Morrow v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 18

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Accepting 16 Report and Recommendation. The Commissioner's determination that Morrow was not disabled is affirmed. Judgment shall enter against Morrow and in favor or the Commissioner. Signed by Chief Judge Leonard T Strand on 8/18/2017. (src)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA
EASTERN DIVISION
JUSTON L. MORROW,
Plaintiff,

No. C16-2023-LTS

vs.
NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting
Commissioner of Social Security,

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND
ORDER ON REPORT AND
RECOMMENDATION

Defendant.
___________________________
I.

INTRODUCTION

This case is before me on a Report and Recommendation (R&R) filed by the
Honorable C.J. Williams, Chief United States Magistrate Judge. See Doc. No. 16. Judge
Williams recommends that I affirm the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security
(the Commissioner) denying plaintiff Juston L. Morrow’s application for supplemental
security income (SSI) under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 13811385 (the Act).
Morrow has filed timely objections (Doc. No. 17) to the R&R. The Commissioner
has not filed a response. The procedural history and relevant facts are set forth in the
R&R and are repeated herein only to the extent necessary.
II.
A.

APPLICABLE STANDARDS

Judicial Review of the Commissioner’s Decision
The Commissioner’s decision must be affirmed “if it is supported by substantial

evidence on the record as a whole.” Pelkey v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 575, 577 (8th Cir.
2006); see 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (“The findings of the Commissioner of Social Security as

to any fact, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive . . .”). “Substantial
evidence is less than a preponderance, but enough that a reasonable mind might accept
as adequate to support a conclusion.” Lewis, 353 F.3d at 645. The Eighth Circuit
explains the standard as “something less than the weight of the evidence and [that] allows
for the possibility of drawing two inconsistent conclusions, thus it embodies a zone of
choice within which the [Commissioner] may decide to grant or deny benefits without
being subject to reversal on appeal.” Culbertson v. Shalala, 30 F.3d 934, 939 (8th Cir.
1994).
In determining whether the Commissioner’s decision meets this standard, the court
considers “all of the evidence that was before the ALJ, but it [does] not re-weigh the
evidence.” Wester v. Barnhart, 416 F.3d 886, 889 (8th Cir. 2005). The court considers
both evidence that supports the Commissioner’s decision and evidence that detracts from
it. Kluesner v. Astrue, 607 F.3d 533, 536 (8th Cir. 2010). The court must “search the
record for evidence contradicting the [Commissioner’s] decision and give that evidence
appropriate weight when determining whether the overall evidence in support is
substantial.” Baldwin v. Barnhart, 349 F.3d 549, 555 (8th Cir. 2003) (citing Cline v.
Sullivan, 939 F.2d 560, 564 (8th Cir. 1991)).
In evaluating the evidence in an appeal of a denial of benefits, the court must apply
a balancing test to assess any contradictory evidence. Sobania v. Sec’y of Health &
Human Servs., 879 F.2d 441, 444 (8th Cir. 1989). The court, however, does not
“reweigh the evidence presented to the ALJ,” Baldwin, 349 F.3d at 555 (citing Bates v.
Chater, 54 F.3d 529, 532 (8th Cir. 1995)), or “review the factual record de novo.” Roe
v. Chater, 92 F.3d 672, 675 (8th Cir. 1996) (citing Naber v. Shalala, 22 F.3d 186, 188
(8th Cir. 1994)). Instead, if, after reviewing the evidence, the court finds it “possible to
draw two inconsistent positions from the evidence and one of those positions represents
the Commissioner’s findings, [the court] must affirm the [Commissioner’s] denial of
benefits.” Kluesner, 607 F.3d at 536 (quoting Finch v. Astrue, 547 F.3d 933, 935 (8th
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Cir. 2008)). This is true even in cases where the court “might have weighed the evidence
differently.” Culbertson, 30 F.3d at 939 (quoting Browning v. Sullivan, 958 F.2d 817,
822 (8th Cir. 1992)). The court may not reverse the Commissioner’s decision “merely
because substantial evidence would have supported an opposite decision.” Baker v.
Heckler, 730 F.2d 1147, 1150 (8th Cir. 1984); see Goff v. Barnhart, 421 F.3d 785, 789
(8th Cir. 2005) (“[A]n administrative decision is not subject to reversal simply because
some evidence may support the opposite conclusion.”).
B.

