Krouse v. Colvin

Filing 21

ORDER denying 18 Krouse's Motion for Summary Judgment; granting 19 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment; affirming the Commissioner's judgment; closing this case. Signed by Magistrate Judge Stephanie A Gallagher on 1/17/2017. (krs, Deputy Clerk)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
CHAMBERS OF
STEPHANIE A. GALLAGHER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

101 WEST LOMBARD STREET
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21201
[phone]
Fax [phone]

January 17, 2017
LETTER TO COUNSEL
RE:

Tito Dereck Krouse v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration;
Civil No. SAG-16-128

Dear Counsel:
On January 13, 2016, Plaintiff Tito Dereck Krouse petitioned this Court to review the
Social Security Administration’s final decision to deny his claims for Disability Insurance
Benefits and Supplemental Security Income. (ECF No. 1). I have considered the parties’ crossmotions for summary judgment, and Mr. Krouse’s reply. (ECF Nos. 18, 19, 20). I find that no
hearing is necessary. See Loc. R. 105.6 (D. Md. 2016). This Court must uphold the decision of
the Agency if it is supported by substantial evidence and if the Agency employed proper legal
standards. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3); Craig v. Chater, 76 F.3d 585, 589 (4th Cir.
1996). Under that standard, I will deny Mr. Krouse’s motion, grant the Commissioner’s motion,
and affirm the Commissioner’s judgment pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). This
letter explains my rationale.
Mr. Krouse filed his claims for benefits in June 2011, alleging a disability onset date of
August 1, 2009. (Tr. 367-77). His claims were denied initially and on reconsideration. (Tr.
172-80). Hearings were held on November 5, 2013 and May 8, 2014, before an Administrative
Law Judge (“ALJ”). (Tr. 42-111). Following the hearings, the ALJ determined that Mr. Krouse
was not disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act during the relevant time frame.
(Tr. 27-41). The Appeals Council denied Mr. Krouse’s request for review, (Tr. 6-13), so the
ALJ’s decision constitutes the final, reviewable decision of the Agency.
The ALJ found that Mr. Krouse suffered from the severe impairments of “[o]besity, mild
asthma, depression, and anxiety.” (Tr. 29). Despite these impairments, the ALJ determined that
Mr. Krouse retained the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to:
perform light work as defined in 20 CFR 404.1567(b) and 416.967(b) except that
postural activities are all frequent, with no climbing of ropes, ladders, or
scaffolds.
The claimant must avoid concentrated exposure to temperature
extremes, odors, dusts, gases, fumes, and poor ventilation. The claimant could
perform simple, unskilled work that is not at a production pace, meaning paid by
the piece or on an assembly line. The claimant’s work should involve only
occasional contact with the general public and coworkers, and such work should
be essentially isolated, meaning only occasional supervision.

Tito Dereck Krouse v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration
Civil No. SAG-16-128
January 17, 2017
(Tr. 33). After considering the testimony of a vocational expert (“VE”), the ALJ determined that
Mr. Krouse could perform jobs existing in significant numbers in the national economy and that,
therefore, he was not disabled. (Tr. 39-40).
Plaintiff's sole argument on appeal is that the ALJ provided an inadequate analysis of the
listings pertaining to asthma. Pl. Mot. 9-14. On that issue, the ALJ found as follows:
The undersigned has considered the listings contained at section 3.00 et seq.
(respiratory system disorders). As discussed in detail below, treatment records
show that the claimant has required only one hospital emergency room visit for
asthma exacerbation despite the claimant’s inconsistency in using inhalers. The
claimant’s mild asthma is generally stable on medications. Further, the claimant
admitted at the hearing that he continues to smoke. There is no mention in the
record of any findings equivalent in severity to any listed impairment. The
claimant’s obesity has also been considered.
(Tr. 31) (citation omitted). Plaintiff contends that the ALJ failed to apply specific record
evidence to specific listing criteria, in violation of the dictates in Fox v. Colvin, 632 F. App’x
750 (4th Cir. 2015). Because I find the ALJ did not identify any particular listing to be applied, I
affirm the ALJ’s conclusion.
Under existing Fourth Circuit law, an ALJ only has to identify a listing and compare the
evidence to the listing requirements where there is ample evidence to suggest that the listing is
met. See Huntington v. Apfel, 101 F. Supp. 2d 384, 390 (D. Md. 2000) (citing Cook v. Heckler,
783 F.2d 1168, 1172 (4th Cir. 1986)); Ketcher v. Apfel, 68 F. Supp. 2d 629, 645 (D. Md. 1999)
(noting that the “duty of identification of relevant listed impairments and comparison of
symptoms to Listing criteria is only triggered if there is ample evidence in the record to support a
determination that the claimant’s impairment meets or equals one of the listed impairments”).
While Fox, as an unpublished decision, suggested a new standard for the analysis that must be
present in an ALJ’s opinion after a listing has been identified, it did not alter existing law with
respect to the criteria for identifying a listing in the first instance. In Mr. Krouse’s case, while the
ALJ referred to a potentially applicable category of listings that she reviewed (those pertaining to
respiratory system disorders), she did not identify any specific listings within that general
category. (Tr. 31). A mere reference to a general category of listings does not indicate that the
ALJ found ample evidence to identify and analyze any or all of those listings. The ALJ did
identify several specific listings relating to Mr. Krouse’s mental impairments, but properly
applied the special technique to evaluate those impairments. (Tr. 31-33). Accordingly, Fox
provides no basis for remand.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth herein, Mr. Krouse’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No.
18) is DENIED and Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 19) is GRANTED.
The Commissioner’s judgment is AFFIRMED pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
The Clerk is directed to CLOSE this case.
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Tito Dereck Krouse v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration
Civil No. SAG-16-128
January 17, 2017
Despite the informal nature of this letter, it should be flagged as an opinion and docketed
as an order.
Sincerely yours,
/s/
Stephanie A. Gallagher
United States Magistrate Judge

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