O'Neal v. Commissioner of Social Security
Filing
18
ORDER re 1 Complaint filed by William O'Neal. The decision of the Commissioner is affirmed. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter final judgment in favor of the Commissioner and close the case. Signed by Magistrate Judge Julie S. Sneed on 3/6/2017. (SMC)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
TAMPA DIVISION
WILLIAM O’NEAL,
Plaintiff,
v.
Case No: 8:16-cv-495-T-JSS
COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,
Defendant.
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ORDER
Plaintiff, William O’Neal, seeks judicial review of the denial of his claims for a period of
disability, disability insurance benefits, and supplemental security income. As the Administrative
Law Judge’s (“ALJ”) decision was based on substantial evidence and employed proper legal
standards, the decision is affirmed.
BACKGROUND
A.
Procedural Background
Plaintiff filed an application for a period of disability, disability insurance benefits, and
supplemental security income on June 25, 2012. (Tr. 11, 179.) The Commissioner denied
Plaintiff’s claims both initially and upon reconsideration. (Tr. 124, 129, 136.) Plaintiff then
requested an administrative hearing. (Tr. 146.) Upon Plaintiff’s request, the ALJ held a hearing
at which Plaintiff appeared and testified. (Tr. 28˗67.) Following the hearing, the ALJ issued an
unfavorable decision finding Plaintiff not disabled and accordingly denied Plaintiff’s claims for
benefits. (Tr. 8˗22.) Subsequently, Plaintiff requested review from the Appeals Council, which
the Appeals Council denied. (Tr. 1˗3.) Plaintiff then timely filed a complaint with this Court.
(Dkt. 1) The case is now ripe for review under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and 42 U.S.C. § 1383(c)(3).
B.
Factual Background and the ALJ’s Decision
Plaintiff, who was born in 1959,1 claimed disability beginning on January 1, 2008. (Tr.
214.) Plaintiff has a high school education. (Tr. 220.) Plaintiff's past relevant work experience
includes work as a driver, housekeeping aide, laborer excavating roads, laundry worker,
maintenance worker, and warehouse worker. (Tr. 221.) Plaintiff alleged disability due to Hepatitis
C, depression, bipolar disorder, and mental health problems. (Tr. 220.)
In rendering the decision, the ALJ concluded that Plaintiff had not performed substantial
gainful activity since January 1, 2008, the alleged onset date. (Tr. 14.) After conducting a hearing
and reviewing the evidence of record, the ALJ noted that prior to April 3, 2013, Plaintiff had the
following medically determinable impairments: knee arthritis with right knee meniscal tear,
atypical chest pain, Hepatitis C, anxiety disorder, and a history of cocaine dependence. (Tr. 15.)
Notwithstanding the noted impairments, the ALJ concluded that prior to April 3, 2013, Plaintiff
did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that significantly limited his ability to
perform basic work-related activities for twelve consecutive months. (Tr. 15.) Further, the ALJ
found that Plaintiff’s medically determinable impairments prior to April 3, 2013, could have been
reasonably expected to produce his alleged symptoms; however, Plaintiff’s statements concerning
the intensity, persistence and limiting effect of the symptoms were not entirely credible. (Tr. 16.)
The ALJ found that Plaintiff did not have a severe impairment and was not disabled prior to April
3, 2013. (Tr. 15.) The ALJ further found that Plaintiff was not disabled at any time through
December 31, 2012, the date last insured. (Tr. 22.)
1
Plaintiff’s date of birth is at issue as Plaintiff contends his correct date of birth is February 23, 1956, not February
23, 1959.
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The ALJ then determined that Plaintiff had the following severe impairments beginning
April 3, 2013: degenerative joint disease of the right knee and obesity. (Tr. 20.) Notwithstanding
the noted impairments, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff did not have an impairment or
combination of impairments that met or medically equaled one of the listed impairments in 20
C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. (Tr. 20˗21.) The ALJ concluded that since April 3, 2013,
Plaintiff retained a residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform the full range of sedentary
work.
(Tr. 21.)
In formulating Plaintiff’s RFC, the ALJ considered Plaintiff’s subjective
complaints beginning on April 3, 2013, and determined that Plaintiff’s statements as to the
intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of his symptoms were generally credible. (Tr. 21.)
