Bryant v. Social Security Administration

Filing 15

ORDER affirming the decision of the Commissioner. The case is dismissed, with prejudice. Signed by Magistrate Judge J. Thomas Ray on 10/4/2016. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
CHARLES BRYANT
V.

PLAINTIFF
NO. 3:15CV00292-JTR

CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner,
Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT

ORDER
Plaintiff, Charles Bryant, applied for Title II benefits and Title XVI benefits on
December 17, 2012, alleging a disability onset date of May 25, 2012. (Tr. at 21). After
conducting a hearing, the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) denied his application. (Tr. at
28). The Appeals Council denied Coleman’s request for review. (Tr. at 1). The ALJ’s
decision now stands as the final decision of the Commissioner, and Bryant has requested
judicial review. The parties have consented in writing to the jurisdiction of a United States
Magistrate Judge.
For the reasons stated below, the Court1 affirms the decision of the Commissioner.
I. The Commissioner’s Decision:
The ALJ found that Bryant had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since the
alleged onset date. (Tr. at 23). The ALJ found at Step Two that Bryant had the following
severe impairments: fractured leg, status posts ORIF (Open Reduction Internal Fixation),
history of gout, and diabetes mellitus. Id. At Step Three, the ALJ determined that Bryant’s

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Judge.

The parties have consented in writing to the jurisdiction of a United States Magistrate

impairments did not meet or equal a listed impairment. (Tr. at 24). Before proceeding to
Step Four, the ALJ determined that Bryant had the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to
perform the full range of medium work. Id. Next, the ALJ found that Bryant is capable of
performing past relevant work as a warehouse worker/general laborer. (Tr. at 27). The ALJ
made an alternate finding at Step Five. Considering Bryant’s age, education, work
experience, and residual functioning capacity, she concluded that there are jobs that exist in
significant numbers in the national economy that Bryant could perform. (Tr. at 28).
Consequently, the ALJ found that Bryant was not disabled. Id.
II. Discussion:
A. Standard of Review
The Court’s function on review is to determine whether the Commissioner’s decision
is supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole and whether it is based on legal
error. Miller v. Colvin, 784 F.3d 472, 477 (8th Cir. 2015); see also 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
While “substantial evidence” is that which a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to
support a conclusion, “substantial evidence on the record as a whole” requires a court to
engage in a more scrutinizing analysis:
[O]ur review is more than an examination of the record for the existence of
substantial evidence in support of the Commissioner’s decision; we also take
into account whatever in the record fairly detracts from that decision.”
Reversal is not warranted, however, “merely because substantial evidence
would have supported an opposite decision.

Reed v. Barnhart, 399 F.3d 917, 920 (8th Cir. 2005) (citations omitted).

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It is not the task of this Court to review the evidence and make an independent
decision. Neither is it to reverse the decision of the ALJ because there is evidence in the
record which contradicts his findings. The test is whether there is substantial evidence in the
record as a whole which supports the decision of the ALJ. Miller, 784 F.3d at 477. The
Court has reviewed the entire record, including the briefs, the ALJ's decision, and the
transcript of the hearing.
B. Bryant’s Argument on Appeal
Bryant argues that substantial evidence does not support the ALJ’s finding that he can
perform past relevant work. Bryant asserts that because the ALJ erred in finding Bryant’s
subjective complaints less than credible, he also erred in determining the RFC. Reviewing
the entire record, the Court finds that the ALJ’s determination was supported by substantial
evidence.
The ALJ is required to consider the familiar Polaski factors in evaluating the
credibility of the claimant’s subjective complaints. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529. Those factors are:
(a) the claimant’s work history; (b) the claimant’s daily activities; (c) the duration, frequency
and intensity of the pain; (d) precipitating and aggravating factors; (e) dosage, effectiveness
and side effects of medication; and (f) functional restrictions. Polaski v. Heckler, 739 F.2d
1320, 1322 (8th Cir. 1984). The ALJ is not required to discuss methodically each Polaski
consideration, so long as the ALJ acknowledges and examines those considerations before
discounting the claimant’s subjective complaints. Lowe v. Apfel, 226 F.3d 969, 972 (8th Cir.
2000). Subjective complaints “may be discounted if there are inconsistencies in the evidence
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as a whole, and the ALJ may properly rely upon discrepancies between [a claimant’s]
allegations of pain and her treatment history, medicinal selections, and daily activities in
disregarding her subjective complaints.” Davis v. Apfel, 239 F.3d 962, 968 (8th Cir. 2011).
Bryant alleged that he has leg pain that bothers him 24 hours a day due to fractures
sustained in a motorcycle accident. (Tr. at 46, 195, 197). He indicated that his leg pain
prevents him from working. (Tr. at 43-44). He stated that he walks with a cane since the
accident. (Tr. at 37). A review of the medical record does not support such disabling
complaints of pain.
After the May 25, 2012 accident, Bryant had immediate ORIF surgery on his left
tibia/fibula. (Tr. at 25, 251-59, 302). On June 5, 2012, x-rays revealed excellent alignment
and fixation of the fractures, and Bryant reported to Dr. R. Edward Cooper, M.D., that he
was doing much better. (Tr. at 335). Three months later, Dr. Cooper examined him and
noted that the incisions were well-healed and Bryant had excellent ROM of the knee. (Tr.
at 326). In December 2012, Bryant reported that he had tried to return to work but
experienced pain and swelling. (Tr. at 324). Dr. Cooper observed the swelling but told him
to return to activities as tolerated. Id. On February 12, 2013, Bryant said he was getting
better and Dr. Cooper allowed him to resume full work activities. (Tr. at 353).
After a treatment gap of almost a year, Bryant returned to Dr. Cooper on January 30,
2014 with occasional leg pain and Dr. Cooper suggested surgery to remove the locking
screws. (Tr. at 398-399). Dr. Cooper performed a surgical removal of the screws in May
2014. (Tr. at 418). On June 27, 2014, Bryant denied he was in distress and his ROM and
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gait were within normal limits. (Tr. at 429-30). He had normal straight-leg raises and
normal flexibility. Id. On July 23, 2014, Bryant reported that he was walking better and
happy with the surgery, in spite of mild swelling and tingling. (Tr. at 415-16). Dr. Cooper
told Bryant he could return to normal activities. (Tr. at 416).
After Bryant reported a very swollen left ankle and arthritic changes in his feet, his
primary care physician, Dr. Michael Tedder, M.D., diagnosed him with chronic and acute
gout. (Tr. at 341-42). He prescribed Allpurinol and ordered a Decadron injection. (Tr. at
348-49). The record indicates that Dr. Tedder continued to treat the gout with Allpurinol
through June 1, 2015. Dr. Tedder did not place any work restrictions on Bryant, or prescribe
him a cane.
In December 2013, Dr. Tedder diagnosed Bryant with acute onset type II diabetes
mellitus. (Tr. at 378, 382).

