quoting Phillips v.
Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1240 n.8 (11th Cir. 2004) (alteration in original) (quoting
Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th Cir. 1983))). “‘Even if the evidence
preponderates against the [Commissioner]’s factual findings, [the Court] must affirm if
the decision reached is supported by substantial evidence.’ ” Ingram, 496 F.3d at 1260
(quoting Martin v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1520, 1529 (11th Cir. 1990)).
“Yet, within this narrowly circumscribed role, [courts] do not act as
automatons. [The Court] must scrutinize the record as a whole to determine if the
decision reached is reasonable and supported by substantial evidence[.]” Bloodsworth,
703 F.2d at 1239 (citations and quotation omitted). See also Owens v. Heckler, 748 F.2d
1511, 1516 (11th Cir. 1984) (per curiam) (“We are neither to conduct a de novo
proceeding, nor to rubber stamp the administrative decisions that come before us.
Rather, our function is to ensure that the decision was based on a reasonable and
consistently applied standard, and was carefully considered in light of all the relevant
facts.”). “In determining whether substantial evidence exists, [a court] must…tak[e]
into account evidence favorable as well as unfavorable to the [Commissioner’s]
decision.” Chester v. Bowen, 792 F.2d 129, 131 (11th Cir. 1986).
However, the “substantial evidence” “standard of review applies only to findings
of fact. No similar presumption of validity attaches to the [Commissioner]’s conclusions
of law, including determination of the proper standards to be applied in reviewing
claims.” MacGregor v. Bowen, 786 F.2d 1050, 1053 (11th Cir. 1986) (quotation omitted).
Accord, e.g., Wiggins v. Schweiker, 679 F.2d 1387, 1389 (11th Cir. 1982) (“Our standard
of review for appeals from the administrative denials of Social Security benefits dictates
that ‘(t)he findings of the Secretary as to any fact, if supported by substantial evidence,
shall be conclusive ....’ 42 U.S.C.A. s 405(g) … As is plain from the statutory language,
this deferential standard of review is applicable only to findings of fact made by the
Secretary, and it is well established that no similar presumption of validity attaches to
the Secretary’s conclusions of law, including determination of the proper standards to
be applied in reviewing claims.” (some quotation marks omitted)).
This Court
“conduct[s] ‘an exacting examination’ of these factors.” Miles v. Chater, 84 F.3d 1397,
1400 (11th Cir. 1996) (per curiam) (quoting Martin v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1520, 1529
(11th Cir. 1990)). “‘The [Commissioner]’s failure to apply the correct law or to provide
the reviewing court with sufficient reasoning for determining that the proper legal
analysis has been conducted mandates reversal.’” Ingram, 496 F.3d at 1260 (quoting
Cornelius v. Sullivan, 936 F.2d 1143, 1145-46 (11th Cir. 1991)). Accord Keeton v. Dep't
of Health & Human Servs., 21 F.3d 1064, 1066 (11th Cir. 1994).
In sum, courts “review the Commissioner’s factual findings with deference and
the Commissioner’s legal conclusions with close scrutiny.” Doughty v. Apfel, 245 F.3d
1274, 1278 (11th Cir. 2001). See also Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1211 (11th Cir.
2005) (per curiam) (“In Social Security appeals, we review de novo the legal principles
upon which the Commissioner's decision is based. Chester v. Bowen, 792 F.2d 129, 131
(11th Cir. 1986). However, we review the resulting decision only to determine whether
it is supported by substantial evidence. Crawford v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 363 F.3d 1155,
1158–59 (11th Cir. 2004).”).
Eligibility for DIB and SSI requires that the claimant be disabled. 42
U.S.C. §§ 423(a)(1)(E), 1382(a)(1)-(2). A claimant is disabled if she is
unable “to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a
medically determinable physical or mental impairment ... 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), 1382c(a)(3)(A).
