Williamson v. Colvin
Filing
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ORDER - IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED affirming the decision of the Administrative Law Judge (R. at 8-25) as upheld by the Appeals Council (R. at 1-6). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED directing the Clerk of Court to enter judgment accordingly and close this matter. (See document for full details). Signed by Judge John J Tuchi on 9/2/16. (LAD)
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
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Kari Kristi Williamson,
Plaintiff,
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ORDER
v.
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No. CV-15-01713-PHX-JJT
Carolyn W. Colvin,
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Defendant.
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At issue is the denial of Plaintiff Kari Kristi Williamson’s Application for
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Supplemental Security Income Benefits by the Social Security Administration (“SSA”)
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under the Social Security Act (“the Act”). Plaintiff filed a Complaint on August 28, 2015,
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seeking judicial review of that denial. (Doc. 1.) The Court has reviewed the
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Administrative Record (Doc. 12, R.) in its entirety, as well as Plaintiff’s Opening Brief
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(Doc. 22, “Pl.’s Br.”), Defendant Social Security Administration Commissioner’s
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Opposition (Doc. 26, “Def.’s Br.”), and Plaintiff’s Reply (Doc. 27, “Pl.’s Reply”), and
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now affirms the Administrative Law Judge’s decision (R. at 8-25), as upheld by the
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Appeals Council (R. at 1-6).
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I.
BACKGROUND
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Plaintiff filed an Application for Supplemental Security Income on July 30, 2013
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alleging disability beginning January 23, 2007. (R. at 153.) Plaintiff’s claim was initially
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denied on January 3, 2014. (R. at 53.) Plaintiff requested a hearing, which an
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Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) held on January 21, 2015. (R. at 26-51.) On May 7,
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2015, the ALJ denied Plaintiff’s request for benefits. (R. at 8-25). On July 2, 2015, the
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Appeals Council denied Plaintiff’s request for review of the ALJ’s decision. (R. at 1-6.)
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The present appeal followed.
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The Court has reviewed the record, including hearing testimony and medical
evidence, in its entirety and provides a short summary below.
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A.
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Since 2007, Plaintiff has been under the primary care of Dr. Safdar Ali in
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conjunction with Partners in Recovery (a Magellan clinical site), and their records
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comprise the majority of the medical evidence. (E.g., R. at 475.) In July 2011, Dr. Ali
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diagnosed Plaintiff with unspecified mood disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and
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borderline personality disorder. (R. at 464.) From 2011 to 2014, Plaintiff saw Dr. Ali no
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fewer than 18 times, and throughout Dr. Ali’s treatment of Plaintiff he assessed various
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symptoms consistent with and related to those diagnoses (R. at 411-15, 430, 433, 438-39,
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448, 454, 457, 460, 464), while often noting improvement and stability (R. at 403, 405-
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06, 408-09, 412, 415, 418, 421, 423-27, 429-30, 433-36, 454, 457, 460, 464, 483-84).
Partners in Recovery
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In November 2013, Dr. Ali wrote a medical source statement opining that Plaintiff
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had chronic mental illness resulting in loss of functions including the ability to work and
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be productive. (R. at 475.) On March 25, 2014, Dr. Ali completed a Supplemental
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Questionnaire regarding Plaintiff’s Residual Functional Capacity (“RFC”), finding that
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Plaintiff would have slight limitations in making work-related judgments and interacting
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with the public, moderate limitations in the ability to understand and carry out short,
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simple instructions and interacting with the public, and marked limitations in the ability
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to understand and remember detailed instructions, interact appropriately with supervisors,
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and respond to work pressures and changes in routine work settings. (R. at 476.) Dr. Ali
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further commented that he considered Plaintiff to be seriously mentally ill based on a
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psychiatric disorder and loss of function. (R. at 477.)
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Treatment notes from Partners in Recovery on at least seven other occasions in
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2012 and 2013 show Plaintiff reported lack of energy, depressed mood, anxiety, and
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moderate severity of symptoms. (R. at 439-520.) During many visits, including her final
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one, Plaintiff denied symptoms of mania, depression, or psychosis, and had no
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overwhelming anxiety, and Plaintiff’s patient notes stated that she was cooperative,
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maintained good eye contact, and exhibited appropriate affect and euthymic mood. (R. at
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500-19.)
