Armstrong v. Social Security Administration Commissioner

Filing 13

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Barry A. Bryant on March 25, 2016. (mll)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
TEXARKANA DIVISION
VERONICA D. ARMSTRONG
vs.

PLAINTIFF
Civil No. 4:15-cv-04060

CAROLYN W. COLVIN
Commissioner, Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT

MEMORANDUM OPINION
Veronica D. Armstrong (“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. 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:
On December 4, 2012, Plaintiff filed her disability applications. (Tr. 9, 172-184). In her

applications, Plaintiff alleges being disabled due to seizures, diabetes, hypertension, thyroid
disorders, chronic back problems, high cholesterol, hypertension, and edema.

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(Tr. 246).

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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Plaintiff alleges an onset date of April 27, 2012. (Tr. 9). Plaintiff’s applications were denied
initially and again upon reconsideration. (Tr. 60-85).
Thereafter, Plaintiff requested an administrative hearing on her denied applications. (Tr.
127-128).

This hearing request was granted, and an administrative hearing was held in

Texarkana, Arkansas on October 21, 2014. (Tr. 136-141). At this hearing, Plaintiff was present
and was represented by Greg Giles. Id. Plaintiff and Vocational Expert (“VE”) Susan Johnson
testified at this hearing. Id. At this hearing, Plaintiff testified she was fifty-seven (57) years old,
which qualifies as a “person of advanced age” under 20 C.F.R. § 416.963(e) (2008) (SSI) and 20
C.F.R. § 404.1563(e) (2008) (DIB). (Tr. 36). As for her education, Plaintiff also testified she
had started—but did not complete—the tenth grade in school. (Tr. 36).
On January 28, 2015, the ALJ entered an unfavorable decision denying Plaintiff’s
applications for SSI and DIB. (Tr. 6-21). In this decision, the ALJ found Plaintiff met the
insured status requirements of the Act through December 31, 2018. (Tr. 11, Finding 1). The
ALJ found Plaintiff had not engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity (“SGA”) since April 27,
2012, her alleged onset date. (Tr. 11-12, Finding 2). The ALJ determined Plaintiff had the
following severe impairments: dysfunction of major joints and spine disorder.

(Tr. 12-15,

Finding 1). 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. 15-16, Finding 4).
In this decision, the ALJ evaluated Plaintiff’s subjective complaints and determined her
RFC. (Tr. 16-20, Finding 5). First, the ALJ evaluated Plaintiff’s subjective complaints and

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found her claimed limitations were not entirely credible. Id. Second, the ALJ determined
Plaintiff retained the capacity to perform the following:
The claimant has the residual functional capacity except lift and carry 20 pounds
occasionally and 10 pounds frequently, as well as stand and walk 6 hours in an 8hour workday and sit for 6 hours in an 8-hour workday. The claimant’s ability to
perform the full range of light work, as defined in 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(b) and
416.967(b), is reduced by inability to climb ramps and stairs on more than an
occasional basis and inability to ever climb ropes, ladders or scaffolds.
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. (Tr. 20, 56-59). Based upon
that testimony and considering Plaintiff’s RFC and other factors, the ALJ determined Plaintiff
retained the capacity to perform her PRW as an assembler. Id. Because Plaintiff retained the
capacity to perform her PRW as an assembler, the ALJ determined Plaintiff had not been under a
disability, as defined by the Act, from April 27, 2012 through the date of her decision or through
January 28, 2015. (Tr. 20, Finding 7).
Thereafter, Plaintiff requested the review of the Appeals Council. (Tr. 5). The Appeals
Council denied Plaintiff’s request for review. (Tr. 1-3). On July 8, 2015, Plaintiff filed her
Complaint in this matter. ECF No. 1. The Parties consented to the jurisdiction of this Court on
July 8, 2015. ECF No. 5. Both Parties have filed appeal briefs. ECF Nos. 10, 12. 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)
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(2010); 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 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

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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 two arguments for reversal: (A) the ALJ erred in

assessing her RFC; and (2) the ALJ erred in evaluating the opinion of her treating physician.
ECF No. 10 at 1-16. In response, Defendant argues Plaintiff failed to carry her burden of
proving that she could not return to her PRW, and Defendant also argues Plaintiff’s case should
not be reversed. ECF No. 12 at 1-11. The Court will consider both Plaintiff’s arguments for
reversal.
A.

