Hudson v. Social Security Administration
Filing
14
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER AFFIRMING the Commissioner's final determination, denying pltf's appeal. Signed by Magistrate Judge Beth Deere on 2/20/13. (vjt)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
CINDIA HUDSON
V.
PLAINTIFF
CASE NO. 4:12CV00126 BD
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner,
Social Security Administration
DEFENDANT
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff Cindia Hudson appeals the final decision of the Commissioner of the
Social Security Administration (the “Commissioner”) denying her claims for Disability
Insurance benefits (“DIB”) under Title II of the Social Security Act (the “Act”) and for
Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits under Title XVI of the Act.1 For reasons
set out below, the decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED.
I.
Background
On May 13, 2008, Ms. Hudson protectively filed for DIB and SSI. In both
applications, she alleged disability beginning on April 27, 2004, due to high blood
pressure, bipolar disorder, bone pain, and difficulty standing. (Tr. 145, 149, 176) Ms.
Hudson’s claims were denied initially and upon reconsideration. At her request, an
Administrative Law Judge2 (“ALJ”) held a hearing on April 7, 2011, at which Ms.
1
The parties consented to the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Judge. (#13)
2
The Honorable David J. Manley.
Hudson appeared with her attorney. (Tr. 20) At the hearing, the ALJ heard testimony
from Ms. Hudson and a vocational expert (“VE”). (Tr. 20-57)
The ALJ issued a decision on June 14, 2011, finding that Ms. Hudson was not
disabled under the Act. (Tr. 8-19) The Appeals Council denied Ms. Hudson’s request for
review on January 20, 2012, making the ALJ’s decision the Commissioner’s final
decision. (Tr. 1-4)
Ms. Hudson was forty-nine years old at the time of the hearing. (Tr. 25) She had
an eighth-grade education. (Tr. 25) She was 5'5" and weighed 258 pounds. (Tr. 29, 175)
She had past relevant work as personal care aide. (Tr. 52)
II.
Decision of the Administrative Law Judge
The ALJ followed the required sequential analysis and found that Ms. Hudson had
not engaged in substantial gainful activity since her alleged disability onset date (Tr. 1011) and that she had the following severe impairments: bipolar disorder, obsessivecompulsive disorder, and borderline traits. (Tr. 11) The ALJ also found, however, that
Ms. Hudson 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 (20 C.F.R. §§
404.1520(d), 404.1525, 404.1526, 416.920(d), 416.925, and 416.926). (Tr. 11-12)
The ALJ determined that Ms. Hudson had the residual functional capacity (“RFC”)
to perform a full range of work at all exertional levels, with nonexertional limitations to
work where interpersonal contact would be incidental to the work performed; complexity
2
of tasks would be learned and performed by rote, would involve few variables, and would
require little independent judgment; and the supervision required would be simple, direct,
and concrete. (Tr. 13-17)
The ALJ determined that Ms. Hudson’s RFC would not allow her to perform any
of her past relevant work. (Tr. 17-18) But after considering Ms. Hudson’s RFC, age,
education, work experience, and VE testimony, the ALJ determined that Ms. Hudson
could perform the jobs of laundry worker, presser, and poultry eviscerator, all of which
existed in significant numbers in the national economy. (Tr. 18) Accordingly, the ALJ
found that Ms. Hudson was not disabled under the Act. (Tr. 19)
III.
Analysis
A.
Standard of Review
In reviewing the Commissioner’s decision, this Court must determine whether
there is substantial evidence in the record as a whole to support the decision. Boettcher v.
Astrue, 652 F.3d 860, 863 (8th Cir. 2011); 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Substantial evidence is
something less than the greater weight of evidence, but it must be “sufficient for
reasonable minds to find it adequate to support the decision.” Id. (citing Guilliams v.
Barnhart, 393 F.3d 798, 801 (8th Cir. 2005)).
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,
3
the decision cannot be reversed, “simply because some evidence may support the opposite
conclusion.” Id. (citing Pelkey v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 575, 578 (8th Cir. 2006)).
B.
Plaintiff’s Arguments for Reversal
Ms. Hudson claims that the ALJ’s decision was not supported by substantial
evidence because: (1) he did not evaluate the severity of Ms. Hudson’s mental
impairments under the Impairment Listings; and (2) he erred in finding that Ms. Hudson
retained the RFC to perform light work. (#11)
C.
Impairment Listing
Ms. Hudson argues that the ALJ failed to evaluate her mental impairments under
Impairment Listing 12.04, 12.06, and 12.08, 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1.
(# 11, p. 9-16) The ALJ, however, specifically noted listings 12.04, 12.06, and 12.08, but
found that Ms. Hudson did not meet the “paragraph B” criteria for any of the Listings.
(Tr. 11-12)
A claimant has the burden of proving that an impairment or combination of
impairments meets or equals a Listing. Johnson v. Barnhart, 390 F.3d 1067, 1070 (8th
Cir. 2004). “To meet a listing, an impairment must meet all of the listing’s specified
criteria.” Carlson v. Astrue, 604 F.3d 589, 593 (8th Cir. 2010) (citing references
omitted).
To meet the “paragraph B” criteria for listing 12.04, 12.06, or 12.08, Ms. Hudson
had to prove at least two of the following: (1) marked restriction of activities of daily
4
living; (2) marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; (3) marked difficulties in
maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; or (4) repeated episodes of
decompensation, each of an extended duration. 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix
1, §§ 12.04(B), 12.06(B), and 12.08(B).
