Holt v. Social Security Administration Commissioner
Filing
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MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Barry A. Bryant on June 14, 2017. (mjm)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FORT SMITH DIVISION
KAREN K. HOLT
vs.
PLAINTIFF
Civil No. 2:16-cv-02148
NANCY A. BERRYHILL
Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration
DEFENDANT
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Karen K. Holt (“Plaintiff”) brings this action pursuant to § 205(g) of Title II of the Social
Security Act (“The Act”), 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (2010), seeking judicial review of a final decision of
the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) denying her applications for
Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), Disability Insurance Benefits (“DIB”), and a period of
disability under Titles II and XVI of the Act.
The Parties have consented to the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge to conduct any and all
proceedings in this case, including conducting the trial, ordering the entry of a final judgment, and
conducting all post-judgment proceedings. ECF No. 6.1 Pursuant to this authority, the Court issues
this memorandum opinion and orders the entry of a final judgment in this matter.
1.
Background:
Plaintiff filed her disability applications on April 18, 2014. (Tr. 12). In her applications,
Plaintiff alleges being disabled due to lower back pain with “numbness radiating down [her] left
leg.” (Tr. 160). Plaintiff alleges an onset date of January 15, 2013. (Tr. 12). These applications
were denied initially and again upon reconsideration. (Tr. 53-71).
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The docket numbers for this case are referenced by the designation “ECF No. ___.” The
transcript pages for this case are referenced by the designation “Tr.”
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Thereafter, Plaintiff requested an administrative hearing on her denied applications. (Tr. 8182). The ALJ granted that request and held an administrative hearing on April 23, 2015 in Fort
Smith, Arkansas. (Tr. 30-52). At this hearing, Plaintiff was present and was represented by Iva Nell
Gibbons. Id. Plaintiff and Vocational Expert (“VE”) Dr. Debra Steele testified at this hearing. Id.
At this hearing, Plaintiff testified she was fifty-seven (57) years old, which is defined as a “person
of advanced age” under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1563(e) (DIB) and 20 C.F.R. § 416.963(e) (SSI). (Tr. 33).
As for her level of education, Plaintiff testified she had obtained her GED. Id.
After this hearing, on June 8, 2015, the ALJ entered an unfavorable decision denying
Plaintiff’s applications for SSI and DIB. (Tr. 9-21). In this decision, the ALJ found Plaintiff met
the insured status requirements of the Act through December 31, 2017. (Tr. 14, Finding 1). The
ALJ found Plaintiff had not engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity (“SGA”) since January 15,
2013, her alleged onset date. (Tr. 14, Finding 2). The ALJ determined Plaintiff had the following
severe impairment: degenerative disk disease. (Tr. 14-15, Finding 3). Despite being severe, the ALJ
determined this impairment did not meet or medically equal the requirements of any of the Listings
of Impairments in Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Regulations No. 4 (“Listings”). (Tr. 15-16, Finding
4).
The ALJ then considered Plaintiff’s Residual Functional Capacity (“RFC”). (Tr. 16-20,
Finding 5). First, the ALJ evaluated Plaintiff’s subjective complaints and found her claimed
limitations were not entirely credible. Id. Second, the ALJ determined Plaintiff retained the RFC
to perform the following:
After careful consideration of the entire record, the undersigned finds that the
claimant has the residual functional capacity to perform light work as defined in 20
CFR 404.1567(b) except climbing, balancing, crawling, kneeling, stooping, and
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crouching on only an occasional basis.
Id.
The ALJ then evaluated Plaintiff’s Past Relevant Work (“PRW”). (Tr. 20, Finding 6). The
VE testified at the administrative hearing regarding this issue. Id. Based upon that testimony, the
ALJ determined Plaintiff retained the capacity to perform her PRW as follows: (1) quality control
tester (light, semi-skilled) and (2) packing line attendant (medium, unskilled). Id. Because Plaintiff
retained the capacity to perform this work, the ALJ also determined Plaintiff had not been under a
disability, as defined by the Act, from January 15, 2013 through the date of his decision or through
June 8, 2015. (Tr. 20, Finding 7).
