Person v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 24

ORDER by Judge Maria-Elena James denying 22 Motion to Remand (cdnS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/14/2011) (Additional attachment(s) added on 6/14/2011: # 1 Certificate of Service) (cdnS, COURT STAFF).

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1 2 3 4 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 8 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 11 ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR REMAND Plaintiff, 9 10 No. C 10-3021 MEJ DEXTER PERSON, vs. MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant. 12 ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT / 13 14 I. INTRODUCTION 15 Plaintiff Dexter Person ("Plaintiff") brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), 16 seeking judicial review of the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant Michael 17 J. Astrue ("Defendant"), denying Plaintiff's claim for disability insurance benefits. Pending before 18 the Court are Plaintiff's motion to remand and Defendant's motion for summary judgment. (Dkt. ## 19 22, 23.) Having read and considered the parties' papers, the administrative record below, and the 20 relevant legal authority, the Court hereby DENIES Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and 21 GRANTS Defendant's motion for summary judgment for the reasons set forth below. 22 23 24 II. BACKGROUND A. Education and Work Experience Plaintiff was born on November 15, 1958. (Administrative Record ("AR") 24.) He attended 25 high school through the eleventh grade. (AR 24.) In the past, Plaintiff worked as a cook, 26 dishwasher, gardener, street sweeper, and mechanic. (AR 24, 254-55.) 27 28 1 B. 2 Medical History The Court finds that Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") Robert Wenten accurately 3 summarized the factual background of this case in his decision. (AR 23-32.) Accordingly, a 4 recitation here is unnecessary, and specific facts will be discussed below as needed. 5 C. Procedural Background 6 On August 19, 2003, Plaintiff applied for supplemental security income ("SSI") and 7 disability 8 insurance benefits ("DIB"), pursuant to the Social Security Act, alleging that he became disabled on 9 June 15, 2003. (AR 7, 229-31.) SSI benefits are not payable for any months before an application is United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 filed. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.335. A claimant must establish the onset of disability prior to the 11 expiration of his insured status for DIB; Plaintiff was insured for purposes of DIB through December 12 31, 2004. See 42 U.S.C. § 423(a)(1)(A), (c)(1); 20 C.F.R. § 404.131. Plaintiff had previously 13 received Social Security disability, but was removed from the rolls in 1997, pursuant to Public Law 14 104-121, 110 Stat. 847 (42 U.S.C. § 1282(a)(3)(J)) (claimant is ineligible for disability benefits if the 15 claimant's drug addiction or alcoholism is a contributing factor material to the determination of 16 disability). (AR 23-24.) That determination was affirmed at the hearing level in 2000. (AR 24, 17 117-25.) 18 The agency denied Plaintiff's new 2003 application at the hearing level, and the Appeals 19 Council granted Plaintiff's request for review and remanded his case for a new hearing and decision. 20 (AR 144-59, 208-11.) On December 19, 2007, Plaintiff appeared with a representative and testified 21 before ALJ Wenten. (AR 968-1023.) In a decision dated February 4, 2008, the ALJ found that 22 Plaintiff was not entitled to disability under the DIB program because his insured status expired on 23 December 31, 2004; thus, Plaintiff did not meet the insured status requirements as of August 1, 24 2005. (AR 32.) The ALJ's decision became the final decision of the Commissioner when the 25 Appeals Council denied Plaintiff's request for review. (AR 10-13.) 26 27 28 On July 9, 2010, Plaintiff filed the above-captioned case, seeking review of the decision denying Social Security benefits. Defendant filed an answer on January 25, 2011. Pursuant to the Page 2 of 6 1 Procedural Order for Social Security Review Actions issued in this case, Plaintiff was ordered to file 2 a motion for summary judgment or remand within 30 days of service of Defendant’s answer. As 3 Plaintiff failed to comply with the procedural order, the Court ordered Plaintiff to file a status report 4 by May 19, 2011. Dkt. No. 18. 