Kayser v. Social Security Administration
Filing
33
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER by Magistrate Judge Stephan M. Vidmar DENYING 22 Plaintiff's Motion to Remand to Agency. (am)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO
DEAVON KAYSER,
Plaintiff,
v.
No. 16-cv-0978 SMV
NANCY A. BERRYHILL,1
Acting Commissioner of Social Security Administration,
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
THIS MATTER is before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion to Reverse and Remand for a
Rehearing with Supporting Memorandum [Doc. 22] (“Motion”), filed on May 4, 2017. The
Commissioner responded on June 28, 2017. [Doc. 23]. Plaintiff replied on July 14, 2017.
[Doc. 24]. The parties have consented to the undersigned’s entering final judgment in this case.
[Doc. 32]. Having meticulously reviewed the entire record and being fully advised in the
premises, the Court finds that the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) applied the correct legal
standards and her decision is supported by substantial evidence. Accordingly, the Motion will
be denied, and Commissioner’s final decision, affirmed.
Standard of Review
The standard of review in a Social Security appeal is whether the Commissioner’s final
decision2 is supported by substantial evidence and whether the correct legal standards were
1
Nancy A. Berryhill is now the Acting Commissioner of Social Security. Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure, Nancy A. Berryhill should be substituted for Acting Commissioner Carolyn W. Colvin as
the defendant in this suit. No further action needs to be taken to continue this suit by reason of the last sentence of
section 205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
applied. Maes v. Astrue, 522 F.3d 1093, 1096 (10th Cir. 2008). If substantial evidence supports
the Commissioner’s findings and the correct legal standards were applied, the Commissioner’s
decision stands and the plaintiff is not entitled to relief. Langley v. Barnhart, 373 F.3d 1116,
1118 (10th Cir. 2004). Courts must meticulously review the entire record, but may neither
reweigh the evidence nor substitute their judgment for that of the Commissioner. Flaherty v.
Astrue, 515 F.3d 1067, 1070 (10th Cir. 2007).
“Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as
adequate to support a conclusion.” Langley, 373 F.3d at 1118. The decision “is not based on
substantial evidence if it is overwhelmed by other evidence in the record or if there is a mere
scintilla of evidence supporting it.” Id. While a court may not reweigh the evidence or try the
issues de novo, its examination of the record as a whole must include “anything that may
undercut or detract from the [Commissioner]’s findings in order to determine if the
substantiality test has been met.” Grogan v. Barnhart, 399 F.3d 1257, 1262 (10th Cir. 2005).
“The possibility of drawing two inconsistent conclusions from the evidence does not prevent
[the] findings from being supported by substantial evidence.” Lax v. Astrue, 489 F.3d 1080,
1084 (10th Cir. 2007) (quoting Zoltanski v. FAA, 372 F.3d 1195, 1200 (10th Cir. 2004)).
“The failure to apply the correct legal standard or to provide this court with a sufficient
basis to determine that appropriate legal principles have been followed is grounds for reversal.”
Jensen v. Barnhart, 436 F.3d 1163, 1165 (10th Cir. 2005) (internal quotation marks omitted).
2
A court’s review is limited to the Commissioner’s final decision, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), which generally is the
ALJ’s decision, 20 C.F.R. § 416.1481. This case fits the general framework, and therefore, the Court reviews the
ALJ’s decision as the Commissioner’s final decision.
2
Applicable Law and Sequential Evaluation Processes
In order to qualify for disability benefits, an adult claimant must establish that he 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 12 months.” 42 U.S.C.
§ 1382c(a)(3)(A); 20 C.F.R. § 416.905(a). A child claimant, however, must establish that he
“has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, which results in marked and
severe functional limitations, and 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 12 months.” 42 U.S.C.
§ 1382c(a)(3)(C); 20 C.F.R. § 416.906.
When considering a disability application for an adult, the Commissioner is required to
use a five-step sequential evaluation process (“SEP”). 20 C.F.R. § 416.920; Bowen v. Yuckert,
482 U.S. 137, 140 (1987). At the first four steps of the SEP, the claimant must show: (1) he is
not engaged in “substantial gainful activity”; and (2) he has a “severe medically
determinable . . . impairment . . . or a combination of impairments” that has lasted or is expected
to last for at least one year; and (3) his impairment(s) either meet or equal one of the Listings of
presumptively disabling impairments; or (4) he is unable to perform his “past relevant work.”
