Conner v. Social Security Administration

Filing 18

ORDER affirming the final decision of the Commissioner, and dismissing Conner's Complaint, with prejudice. Signed by Magistrate Judge J. Thomas Ray on 11/22/2017. (kdr)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
ELIZABETH A. CONNER
V.

PLAINTIFF

NO. 4:16CV00656-JTR

NANCY A. BERRYHILL,
Acting Commissioner,
Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT
ORDER

I.

Introduction:
Plaintiff, Elizabeth A. Conner, applied for disability benefits on March 6,

2013, alleging her disability began on October 1, 2012. (Tr. at 12). Her claims were
denied initially and upon reconsideration. Id. After conducting a hearing, the
Administrative Law Judge (AALJ@) denied her application. (Tr. at 24). The Appeals
Council denied her request for review. (Tr. at 1). The ALJ=s decision now stands as
the final decision of the Commissioner, and Conner has requested judicial review.
For the reasons stated below, the Court 1 affirms the decision of the
Commissioner.
II.

The Commissioner=s Decision:
The ALJ found that Conner had not engaged in substantial gainful activity

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

since the alleged onset date of October 1, 2012. (Tr. at 14). At Step Two of the fivestep analysis, the ALJ found that Conner has the following severe impairments:
degenerative disc disease with lumbosacral radiculopathy, status post spinal fracture,
major depressive disorder, and alcohol dependence in early full remission. Id.
After finding that Conner’s impairments did not meet or equal a listed
impairment (Tr. at 15), the ALJ determined that Conner had the residual functional
capacity (“RFC”) to perform the full range of sedentary work, except that: (1) she
could only occasionally climb, balance, crawl, kneel, stoop, and crouch; (2) she
could frequently finger and handle bilaterally; and (3) she is limited to simple,
routine, repetitive tasks in a setting where interpersonal contact is incidental to the
work performed and supervision is simple, direct, and concrete. (Tr. at 17). Next,
the ALJ found that Conner was not capable of performing her past relevant work.
(Tr. at 22). At Step Five, the ALJ relied on the testimony of a Vocational Expert
(“VE”) to find that, based on Conner’s age, education, work experience and RFC,
jobs existed in significant numbers in the national economy that she could perform
at the sedentary level with the added limitations, specifically, small product
assembler, document preparer, and escort vehicle driver. (Tr. at 24). Based on that
Step Five determination, the ALJ held that Conner was not disabled. Id.

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III.

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 Asubstantial evidence@ is that which a reasonable
mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion, Asubstantial evidence on the
record as a whole@ requires a court to engage in a more scrutinizing analysis:
A[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,
Amerely because substantial evidence would have supported an
opposite decision.@
Reed v. Barnhart, 399 F.3d 917, 920 (8th Cir. 2005) (citations omitted).
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.

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B.

Conner=s Arguments on Appeal

Conner argues that substantial evidence does not support the ALJ=s decision
to deny benefits. She contends that the ALJ erred in his RFC determination and
improperly disregarded medical opinions.
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). Conner limited her RFC argument to limitations from pain
related to back and neck impairments. The Court likewise limits its discussion.
Conner explained that her back problems arose when she fractured her spine
as a teenager. (Tr. at 18). An MRI from October 2012 revealed mild effacement of
the thecal sac and mild right-sided foraminal narrowing at L4-L5, with normal spinal
cord size and signal. (Tr. at 480-481). Objective tests showing mild to moderate
conditions do not support a finding of disability. Masterson v. Barnhart, 363 F.3d
731, 738-39 (8th Cir. 2004).

