Moliere v. Commissioner of Social Security
Filing
24
OPINION AND ORDER reversing the Commissioner's decision and remanding with instructions. Signed by Magistrate Judge Monte C. Richardson on 9/21/2016. (MEH)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
ORLANDO DIVISION
BRIAN MOLIERE,
Plaintiff,
v.
Case No. 6:15-cv-476-Orl-MCR
CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Commissioner of
the Social Security Administration,
Defendant.
_________________________________/
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER1
THIS CAUSE is before the Court on Plaintiff’s appeal of an administrative
decision denying his application for a period of disability and Disability Insurance
Benefits. Plaintiff alleges he became disabled on October 1, 2006. (Tr. 181, 184,
209.) Plaintiff’s claims were denied initially and on reconsideration. A hearing
was held before the assigned Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) on May 29, 2014,
at which Plaintiff was represented by an attorney. (Tr. 44-88.) The ALJ found
Plaintiff not disabled from October 1, 2006 through September 12, 2014, the date
of the decision.2 (Tr. 22-35.)
Plaintiff is appealing the Commissioner’s decision that he was not disabled
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The parties consented to the exercise of jurisdiction by a United States
Magistrate Judge. (Doc. 18.)
2
Plaintiff had to establish disability on or before December 31, 2011, his date last
insured, in order to be entitled to a period of disability and Disability Insurance Benefits.
(Tr. 24.)
from October 1, 2006 through September 12, 2014. Plaintiff has exhausted his
available administrative remedies and the case is properly before the Court. The
undersigned has reviewed the record, the briefs, and the applicable law. For the
reasons stated herein, the Commissioner’s decision is REVERSED and
REMANDED.
I.
Standard of Review
The scope of this Court’s review is limited to determining whether the
Commissioner applied the correct legal standards, McRoberts v. Bowen, 841
F.2d 1077, 1080 (11th Cir. 1988), and whether the Commissioner’s findings are
supported by substantial evidence, Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 390
(1971). “Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla and is such relevant
evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a
conclusion.” Crawford v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 363 F.3d 1155, 1158 (11th Cir.
2004). Where the Commissioner’s decision is supported by substantial evidence,
the district court will affirm, even if the reviewer would have reached a contrary
result as finder of fact, and even if the reviewer finds that the evidence
preponderates against the Commissioner’s decision. Edwards v. Sullivan, 937
F.2d 580, 584 n.3 (11th Cir. 1991); Barnes v. Sullivan, 932 F.2d 1356, 1358 (11th
Cir. 1991). The district court must view the evidence as a whole, taking into
account evidence favorable as well as unfavorable to the decision. Foote v.
Chater, 67 F.3d 1553, 1560 (11th Cir. 1995); accord Lowery v. Sullivan, 979 F.2d
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835, 837 (11th Cir. 1992) (stating the court must scrutinize the entire record to
determine the reasonableness of the Commissioner’s factual findings).
II.
Discussion
Plaintiff raises three general issues on appeal. Plaintiff argues that the ALJ
failed to properly weigh the opinions of Plaintiff’s treating physician, Frederick
Petty, M.D. Plaintiff specifically contends that the ALJ failed to articulate good
cause for discounting Dr. Petty’s opinions.3 Plaintiff also argues that the ALJ
erred by failing to properly evaluate his credibility. Finally, Plaintiff contends that
the ALJ failed to present a hypothetical to the vocational expert (“VE”) that
included all of the mental restrictions found by the ALJ in the decision. Defendant
contends that the ALJ’s evaluation of the medical opinions of record is clearly
articulated and supported by substantial evidence. Defendant also argues that
the ALJ properly evaluated Plaintiff’s credibility and found Plaintiff not to be
entirely credible. Defendant finally asserts that the ALJ properly included
Plaintiff’s mental restrictions in the hypothetical presented to the VE.
A.