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On January 20, 2015, Elise Wise, a Nurse Practitioner at Partners in Recovery
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wrote a general assessment letter diagnosing Plaintiff with unspecified mood disorder and
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posttraumatic stress disorder and noted that her symptoms include the inability to leave
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her house or go to public places. (R. at 521.)
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B.
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On August 10, 2011, Plaintiff was admitted to Paradise Valley Hospital via its
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Emergency Room in Phoenix, Arizona after attempting to commit suicide by ingesting
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various prescription drugs, including Effexor, Abilify, and Benztropine. (R. at 239-383.)
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Plaintiff stated that she had taken all of the prescription medicine in her possession and
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had attempted suicide in the past. (R. at 250.) After stabilizing, Plaintiff reported that she
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was regretful for the suicide attempt and would not do so again. (R. at 261.) Plaintiff was
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discharged on August 12, 2011, after signing a safety contract to maintain
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communication with counselors after her discharge. (R. at 267.)
Paradise Valley Hospital
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Plaintiff was admitted to Paradise Valley Hospital via its Emergency Room on
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numerous other occasions, including May 14, 2011, October 3, 2011, October 8, 2011,
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November 25, 2011, December 2, 2011, and March 22, 2012, citing throat, chest, or sinus
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pain, often noting depression as well. (R. at 289-317.) Plaintiff was also admitted to
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Paradise Valley Hospital on September 8, 2014, stating that she was experiencing severe
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depression and anxiety and requesting additional anti-depressant medication. (R. at 522-
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31.)
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C.
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On December 17, 2013, Dr. David Yandell reviewed the medical record,
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completed a mental capacities assessment form, and concluded that Plaintiff was not
State Examining Physicians
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significantly limited in most categories and moderately limited in various work-related
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capacities. (R. at 61-63.) As part of his analysis, Dr. Yandell also completed a Psychiatric
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Review Technique form, concluding that Plaintiff had moderate restrictions of activities
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in daily living, moderate difficulties maintaining social functioning, and moderate
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difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence or pace. (R. at 59-60.) Dr. Yandell
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found insufficient evidence to assess whether there were episodes of extended
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decompensation. (R. at 59.) Dr. Yandell concluded that Plaintiff was severely limited and
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impacted by her impairments but remained able to perform simple work (R. at 61) and
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simple job tasks on a sustained basis (R. at 63).
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On June 12, 2015, as part of the reconsideration determination, Dr. Stacy
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Koutrakos also reviewed the medical record and completed a mental capacities
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assessment, including a Psychiatric Review Technique form. (R. at 72-77.) Dr. Koutrakos
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reiterated Dr. Yandell’s assessments and also found no significant limitations regarding
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the ability to understand and remember detailed instructions. (R. at 75-76.)
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II.
LEGAL STANDARDS
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The district court reviews only those issues raised by the party challenging the
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ALJ’s decision. See Lewis v. Apfel, 236 F.3d 503, 517 n.13 (9th Cir. 2001). The court
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may set aside the Commissioner’s disability determination only if the determination is
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not supported by substantial evidence or is based on legal error. Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d
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625, 630 (9th Cir. 2007). Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla, but less than a
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preponderance; it is relevant evidence that a reasonable person might accept as adequate
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to support a conclusion considering the record as a whole. Id. In determining whether
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substantial evidence supports a decision, the court must consider the record as a whole
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and may not affirm simply by isolating a “specific quantum of supporting evidence.” Id.
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As a general rule, “[w]here the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational
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interpretation, one of which supports the ALJ’s decision, the ALJ’s conclusion must be
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upheld.” Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 954 (9th Cir. 2002) (citations omitted).
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To determine whether a claimant is disabled for purposes of the Social Security
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Act, the ALJ follows a five-step process. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a). The claimant bears the
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burden of proof on the first four steps, but the burden shifts to the Commissioner at step
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five. Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1098 (9th Cir. 1999). At the first step, the ALJ
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determines whether the claimant is engaging in substantial gainful activity. 20 C.F.R.