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On February 26, 2013, Conner reported back pain to Dr. William Malabre,
M.D., but she demonstrated a normal gait with no joint swelling or spasm of the
lumbosacral spine. (Tr. at 455). She had normal movements of all extremities. Id.
Musculoskeletal exams continued to be grossly normal.
On June 11, 2013, Conner complained of back pain but indicated that
medication helped minimize the pain. (Tr. at 450). In July and August 2013, Conner
showed pain with flexion and extension of the back but normal gait and range of
motion. (Tr. at 535, 540). While Conner indicated back pain in September 2013, she
had no palpable cervical trigger points, no atrophy, tenderness, or asymmetry in the
thoracic spine, and no pain in the lumbar spine upon percussion or palpation. (Tr. at
529). She did have a straight-leg raise on the left on September 13, 2013. (Tr. at
530).
On October 8, 2013, Conner said that with epidural steroid injections, her
lower back and hip pain had improved. (Tr. at 518). She was able to perform
activities of daily living with the aid of pain medication. Id. Impairments that are
controllable or amenable to treatment do not support a finding of total disability.
Mittlestedt v. Apfel, 204 F.3d 847, 852 (8th Cir. 2000).
Again, in November 2013, Conner said she could do activities of daily living
with the aid of pain medication, and she said she experienced a 50% improvement
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in back and leg pain since her last injection. (Tr. at 507). The pain was manageable,
and she reported improvement in tolerance of physical activity. Id. Inspection of the
cervical, lumbar, and thoracic spine was grossly normal, with some stiffness but no
evidence of atrophy or asymmetry. (Tr. at 509). Musculoskeletal exams were again
normal on November 18, November 26, and December 2 in 2013: Conner
demonstrated normal gait, station, and range of motion. (Tr. at 540-543, 567). On
December 4, 2013, Conner attested to 50% improvement since her last injection. (Tr.
at 501).
On June 4, 2014, Conner said her last injection had improved her pain by 80%.
(Tr. at 725). She said she was sleeping better at night. Id. Physical therapy had helped
and she was doing exercises at home. Id. On August 11, 2014, Conner’s pain was
“not nearly as bad as it used to be.” (Tr. at 728). She could perform activities of daily
living while on pain medication and felt stable on her current medication regimen.
Id. In November 2014, Dr. Ira Chatman, M.D., said that Conner had not responded
well to various treatments, but also in November, she said that medication was
partially effective and pain got better by sitting and resting. (Tr. at 736). This
comment supports the ALJ’s RFC for sedentary work. At the time, Conner also
reported that a bursa injection improved her pain by 95% and she was stable on her
current medication regimen. (Tr. at 745).
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Dr. Ronald Bruton, MD., filled out an RFC medical source statement on
March 28, 2014, which contradicts the mild findings and positive response to
treatment presented above. (Tr. at 679). He said Conner would need to shift positions
at will, would need one to two unscheduled breaks per day, and would miss more
than four days of work per month. (Tr. at 678, 679). The ALJ rightly gave Dr.
Bruton’s opinion little weight, because his opinion is inconsistent with the evidence
in the record as a whole, which revealed mild objective findings, mostly normal
clinical exams, and positive response to treatment. An ALJ may discount or
disregard the opinion of a treating physician when other medical assessments are
supported by better or more thorough medical evidence, or where a treating
physician renders inconsistent opinions that undermine the credibility of the
opinions. Wildman v. Astrue, 596 F.3d 959, 964 (8th Cir. 2010).
Dr. Malabre filled out a checkbox medical source statement on June 11, 2013.
(Tr. at 364). Dr. Malabre said Conner could sit no more than four hours a day and
would miss more than two days of work per month. Id. First, a conclusory checkbox
form has little evidentiary value when it cites to no medical evidence and provides
little or no elaboration. Anderson v. Astrue, 696 F.3d 790, 794 (8th Cir. 2012).
Second, Dr. Malabre’s opinion issued before Conner consistently reported
improvement with medication and steroidal injections. The ALJ properly afforded
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little weight to Dr. Malabre’s opinion.
Dr. Ted Honghiran, M.D., completed a medical source statement on June 15,
2015, which is more reflective of Conner’s condition and aligned with the sedentary
RFC. (Tr. at 829-831). He found that Conner could walk normally, undress without
difficulty, and could get on to the examining table without a problem. (Tr. at 829).
He found negative straight-leg raises and no muscle atrophy or spasm. (Tr. at 830).
Conner had normal reflex and sensation. Id. Dr. Honghiran diagnosed lower back
pain, and said that she would need to find a job with “lighter work.” Id. The medical
evidence supported this medical opinion and provided for the sedentary RFC.
The ALJ also considered Conner’s ability to perform activities of daily living.
She could prepare simple meals, do laundry, go outside once a day, shop in stores,
and spend time with others. (Tr. at 263-266). Such daily activities undermine her
claims of disability. Shannon v. Chater, 54 F.3d 484, 487 (8th Cir. 1995); Edwards
v. Barnhart, 314 F.3d 964, 967 (8th Cir. 2003).
The RFC incorporated all of Conner’s limitations, which were borne out by
conservative

treatment,

positive

response

to

treatment,

mostly

normal

musculoskeletal exams, and the ability to engage in activities of daily living.

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IV.

Conclusion:
There is substantial evidence to support the Commissioner=s decision to deny

benefits. The ALJ gave proper weigh to the medical opinions and the RFC
determination fully incorporated all of Conner’s limitations.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the final decision of the Commissioner
is AFFIRMED, and Conner’s Complaint is DISMISSED, with prejudice.
DATED this 22nd day of November, 2017.

___________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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