Thornton v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 597 F. App’x 604, 609 (11th Cir. 2015) (per
curiam) (unpublished).4
The Social Security Regulations outline a five-step, sequential evaluation
process used to determine whether a claimant is disabled: (1) whether the
In this Circuit, “[u]npublished opinions are not considered binding precedent, but they
may be cited as persuasive authority.” 11th Cir. R. 36-2. See also Henry v. Comm'r of Soc.
Sec., 802 F.3d 1264, 1267 n.1 (11th Cir. 2015) (per curiam) (“Cases printed in the Federal
Appendix are cited as persuasive authority.”).
4
claimant is currently engaged in substantial gainful activity; (2) whether
the claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments; (3)
whether the impairment meets or equals the severity of the specified
impairments in the Listing of Impairments; (4) based on a residual
functional capacity (“RFC”) assessment, whether the claimant can
perform any of his or her past relevant work despite the impairment; and
(5) whether there are significant numbers of jobs in the national economy
that the claimant can perform given the claimant's RFC, age, education,
and work experience.
Winschel, 631 F.3d at 1178 (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(i)-(v), 416.920(a)(4)(i)-(v);
Phillips, 357 F.3d at 1237-39).5
“These regulations place a very heavy burden on the claimant to demonstrate
both a qualifying disability and an inability to perform past relevant work.” Moore, 405
F.3d at 1211 (citing Spencer v. Heckler, 765 F.2d 1090, 1093 (11th Cir. 1985)). “In
determining whether the claimant has satisfied this initial burden, the examiner must
consider four factors: (1) objective medical facts or clinical findings; (2) the diagnoses of
examining physicians; (3) evidence of pain; and (4) the claimant’s age, education, and
work history.”
Jones v. Bowen, 810 F.2d 1001, 1005 (11th Cir. 1986) (per curiam)
(citing Tieniber v. Heckler, 720 F.2d 1251, 1253 (11th Cir. 1983) (per curiam)). “These
factors must be considered both singly and in combination. Presence or absence of a
single factor is not, in itself, conclusive.”
Bloodsworth, 703 F.2d at 1240 (citations
omitted).
If, in Steps One through Four of the five-step evaluation, a claimant proves that
he or she has a qualifying disability and cannot do his or her past relevant work, it then
becomes the Commissioner’s burden, at Step Five, to prove that the claimant is
capable—given his or her age, education, and work history—of engaging in another
The Court will hereinafter use “Step One,” “Step Two,” etc. when referencing individual
steps of this five-step sequential evaluation.
5
kind of substantial gainful employment that exists in the national economy. Jones v.
Apfel, 190 F.3d 1224, 1228 (11th Cir. 1999); Sryock v. Heckler, 764 F.2d 834, 836 (11th
Cir. 1985).
Finally, although the “claimant bears the burden of demonstrating the
inability to return to [his or] her past relevant work, the Commissioner of Social
Security has an obligation to develop a full and fair record.” Shnorr v. Bowen, 816 F.2d
578, 581 (11th Cir. 1987). See also Ellison v. Barnhart, 355 F.3d 1272, 1276 (11th Cir.
2003) (per curiam) (“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 he is
disabled, and, consequently, he is responsible for producing evidence in support of his
claim.” (citations omitted)). “This is an onerous task, as the ALJ must scrupulously and
conscientiously probe into, inquire of, and explore for all relevant facts. In determining
whether a claimant is disabled, the ALJ must consider the evidence as a whole.” Henry
v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 802 F.3d 1264, 1267 (11th Cir. 2015) (per curiam) (citation and
quotation omitted).
Where, as here, the ALJ denied benefits and the Appeals Council denied review
of that decision, the Court “review[s] the ALJ’s decision as the Commissioner’s final
decision.” Doughty, 245 F.3d at 1278. “[W]hen the [Appeals Council] has denied review,
[the Court] will look only to the evidence actually presented to the ALJ in determining
whether the ALJ’s decision is supported by substantial evidence.” Falge v. Apfel, 150
F.3d 1320, 1323 (11th Cir. 1998). If the applicant attacks only the ALJ’s decision, the
Court may not consider evidence that was presented to the Appeals Council but not to
the ALJ. See id. at 1324.
