Boykin v. Social Security Administration Commissioner

Filing 12

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Barry A. Bryant on April 17, 2014. (mll)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
TEXARKANA DIVISION
CAROL BOYKIN
vs.

PLAINTIFF
Civil No. 4:13-cv-04034

CAROLYN W. COLVIN
Commissioner, Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT

MEMORANDUM OPINION
Carol Boykin (“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 a
period of disability, Disability Insurance Benefits (“DIB”), and Supplemental Security Income
(“SSI”) 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. 5.1
Pursuant to this authority, the Court issues this memorandum opinion and orders the entry of a final
judgment in this matter.
1.

Background:
Plaintiff protectively filed her disability applications on July 19, 2010. (Tr. 53, 161-173).

In her applications, Plaintiff claims to be disabled due to the following: “heart attack, impingement
on left arm, hbp [high blood pressure].” (Tr. 218). Plaintiff alleges an onset date of April 20, 2009.
(Tr. 53). These applications were denied initially and again upon reconsideration. (Tr. 91-94).

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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, on February 10, 2011, Plaintiff requested an administrative hearing on her applications,
and this hearing request was granted. (Tr. 115-124).
Plaintiff’s administrative hearing was held on August 31, 2011 in Texarkana, Arkansas. (Tr.
66-90). Plaintiff was present at this hearing and was represented by counsel. Id. Plaintiff and
Vocational Expert (“VE”) Jerry Hildrey testified at this hearing. Id. As of the date of this hearing,
Plaintiff was fifty-four (54) years old, which is defined as a “person closely approaching advanced
age” under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1563(d) (2008) (DIB) and and 20 C.F.R. § 416.963(d) (2008) (SSI).
(Tr. 69). As for her level of education, Plaintiff testified she had obtained her GED. Id.
On December 16, 2011, the ALJ entered an unfavorable decision denying Plaintiff’s
applications for DIB and SSI. (Tr. 50-60). In this decision, the ALJ found Plaintiff met the insured
status requirements of the Act through December 31, 2013. (Tr. 55, Finding 1). The ALJ
determined Plaintiff had not engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity (“SGA”) since April 20, 2009,
her alleged onset date. (Tr. 55, Finding 2). The ALJ determined Plaintiff had the following severe
impairments: coronary artery disease, heart disease, chronic left rotator cuff tear, generalized
osteoarthritis, and hypertension. (Tr. 55, Finding 3). However, the ALJ also determined Plaintiff’s
impairments 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. 55-56, Finding 4).
In this decision, the ALJ evaluated Plaintiff’s subjective complaints and determined her RFC.
(Tr. 56-58, 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 full range of light work. (Tr. 56, Finding 5). The full range of light work
includes the following:

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Light work. Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with
frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the
weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal
of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some
pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing
a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all of
these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine that he or she can also
do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine
dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.
20 CFR § 404.1567(b) and 20 CFR § 416.967(b).
The ALJ evaluated Plaintiff’s Past Relevant Work (“PRW”), and the ALJ found Plaintiff did
not retain the capacity to perform her PRW. (Tr. 58, Finding 6). The ALJ then evaluated whether
Plaintiff retained the capacity to perform other work existing in significant numbers in the national
economy. (Tr. 59, Finding 10). The ALJ relied upon the Medical-Vocational Guidelines or “the
Grids” to make that determination. Id. Specifically, pursuant to Rule 202.14 of the Grids, the ALJ
determined Plaintiff did retain the capacity to perform other work existing in significant numbers
in the national economy. Id. Because Plaintiff retained the capacity to perform this other work, the
ALJ determined Plaintiff had not been under a disability, as defined in the Act, from April 20, 2009
through the date of the ALJ’s decision or through December 16, 2011. (Tr. 59, Finding 11).
Thereafter, Plaintiff requested the Appeals Council’s review of the ALJ’s unfavorable
decision. (Tr. 46). On March 9, 2013, the Appeals Council reviewed the ALJ’s unfavorable
determination. (Tr. 1-3). As a part of that review, the Appeals Council found Plaintiff was disabled
beginning December 16, 2011 but was not disabled prior to that time. Id. Specifically, the Appeals
Council declined to find Plaintiff was disabled between April 20, 2009 and December 16, 2011. Id.
On March 29, 2013, Plaintiff filed the present appeal. ECF No. 1. Because the Appeals
Council found Plaintiff was disabled beginning December 16, 2011, the issue on this appeal is
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whether Plaintiff was also disabled from her alleged onset date of April 20, 2009 until December 16,
2011. Id. The Parties consented to the jurisdiction of this Court on March 29, 2013. ECF No. 5.
Both Parties have filed appeal briefs. ECF Nos. 10-11. This case is now ready for decision.
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 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
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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
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 the following arguments for reversal: (1) the ALJ erred

in finding her impairments did not meet the requirements of Listings 1.02 and 4.04; (2) the ALJ erred
in failing to assess her RFC; (3) the ALJ erred in discrediting the opinions of her treating physicians;
and (4) the ALJ erred by failing to give proper consideration to her non-exertional impairments.
ECF No. 10 at 1-20. Because the ALJ improperly evaluated Plaintiff’s subjective complaints, the
Court will only address this issue.
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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.
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

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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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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. (Tr. 56-58).
Indeed, in this case, the ALJ did what was specifically prohibited by Polaski and discounted
Plaintiff’s subjective complaints based upon the medical evidence alone. Id. Notably, in his
opinion, the ALJ stated he discounted her subjective complaints based upon “her activities of daily
living” and “the medical evidence of record.” (Tr. 57). However, the “activities of daily living” he
found inconsistent with her subjective complaints were that she was “able to walk around her mobile
home” and “maintain her home as long as she took short breaks.” (Tr. 58). Certainly such
“activities” are not inconsistent with Plaintiff’s subjective complaints of disability due to heart
disease and shoulder problems.
Further, the ALJ even improperly determined Plaintiff’s medical records were inconsistent
with her subjective complaints of disability. Specifically, on November 8, 2010, Plaintiff’s
consultative examiner, Dr. Ben D. Johnson, M.D. found she had “documented coronary heart
disease,” “atypical” chest pain, and “chronic left rotator cuff tear with symptoms.” (Tr. 797-800).
Throughout 2009, Plaintiff was also being treated at the Family Clinic of Murfreesboro and was
found to have a “left rotator cuff tear” and was found to have chronic pain due to her shoulder injury.
(Tr. 1019-1042).
In his opinion, the ALJ ignored these findings–which are consistent with Plaintiff’s
subjective complaints–and instead focused upon the opinions of a non-examining, reviewing
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physician: “The undersigned gives substantial weight to the opinion of the medical reviewer for the
state agency. He opined that the claimant could do light work and cited to medical evidence the
[that] supported his opinion.” (Tr. 58).
The ALJ’s decision to rely upon the opinions of a non-examining, non-treating physician was
in error. This is especially true in this case because these opinions are not consistent with the
findings of Plaintiff’s treating physician at the Family Clinic of Murfreesboro. See Harvey v.
Barnhart, 368 F.3d 1013, 1016 (8th Cir. 2004) (holding “[i]t is true that we do not consider the
opinions of non-examining, consulting physicians standing alone to be ‘substantial evidence’”).
Accordingly, this case must be reversed and remanded for further consideration of Plaintiff’s
subjective complaints in accordance with Polaski and for further evaluation of the medical evidence
in the record.
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 17th day of April 2014.
/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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