Erickson v. Social Security Administration Commissioner
Filing
11
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable James R. Marschewski on March 2, 2012. (lw)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
HARRISON DIVISION
SHARI LYNN ERICKSON
PLAINTIFF
v.
CASE NO.
10-3113
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner
of Social Security Administration
DEFENDANT
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), seeking judicial review of a decision
of the Commissioner of Social Security Administration (Commissioner) denying his claim for a
period of disability and disability insurance benefits (DIB) and supplemental security income
(“SSI”) under Title II of the Social Security Act (Act), 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). In this judicial
review, the court must determine whether there is substantial evidence in the administrative
record to support the Commissioner’s decision. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
I. Procedural Background
The plaintiff filed her applications for DIB and SSI on October 31, 2006, alleging an
onset date of October 1, 2005 (T. 54), due to plaintiff’s asthma / copd (T. 80). Plaintiff’s
applications were denied initially and on reconsideration (T. 31, 39-41). Plaintiff then requested
an administrative hearing, which was held on July 3, 2008. Plaintiff was present and represented
by counsel.
At the time of the administrative hearing, plaintiff was 43 years of age and possessed a
high school education. The Plaintiff had past relevant work (“PRW”) experience as a manager /
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assistant manager at a gas station and cook / deli worker (T. 21, 86, 180).
On January 23, 2009, the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) concluded that, although
severe, plaintiff’s asthma and obesity did not meet or equal any Appendix 1 listing. T. 13, 17.
The ALJ found that plaintiff maintained the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform
sedentary work with additional limitation. T. 17. With the assistance of a vocational expert, the
ALJ then determined Plaintiff could perform unskilled, sedentary work of 1) an inspector, sorter,
weigher and 2) bench assembly work. T. 22.
II. Applicable Law
This court's role is to determine whether the Commissioner's findings are supported by
substantial evidence on the record as a whole. Cox v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 614, 617 (8th Cir. 2007).
Substantial evidence is less than a preponderance, but enough that a reasonable mind would find
it adequate to support the Commissioner’s decision. Id. “Our review extends beyond examining
the record to find substantial evidence in support of the ALJ’s decision; we also consider
evidence in the record that fairly detracts from that decision.” Id. As long as there is substantial
evidence in the record to support the Commissioner’s decision, the court may not reverse the
decision simply because substantial evidence exists in the record to support a contrary outcome,
or because the court would have decided the case differently. Haley v. Massanari, 258 F.3d 742,
747 (8th Cir. 2001). If the court finds it possible “to draw two inconsistent positions from the
evidence, and one of those positions represents the Secretary’s findings, the court must affirm the
decision of the Secretary.” Cox, 495 F.3d at 617 (internal quotation and alteration omitted).
It is well-established that a claimant for Social Security disability benefits has the burden
of proving his disability by establishing a physical or mental disability that has lasted at least one
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year and that prevents him from engaging in any substantial gainful activity. Pearsall v.
Massanari, 274 F.3d 1211, 1217 (8th Cir. 2001); see 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A).
The Act defines “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 disability, not simply his impairment, has lasted for at least twelve
consecutive months. Titus v. Sullivan, 4 F.3d 590, 594 (8th Cir. 1993).
The Commissioner’s regulations require him to apply a five-step sequential evaluation
process to each claim for disability benefits: (1) whether the claimant has engaged in substantial
gainful activity since filing his claim; (2) whether the claimant has a severe physical and/or
mental impairment or combination of impairments; (3) whether the impairment(s) meet or equal
an impairment in the listings; (4) whether the impairment(s) prevent the claimant from doing past
relevant work; and, (5) whether the claimant is able to perform other work in the national
economy given his age, education, and experience. See 20 C.F.R. § § 404.1520(a)- (f)(2003).
Only if the final stage is reached does the fact finder consider the plaintiff’s age, education, and
work experience in light of his or her residual functional capacity. See McCoy v. Schweiker, 683
F.2d 1138, 1141-42 (8th Cir. 1982); 20 C .F.R. § § 404.1520, 416.920 (2003).