Standard for Evaluating Opinion Evidence
The ALJ is required to consider all the evidence in the record when making
a disability determination. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(3). With regard to
medical opinion evidence, “the ALJ must state with particularity the weight given
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Plaintiff also argues that the ALJ improperly relied partially on the opinions of
non-examining State Agency physician, Francis Murphy, Ph.D. and failed to properly
weigh Dr. Petty’s opinion even if not provided controlling weight.
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to different medical opinions and the reasons therefor.” Winschel v. Comm’r of
Soc. Sec., 631 F.3d 1176, 1179 (11th Cir. 2011). Substantial weight must be
given to a treating physician’s opinion unless there is good cause to do otherwise.
See Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1440 (11th Cir. 1997).
“‘[G]ood cause’ exists when the: (1) treating physician’s opinion was not
bolstered by the evidence; (2) evidence supported a contrary finding; or (3)
treating physician’s opinion was conclusory or inconsistent with the doctor’s own
medical records.” Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1240-41 (11th Cir. 2004).
When a treating physician’s opinion does not warrant controlling weight, the ALJ
must nevertheless weigh the medical opinion based on: (1) the length of the
treatment relationship and the frequency of examination, (2) the nature and
extent of the treatment relationship, (3) the medical evidence supporting the
opinion, (4) consistency of the medical opinion with the record as a whole, (5)
specialization in the medical issues at issue, and (6) any other factors that tend to
support or contradict the opinion. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2)-(6).
Although a treating physician’s opinion is generally entitled to more weight
than a consulting physician’s opinion, see Wilson v. Heckler, 734 F.2d 513, 518
(11th Cir. 1984) (per curiam); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2), “[t]he opinions of state
agency physicians” can outweigh the contrary opinion of a treating physician if
“that opinion has been properly discounted.” Cooper v. Astrue, Case No.: 8:06cv-1863-T-27TGW, 2008 WL 649244 at *3 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 10, 2008). Further,
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“the ALJ may reject any medical opinion if the evidence supports a contrary
finding.” Wainwright v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., Case No.: 06-15638, 2007
WL 708971 at *2 (11th Cir. Mar. 9, 2007) (per curiam); see also Sryock v.
Heckler, 764 F.2d 834, 835 (11th Cir. 1985) (per curiam) (same).
“The ALJ is required to consider the opinions of non-examining state
agency medical and psychological consultants because they ‘are highly qualified
physicians and psychologists, who are also experts in Social Security disability
evaluation.’” Milner v. Barnhart, 275 F. App’x 947, 948 (11th Cir. May 2, 2008)
(per curiam); see also SSR 96-6p (stating that the ALJ must treat the findings of
State agency medical consultants as expert opinion evidence of non-examining
sources). While the ALJ is not bound by the findings of non-examining
physicians, the ALJ may not ignore these opinions and must explain the weight
given to them in his decision. SSR 96-6p.
B.
The ALJ’s Decision
The ALJ found that Plaintiff had severe impairments, including status post
right total knee arthroplasty, bipolar disorder, status post left total hip arthroplasty,
and substance addiction disorder. (Tr. 24.) The ALJ then found that Plaintiff’s
impairments, including the substance use disorder, met section 12.04 of 20
C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. (Tr. 25.) However, the ALJ determined
that if Plaintiff stopped the substance use, he would not have an impairment or
combination of impairments that meets or medically equals any of the
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impairments listed in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. (Tr. 28.)
At step four, the ALJ found that Plaintiff retained the RFC to perform light
work with limitations, including limiting Plaintiff to performing simple, routine, and
repetitive tasks, only occasional contact with co-workers, and no contact with the
general public. (Tr. 29.) In making this finding, the ALJ gave “some weight” to
Dr. Petty’s opinion that Plaintiff was incapable of even low stress work. (Tr. 31.)