20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)(4)(i–iv); Grogan, 399 F.3d at 1261.
If he cannot show that his
impairment meets or equals a Listing, but he proves that he is unable to perform his “past
relevant work,” the burden of proof then shifts to the Commissioner, at step five, to show that
3
the claimant is able to perform other work in the national economy, considering his residual
functional capacity (“RFC”), age, education, and work experience. Id.
The “test for determining whether a child claimant is disabled is an abbreviated version
of the adult [5-step SEP].” Sullivan v. Zebley, 493 U.S. 521, 526 (1990). Rather than five steps,
the ALJ uses three steps, the first two of which mirror the first two adult steps. See id. A child
under 18 years of age is “disabled” and eligible for SSI benefits if the child (1) is not doing
substantial gainful activity; (2) has a medically determinable impairment or combination of
impairments that is severe; and (3) the impairment or combination of impairments meets,
medically equals, or functionally equals the Listings for disability at 20 C.F.R. Part 404,
Subpart P, Appendix 1, and otherwise meets the applicable duration requirement. 20 C.F.R.
§ 416.924(a)–(d); see also id. § 416.906 (specifying duration requirement). A child’s
impairment or combination of impairments functionally equals the listings and, thus, constitutes
a disability, when it results in “marked” limitations in two domains or an “extreme” limitation
in one domain, as described in 20 C.F.R. § 416.926a. The Commissioner assesses how a child
functions “‘in terms of six domains: (i) Acquiring and using information; (ii) Attending and
completing tasks; (iii) Interacting and relating with others; (iv) Moving about and manipulating
objects; (v) Caring for [ones]self; and, (vi) Health and physical well-being.’” Briggs ex rel.
Briggs v. Massanari, 248 F.3d 1235, 1238 (10th Cir. 2001) (footnote omitted) (quoting 20
C.F.R. § 416.926a(b)(1)(i)–(vi)).
4
Procedural Background
An application for supplemental security income (“SSI”) was filed on Plaintiff’s
behalf—because he was under 18 years of age3—on June 30, 2011. Tr. 10. His claim was
denied initially and on reconsideration. Id. Plaintiff requested a hearing before an ALJ. Id.
ALJ Charlotte A. Wright held a hearing on January 8, 2015, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Tr. 10, 32. Plaintiff and his mother, Shanna Marie Kayser, appeared in person, along with
Plaintiff’s attorney. Tr. 10, 32. The ALJ took testimony from Plaintiff, Ms. Kayser, and an
impartial vocational expert (“VE”), Leslie J. White. Tr. 10, 32−72.
The ALJ issued her unfavorable decision on March 30, 2015. Tr. 25. At step one of the
child SEP, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had never engaged in substantial, gainful activity.
Tr. 14.
Next, at step two she found that Plaintiff suffered from one severe impairment:
hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (“HED”).
Tr. 15.
She further found that Plaintiff’s
personality disorder-intellectual impairment (diagnosed by the consultative examiner), asthma,
and his eye/vision problems were not severe. Tr. 15–16.
At step three of the child SEP, the ALJ found that none of Plaintiff’s impairments, alone
or in combination, met or medically equaled a Listing. Tr. 17. She further found that Plaintiff’s
impairments, alone or combination, failed to functionally equal a Listing.
Id. at 17–23.
Accordingly, the ALJ found that before attaining age 18, Plaintiff was not disabled. Id. at 23.
Having determined that Plaintiff was not disabled before he turned 18, the ALJ
proceeded with the remaining adult SEP steps. At step two, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had no
3
Plaintiff was born on April 28, 1996, Tr. 37, and, therefore, he turned 18 years old on April 28, 2014.
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new severe impairments since turning 18 years old. Id. She further found at step three that
Plaintiff had no impairment or combination of impairments that met or medically equaled a
Listing. Id. Because none of Plaintiff’s impairments met a Listing, the ALJ went on to assess
Plaintiff’s RFC. Tr. 23–24.
