Ervin v. Social Security Administration

Filing 16

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER affirming the final determination of the Commissioner; and dismissing 2 Plaintiff's Complaint with prejudice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe on 12/12/2014. (srw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
LARRY ERVIN,
Plaintiff,
v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting
Commissioner, Social Security
Administration,
Defendant.

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No. 3:14CV00105-JJV

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff, Larry Ervin, appeals the final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security
Administration denying his claims for disability insurance benefits under Title II of the Social
Security Act and for supplemental security income benefits under Title XVI of the Act. For reasons
set out below, the decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED.
I.

BACKGROUND
On March 8, 2011, Mr. Ervin protectively filed for benefits due to degenerative back disease,

neck problems, hearing problems, mental problems, leg and knee problems, depression, social
anxiety, and arthritis. (Tr. 162) His claims were denied initially and upon reconsideration. At Mr.
Ervin’s request, an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) held a hearing on September 4, 2012, where
Mr. Ervin appeared with his lawyer. At the hearing, the ALJ heard testimony from Mr. Ervin and
a vocational expert (“VE”). (Tr. 30-66)
The ALJ issued a decision on February 22, 2013, finding that Mr. Ervin was not disabled
under the Act. (Tr. 10-24) The Appeals Council denied Mr. Ervin’s request for review, making the

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ALJ’s decision the Commissioner’s final decision. (Tr. 1-4)
Mr. Ervin, who was fifty-nine years old at the time of the hearing, has an eighth grade
education and past relevant work as a concrete foreman, laborer, and carpenter. (Tr. 36, 46)
II.

DECISION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE1
The ALJ found that Mr. Ervin had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since

December 14, 2009, and he had the following severe impairments: myalgia/myositis and
degenerative disc disease. (Tr. 12) However, the ALJ found that Mr. Ervin did not have an
impairment or combination of impairments meeting or equaling an impairment listed in 20 C.F.R.
Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1.2 (Tr. 14)
According to the ALJ, Mr. Ervin has the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to do medium
work. (Tr. 14) Based on his RFC assessment and utilizing the services of a vocational expert, the
ALJ concluded Mr. Ervin was capable of performing his past relevant work as a carpenter or
construction foreman. (Tr. 23) Accordingly, the ALJ concluded Mr. Ervin was not disabled.
III.

ANALYSIS
A.

Standard of Review

In reviewing the Commissioner’s decision, this Court must determine whether there is

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The ALJ followed the required sequential analysis to determine: (1) whether the claimant
was engaged in substantial gainful activity; (2) if not, whether the claimant had a severe impairment;
(3) if so, whether the impairment (or combination of impairments) met or equaled a listed
impairment; and (4) if not, whether the impairment (or combination of impairments) prevented the
claimant from performing past relevant work; and (5) if so, whether the impairment (or combination
of impairments) prevented the claimant from performing any other jobs available in significant
numbers in the national economy. 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.920(a)-(g) and 404.1520(a)-(g).
2

20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(d), 404.1525, 404.1526, 416.920(d), 416.925, and 416.926.
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substantial evidence in the record as a whole to support the decision.3 Substantial evidence is “less
than a preponderance, but sufficient for reasonable minds to find it adequate to support the
decision.”4
In reviewing the record as a whole, the Court must consider both evidence that detracts from
the Commissioner’s decision and evidence that supports the decision; but, the decision cannot be
reversed “simply because some evidence may support the opposite conclusion.”5
B.

Mr. Ervin’s Arguments for Reversal

Mr. Ervin asserts that the Commissioner’s decision should be reversed because it is not
supported by substantial evidence. Specifically, Mr. Ervin contends that the ALJ: (1) erred in
classifying Mr. Ervin’s past work as a “foreman”; (2) failed to present the VE with a hypothetical;
(3) failed to consider his hernias and mental limitations in the RFC; and (4) erred by discounting Dr.
Wilkins’s opinion regarding light work. (Doc. No. 13)
1.

Construction Foreman Definition

Mr. Ervin argues that the ALJ incorrectly classified his previous work as a foreman knowing
that he “was not a foreman in the true sense of the word.” (Id.) The Court agrees that the ALJ may
have mislabeled Mr. Ervin’s past work as a foreman as “light.” However, any error is harmless,
since the ALJ also found that Mr. Ervin could do his past relevant work as a carpenter.
2.

Failure to Give Hypothetical

Mr. Ervin asserts that the ALJ erred by failing to give the VE a hypothetical question. This

3

Boettcher v. Astrue, 652 F.3d 860, 863 (8th Cir. 2011); 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

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Id. (citing Guilliams v. Barnhart, 393 F.3d 798, 801 (8th Cir. 2005)).

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Id. (citing Pelkey v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 575, 578 (8th Cir. 2006)).
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argument is without merit, since the ALJ stopped his analysis at step 4 and was not required to obtain
testimony from the VE.6
3.