The ALJ stated:
Dr. Petty’s opinion is given some weight. I agree with Dr. Petty that
the claimant is disabled while abusing alcohol or other substances,
however, when the claimant is sober, his mental impairments
improve, and he is able to function. After the claimant achieved
sobriety, the claimant’s psychiatric impairment although still severe
was not disabling. Additionally, Dr. Petty’s report indicates the first
treatment was on April 27, 2007 and the last treatment was on May
1, 2014, [sic] Dr. Petty’s opinion except for the assigned GAF score
is inconsistent with the record as a whole (Exhibit 20F), and Dr. Petty
had a very limited treatment history with the claimant.
(Tr. 31.) The ALJ then afforded “great weight” to the GAF scores of 55 and
afforded partial weight to the opinions of non-examining State Agency physician,
Dr. Murphy. (Tr. 32-33.)
The ALJ further determined that Plaintiff was unable to perform his past
relevant work, but that Plaintiff could perform jobs that exist in significant numbers
in the national economy, such as marker, office helper, and document preparer.
(Tr. 33-35.) The ALJ ultimately concluded that Plaintiff was not disabled if he
stopped substance abuse. (Tr. 35.)
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C.
Analysis
Plaintiff initially argues that the ALJ erred by discounting the opinions of Dr.
Petty, Plaintiff’s treating physician. Specifically, Plaintiff contends that the ALJ
failed to articulate clear reasons supported by substantial evidence for
discounting the treating opinions. In support, Plaintiff points to the ALJ’s
inaccurate statement that Dr. Petty found Plaintiff disabled when abusing
substances, but found Plaintiff improved and functioning when sober. Plaintiff
also attacks the ALJ’s vague reasons for discounting Dr. Petty’s opinions: that Dr.
Petty’s opinions were “inconsistent with the record as a whole,” and “Dr. Petty
had a very limited treatment history” with Plaintiff. (Doc. 20 at 17; Tr. 31.)
On May 1, 2014, Dr. Petty filled out a Psychiatric/Psychological Impairment
Questionnaire. (Tr. 3391-98.) Dr. Petty diagnosed Plaintiff with “PTSD, Bipolar
mixed” and “substance use disorder in remission.” He opined that Plaintiff’s
prognosis was guarded. (Tr. 3398.) Dr. Petty stated that Plaintiff had primary
symptoms of “episodic depression,” “memory loss,” “intrusive memories,” and
“emotional lability.” He also reported that Plaintiff’s symptoms require
hospitalization or emergency room treatment for his symptoms “[a]bout 5x per
year.” (Tr. 3393.) Dr. Petty found Plaintiff to be “markedly limited” in the areas of
understanding and memory, sustained concentration and persistence,” and
adaptation. (Tr. 3394-96.) Dr. Petty opined that Plaintiff was “incapable of even
‘low stress’ [work]” due to severe symptoms and emotional lability and that
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Plaintiff would likely be absent from work more than three (3) times per month as
a result of the impairments or treatment. (Tr. 3397-98.) Dr. Petty stated that the
limitations likely applied since 2007. (Tr. 3398.)
In conjunction with the questionnaire, Dr. Petty opined that Plaintiff “is
totally disabled without consideration of any past or present drug and/or alcohol
use.” (Tr. 3399.) He also opined that “[d]rug and/or alcohol abuse is not a
material cause of [Plaintiff’s] disability” because “[Plaintiff] is currently not using
drugs and/or alcohol and remains disabled.” (Id.)
The undersigned agrees with Plaintiff in that the Court cannot conclude that
the ALJ applied the correct legal standards with respect to evaluating Dr. Petty’s
opinions and that the Commissioner’s findings in this regard are supported by
substantial evidence. As an initial matter, the ALJ’s written analysis of Dr. Petty’s
opinions is confusing at best. While the ALJ discusses and gives “some weight”
to Dr. Petty’s finding that Plaintiff is incapable of even low stress work based on
his severe symptoms and emotional lability, the ALJ provides no discussion
regarding Dr. Petty’s assigned “marked limitations” and likely absences from
work, as well as Dr. Petty’s conclusion that Plaintiff is totally disabled. Although
the ALJ was not required to mention every piece of evidence in the decision,
pursuant to SSR 96-5P, the ALJ could not ignore Dr. Petty’s opinions and was
required to fully evaluate them. See Winschel, 631 F.3d at 1179 (holding that
“the ALJ must state with particularity the weight given to different medical
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opinions and the reasons therefor”); see also Moon v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 2014
WL 548110 at *3 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 11, 2014) (citing SSR 96-5P); Spahiu v. Colvin,
2013 WL 828460 at *6 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 6, 2013) (“Even if a treating physician’s
opinion pertains to an issue reserved to the Commissioner (e.g. a statement that
the claimant is unable to work or is disabled), the ALJ must still ‘carefully
consider’ and ‘never ignore’ these opinions.”).
