Arntson v. Saul

Filing 26

MEMORANDUM Opinion and Order Signed by the Honorable Jeffrey Cummings on 5/22/2023. Mailed notice(cc, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
LYNNE A.,
Plaintiff,
v.
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KILOLO KIJAKAZI,
Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.

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No. 21-cv-858
Magistrate Judge Jeffrey I. Cummings

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Lynne A. (“Claimant”) moves to reverse or remand the final decision of the
Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner”) denying her claim for claim for Disability
Insurance Benefits (“DIBs”). (Dckt. #17). The Commissioner brings a cross-motion for
summary judgment seeking to uphold the decision to deny benefits. (Dckt. #20). The parties
have consented to the jurisdiction of a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§636(c). This Court has jurisdiction to hear this matter pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §405(g). For the
reasons that follow, Claimant’s motion to reverse the decision of the Commissioner, (Dckt. #17),
is granted and the Commissioner’s motion to uphold the decision to deny benefits, (Dckt. #20), is
denied.
I.

BACKGROUND
A.

Procedural History

On August 13, 2018, Claimant (then sixty-three years old) filed a disability application
alleging disability beginning June 4, 2018, due to mastocytosis, mast cell activation disease, and
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In accordance with Internal Operating Procedure 22 – Privacy in Social Security Opinions, the Court
refers to Claimant only by her first name and the first initial of her last name. Acting Commissioner of
Social Security Kilolo Kijakazi has also been substituted as the named defendant. Fed.R.Civ.P. 25(d).

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fatigue. (R. 165, 181). Her application was denied initially on November 28, 2018, and upon
reconsideration on March 25, 2019. (R. 75-76, 90). Claimant filed a timely request for a
hearing, which was held on June 19, 2020 before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). (R. 3266). Claimant appeared with counsel and testified at the hearing; a vocational expert (“VE”) also
testified. (Id.). On July 13, 2020, the ALJ issued a written decision denying Claimant’s
application for benefits. (R. 13-31). Claimant filed a timely request for review with the Appeals
Council, who denied her request on December 14, 2020, (R. 1-6), leaving the ALJ’s decision as
the final decision of the Commissioner. This action followed.
B.

The Standard for Proof of Disability Under the Social Security Act

In order to qualify for disability benefits, a claimant must demonstrate that she is
disabled. An individual does so by showing that she cannot “engage in any substantial gainful
activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be
expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period
of not less than 12 months.” 42 U.S.C. §423(d)(1)(A). Gainful activity is defined as “the kind of
work usually done for pay or profit, whether or not a profit is realized.” 20 C.F.R. §404.1572(b).
The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) applies a five-step analysis to disability
claims. 20 C.F.R. §404.1520. The SSA first considers whether the claimant has engaged in
substantial gainful activity during the claimed period of disability. 20 C.F.R. §404.1520(a)(4)(i).
At step two, the ALJ determines whether a claimant has one or more medically determinable
physical or mental impairments. 20 C.F.R. §404.1521. An impairment “must result from
anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that can be shown by medically
acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques.” Id. In other words, a physical
or mental impairment “must be established by objective medical evidence from an acceptable

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medical source.” Id.; Shirley R. v. Saul, 1:18-cv-00429-JVB, 2019 WL 5418118, at *2 (N.D.Ind.
Oct. 22, 2019). If a claimant establishes that she has one or more physical or mental
impairments, the ALJ then determines whether the impairment(s) standing alone, or in
combination, are severe and meet the twelve-month duration requirement noted above. 20
C.F.R. §404.1520(a)(4)(ii).
At step three, the SSA compares the impairment or combination of impairments found at
step two to a list of impairments identified in the regulations (“the listings”). The specific
criteria that must be met to satisfy a listing are described in Appendix 1 of the regulations. 20
C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1. If the claimant’s impairments meet or “medically equal” a
listing, she is considered to be disabled, and the analysis concludes. If the listing is not met, the
analysis proceeds to step four. 20 C.F.R. §404.1520(a)(4)(iii).
Before addressing the fourth step, the SSA must assess a claimant’s residual functional
capacity (“RFC”), which defines her exertional and non-exertional capacity to work despite the
limitations imposed by her impairments. The SSA then determines at step four whether the
claimant is able to engage in any of her past relevant work. 20 C.F.R. §404.1520(a)(4)(iv). If
the claimant can do so, she is not disabled. Id. If the claimant cannot undertake her past work,
the SSA proceeds to step five to determine whether a substantial number of jobs exist that the
claimant can perform in light of her RFC, age, education, and work experience. An individual is
not disabled if she can do work that is available under this standard. 20 C.F.R.
§404.1520(a)(4)(v).
C.

