Holt v. Social Security Administration

Filing 15

ORDER affirming the final decision of Berryhill and dismissing with prejudice Holt's complaint. Signed by Magistrate Judge Patricia S. Harris on 3/17/2017. (ljb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
NORTHERN DIVISION

BETHEL J. HOLT

VS.

PLAINTIFF

CASE NO. 1:16CV00096 PSH

NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting Commissioner,
Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT

ORDER
Plaintiff Bethel J. Holt (“Holt”), in her appeal of the final decision of the Commissioner of
the Social Security Administration (defendant “Berryhill”) to deny her claim for Supplemental
Security Income benefits (SSI), contends the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) erred when he failed
to find her peripheral vascular disease (“PVD”) to be a severe impairment. The parties have ably
summarized the medical records and the testimony given at the administrative hearing conducted
on March 19, 2015. (Tr. 33-80). The Court has carefully reviewed the record to determine whether
there is substantial evidence in the administrative record to support Berryhill’s decision. 42 U.S.C.
§ 405(g).
At the administrative hearing, Holt stated she was 46 years old, had an eighth grade
education, and has past relevant work as an egg gatherer and housekeeper. She used a walker when
arriving at the hearing, stating that her doctor prescribed the walker two weeks earlier. She testified
to the following impairments: fibromyalgia throughout her body, three slipped discs (two in her back
and one in her neck), a recent broken hip, ankle problems, mental problems, 1-2 migraine headaches

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per week, dizziness, depression, anxiety, insomnia, GERD, restless leg syndrome, possible diagnosis
of Lou Gehrig’s disease, numbness in right leg, handling problems, numbness in hands, panic
attacks, shortness of breath, pain in neck, shoulders, elbows, spasms between her shoulder blades,
swelling in feet and right leg, knee and hip pain, breathing problems, and past suicide attempt. (Tr.
37-70).
In his May 2015 decision the ALJ determined Holt had the severe impairments of
fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, arthritis, and headaches. The ALJ specifically considered other
impairments, such as GERD, unexplained falls, and recent shoulder pain, and found these to be nonsevere. The ALJ did not address PVD as either a severe or non-severe impairment. The ALJ
continued, finding Holt to have the ability to perform sedentary work with numerous limitations.1
Relying upon the testimony of vocational expert David Elmore (“Elmore”), the ALJ found Holt was
not disabled since she could perform other jobs in the economy.
ALJ’s failure to find Holt’s PVD to be a severe impairment. An impairment is severe if
it imposes significant restrictions on a claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities. 20 C.F.R.
§ 416.920(c); SSR 96-3p. If an impairment is only a slight abnormality then it is rightly assessed
as non-severe. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1521(b). A claimant bears the burden of establishing she has severe
impairments. Here, Holt argues the ALJ erred in failing to find her PVD to be severe. Insight is
found in the transcript of the hearing and in the medical records.
At the hearing, Holt testified to numerous impairments. She did not mention PVD. Without

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The ALJ limited the work to jobs requiring at most occasional performing of postural activities of
climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling; to only simple, routine, repetitive
tasks where supervision is direct, simple, and concrete; and at most frequent interaction with
supervisors and coworkers, and occasional interaction with the general public. (Tr. 17).
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attributing her problem to a particular diagnosis, Holt stated her “right leg goes completely numb”
and her hands have numbness and cramping. (Tr. 63). She also testified to swelling in her feet and
right leg. (Tr. 65). In her brief, Holt attempts to link these symptoms to PVD, which she states
commonly affects “blood vessels in the legs. Symptoms often consist of pain and coldness in the
feet with a bluish discoloration.” Docket entry no. 13 at page 5.
The medical records show Holt was seen by Dr. Randall Hunt (“Hunt”) in March, twice in
April, in May, and in June of 2015. (Tr. 502-518). Hunt assessed Holt with gastritis in March. It
was noted that Holt complained of her feet being cold and blue. At the first April visit, Hunt
assessed her with shingles. At the second April visit, Hunt assessed Holt with hypothyroidism and
PVD. In May, Hunt assessed her with tobacco abuse, bilateral claudification of calf muscles,
epigastric pain, unexplained weight loss, and malnourishment. Hunt specifically reported that Holt
“has had no numbness or tingling in the extremities.” (Tr. 511). In June, Hunt assessed Holt with
a cough, fever (unspecified), and pneumonia. Hunt recorded PVD to be part of Holt’s medical
history, with no date of onset provided. Hunt did not indicate any edema or numbness in her feet
after the diagnosis of PVD. Other than the history provided by Holt and the single diagnosis of
PVD, the medical record is unremarkable on PVD and silent on any limitation imposed on Holt as
a result of the diagnosis.
Given the testimony and the medical records, we find substantial evidence supports the
ALJ’s formulation of severe impairments, including his decision not to include PVD as a severe
impairment. The record does not support the assertion that PVD imposed significant restrictions on
Holt’s ability to perform basic work activities.
In summary, we find the ultimate decision of Berryhill was supported by substantial

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evidence. We are mindful that the Court’s task is not to review the record and arrive at an
independent decision, nor is it to reverse if we find some evidence to support a different conclusion.
The test is whether substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s decision. See, e.g., Byes v. Astrue, 687
F.3d 913, 915 (8th Cir. 2012). This test is satisfied in this case.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the final decision of Berryhill is affirmed and Holt’s
complaint is dismissed with prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 17th day of March, 2017.

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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