Strickland v. Berryhill
Filing
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ORDER AFFIRMING THE COMMISSIONER'S DECISION. Signed on 9/25/18 by Chief District Judge Greg Kays. (Strodtman, Tracy)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
CENTRAL DIVISION
AUDREY S. STRICKLAND,
Plaintiff,
v.
NANCY A. BERRYHILL,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.
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No. 2:17-CV-04113-DGK-SSA
ORDER AFFIRMING THE COMMISSIONER’S DECISION
Plaintiff Audrey Strickland (“Plaintiff”) petitions for review of an adverse decision by
Defendant, the Acting Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner”). Plaintiff applied for
Supplemental Security Income under Title XVI of the Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1381–1383f. The
Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) found Plaintiff had severe impairments of degenerative disc
disease of the lumbar spine, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, major depressive
disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, but retained the residual functional capacity (“RFC”)
to perform work as a folding machine operator, garment sorter, and router.
After carefully reviewing the record and the parties’ arguments, the Court finds the ALJ’s
opinion is supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole. The Commissioner’s
decision is AFFIRMED.
Procedural and Factual Background
The complete facts and arguments are presented in the parties’ briefs and are repeated here
only to the extent necessary.
Plaintiff filed her application on July 15, 2014, alleging a disability onset date of May 12,
2014. The Commissioner denied the application at the initial claim level, and Plaintiff appealed
the denial to an ALJ. The ALJ held a hearing, and on May 4, 2016, found Plaintiff was not
disabled. The Appeals Council denied Plaintiff’s request for a review, leaving the ALJ’s decision
as the final decision. Plaintiff has exhausted all administrative remedies and judicial review is
now appropriate under 42 U.S.C. § 1383(c)(3).
Standard of Review
A federal court’s review of the Commissioner’s decision to deny disability benefits is
limited to determining whether the Commissioner’s findings are supported by substantial evidence
on the record as a whole. Andrews v. Colvin, 791 F.3d 923, 928 (8th Cir. 2015). Substantial
evidence is less than a preponderance, but enough evidence that a reasonable mind would find it
sufficient to support the Commissioner’s decision. Id. In making this assessment, the court
considers evidence that detracts from the Commissioner’s decision, as well as evidence that
supports it. Id. The court must “defer heavily” to the Commissioner’s findings and conclusions.
Wright v. Colvin, 789 F.3d 847, 852 (8th Cir. 2015). The court may reverse the Commissioner’s
decision only if it falls outside of the available zone of choice, and a decision is not outside this
zone simply because the evidence also points to an alternate outcome. Buckner v. Astrue, 646 F.3d
549, 556 (8th Cir. 2011).
Discussion
The Commissioner follows a five-step sequential evaluation process1 to determine whether
a claimant is disabled, that is, unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a
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“The five-step sequence involves determining whether (1) a claimant’s work activity, if any, amounts to substantial
gainful activity; (2) his impairments, alone or combined, are medically severe; (3) his severe impairments meet or
medically equal a listed impairment; (4) his residual functional capacity precludes his past relevant work; and (5) his
residual functional capacity permits an adjustment to any other work. The evaluation process ends if a determination
of disabled or not disabled can be made at any step.” Kemp ex rel. Kemp v. Colvin, 743 F.3d 630, 632 n.1 (8th Cir.
2014); see 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)–(g). Through Step Four of the analysis the claimant bears the burden of showing
that he is disabled. After the analysis reaches Step Five, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to show that there are
other jobs in the economy that the claimant can perform. King v. Astrue, 564 F.3d 978, 979 n.2 (8th Cir. 2009).
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medically determinable impairment that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous
period of at least twelve months. 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(A).
Plaintiff argues that the ALJ in this case erred by: (1) failing to find her low IQ scores were
a severe impairment; (2) disregarding therapist Mary Fox, M.A.’s opinion that Plaintiff would be
off-task 10% of the time; and (3) affording little weight to Plaintiff’s treating physician John Lucio,
D.O.’s interrogatory responses. After reviewing the record and the applicable law, the Court finds
the ALJ’s decision is supported by substantial evidence.
I.
The ALJ’s RFC determination adequately incorporated Plaintiff’s borderline
intelligence.