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§ 404.1520(a)(4)(i). If so, the claimant is not disabled and the inquiry ends. Id. At step
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two, the ALJ determines whether the claimant has a “severe” medically determinable
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physical or mental impairment. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). If not, the claimant is not
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disabled and the inquiry ends. Id. At step three, the ALJ considers whether the claimant's
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impairment or combination of impairments meets or medically equals an impairment
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listed in Appendix 1 to Subpart P of 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404 (Listing of Impairments). 20
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C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iii). If so, the claimant is automatically found to be disabled. Id.
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If not, the ALJ proceeds to step four. Id. At step four, the ALJ assesses the claimant’s
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residual functional capacity and determines whether the claimant is still capable of
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performing past relevant work. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iv). If so, the claimant is not
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disabled and the inquiry ends. Id. If not, the ALJ proceeds to the fifth and final step,
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where he determines whether the claimant can perform any other work based on the
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claimant’s residual functional capacity, age, education, and work experience. 20 C.F.R.
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§ 404.1520(a)(4)(v). If so, the claimant is not disabled. Id. If not, the claimant is disabled.
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Id.
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III.
ANALYSIS
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Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred by: (1) failing to afford appropriate deference to
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the opinion of Plaintiff’s treating psychiatrist, Dr. Ali; (2) improperly rejecting Plaintiff’s
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symptoms testimony without legally sufficient reasoning; and (3) failing to consider the
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entirety of Plaintiff’s limitations in assessing Plaintiff’s RFC. (Pl.’s Br. at 1-2.)
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A.
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Plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred by rejecting the opinion of Dr. Ali. (Pl.’s Br.
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at 11-17.) Defendant argues that the ALJ properly weighed the treating professionals’
The ALJ Did Not Err in Discounting the Opinion of Dr. Ali
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assessments, offering specific and legitimate reasons supported by substantial evidence in
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the record for giving partial weight to certain assessments. (Def.’s Br. at 3-8.)
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An ALJ “may only reject a treating or examining physician’s uncontradicted
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medical opinion based on ‘clear and convincing reasons.’” Carmickle v. Comm’r of Soc.
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Sec., 533 F.3d 1155, 1164 (9th Cir. 2008) (citing Lester v. Chater, 81 F. 3d 821, 830-31
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(9th Cir. 1996)). “Where such an opinion is contradicted, however, it may be rejected for
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specific and legitimate reasons that are supported by substantial evidence in the record.”
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Id.
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In this instance, the ALJ found that the assessments of Plaintiff’s treating
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psychiatrist, Dr. Ali, were contradicted by the objective medical evidence, including Dr.
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Ali’s progress notes, and the assessments of Dr. Yandell and Dr. Koutrakos. (R. at 16-
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19.) The Court must therefore examine whether the ALJ provided specific and legitimate
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reasons for discounting the assessments of Dr. Ali, supported by substantial evidence
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when examining the record as a whole. See Carmickle, 533 F.3d at 1164.
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Rather than rejecting Dr. Ali’s opinion outright, the ALJ gave his generalized
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assessment letter and Supplemental Questionnaire only partial weight. (R. at 16.)
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Primarily, the ALJ found that Dr. Ali’s opinion was not supported by the objective
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medical record, including Dr. Ali’s own progress notes. (R. at 18.) The ALJ supported
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this conclusion with citations to Dr. Ali’s notes that Plaintiff was benefitting from
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medication without adverse effects, that she was very much improved, psychiatrically
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stable, feeling good, exhibited appropriate affect, euthymic mood, good concentration,
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judgment, insight, and memory, and was oriented and alert. (R. at 18.)1 The ALJ also
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found Dr. Ali’s assessment inconsistent with other progress notes from Partners in
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Recovery and Magellan indicating that Plaintiff was stable, doing well, improving,
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coping with current stressors, and without any symptoms of decompensation. (R. at 18.)
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Plaintiff contends that the repeated notations regarding Plaintiff’s improvement
were computerized and made without regard to Plaintiff’s actual condition. Plaintiff
provides no evidence, other than Plaintiff’s own speculation, for this conclusion.
Accordingly, the Court does not give weight Plaintiff’s speculation in its review of the
objective medical record. (Pl.’s Br. at 7, n.5, 13.)