Review of Report and Recommendation
A district judge must review a magistrate judge’s R&R under the following

standards: 
Within fourteen days after being served with a copy, any party may serve
and file written objections to such proposed findings and recommendations
as provided by rules of court. A judge of the court shall make a de novo
determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed findings
or recommendations to which objection is made. A judge of the court may
accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or
recommendations made by the magistrate judge. The judge may also
receive further evidence or recommit the matter to the magistrate judge with
instructions.
28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b). Thus, when a party objects to
any portion of an R&R, the district judge must undertake a de novo review of that portion.
Any portions of an R&R to which no objections have been made must be reviewed
under at least a “clearly erroneous” standard. See, e.g., Grinder v. Gammon, 73 F.3d
793, 795 (8th Cir. 1996) (noting that when no objections are filed “[the district court
judge] would only have to review the findings of the magistrate judge for clear error”).
As the Supreme Court has explained, “[a] finding is ‘clearly erroneous’ when although
there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the
definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” Anderson v. City of
Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 573-74 (1985) (quoting United States v. U.S. Gypsum Co.,
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333 U.S. 364, 395 (1948)). However, a district judge may elect to review an R&R under
a more-exacting standard even if no objections are filed:
Any party that desires plenary consideration by the Article III judge of any
issue need only ask. Moreover, while the statute does not require the judge
to review an issue de novo if no objections are filed, it does not preclude
further review by the district judge, sua sponte or at the request of a party,
under a de novo or any other standard.
Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 150 (1985).
III.

THE R&R

Morrow applied for SSI on March 13, 2013, alleging he became disabled on
January 15, 2006, due to depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, obesity, asthma,
personality disorder, metatarsalgia and learning disorder versus borderline intellectual
functioning. Doc. No. 16 at 5 (citing Administrative Record (AR) at 13). After a
hearing, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) applied the familiar five-step evaluation and
found at step five that that there were jobs in significant numbers in the national economy
that Morrow could perform based on his residual functional capacity (RFC). As such,
the ALJ found that Morrow was not disabled as defined in the Act. Morrow argues the
ALJ erred in determining that he was not disabled because:
1.

The ALJ failed to evaluate properly the work-related limitations
from examining physician Dr. Ralph Scott. Doc. No. 13 at 3-8.

2.

The ALJ failed to evaluate properly the opinions of Mr. Morrow’s
medication manager, Vicki Boling, ARNP. Doc. No. 13 at 8-14.

3.

The ALJ failed to fully develop the record because the RFC was not
supported by substantial medical evidence from a treating or
examining source. Doc. No. 13 at 15-16.

See Doc. No. 16 at 8. Judge Williams addressed each argument separately in his R&R.
With regard to Dr. Scott’s work-related limitations, Judge Williams noted that Dr.
Scott had examined Morrow on one occasion in February 2014, during which he
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interviewed Morrow, reviewed academic records and administered some tests. Doc. No.
16 at 8. Dr. Scott summarized his findings as follows:
Results of a record review and this evaluation underscore the severity of
Juston’s emotional fragility and provide little encouragement that he can
presently succeed in gainful employment. However, the record also
suggests that within-family therapy extending into possible vocational
rehabilitative efforts, focusing on wide aptitude/ability differences, may
enable Juston to succeed in a highly accommodative work setting.
Id. at 9 (citing AR at 780). The ALJ did not describe the weight she assigned to Dr.
Scott’s opinion, but stated that the results of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
Inventory II (MMPI-2) test seemed “largely subjective.” Id. (citing AR 19). She also
found Dr. Scott’s opinion that Morrow was suffering “acute psychological turmoil” to
be exaggerated because Morrow was not hospitalized. Finally, she found Dr. Scott’s
opinion to be inconsistent with Morrow’s daily activities.
Judge Williams concluded the ALJ erred in describing the MMPI-2 as a subjective
test, but deemed it harmless because substantial evidence in the record as a whole
supported the ALJ’s decision. Likewise, while the ALJ erred in failing to describe the
weight she gave to Dr. Scott’s opinion, the error was harmless because it was clear that
the ALJ gave his opinion no weight. Judge Williams found there were good reasons for
discounting Dr. Scott’s opinion.

