Crocker v. Social Security Administration Commissioner

Filing 10

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Barry A. Bryant on June 14, 2012. (dmc)

N THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
HOT SPRINGS DIVISION
WILLIAM JASON CROCKER
vs.

PLAINTIFF
Civil No. 6:11-cv-06060

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE
Commissioner, Social Security Administration

DEFENDANT

MEMORANDUM OPINION
William Jason Crocker (“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 his applications
for Disability Insurance Benefits (“DIB”), Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), 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:
Plaintiff protectively filed his DIB application on December 10, 2008 and protectively filed

his SSI application on January 1, 2009. (Tr. 11). In his applications, Plaintiff alleges being disabled
due to a bullet in his spine and due to a heart condition that causes his heart to “slow down too much.”
(Tr. 119). He alleges these impairments cause him the following limitations:

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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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I have trouble sitting because my back will hurt. I have pain in my back when I stand
and walk. I get light headed and dizzy and will pass out. I can’t do any lifting w/o
pain and will have to lay down to recover. I have some chest pains. I have numbness
in my left arm and fingers. I have trouble breathing and am short of breath. I have
trouble sleeping.
Id. In his applications, Plaintiff alleges an onset date of August 31, 2008. (Tr. 11). These
applications were denied initially and again on reconsideration. (Tr. 25-26).
Thereafter, Plaintiff requested an administrative hearing on his applications, and this hearing
request was granted. (Tr. 59-60, 367-392). An administrative hearing was held on June 16, 2010 in
Hot Springs, Arkansas. (Tr. 367-392). At the administrative hearing, Plaintiff was present and was
represented by Donald Pullen. Id. Plaintiff and Vocational Expert (“VE”) Tyra Watts testified at this
hearing. Id. On the date of this hearing, Plaintiff testified he was forty-one (41) years old. (Tr. 271).
Such an individual is defined as a “younger person” under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1563(c) (2008) (DIB) and
20 C.F.R. § 416.963(c) (2008) (SSI). Further, Plaintiff testified he had received his GED. (Tr. 272).
On November 19, 2010, subsequent to this hearing, the ALJ entered an unfavorable decision
on Plaintiff’s applications. (Tr. 11-24). In that decision, the ALJ found Plaintiff met the insured
status requirements of the Act through December 31, 2013. (Tr. 13, Finding 1). The ALJ found
Plaintiff had not engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity (“SGA”) since August 31, 2008, his alleged
onset date. (Tr. 13, Finding 2). The ALJ determined Plaintiff had the following severe impairments:
chronic back pain with neuropathy status post gunshot wound with bullet lodged in around his spine
in the thoracolumbar area; symptomatic bradycardia; adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and
depressed mood; and antisocial features. (Tr. 13, Finding 3). The ALJ also determined Plaintiff did
not have an impairment or a combination of impairments that met or medically equaled one of the
listing impairments in 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 (“Listings”). (Tr. 14-15, Finding 4).

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In this decision, the ALJ evaluated Plaintiff’s subjective complaints and determined his RFC.
(Tr. 15-22, Finding 5). First, the ALJ evaluated Plaintiff’s subjective complaints and found his
claimed limitations were not entirely credible. Id. Second, the ALJ determined Plaintiff retained the
RFC to perform the following:
After careful consideration of the entire record, the undersigned finds that the claimant
has the residual functional capacity to perform light work as defined in 20 CFR
404.1567(b) and 416.967(b). The claimant can occasionally lift 20 pounds and 10
pounds more frequently; sit 6 hours per 8 hour workday; stand/walk 6 hours per 8
hour workday; he would be able to infrequently climb, balance, kneel and crawl and
can occasionally stoop and crouch; and due to episodes of dizziness he should avoid
hazards in that he should move around moving machinery and unprotected heights.
Further, the claimant would be limited to semi-skilled work, that is he would be able
to perform work where interpersonal contact was routine but superficial, tasks are no
more complex than those learned by experience with several variables, the claimant
would be able to use judgment within reasonable limits, and he would require little
supervision for routine tasks and detailed supervision for non-routine tasks.
(Tr. 15-22, Finding 5).
The ALJ then evaluated Plaintiff’s Past Relevant Work (“PRW”). (Tr. 22, Finding 6). The
VE testified at the administrative hearing regarding this issue. (Tr. 22, 387-391). The VE
characterized Plaintiff’s PRW as a welding or machine operator (semi-skilled, heavy) and trash
collector (unskilled, medium). (Tr. 22). Based upon his RFC and considering this testimony, the ALJ
determined Plaintiff was unable to perform his PRW. Id.
The ALJ also determined whether Plaintiff was able to perform other work existing in
significant numbers in the national economy. (Tr. 23-24). The VE also testified at the administrative
hearing regarding this issue. (Tr. 387-390). The VE testified a hypothetical person with Plaintiff’s
limitations would be able to perform representative occupations such as a packing line worker with
4,000 such jobs in the Arkansas economy and 1,900,000 such jobs in the national economy and a
routing clerk with 5,070 such jobs in the Arkansas economy and 760,000 such jobs in the national
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economy. (Tr. 23). Based upon this testimony, the ALJ determined Plaintiff had not been under a
disability, as defined by the Act, from August 31, 2008 through the date of his decision or through
November 19, 2010. (Tr. 24, Finding 11).
Thereafter, Plaintiff requested the Appeals Council’s review the ALJ’s unfavorable decision.
See 20 C.F.R. § 404.968. On July 8, 2011, the Appeals Council declined to review this disability
determination. (Tr. 4-6). On July 29, 2011, Plaintiff filed the present appeal. ECF No. 1. The
Parties consented to the jurisdiction of this Court on September 8, 2011. ECF No. 5. Both Parties
have filed appeal briefs. ECF Nos. 8-9. 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