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These findings are consistent with other portions of the medical record in which Plaintiff
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expressed that she was beginning to take courses in nursing (R. at 435, 441, 456) and was
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later contemplating enrolling in DeVry University (R. at 417, 470). Plaintiff also received
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a visit from her daughter who lives in South Dakota (R. at 423), expressed a desire to
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move to India with friends (R. at 429), and repeatedly stated that she was not dealing with
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crises, spoke to her daughter regularly, and was without current stressors (R. at 423, 441,
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444, 483).
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Further, while a claimant need not be “utterly incapacitated” to be considered
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disabled under the Act, Webb v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 683, 688 (9th Cir. 2005), Plaintiff’s
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testimony and statements to her treating psychiatrist and staff support the conclusion that
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she had the functional capacity to regularly care for her pets, use a computer, watch
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television, use social media, reconnect with her daughter, keep in touch with friends and
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family, obtain a medical marijuana license, and endeavor to enroll in upper-level
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continuing education. (E.g., R. at 417, 425, 435, 441, 444, 456, 470.) This testimony is
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inconsistent with, for example, the significant limitations Dr. Ali attributed to Plaintiff in
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his November 13, 2013 letter and Supplemental Questionnaire as to RFC. The ALJ
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instead gave greater weight to the opinions of the state agency’s reviewing physicians
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regarding Plaintiff’s RFC because the ALJ found their opinions were not inconsistent
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with the greater objective record, including the weight of Plaintiff’s progress notes and
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Plaintiff’s testimony. (R. at 19.) The Court finds the ALJ provided specific and legitimate
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reasons supported by substantial evidence in determining to give partial weight to Dr.
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Ali’s opinion regarding Plaintiff’s limitations due to her psychiatric impairments and
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assigning greater weight to the reviewing physicians. See Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d
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1211, 1216 (9th Cir. 2005). Thus, the ALJ properly considered the opinion of Dr. Ali.
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B.
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Plaintiff also argues that the ALJ erred in his consideration of Plaintiff’s symptom
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testimony. (Pl.’s Br. at 17-20.) In response, Defendant contends that the ALJ gave
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Plaintiff’s testimony proper weight because it was contradicted by objective medical
The ALJ Properly Weighed Plaintiff’s Testimony
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evidence, other portions of Plaintiff’s testimony, and reports of Plaintiff’s daily activities.
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(Def.’s Br. at 8-12.)
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“Where, as here, an ALJ concludes that a claimant is not malingering, and that she
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has provided objective medical evidence of an underlying impairment which might
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reasonably produce the pain or other symptoms alleged, the ALJ may reject the
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claimant’s testimony about the severity of her symptoms only by offering specific, clear
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and convincing reasons for doing so.” Brown-Hunter v. Colvin, 806 F.3d 487, 492-93
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(9th Cir. 2015) (citing Lingenfelter v. Astrue, 504 F.3d 1028, 1036 (9th Cir. 2007))
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(internal quotation marks omitted). The ALJ’s finding that a claimant is not credible
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“must be sufficiently specific to allow a reviewing court to conclude the adjudicator
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rejected the claimant’s testimony on permissible grounds and did not arbitrarily discredit
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a claimant’s testimony regarding pain.” Id. at 493 (internal citations and quotation marks
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omitted). “General findings are insufficient; rather, the ALJ must identify what testimony
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is not credible and what evidence undermines the claimant’s complaints.” Id. (internal
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citations and quotation marks omitted).
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Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred in her determination that “the record shows her
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activities and ability to interact with others is less restricted than alleged.” (Pl.’s Br. at 18
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(quoting R. at 16).) The Court disagrees. While the ALJ generally credited Plaintiff’s
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testimony regarding her conditions, the ALJ gave specific, clear, and convincing reasons
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for her determination that the severity of symptoms stemming from those conditions were
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at odds with the medical record and other testimony. In her decision, the ALJ pointed to
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specific medical records and progress notes that were contrary to Plaintiff’s testimony
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regarding the debilitating nature of her symptoms. (R. at 16-17.) The ALJ also pointed to
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Plaintiff’s inconsistent statements regarding her symptoms and side effects from her
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medications. (R. at 17.) Finally, the ALJ noted that Plaintiff’s testimony was controverted
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by her daily activities. (R. at 16-17.) Particularly, the ALJ again noted that Plaintiff
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maintains the ability to travel, keeps social contacts, exhibited good mood and
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interaction, prepared household meals and completed household chores, and has long
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been contemplating upper-level education that would presumably lead to gainful
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employment, as examples of activities incongruent with Plaintiff’s testimony. (R. at 16.)