III. Discussion
A. Relevant Period
The ALJ first determined that the Plaintiff met the insured status requirements of the
Social Security Act only through September 30, 2003 (T. 13). Plaintiff filed applications for
benefits under both Title II and Title XVI of the Act in October 2006 and claimed her disability
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had begun October 1, 2005 (T. 54). Realizing that this was outside the insured time period the
Plaintiff moved to amend her disability onset date to September 2003 at the time of the hearing
(T. 200).
To be entitled to a period of disability and DIB under Title II of the Act, a claimant must
be both disabled and insured. 42 U.S.C. § 423(c); 20 C.F.R. § 404.131. Plaintiff must establish
that her disability arose before the expiration of her date last insured, which was September 30,
2003 (Tr. 11). 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.101, 404.131, 404.320(b)(2); see Pyland v. Apfel, 149 F.3d 873,
876-77 (8th Cir. 1998). If a claimant becomes disabled after she has lost insured status, the claim
must be denied. See Hinchey v. Shalala, 29 F.3d 428, 431 (8th Cir. 1994). Accordingly, for
purposes of DIB, the relevant period runs from September 1, 2003, through September 30, 2003
(Tr. 11).
However, because SSI benefits are not payable prior to the date of the application, the
relevant period for Plaintiff’s SSI claim begins with her application date of October 31, 2006,
and continues through January 23, 2009, the date of the ALJ’s decision (Tr. 23). See 20 C.F.R. §
416.335.
The ALJ determined that the Plaintiff had severe impairments of asthma and obesity (T.
13) but she did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that met or medically
equaled one of the listed impairments. (T. 17).
B. Listed Impairments
The Plaintiff first argues that the ALJ erred in failing to find that the Plaintiff met the
listing requirements for 3.03 B (Asthma) (ECF No. 8, p. 7). The listing requirements for 3.03 B
is as follows:
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B. Attacks (as defined in 3.00C), in spite of prescribed treatment and
requiring physician intervention, occurring at least once every 2 months or at least
six times a year. Each in-patient hospitalization for longer than 24 hours for
control of asthma counts as two attacks, and an evaluation period of at least 12
consecutive months must be used to determine the frequency of attacks.
The first medical record in the file is February 1998 when the Plaintiff presented to the
Crusader Clinic and Dr. Nishat noted that the Plaintiff was not on any medication and the exam
was unremarkable. Dr. Nishat noted that the Plaintiff had smoked 3 ½ packs of cigarettes per
day and that she had claimed to reduce that to six per day. Dr. Nishat encouraged her to “totally
give up cigarettes”. (T. 107). Plaintiff saw Dr. Nishat again in March 1998 for asthma
exacerbation and was prescribed a ventolin1 inhaler, prednisone 240 mg for five days, and
amoxicillin for seven days for bronchitis. She was again counseled about quitting smoking. (T.
106). When the Plaintiff was seen by Dr. Nishat in April 1998 she stated that she “was feeling
fine” and had not had any asthma exacerbations. She admitted that she was still smoking “a little
less than one pack a day”. The Plaintiff was given a prescription for Habitrol patches to assist
her in smoking cessation and she was referred to Don Crain to assist in stopping smoking. (T.
104). The Plaintiff did see Don Crain, R.N. for smoke cessation counseling in April 1998 (T.
103) and when she saw Dr. Nishat in June 1998 he noted that she had not had any emergency
1
Ventolin (albuterol) is used to treat or prevent breathing problems in patients who have
asthma or certain other airway diseases. See www.drugs.com
2
Prednisone is in a class of drugs called corticosteroids. Prednisone prevents the release
of substances in the body that cause inflammation. Prednisone is used to treat many different
conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis,
or breathing disorders. See www.drugs.com
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room visits but did add an AeroBid inhaler to use regularly and to the Ventolin as needed (T.
102).