Evidence Presented to the ALJ

Again, Claimant seeks DIBs due to mastocytosis, mast cell activation disease, and
fatigue, alleging an onset date of June 4, 2018. (R. 165, 181). Because the Court’s decision

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relates only to the ALJ’s assessment of Claimant’s non-physical limitations, it will limit its
discussion of the evidence accordingly.
1.

Treating physicians

On November 10, 2016, Claimant presented to Thanai Pongdee, M.D., at the Mayo
Clinic for an evaluation of her mastocytosis.2 (R. 461). Dr. Pongdee noted that Claimant’s
referral to Mayo stemmed from a diagnosis of cutaneous mastocytosis in May 2014 and
subsequent failed treatments for worsening symptoms. (Id.).
On June 14, 2018, Claimant presented to immunologist Mary Tobin, M.D., for a rash,
concern of mast cell activation, and allergies. (R. 324). Claimant told Dr. Tobin that, in around
October 2014, she first noticed a physical reaction to various “triggers,” such as electromagnetic
fields, smells, noises, vibration, heat, stress, or exercise, which caused symptoms such as
dizziness, brain fog, fatigue, shortness of breath, and flushing. (R. 325). From 2014 to 2016,
Claimant saw a hematologist and oncologist, underwent testing, and attempted various
medications and physical therapy without improvement. (Id.).
On February 20 and 26, 2019, Claimant presented to clinical psychologist Joshua Barras,
Ph.D. (R. 450). She related to Dr. Barras that she previously suffered from depression, anxiety,
and sleep disturbance but never sought formal treatment to address these conditions. (Id.). After
a formal interview and numerous mental status examinations, Dr. Barras noted that Claimant’s

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Mastocytosis is a rare disease defined as:
[A] condition where certain immune cells, called mast cells, build up under the skin and/or bones,
intestines and other organs. . . . caus[ing] a range of symptoms, including itchy bumps on the skin,
gastrointestinal issues . . . [and] can increase the risk of anaphylaxis when patients come across
certain environmental triggers.

Cleveland Clinic, Mastocytosis (Sept. 17, 2020), https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5908mastocytosis. Cutaneous mastocytosis affects the skin only; systemic mastocytosis is more severe and
affects the skin, bone marrow, and other organs. Id.

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“emotional status [was] characterized by depressed mood, intermittent anxiety, and somatic
preoccupation.” (R. 451-52). Claimant was typically isolated from others, her affect was
depressed and anxious with restricted range, and she had mild psychomotor retardation. (R.
452). Claimant’s daily energy levels and appetite were diminished and her sleep was disturbed
four out of seven nights per week. (Id.). Dr. Barras noted that multiple tests confirmed mild to
moderate depression but that her neurocognitive abilities were normal, including testing in the
eighty-second percentile on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (“WAIS-IV”)
test. (R. 454). Dr. Barras diagnosed Claimant with Persistent Depressive Disorder, or
dysthymia, and referred her for individual psychotherapy. (Id.).
On January 11, 2020, treating psychologist Lynn Sheban, Ph.D., completed a mental RFC
Statement on Claimant’s behalf. (R. 704-07). Dr. Sheban met with Claimant twice monthly for
forty-five minutes per session but did not note when their treating relationship began. (R. 704).
Dr. Sheban evaluated Claimant for mastocytosis, mood disorder due to physiological conditions
with major depressive episodes, and anxiety disorder due to other medical conditions, which
began as late as June 2018. (Id.). Dr. Sheban indicated that Claimant’s functional mental
limitations would preclude performance for fifteen percent or more of an eight-hour workday
and noted that her physical symptoms exacerbate her behavioral health issues.3 (R. 704-06). Dr.
Sheban concluded that Claimant “would not be able to work due to physical illnesses and
conditions.” (R. 707).