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The ALJ also cited Plaintiff’s improved condition, which appeared to be due to the
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elimination of temporary stressors and compliance with treatment. (R. at 17.) The Court
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finds that the ALJ’s extensive review of and citation to the medical record and correlating
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testimony provides specific, clear, and convincing evidence for accepting Plaintiff’s
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diagnoses and symptoms, but not accepting the severity and disabling nature of those
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conditions.
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C.
The ALJ Did Not Err in Determining Plaintiff’s Skill Limitations
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Plaintiff lastly argues that that the ALJ’s determination of Plaintiff’s skill
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limitations did not account for acknowledged moderate limitations in Plaintiff’s ability to
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maintain concentration, persistence, or pace. (Pl.’s Br. at 20). Defendant responds that
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substantial evidence supported the ALJ’s assessment of Plaintiff’s skill limitations and
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that her assessment captured the entirety of Plaintiff’s debilities. (Def.’s Br. at 13.)
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Courts affirm an ALJ’s RFC determination where the ALJ has applied the proper
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legal standard and supported her decision by substantial evidence. Bayliss, 427 F.3d at
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1217. Here, in making her RFC determination, the ALJ provided a comprehensive
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assessment of all of Plaintiff’s conditions and symptoms. (See R. at 14-19.) For support
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that Plaintiff retained the ability to maintain concentration, persistence, or pace, the ALJ
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pointed to the Plaintiff’s mental status exams—in which the Plaintiff retained the ability
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to concentrate—and to numerous occasions in Dr. Ali’s notes in which he observed that
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Plaintiff’s ability to concentrate was “good.” (E.g., R. at 403, 406, 409, 412, 415, 421,
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427, 442, 448, 460, 468, 484, 498, 519.) The Court finds that the ALJ’s determination of
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Plaintiff’s RFC is supported by substantial evidence as she took into account all the
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limitations for which there was record support, and thus the Court will not remand on this
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issue. See Carmickle, 533 F.3d at 1162; Bayliss, 427 F.3d at 1217; Stubbs-Danielson v.
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Astrue, 539 F.3d 1169, 1174 (9th Cir. 2008) (“an ALJ’s assessment of a claimant
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adequately captures restrictions related to concentration, persistence, or pace where the
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assessment is consistent with restrictions identified in the medical testimony”).
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To the extent the ALJ may not have fully considered the issues cited in her RFC
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determination, Plaintiff has not shown that this alleged failure constitutes anything more
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than harmless error. See Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1038 (9th Cir. 2008)
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(“[T]he court will not reverse an ALJ’s decision for harmless error, which exists when it
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is clear from the record that the ALJ’s error was inconsequential to the ultimate
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nondisability determination.”) (internal quotation marks omitted). The Court finds that
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the ALJ’s determination of Plaintiff’s RFC is supported by substantial evidence as she
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took into account all the limitations for which there was record support, and thus the
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Court will not remand on this issue. See Carmickle, 533 F.3d at 1162; Bayliss, 427 F.3d
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at 1217.
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D.
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Plaintiff asks that the Court apply the “credit-as-true” rule, which were there a
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basis for remand, would result in remand of Plaintiff’s case for payment of benefits rather
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than remand for further proceedings. Treichler v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 775 F.3d
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1090, 1099–102 (9th Cir. 2014); (Pl.’s Br. at 23). Because the Court has found there is no
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basis for remand, neither the ordinary remand rule nor the credit-as-true rule applies. See
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Treichler, 775 F.3d at 1099–102.
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The Credit-As-True Rule Does Not Apply
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED affirming the decision of the Administrative
Law Judge (R. at 8-25) as upheld by the Appeals Council (R. at 1-6).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED directing the Clerk of Court to enter judgment
accordingly and close this matter.
Dated this 2nd day of September, 2016.
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Honorable John J. Tuchi
United States District Judge
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