BUTLER v. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONER

Filing 30

REPORT AND RECOMMENDED DECISION re 23 Social Security Statement of Errors/Fact Sheet. Objections to R&R due by 8/4/2017. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE JOHN C. NIVISON. (CWP)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MAINE
SHAUNESSY BUTLER,
Plaintiff
v.
NANCY A. BERRYHILL,
ACTING COMMISSIONER,
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION,
Defendant

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No. 1:16-cv-558-JDL

REPORT AND RECOMMENDED DECISION
In this action, Plaintiff Shaunessy Butler seeks disability insurance benefits under
Title II and supplemental security income benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security
Act. Defendant, the Social Security Administration Acting Commissioner, found that
Plaintiff has severe impairments, but retains the functional capacity to perform substantial
gainful activity. Defendant, therefore, denied Plaintiff’s request for disability benefits.
Plaintiff filed this action to obtain judicial review of Defendant’s final administrative
decision pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
Following a review of the record, and after consideration of the parties’ arguments,
I recommend the Court affirm the administrative decision.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE FINDINGS
The Commissioner’s final decision is the September 25, 2015, decision of the
Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) (ECF No. 16-2).1 The ALJ’s decision tracks the familiar

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The Appeals Council found no reason to review the ALJ’s decision. (R. 1.)

five-step sequential evaluation process for analyzing social security disability claims, 20
C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920.
The ALJ found that Plaintiff has severe, but non-listing-level impairments
consisting of hypertension, abdominal pain secondary to fibroid tumor, microcytic anemia,
history of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with left leg pain, and shortness of
breath. (Decision ¶¶ 3, 4.) The ALJ nevertheless determined that Plaintiff retains the
physical residual functional capacity (RFC) to perform light work, subject to several
postural and environmental restrictions.2 (Id. ¶ 5.) Based on the RFC and the testimony
of a vocational expert, the ALJ found Plaintiff can no longer perform her past relevant
work, but could, given her vocational background, make a transition to other substantial
gainful activity, including certain assembler vocations. (Id. ¶¶ 6, 10.) The ALJ concluded,
therefore, that Plaintiff was not under disability between the alleged onset date of July 28,
2012, and the date of decision. (Id. ¶ 11.)
PLAINTIFF’S STATEMENT OF ERRORS
Plaintiff first argues that the ALJ failed to appreciate the nature and extent of
Plaintiff’s physical impairments. (Statement of Errors ¶ 1, ECF No. 23.) Plaintiff also
contends the ALJ erred when she asked Plaintiff questions unrelated to Plaintiff’s health.
(Id. ¶ 2.) In a separate, non-form fact sheet, Plaintiff asserts that the condition of sepsis
(evidently related to her MRSA infection history) is not obvious by casual examination,

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The ALJ concluded that Plaintiff did not have a severe mental health impairment, but nevertheless
assessed certain nonexertional limitations based in part on certain medical issues and Plaintiff’s subjective
complaints. (R. 17.) Plaintiff has not asserted error with respect to the ALJ’s mental RFC findings.

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and that her constellation of impairments impact her daily life. (Fact Sheet, ECF No. 231.)
DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review
A court must affirm the administrative decision provided that the ALJ applied the
correct legal standards and provided that the decision is supported by substantial evidence,
even if the record contains evidence capable of supporting an alternative outcome. MansoPizarro v. Sec’y of HHS, 76 F.3d 15, 16 (1st Cir. 1996) (per curiam); Rodriguez Pagan v.
Sec’y of HHS, 819 F.2d 1, 3 (1st Cir. 1987). Substantial evidence is evidence that a
reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a finding. Richardson v. Perales, 402
U.S. 389, 401 (1971); Rodriguez v. Sec’y of HHS, 647 F.2d 218, 222 (1st Cir. 1981). “The
ALJ’s findings of fact are conclusive when supported by substantial evidence, but they are
not conclusive when derived by ignoring evidence, misapplying the law, or judging matters
entrusted to experts.” Nguyen v. Chater, 172 F.3d 31, 35 (1st Cir. 1999).
This Court’s review must be guided by the parties’ arguments of law and discussion
of the factual record; the Court does not scrutinize the ALJ’s decision on its own. See D.
Me. Local Rule 16.3(a); Rawstron v. Soc. Sec. Admin. Com'r, No. 2:13-CV-00119-NT,
2014 WL 1806864, at *2 (D. Me. May 6, 2014); Lacadie v. Town of Milford, No. 1:07–
CV-00101-JAW, 2008 WL 1930410, at *6 n. 8 (D. Me. May 1, 2008).
B. Analysis
In support of her findings, the ALJ cited in part the available clinical medical
records, the lack of evidence of recent medical treatment, and the results of an April 2013
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consultative examination performed by Alan Bean, M.D. (Ex. 10F), who proposed certain
exertional limitations the ALJ accepted. (R. 16.) A review of the medical record, which
includes not only the evaluation by Dr. Bean, but the assessment of Donald Trumbull,
M.D., who concluded the medical record does not contain evidence to support a
determination that Plaintiff’s physical impairments are functionally severe (Ex. B5A, R.
139 – 140),3 and the records of Richard Chamberlin, M.D., whose RFC assessment was
not inconsistent with the ALJ’s determination even though he concluded that Plaintiff has
severe physical impairments (Ex. B1A, R. 105 – 107), reveals that the record contains
substantial evidence to support the ALJ’s RFC finding despite Plaintiff’s contentions as to
the extent of her physical impairments4 and the potential future complications.5 Similarly,
the record evidence, which includes the testimony of a vocational expert, supports the
ALJ’s conclusion that jobs exist in the national economy that Plaintiff can perform on a
full-time basis.
The ALJ’s questioning of Plaintiff about Plaintiff’s residence and family situation
is also not error. A review of the hearing transcript reveals, as the ALJ explained in her
decision (R. 16), that the questions were designed to determine whether Plaintiff was
deriving income from another source. (R. 39 – 40.) Whether a disability claimant is

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Dr. Trumbull based his opinion not only on provider records, but also on the report of physical examination
provided by Maine Disability Determination Services consulting physician Dr. Bean. (Ex. B10F.)
Plaintiff has not alleged error regarding the ALJ’s assessment of Plaintiff’s mental RFC. Accordingly,
the ALJ’s mental RFC findings are not reviewed in this Recommended Decision.
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Plaintiff notes a concern for the possible loss of a limb, which appears to be related to her history of
experiencing congestive heart failure and/or pneumonia and/or MRSA infection in 2010 while pregnant.
(R. 30 – 31.) This episode was evidently the subject of an earlier application and Plaintiff was found to
have recovered the capacity for sedentary work within 12 months of onset. (R. 31 - 32.)

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working or otherwise receiving income is a legitimate subject of inquiry in the ALJ’s
assessment of a disability claim.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing analysis, I recommend the Court affirm the administrative
decision.
NOTICE
A party may file objections to those specified portions of a magistrate
judge's report or proposed findings or recommended decisions entered
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 636(b)(1)(B) for which de novo review by the district
court is sought, together with a supporting memorandum, within fourteen
(14) days of being served with a copy thereof. A responsive memorandum
judge shall be filed within fourteen (14) days after the filing of the objection.
Failure to file a timely objection shall constitute a waiver of the right
to de novo review by the district court and to appeal the district court's order.
/s/ John C. Nivison
U.S. Magistrate Judge
Dated this 21st day of July, 2017.

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