Dr. Scott was a one-time examining consultative

physician and he did not identify any work-related limitations in his opinion. His vague
assertion that Morrow had “emotional fragility” did not provide any guidance of workrelated limitations and his conclusion that there was “little encouragement that he [could]
presently succeed in gainful employment” was a decision for the ALJ.
To the extent Dr. Scott’s conclusion that “within-family therapy extending into
possible vocational rehabilitative efforts, focusing on wide aptitude/ability differences,
may enable [Morrow] to succeed in a highly accommodative work setting” could be read
as a work-related limitation, Judge Williams noted that the ALJ’s RFC assessment
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provided for a psychologically-accommodative work setting. He found that various
inconsistencies between Dr. Scott’s findings and the record as a whole did not support
further accommodations. For these reasons, he found the ALJ did not err in weighing
Dr. Scott’s opinion and concluded that while some evidence may have supported the
opposite conclusion, the ALJ’s evaluation was “sufficiently within the ALJ’s zone of
choice.” Doc. No. 16 at 12.
With regard to ARNP Boling’s opinion, Judge Williams noted that she had
completed two mental medical source statements (in checkbox form) as Morrow’s treating
nurse practitioner.1 Id. at 13. Boling concluded that Morrow would not be able to
complete a normal work week without becoming anxious and depressed. Specifically,
she and Dr. Piburn concluded that Morrow “has no useful ability to function in several
cognitive areas, including making simple work decisions and completing a normal
workday and workweek without interruptions from psychologically based symptoms.”
Id. at 14 (citing AR at 19). The ALJ found these opinions were inconsistent with
Morrow’s activities of daily living including using computers, playing video games for
hours and cooking his own meals. Id. She also noted that Morrow’s treatment records
indicated that his attention and concentration were often within normal limits and his
memory functions were intact. Morrow had also testified that he thought he could
probably work if the job had “little social contact.” Id.
Judge Williams found the ALJ did not err in considering Boling’s opinion. He
noted the ALJ explained his reasons for giving Boling’s opinions “little weight.” He
found it was not error for the ALJ to cite Morrow’s ability to play hours of video games
as inconsistent with disability and to discount Boling’s opinion because it was based on
Morrow’s subjective complaints.

1

One of these statements is also signed by Dr. Marvin Piburn, Morrow’s psychiatrist. Compare
AR at 764 (dated December 13, 2013) with AR at 807 (dated August 7, 2014). The ALJ
acknowledged both medical opinions in her decision. See AR at 19.

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Finally, with regard to the ALJ’s duty to develop the record, Judge Williams
addressed Morrow’s argument that the ALJ’s decision was not supported by substantial
evidence under Nevland v. Apfel, 204 F.3d 853, 858 (8th Cir. 2000), because there was
not an opinion from a treating or examining physician in the record regarding Morrow’s
work-related limitations. He noted that the ALJ relied on the record as a whole in
identifying Morrow’s work-related limitations and not just those identified by the state
agency reviewing physicians. He also cited authority from this court that Nevland does
not require remand in every case lacking a treating doctor’s opinion.
For all of the above reasons, Judge Williams recommends that I affirm the
Commissioner’s decision that Morrow is not disabled.
IV.
A.

DISCUSSION

Morrow’s Objections
Morrow objects to Judge Williams’ analysis on each of the three issues above. As

such, I will review these issues de novo. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); see also Fed. R.
Civ. P. 72(b).  
B.