Thereafter, Plaintiff requested a review by the Appeals Council. (Tr. 7-8). On May 27, 2016,
the Appeals Council denied this request. (Tr. 1-4). On June 27, 2016, Plaintiff filed the present
appeal with this Court. ECF No. 1. The Parties consented to the jurisdiction of this Court on July
5, 2016. ECF No. 6. Both Parties have filed appeal briefs. ECF Nos. 9-10. This case is now ripe
for determination.
2.
Applicable Law:
In reviewing this case, this Court is required to determine whether the Commissioner’s
findings are supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g)
(2006); Ramirez v. Barnhart, 292 F.3d 576, 583 (8th Cir. 2002). Substantial evidence is less than
a preponderance of the evidence, but it is enough that a reasonable mind would find it adequate to
support the Commissioner’s decision. See Johnson v. Apfel, 240 F.3d 1145, 1147 (8th Cir. 2001).
As long as there is substantial evidence in the record that supports the Commissioner’s
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decision, the Court may not reverse it simply because substantial evidence exists in the record that
would have supported a contrary outcome or because the Court would have decided the case
differently. See Haley v. Massanari, 258 F.3d 742, 747 (8th Cir. 2001). If, after reviewing the
record, it is possible to draw two inconsistent positions from the evidence and one of those positions
represents the findings of the ALJ, the decision of the ALJ must be affirmed. See Young v. Apfel,
221 F.3d 1065, 1068 (8th Cir. 2000).
It is well-established that a claimant for Social Security disability benefits has the burden of
proving his or her disability by establishing a physical or mental disability that lasted at least one
year and that prevents him or her from engaging in any substantial gainful activity. See Cox v. Apfel,
160 F.3d 1203, 1206 (8th Cir. 1998); 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A). The Act defines
a “physical or mental impairment” as “an impairment that results from anatomical, physiological,
or psychological abnormalities which are demonstrable by medically acceptable clinical and
laboratory diagnostic techniques.” 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(3), 1382(3)(c). A plaintiff must show that
his or her disability, not simply his or her impairment, has lasted for at least twelve consecutive
months. See 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A).
To determine whether the adult claimant suffers from a disability, the Commissioner uses
the familiar five-step sequential evaluation. He determines: (1) whether the claimant is presently
engaged in a “substantial gainful activity”; (2) whether the claimant has a severe impairment that
significantly limits the claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities; (3)
whether the claimant has an impairment that meets or equals a presumptively disabling impairment
listed in the regulations (if so, the claimant is disabled without regard to age, education, and work
experience); (4) whether the claimant has the Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) to perform his
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or her past relevant work; and (5) if the claimant cannot perform the past work, the burden shifts to
the Commissioner to prove that there are other jobs in the national economy that the claimant can
perform. See Cox, 160 F.3d at 1206; 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)-(f). The fact finder only considers
the plaintiff’s age, education, and work experience in light of his or her RFC if the final stage of this
analysis is reached. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920 (2003).
3.
Discussion:
In her appeal brief, Plaintiff raises three arguments for reversal: (1) the ALJ failed to properly
develop the evidence; (2) the ALJ failed to consider evidence “which fairly detracted from his
findings”; and (3) the ALJ failed to “apply proper legal standards.” ECF No. 9 at 9-18. Upon
review, the Court agrees that the ALJ improperly evaluated her subjective complaints. Accordingly,
the Court will only address the third argument Plaintiff has raised.
In assessing the credibility of a claimant, the ALJ is required to examine and to apply the five
factors from Polaski v. Heckler, 739 F.2d 1320 (8th Cir. 1984) or from 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529 and
20 C.F.R. § 416.929.2 See Shultz v. Astrue, 479 F.3d 979, 983 (2007). The factors to consider are
as follows: (1) the claimant’s daily activities; (2) the duration, frequency, and intensity of the pain;
(3) the precipitating and aggravating factors; (4) the dosage, effectiveness, and side effects of
medication; and (5) the functional restrictions. See Polaski, 739 at 1322.
