TARPLEY v. COLVIN

Filing 13

ORDER remanding case for further administrative proceedings. Ordered by US MAGISTRATE JUDGE STEPHEN HYLES on 10-11-17. (bdd)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ATHENS DIVISION
MINDY TARPLEY,
Plaintiff,
v.
NANCY A BERRYHILL,
Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.

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CASE NO. 3:16-CV-166-MSH
Social Security Appeal

ORDER
The Social Security Commissioner, by adoption of the Administrative Law Judge’s
(ALJ’s) determination, denied Plaintiff’s application for disability insurance benefits,
finding that she is not disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act and
Regulations. Plaintiff contends that the Commissioner’s decision was in error and seeks
review under the relevant provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and 42 U.S.C. § 1383(c). All
administrative remedies have been exhausted. Both parties filed their written consents for
all proceedings to be conducted by the United States Magistrate Judge, including the entry
of a final judgment directly appealable to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(3).
LEGAL STANDARDS
The court’s review of the Commissioner’s decision is limited to a determination of
whether it is supported by substantial evidence and whether the correct legal standards

were applied. Walker v. Bowen, 826 F.2d 996, 1000 (11th Cir. 1987) (per curiam).
“Substantial evidence is something more than a mere scintilla, but less than a
preponderance. If the Commissioner's decision is supported by substantial evidence, this
court must affirm, even if the proof preponderates against it.” Dyer v. Barnhart, 395 F.3d
1206, 1210 (11th Cir. 2005) (internal quotation marks omitted). The court’s role in
reviewing claims brought under the Social Security Act is a narrow one. The court may
neither decide facts, re-weigh evidence, nor substitute its judgment for that of the
Commissioner. 1 Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1211 (11th Cir. 2005). It must,
however, decide if the Commissioner applied the proper standards in reaching a decision.
Harrell v. Harris, 610 F.2d 355, 359 (5th Cir. 1980) (per curiam). The court must
scrutinize the entire record to determine the reasonableness of the Commissioner’s factual
findings. Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th Cir. 1983). However, even
if the evidence preponderates against the Commissioner’s decision, it must be affirmed if
substantial evidence supports it. Id.
The Plaintiff bears the initial burden of proving that she is unable to perform her
previous work. Jones v. Bowen, 810 F.2d 1001 (11th Cir. 1986). The Plaintiff’s burden is
a heavy one and is so stringent that it has been described as bordering on the unrealistic.

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Credibility determinations are left to the Commissioner and not to the courts. Carnes v.
Sullivan, 936 F.2d 1215, 1219 (11th Cir. 1991). It is also up to the Commissioner and not to the
courts to resolve conflicts in the evidence. Wheeler v. Heckler, 784 F.2d 1073, 1075 (11th Cir.
1986) (per curiam); see also Graham v. Bowen, 790 F.2d 1572, 1575 (11th Cir. 1986).

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Oldham v. Schweiker, 660 F.2d 1078, 1083 (5th Cir. 1981). 2 A Plaintiff seeking Social
Security disability benefits must demonstrate that she suffers from an impairment that
prevents her from engaging in any substantial gainful activity for a twelve-month period.
42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1). In addition to meeting the requirements of these statutes, in order
to be eligible for disability payments, a Plaintiff must meet the requirements of the
Commissioner’s regulations promulgated pursuant to the authority given in the Social
Security Act. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1 et seq.
Under the Regulations, the Commissioner uses a five-step procedure to determine
if a Plaintiff is disabled. Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1237 (11th Cir. 2004); 20
C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4). First, the Commissioner determines whether the Plaintiff is
working. Id. If not, the Commissioner determines whether the Plaintiff has an impairment
which prevents the performance of basic work activities. Id. Second, the Commissioner
determines the severity of the Plaintiff’s impairment or combination of impairments. Id.
Third, the Commissioner determines whether the Plaintiff’s severe impairment(s) meets or
equals an impairment listed in Appendix 1 of Part 404 of the Regulations (the “Listing”).
Id. Fourth, the Commissioner determines whether the Plaintiff’s residual functional
capacity can meet the physical and mental demands of past work. Id. Fifth and finally, the
Commissioner determines whether the Plaintiff’s residual functional capacity, age,
education, and past work experience prevent the performance of any other work. In

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In Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc), the Eleventh
Circuit adopted as binding precedent all decision of the former Fifth Circuit rendered prior to
October 1, 1981.