[S]ince attaining age 18, [Plaintiff] has had the [RFC] to perform
light work as defined in 20 [C.F.R. §] 416.967(b). He can
occasionally lift/carry 20 pounds, 10 pounds frequently. He can
sit, stand[,] and walk six hours in an eight-hour workday. He can
occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and climb ramps/stairs
but not ladders, ropes[,] or scaffolds. He has to work in an air
condition[ed] environment with available water-fountain or water
supply.
Id.
At step four, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had no past relevant work.
Tr. 24.
Accordingly, she proceeded to step five, where she relied on testimony by the VE to find that,
based on Plaintiff’s age, education, work experience, and RFC, he was capable of performing
other jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy. Tr. 24–25.
Ultimately, the ALJ found that Plaintiff was not disabled as defined by the Social
Security Act, and she denied the claim. Tr. 25. The Appeals Council denied Plaintiff’s request
for review on June 26, 2016. Tr. 1−4. Plaintiff timely filed the instant action on September 1,
2016. [Doc. 1].
Analysis
Plaintiff fails to show reversible error in the ALJ’s credibility analysis or in the
evaluation of the reports from his teachers. Substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s decision,
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and the correct legal standards were applied.
To the extent that there was any error in
evaluating the teachers’ reports, it was harmless. Accordingly, remand is not appropriate.
Plaintiff fails to show reversible error in the evaluation of his credibility.
Social Security Ruling (“SSR”) 96-7p requires ALJs to “make a finding about the
credibility of the individual’s statements about the symptom(s) and its functional effects. . . . It
is not sufficient for the adjudicator to make a single, conclusory statement that ‘the individual’s
allegations have been considered’ or that ‘the allegations are (or are not) credible.’” 1996 SSR
LEXIS 4, at *2–3.4
Specifically, in evaluating the credibility of a claimant’s subjective
complaints, the ALJ follows the steps outlined in Luna v. Bowen, 834 F.2d 161, 163 (10th Cir.
1987). First, accepting the subjective allegations as true, the ALJ must determine whether the
claimant has a medically determinable impairment that “could reasonably be expected to
produce the alleged [symptoms].” Luna, 834 F.2d at 163; see SSR 96-7p, 1996 WL 374186, at
*2. “If an appropriate nexus does exist,” the ALJ must next consider all of the relevant
evidence “to determine whether the claimant’s [symptoms are] in fact disabling.” Luna, 834
F.2d at 163; see SSR 96-7p, 1996 WL 374186, at *2. The ALJ must consider “the medical data
previously presented, any other objective indications of the degree of [the symptoms], and
subjective accounts of the severity” in determining whether the ALJ believes the claimant.
4
SSR 96-7p was superseded on March 29, 2016 (after the Commissioner’s decision became final and after the
action was already pending in this Court), by SSR 16-3p. The new ruling “eliminat[es] the use of the term
‘credibility’ [and] clarif[ies] that subjective symptom evaluation is not an examination of a [claimant]’s character.”
2016 SSR LEXIS 4, at *1, 2016 WL 1119029, at *1. “Generally, if an agency makes a policy change during the
pendency of a claimant’s appeal, the reviewing court should remand for the agency to determine whether the new
policy affects its prior decision.” Frantz v. Astrue, 509 F.3d 1299, 1302 (10th Cir. 2007). The new Ruling,
however, does not appear to be a policy change but, rather, a clarification. As to the issues raised in this appeal, the
Court sees no material difference between the Rulings. The Court’s analysis of Plaintiff’s argument is the same
under either Ruling. Thus, the rescission of SSR 96-7p and issuance of SSR 16-3, alone, does not warrant remand.
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Luna, 834 F.2d at 163. That is, the ALJ must assess the credibility of the claimant’s assertions
of pain or other symptoms. Id.
The district court cannot re-weigh the evidence. It can only review an ALJ’s decision to
ensure that she applied the correct legal standard and that her findings are supported by
substantial evidence. Clifton v. Chater, 79 F.3d 1007, 1009 (10th Cir. 1996). “Credibility
determinations are peculiarly the province of the finder of fact, and [courts] will not upset such
determinations when supported by substantial evidence.” Kepler v. Chater, 68 F.3d 387, 391
(10th Cir. 1995) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Boilerplate language, however, is
insufficient. Id. Instead, “it is well settled that [ALJs] must give reasons for their decisions.”