Analysis
1.

Dr. Scott’s Opinion

Morrow argues the ALJ committed two errors that were not harmless: (1) she
failed to assign a weight to Dr. Scott’s opinion and (2) she reasoned the MMPI-2 was a
subjective test. He contends the court cannot provide a post hoc rationalization for these
errors. Furthermore, he argues his daily activities are not a good reason to discredit Dr.
Scott’s opinion. He argues there is no evidence in the record that he can perform these
activities (using computers, Skyping with friends, going to the library independently)

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eight hours a day, five days a week. He performs those activities at his own pace and
faces no consequences if interrupted.2
With regard to video games, Morrow argues there is no evidence in the record
establishing that he plays video games “for hours” as found by the ALJ.3 While the
record states that he plays them daily, it also states that he has “trouble concentrating”
and can pay attention only for a “few minutes at a time.” Doc. No. 17-1 at 5 (citing AR
at 370-72). He cites Seventh Circuit cases in which that court has expressed doubt that
playing video games requires the same concentration as full-time work. See Voigt v.
Colvin, 781 F.3d 871, 878 (7th Cir. 2015); Taylor v. Colvin, 829 F.3d 799, 801 (7th
Cir. 2016). Morrow contends Dr. Scott’s opinion supports the specific work-related
limitations identified by ARNP Boling and that such limitations are consistent with the
record as a whole.
With regard to the errors noted by Judge Williams, I agree that they are harmless.
First, Judge Williams reasoned that while the ALJ failed to explain the weight she gave
Dr. Scott’s opinion, remand was not required because it was clear from the record that
the ALJ gave it no weight. I agree. Moreover, as Judge Williams pointed out, Dr.
Scott’s opinion was not entitled to any special weight as a one-time examining physician

2

Morrow contrasts this with the vocational expert (VE) testimony that a worker requiring two
or more unscheduled breaks per day of 10 to 15 minutes cannot perform competitive
employment. Likewise, an individual who cannot perform at a consistent pace throughout the
day and worked at a slow pace 25 percent of the work day would not be able to perform
competitive employment. See Doc. No. 17-1 at 5.

3

The ALJ cites Exhibit 14E in support of her finding that Morrow plays video games for hours.
This exhibit is a third party function report completed by Michael Owens, who identifies his
relationship with Morrow as “staff.” He indicates that Morrow spends “[h]alf the day at least
playing video games.” AR at 327. Morrow himself testified that he essentially plays video
games with any free time he has. See AR at 44 (“When I don’t have anything going on, I wake
up, play videogames, go back to bed. That’s my day. When I have stuff to do, I get up at the
right time, get dressed, looking nice, and go to meeting or something I need to go to, go back
home, play videogames, go to bed.”).

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and, in any event, his opinion did not identify any specific work-related limitations. See
Doc. No. 16 at 10-11.
Second, the ALJ’s incorrect characterization of the MMPI-2 as a subjective test
was only one reason the ALJ discounted Dr. Scott’s opinion. The ALJ also pointed out
inconsistencies between that opinion and other evidence in the record. In other words,
her error regarding the MMPI-2 did not taint the rest of her reasoning regarding Dr.
Scott’s opinion. She set forth other good reasons, supported by the record as a whole,
for not giving Dr. Scott’s opinion controlling weight.
With regard to whether Morrow’s daily activities are a good reason for discounting
Dr. Scott’s opinion, I agree with Judge Williams that they are. The ALJ stated “the
claimant’s ability to use computers, Skype with his friends and go to the public library
independently, contradicts Dr. Scott’s opinion that the claimant may require a highly
accommodative work setting.” AR at 19. She stated that while Morrow may have
“difficulty working with or interacting with others on a sustained basis,” he should
otherwise “have the ability to understand, remember and carry out at least simple routine
tasks.” Id.
Morrow argues his daily activities do not support the conclusion that he can
perform work eight hours a day, five days a week, without interruptions. This is a
separate issue from whether Morrow’s daily activities contradict Dr. Scott’s opinion that
Morrow requires a “highly accommodative work setting.” Because Dr. Scott did not
explain what he meant by this phrase, the ALJ’s RFC could be considered “highly
accommodative.” In any event, the ALJ pointed out that Morrow’s daily activities
suggest he does not need significant accommodations in certain areas. I agree with Judge
Williams that the inconsistency between Morrow’s daily activities and Dr. Scott’s vague
opinion is a sufficient reason to discredit it. Morrow’s daily activities demonstrate that
he has some ability to work independently, complete simple tasks and engage in limited
social interaction. Whether these activities suggest Morrow can maintain competitive
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employment is a separate issue. Taken alone, these activities (including playing video
games) may not establish an ability to maintain competitive employment. However,
combined with other evidence in the record, including Morrow’s admissions and other
medical evidence, I find they support the ALJ’s decision that he is able to perform work
within the limitations of the RFC. For these reasons, I agree with Judge Williams
regarding the ALJ’s consideration of Dr. Scott’s opinion.
2.