Bryant’s A1C level was elevated at 17.9 and Dr. Tedder

continued him on Janument and Glupizide. (Tr. at 375). Bryant’s treatment for diabetes
thereafter was conservative and the condition was well-controlled, although he did report
blurred vision, which resulted in surgery to remove cataracts. (Tr. at 389, 408-12). Bryant
indicated he was pleased with the surgery and had satisfactory vision post-op. (Tr. at 410).

It appears that Bryant responded well to both surgical intervention and prescription
medication. He said he typically only took aspirin, ibuprofen, or Advil for pain and did not
report side effects from medication (Tr. at 26). His doctors charted improvement following
all surgeries. Impairments that are controllable or amendable to treatment do not support a
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finding of total disability. Mittlestedt v. Apfel, 204 F.3d 847, 852 (8th Cir. 2000).
Polaski requires a review of daily activities. Bryant lives alone and takes care of his
personal needs. (Tr. at 26). He drives, shops, prepares meals, irons, does laundry, plays
keyboard, listens to music, reads, and watches TV. Id.

He visits with others and

occasionally attends church. Id. Bryant’s daily activities, response to treatment, and lack of
functional restrictions undermine his claim of disabling impairments. Johnson v. Apfel, 240
F.3d 1145, 1148-49 (8th Cir. 2001)(acts which are inconsistent with a claimant's assertion
of disability reflect negatively upon that claimant's credibility). The ALJ’s credibility
findings are entitled to deference because they are supported by substantial evidence in the
record. Gregg v. Barnhart, 354 F.3d 710, 714 (8th Cir. 2003).
Bryant contends that the RFC of medium work is not supported by substantial
evidence because his subjective complaints do not provide for medium work. (Pl. Brief at
10-11). The ALJ assigned proper value to Bryant’s subjective complaints in making his RFC
finding. A claimant’s RFC represents the most he can do despite the combined effects of all
of his credible limitations and must be based on all credible evidence. McCoy v. Astrue, 648
F.3d 605, 614 (8th Cir. 2011). In determining the claimant’s [RFC], the ALJ has a duty to
establish, by competent medical evidence, the physical and mental activity that the claimant
can perform in a work setting, after giving appropriate consideration to all of [his]
impairments. Ostronski v. Chater, 94 F.3d 413, 418 (8th Cir. 1996). The ALJ in this case
weighed the credibility of the claimant, the medical evidence, and the effect of the
combination of impairments in arriving at the RFC. The determination that Bryant could
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return to past relevant work at the medium level is well-supported.
III. Conclusion:
There is substantial evidence to support the Commissioner’s decision that Bryant
could return to past relevant work at the medium level. The finding that Bryant was not
disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act, therefore, must be, and hereby is
affirmed. The case is dismissed, with prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 4th day of October, 2016.

___________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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