5 On May 2, 2011, Plaintiff filed a one-page status report in which he listed the medications he 6 is currently taking, as well as provided information regarding his current medical treatment. Dkt. 7 No. 19. In response, the Court reminded Plaintiff that its jurisdiction is limited to reviewing the 8 administrative record to determine whether the decision is supported by substantial evidence in the 9 record, and whether the Secretary complied with the requirements of the Social Security Act in United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 reaching the decision reviewed. Dkt. No. 21. Thus, the Court ordered Plaintiff to file a motion for 11 summary judgment or remand by June 1, 2011. Id. Plaintiff subsequently filed a motion to remand 12 on May 10, 2011. Dkt. No. 22. 13 D. 14 The ALJ's Findings The regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Social Security provide for a five-step 15 sequential analysis to determine whether a Social Security claimant is disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 16 404.1520; Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 140-42 (1987). The sequential inquiry is terminated 17 when "a question is answered affirmatively or negatively in such a way that a decision can be made 18 that a claimant is or is not disabled." Pitzer v. Sullivan, 908 F.2d 502, 504 (9th Cir. 1990). 19 The ALJ must first determine whether the claimant is performing "substantial gainful 20 activity," which would mandate that the claimant be found not disabled regardless of medical 21 condition, age, education, and work experience. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(b). Here, ALJ Wenten 22 determined that Plaintiff had not performed substantial gainful activity since June 15, 2203. (AR 23 26.) 24 At step two, the ALJ must determine, based on medical findings, whether claimant has a 25 26 27 28 Page 3 of 6 1 "severe" impairment or combination of impairments as defined by the Social Security Act.1 If no 2 severe impairment is found, the claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). Here, ALJ 3 Wenten determined that the evidence established that Plaintiff suffered from degenerative disc 4 disease, right knee meniscal degeneration and small joint effusion, a probable learning disorder, and 5 substance abuse. (AR 26.) 6 If the ALJ determines that the claimant has a severe impairment, the process proceeds to the third step, where the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has an impairment or combination of 8 impairments which meets or equals an impairment in the Listing of Impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 9 404.1520(d); 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1. If a claimant's impairment either meets the listed 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 7 criteria for the diagnosis or is medically equivalent to the criteria of the diagnosis, he is conclusively 11 presumed to be disabled. Ramirez v. Shalala, 8 F.3d 1449, 1452 (9th Cir. 1993). Here, ALJ Wenten 12 determined that the severity of Plaintiff's musculoskeletal impairment equals the criteria set forth in 13 the Listing of Impairments, but only since August 1, 2005. (AR 31.) 14 The fourth step of the evaluation process requires that the ALJ determine whether the 15 claimant's Residual Functional Capacity ("RFC") is sufficient for him to perform past relevant work. 16 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(e). RFC refers to what an individual can do in a work setting, despite 17 limitations caused by medically determinable impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 416.945(a). In assessing an 18 individual's RFC, the ALJ must consider his or her symptoms (such as pain), signs, and laboratory 19 findings together with other evidence we obtain. 20 C.F.R. § 404, Subpt. P, App. 2 § 200.00(c). 20 Here, ALJ Wenten determined that prior to August 1, 2005, Plaintiff retained the RFC to perform 21 simple, entry-level light work, as defined at 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(b) and 416.967(b). (AR 31.) 22 Based on this RFC, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff was precluded from performing his past 23 relevant work prior to August 1, 2005. (AR 31.) 24 25 1 27 At step two, "severe" means any impairment or combination of impairments that significantly limits the claimant's physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). This is a de minimis inquiry designed to weed out nonmeritorious claims at an early stage in the analysis. Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 148, 153-4 (1987). "[O]nly those claimants with slight abnormalities that do not significantly limit any basic work activity can be denied benefits" at step two of the analysis. Id. at 158. 