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Social Security Regulations 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529 and 20 C.F.R. § 416.929 require the analysis
of two additional factors: (1) “treatment, other than medication, you receive or have received for relief of
your pain or other symptoms” and (2) “any measures you use or have used to relieve your pain or
symptoms (e.g., lying flat on your back, standing for 15 to 20 minutes every hour, sleeping on a board,
etc.).” However, under Polaski and its progeny, the Eighth Circuit has not yet required the analysis of
these additional factors. See Shultz v. Astrue, 479 F.3d 979, 983 (2007). Thus, this Court will not
require the analysis of these additional factors in this case.
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The factors must be analyzed and considered in light of the claimant’s subjective complaints
of pain. See id. The ALJ is not required to methodically discuss each factor as long as the ALJ
acknowledges and examines these factors prior to discounting the claimant’s subjective complaints.
See Lowe v. Apfel, 226 F.3d 969, 971-72 (8th Cir. 2000). As long as the ALJ properly applies these
five factors and gives several valid reasons for finding that the Plaintiff’s subjective complaints are
not entirely credible, the ALJ’s credibility determination is entitled to deference. See id.; Cox v.
Barnhart, 471 F.3d 902, 907 (8th Cir. 2006). The ALJ, however, cannot discount Plaintiff’s
subjective complaints “solely because the objective medical evidence does not fully support them
[the subjective complaints].” Polaski, 739 F.2d at 1322.
When discounting a claimant’s complaint of pain, the ALJ must make a specific credibility
determination, articulating the reasons for discrediting the testimony, addressing any
inconsistencies, and discussing the Polaski factors. See Baker v. Apfel, 159 F.3d 1140, 1144 (8th
Cir. 1998). The inability to work without some pain or discomfort is not a sufficient reason to find
a Plaintiff disabled within the strict definition of the Act. The issue is not the existence of pain, but
whether the pain a Plaintiff experiences precludes the performance of substantial gainful activity.
See Thomas v. Sullivan, 928 F.2d 255, 259 (8th Cir. 1991).
In the present action, the ALJ did not comply with the requirements of Polaski. Instead of
complying with Polaski and considering the Polaski factors, the ALJ only focused on Plaintiff’s
medical records. (Tr. 16-20). Notably, the ALJ recited he had considered Plaintiff’s subjective
complaints and then made the following findings:
In sum, the above residual functional capacity assessment is supported by the
objective medical evidence contained in the record. Treatment notes in the record
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do not sustain the claimant’s allegations of disabling pain. The consultative
examination of the claimant supports the residual functional capacity as described
above. The credibility of the claimant’s allegations is weakened by her objective
medical evidence. The claimant does experience some levels of pain and limitations
but only to the extent described in the residual functional capacity above.
(Tr. 20) (emphasis added).
The Court finds the ALJ’s decision to discount Plaintiff’s subjective complaints without a
sufficient basis was improper under Polaski. See Polaski, 739 F.2d at 1322 (holding a claimant’s
subjective complaints cannot be discounted “solely because the objective medical evidence does not
fully support them [the subjective complaints]”). Accordingly, because the ALJ provided no valid
reasons for discounting Plaintiff’s subjective complaints, this case must be reversed and remanded.
4.
Conclusion:
Based on the foregoing, the undersigned finds that the decision of the ALJ, denying benefits
to Plaintiff, is not supported by substantial evidence and should be reversed and remanded.3 A
judgment incorporating these findings will be entered pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
52 and 58.
ENTERED this 14th day of June 2017.
/s/ Barry A. Bryant
HON. BARRY A. BRYANT
U. S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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This remand is ordered solely for the purpose of permitting the ALJ the opportunity to comply
with the requirements of Polaski. No part of this remand should be interpreted as an instruction that
disability benefits be awarded. Upon remand, the ALJ should further evaluate the evidence and make a
disability determination, subject to this Court’s later review.
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