Reyes v. Bowen, 845 F.2d 242, 244 (10th Cir. 1988). Although ALJs need not discuss “every
piece of evidence,” Clifton, 79 F.3d at 1010, their “findings as to credibility should be closely
and affirmatively linked to substantial evidence and not just a conclusion in the guise of
findings.” Kepler, 68 F.3d at 391 (internal quotation marks and brackets omitted).
Here, the ALJ explicitly acknowledged Plaintiff’s asserted limitations, including that he
needs to take breaks every 30 minutes.
Tr. 17.
She found that his impairments could
reasonably be expected to cause some of the symptoms he reports. Tr. 19, 24. Nevertheless,
she also found that his statements regarding the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of his
symptoms were not entirely credible. Id. She made several specific findings pertinent to the
credibility determination:
Despite being born[] without sweat glands, [Plaintiff] is
capable of outdoor sports such as hunting and fishing. He runs
trac[k] and plays football at school. He does weight lifting. He is
able to prepare his food and perform household chores. He
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drives. He shops. He plays video games and sporting games in
school and out.
....
[Plaintiff] was on the track and field team in school despite
having no sweat glands—he was able to compete. He played
football as well.
....
. . . . As an adult, he does not seek ongoing medical attention.
[Regarding Plaintiff’s credibility,] his allegations appeared
inconsistent with his activities of daily living. He is able to ride a
4-wheeler, fish and hunt. He lifts weights for exercise. He
testified he has looked for work and placed applications for jobs
on . . . social media.
Tr. 19, 22, 24 (internal citations omitted).
Here, Plaintiff’s sole complaint about the credibility determination is that the ALJ did
not accept Plaintiff’s report that he requires breaks every 30 minutes to avoid overheating
regardless of his level of exertion and regardless of his environmental surroundings. [Doc. 22]
at 24 (citing Tr. 57); [Doc. 24] at 6. The ALJ included in the RFC requirements that Plaintiff
work in an air conditioned environment with available water supply. Tr. 24. Plaintiff argues
that these are inadequate. Plaintiff insists that regardless of exertion level or environment, he
must take breaks every 30 minutes to avoid overheating. [Doc. 22] at 24; [Doc. 24] at 6.
Plaintiff urges that the testimony and the medical records as a whole are consistent with his
reported need to take breaks every 30 minutes, and therefore, the ALJ should have accepted the
limitation. [Doc. 22] at 24; [Doc. 24] at 6. The Court is not persuaded.
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The ALJ explicitly made the required Luna findings.
She found that Plaintiff’s
impairments could cause some of the symptoms he reports, but his statements regarding the
intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of his symptoms were not entirely credible. Tr. 19,
24. As quoted above, the ALJ gave reasons for her credibility determination, which are closely
and affirmatively linked to substantial evidence. See Tr. 19, 22, 24. Plaintiff fails to show
reversible error in the ALJ’s credibility determination.
Plaintiff fails to show reversible error in the evaluation of his teachers’ reports.
Plaintiff challenges the ALJ’s determination that he was not disabled prior to age 18
based on the ALJ’s evaluation of the reports of his teachers, Ms. Clarke, Ms. Waid, and
Ms. Page. [Doc. 22] at 16–23; Tr. 308–10 (Ms. Clarke’s report); Tr. 214–21 (Ms. Waid’s
Teacher Questionnaire5); Tr. 264–71 (Ms. Page’s Teacher Questionnaire). Ms. Clarke assessed
extreme limitations in the domains of “Attending and Completing Tasks” and “Health and
Physical Well-Being” and moderate limitation in the domain of “Moving About and
Manipulating Objects.” Tr. 308–10. In their Teacher Questionnaires, Ms. Waid and Ms. Page,
however, gave no opinions about Plaintiff’s level of limitation in any domain (unless the
opinion was no limitation at all). Instead, Ms. Waid and Ms. Page rated the severity of
Plaintiff’s problems in numerous individual activities within each domain.
Tr. 214–21
(Ms. Waid’s Teacher Questionnaire); Tr. 264–71 (Ms. Page’s Teacher Questionnaire).