Considering Plaintiff's noted impairments and the assessment of a vocational expert
(“VE”), the ALJ determined that Plaintiff has not been able to perform his past relevant work since
April 3, 2013. (Tr. 21.) Given Plaintiff’s background and RFC, the VE testified that subsequent
to April 3, 2013, Plaintiff could not perform other jobs existing in significant numbers in the
national economy. (Tr. 22.) Based on Plaintiff’s age, education, work experience, RFC, and the
testimony of the VE, the ALJ found Plaintiff became disabled on April 3, 2013. (Tr. 22.)
Accordingly, the ALJ issued a decision partially favorable to Plaintiff. (Tr. 11-22.) The
ALJ found Plaintiff disabled as of April 3, 2013, and awarded Plaintiff supplemental security
income benefits. (Tr. 20-22.) The ALJ, however, found Plaintiff not disabled prior to April 3,
2013, and not eligible for a period of disability or disability insurance benefits, because he was not
disabled before December 31, 2012, Plaintiff’s date last insured. (Tr. 11-22.)
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APPLICABLE STANDARDS
To be entitled to benefits, a claimant must be disabled, meaning that the claimant must be
unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable
physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be
expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A),
1382c(a)(3)(A). A “physical or mental impairment” is an impairment that results from anatomical,
physiological, or psychological abnormalities that are demonstrable by medically acceptable
clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(3), 1382c(a)(3)(D).
The Social Security Administration, in order to regularize the adjudicative process,
promulgated the detailed regulations currently in effect. These regulations establish a “sequential
evaluation process” to determine whether a claimant is disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920. If an
individual is found disabled at any point in the sequential review, further inquiry is unnecessary.
20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a). Under this process, the ALJ must determine, in sequence, the following:
(1) whether the claimant is currently engaged in substantial gainful activity; (2) whether the
claimant has a severe impairment, i.e., one that significantly limits the ability to perform workrelated functions; (3) whether the severe impairment meets or equals the medical criteria of 20
C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1; and, (4) whether the claimant can perform his or her past
relevant work. If the claimant cannot perform the tasks required of his or her prior work, step five
of the evaluation requires the ALJ to decide if the claimant can do other work in the national
economy in view of the claimant’s age, education, and work experience. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a).
A claimant is entitled to benefits only if unable to perform other work. Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S.
137, 140–42 (1987); 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(g).
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A determination by the Commissioner that a claimant is not disabled must be upheld if it
is supported by substantial evidence and comports with applicable legal standards. See 42 U.S.C.
§ 405(g). Substantial evidence is “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as
adequate to support a conclusion.” Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971) (quoting
Consol. Edison Co. v. NLRB, 305 U.S. 197, 229 (1938)); Miles v. Chater, 84 F.3d 1397, 1400
(11th Cir. 1996). While the court reviews the Commissioner’s decision with deference to the
factual findings, no such deference is given to the legal conclusions. Keeton v. Dep’t of Health &
Human Servs., 21 F.3d 1064, 1066 (11th Cir. 1994).
In reviewing the Commissioner’s decision, the court may not decide the facts anew, reweigh the evidence, or substitute its own judgment for that of the ALJ, even if it finds that the
evidence preponderates against the ALJ’s decision. Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1239
(11th Cir. 1983). The Commissioner’s failure to apply the correct law, or to give the reviewing
court sufficient reasoning for determining that he or she has conducted the proper legal analysis,
mandates reversal. Keeton, 21 F.3d at 1066. The scope of review is thus limited to determining
whether the findings of the Commissioner are supported by substantial evidence and whether the
correct legal standards were applied. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219, 1221
(11th Cir. 2002).
ANALYSIS
Plaintiff challenges the ALJ’s decision on the following grounds: (1) the ALJ failed to
consult a medical advisor to infer the onset date of Plaintiff’s disability; and (2) the ALJ failed to
clarify Plaintiff’s date of birth. For the reasons that follow, neither of these contentions warrant
reversal.
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A.
Onset Date of Plaintiff’s Disability
Plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred in failing to consult a medical advisor to determine
whether Plaintiff had a severe impairment on or before December 31, 2012, or prior to April 3,
2013. (Dkt. 14 at 8.) Plaintiff specifically contends that the ALJ should have consulted a medical
advisor to determine Plaintiff’s disability onset date under Social Security Ruling (“SSR”) 83-20.
(Dkt. 14 at 7.)
An individual claiming Social Security disability benefits must prove that he is disabled.