A psychiatric review technique performed by state agency physicians noted
moderate limitations in activities of daily living, maintaining social functioning, and
maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace. (Tr. 397) No marked limitations were
noted. No episodes of decompensation of extended duration were noted. (Tr. 397) Ms.
Hudson, for her part, did not cite a single instance of decompensation that could be found
in the record. (#11)
A mental residual functional capacity assessment performed by state agency
physicians also found no more than moderate limitations in any area of understanding and
memory, sustained concentration and persistence, social interaction, or adaptation. (Tr.
401-402)
A consultative physician, Janet E. L’Abbe, Ph.D., performed a mental evaluation
on January 29, 2009. (Tr. 376-383) Ms. Hudson was not taking any psychiatric
medication for mental impairments at that time. (Tr. 377) Dr. L’Abbe found that Ms.
Hudson had some difficulty in day-to-day functioning. (Tr. 382) But she could
communicate without difficulty and react in a socially adequate manner. (Tr. 382) Ms.
5
Hudson had the cognitive ability to cope with basic work-like tasks. (Tr. 382) Ms.
Hudson could likely attend to and sustain concentration on basic work tasks. (Tr. 382)
Ms. Hudson noted a report from J. Stephan Holt, Ph.D., to support her argument
that she had marked restriction of activities of daily living. Dr. Holt, however, noted only
mild obsessive-compulsive disorder, in partial remission. (Tr. 341) That is hardly
evidence of marked restriction. Dr. Holt noted that Ms. Hudson responded positively to
medication and was able to do what was necessary. (Tr. 340) He also noted that Ms.
Hudson demonstrated an ability to be a caregiver for elderly people. (Tr. 341) Dr. Holt
found that unless Ms. Hudson’s symptoms worsened, her disorder did “not appear a
significant limitation to the employment process.” (Tr. 342)
Ms. Hudson did not meet her burden of proving she met an Impairment Listing.
The ALJ’s step-three determination was supported by substantial evidence in the record.
D.
Residual Functional Capacity
The ALJ bears the primary responsibility for assessing a claimant’s RFC.
Wildman v. Astrue, 596 F.3d 959, 969 (8th Cir. 2010). It is the claimant’s burden,
however, to prove RFC. Baldwin v. Barnhart, 349 F.3d 549, 556 (8th Cir. 2003).
Ms. Hudson argues that the ALJ erred in finding that she retained the RFC to
perform light work. (#11, at p. 16-18) Specifically, she claims that she could not stand
and walk for periods that would be required to perform light work.
6
The ALJ found that Ms. Hudson could perform work at all exertional levels. (Tr.
13) With the use of VE testimony, the ALJ found that Ms. Hudson could perform three
jobs, all of which are generally performed at the light level of exertion.3
The ALJ found that there was no evidence that Ms. Hudson suffered a physical
impairment that would impose more than slight limitations in basic work activities. (Tr.
11) Interestingly, Ms. Hudson does not specifically challenge the lack of a physical
severe-impairment finding. Instead, she claims she could not physically stand and walk
due to spine and knee problems. (#11, at p. 16-17)
At the time of Ms. Hudson’s disability filing, a full four years after her alleged
disability onset date, she did not allege any illness, injuries, or conditions related to her
spine or feet that would limit her ability to work. (Tr. 176) “[N]o acute findings were
noted” in X-rays of Ms. Hudson’s spine and left knee. (Tr. 265) There was no evidence
of deep venous thrombosis. (Tr. 265) A physician recommended frequent stretching
exercises for Ms. Hudson’s back. (Tr. 265) Regarding her knee, the physician
recommended an increase in oral calcium intake and “perhaps an elastic knee brace as
well.” (Tr. 265)
Ms. Hudson’s left knee was “grossly normal with no fractures or dislocations.”
(Tr. 277) Her spine was also “grossly normal.” (Tr. 277) A physical examination on
3
Ms. Hudson’s counsel failed to ask the VE a single question about the standing
and walking requirements of the listed jobs during the hearing. (Tr. 55-56)
7
March 27, 2008, was essentially normal. (Tr. 370) Back exercises were recommended,
while diet modification and exercise were discussed. (Tr. 370)
Ms. Hudson notes that a 2004 rehabilitation services medical work evaluation
found a “problem” in Ms. Hudson’s ability to stand for eight hours. (Tr. 337) The same
evaluation, however, noted “no problem” in Ms. Hudson’s ability to stand and walk. (Tr.
337)
At the time of the administrative hearing, Ms. Hudson was successfully performing
work at the medium level of exertion. (Tr. 52) Based on the mental limitations found by
the ALJ, the VE testified that Ms. Hudson could not perform the job she was performing.
(Tr. 53-54)
Substantial evidence in the record supports the ALJ’s physical RFC
determination. Ms. Hudson failed to meet her burden of proving a severe physical
impairment. She has not shown that she lacked the RFC to stand or walk for six hours in
an eight-hour workday, if required.
IV.
Conclusion
The Court has reviewed all of the evidence in the record, including the medical
evidence, physician assessments, and the hearing transcript. There is sufficient evidence
in the record as a whole to support the Commissioner’s determination that Cindia Hudson
retained the residual functional capacity to perform jobs existing in significant numbers in
the economy.
8
Accordingly, this appeal is DENIED, and the Clerk of Court is directed to close
the case, this 20th day of February, 2013.
___________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
9
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?