There does not appear to be any medical documentation of an asthma related event
between June 1998 and March 2005. On March 7, 2005 the Plaintiff presented to the Baxter
Regional Medical Center “via ambulance from the jail in Yellville”. (T. 131) Dr. Quevillon noted
that she was reportedly having an asthma attack while at the jail but by the time she got to the
BRMC she was feeling much better. Dr. Quevillon also noted that as a result of the asthma
attack she was released from the jail. She noted a significant smoking history for 30 plus years
and that her only medication was albuterol. (Id.). The Plaintiff went back to the BRMC on
March 14, 2005 complaining of a soar throat and a cough. The social history noted that the
Plaintiff was still smoking 1/4 pack of cigarettes per day (T. 126) and she was ordered to
discontinue smoking. (T. 125, 127).
The next asthma related hospitalization occurs on July 8, 2006 when the Plaintiff was
seen at the BRMC. She was admitted at 9:59 AM and discharged at 10:30 AM. She noted that
she was out of her medication and the hospital gave a prescription for an albuterol inhaler (T.
122). The Plaintiff then presented to the Mountain Home Christian Clinic on July 20, 2006. Dr.
John Bond diagnosed the Plaintiff with Asthma, intractable (chronic); not acute at this time and
provided medication (T. 114). The Plaintiff acknowledged that she was still smoking ½ pack of
cigarettes per day and had for 30 years (T. 115).
The Plaintiff acknowledged that she “does not precisely meet the diagnostic
criteria under listing 3.03 B as the record does not set forth asthma attacks requiring physician
intervention once every two months or six times per year. (Id). However, the Plaintiff contends
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that she must have her breathing machine with her at all time (T. 193) and she contends that she
now effectively can duplicate at home the treatment she would receive at any ER. (T. 192-193).
The Plaintiff argues that the ALJ should have considered this the medical equivalent of the
requirements in 3.03 B. (ECF No. 8, p. 7).
The Social Security Administration evaluates medical equivalency pursuant to 20 C.F.R.
§ 416.926 and 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, app. 1. Medical equivalency exists if the impairment
“is at least equal in severity and duration to the medical criteria of the listed impairment.” Neal
ex rel. Walker v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 685, 689 (8th Cir.2005). See More ex rel. Moore v.
Barnhart 413 F.3d 718, 721 (C.A.8 (Ark.),2005).
20 CFR 404 3.00 C provides that:
Documentation for these exacerbations should include available hospital,
emergency facility and/or physician records indicating the dates of treatment;
clinical and laboratory findings on presentation, such as the results of spirometry
and arterial blood gas studies (ABGS); the treatment administered; the time period
required for treatment; and the clinical response. Attacks of asthma, episodes of
bronchitis or pneumonia or hemoptysis (more than blood-streaked sputum), or
respiratory failure as referred to in paragraph B of 3.03, 3.04, and 3.07, are
defined as prolonged symptomatic episodes lasting one or more days and
requiring intensive treatment, such as intravenous bronchodilator or antibiotic
administration or prolonged inhalational bronchodilator therapy in a hospital,
emergency room or equivalent setting. Hospital admissions are defined as
inpatient hospitalizations for longer than 24 hours. The medical evidence must
also include information documenting adherence to a prescribed regimen of
treatment as well as a description of physical signs. For asthma, the medical
evidence should include spirometric results obtained between attacks that
document the presence of baseline airflow obstruction.
Here, although Plaintiff alleges she has “frequent asthma attacks and must use her updraft
machine frequently,” the regulations require “physician intervention occurring at least once
every two months or at least six times a year.” Plaintiff does not meet these requirements. The
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question of whether a claimant meets a listed impairment is strictly a medical determination.
Cockerham v. Sullivan, 895 F.2d 492, 496 (8th Cir. 1990); see Roberson v. Astrue, 481 F.3d
1020, 1023 (8th Cir. 2007) (claimant only offered testimony, not medical evidence to support her
argument that she met a Listing).
It is well-established that a claimant for Social Security disability benefits has the burden
of proving his disability by establishing a physical or mental disability that has lasted at least one
year and that prevents him from engaging in any substantial gainful activity. Pearsall v.