ARNP Boling’s Opinion

Morrow argues ARNP Boling’s opinion is consistent with Dr. Scott’s and, based
on the ALJ’s alleged errors with regard to Dr. Scott’s opinion, Boling’s opinion should
be re-evaluated as well.
The ALJ gave little weight to the opinions of Boling, Morrow’s counselor and Dr.
Piburn, Morrow’s former psychiatrist. Boling and Dr. Piburn found Morrow had no
useful ability to function in several cognitive areas, including making simple work
decisions and completing a normal workday and workweek without interruptions from
psychologically-based symptoms. AR 19. The ALJ gave these opinions little weight,
finding them inconsistent with Morrow’s activities of daily living, which demonstrated
he had the capacity for simple tasks, similar to those found in work settings.

Id.

Morrow’s treatment records also indicated his attention and concentration were often
within normal limits or his memory functions were intact. Id. Morrow had also admitted
he could probably do a job if it had little social contact. Id.
Morrow argues that the ALJ’s error in finding the MMPI-2 was subjective
evidence adversely affected the ALJ’s decision to discount Boling’s opinion. Nothing in
the ALJ’s decision indicates that her analysis of one opinion was influenced by another.
She addressed each medical opinion separately and did not rely on her findings as to Dr.
Scott’s opinion to discredit Boling’s. The ALJ’s decision clearly discounts both opinions

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based on Morrow’s daily activities and other medical evidence in the record. I find no
error with regard to the ALJ’s evaluation of Boling’s opinion.
3.

Medical Evidence from a Treating or Examining Source

Morrow argues the RFC is not supported by substantial medical evidence because
the ALJ did not rely on a treating or examining source opinion. He states that Dr. Scott
identified general limitations supported by objective evidence that the ALJ should have
credited. He also notes that the non-examining state agency psychological consultants
who reviewed Morrow’s claim in 2013 did not have the opportunity to review Dr. Scott’s
2014 report. He contends the ALJ improperly “filled in the holes” of the medical
evidence in developing the RFC.
In analyzing the RFC, the ALJ noted the medical evidence shows that Morrow is
capable of keeping focus and attention for prolonged periods, when the activity is
something he enjoys. AR at 17. Morrow admitted that he thought he could work if the
job did not require a lot of interpersonal contact and treatment notes indicated that he told
providers he was not working because he was trying to get on disability. Id. The
consultative examiner assigned Morrow a global assessment functioning score of 62,
indicating only mild symptoms and impairment.