See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1512(a); Jones v. Apfel, 190 F.3d 1224, 1228 (11th Cir. 1999). For
supplemental security claims, a claimant becomes eligible in the first month when he is both
disabled and has an application on file. 20 C.F.R. § 416.202˗03 (2005). For disability insurance
benefits and a period of disability claims, a claimant is eligible for benefits if he demonstrates
disability on or before the last date for which he was insured. 42 U.S.C. § 423(a)(1)(A) (2005).
The Plaintiff bears the burden of proving an impairment is a severe impairment. See Doughty v.
Apfel, 245 F.3d 1274, 1278 (11th Cir. 2001).
Therefore, to be entitled to disability insurance benefits or a period of disability, Plaintiff
must demonstrate disability on or before the last date for which he was insured, December 31,
2012. See Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1211 (11th Cir. 2005) (citing 42 U.S.C. §
423(a)(1)(A)). The ALJ found that Plaintiff was disabled as of April 3, 2013, but not at any time
prior. (Tr. 13.) Thus, the ALJ awarded Plaintiff supplemental security income, but not disability
insurance benefits or a period of disability.
Plaintiff argues that his knee impairment was severe and disabling prior to April 3, 2013.
(Dkt. 14 at 7.) In support of his argument, Plaintiff points to a record from Dr. Jose Perez-Arce
on January 3, 2013, wherein Plaintiff reported a history of pain in his right knee for several years.
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(Tr. 455.) Plaintiff also reported that he could not walk one block due to the pain. (Tr. 455.) His
range of motion was limited, and he was unable to walk toe-to-heel or squat. (Tr. 459.) Dr. PerezArce recommended orthopedic evaluation and treatment. (Tr. 459.)
However, the January 3, 2013, record does not contain any restrictions on Plaintiff’s ability
to work. Further, although Plaintiff was diagnosed with several impairments prior to the last date
for which he was insured, the medical records do not establish that Plaintiff had restrictions on his
ability to work prior to April 3, 2013. Plaintiff bears the burden of showing that he has a severe
impairment or combination of impairments that may qualify as a disability. Hutchinson v. Astrue,
408 F. App’x. 324, 326 (11th Cir. 2011) (citing McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026, 1031 (11th
Cir. 1986)). “[T]he ‘severity’ of a medically ascertained disability must be measured in terms of
its effect upon ability to work, not simply in terms of deviation from purely medical standards of
bodily perfection or normality.” McCruter v. Bowen, 791 F.2d 1544, 1547 (11th Cir. 1986). Proof
of the mere existence of an impairment does not prove the extent to which the impairment may
limit Plaintiff’s ability to work. Hutchinson, 408 F. App’x. at 326.
Moreover, there is substantial evidence in the medical records to support the ALJ’s
determination of Plaintiff’s onset date. In an extensive review of Plaintiff’s medical records, the
ALJ found Plaintiff’s statements concerning his symptoms not entirely credible prior to April 3,
2013. (Tr. 16.) The ALJ noted that Plaintiff’s “symptoms resolved or were never especially
limiting. Further, the records suggest non-compliance with treatment, bringing into question the
severity of the claimant’s reported limitations.” (Tr. 16.) For example, Plaintiff failed to attend
his scheduled knee surgery with the Department of Veteran Affairs (“VA”) hospital on October
13, 2011, and did not call to reschedule until February 16, 2012. (Tr. 314.) Plaintiff then failed
to appear for his pre-operation visit on March 22, 2012, causing his rescheduled surgery to be
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canceled. (Tr. 310.) He then failed to return the VA’s phone calls to reschedule the operation.
(Tr. 17, 310.)
The ALJ also considered that despite Plaintiff’s reports of chronic pain, meniscal tear and
knee pain, Plaintiff remained able to walk, retained a normal gait, and presented to multiple
physicians without any complaints regarding his right knee prior to April 3, 2013. For example,
in September 2011, Plaintiff was treated at the VA hospital for knee pain, but was able to walk
with a normal gait. (Tr. 316.) Plaintiff was also noted to walk with a steady gait in May 2012.
(Tr. 305, 308.) On August 22, 2012, Plaintiff was seen by Dr. Linda Appenfeldt for a consultative
examination. Plaintiff’s gait, stance, and ambulation were noted as unremarkable. (Tr. 428.)
Further, he ambulated without the use of an assistive device and did not display any visible or
audible evidence of pain during the evaluation. (Tr. 428.) Dr. Appenfeldt also noted that Plaintiff
was able to sit, stand, walk, and drive. (Tr. 431.) On October 9, 2012, Plaintiff presented to the
VA hospital for an eye irritation and was noted to ambulate with a steady gait. (Tr. 448.) On
January 10, 2013, state agency physician Thomas Renny, D.O., reviewed Plaintiff’s treatment
record, including Dr. Perez-Arce’s assessment, and found no severe impairments. (Tr. 113˗114.)