Massanari, 274 F.3d 1211, 1217 (8th Cir. 2001); see 42 U.S.C. § § 423(d)(1)(A),
1382c(a)(3)(A). Where a listing requires proof of functional limitations, but claimant fails to
present sufficient medical evidence of those limitations, an ALJ may conclude that the listing
was not satisfied. Dini v. Astrue 2009 WL 2496929, 9 (D.Minn.) (D.Minn.,2009)
The Plaintiff argues that the ALJ failed in her duty to fully and fairly develop the record
stating that in this case the “ALJ should have had at least a medical advisor to establish whether
the claimant’s condition meets or exceeds this listing” (ECF No. 9, p. 9). The Plaintiff’s
argument is impossible to understand because the listing for asthma requires the Plaintiff’s
condition to have “physician intervention occurring at least once every two months or at least six
times a year”. All medical evidence in the file clearly shows that the Plaintiff did not meet the
listing requirements for asthma and sending the Plaintiff for a consultive evaluation could not
have provided the necessary evidence.
C. RFC
Based on the evidence as a whole, the ALJ found that Plaintiff retained the RFC to
perform work at the sedentary level, including lifting and carrying 10 pounds occasionally and
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less than 10 pounds frequently; sitting six hours; standing and walking for two hours. The ALJ
also determined that Plaintiff could not drive a vehicle; perform work at unprotected heights or
around dangerous, life threatening equipment or machinery; climb scaffolds, ladders, or ropes; or
work around concentrated dust, fumes, smoke, chemicals, or noxious gases, but that she could
occasionally climb ramps and stairs and occasionally stoop, bend, crouch, crawl, kneel and
balance. In addition, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff, secondary to fatigue, pain, side effects of
medication, lack of restorative sleep, shortness of breach, must receive non-complex simple
instructions that involved little judgment, the work must be routine and repetitive and learned by
rote with few variables, she could only have superficial contact incidental to work with the
general public and co-workers, and work must involve supervision that is concrete, direct, and
specific (Tr. 17).
RFC is the most a person can do despite that person’s limitations. 20 C.F.R. §
404.1545(a)(1). It is defined as the individual’s maximum remaining ability to do sustained
work activity in an ordinary work setting “on a regular and continuing basis.” 20 C.F.R. §§
404.1545 and 416.945; Social Security Ruling (SSR) 96-8p (1996). It is assessed using all
relevant evidence in the record. Id. This includes medical records, observations of treating
physicians and others, and the claimant’s own descriptions of her limitations. Guilliams v.
Barnhart, 393 F.3d 798, 801 (8th Cir. 2005); Eichelberger v. Barnhart, 390 F.3d 584, 591 (8th
Cir. 2004). Limitations resulting from symptoms such as pain are also factored into the
assessment. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(3). The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth
Circuit has held that a “claimant’s residual functional capacity is a medical question.” Lauer v.
Apfel, 245 F.3d 700, 704 (8th Cir. 2001). Therefore, an ALJ’s determination concerning a
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claimant’s RFC must be supported by medical evidence that addresses the claimant’s ability to
function in the workplace.” Lewis v. Barnhart, 353 F.3d 642, 646 (8th Cir. 2003).
Nevertheless, in evaluating a claimant's RFC, an ALJ is not limited to considering
medical evidence exclusively. Cox v. Astrue, 495 F. 3d 614 at 619 citing Lauer v. Apfel, 245
F.3d 700 at 704; Dykes v. Apfel, 223 F.3d 865, 866 (8th Cir.2000) (per curiam) (“To the extent
[claimant] is arguing that residual functional capacity may be proved only by medical evidence,
we disagree.”). Even though the RFC assessment draws from medical sources for support, it is
ultimately an administrative determination reserved to the Commissioner.*620 20 C.F.R. §§
416.927(e)(2), 416.946 (2006).
1. Subjective Complaints
The Plaintiff made numerous complaints of subjective pain which the ALJ properly
noted. (T. 18). The ALJ found that the Plaintiff’s medically determinable impairments could
reasonably be expected to cause the alleged symptoms, however, the Plaintiff’s statements
concerning the intensity, persistence and limiting effects of these symptoms were not credible to
the extent they are inconsistent with the RFC (T. 18-19). The Plaintiff has not specifically argued
that the ALJ made any error in her evaluation of the Plaintiff’s subjective complaints.