III.
Analysis
At Step One, the ALJ determined that Timmons had not engaged in substantial
gainful activity since the alleged disability onset date, May 6, 2012. (R. 20). At Step
Two, the ALJ determined that Timmons had the following severe impairments: obesity,
lymphedema, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), hypertension,
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), personality disorder, and mood disorder. (R. 20).
At Step Three, the ALJ found that Timmons did not have an impairment or
combination of impairments that meets or equals the severity of one of the specified
impairments in the relevant Listing of Impairments. (R. 21 - 22).
At Step Four,
the ALJ must assess: (1) the claimant's residual functional capacity
(“RFC”); and (2) the claimant's ability to return to her past relevant work.
20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iv). As for the claimant's RFC, the regulations
define RFC as that which an individual is still able to do despite the
limitations caused by his or her impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a).
Moreover, the ALJ will “assess and make a finding about [the claimant's]
residual functional capacity based on all the relevant medical and other
evidence” in the case. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(e). Furthermore, the RFC
determination is used both to determine whether the claimant: (1) can
return to her past relevant work under the fourth step; and (2) can adjust
to other work under the fifth step…20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(e).
If the claimant can return to her past relevant work, the ALJ will
conclude that the claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iv)
& (f). If the claimant cannot return to her past relevant work, the ALJ
moves on to step five.
In determining whether [a claimant] can return to her past relevant work,
the ALJ must determine the claimant's RFC using all relevant medical
and other evidence in the case. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(e). That is, the ALJ
must determine if the claimant is limited to a particular work level. See
20 C.F.R. § 404.1567. Once the ALJ assesses the claimant’s RFC and
determines that the claimant cannot return to her prior relevant work,
the ALJ moves on to the fifth, and final, step.
Phillips, 357 F.3d at 1238-39 (footnote omitted).
The ALJ determined that Timmons had the RFC “to perform light work as
defined in 20 CFR 404.1567(b) and 416.967[,]”6 with the following limitations: “[T]he
claimant would need to alternate sitting and standing about every 30 minutes but
would not need to leave the workstation. She should never operate foot controls; climb
ladders, scaffolds, and ropes; kneel; crawl; work at unprotected heights; work around
dangerous equipment; work around temperature extremes, humidity and wetness; and
be exposed to concentrated environmental pollutants such as dusts, chemicals, and
fumes. She can occasionally climb stairs and ramps, bend, stoop, and crouch. She must
avoid tasks involving a variety of instructions and is able to understand to carry out
simple one or two-step instructions and is able to understand to carry out detailed but
uninvolved written or oral instructions involving a few concrete variables in or from
standardized situations.
She must have minimal changes in work settings and
routines, but can make judgments on simple work-related decisions. She cannot work
in crowds and cannot work in contact with the public, and contact with co-workers
should be no more than occasional in a well-spaced workstation with no teamwork
requirements.” (R. 23).
Based on this RFC, the ALJ determined that Timmons was unable to perform
“To determine the physical exertion requirements of different types of employment in the
national economy, the Commissioner classifies jobs as sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and
very heavy. These terms are all defined in the regulations … Each classification … has its
own set of criteria.” Phillips, 357 F.3d at 1239 n.4. “Light work involves lifting no more
than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10
pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it
requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time
with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of
performing a full or wide range of light work, [the claimant] must have the ability to do
substantially all of these activities. If someone can do light work, [the Commissioner]
determine[s] that he or she can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting
factors such as loss of fine dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.” 20 C.F.R. §§
404.1567(b), 416.967(b).
6
any past relevant work. (R. 27). At Step Five, the ALJ, after taking testimony from a
vocational expert, found that there exist significant numbers of jobs in the national
economy that Timmons can perform given her RFC, age, education, and work
experience. (R. 27 – 28). Thus, the ALJ found that Timmons was not disabled under
the Social Security Act. (R. 28).
