Webster v. Social Security Administration Commissioner
Filing
10
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Erin L. Setser on June 12, 2013. (adw)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION
MARK A. WEBSTER
PLAINTIFF
V.
NO. 12-5075
MICHAEL ASTRUE,1
Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
DEFENDANT
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff, Mark A. Webster, 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 claims for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits
(DIB) and supplemental security income (SSI) 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).
I.
Procedural Background:
Plaintiff filed his applications for DIB and SSI on February 10, 2006, alleging an inability
to work since November 2, 1999, due to “Severe kidney problems & history of failure, Chronic
back pain, Chronic urinary infections, Sleeplessness and Chronic fatigue, Anger management
problems, Agoraphobia, Obessive [sic] compulsive disorder.” (Tr. 105, 113, 557). An
1
Carolyn Colvin became the Acting Social Security Commissioner on February 14, 2013. Pursuant to Rule
25(d)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Carolyn Colvin has been substituted for Commissioner Michael
J. Astrue as the defendant in this suit.
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administrative hearing was first held on June 10, 2008, at which Plaintiff appeared with counsel
and testified. (Tr. 569-608). On September 18, 2008, the ALJ issued an unfavorable decision
(Tr. 7-17), and on January 19, 2010, the matter was remanded by United States Magistrate Judge
James R. Marchewski for further development of Plaintiff’s residual functional capacity (RFC).
Webster v. Astrue, No. 09-5030 (Doc. 11, Jan. 19, 2010).
Another administrative was held on October 20, 2010, at which Plaintiff appeared with
counsel and testified. (Tr. 804-843). By written decision dated January 27, 2011, the ALJ found
that Plaintiff had an impairment or combination of impairments that were severe - antisocial
personality disorder, back disorder, and renal pelvic stones. (Tr. 624). 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. 625). The ALJ found Plaintiff retained the RFC
to:
lift and carry 20 pounds occasionally and 10 pounds frequently. The
claimant can sit for about 6 hours during an eight-hour workday and can
stand and walk for about 6 hours during an eight-hour workday. The
claimant can occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl.
The claimant can understand, remember, and carry out simple, routine,
and repetitive tasks. The claimant can respond appropriately to
supervisors, co-workers, and usual work situations, but can have no
contact with the general public.
(Tr. 626). 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 production worker, textile presser, and poultry eviscerator. (Tr. 629-630).
Subsequently, Plaintiff filed this action (Doc. 1). This case is before the undersigned
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pursuant to the consent of the parties. (Doc. 5). Both parties have filed appeal briefs, and the case
is now ready for decision. (Docs. 8, 9).
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
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 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 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),
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1382(3)(D). A Plaintiff must show that his disability, not simply his 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 his 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
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 his 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 his 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:
The Court notes that in his Memorandum Opinion in Webster v. Astrue, No. 09-5030
(Doc. 11, Jan. 19, 2010), Magistrate Judge Marschewski found that Dr. Robert Redd’s Physical
RFC Assessment dated April 17, 2006, did not constitute substantial evidence of Plaintiff’s RFC,
and that remand was necessary to allow the ALJ to develop the record further regarding
Plaintiff’s RFC. (Doc. 11 at p. 7). Judge Marschewski also noted that it appeared that Plaintiff’s
claim for disability was of a specialized nature pertaining to the effect that his kidney disease had
upon his ability to work, and that opinions of specialists on issues within their areas of expertise
were “generally” entitled to more weight than the opinions of non-specialists.
8). He further noted that no such specialists’ opinions were present in that case.
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(Doc. 11 at p.
Contrary to what this Court believes was the purpose of Magistrate Judge Marschewski’s
remand, it does not appear that the Defendant obtained a more recent Physical RFC Assessment
from Dr. Redd upon remand, after being provided the additional medical records that existed
subsequent to his RFC Assessment. In fact, no further Physical RFC Assessments were provided
at all after the remand of the case. Nor does it appear that Defendant obtained any opinion from
a kidney specialist, who could better determine whether, in light of his substantial history of
kidney problems, Plaintiff would be able to function in the workplace.
Accordingly, the Court believes it is necessary to remand this matter to the Defendant in
order for him to obtain a Physical RFC Assessment from an examining nephrologist.
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 12th day of June, 2013.
/s/ Erin L. Setser
HON. ERIN L. SETSER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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