Plaintiff maintains that the ALJ erred by failing to find her low IQ scores were a severe
impairment. On June 2, 2015, Plaintiff underwent a Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale – IV, which
indicated she had borderline intellectual functioning.2 R. at 379-380. Plaintiff received a 98 for
verbal comprehension, 94 for perceptual reasoning, 71 for working memory, and 59 for processing
speed,3 resulting in a full-scale IQ of 80. While Plaintiff is correct that the ALJ did not list her
borderline intelligence at step two of the sequential evaluation, this omission is harmless. Buckner
v. Astrue, 646 F.3d 549, 559 (8th Cir. 2011) (holding a deficiency in opinion writing that does not
affect the outcome of the case does not require reversal).
Here, the ALJ’s RFC determination contained the following mental limitations:
She can understand, remember, and carry out simple, repetitive instructions
consistent with unskilled work. She can work a job where there are no strict
production quotas and she would not be subject to the demands of fast-paced
production work; i.e., she can perform work by the shift and not by the hour. She
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“Borderline intellectual functioning is a condition defined as an IQ score within the 71-84 range.” Roberts v. Apfel,
222 F.3d 466, 469 n.3 (8th Cir. 2000).
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“The Processing Speed Index measures speed of mental operation, psychomotor speed, visual memory, and visualmotor integration.” United States v. Riley, No.: 2:15-cr-00077-MHH-SGC, 2015 WL 4911613, at *5 (N.D. Ala. Aug.
17, 2015).
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can perform only simple decision-making related to basic work functioning. The
claimant can tolerate only minor, infrequent changes within the workplace. She
can tolerate occasional contact with coworkers and supervisors, but no contact with
the general public.
R. at 19. “The RFC ‘is a function-by-function assessment based upon all of the relevant evidence
of an individual’s ability to do work-related activities,’ despite his or her physical or mental
limitations.” Roberson v. Astrue, 481 F.3d 1020, 1023 (8th Cir. 2007) (quoting SSR 96-8p, 1996
WL 374174, at *3 (July 2, 1996)). An ALJ has a duty to formulate the RFC based on all of the
relevant and credible evidence of record. Cox v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 614, 619 (8th Cir. 2007). This
includes a claimant’s own description of limitations and daily activities, as well as medical records
and observations of medical providers. Owen v. Astrue, 551 F.3d 792, 799 (8th Cir. 2008);
Roberson, 481 F.3d at 1023.
The ALJ’s RFC in this case is supported by substantial evidence.
Plaintiff held
employment for many years with these cognitive abilities. Muncy v. Apfel, 247 F.3d 728, 734 (8th
Cir. 2001) (holding an individual’s IQ “is presumed to remain stable over time in the absence of
any evidence of a change in . . . intellectual functioning.”); Roberts v. Apfel, 222 F.3d 466, 469
(8th Cir. 2000). She is able to perform personal care activities, prepare meals, do basic housework,
cook, do laundry, go shopping, get along with others, pay bills, and use a checkbook. R. at 200202. This supports the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff could perform unskilled work.4 Gossett v.
Colvin, No. 2:14-cv-02021-MEF, 2015 WL 736898, at *12 (W.D. Ark. Feb. 20, 2015).
Plaintiff’s argument that her low processing speed score would preclude employment is
not supported by the record. There is no evidence, from a medical provider or otherwise, that
Plaintiff performed at 30% less than other individuals.
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In fact, Plaintiff testified at the
“Unskilled work” is defined as “work which needs little or no judgment to do simple duties that can be learned on
the job or in a short period of time.” 20 C.F.R. § 416.968(a).
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administrative hearing that she had not received complaints from her boss that she was doing things
too slowly. R. at 64. As a consequence, any limitation resulting from Plaintiff’s low processing
speed was accounted for in the RFC by the restriction to unskilled work without strict production
quotas. See Falk v. Colvin, No. 3:14-CV-01915-AA, 2016 WL 1056978, at *4 (D. Or. Mar. 13,
2016).
II.
The weight given to medical opinion evidence is supported by substantial evidence.
An ALJ must consider the supporting explanation and consistency with the record as a
whole when weighing medical opinion evidence. 20 C.F.R. § 416.927(c). See also Thomas v.
Berryhill, 881 F.3d 672, 676 (8th Cir. 2018) (“[S]elf-reported activities of daily living provided
additional reasons for the ALJ to discredit [medical opinions].”); Julin v. Colvin, 826 F.3d 1082,
1089 (8th Cir. 2016) (discounting medical opinions based on discredited subjective complaints);
Pearsall v. Massanari, 374 F.3d 1211, 1219 (8th Cir. 2001). “[A] conclusory checkbox form has
little evidentiary value when it ‘cites no medical evidence, and provides little to no elaboration.’”