In the domain of Attending and Completing Tasks, Ms. Waid assessed thirteen
individual activities. On the one-to-five scale (with one being “no problem” and five being “a
5
The Teacher Questionnaire found at Tr. 214–21 itself does not identify its author. Plaintiff represents that it was
completed by Ms. Waid, and Defendant does not dispute this. Accordingly, the Court refers to the documents as
Ms. Waid’s.
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very serious problem”), she rated one area at level four, and no areas at level five. Tr. 216. She
explained, “[Plaintiff] works well with [his aide]. He can be easily distracted by some other
students and outburst verbally if others do. He seems to be seeking attention from peers with
this behavior. He is always respectful of me.” Id. In all other domains, Ms. Waid either found
no problem at all or found no more than level-three severity in the corresponding activities.
Tr. 214–21.
As did Ms. Waid, Ms. Page also assessed thirteen individual activities within the domain
of Attending and Completing Tasks. Tr. 266. She assessed two activities at level-five severity6
and none at level four. She explained “[Plaintiff] has support of an [aide] in general ed. classes,
there to give support to him and other sp[ecial ]ed students. [Plaintiff] is often off[-]task.” Id.
In all other domains, Ms. Page either found no problem at all or found no more than level-two
severity in the corresponding activities. Tr. 264–71.
Plaintiff argues that the ALJ failed to consider and/or failed to make the requisite
findings regarding his teachers’ reports. Id. Specifically, Plaintiff argues that the ALJ failed to
give adequate reasons for rejecting Ms. Clarke’s opinion. Id. at 16–19. Next, he argues that the
ALJ failed to discuss Ms. Waid’s opinion at all. Id. at 19–20. Plaintiff further argues that the
ALJ erred in rejecting certain of Ms. Page’s opinions without explaining why, especially
because the ALJ purported to give great weight to Ms. Page’s opinion. Id. at 20–23.
6
In one of these two activities, Ms. Page actually marked both level two and level five. Tr. 266.
11
Plaintiff argues that if the ALJ had properly evaluated his teachers’ reports, she would
have found a more severe limitation in attending and completing tasks.7
An “extreme”
limitation in one childhood domain or “marked” limitations in any two domains would render
Plaintiff disabled prior to his 18th birthday. [Doc. 22] at 19, 22; see 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.924(a);
416.926a(a), (d), (e)(2)(i). The teachers’ reports matter because, Plaintiff argues, they could
support an extreme limitation in the domain of Attending and Completing Tasks, rendering him
disabled. Or, he argues, Ms. Clarke’s report could support marked limitations in the domains of
Health and Physical Well-Being and Attending and Completing Tasks, likewise rendering him
disabled. [Doc. 22] at 17–23.
The ALJ expressly gave no weight to Ms. Clarke’s report because it “vastly differ[ed]
from [the opinions of the] examining physicians.” Tr. 19. If read in a vacuum, the Court might
be persuaded by Plaintiff’s argument that this reason is inadequate. Without the benefit of the
entire record, the ALJ’s stated reason for rejecting Ms. Clarke’s report could seem conclusory
and vague, as Plaintiff argues. See [Doc. 22] at 17. Considering the record in this case,
however, the finding makes sense and is adequate.
The examining physicians referenced by the ALJ are Dr. Ward and Dr. Loescher.
Plaintiff was evaluated by Em Ward, M.D., on April 10, 2012, just before his 16th birthday.
Dr. Ward diagnosed HED, asthma, and elevated blood pressure. Tr. 415. In pertinent part,
Dr. Ward opined that:
Future work restriction for [Plaintiff] would be avoiding
strenuous activity in a warm environment without access to
7
The ALJ had found a less than marked limitation in attending and completing tasks. Tr. 20. The ALJ explained
that “[Plaintiff] has been known to be off[-]task[] but has no diagnostic finding of attention disorder.” Id.
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cooling measures. Sedentary work in a hot environment could be
problematic without cooling measures.
Potential cooling
measures could include spray bottle of water or cold packs or
shade and fanning, depending on the situation. He would also
need to maintain hydration with cool liquids. [Dr. Ward] would
not anticipate a problem with overheating in an air-conditioned
environment (depending on activity level). With appropriate
vigilance, HED kids may participate in a variety of sports.