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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 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 his appeal brief, Plaintiff raises three arguments for reversal: (1) the ALJ erred by finding

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his impairments did not meet the requirements of Listings 1.02, 12.04, and 12.06; (2) the ALJ erred
in evaluating his RFC and subjective complaints; and (3) the ALJ erred in discrediting the opinions
of his physicians. ECF No. 8. In response, Defendant argues Plaintiff failed to carry his burden of
proving his impairments met or equaled a Listing, substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s RFC
determination, and substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s Step Five determination. ECF No. 9.
Because this Court finds the ALJ erred in discrediting the opinions of his treating physician, this
Court will only address Plaintiff’s final argument for reversal.
Dr. L. Joseph Parker, M.D. has been treating Plaintiff since 2008. (Tr. 236-251, 321-332,
342-345). During his course of treatment, Dr. Parker consistently recognized Plaintiff’s severe back
pain and prescribed him pain medication. (Tr. 236-251, 321-332). At no point did Dr. Parker
indicate he believed Plaintiff’s symptoms were exaggerated. On October 14, 2010, Dr. Parker
completed a Physical Medical Source Statement wherein he provided the limitations he found
Plaintiff has as a result of his back impairment. (Tr. 342-345). The limitations he provided are
severe. Id. For instance, he found Plaintiff could only sit or stand less than 2 hours in an 8-hour day
and walk less than 2 hours in an 8-hour day. (Tr. 343). Dr. Parker also found Plaintiff could never
lift over ten pounds and could rarely twist, stoop, crouch, climb stairs, and climb ladders. Id.
In his opinion, the ALJ discounted Dr. Parker’s findings. (Tr. 21-22). The ALJ based this
determination upon his finding that Dr. Parker’s opinions were “quite conclusory, providing very little
explanation of the evidence [he] relies on in forming the opinion.” (Tr. 21-22). The ALJ also
surmised that “[i]t appeared that Dr. Parker relied quite heavily on the subjective report of symptoms
and limitations provided by the claimant, and seemed to uncritically accept as true most, if not all,
of that the claimant reported.” (Tr. 22). The ALJ then went on to base his findings upon the opinions
of non-examining, non-treating physicians. (Tr. 22).
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The ALJ’s reliance upon the opinions of non-treating, non-examining physicians was in error.
Such opinions generally do not constitute substantial evidence to support a disability determination.
See Shontos v. Barnhart, 328 F.3d 418, 427 (8th Cir. 2003). This is especially true when the opinions
of a treating physician are supported by his or her own treatment records. See Perkins v. Astrue, 648
F.3d 892, 897-98 (8th Cir. 2011) (recognizing the rule that a treating physician’s opinion may be
entitled to controlling weight if it is well-supported by “medically acceptable clinical and laboratory
diagnostic techniques” and is not inconsistent with other substantial evidence). See also 20 C.F.R.
§ 404.1527(c) (2012) (DIB). In this case, Dr. Parker’s treatment records consistently state Plaintiff
suffers from severe pain, and Dr. Parker’s findings regarding Plaintiff’s limitations reflect the same
opinion.
Because this case is not supported by substantial evidence in the record, it must be reversed
and remanded. At the very least, if the ALJ finds reason to doubt Plaintiff’s treating physician and
believes additional testing is necessary, the ALJ should order a consultative examination from an
examining physician to further assess Plaintiff’s limitations.
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 in the record and should be reversed and
remanded. A judgment incorporating these findings will be entered pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure 52 and 58.
ENTERED this 13th day of June 2012.
/s/ Barry A. Bryant
HON. BARRY A. BRYANT
U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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