Carter v. Social Security Administration Commissioner

Filing 11

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Erin L. Setser on August 19, 2011. (tg)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION

TROY U. CARTER

PLAINTIFF

v.

CIVIL NO. 10-5149

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner
Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT

MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff, Troy U. Carter, 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 his claim for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits
(DIB) and supplemental security income (SSI) benefits under the provisions of Titles II and XVI
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). Plaintiff moves to supplement the record with additional medical evidence
and that the Court reverse the ALJ’s decision and award benefits. (Doc. 9). Defendant opposes
the supplementation of the record. (Doc. 10).
I.

Procedural Background:
Plaintiff protectively filed his current applications for DIB and SSI on November 6, 2006,

alleging an inability to work since October 30, 2006, due to difficulties relating to Plaintiff’s left

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frontal astrocytoma,1 a seizure disorder, cognitive and memory problems, personality changes,
fatigue and mood swings. (Tr. 127-136). An administrative hearing was held on September 11,
2008, at which Plaintiff appeared with counsel and testified. (Tr. 26-74). Plaintiff’s wife and a
vocational expert also testified at this hearing.
By written decision dated October 23, 2008, the ALJ found that during the relevant time
period, Plaintiff had an impairment or combination of impairments that were severe. (Tr. 84).
Specifically, the ALJ found Plaintiff had the following severe impairments: an organic brain
syndrome and epilepsy. However, after reviewing all of the evidence presented, he 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. 84). The
ALJ found Plaintiff retained the residual functional capacity (RFC) to:
perform light work as defined in 20 CFR 404.1576(b) and 416.967(b), except the
claimant can have no exposure to hazards, such as unprotected heights or heavy
machinery, and the claimant cannot drive. Finally, the claimant can perform only
low-stress, unskilled work where interpersonal contact is incidental to the work
performed.
(Tr. 85). With the help of a vocational expert, the ALJ determined Plaintiff could perform other
work as a bench assembler, a maid, and a poultry eviscerator. (Tr. 88).
Plaintiff then requested a review of the hearing decision by the Appeals Council, which
after reviewing the additional medical evidence denied that request on June 7, 2010. (Tr. 1-4).
Subsequently, Plaintiff filed this action. (Doc. 1). This case is before the undersigned pursuant

1

An astrocytoma is defined as the most common type of primary brain tumor and is also found throughout the
central nervous system. Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary at 171, 31st Edition (2007).

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to the consent of the parties. (Doc. 5). Both parties have filed appeal briefs, and the case is now
ready for decision. (Docs. 8, 10).
II.

Evidence Presented:
The medical evidence Plaintiff moves to supplement the record with is a consultative

neuropsychological examination performed by Dr. Patricia Walz on November 17, 2009. (Doc.
9, Exhibit B).

After evaluating Plaintiff, Dr. Walz diagnosed Plaintiff with a cognitive

impairment secondary to a brain tumor with personality changes, attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, and depression secondary to a general medical condition. Dr. Walz also assigned
Plaintiff a global assessment of functioning score of 35-40.2 Dr. Walz reported that Plaintiff
demonstrated a significant impairment in processing speed, recognition memory, complex
problem solving, manual dexterity, grip strength, and attention/concentration. Dr. Walz opined
that Plaintiff would have difficulty learning new skills and would need almost one-on-one
constant supervision to stay on task on the job.
Plaintiff also submitted evidence indicating that he filed a second application for benefits
and was found to be disabled as of October 21, 2008. (Doc. 9, Exhibit A).
III.

Discussion:
Reviewing courts have the authority to order the Commissioner to consider additional

evidence but "only upon a showing that there is new evidence which is material and that there is
good cause for the failure to incorporate such evidence into the record in a prior proceeding." 42

2

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a GAF of thirty-five to forty indicates
“some impairment in reality testing or communication (e.g. speech is at times illogical, obscure, or irrelevant) or
major impairment in several areas, such as work or school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood (e.g.,
depressed man avoids friends, neglects family, and is unable to work; child frequently beats up younger children,
is defiant at home and is failing in school).” DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS IVTR 34 (4th ed. 2000).

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U.S.C. § 405(g); Woolf v. Shalala, 3 F.3d 1210 (8th Cir. 1993); Chandler v. Secretary of Health
and Human Servs., 722 F.2d 369, 371 (8th Cir. 1983). "To be material, new evidence must be
non-cumulative, relevant, and probative of the claimant's condition for the time period for which
benefits were denied, and there must be a reasonable likelihood that it would have changed the
Commissioner's determination." Woolf, 3 F.3d at 1215.
The evidence offered as a basis for remand did not exist on October 23, 2008, when the
ALJ issued his decision, and that fact serves as cause sufficient to excuse Plaintiff's failure to
include these records in the administrative proceedings. Goad v. Shalala, 7 F.3d 1397, 1398 (8th
Cir. 1993)(citations omitted).
Next, the Court considers the issue of materiality. "Medical evidence obtained after an
ALJ decision is material if it relates to the claimant's condition on or before the date of the ALJ's
decision." Thomas v. Sullivan, 928 F.2d 255, 260 (8th Cir. 1991)(quoting Williams v. Sullivan,
905 F.2d 214, 216 (8th Cir. 1990)); Basinger v. Heckler, 725 F.2d 1166, 1169 (8th Cir.1984)
(“medical evidence of a claimant's condition subsequent to the expiration of the claimant's insured
status is relevant evidence because it may bear upon the severity of the claimant's condition before
the expiration of his or her insured status”).
In looking at the additional medical evidence, the Court notes that the opinion of Dr. Walz
contains similar limitations addressed in the April 24, 2008, residual functional capacity
questionnaire completed by Plaintiff’s treating physician, Dr. Rodney T. Routsong, which was
only given partial controlling weight by the ALJ. (Tr. 422-425). After reviewing the entire
record, we find that remand is appropriate for consideration of the additional medical evidence
as it appears to indicate that Plaintiff's impairments imposed limitations that were possibly more
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severe during the time period in question than the evidence before the ALJ indicated. See Geigle
v. Sullivan, 961 F.2d 1395, 1396-1397 (8th Cir. 1992).
IV.

Conclusion:
Based on the foregoing, the Court remands this case to the Commissioner for

consideration of additional evidence pursuant to sentence six of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
DATED this 19th day of August 2011.
/s/ Erin L. Setser
HON. ERIN L. SETSER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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