Timmons’s lone claim of error in favor of reversal is that “[s]ubstantial evidence
does not support the ALJ’s finding that [Timmons] can perform unskilled work on a
consistent basis” because the ALJ “specifically failed to discuss medical records that
discuss [Timmons]’s ‘inability to get along with people, having various mood swings and
paranoia and also “blacking out” and not remembering what happened.’ ” (Doc. 13 at 1
– 2).
In analyzing Timmons’s mental impairments, the ALJ considered treatment
records from Altapointe covering a period from 2011 to January 2014.
The ALJ
discussed those records as follows:
In terms of the claimant’s alleged mental impairments, she has received
fairly consistent treatment from Altapointe since moving to Alabama.
Despite having reported interpersonal conflicts, upon examination she
was generally appropriate and cooperative (see Exhibits 1F; 6F; 8F; 10F).
Moreover, despite alleging hearing voices and having imaginary friends,
she was able to keep appointments and be presentable for those
appointments, as well as generally having friends and being able to go out
in public.
The claimant’s treatment records from Altapointe in 2011 and 2012 show
that the claimant was given treatment and medication to control her
symptoms (Exhibits 1F; 6F). Treatment notes from February 2011 show
that the claimant reported hearing voices, but that upon examination her
mood was normal, her affect was appropriate, her concentration and
memory were intact, her judgment was fair, and her anxiety was mild.
She was diagnosed with OCD and her GAF score was 65. In July 2012,
treatment notes set forth that the claimant was malingering and/or
exaggerating her symptoms in conjunction with her seeking SSI.
Treatment notes in 2012 and 2013 from Altapointe show that the
claimant generally had controllable symptoms with medical compliance
(Exhibits 6F; 8F; 10F). In February 2013, the claimant’s symptoms had
decreased despite her mood and moderate anxiety, and unimpaired
concentration and memory. In July 2013, the claimant had decreased
frequency in her hallucinations and upon examination her mood was
normal, her affect was appropriate, her memory was unimpaired, despite
some concentration impairment (Exhibit 8F). In August 2013, the
claimant despite reporting a recent interpersonal conflict and continuing
to hear voices, upon examination she was cooperative, her thoughts were
within normal limits, and her concentration and memory was not
impaired. At an examination in December 2013, her mental examination
findings were generally within normal limits, despite her moderate
anxiety (Exhibit 10F). Additional treatment notes in January 2014
showed generally normal findings as well (Exhibit 12F).
(R. 25).
Timmons takes issue only with the last two sentences of the above-quoted
passage, claiming that their “recitation of the evidence is grossly inaccurate.” (Doc. 13
at 3).
In support, Timmons cites excerpts from two Altapointe treatment notes
respectively dated December 30, 2013, and January 2, 2014, which together comprise
“Exhibit 12F” (R. 408 – 411). Having considered those notes, the undersigned is not
persuaded that reversible error has been shown.
As Timmons highlights, the December 30, 2013 note, completed by a Dr.
Freerksen, states: Timmons “[f]eels ‘pissed off.’
Seeing people, objects, shadows.
‘I
talk to my friends everyday.’ These are hallucinations. Two days ago, she pushed
someone down and broke her nose because she got mad. Her friends were telling her
to do so.”
(R. 410). Timmons further points out that the December 30, 2013 note
documented
Behavior:
the
following
observations:
“Appearance/Grooming:
Uncooperative, Agitated; Mood: Angry; Affect:
Inappropriate;
Irritable; Homicidal
thoughts: Yes, Describe: thoughts of generalized malevolence, not homicide, and no
intent or plan; Perceptions: Auditory hallucinations present, visual hallucinations
present; Insight: Poor Judgement [sic]: Poor; Anxiety: Mild, Describe: fidgety.” (R. 410
– 411). However, the undersigned agrees with the Commissioner that these appear to
simply be Dr. Freerksen recording Timmons’s subjective complaints and offering
general observations. Timmons omits Dr. Freersken’s additional observations that her
thoughts were “logical/coherent/[within normal limits]” and that she had “no
impairment” in her concentration. (R. 411). She also fails to mention Dr. Freerksen’s
observation that “[h]allucinations seem to by [sic] personality based and consumer
indicated she assaulted the other person (no charges pressed) because she was angry
and not because her ‘friends’ told her to[,]” indicating Dr. Freerksen had some doubt as
to Timmons’s subjective reports of hallucinations.