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Dr. Sheban’s worksheet regarding mental limitations contained checkboxes, each of which indicated a
“percent preclusion,” broken out by twenty categories of workplace activities. Dr. Sheban indicated
fifteen percent or higher preclusion for nineteen of twenty categories; Dr. Sheban indicated ten percent
preclusion for the twentieth and final category, “set realistic goals or make plans independently of
others.” (Id.).

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On February 5, 2020, Dr. Tobin submitted a physical RFC assessment form on
Claimant’s behalf through her personal assistant. (R. 700-03). Dr. Tobin diagnosed cutaneous
mastocytosis and mast cell activation syndrome resulting in symptoms of dizziness, fatigue,
brain fog, confusion, flushing, blurred vision, and allergic reactions to certain triggers; she stated
Claimant was fatigued and confused at times with flat affect; she suffered from depression and
anxiety. (R. 700). According to Dr. Tobin, Claimant would be “off task” for more than thirty
percent of an eight-hour workday due to her physical and/or mental limitations. (R. 703).
2.

State Agency Physicians

Claimant participated in a twenty-five minute consultative psychological evaluation on
November 15, 2018 with Roberta Stahnke, Psy.D. (R. 390). Claimant told Dr. Stahnke that her
chief complaints were mastocytosis, fatigue, and breathing problems, each of which affected her
ability to concentrate. (Id.). Dr. Stahnke observed Claimant’s thought processes were well
organized, her comprehension was intact, and her speech was normal. (R. 391). Dr. Stahnke
made no diagnosis of Claimant’s condition and she concluded that Claimant did not meet criteria
for any major mental illness notwithstanding the fact that Claimant reported intermittent
problems with concentration and fatigue when under stress. (R. 392). Dr. Stahnke further
opined that Claimant’s psychological symptoms were not severe enough to prevent her from
performing work-related activities at that time. (Id.).
On November 27, 2018, Claimant’s DIBs claim was reviewed at the initial level by Dr.
Calixto Aquino. (R. 67-76). After considering the existing medical record (including Dr.
Stahnke’s psychological evaluation), Dr. Aquino determined that Claimant’s depressive and
related disorders were of secondary priority and non-severe. (R. 65, 71). Dr. Aquino further
found that Claimant’s mental impairments imposed mild limitations on her ability to: (1)
understand, remember, or apply information; (2) interact with others; (3) concentrate, persist, or
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maintain pace; and (4) adapt or manage herself. (R. 71). Dr. Aquino concluded that Claimant is
not disabled. (R. 75). Claimant’s claim was next reviewed at the reconsideration level by Dr.
Charles Kenney on March 20, 2019. (R. 78-90). After reviewing Claimant’s records and Dr.
Aquino’s findings, Dr. Kenney found that Claimant required environmental limitations to her
RFC and he reaffirmed that Claimant’s mental impairments created the same four mild
limitations that Dr. Aquino found. (R. 84-87). Dr. Kenney also concluded that Claimant was not
disabled. (R. 90).
D.

The ALJ’s Decision

The ALJ applied the five-step inquiry required by the Act in reaching his decision to
deny Claimant’s request for benefits. At step one, the ALJ found that Claimant engaged in
substantial gainful activity during the period from the alleged onset date of June 4, 2018. (R.
18). At step two, the ALJ determined that Claimant suffered from the severe impairments of
basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous mastocytosis, mast cell activation syndrome, asthmatic
bronchitis, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, and “osteoarthritis of the right left ankle status post
open reduction internal fixation.” (Id.).
The ALJ further noted that Claimant suffered from the medically determinable mental
impairments of depressive disorder and anxiety disorder and that these impairments, “considered
singly and in combination,” caused Claimant to experience “mild limitations” in her ability to:
(1) understand, remember, or apply information; (2) interact with others; (3) concentrate, persist,
or maintain pace; and (4) adapt or manage herself. (R. 19-20). The ALJ further found that
“[b]ecause the claimant’s medically determinable mental impairments cause no more than
“mild” limitation in any of the functional areas and the evidence does not otherwise indicate that