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arriving at a decision, the Commissioner must consider the combined effects of all of the
alleged impairments, without regard to whether each, if considered separately, would be
disabling. Id. The Commissioner’s failure to apply correct legal standards to the evidence
is grounds for reversal. Id.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS
Plaintiff Mindy Fulcher Tarpley filed an application for disability insurance benefits
on March 18, 2013 alleging that she became disabled to work on September 1, 2011. Tr.
22. She previously filed a claim for benefits on March 21, 2006, that was denied on June
2, 2006. Tr. 73. After her current claim was denied, both initially and on reconsideration,
she requested an evidentiary hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ) which was
held on July 13, 2015. Tr. 36. Plaintiff appeared, with her attorney, and testified, as did
her husband and an impartial vocational expert (VE). Id. The ALJ issued an unfavorable
decision denying her claim on August 3, 2015. Tr. 19-33. Plaintiff sought review by the
Appeals Council on September 15, 2015, but her request was denied on November 9, 2016.
Tr. 17-18, 1-9. Plaintiff has exhausted the administrative remedies available to her under
the Social Security Act and now seeks judicial review of the Commissioner’s final decision
to deny her claim.
STATEMENT OF FACTS AND EVIDENCE
Plaintiff was thirty-one years old at the time when, she claims, she became disabled.
She has a high school education and the record does not reflect any past relevant work. Tr.
28. In her brief before this Court, she alleges that the ALJ gave inadequate weight to the
opinion of her treating physician, discounted her credibility without good cause, and failed
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to sufficiently evaluate the limitations imposed on her ability to work as a result of her
obesity. Pl. Br. 2, ECF No. 11. In response, the Commissioner contends that there is, in
fact, substantial evidence supporting the ALJ’s determination that Plaintiff is not disabled.
Comm’r’s Br. 3, ECF No. 12.
DISCUSSION
Edward J. Fisher was Plaintiff’s treating psychiatrist from June 1, 2011, through June
17, 2015. Tr. 904. On June 30, 2015, Dr. Fisher completed a mental residual functional
capacity (RFC) assessment which included extensive and detailed notes about Plaintiff’s
mental impairments and the specific functional limitations resulting from them. His
findings and conclusions are significantly more limiting than the RFC formulated by the
ALJ. Ex. 18F, Tr. 904-10.
The ALJ afforded only little weight to Dr. Fisher’s mental RFC assessment. He did
so stating first that two years previously, in May of 2013, Plaintiff reported the ability to
prepare food, wash dishes, shop, and read. Next, he referenced an examination at that same
time that characterized Plaintiff as “friendly,” attentive without distraction, and with logical
thought processes. Third, he noted that a physician’s assistant at a gastroenterology
practice found Plaintiff to be “mildly anxious” with normal memory and judgement. Tr.
27.

However, the ALJ provided no further explanation or rationale for giving the

assessment made by Dr. Fisher, a treating specialist of over four years, only little weight.
This is not substantial evidence. Mills v. Astrue, 226 F. App’x 926 (11th Cir. 2007).
Dr. Fisher is a treating specialist in psychiatry with a longitudinal record of care that
is substantial. His report is thorough, detailed, and specific. The ALJ’s articulated reasons
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for rejecting it are cursory at best. Although he purported to give greater weight to the
opinions of a one-time examiner and state agency reviewers, he did not rely on those
conclusions to discount Dr. Fisher’s findings. Id. at 931; see 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d)(2)(5).
Therefore, remand is required for the Commissioner to further develop the record
as to the weight Dr. Fisher’s findings should be given and the reasoning behind that
conclusion. Because the Court finds that Plaintiff’s first claim of error is meritorious and
remand is required, the remaining two asserted errors are not addressed in this opinion.
Nonetheless, the Commissioner may choose to address Plaintiff’s other assertions as she
finds prudent.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, this case is remanded for further administrative
proceedings as directed herein.
SO ORDERED, this 11th day of October, 2017.
/s/ Stephen Hyles
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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