Nelson v. Social Security Administration Commissioner
Filing
17
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Barry A. Bryant on January 30, 2017. (hnc)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
HOT SPRINGS DIVISION
ROBERT NELSON
vs.
PLAINTIFF
Civil No. 6:16-cv-06005
CAROLYN COLVIN
Commissioner, Social Security Administration
DEFENDANT
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Robert Nelson (“Plaintiff”) brings this action pursuant to § 205(g) of Title II of the Social
Security Act (“The Act”), 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (2006), seeking judicial review of a final decision of
the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) denying his application for
Disability Insurance Benefits (“DIB”) and Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) 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. 8.1 Pursuant to this authority, the Court
issues this memorandum opinion and orders the entry of a final judgment in this matter.
1. Background:
Plaintiff’s applications for DIB and SSI were filed on January 11, 2013. (Tr. 11, 194-201).
Plaintiff alleged he was disabled due to brain injury, broken neck, back injury, and mood swings.
(Tr. 240). Plaintiff alleged an onset date of May 17, 2011. (Tr. 194, 196). These applications were
denied initially and again upon reconsideration. (Tr. 11). Thereafter, Plaintiff requested an
administrative hearing on his applications and this hearing request was granted. (Tr. 152-153).
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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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Plaintiff’s administrative hearing was held on August 12, 2014. (Tr. 29-77). Plaintiff was
present and was represented by counsel, Shannon Muse Carroll, at this hearing. Id. Plaintiff, his
brother Raymond Barrett, and Vocational Expert (“VE”) Myrtle Johnson, testified at this hearing.
Id. At the time of this hearing, Plaintiff was thirty-two (32) years old and had a seventh grade
education. (Tr. 33, 35).
On December 5, 2014, the ALJ entered an unfavorable decision denying Plaintiff’s
applications for DIB and SSI. (Tr. 11-24). In this decision, the ALJ determined Plaintiff met the
insured status requirements of the Act through March 31, 2014. (Tr. 13, Finding 1). The ALJ also
determined Plaintiff had not engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity (“SGA”) since January 1, 2013.
(Tr. 13, Finding 2).
The ALJ determined Plaintiff had the severe impairments of borderline intellectual
functioning, drug and alcohol abuse, poor decision-making abilities, organic mental disorder, bipolar
disorder, and history of head trauma. (Tr. 13, Finding 3). The ALJ then determined Plaintiff’s
impairments did not meet or medically equal the requirements of any of the Listing of Impairments
in Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Regulations No. 4 (“Listings”). (Tr. 13-14, Finding 4).
In this decision, the ALJ evaluated Plaintiff’s subjective complaints and determined his RFC.
(Tr. 14-22). First, the ALJ indicated he 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 light work with additional physical and mental limitations. (Tr. 15, Finding 5).
Specifically, the ALJ found as follows:
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) except due to mild to moderate pain the claimant
would have no postural restrictions. He could lift 20 pounds occasionally and 10
pounds frequently. Further, the claimant would have no limitations to sitting,
standing or walking. He could perform these functions six hours in an eight-hour
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workday and one to two hours without interruption. Because the claimant mumbles,
he could not have a job requiring communication skills over the phone, such as a
telemarketer. Mentally, the claimant would be limited to unskilled, rote activity. He
could understand, remember and carry out concrete instructions, as long as they were
unskilled and rote. Contact with supervisors and co-workers would be superficial,
could meet, greet, make change and give simple directions and instructions.
Regarding dealing with the public the claimant could not work as a cashier, handling
money, counting change or being a service type of employee in terms of sitting
somewhere, answering or responding the questions. Simply, the claimant’s job
would be getting to work and do the work. He could work alongside co-workers with
very little interaction with the public in terms of speaking.
The ALJ evaluated Plaintiff’s Past Relevant Work (“PRW”). (Tr. 22, Finding 6).
The ALJ found Plaintiff was unable to perform his PRW as a packer and machine handler.
Id. The ALJ, however, also determined there was other work existing in significant numbers
in the national economy Plaintiff could perform. (Tr. 22, Finding 10). The ALJ based this
determination upon the testimony of the VE. Id. Specifically, the VE testified that given all
Plaintiff's vocational factors, a hypothetical individual would be able to perform the
requirements of a representative occupation such as a housekeeper with 7,000 such jobs in
the region and 800,000 such jobs in the nation and small products assembly with 4,500 such
jobs in the region and 229,000 such jobs in the nation. Id. Based upon this finding, the ALJ
determined Plaintiff had not been under a disability as defined by the Act from May 17, 2011,
through the date of the decision. (Tr. 23, Finding 11).
Thereafter, Plaintiff requested the Appeals Council review the ALJ’s decision. (Tr.
7). See 20 C.F.R. § 404.968. The Appeals Council declined to review this unfavorable
decision. (Tr. 1-4). On January 15, 2016, Plaintiff filed the present appeal. ECF No. 1. The
Parties consented to the jurisdiction of this Court on February 17, 2016. ECF No. 8. Both
Parties have filed appeal briefs. ECF Nos. 14, 16. This case is now ready for decision.