The ALJ must consider several factors when evaluating a claimant's subjective
complaints of pain, including claimant's prior work record, observations by third parties, and
observations of treating and examining physicians relating to 1) the claimant's daily activities; 2)
the duration, frequency, and intensity of pain; 3) precipitating and aggravating factors; 4) dosage,
effectiveness and side effects of medication; and 5) functional restrictions. Casey v. Astrue, 503
F.3d 687 at 695 (8th Cir.2007) (citing Polaski v. Heckler, 729 F.2d 1320, 1322 (8th Cir.1984).
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The ALJ may discount subjective complaints when they are inconsistent with the evidence as a
whole. Id. (citing Polaski, 739 F.2d at 1322). “The ALJ is not required to discuss each Polaski
factor as long as the analytical framework is recognized and considered.” Tucker v. Barnhart,
363 F.3d 781, 783 (8th Cir.2004).
The court notes that the Plaintiff initially filed her application for disability on November
6, 2006 alleging an onset date of October 1, 2005. (T. 54). The Plaintiff’s date last insured was
September 30, 2003. On January 5, 2007 the Plaintiff’s attorney submitted a request that the
onset date be amended to August 9/ 1999. (T. 37). The Plaintiff had filed for disability alleging
an onset of July 18, 2000 but that was denied on October 11, 2001(Id.). The Plaintiff was allowed
to orally amend her onset date to September 2003 during the hearing.
The Plaintiff had minimal earnings in 1995 and no earnings in 1996 and 1997. Her first
documented medical record was for a pap smear in February 1998 (T. 107) and her first
documented medical treatment for asthma exacerbation was March 1998 (T. 106) but by April
she “was feeling fine” (T. 104). There is no explanation for the poor work records in 1995-1997.
An ALJ may consider a claimant’s work record in his credibility analysis. See Fredrickson v.
Barnhart, 359 F.3d 972, 976 (8th Cir. 2004) (ALJ may consider that a claimants sporadic work
record reflecting relatively low earnings and multiple years with no reported earnings that
showed a lack of motivation to return to work).
The ALJ also pointed out that after her treatment at the Crusader Clinic in 1998 the
Plaintiff did not receive any documented treatment for her asthma until March 2005 when the
Plaintiff was incarcerated in the Yellville jail. (T. 131). When the Plaintiff was seen in the
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BCMC after her release from jail they noted a history of asthma but no dyspnea.3 (T. 125). After
that incident the Plaintiff is not seen again medically for her asthma until July 8, 2006. (T. 122).
In general, the failure to obtain follow-up treatment indicates that a person's condition may not be
disabling or may not be as serious as alleged. See Shannon v. Chater, 54 F.3d 484, 487 (8th
Cir.1995) (holding “[g]iven his alleged pain, Shannon's failure to seek medical treatment may be
inconsistent with a finding of disability”).
Any attempt by the Plaintiff to excuse her failure to pursue more aggressive treatment
cannot be wholly excused due to her claims of financial hardship. See Murphy v. Sullivan, 953
F.2d 383, 386-87 (8th Cir.1992) (rejecting claim of financial hardship where there was no
evidence that claimant attempted to obtain low cost medical treatment or that claimant had been
denied care because of her poverty); Hutsell v. Sullivan, 892 F.2d 747, 750 n. 2 (8th Cir.1989)
(noting that “lack of means to pay for medical services does not ipso facto preclude the Secretary
from considering the failure to seek medical attention in credibility determinations.”) (internal
quotations omitted). Tate v. Apfel 167 F.3d 1191, 1197 (C.A.8 (Ark.),1999).
The ALJ also noted that the Plaintiff had been repeatedly counseled and ordered by her
treating physicians to stop smoking. Smoking and being overweight are two of the risk factors
associated with asthma. (See www.mayoclinic.org. Viewed March 1, 2012). The Plaintiff
admitted that her smoking habit had been 3 ½ packs of cigarettes per day prior to 1998 (T. 107)
and in July 2006 she still admitted to ½ pack per day. In addition to the results of objective
medical tests, an ALJ may properly consider the claimant's noncompliance with a treating
3
Difficulty in breathing, often associated with lung or heart disease and resulting in
shortness of breath.