She concluded his intellectual

functioning was sufficient for competitive employment and Morrow lacked motivation.
Id. While the ALJ discounted opinions from Boling, Dr. Piburn and Dr. Scott, she
provided good reasons for doing so, and relied on other medical evidence and the state
agency psychological consultant opinions in developing the RFC.
Judge Williams concluded that the RFC was sufficiently supported by medical
evidence in the record even in the absence of a credited treating or examining source
opinion. Id. at 17-18. He distinguished Nevland, noting that the ALJ here did not rely
solely on the statements of the state agency psychological consultants because the ALJ
imposed additional limitations that they had not identified (limiting claimant to tasks he
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could learn in 30 days or less, no interaction with the public and no more than occasional
interaction with supervisors and coworkers and a slower than production-rate pace). Id.
at 18. These limitations were based on medical records, Morrow’s testimony and other
evidence in the record.
The need for treating and examining source opinions arises out of the ALJ’s duty
to develop the record. In Nevland, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals stated:
In the case at bar, there is no medical evidence about how Nevland's
impairments affect his ability to function now. The ALJ relied on the
opinions of non-treating, non-examining physicians who reviewed the
reports of the treating physicians to form an opinion of Nevland's RFC. In
our opinion, this does not satisfy the ALJ's duty to fully and fairly develop
the record. The opinions of doctors who have not examined the claimant
ordinarily do not constitute substantial evidence on the record as a whole.
Jenkins v. Apfel, 196 F.3d 922, 925 (8th Cir.1999). Likewise, the
testimony of a vocational expert who responds to a hypothetical based on
such evidence is not substantial evidence upon which to base a denial of
benefits. Id. In our opinion, the ALJ should have sought such an opinion
from Nevland's treating physicians or, in the alternative, ordered
consultative examinations, including psychiatric and/or psychological
evaluations to assess Nevland's mental and physical residual functional
capacity. As this Court said in Lund v. Weinberger, 520 F.2d 782, 785
(8th Cir.1975): “An administrative law judge may not draw upon his own
inferences from medical reports. See Landess v. Weinberger, 490 F.2d
1187, 1189 (8th Cir.1974); Willem v. Richardson, 490 F.2d 1247, 1248–
49 n. 3 (8th Cir.1974).”
Id. [emphasis in original]. However, Nevland “does not compel remand in every case in
which the administrative record lacks a treating doctor's opinion.” Hattig v. Colvin, No.
C12–4092 MWB, 2013 WL 6511866, at *10 (N.D. Iowa Dec. 12, 2013). Even without
an opinion from a treating or examining source, the ALJ's decision may be affirmed if
there is other medical evidence demonstrating the claimant's ability to function in the
workplace. Id.; see also Agan v. Astrue, 922 F.Supp.2d 730, 756 (N.D. Iowa 2013).
The question is whether there is sufficient evidence of “how [the claimant's] impairments
... affect [her] residual functional capacity to do other work,” or her “ability to function
12

in the workplace.” Hattig, 2013 WL 6511866, at *11 (quoting Nevland, 204 F.3d at
858).
This case does not present a Nevland issue because the record contains opinions
from treating, examining and consultative providers. In other words, the record was
fully developed, but the ALJ did not give the opinions the weight that Morrow argues
they deserve. As discussed above, I find the ALJ provided good reasons for giving Dr.
Scott’s opinion no weight and Boling’s opinion little weight. Moreover, I find that the
RFC is supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole, including medical
evidence. While the ALJ did not find Morrow’s limitations were as debilitating as
Boling’s and Dr. Scott’s opinions suggested, she did impose limitations that were
consistent with the record as a whole. As Judge Williams noted, the ALJ not only relied
on the state agency psychological consultants in imposing these limitations, but also relied
on treatment records and Morrow’s own testimony. I find no error with regard to the
RFC assessment and find it is supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole.
V.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth herein:
1.

Plaintiff Juston Lee Morrow’s objections (Doc. No. 17) to the Report and
Recommendation are overruled;

2.

I accept Chief United States Magistrate Judge C.J. Williams’ January 17,
2017, Report and Recommendation (Doc. No. 16) without modification.
See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

3.

Pursuant to Judge Williams’ recommendation:
a.

The Commissioner's determination that Morrow was not disabled is
affirmed; and

b.

Judgment shall enter against Morrow and in favor of the
Commissioner.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED this 18th day of August, 2017.

________________________________
Leonard T. Strand, Chief Judge

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