(R. 410).
Finally, as the
Commissioner correctly notes, the December 30, 2013 examination was the only time
Dr. Freerksen ever saw Timmons, and her observations as to Timmons’s appearance
and demeanor are largely inconsistent with prior treatment notes. In particular, Dr.
Cohen-Colson, who saw Timmons six times in 2013, repeatedly reported unremarkable
observations. Timmons has not challenged the ALJ’s characterization of her Altapointe
records at any time prior to Dr. Freersken’s report.
As for the January 2, 2014 treatment note, completed by therapist J. Smith,
Timmons highlights the following observations:
Consumer presented somewhat agitated today after having to wait longer
than expected but gradually calmed down. Consumer reports that she’s
been “bad” and states that she punched a “friend of a friend” while they
were visiting her home a couple of weeks ago…Consumer blamed this
behavior on her other “personalities” and stated “Debra punched him.”
Consumer appears to have a history of living in her “own world” and
therapist was able to explore this “world” and it’s “Characters” in more
detail during today’s session.
Consumer states that she has known “Debra” and “Denies” for a long time
and that the [sic] “grew up together.” Consumer talked more in depth
about her childhood at the prompting of therapist. She discussed her
behavioral problems that started around the age of 5 and says that she
created her own world with “friends.”
It is the clinical opinion of this therapist that consumer created
her “world” and her “friends” around this age due to trauma and
abuse. This has led to consumer not being able to get along with
people, having various mood swings and paranoia and also
“blacking out” and not remembering what happened.
(R. 408 (emphasis by Timmons)).
As the Commissioner correctly notes, a “therapist” who is neither a physician
nor a psychologist is not an “acceptable medical source” who can provide evidence of a
medically determinable impairment.
See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1513(a), 416.913(a).
Timmons has pointed to no other evidence that would support her claimed impairments
of paranoia or “blacking out.” Moreover, at the time Smith offered his “clinical opinion,”
Timmons had recently been transferred to him from another therapist, and Smith had
only seen her twice (the other time being a month earlier, December 4, 2013) (see R. 347
– 348).
Finally, despite the dire-sounding tone of his clinical opinion, Smith’s
observations of Timmons at the January 2, 2014 examination were unremarkable. (See
R. 408 – 409 (noting “appropriate” appearance and grooming; “normal, cooperative”
behavior; “normal” mood; affect “appropriate to situation;” no homicidal thoughts; etc.)).