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physician's directions, Holley v. Massanari, 253 F.3d 1088, 1092 (8th Cir.2001), including
failing to take prescription medications, Riggins, 177 F.3d at 693, seek treatment, Comstock v.
Chater, 91 F.3d 1143, 1146-47 (8th Cir.1996), and quit smoking. Kisling v. Chater, 105 F.3d
1255, 1257 (8th Cir.1997); Choate v. Barnhart 457 F.3d 865, 872 (C.A.8 (Mo.),2006)
The ALJ also noted that the Plaintiff’s symptoms were controlled with medication. (T.
106, 111, 114, 131, 150). Impairments that can be controlled effectively with medication are not
disabling for the purpose of determining eligibility for SSI benefits. See, e.g., Brown v. Barnhart,
390 F.3d 535, 540 (8th Cir.2004); Lovelace v. Bowen, 813 F.2d 55, 59 (5th Cir.1987); see also
Odle v. Heckler, 707 F.2d 439, 440 (9th Cir.1983) (affirming a denial of benefits and noting that
the claimant's impairments were responsive to medication). Warre v. Commissioner of Social
Sec. Admin. 439 F.3d 1001, 1006 (C.A.9 (Or.),2006).
The standard of evaluation is not whether plaintiff experiences pain, but if the pain
alleged is intense enough to cause functional limitations. Gowell v. Apfel, 242 F.3d 793, 796 (8th
Cir. 2001) (holding that the real issue is not whether the plaintiff is experiencing pain, but how
severe and whether it prevents him from performing any kind of work).
Because “questions of fact, including the credibility of a claimant's subjective testimony,
are primarily for the [Commissioner] to decide,” the court’s review is limited to determining
whether the ALJ considered all the evidence relevant to Plaintiff's complaints and whether that
evidence contradicted his account sufficiently that the ALJ could discount his testimony as not
entirely credible. Blakeman v. Astrue 509 F.3d 878, 879 (C.A.8 (S.D.),2007) citing Benskin v.
Bowen, 830 F.2d 878, 882 (8th Cir.1987). The court defers to the ALJ's credibility determination,
especially where the testimony appears to indicate that plaintiff gave contradictory answers.
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Human v. Barnhart, 2006 WL 2422182, 3 (D.Kan.) (D.Kan.,2006).
After careful review of the record, the court believes that the ALJ made a proper
credibility determination of the Plaintiff’s subjective complaints. Despite the ALJ's concerns
about Plaintiff’s credibility, she did not entirely ignore Plaintiff's complaints but instead balanced
her subjective complaints against the objective medical evidence in arriving at an assessment of
Plaintiff's RFC.
2. Physical RFC assessment:
The Plaintiff argues that “no physician in this case has provided an RFC assessment” and
therefore the ALJ’s RFC assessment is not sound (ECF No. 9, p. 5). The Plaintiff also states that
“FCE by Dr. Payne is completely blank” and that the RFC in this case was “essentially
determined solely by the ALJ based on her lay impressions of the medical records (Id., pp. 6-7).
The Plaintiff’s statements are incorrect, inaccurate and misleading.
Dr. Bill F. Payne, a consultive physician, rendered an Physical RFC assessment on
February 5, 2007 (T. 133-140). Dr. Payne had the medical records from BRMC, Ahrens Clinic,
and Mountain Home Christian Clinic. Based upon a review of the records Dr. Payne found that
the Plaintiff had no Exertional Limitation (T. 134), no Postural Limitations (T. 135), no
Manipulative Limitations or Visual Limitations (T. 136) and no Communicative Limitations (T.
137). Dr. Payne did note in the Environmental Limitations that the Plaintiff should avoid
concentrated exposure to fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, etc. (T. 137). Dr. Payne’s
opinion was reviewed and affirmed by Dr. Jim Takach on July 5, 2007 (T. 143). Dr. Takach also
noted that the Plaintiff’s asthma “responds well to Rx with compliance” (Id.).