2. Applicable Law:
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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 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).
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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:
Plaintiff brings the present appeal claiming the ALJ erred by failing to find Plaintiff
met a Listing and to consider the combined effects of the impairments. ECF No. 14, Pgs. 1020. In response, the Defendant argues the ALJ did not err in any of his findings. ECF No.
16.
The ALJ must determine whether Plaintiff has a severe impairment that significantly
limits the physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities. A medically
determinable impairment or combination of impairments is severe if it significantly limits
an individual’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. See 20 C.F.R. §§
404.1521 and 416.921.
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The ALJ found Plaintiff did suffer from impairments considered to be severe within
the meaning of the Social Security regulations. These impairments included borderline
intellectual functioning, drug and alcohol abuse, poor decision-making abilities, organic
mental disorder, bipolar disorder, and history of head trauma. (Tr. 13, Finding 3). However,
there was no substantial evidence in the record showing Plaintiff’s condition was severe
enough to meet or equal that of a listed impairment as set forth in the Listing of Impairments.
See 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, app.1. Plaintiff has the burden of establishing that his
impairment(s) meet or equal an impairment set out in the Listing of Impairments. See
Sullivan v. Zebley, 493 U.S. 521, 530-31 (1990). Plaintiff has not met this burden.
Plaintiff argues he meets a Listing under 12.02 for Organic Mental Disorders. ECF
No. 14. Defendant argues Plaintiff has failed to establish he met this Listing. ECF No. 16.
In order to be disabled due to an organic mental disorder under the requirements of
Listing 12.02, both subsection A and B, must be met. 20 C.F.R. 404, subpt. P, app. 1, §
12.02. In this matter, the ALJ discussed whether Plaintiff met Listing 12.02, 12.04 and
12.09. (Tr. 14). The requirements of Subsection B for Listings 12.04 and 12.09 are identical
to those for Listing 12.02. The Subsection B requirements for Listing 12.02, are as follows:
B. Resulting in at least two of the following:
1. Marked restriction of activities of daily living; or
2. Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; or
3. Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence or pace; or
4. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration.
The ALJ correctly determined Plaintiff did not have a marked restriction in daily
activities or any marked difficulties in social functioning or concentration, persistence or
pace. (Tr. 19-21). Also, there was no indication Plaintiff experienced repeated episodes of
decompensation.
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Whether Plaintiff meets a listed impairment is a medical determination and must be
established by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. See 20
C.F.R. §§ 404.1525(c), 404.1526(b), 416.925(c), 416.926(b). Plaintiff has not met this
burden. I find substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s determination that Plaintiff did not
have an impairment or combination of impairments equal to one listed in 20 C.F.R. pt. 404,
subpt. P, app.1.
Plaintiff also argues the ALJ erred by failing to consider all of his impairments in
combination. However, under the facts in the present case and after a thorough review of the
ALJ’s opinion and the record in this case, this Court finds the ALJ properly considered
Plaintiff’s impairments in combination.
The Social Security Act requires the ALJ to consider the combined effect of all of the
claimant’s impairments without regard to whether any such impairment, if considered
separately, would be of sufficient severity. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1523 (2006). In the present
action, in reviewing these claimed impairments, the ALJ stated Plaintiff “does not have an
impairment or combination of impairments that meets or medically equals one of the listed
impairments in 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1.” (Tr. 13-14, Finding 4) (emphasis
added). The ALJ also found, “after consideration of the entire record,” the Plaintiff had the
RFC to perform light work with additional physical and mental imitations. (Tr. 14, Finding
5). The ALJ went on to state Plaintiff’s RFC would not preclude him from performing other
work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy. (Tr. 22, Finding 10).
These statements are sufficient under Eighth Circuit precedent to establish that the
ALJ properly considered the combined effect of a claimant’s impairments. See Hajek v.
Shalala, 30 F.3d 89, 92 (8th Cir. 1994) (holding that statements such as “the evidence as a
whole does not show that the claimant’s symptoms . . . preclude his past work as a janitor”
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and “[t]he claimant’s impairments do not prevent him from performing janitorial work . . .”
sufficiently establish that the ALJ properly considered the combined effects of the plaintiff’s
impairments).
Thus, pursuant to the Eighth Circuit’s holding in Hajek, this Court finds the ALJ
properly considered Plaintiff’s impairments in combination. Plaintiff has alleged he suffers
from a number of impairments. However, this Court is not required to find a claimant is
disabled simply because he or she has alleged a long list of medical problems. The ALJ’s
opinion sufficiently indicates the ALJ properly considered the combined effect of Plaintiff’s
impairments, and the ALJ properly considered the severity of the combination of Plaintiff’s
impairments. See Hajek, 30 F.3d at 92.
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 30th day of January 2017.
/s/ Barry A. Bryant
HON. BARRY A. BRYANT
U. S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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