RFC Determination

Mr. Ervin contends the ALJ erroneously failed to consider his hernias and mental limitations
in the RFC determination. An ALJ is required to include nonsevere impairments in the RFC only
when there is evidence of limitations caused by the nonsevere impairments.7 After careful review
of the record, the Court finds there no evidence that Plaintiff’s mental limitations impact his ability
to perform work related activities. During a December 2009 psychiatric evaluation, the doctor noted
that “several red flags are apparent” regarding Mr. Ervin. He indicated that “the alleged injuries
seemed to exceed what would be expected from the nature of the accident that he describes.” (Tr.
274) The doctor also noted that he “wonder[ed] about the sincerity of [Mr. Ervin’s] reporting” and
“[o]bviously the presence of an alleged emotion disorder secondary to injury and disability would
improve his chances of receiving various compensation.” (Id.) At follow up on January 27, 2010,
the doctor added that “exaggeration or malingering” could not be ruled out. (Tr. 277) In May 2011,
the doctor again questioned the authenticity of both Mr. Ervin’s alleged psychological and physical
impairments. (Tr. 263) He noted that the “new report of symptoms coincides with his recent
application for disability.” (Tr. 263) Additionally, Mr. Ervin testified that he is not longer taking
any medication for his alleged mental impairments. (Tr. 54) Finally, he testified that he had no

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Lewis v. Barnhart, 353 F.3d 642, 648 (8th Cir. 2003) (“Vocational expert testimony is not
required at step four where the claimant retains the burden of proving she cannot perform her prior
work.”).
7

Hilkemeyer v. Barnhart, 380 F.3d 441, 447 (8th Cir. 2004).
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trouble being around people.

In fact, at one job, he was the “foreman” responsible for

communicating with and leading a group of co-workers. (Tr. 38-40, 61) Based on the above, as well
as other evidence, or lack thereof, in the record, the ALJ found that Mr. Ervin’s alleged mental
impairments were “mild” and correctly excluded them from the RFC.
Mr. Ervin also argues that he “has bilateral inguinal hernias [which] in and of itself would
prevent [him] from lifting 50 pounds occasionally and 25 pounds frequently.” (Doc. No. 13)
Notably, the record Mr. Ervin refers to lists the hernias as “past medical history” and in a different
spot it is referred to as a “hernia repair.” (Tr. 219, 338) Additionally, this alleged impairment was
mentioned neither on Mr. Irvin’s disability report nor at the hearing. (Tr. 162) Based on the record
before the ALJ, the hernia issue appears to be resolved and does not cause limitations.
4.

Dr. Wilkins’s Opinion

The ALJ had substantial evidence to conclude that Dr. Wilkins’s opinion “contain[ed]
inconsistencies” and was “rendered less persuasive.” (Tr. 22) The ALJ noted, “Dr. Wilkins seemed
to limit the claimant to light level of physical exertion. However, [Dr. Wilkins] also stated
throughout the statement that there was no evidence of neurologic or functional compromise on
physical examination during the encounter.” (Tr. 22) The record is replete with other evidence
supporting the ALJ’s findings. For example, despite being referred to a neurologist, Mr. Ervin failed
to follow up because he says he could not afford to go. (Tr. 273) However, Mr. Ervin is a threepack-a-day smoker. (Tr. 349) Smoking is an expensive, ongoing habit that can be considered when
weighing Mr. Ervin’s credibility.8
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Riggins v. Apfel, 177 F.3d 689, 693 (8th Cir. 1999) (rejecting claimant’s position that he
could not afford medication when “there is no evidence to suggest that he sought any treatment
offered to indigents or chose to forgo smoking three packs of cigarettes a day to help finance pain
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The diagnostic tests also support the ALJ’s conclusions. A December 23, 2009, MRI
revealed a normal thoracic spine other than mild degenerative disc desiccation at T5-T10. (Tr. 241)
Additionally, the ALJ recognized that Mr. Ervin has been prescribed nothing more than routine
conservative treatment.9 Mr. Ervin’s mental health physician noted that Plaintiff’s alleged injuries
appeared to be exaggerated and were inconsistent with his observations. (Tr. 274) In March 2011,
Mr. Ervin reported no pain. (Tr. 244) Notes from April 2011, reveal that one doctor determined
nothing was wrong with Mr. Ervin’s back; he simply had “bad posture.” (Tr. 331) A review of his
back on October 6, 2011, was normal and there were no significant spasms. (Tr. 325) In 2012,
muscle mass and strength of all extremities were considered good. (Tr. 340)
The ALJ’s credibility analysis was also proper. A few examples: (1) Mr. Ervin told Dr.
Wilkins that he used a cane, but records reveal no issues with gait or balance abnormality; (2)
treating doctors believed Mr. Ervin might be malingering regarding his impairments; (3) Mr. Ervin
stopped getting help for his alleged mental impairments and stopped taking other medications
because he “do[esn’t] like being bound to anything”10; and (4) Mr. Ervin has a long history of failure
to comply with medications. (Tr. 265, 273 274, 277, 331, 334, 340)
While there may be some evidence that Mr. Ervin has limitations related to his impairments,

medication.”).
9

Black v. Apfel, 143 F.3d 383, 386 (8th Cir. 1998) (finding that an ALJ may rely on the fact
that a claimant has undergone only conservative treatment when evaluating the severity of the
impairments).
10

Guilliams v. Barnhart, 393 F.3d 798, 802 (8th Cir.2005) (“A failure to follow a
recommended course of treatment . . . weighs against a claimant’s credibility.”).
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the ALJ’s finding that he could perform medium work is supported by the record.11
IV.

CONCLUSION
The Court has reviewed the entire record, including the briefs, the ALJ’s decision, the

transcript of the hearing, and the medical and other evidence. There is sufficient evidence in the
record as a whole to support the Commissioner’s decision.
THEREFORE, the Court hereby affirms the final determination of the Commissioner and
dismisses Plaintiff’s Complaint with prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 12th day of December, 2014.

____________________________________
JOE J. VOLPE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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Davis v. Apfel, 239 F.3d 962 (8th Cir. 2001) (“We may not reverse merely because
substantial evidence also exists that would support a contrary outcome, or because we would have
decided the case differently.”).
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