Chism v. Social Security Administration Commissioner

Filing 11

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Erin L. Setser on November 18, 2013. (lw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
HARRISON DIVISION
TAIRA J. CHISM

PLAINTIFF

V.

NO. 12-3105

CAROLYN W. COLVIN,1
Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT

MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff, Taira J. Chism, brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), seeking
judicial review of a decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
(Commissioner) denying her claims for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits
(DIB) under the provisions of Title II of the Social Security Act (Act). 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:
Plaintiff protectively filed her application for DIB on August 10, 2009, alleging an

inability to work since January 1, 2007, due to”Back problems, and anxiethy[sic].” (Tr. 102-103,
135, 139). An administrative hearing was held on November 18, 2010, at which Plaintiff
appeared with counsel and she and her mother and husband testified. (Tr. 23-61).
By written decision dated January 26, 2011, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had an
impairment or combination of impairments that were severe - degenerative disc disease of the

1

Carolyn W. Colvin, has been appointed to serve as acting Commissioner of Social Security, and is substituted as
Defendant, pursuant to Rule 25(d)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

-1-

AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)

lumbar spine and a mood disorder. (Tr. 12). However, after reviewing all of the evidence
presented, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff’s impairments did not meet or equal the level of
severity of any impairment listed in the Listing of Impairments found in Appendix I, Subpart P,
Regulation No. 4. (Tr. 12). The ALJ found Plaintiff retained the residual functional capacity
(RFC) to:
perform sedentary work where interpersonal contact is incidental to the
work performed; complexity of tasks is learned and performed by rote,
with few variables and little judgment required. Supervision required is
simple, direct, and concrete. She can occasionally lift and/or carry 10
pounds and frequently less. She can sit for six hours and stand/walk for
two hours. She can occasionally climb, balance, crawl, kneel, stoop and
crouch.
(Tr. 13-14). With the help of the vocational expert (VE), the ALJ determined that Plaintiff was
unable to perform any past relevant work, but that there were other jobs Plaintiff could perform,
such as assembler, machine tender, and surveillance system monitor. (Tr. 16-17).
Plaintiff then requested a review of the hearing decision by the Appeals Council, which
considered additional evidence and denied the request on June 13, 2012. (Tr. 1-4). This case is
before the undersigned pursuant to the consent of the parties. (Doc. 8 ). Both parties have filed
appeal briefs, and the case is now ready for decision. (Docs. 9, 10).
The Court has reviewed the entire transcript. The complete set of facts and arguments are
presented in the parties’ briefs, and are repeated here only to the extent necessary.
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. Ramirez v. Barnhart, 292 F. 3d 576, 583 (8th Cir.
2002). Substantial evidence is less than a preponderance but it is enough that a reasonable mind
-2-

AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)

would find it adequate to support the Commissioner’s decision. The ALJ’s decision must be
affirmed if the record contains substantial evidence to support it. Edwards v. Barnhart, 314 F.
3d 964, 966 (8th Cir. 2003). As long as there is substantial evidence in the record that supports
the Commissioner’s 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. Haley v. Massanari, 258 F.3d 742, 747 (8th Cir. 2001). In
other words, 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. 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 her disability by establishing a physical or mental disability that has lasted at least one
year and that prevents her from engaging in any substantial gainful activity. Pearsall v.
Massanari, 274 F. 3d 1211, 1217 (8th Cir. 2001); see also 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)(D). A Plaintiff must show that her disability, not simply her impairment, has lasted for
at least twelve consecutive months.
The Commissioner’s regulations require him to apply a five-step sequential evaluation
process to each claim for disability benefits: (1) whether the claimant had engaged in substantial
gainful activity since filing her claim; (2) whether the claimant had a severe physical and/or
mental impairment or combination of impairments; (3) whether the impairment(s) met or equaled
-3-

AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)

an impairment in the listings; (4) whether the impairment(s) prevented the claimant from doing
past relevant work; and (5) whether the claimant was able to perform other work in the national
economy given her age, education, and experience. See 20 C.F.R. §416.920. Only if the final
stage is reached does the fact finder consider the Plaintiff’s age, education, and work experience
in light of her residual functional capacity (RFC). See McCoy v. Schneider, 683 F.2d 1138,
1141-42 (8th Cir. 1982); 20 C.F.R. §416.920.
III.

Discussion:
After the ALJ’s decision was entered on January 26, 2011, Plaintiff was examined by Dr.

John F. Ferguson, of Springfield Neurological & Spine Institute,on February 11, 2011. (Tr. 429431). Dr. Ferguson’s report was not before the ALJ, but the Appeals Council considered the
report. When the Appeals Council has considered material new evidence and nonetheless
declined review, the ALJ's decision becomes the final action of the Commissioner. The Court
then has no jurisdiction to review the Appeals Council's action because it is a nonfinal agency
action. See Browning v. Sullivan, 958 F.2d 817, 822 (8th Cir.1992). At this point, the Court’s
task is only to decide whether the ALJ's decision is supported by substantial evidence in the
record as a whole, including the new evidence made part of the record by the Appeals Council
that was not before the ALJ. As the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has
noted, "this [is] a peculiar task for a reviewing court." Riley v. Shalala, 18 F.3d 619, 622 (8th
Cir.1994). However, once it is clear that the Appeals Council considered the new evidence, then
the Court must factor in the evidence and determine whether the ALJ's decision is still supported
by substantial evidence. This requires the Court to speculate on how the ALJ would have
weighed the newly submitted evidence had it been available at the initial hearing. Flynn v.
-4-

AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)

Chater, 107 F.3d 617, 621 (8th Cir.1997). Thus, the undersigned has endeavored to perform this
function with respect to the newly submitted evidence.
After reviewing Dr. Ferguson’s report, the Court cannot determine how the ALJ would
have weighed the newly submitted evidence had it been available at the initial hearing,
particularly as to whether Plaintiff’s physical impairments met listing 1.04 during the relevant
time period. Accordingly, the Court finds it necessary to remand this matter to the ALJ for the
purpose of considering the February 11, 2011 report by Dr. Ferguson, and to reconsider whether
Plaintiff’s physical impairments met Listing 1.04 during the relevant time period.
IV.

Conclusion:
Accordingly, the Court concludes that the ALJ’s decision is not supported by substantial

evidence, and therefore, the denial of benefits to Plaintiff should be reversed and this matter
should be remanded to the Commissioner for further consideration pursuant to sentence four of
42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
ORDERED this 18th day of November, 2013.

/s/ Erin L. Setser
HON. ERIN L. SETSER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

-5-

AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)