The ALJ’s analysis is further made confusing by his ambiguous statement
that “[he] agree[s] with Dr. Petty that [Plaintiff] is disabled while abusing alcohol or
other substances, however, when the claimant is sober, his mental impairments
improve, and he is able to function.” (Tr. 31.) However, as referenced above, Dr.
Petty concluded that substance use is not a material cause of Plaintiff’s disability
because Plaintiff “is currently not using drugs and/or alcohol and remains
disabled.” (Tr. 3399.)
The ALJ failed to articulate clear reasons, supported by substantial
evidence, for discounting Dr. Petty’s opinions. It appears that the ALJ afforded
only “some weight” to the opinions because they were “inconsistent with the
record as a whole” and “Dr. Petty had a very limited treatment history with the
claimant.” (Tr. 31.) However, in making this vague statement, the ALJ did not
explain what evidence of record he was referring to, thereby frustrating judicial
review. See, e.g., Beard v. Colvin, Case No. 3:14-cv-18-J-JRK, 2015 WL
1138447 at *6 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 13, 2015) (stating that the ALJ’s failure to explain
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how the treating physician’s opinion “is inconsistent with the ‘overall evidence’ . . .
frustrates judicial review and precludes a finding that the ALJ’s treatment of [the
treating physician’s] opinion is supported by substantial evidence”). In the
discussion of Dr. Petty’s opinions, the ALJ failed to cite to any specific exhibits he
found to be inconsistent with Dr. Petty’s opinions. See id. at *6 (“Simply put, in
the discussion of [the treating physician’s] opinion, the ALJ did not cite to any
specific medical records that he found to be inconsistent with [the treating
physician’s] opinion.”); see also Anthony v. Astrue, Case No. 3:11-cv-355-J-JRK,
2012 WL 3536989 at *4 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 14, 2012) (reversing Commissioner’s
decision where ALJ discounted treating physician’s opinion because “the ALJ
provided no analysis or explanation regarding the other conclusory reasons to
discount the opinion”); Gayler v. Astrue, Case No. 5:07-cv-121-Oc-GRJ, 2008 WL
4327050 at *6 (M.D. Fla. Sept. 18, 2008) (reversing Commissioner’s decision
where “the ALJ failed to explain or even provide a clue as to how [the treating
physician’s] opinion was inconsistent with other record medical evidence”).
Similarly, the ALJ failed to explain why he believed Dr. Petty had a very
limited treatment history with Plaintiff. Other than re-iterating Dr. Petty’s reported
treatment as beginning in April 2007 and ending in May 2014, the ALJ provided
no discussion as to why Dr. Petty’s treatment history provides a reason to
discount Dr. Petty’s opinions. Without more, “it is impossible for [the Court] to
determine whether the ultimate decision on the merits of the claim is rational and
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supported by substantial evidence.”4 Cowart v. Schweiker, 662 F.2d 731, 735
(11th Cir. 1981).
Notably, the ALJ made the specific finding that Plaintiff maintained sobriety
beginning in 2010. (Tr. 30.) The ALJ apparently relied on Plaintiff’s “limited”
psychiatric treatment since sobriety as the main basis to conclude that Plaintiff is
not disabled unless substance abuse is involved. (See Tr. 30 (referencing
Plaintiff’s “limited psychiatric treatment” from December 2010 to March 2013); Tr.