The objective evidence of record also supports the ALJ’s RFC capacity assessment. The
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ALJ noted that Plaintiff received treatment for asthma from 2004 through 2006 and received
prescriptions for an Albuterol inhaler and Albuterol for her nebulizer (Tr. 14, 111-118). In
September 2005, Plaintiff went to the emergency room for an asthma attack, received one
Albuterol updraft, and was feeling “much better by her arrival” (Tr. 15, 131). In April
2007, Plaintiff reported she was “doing very well on asthma meds,” and her records noted her
asthma was “controlled” with medication (Tr. 150).
Impairments that can be controlled effectively with medication are not disabling for the
purpose of determining eligibility for SSI benefits. See, e.g., Brown v. Barnhart, 390 F.3d 535,
540 (8th Cir.2004); Lovelace v. Bowen, 813 F.2d 55, 59 (5th Cir.1987); see also Odle v. Heckler,
707 F.2d 439, 440 (9th Cir.1983) (affirming a denial of benefits and noting that the claimant's
impairments were responsive to medication). Warre v. Commissioner of Social Sec. Admin. 439
F.3d 1001, 1006 (C.A.9 (Or.),2006).
During the July 2006 emergency room visit, Plaintiff had been out of medication for
approximately one year, stating that she could not afford them, but the ALJ noted that Plaintiff
could continue to buy cigarettes (Tr. 15, 122). The Plaintiff acknowledged a 3 ½ packs of
cigarettes per day habit in 1998 (T. 108) and in 2006 acknowledge that she had smoked for 30
years (T. 131, 154). Her doctor in 1998 talked to her about smoking cessation (T. 106) and she
was seen by a nurse and prescribed a patch to assist her in stopping smoking (T. 104). In July
2006 she was still smoking ½ pack per day (T. 115).
A claimant’s inability to afford medical services cannot be used as a basis for a denial of
benefits. See Tang v. Apfel, 205 F.3d 1084, 1086 (8th Cir. 2000). However, Plaintiff has not
shown that she exhausted all of the possible alternatives to receiving treatment at a reduced rate
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or free of charge. See Murphy v. Sullivan, 953 F.2d 383, 386-87 (8th Cir. 1992) (noting that
financial hardship must be taken into account, but there was no evidence that the claimant sought
low-cost medical treatment from her doctor, or from clinics or hospitals).
The ALJ also noted that the Plaintiff refused steroid treatment in July 2006 (Tr. 15, 122).
“The ALJ may properly consider both the claimant's willingness to submit to treatment and the
type of medication prescribed in order to determine the sincerity of the claimant's allegations of
pain.” Thomas v. Sullivan, 928 F.2d 255, 259 (8th Cir.1991) (citations omitted). Gray v. Apfel
192 F.3d 799, 804 (C.A.8 (S.D.),1999)
Notwithstanding the Plaintiff’s assertions the record does contain a valid Physical RFC
assessment.
3. Neuropsychological Evaluation
On July 7, 2008, after the hearing before the ALJ and at the request of her attorney, the
Plaintiff presented to Dr. Vann Smith, for a Neuropsychological Evaluation. The ALJ gave no
weight to the report and opinion of Dr. Smith and set forth her reasons at length in her opinion.
(T. 20). The Plaintiff has not alleged any error on the part of the ALJ in her discounting the
opinion of Dr. Smith. The court has reviewed the record and finds that the rationale for the
ALJ’s disregarding the opinion of Dr. Smith is sound and supported by the record.
IV.
Conclusion:
Accordingly, having carefully reviewed the record, the undersigned finds substantial
evidence supports the Commissioner’s decision that Plaintiff was not disabled at any time from
September 1, 2003, through September 30, 2003 (Tr. 11), and October 31, 2006, through January
23, 2009, the date of the ALJ’s decision (Tr. 23), and thus the decision should be affirmed. The
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undersigned further finds that the plaintiff’s Complaint should be dismissed with prejudice.
Dated this March 2, 2012.
/s/ J. Marschewski
HONORABLE JAMES R. MARSCHEWSKI
CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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