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there is more than a minimal limitation in the claimant’s ability to do basic work activities, they
are nonsevere.” (R. 20) (emphasis in original).
At step three, the ALJ concluded that Claimant had no impairment or combination of
impairments that met or medically equaled the severity of one of the listed impairments in
the Regulations, including listings 1.02 (dysfunction of a major joint); 1.04 (disorders of the
spine); 3.03 (asthma); 8.05 (dermatitis); and 13.03 (cancer of the skin). (Id.). Before turning
to step four, the ALJ concluded that Claimant had the RFC to perform light work as defined
in 20 C.F.R. §404.1567(b), except that Claimant: “must work in an environmentally
controlled setting with no pulmonary or skin irritants.” (Id.). The ALJ included no other
non-exertional limitations. At step four, the ALJ concluded that Claimant was capable of
performing her past relevant work as a pharmacist (DOT code 074.161-010), a skilled
position (specific vocational preparation (“SVP”) of 7) with light exertion. (R. 25). Thus,
the ALJ found Claimant was not under a disability from June 4, 2018 through July 13, 2020,
the date of the decision. (R. 26).
II.

STANDARD OF REVIEW
A claimant who is found to be “not disabled” may challenge the Commissioner’s final

decision in federal court. Judicial review of an ALJ’s decision is governed by 42 U.S.C.
§405(g), which provides that “[t]he findings of the Commissioner of Social Security as to any
fact, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive.” 42 U.S.C. §405(g). “Substantial
evidence is not a high threshold: it means only ‘such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind
might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.’” Karr v. Saul, 989 F.3d 508, 511 (7th Cir.
2021), quoting Biestek v. Berryhill, 139 S.Ct. 1148, 1154 (2019) (internal quotation marks
omitted). The Commissioner’s decision must also be based on the proper legal criteria and free

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from legal error. Scheck v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 697, 699 (7th Cir. 2004); Steele v. Barnhart, 290
F.3d 936, 940 (7th Cir. 2002).
A court reviews the entire record, but it does not displace the ALJ’s judgment by
reweighing the facts, resolving conflicts, deciding credibility questions, making independent
symptom evaluations, or otherwise substituting its judgment for that of the Commissioner.
McKinzey v. Astrue, 641 F.3d 884, 889 (7th Cir. 2011); Elder v. Astrue, 529 F.3d 408, 413 (7th
Cir. 2008). Instead, the court determines whether the ALJ articulated an “accurate and logical
bridge” from the evidence to his conclusions. Craft v. Astrue, 539 F.3d 668, 673 (7th Cir. 2008).
This requirement is designed to allow a reviewing court to “assess the validity of the agency’s
ultimate findings and afford a claimant meaningful judicial review.” Scott v. Barnhart, 297 F.3d
589, 595 (7th Cir. 2002). Thus, even if reasonable minds could differ as to whether the claimant
is disabled, courts will affirm a decision if the ALJ’s opinion is adequately explained and
supported by substantial evidence. Elder, 529 F.3d at 413 (citation omitted).
III.

ANALYSIS
A.

The ALJ erred by failing to account for the limitations resulting from
Claimant’s mental impairments when determining Claimant’s RFC.