Specifically, Dr. Renny noted that Plaintiff’s ambulation “is effective functionally without a hand
held assistive device” and Plaintiff’s right knee “impairment is not severe and does not affect
function.” (Tr. 114.) Lastly, on February 15, 2013, Plaintiff was able to walk with a steady gate.
(Tr. 551.)
Plaintiff’s daily activities prior to April 3, 2013, also support the ALJ’s onset
determination. For example, on May 1, 2012, Plaintiff reported chest pains due to working out
and lifting weights at the gym and admitted going to the gym regularly. (Tr. 307.) Further, in
August 22, 2012, Plaintiff reported doing odd jobs, including washing a car for money two weeks
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earlier. (Tr. 430.) These daily activities provide further substantial evidence to support the ALJ’s
conclusion that Plaintiff was not disabled prior to April 3, 2013.
Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred because he was required to consult a medical advisor to
determine Plaintiff’s disability onset date pursuant to SSR 83-20. (Dkt. 14 at 7.) Plaintiff contends
that he was treated in the VA clinic only three days after the last day he was insured, complaining
of pain and difficulty walking, and made an appointment for April 3, 2013. (Dkt. 14 at 7.)
According to Plaintiff, this evidence creates a “reasonable probability that had the ALJ utilized a
medical expert to give an opinion as to whether it could be inferred that the claimant had a severe
impairment prior to April 3, 2013, and even prior to December 31, 2012, the medical expert would
have answered in the affirmative.” (Dkt. 14 at 7.)
SSR 83-20 prescribes the policy and procedure by which the ALJ should determine the
onset date of a disability. Specifically, SSR 83-20 provides that an ALJ should consult a medical
advisor when the ALJ must infer that the disability onset date occurred prior to the date of the first
recorded medical examination:
In some cases, it may be possible, based on the medical evidence to reasonably
infer that the onset of a disabling impairment(s) occurred some time prior to the
date of the first recorded medical examination, e.g., the date the claimant stopped
working. How long the disease may be determined to have existed at a disabling
level of severity depends on an informed judgment of the facts in the particular
case. This judgment, however, must have a legitimate medical basis. At the hearing,
the administrative law judge (ALJ) should call on the services of a medical advisor
when onset must be inferred. If there is information in the file indicating that
additional medical evidence concerning onset is available, such evidence should be
secured before inferences are made.
Titles II & Xvi: Onset of Disability, SSR 83-20 (S.S.A. 1983). SSR 83-20 provides an example of
when the disability onset date needs to be inferred and a medical advisor should be consulted. In
the example, the only medical evidence available regarding the claimant’s alleged disability is a
single record almost a year after the alleged onset date. Id.
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SSR 83-20 also provides that medical evidence serves as the primary element in the
determination of the disability onset date. It specifically notes that determining the onset date may
be difficult when the alleged onset date is far in the past and adequate medical records are not
available:
Medical reports containing descriptions of examinations or treatment of the
individual are basic to the determination of the onset of disability. The medical
evidence serves as the primary element in the onset determination. Reports from all
medical sources (e.g., physicians, hospitals, and government agencies) which bear
upon the onset date should be obtained to assist in determining when the
impairment(s) became disabling.
With slowly progressive impairments, it is sometimes impossible to obtain medical
evidence establishing the precise date an impairment became disabling.
Determining the proper onset date is particularly difficult, when, for example, the
alleged onset and the date last worked are far in the past and adequate medical
records are not available. In such cases, it will be necessary to infer the onset date
from the medical and other evidence that describe the history and symptomatology
of the disease process.
SSR 83-20.
In contrast to the example given in SSR 83-20, Plaintiff’s medical records contain a vast
amount of evidence regarding his right knee injury. As noted above, the evidence supports the
finding that Plaintiff did not have a severe impairment prior to April 3, 2013. Adequate medical
records with treatment notes and diagnoses regarding Plaintiff’s right knee were available for the
ALJ to consider from both before and after the date last insured. The medical records also contain
specific references to Plaintiff’s work history and daily activities. Although Plaintiff points to the
January 3, 2013, record as evidence of his knee disability, there are no functional limitations
contained in the record and no diagnostic tests were performed. Further, Dr. Perez-Arce’s only
impression regarding Plaintiff’s right knee is a statement that “[p]atient has a history of right knee
pain, unclear type of injury. Orthopedic evaluation and proper treatment advised.” (Tr. 459.)