RFC Determination (Knee Impairment)

Plaintiff claims the ALJ erred in assessing her RFC. ECF No. 10 at 3-13. Specifically,
Plaintiff claims the ALJ erred in assessing her right knee impairment. Id. She claims she “has
suffered from chronic right knee pain since July 23, 2009” and her “medical [records] show she
consistently suffered right knee popping, instability, and swelling.” Id. Plaintiff also claims her
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testimony and her medical records support her claim that she is disabled due to a right knee
impairment. Id.
In her opinion, the ALJ carefully considered Plaintiff’s knee impairment and the medical
records related to her knee impairment. (Tr. 12-20). The ALJ noted some of Plaintiff’s medical
records indicated her right knee impairment was “significant.” (Tr. 17). However, the ALJ also
noted the following regarding Plaintiff’s right knee impairment: “Despite these significant
findings [from imaging], the claimant is able to live alone, ambulate without the need for an
assistive device, work 3 hours a day as a home health aide, drive to and from work and attend to
household chores. The only activities she has abandoned are playing with her grandchildren and
church activities. In light of such significant activity on the part of the claimant, it is difficult to
find her allegations of debilitating pain and limited ability to function to be entirely credible.”
(Tr. 18).
Plaintiff has the burden of demonstrating his RFC limitations. See Goff v. Barnhart, 421
F.3d 785, 790 (8th Cir. 2005) (citation omitted) (recognizing “[a] disability claimant has the
burden to establish her [or her] RFC”). Here, the ALJ fully considered Plaintiff’s limitations due
to her right knee impairment. In her RFC determination, the ALJ also found Plaintiff had an
“inability to climb ramps and stairs on more than an occasional basis and inability to ever climb
ropes, ladders or scaffolds” due to her knee impairment. (Tr. 16-20, Finding 5). Accordingly,
considering Plaintiff’s daily activities, the fact Plaintiff was able to work part-time, the ALJ’s
consideration of Plaintiff’s medical records, the Court finds these RFC restrictions are supported
by substantial evidence in the record. Thus, Plaintiff has not provided a basis for reversing this
RFC determination.

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B.

Treating Physician

Plaintiff claims the ALJ improperly assessed a report from her treating physician, Dr.
Goins of the Charitable Christian Clinic. In this report, which is actually a four-page “checklist”
form, Dr. Goins found Plaintiff suffered from a number of serious restrictions in her ability to
work. (Tr. 370-373). Notably, Dr. Groins found she could occasionally lift less than 10 pounds,
could frequently lift less than 10 pounds, could only stand and walk for a maximum of 2 hours,
could only sit for a maximum of 2 hours, would need a 15 minute break every hour, and could
never twist, stoop (bend), crouch, kneel, crawl, climb stairs, or climb ladders. (Tr. 370-373).
In his opinion, the ALJ assessed Dr. Bennett’s findings and noted the following:
A treating physician’s opinions are generally entitled to controlling weight when
well-supported and not inconsistent with the other substantial evidence in the
record. However, the determination of claimant’s disability is a medical source
opinion on an issue which is reserved to the Commissioner and, though a treating
physician’s opinion on any issue must be considered, such an [a] determination is
never entitled to controlling weight or special significance. . . . When considering
the claimant’s extensive activities of daily living and the conservative measures to
treat her back and right knee, the undersigned finds no support for the very
restrictive residual functional capacity assessed by Dr. Groins, which would
prevent the claimant from working a full 40 hour workweek or 8-hour work week.
When considering the claimant’s daily activities along with her part time work, it
is apparent she is capable of working a 40 hour work week and 8 hour workday.
(Tr. 19).
Based upon this evaluation of Dr. Groin’s findings, the Court finds no basis for reversal
on this issue. See Prosch v. Apfel, 201 F.3d 1010, 1013 (8th Cir. 2000) (recognizing the ALJ
must give “good reasons” for the weight given to a treating physician’s evaluation but also
noting the ALJ is not required to adopt the findings of a treating physician). Notably, Dr.
Goins’s form provides no objective medical testing to support his very restrictive findings. See

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Wildman v. Astrue, 596 F.3d 959, 964 (8th Cir. 2016) (affirming the ALJ’s decision to discount a
treating physician’s findings where those opinions consisted of “three checklist forms, cites no
medical evidence, and provides little to no elaboration”). Further, if these very restrictive
findings were accurate, it is highly unlikely Plaintiff would be able to perform any work, much
less be able to work on a part-time basis as she does now. Thus, the Court finds no basis for
reversal on this issue.
4.

Conclusion:
Based on the foregoing, the undersigned finds that the decision of the ALJ, denying

benefits to Plaintiff, is supported by substantial evidence and should be affirmed. A judgment
incorporating these findings will be entered pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 52 and
58.
ENTERED this 25th day of March 2016.
/s/ Barry A. Bryant
HON. BARRY A. BRYANT
U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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