As outlined above, the ALJ found that Claimant’s major depressive disorder and anxiety
disorder were non-severe impairments that nonetheless caused her to experience mild limitations
in her ability to: (1) understand, remember, or apply information; (2) interact with others; (3)
concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; and (4) adapt or manage herself. (R. 19-20). The ALJ’s
finding regarding Claimant’s mental limitations is consistent with the findings of the state
agency consultants, whose opinions the ALJ found to be persuasive. (R. 24). Although the ALJ
acknowledged that his step two analysis was “not a residual functional capacity assessment,” and
that the “mental residual functional capacity assessment used at step four . . . requires a more
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detailed assessment,” (R. 20), the ALJ did not account for Claimant’s mental limitations in his
RFC assessment and questions to the VE. (R. 20, 55-60). Nor did the ALJ explain why he
believed that Claimant’s mental limitations did not warrant the inclusion of non-exertional
limitations in the RFC.
Claimant asserts, among other things, that the ALJ erred by not including non-exertional
limitations in her RFC to account for the limitations created by her mental impairments. (Dckt.
#17 at 10). Because this argument has merit, the Court finds that a remand to the Social Security
Administration is warranted and it will not address Claimant’s remaining arguments. See
DeCamp v. Berryhill, 916 F.3d 671, 676 (7th Cir. 2019) (“Because we determine that the ALJ
did not properly evaluate DeCamp’s limitations in concentration, persistence, and pace, we do
not address DeCamp’s other arguments.”). Claimant is free to re-assert these arguments on
remand.
“The RFC is an assessment of what work-related activities the claimant can perform
despite [her] limitations.” Young v. Barnhart, 362 F.3d 995, 1000 (7th Cir. 2004); Murphy v.
Colvin, 759 F.3d 811, 817 (7th Cir. 2014). The task of assessing a claimant’s RFC is reserved to
the Commissioner. Diaz v. Chater, 55 F.3d 300, 306 n.2 (7th Cir. 1995). “When determining a
claimant’s RFC, the ALJ must consider the combination of all limitations on the ability to work,
including those that do not individually rise to the level of a severe impairment, . . . [and] [a]
failure to fully consider the impact of non-severe impairments requires reversal.” Denton v.
Astrue, 596 F.3d 419, 423 (7th Cir. 2010) (citation omitted; emphasis added); Golembiewski v.
Barnhart, 322 F.3d 912, 918 (7th Cir. 2003). That “a non-severe impairment may not
significantly limit a claimant’s ability to work when viewed in isolation” does not mean that it
cannot “‘be critical to the outcome of a claim’ when viewed in combination with other

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limitations.” Muzzarelli v. Astrue, No. 10 C 7510, 2011 WL 5873793, at *23 (N.D.Ill. Nov. 18,
2011), quoting SSR 96-8p.
Consequently, it is well-settled that the ALJ must incorporate all limitations arising from
a claimant’s mental impairments into her RFC even if those mental impairments are non-severe
and the limitations that they impose on the claimant’s capabilities are minor. See, e.g., DeCamp,
916 F.3d at 675-76; Yurt v. Colvin, 758 F.3d 850, 857-59 (7th Cir. 2014); John M. v. Kijakazi,
No. 19 cv 1595, 2022 WL 220384, *9-10 (N.D.Ill. Jan. 25, 2022); Cheryl C. v. Berryhill, No. 18
C 1443, 2019 WL 339514, at *3-4 (N.D.Ill. Jan. 28, 2019); President v. Berryhill, No. 17 C
4910, 2018 WL 4282053, at *3-4 (N.D.Ill. Sept. 7, 2018); Hovi v. Colvin, No. 12-C-169, 2013
WL 3989232, at *16 (W.D.Wis. Aug. 2, 2013) (“Courts in this circuit have consistently held that
an ALJ’s unexplained failure to include even mild limitations in concentration, persistence, and
pace in the RFC warrants remand.”). Moreover, “[i]f the ALJ intended to incorporate
restrictions caused by Claimant’s mild mental limitations into the RFC, she was obligated to
explain how she did so.” Viviana R. v. Kijakazi, No. 19-cv-07419, 2022 WL 3354840, at *5
(N.D.Ill. Aug. 12, 2022), quoting Muzzarelli, 2011 WL 5873793, at *23; Anthony W., 2022 WL
1062334, at *3 (“While the Court generally reads the ALJ’s decision as a whole, the ALJ here
explicitly stated that the step two analysis did not constitute a mental RFC assessment. . . . [T]he
Court will not overreach and ignore the ALJ’s own words in an effort to read the opinion as a
whole.”).
Conversely, if the ALJ did not believe Claimant’s mental impairments warranted nonexertional limitations in the RFC, she was obligated to explain why. Muzzarelli, 2011 WL
5873793, at *23; Joanne Y. v. Kijakazi, No. 21-cv-1050, 2023 WL 3389367, at *6 (N.D.Ill. May
11, 2023); Thomas G. v. Kijakazi, No. 20-cv-5860, 2022 WL 4234967, at *5 (N.D.Ill. Sept. 14,