31 (referencing Plaintiff’s “limited psychiatric involvement” from June 2010 to
March 2013); Tr. 32 (referencing Plaintiff’s “limited psychiatric treatment” after
June 2010).) However, the record is replete with post-June 2010 psychiatric
treatment records, including multiple hospitalizations (both voluntarily and
involuntarily) due to psychiatric symptoms. (See, e.g., Tr. 1719-26, 2409-13,
2510, 2521-26, 2532, 2542, 2545-46, 2549-51, 2560-67, 2578-80, 2595-96,
2626-32, 2694-2751, 2767-78, 2915-39, 3966-70, 4028-30, 4157-60, 4174-78,
4214-4223.)
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Particularly troubling is the ALJ’s apparent substitution of his own lay medical
opinions for those of the doctors. See Freeman v. Schweiker, 681 F.2d 727, 731 (11th
Cir. 1982) (holding that an ALJ may not substitute his opinion for that of a doctor). The
only “opinions” regarding Plaintiff’s mental limitations that the ALJ afforded more than
partial weight are the GAF scores of 55 assigned by Dr. Petty and Woodburne Levy,
M.D. As Plaintiff points out, however, the Commissioner has “declined to endorse the
GAF scale ‘for use in the Social Security and SSI disability programs,’” Wind v.
Barnhart, 133 F. App’x 684, 693 n.5 (11th Cir. 2005), as “[r]eliance upon a GAF score is
of questionable value in determining an individual’s mental functional capacity.”
Gasaway v. Astrue, Case No.: 8:06-cv-1869-T-TGW, 2008 WL 585113 at *4 (M.D. Fla.
Mar. 3, 2008).
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The Commissioner (in her brief) provided certain post hoc justifications for
the ALJ’s evaluation of Dr. Petty, including Plaintiff’s apparent failure to prove Dr.
Petty’s treating physician status. However, the ALJ failed to make such
determination and, in fact, referenced Dr. Petty’s treatment history with Plaintiff in
his discussion. (Tr. 31.) Moreover, this contention and the Commissioner’s
various justifications for why the ALJ could have discounted Dr. Petty’s opinions
cannot be considered here. See, e.g., Baker v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 384 F.
App’x 893, 896 (11th Cir. 2010) (“[A] court may not accept appellate counsel’s
post hoc rationalizations for agency actions. If an action is to be upheld, it must
be upheld on the same bases articulated in the agency’s order.”) (internal
citations omitted).
Therefore, the Court finds that the ALJ’s decision is not supported by
substantial evidence. This issue is dispositive and, therefore, it is unnecessary
for the Court to address Plaintiff’s remaining arguments. See, e.g., Alexander v.
Comm’r of Soc. Sec., Case No.: 8:13-cv-1602-T-GJK, 2014 WL 4211311 at *3
n.3 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 26, 2014) (citing Diorio v. Heckler, 721 F.2d 726, 729 (11th
Cir. 1983) (stating that on remand the ALJ must reassess the entire record)).
Accordingly, it is ORDERED:
1.
The Commissioner’s decision is REVERSED pursuant to sentence
four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and REMANDED with instructions to the ALJ to: (a)
reconsider Dr. Petty’s opinions, explain what weight they are being accorded, and
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the reasons therefor and (b) conduct any further proceedings deemed
appropriate.
2.
The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment consistent with this
Order and close the file.
3.
Plaintiff’s counsel is advised that, in the event benefits are awarded
on remand, any § 406(b) or § 1383(d)(2) fee application shall be filed within the
parameters set forth by the Order entered in Case No.: 6:12-124-Orl-22 (In re:
Procedures for Applying for Attorney’s Fees Under 42 U.S.C. §§ 406(b) &
1383(d)(2)). This Order does not extend the time limits for filing a motion for
attorney’s fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412.
DONE AND ORDERED at Jacksonville, Florida, on September 21, 2016.
Copies to:
Counsel of Record
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