Moreover, a state agency physician opined that Plaintiff did not have a severe impairment that
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same month. (Tr. 113˗114.) On April 3, 2013, Plaintiff was diagnosed with degenerative joint
disease of the right knee based on x-rays. (Tr. 545.) Plaintiff was then scheduled for synvisc knee
injections, and a subsequent June 12, 2013, MRI confirmed the degenerative changes in Plaintiff’s
knee. (Tr. 545, 555.) Thus, the ALJ did not require a medical advisor as the disability onset date
did not need to be inferred. See Caces v. Comm'r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 560 F. App’x 936, 939 (11th
Cir. 2014).
Given the above evidence, the ALJ’s decision is supported by substantial evidence, and the
ALJ did not err in failing to consult a medical advisor to determine Plaintiff’s disability onset date.
Caces, 560 F. App’x at 939 (affirming the ALJ’s finding that plaintiff was not disabled prior to
the date last insured because it was “based on ample, unambiguous medical evidence from both
before and after the date last insured. Therefore, because the ALJ did not find that [plaintiff] was
disabled, and because that finding is supported by the evidence, the ALJ did not err in failing to
call a medical expert to determine an onset date of such a disability.”); Moncrief v. Astrue, 300 F.
App’x 879, 882 (11th Cir. 2008) (affirming the Commissioner’s disability onset determination
“because the record shows that the ALJ did consider the medical evidence before him and
substantial evidence supports his decision”).
B.
Plaintiff’s Date of Birth
Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred in finding that his date of birth is February 23, 1959,
because his accurate date of birth is February 23, 1956. (Dkt. 14 at 8.) Plaintiff contends that this
is important with respect to utilizing the Medical-Vocational Guidelines, Title 20, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2 (“Grids”). (Dkt. 14 at 8.) The social security records
before the ALJ, including the Disability Determination Explanations at the initial and
reconsideration levels, Disability Determination and Transmittals, consultative examination
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report, and multiple Disability Reports, note Plaintiff’s date of birth as February 23, 1959. (Tr.
79, 87, 95, 98, 108, 118˗119, 214, 267, 274, 428.) Plaintiff testified that his date of birth is
February 23, 1956, a date which is also reflected in Plaintiff’s medical records. (Tr. 58, 427, 555.)
Plaintiff contends that this distinction is important because using his correct birthday, he was 56
years old as of the date he was last insured, not 53 years old. (Dkt. 14 at 8.)
Plaintiff also states that this issue is irrelevant if this Court affirms the ALJ’s determination
of Plaintiff’s disability onset date and that “if this matter is remanded, it would be appropriate to
direct the ALJ to obtain evidence to clarify the Plaintiff’s actual date of birth.” (Dkt. 14 at 8.) As
the ALJ’s determination of Plaintiff disability onset date is affirmed, the issue concerning
Plaintiff’s date of birth is, as Plaintiff argues, obsolete. Indeed, the Court notes that the change in
Plaintiff’s date of birth would not affect the ALJ’s determination that Plaintiff was disabled on
April 3, 2013. Based on Plaintiff’s RFC to perform the full range of sedentary work, the ALJ
correctly used Table Number 1 in the Grids to determine whether Plaintiff was disabled. (Tr.
21˗22.) Further, using a date of birth of February 23, 1959, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff was
closely approaching advanced age (50 years old to 54 years old) on April 3, 2013. (Tr. 21.)
Plaintiff was a high school graduate and had skilled or semiskilled previous work experience with
skills that were not transferable. (Tr. 21.) Under Rule 201.14 of Table 1, the ALJ used this
information to find Plaintiff disabled as of the disability onset date. (Tr. 22.) If the ALJ used
Plaintiff’s February 23, 1956, date of birth, the outcome is the same. Plaintiff would have been at
an advanced age (55 years old and older) on April 3, 2013. He was a high school graduate and
had skilled or semiskilled previous work experience with skills that were not transferable. Rule
201.06 of Table 1 directs a finding of disabled. Thus, Plaintiff’s second contention does not
warrant reversal.
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CONCLUSION
Accordingly, after due consideration and for the foregoing reasons, it is
ORDERED:
1. The decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED
2. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter final judgment in favor of the Commissioner
and close the case.
DONE and ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, on March 6, 2017.
Copies furnished to:
Counsel of Record
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