28 Page 4 of 6 26 1 In the fifth step of the analysis, the burden shifts to the ALJ to prove that there are other jobs 2 existing in significant numbers in the national economy which the claimant can perform consistent 3 with the medically determinable impairments and symptoms, functional limitations, age, education, 4 work experience and skills. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(v); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1560(c). However, 5 based on Plaintiff's RFC and ability to perform light work, ALJ Wenten determined that Plaintiff is 6 not disabled. (AR 30-31.) 7 8 9 III. LEGAL STANDARD This Court has jurisdiction to review final decisions of the Commissioner pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The ALJ's decision must be affirmed if the findings are "supported by substantial United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 evidence and if the [ALJ] applied the correct legal standards." Holohan v. Massanari, 246 F.3d 11 1195, 1201 (9th Cir. 2001) (citation omitted). "Substantial evidence" means more than a scintilla, 12 but less than a preponderance, or evidence which a reasonable person might accept as adequate to 13 support a conclusion. Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 954 (9th Cir. 2002). The court must 14 consider the administrative record as a whole, weighing both the evidence that supports and detracts 15 from the ALJ's conclusion. McAllister v. Sullivan, 888 F.2d 599, 602 (9th Cir. 1989). However, 16 where the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, the court must uphold the 17 ALJ's decision. Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 750 (9th Cir. 1989). Determinations of 18 credibility, resolution of conflicts in medical testimony, and all other ambiguities are to be resolved 19 by the ALJ. Id. Additionally, the harmless error rule applies where substantial evidence otherwise 20 supports the ALJ's decision. Curry v. Sullivan, 925 F.2d 1127, 1131 (9th Cir. 1990) (citation 21 omitted). 22 23 IV. DISCUSSION In his one-page motion to remand, Plaintiff argues that the ALJ's decision must be remanded 24 because it is "against my substantial evidence." Pl.'s Mot., Dkt. No. 22. Plaintiff states that he has 25 been disabled since June 15, 2003, and that the evidence of his impairments include "degenerative 26 lumbar disc disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, hearing loss, learning deficits, ch[r]onic 27 pain, [and] medications side effects." Id. Plaintiff provides no legal authority and cites to no 28 Page 5 of 6 1 2 specific evidence in support of his motion. In response, Defendant argues that the Court should deny Plaintiff's request for remand 3 because it fails to assert any particular error in the ALJ's decision, and it should therefore affirm the 4 Commissioner's final decision. Def.'s Opp'n at 3, Dkt. No. 23. 5 Plaintiff did not file an opposition to Defendant's motion. 6 The Court notes that Plaintiff's filings focus largely on his current condition. However, the focus for the ALJ was Plaintiff's condition while he was entitled to disability insurance benefits. 8 Specifically, the Appeals Council found that Plaintiff was last insured for disability insurance 9 benefits on December 31, 2004. Thus, although ALJ Wenten determined that Plaintiff had been 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 7 disabled since August 1, 2005, he denied his application because Plaintiff failed to disprove the 11 Appeals Council's finding that he was last insured prior to that date. (AR 25.) 12 To be eligible for disability benefits, a worker must, among other things, be insured for 13 disability purposes and be disabled on that date. 42 U.S.C. § 416(I); Chapman v. Apfel, 236 F.3d 14 480, 482 (9th Cir. 2000) ("Every person claiming disability benefits must show that he is an 15 insured."). 20 C.F.R. § 404.101(a) provides, in part, that a claimant's "insured status" is a basic 16 factor in determining if someone is entitled to disability insurance benefits; if the person seeking 17 those benefits is neither fully nor currently insured, no benefits are payable. Here, because Plaintiff 18 failed to show that he was insured for disability benefits after December 31, 2004, and the ALJ 19 properly determined that Plaintiff was not disabled prior to that time, the decision must be affirmed. 20 V. CONCLUSION 21 22 23 Based on the foregoing analysis, the Court hereby DENIES Plaintiff's motion to remand and GRANTS Defendant's motion for summary judgment. IT IS SO ORDERED. 24 25 Dated: June 14, 2011 26 MARIA-ELENA JAMES United States Magistrate Judge 27 28 Page 6 of 6

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