Bell v. Social Security Administration Commissioner
Filing
17
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Erin L. Setser on January 20, 2017. (tg)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION
KIMBERLY D. BELL
PLAINTIFF
v.
CIVIL NO. 15-5256
CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Commissioner
Social Security Administration
DEFENDANT
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff, Kimberly D. Bell, 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 current application for DIB on October 11, 2011,
alleging an inability to work since July 22, 2011, due to anemia, degenerative disc disease,
arthritis, peptic ulcers, and depression. (Doc. 16, pp. 205, 260). An administrative video
hearing was held on November 14, 2013, at which Plaintiff appeared with counsel and testified.
(Doc. 16, pp. 102-145).
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By written decision dated May 27, 2014, the ALJ found that during the relevant time
period, Plaintiff had an impairment or combination of impairments that were severe. (Doc. 16,
p. 67).
Specifically, the ALJ found Plaintiff had the following severe impairments: a
musculoskeletal disorder, a hematological disorder, obesity, a mental disorder, and a history
of substance abuse. 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. (Doc. 16, p. 68). The ALJ found Plaintiff retained the residual functional capacity
(RFC) to:
perform sedentary work as defined in 20 CFR 404.1567(a) except as follows:
The claimant can occasionally claim (sic) ramps and stairs, balance, stoop,
kneel, crouch, and crawl. The claimant cannot climb ladders, ropes or scaffolds.
The claimant is able to perform work where interpersonal contact is incidental
to the work performed, the complexity of tasks is learned and performed by
rote, there are few variables, little judgment is required, and the supervision
required is simple, direct, and complete.
(Doc. 16, p. 70). With the help of a vocational expert, the ALJ determined Plaintiff could
perform work as a lamp shade assembler, a compact assembler, a nut sorter, and a zipper
trimmer. (Doc. 16, p. 76).
Plaintiff then requested a review of the hearing decision by the Appeals Council, which
after reviewing additional evidence submitted by Plaintiff, denied that request on August 14,
2015. (Doc. 16, p. 6). Subsequently, Plaintiff filed this action. (Doc. 1). This case is before
the undersigned pursuant to the consent of the parties. (Doc. 7). Both parties have filed appeal
briefs, and the case is now ready for decision. (Docs. 11, 15).
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.
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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 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)(c). A Plaintiff must show that her disability, not simply her
impairment, has lasted for at least twelve consecutive months.
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The Commissioner’s regulations require her to apply a five-step sequential evaluation
process to each claim for disability benefits: (1) whether the claimant has engaged in
substantial gainful activity since filing her claim; (2) whether the claimant has a severe physical
and/or mental impairment or combination of impairments; (3) whether the impairment(s) meet
or equal an impairment in the listings; (4) whether the impairment(s) prevent the claimant from
doing past relevant work; and (5) whether the claimant is able to perform other work in the
national economy given her age, education, and experience. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520. 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. See McCoy v. Schweiker, 683
F.2d 1138, 1141-42 (8th Cir. 1982), abrogated on other grounds by Higgins v. Apfel, 222 F.3d
504, 505 (8th Cir. 2000); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520.
III.
Discussion:
Of particular concern to the undersigned is the ALJ’s RFC determination. RFC is the
most a person can do despite that person’s limitations. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(1). It is
assessed using all relevant evidence in the record. Id.
This includes medical records,
observations of treating physicians and others, and the claimant’s own descriptions of her
limitations. Guilliams v. Barnhart, 393 F.3d 798, 801 (8th Cir. 2005); Eichelberger v.
Barnhart, 390 F.3d 584, 591 (8th Cir. 2004). Limitations resulting from symptoms such as
pain are also factored into the assessment. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(3). The United States
Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has held that a “claimant’s residual functional capacity
is a medical question.” Lauer v. Apfel, 245 F.3d 700, 704 (8th Cir. 2001). Therefore, an ALJ’s
determination concerning a claimant’s RFC must be supported by medical evidence that
addresses the claimant’s ability to function in the workplace. Lewis v. Barnhart, 353 F.3d 642,
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646 (8th Cir. 2003). “[T]he ALJ is [also] required to set forth specifically a claimant’s
limitations and to determine how those limitations affect h[er] RFC.” Id.
In the present case, the ALJ determined Plaintiff is able to perform sedentary work with
limitations. In making this determination the ALJ noted that on March 22, 2012, Dr. Clarence
Ballard, a non-examining medical consultant, opined that Plaintiff could perform light work
with limitations. (Doc. 16, pp. 75, 551-558). The ALJ also noted that Dr. Ballard’s opinion
was affirmed upon reconsideration. (Doc. 16, p. 75). After reviewing the record, the Court
discovered that while Dr. Arvind Chopra, a non-examining medical consultant, affirmed Dr.
Ballard’s opinion on March 15, 2013, it appears that Plaintiff’s medical records regarding her
cervical fusion performed on December 18, 2012, and her medical records dated subsequent
to this second surgery were not before Dr. Chopra. The record further reveals that Plaintiff’s
surgeon, Dr. Luke Knox, noted as late as September 19, 2013, that Plaintiff was “off work.”
The records reveals that Dr. Knox indicated that Plaintiff was “unable to work” in August of
2011, and it is unclear whether Dr. Knox ever released Plaintiff to return to work. (Doc. 16,
pp. 431, 835, 837, 865). The record is void of a medical opinion by either an examining or
non-examining medical professional regarding Plaintiff’s capabilities after her second surgery.
After reviewing the record, Court believes remand is necessary for the ALJ to more fully and
fairly develop the record regarding Plaintiff’s physical RFC.
On remand, the ALJ is directed to address interrogatories to a medical professional
requesting that said physician review Plaintiff's medical records; complete a RFC assessment
regarding Plaintiff's capabilities during the time period in question; and give the objective basis
for the opinion so that an informed decision can be made regarding Plaintiff's ability to perform
basic work activities on a sustained basis. The ALJ may also order a consultative examination,
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in which, the consultative examiner should be asked to review the medical evidence of record,
perform examinations and appropriate testing needed to properly diagnosis Plaintiff's
condition(s), and complete a medical assessment of Plaintiff's abilities to perform work related
activities. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.917.
With this evidence, the ALJ should then re-evaluate Plaintiff's RFC and specifically
list in a hypothetical to a vocational expert any limitations that are indicated in the RFC
assessments and supported by the evidence. Upon remand, the ALJ may also want to address
whether a closed period of disability is supported by the record.
IV.
Conclusion:
Accordingly, the Court concludes that the ALJ’s decision is not supported by
substantial evidence, and therefore, the denial of benefits to the 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).
DATED this 20th day of January, 2017.
/s/ Erin L. Setser
HON. ERIN L. SETSER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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