Christian v. Berryhill

Filing 17

JUDGMENT in favor of Betty J. Christian against Nancy Berryhill. The case is REVERSED AND REMANDED for further proceedings. CASE CLOSED. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jane M. Virden on 4/12/18. (ncb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
OXFORD DIVISION
BETTY J. CHRISTIAN

PLAINTIFF

V.

NO. 3:17CV0106-JMV

NANCY BERRYHILL
Commissioner of Social Security

DEFENDANT
FINAL JUDGMENT

This cause is before the court on Plaintiff’s complaint for judicial review of an
unfavorable final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration denying a
claim for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits and supplemental security
income. The parties have consented to entry of final judgment by the United States Magistrate
Judge under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), with any appeal to the Court of Appeals for the
Fifth Circuit. The court, having reviewed the administrative record, the briefs of the parties, and
the applicable law, and having heard oral argument, finds as follows:
Consistent with the court’s ruling from the bench during a hearing held today, the court
finds the Appeals Counsel erred in its determination that medical records, including, but not
limited to imaging studies (dated May 2016), dated only weeks following issuance of the ALJ’s
decision did not relate to the relevant period. Indeed, the ALJ assigned “little weight” to the
consultative examiner’s opinion that the claimant was limited, essentially, to work at a level of
exertion far less than light on the bases that the doctor’s opinions were not supported by
diagnostic imaging studies and were “inconsistent with the objective examination findings of
treating sources.” Considering that the ALJ determined that the claimant’s lumbar spine
impairment was severe and the later-submitted studies show, among other things, a bulging disc,
the ALJ will consider the new evidence submitted to the Appeals Counsel, as it may change his

decision. Further, as the court pointed out during the hearing, a state agency physician
determined the claimant had a severe condition of “shoulder impingement syndrome”; however,
the ALJ failed to fully consider this impairment, as there is no discussion of it in the decision.
And, the ALJ gave no substantive explanation why he rejected the consultative examiner’s
finding of limitations with reaching, handling, and grasping, which limitations were supported by
objective findings made during an examination. This is troubling to the court, considering the
ALJ determined the claimant could return to her past work as an assistant librarian, a job that
apparently required a significant amount of reaching, handling and grasping as performed. On
remand, the ALJ will be required to correct these errors.
In conclusion, on remand the ALJ must consider the new evidence submitted to the
Appeals Counsel; fully consider the claimant’s “shoulder impingement syndrome” impairment;
and reconsider the consultative examiner’s opinions regarding the claimant’s reaching, handling,
and grasping limitations and give good reasons for rejecting the same (if necessary) in a new
decision. The ALJ may conduct any further proceedings deemed necessary but which are not
inconsistent with this order.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that this case is REVERSED
and REMANDED for further proceedings.
This, the 12th day of April, 2018.

/s/ Jane M. Virden
U. S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE