Farmer v. Social Security Administration

Filing 16

OPINION MEMORANDUM AND ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is affirmed. A separate judgment in accordance with this Opinion, Memorandum and Order is entered this same date. Signed by District Judge Henry Edward Autrey on 10/30/14. (CLA)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
JOSEPH C. FARMER,
Plaintiff,
v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner of
Social Security,
Defendant.

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No. 4:13CV2389 HEA

OPINION, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s request for judicial review
under 28 U.S.C. § 405(g) of the final decision of Defendant denying Plaintiff’s
applications for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) under Title II of the Social
Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 401, et seq. For the reasons set forth below, the Court
affirms the Commissioner's denial of Plaintiff's applications.
Facts and Background
Plaintiff was 53 years old at the time of the hearing. He finished high
school. He had two years of college at the junior college level. Plaintiff had been
employed at Anheuser Busch brewery for 25 years. While employed there the
Plaintiff handled coal, did maintenance, and restroom sanitation. The ALJ found
Plaintiff had the severe impairments of “residuals of left hand injury”. The ALJ

found that he did not have an impairment or combination of impairments listed in
or medically equal to one contained in 20 C.F.R. part 404, subpart P, appendix 1.
The ALJ made inquiry of whether any occupation existed in significant numbers
for a hypothetical person of Plaintiff’s age, education, and work experience who
could perform light work except that he would be limited to a ten pound lifting
maximum with the left hand, could only occasionally handle and perform gross
manipulation with the left hand, and occasionally finger and perform fine
manipulation with his left hand. Considering the testimony in response to that
inquiry the ALJ determined that Plaintiff retained the RFC to perform light work,
but was limited to a ten-pound lifting maximum with the left hand, and could only
occasionally perform handling, gross manipulation, fingering, and fine
manipulation with the left hand. The ALJ also found that Plaintiff’s impairments
would not preclude him from performing work that exists in significant numbers in
the national economy, including work as a callout operator (57,220 jobs nationally
and 610 jobs in Missouri), a furniture rental consultant (85,828 jobs nationally and
1,495 jobs in Missouri) or tanning salon attendant (21,280 jobs nationally and 290
jobs in Missouri). There was also testimony from the vocational expert that there
were also jobs as a bus monitor or surveillance system monitor which did not
require grasping or holding anything at all with the hands. Therefore, the ALJ

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found that Plaintiff was not disabled. The Appeals Council denied his request for
review and the ALJ’s decision stands as the final decision for review by this court.
Statement of Issues
The general issues in a Social Security case are whether the final decision of
the Commissioner is consistent with the Social Security Act, regulations, and
applicable case law, and whether the findings of fact are supported by substantial
evidence on the record as a whole. Here the specific issues are whether the ALJ
appropriately considered the opinion evidence of record, properly determined
Plaintiff’s RFC, and whether the vocational expert’s testimony constitutes
substantial evidence that Plaintiff could perform work that exists in significant
numbers in the national economy.
Standard To Determine Disability
The Social Security Act defines as disabled a person who is “unable to
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 twelve
months.” 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(A); see also Hurd v. Astrue, 621 F.3d 734, 738
(8th Cir.2010). The impairment must be “of such severity that [the claimant] is not
only unable to do his previous work but cannot, considering his age, education, and
work experience, engage in any other kind of substantial gainful work which exists
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in the national economy, regardless of whether such work exists in the immediate
area in which he lives, or whether a specific job vacancy exists for him, or whether
he would be hired if he applied for work.” 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(B).
A five-step regulatory framework is used to determine whether an individual
claimant qualifies for disability benefits. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a), 416.920(a); see
also McCoy v. Astrue, 648 F.3d 605, 611 (8th Cir.2011) (discussing the five-step
process). At Step One, the ALJ determines whether the claimant is currently
engaging in “substantial gainful activity”; if so, then he is not disabled. 20 C.F.R.
§§ 404.1520(a)(4)(I), 416.920(a)(4)(I); McCoy, 648 F.3d at 611. At Step Two, the
ALJ determines whether the claimant has a severe impairment, which is “any
impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits [the
claimant's] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities”; if the claimant
does not have a severe impairment, he is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)
(4)(ii), 404.1520(c), 416.920(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(c); McCoy, 648 F.3d at 611. At
Step Three, the ALJ evaluates whether the claimant's impairment meets or equals
one of the impairments listed in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 (the
“listings”). 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(iii), 416.920(a)(4)(iii). If the claimant has
such an impairment, the Commissioner will find the claimant disabled; if not, the
ALJ proceeds with the rest of the five-step process. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(d),
416.920(d); McCoy, 648 F.3d at 611.
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Prior to Step Four, the ALJ must assess the claimant's “residual functional
capacity” (“RFC”), which is “the most a claimant can do despite [his] limitations.”
Moore v. Astrue, 572 F.3d 520, 523 (8th Cir.2009) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545 (a)
(1)); see also 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(e), 416.920(e). At Step Four, the ALJ
determines whether the claimant can return to his past relevant work, by comparing
the claimant's RFC with the physical and mental demands of the claimant's past
relevant work. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a) (4) (iv), 404.1520(f), 416.920(a) (4) (iv),
416.920(f); McCoy, 648 F.3d at 611. If the claimant can perform his past relevant
work, he is not disabled; if the claimant cannot, the analysis proceeds to the next
step. Id... At Step Five, the ALJ considers the claimant's RFC, age, education, and
work experience to determine whether the claimant can make an adjustment to
other work in the national economy; if the claimant cannot make an adjustment to
other work, the claimant will be found disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(v),
416.920(a)(4)(v); McCoy, 648 F.3d at 611.
Through Step Four, the burden remains with the claimant to prove that he is
disabled. Moore, 572 F.3d at 523. At Step Five, the burden shifts to the
Commissioner to establish that the claimant maintains the RFC to perform a
significant number of jobs within the national economy. Id.; Brock v. Astrue, 674
F.3d 1062, 1064 (8th Cir.2012).

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RFC
A claimant's RFC is the most an individual can do despite the combined
effects of all of his or her credible limitations. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545. An
ALJ's RFC finding is based on all of the record evidence, including the claimant's
testimony regarding symptoms and limitations, the claimant's medical treatment
records, and the medical opinion evidence. See Wildman v. Astrue, 596 F.3d 959,
969 (8th Cir.2010); see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545; Social Security Ruling (SSR)
96–8p. An ALJ may discredit a claimant's subjective allegations of disabling
symptoms to the extent they are inconsistent with the overall record as a whole,
including: the objective medical evidence and medical opinion evidence; the
claimant's daily activities; the duration, frequency, and intensity of pain; dosage,
effectiveness, and side effects of medications and medical treatment; and the
claimant's self-imposed restrictions. See Polaski v. Heckler, 739 F.2d 1320, 1322
(8th Cir.1984); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529; SSR 96–7p.
A claimant's subjective complaints may not be disregarded solely because
the objective medical evidence does not fully support them. The absence of
objective medical evidence is just one factor to be considered in evaluating the
claimant's credibility and complaints. The ALJ must fully consider all of the
evidence presented relating to subjective complaints, including the claimant's prior

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work record, and observations by third parties and treating and examining
physicians relating to such matters as:
(1) the claimant's daily activities;
(2) the subjective evidence of the duration, frequency, and intensity of the
claimant's pain;
(3) any precipitating or aggravating factors;
(4) the dosage, effectiveness, and side effects of any medication; and
(5) the claimant's functional restrictions.
The ALJ must make express credibility determinations and set forth the
inconsistencies in the record which cause him to reject the claimant's complaints.
Guilliams v. Barnhart, 393 F.3d 798, 802 (8th Cir.2005). “It is not enough that the
record contains inconsistencies; the ALJ must specifically demonstrate that he
considered all of the evidence.” Id. The ALJ, however, “need not explicitly
discuss each Polaski factor.” Strongson v. Barnhart, 361 F.3d 1066, 1072 (8th
Cir.2004). The ALJ need only acknowledge and consider those factors. Id.
Although credibility determinations are primarily for the ALJ and not the court, the
ALJ's credibility assessment must be based on substantial evidence. Rautio v.
Bowen, 862 F.2d 176, 179 (8th Cir.1988). The burden of persuasion to prove
disability and demonstrate RFC remains on the claimant. See Steed v. Astrue, 524
F.3d 872, 876 (8th Cir. 2008).
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ALJ Decision
The ALJ utilized the five-step analysis as required in these cases. Here the
ALJ determined at Step One, the ALJ concluded that Plaintiff had not engaged in
substantial gainful activity during the period from his alleged onset date of October
30, 2010 through his date last insured of December 31, 2010. The ALJ found at
Step Two that Plaintiff had the severe impairments of residuals of left hand injury.
At Step Three, the ALJ found that Plaintiff did not suffer from an
impairment or combination of impairments that met or medically equal the severity
of one of the listed impairments in 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 (20
CFR 404.1520 (d), 404.1525, 404.1526.
As required, prior to Step Four, the ALJ determined the Residual Functional
Capacity of Plaintiff as the ability to perform light work (lifting and carrying 20
pounds occasionally and ten pounds frequently; sitting six hours out of eight; and
standing/walking six hours out of eight) as defined in 20 CFR 404.1567 (b) except
that he will be limited to a ten pounds lifting maximum with the left hand; he will
occasionally be able to handle/perform gross manipulative activities with his left
hand; and he will only occasionally be able to finger/perform fine manipulative
activities with his hand.
At Step Four it was the finding of the ALJ that Plaintiff was unable to
perform any past relevant work.
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Finally, at Step five, the ALJ found, considering Plaintiffs’ age, education,
work experience, and residual functional capacity, that Plaintiff could perform
other work that existed in significant numbers in the national economy. The ALJ,
therefore, found Plaintiff not disabled, and denied the benefits sought in his
Applications.
Standard For Judicial Review
The Court’s role in reviewing the Commissioner’s decision is to determine
whether the decision “‘complies with the relevant legal requirements and is
supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole.’” Pate–Fires v. Astrue,
564 F.3d 935, 942 (8th Cir.2009) (quoting Ford v. Astrue, 518 F.3d 979, 981 (8th
Cir.2008)). “Substantial evidence is ‘less than preponderance, but enough that a
reasonable mind might accept it as adequate to support a conclusion.’” Renstrom
v. Astrue, 680 F.3d 1057, 1063 (8th Cir.2012) (quoting Moore v. Astrue, 572 F.3d
520, 522 (8th Cir.2009)). In determining whether substantial evidence supports the
Commissioner’s decision, the Court considers both evidence that supports that
decision and evidence that detracts from that decision. Id. However, the court
“‘do[es] not reweigh the evidence presented to the ALJ, and [it] defer[s] to the
ALJ’s determinations regarding the credibility of testimony, as long as those
determinations are supported by good reasons and substantial evidence.’” Id.
(quoting Gonzales v. Barnhart, 465 F.3d 890, 894 (8th Cir.2006)). “If, after
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reviewing the record, the court finds it is possible to draw two inconsistent
positions from the evidence and one of those positions represents the ALJ’s
findings, the court must affirm the ALJ’s decision.’” Partee v. Astrue, 638 F.3d
860, 863 (8th Cir.2011) (quoting Goff v. Barnhart, 421 F.3d 785, 789 (8th
Cir.2005)). The Court should disturb the administrative decision only if it falls
outside the available “zone of choice” of conclusions that a reasonable fact finder
could have reached. Hacker v. Barnhart, 459 F.3d 934, 936 (8th Cir.2006). The
Eighth Circuit has repeatedly held that a court should “defer heavily to the findings
and conclusions” of the Social Security Administration. Hurd v. Astrue, 621 F.3d
734, 738 (8th Cir. 2010); Howard v. Massanari, 255 F.3d 577, 581 (8th Cir. 2001).
Discussion
A. Did the ALJ Properly consider the Medical Opinions of Record?
The essence of Plaintiff’s position on this query is that the ALJ did not
assign controlling weight to the opinion of Dr. Lowder. The record notes that Dr.
Lowder was the treating physician of Plaintiff. Plaintiff also asserts that the ALJ
improperly interpreted the opinion of Dr. Panattoni, who treated Plaintiff after the
relevant period in the case.
It is axiomatic that “[a] treating physician’s opinion is given controlling
weight if it ‘is well-supported by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory
diagnostic techniques and is not inconsistent with the other substantial evidence in
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[a claimant’s] case record.” Tilley v. Astrue, 580 F.3d 675, 679 (8th Cir. 2009
(quoting 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d)(2))(alteration in original). “[S]uch an opinion
does not automatically control because the [ALJ] must evaluate the record as a
whole.” Wagner v. Astrue, 499 F.3d 842, 849 (8th Cir. 2007). Having said that,
“‘an ALJ may grant less weight to a treating physician’s opinion when that opinion
conflicts with other substantial medical evidence contained within the record.” Id.
(quoting Prosch v. Apfel, 201 F.3d 1010, 1013-14 (8th Cir. 2000)); see also 20
C.F.R. § 404.1527(d) (listing factors to be evaluated when weighing opinions of
treating physicians, including supportability and consistency).
The record reflects that the opinion of Dr. Lowder was that Plaintiff had
some extreme limitations present in his left hand since October 30, 2010. This was
the opinion in June of 2012. The ALJ notably considered Plaintiff’s inability to
grasp or hold objects but also upon review noted that findings were inconsistent
with medical records and treating physician’s notes at the date last insured. “It is
permissible for an ALJ to discount an opinion of a treating physician that is
inconsistent with the physician’s clinical treatment notes.” Davidson, 578 F.3d at
843. Examinations during the relevant period indicate that after surgery, Plaintiff’s
left hand revealed normal range of motion in his remaining three fingers, normal
strength and grip, and no bony tenderness to palpation.

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As to his suggestion regarding Dr. Panattoni, the record reflects that the ALJ
accorded Panattoni “significant weight”. In his opinion Dr. Panattoni noted
Plaintiff could perform “repetitive motion” and would need 30 minutes of rest
after 2 hours of repetitive motion. The ALJ limited Plaintiff to only occasional or
fine manipulation with his left hand.
The ALJ limitation of Plaintiff to lift only 10 pounds is consistent with
sedentary work and consistent with substantial evidence in the record. There are no
other severe limitations applicable to Plaintiff. Upon reviewing those employment
aspects available for Plaintiff The ALJ determination that Plaintiff could perform
work in the national economy was/is supported by substantial evidence.
B. Is Plaintiff’s RFC Supported by Substantial Evidence?
Social Security Ruling 96-8p requires that a residual functional capacity
“include a narrative discussion describing how the evidence supports each
conclusion.” SSR 96-8p. Here, the ALJ provided the narrative by summarizing
Plaintiff’s treatment notes, the objective medical evidence of record, opinion
evidence, Plaintiff’s self-reported activities, and various credibility factors in
assessing Plaintiff’s RFC. Since the narrative plainly explains each conclusion by
referencing evidence in the record, the statement satisfies all requirements imposed
by SSR 96-8p. The ALJ’s RFC is, therefore, supported by substantial evidence.
C. Did the ALJ Properly Determine Plaintiff Could Perform Other Work?
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Upon inquiry at the hearing the vocational expert observed under the facts of
the hypothetical that the individual could work as a furniture consultant or tanning
salon attendant. The question allowing for the conclusion was properly phrased
with all attendant requisites. The ALJ arrived at a RFC finding including all
credible impairments.
Conclusion
After careful review, the Court finds the ALJ’s decision is supported by
substantial evidence on the record as a whole. The decision will be affirmed.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the decision of the Commissioner of
Social Security is affirmed.
A separate judgment in accordance with this Opinion, Memorandum and
Order is entered this same date.
Dated this 30th day of October, 2014.

______________________________
HENRY EDWARD AUTREY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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