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2022); Viviana R., 2022 WL 3354840, at *5. An ALJ’s failure to provide such an explanation
leaves the Court unable to follow the ALJ’s reasoning and, therefore, requires remand so that the
ALJ can provide clarification. Muzzarelli, 2011 WL 5873793, at *23-24; Viviana R., 2022 WL
3354840, at *5 (collecting cases).
Here, despite the ALJ’s assurance at step two of his decision, he did not provide “a more
detailed assessment” of the mental RFC used at steps four and five. (R. 20). Moreover, the ALJ
failed to incorporate any non-exertional limitations into the RFC to accommodate the mild
limitations in Claimant’s capabilities – namely: the ability to: (1) understand, remember, or apply
information; (2) interact with others; (3) concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; and (4) adapt or
manage herself – that the ALJ found that Claimant’s mental impairments created. (R. 19-20).
Nor did the ALJ provide any explanation as to why Claimant’s mild mental limitations did not
require any non-exertional limitations in the RFC.4
The ALJ’s failure to address the mild limitations created by Claimant’s mental
impairments is particularly problematic because the determination of non-disability was based on
the ALJ’s finding that Claimant had the ability to perform her past work as a pharmacist, a
skilled position. (R. 25). Courts have repeatedly recognized that even “mild limitations in social
functioning or concentration, persistence, or pace may preclude the ability to perform . . . skilled
and semi-skilled work.” Cheryl C., 2019 WL 339514, at *3 (citing cases); Teri D. v. Kijakazi,

The ALJ did state that he found Dr. Stahnke’s opinion persuasive after noting that she “assessed no
work-related mental limitations and opined that the claimant is capable of handling her own financial
affairs.” (R. 24). However, this statement does not provide a sufficient explanation for the ALJ’s
decision not to include any non-exertional limitations into Claimant’s RFC. Dr. Stahnke – who
documented Claimant’s report of “intermittent problems with concentration and fatigue when she gets
stressed” – found only that Claimant’s “psychological symptoms are not severe enough to prevent her
from performing work-related activities at the present time.” (R. 392). This finding does not preclude the
possibility that Claimant requires non-exertional limitations in the RFC to account for her mild mental
limitations.

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No. 20 C 4999, 2023 WL 2789326, at *4 (N.D.Ill. Apr. 5, 2023); Joanne Y., 2023 WL 3389367,
at *5-6; Hovi, 2013 WL 3989232, at *16. Moreover, the medical records (including those from
Dr. Stahnke’s examination) indicate that although Claimant’s mental impairments are initially
triggered by environmental factors, the impairments worsen in stressful situations, such as those
one would encounter in skilled work. (See, e.g., R. 390-92, 450, 704-07).
For these reasons, the ALJ’s decision cannot be upheld. On remand, the ALJ must either
incorporate non-exertional restrictions into the RFC that account for Claimant’s mental
impairments’ impact in the four broad areas of mental functioning or explain why such
limitations are unwarranted.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Claimant’s motion for summary judgment, (Dckt. #17), is
granted and the Commissioner’s motion to uphold the decision to deny benefits, (Dckt. #20), is
denied. The decision of the Commissioner is reversed, and the case is remanded for further
proceedings consistent with this Memorandum Opinion and Order.

Date: May 22, 2023

________________________
Jeffrey I. Cummings
United States Magistrate Judge

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