The undersigned is not persuaded that these two treatment notes render the
ALJ’s overall longitudinal view of Timmons’s Altapointe treatment records fatally
flawed. Additionally, the undersigned agrees with the Commissioner that Timmons
has not explained how the evidence the ALJ purportedly ignored is inconsistent with
the mental RFC the ALJ ultimately arrived at or otherwise shows that Timmons is
unable to work. Indeed, the ALJ explained that “[t]he preclusion from working with
the public and limitations to occasional interaction with co-workers accommodates her
mental impairments and symptoms such as anxiety and issues with interpersonal
interactions[, and h]er concentration issues and mental impairments are accommodated
by the limitations to simple instructions … and avoiding tasks involving a variety of
instructions or tasks.” (R. 25 – 26).7 “[C]ontrary to [Timmons]’s contention that the
ALJ ignored evidence favorable to [Timmons], ‘there is no rigid requirement that the
ALJ specifically refer to every piece of evidence in his decision, so long as the ALJ's
decision ... is not a broad rejection which is not enough to enable [a reviewing court] to
conclude that the ALJ considered [the claimant's] medical condition as a whole.’ Dyer,
395 F.3d at 1211 (quotation and brackets omitted). The ALJ’s decision in this case was
not a broad rejection and was sufficient to enable … this Court to conclude the ALJ
considered [the Altapointe treatment notes and Timmons]’s medical condition as a
whole.” Mitchell v. Comm'r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 771 F.3d 780, 782 (11th Cir. 2014).8
The undersigned rejects the Commissioner’s assertion that the opinion of nonexamining
state agency reviewer Dr. Hinton, which was the only medical opinion in the record and
which the ALJ gave “great weight” (R. 26), by itself “constituted substantial evidence
supporting the ALJ’s findings as to [Timmons]’s mental functional limitations.” (Doc. 14 at
8). See Lamb v. Bowen, 847 F.2d 698, 703 (11th Cir. 1988) (“The reports of reviewing
nonexamining physicians do not constitute substantial evidence on which to base an
administrative decision.”); Sharfarz v. Bowen, 825 F.2d 278, 280 (11th Cir. 1987) (per
curiam) (“The opinions of nonexamining, reviewing physicians … standing alone do not
constitute substantial evidence.”).
7
To the extent the ALJ might have misstated portions of the two treatment notes Timmons
cites, such factual errors do not warrant remand in this case. Cf. Moore, 405 F.3d at 1213
(“To the extent that Moore points to other evidence which would undermine the ALJ's RFC
determination, her contentions misinterpret the narrowly circumscribed nature of our
appellate review, which precludes us from ‘re-weigh[ing] the evidence or substitut[ing] our
judgment for that [of the Commissioner] ... even if the evidence preponderates against’ the
decision.” (quoting Bloodsworth, 703 F.2d at 1239)) (footnote omitted)); Jacobus v. v.
Comm'r of Soc. Sec., No. 15-14609, 2016 WL 6080607, at *1 – 2 (11th Cir. Oct. 18, 2016)
8
Accordingly, the Court OVERRULES Timmons’s claim of reversible error and
finds that the Commissioner’s final decision denying her benefits is due to be
AFFIRMED.9
IV.
Conclusion
In accordance with the foregoing analysis, it is ORDERED that the
Commissioner’s February 1, 2016 final decision denying Timmons’s applications for a
period of disability, DIB, and SSI is AFFIRMED under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. §
405(g).
Final judgment shall issue separately in accordance with this Order and Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 58.
DONE and ORDERED this the 17th day of November 2016.
/s/ Katherine P. Nelson
KATHERINE P. NELSON
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
(per curiam) (unpublished) (“As an initial matter, there are a number of factual errors in
the ALJ’s opinion … Where an ALJ makes a factual error, the error will be considered
harmless if it is clear that the error did not affect the ALJ's ultimate determination. See
Diorio v. Heckler, 721 F.2d 726, 728 (11th Cir. 1983). The ALJ’s factual errors are
harmless, as substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s determination that Jacobus was not
entirely credible.”).
Generally, claims of error not raised in the district court are deemed waived. See Stewart
v. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 26 F.3d 115, 115 – 16 (11th Cir. 1994) (“As a general
principle, [the court of appeals] will not address an argument that has not been raised in
the district court … Because Stewart did not present any of his assertions in the district
court, we decline to consider them on appeal.” (applying rule in appeal of judicial review
under 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3)); Hunter v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 651 F. App'x 958, 962
(11th Cir. 2016) (per curiam) (unpublished) (same); In re Pan Am. World Airways, Inc.,
Maternity Leave Practices & Flight Attendant Weight Program Litig., 905 F.2d 1457, 1462
(11th Cir. 1990) (“[I]f a party hopes to preserve a claim, argument, theory, or defense for
appeal, she must first clearly present it to the district court, that is, in such a way as to
afford the district court an opportunity to recognize and rule on it.”).
9
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