Anderson v. Astrue, 696 F.3d 790, 794 (8th Cir. 2012) (quoting Wildman v. Astrue, 596 F.3d 959,
964 (8th Cir. 2010)).
A.
The ALJ did not err by giving Ms. Fox’s opinion partial weight.
Plaintiff first contends that the ALJ’s decision to afford therapist Mary Fox’s opinions
partial weight is not supported by substantial evidence. In discussing Ms. Fox’s opinion, the ALJ
stated:
On the one hand, many of Ms. Fox’s statements are consistent with the evidence of
record, in support of moderate social limitations. On the other hand, the claimant
was able to sustain part-time work, which is inconsistent with Ms. Fox’s
supposition that the claimant would be off-task at least 10 percent of the time. This
limits the persuasive value of the opinion. The persuasive value of the opinion is
further limited by the fact that it is a checkbox-style form that fails to explain how
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the conclusions were reached. Thus, I give Ms. Fox’s statements only partial
weight.
R. at 25. Plaintiff takes issue with the ALJ discrediting Ms. Fox’s opinion that Plaintiff would be
“off-task” 10% of the time, arguing that “[b]eing off task at least 10% of the time on a full time
job is not mutually exclusive of being able to sustain part-time work.” This argument is misplaced.
The ALJ found that treatment notes, objective medical evidence, Plaintiff’s daily activities,
and Plaintiff’s significant work activities did not support her claims of disabling limitations. R. at
25. This finding is supported by the record. Plaintiff stated she did not have difficulties with
personal care, could prepare simple to complete meals daily, could perform work on her fiancé’s
trailer, manage basic housework and laundry, help with her fiancé and son’s health and basic needs,
go out outside daily, go shopping regularly, read, pay bills, and use a checkbook. R. at 199-202.
These activities were consistent with the third-party statement of her fiancé. R. at 182-189.
Plaintiff also worked part- to full-time at her custodial job after her alleged onset date until she
was fired when her employer learned of her back surgery. When working part-time, Plaintiff’s
part-time schedule was still often eight-hour days most every day. R. at 320-321, 323, 325.
Even if the ALJ’s decision to give Ms. Fox’s opinion only partial weight were erroneous,
such error was harmless. At the administrative hearing, the vocational expert testified that ten
percent off-task behavior would be tolerated by employers for the identified work. R. at 69-70.
Reversal is not warranted on this ground.
B.
The ALJ did not err by giving Dr. Lucio’s opinion little weight.
Plaintiff next argues that the ALJ erred in affording Plaintiff’s pain management physician
John Lucio, D.O.’s opinion little weight.
On March 29, 2016, Dr. Lucio responded to the following interrogatory question:
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4.
Would it be consistent with Ms. Strickland’s back condition and her level
of pain for her to lay down during the day to relieve that pain?
Yes – [Ms. Strickland] states she lays down for 30 minutes 6+ times/day to
relieve pain and this is the only thing she has found which gives significant
relief.
R. at 475. The Court reads this answer as merely a recitation of Plaintiff’s self-reported limitations,
rather than an opinion held by Dr. Lucio. To the extent Dr. Lucio’s response could be construed
as an opinion of Plaintiff’s limitations, the ALJ correctly found it to be inconsistent with Plaintiff’s
activities of daily living. This limitation is also inconsistent with the other medical evidence of
record. Goff v. Barnhart, 421 F.3d 785, 790 (8th Cir. 2005); Prosch v. Apfel, 201 F.3d 1010, 1013
(8th Cir. 2000). In October of 2015, records demonstrate Plaintiff was walking one mile two to
three times per week. R. at 417. Progress notes dated December 2, 2015, state that Plaintiff’s
complaints were inconsistent with clinical findings. R. at 415. On June 9, 2015, Plaintiff reported
no spinal pain. R. at 425. On July 29, 2015, Plaintiff denied any pain and walked well without
assistance. R. at 420, 422. Substantial evidence thus supports the ALJ’s evaluation of Dr. Lucio’s
opinion.
Conclusion
For the reasons discussed above, the Commissioner’s decision is AFFIRMED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date:
September 25, 2018
/s/ Greg Kays
GREG KAYS, CHIEF JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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