Tr. 415.
The examining psychologist, Dr. Loescher, had examined Plaintiff a few weeks prior, on
February 22, 2012. Dr. Loescher noted that Plaintiff was on an Individual Education Plan
(“IEP”) at school because he “gets easily distracted. He is being served as a student with Other
Health Impairment because of his [HED]. He does not have a diagnosis of ADHD.” Tr. 404.
Dr. Loescher found that “there are no psychological or social problems reported that are
secondary to his [HED]. . . . He is reported to have difficulties with distractibility but he does
not have a diagnosis of an attention disorder.” Tr. 405. Ultimately, Dr. Loescher opined that
Plaintiff had no diagnoses, other than his HED. She gave no Axis I diagnosis (clinical disorder)
and no Axis II diagnosis (personality disorder or intellectual impairment). She assessed his
Global Assessment of Functioning (“GAF”) score as 70. Tr. 406.
Substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s conclusion that Ms. Clarke’s report “vastly
differ[s]” from the opinions of the examining doctors. Ms. Clarke’s assessments of extreme
limitations in the domains of “Attending and Completing Tasks” and “Health and Physical
Well-Being” and moderate limitation in the domain of “Moving About and Manipulating
Objects” are flatly contradicted by the examining doctors’ reports. On this administrative
record, Plaintiff fails to show reversible error in the ALJ’s rejection of Ms. Clarke’s report.
13
As to Ms. Waid’s report, Plaintiff is correct that the ALJ failed to mention the report in
the body of the decision. However, the ALJ said she considered all of the evidence. Tr. 11.
The Court takes her at her word. Additionally, the list of exhibits attached to the ALJ’s decision
explicitly references the Teacher Questionnaire that Plaintiff identifies as Ms. Waid’s. Tr. 28
(listing “Teacher Questionnaire” from Mountainair High School at Exhibit 5E).
As to Ms. Page’s report, the Court disagrees that the ALJ impermissibly picked and
chose from her opinion without explanation. See [Doc. 22] at 20–23. Under the circumstances
of this case, Plaintiff fails to show that Ms. Page’s assessment (of thirteen activities in the
domain of attending and completing tasks) is inconsistent with the ALJ’s findings. Compare
Tr. 266 (Ms. Page’s assessment), with Tr. 20 (ALJ’s finding). POMS § DI 25205.030(B)(5)(c)
(“There is no formula for converting the teacher’s different intensity and frequency ratings for
multiple activities into a single domain rating, or into a rating of an adult’s RFC for various
kinds of work.”). See Keyes-Zachary v. Astrue, 695 F.3d 1156, 1163 (10th Cir. 2012) (holding
alleged error was harmless because the ALJ’s RFC determination was “generally consistent”
with the physician’s findings).
Moreover, the Court finds that if there had been any error in evaluating the teachers’
reports, i.e., in crediting the teachers’ assessments of distractibility, such error was harmless for
two reasons. First, the ALJ’s findings regarding Plaintiff’s medically determinable impairments
conclusively preclude a more severe limitation in attending and completing tasks.
See
Carpenter v. Astrue, 537 F.3d 1264, 1266 (10th Cir. 2008) (applying the harmless error
standard where an ALJ failed to make explicit findings at step three of the adult SEP but
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findings elsewhere in the decision “conclusively negated” the plaintiff’s claim at step three).
The ALJ found that Plaintiff suffered from HED, asthma, and eye problems and, explicitly, that
he had “no diagnostic finding of attention disorder.” Tr. 20, see Tr. 15–17. Without any
finding of a medically determinable impairment that could cause the limitations in attending and
concentrating, such limitations cannot support a determination of disability. See 42 U.S.C.
§ 1382c(a)(3)(C); 20 C.F.R. § 416.906.
Assuming arguendo that there had been an error in evaluating the teachers’ reports, i.e.,
in crediting the teachers’ assessments of distractibility, such error was harmless for a second
reason. See Allen v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1140, 1145 (10th Cir. 2004) (finding harmless error
when we can “confidently say that no reasonable administrative factfinder, following the correct
analysis, could have resolved the factual matter in any other way”). The crux of Plaintiff’s
challenge is that the teachers’ reports could support a finding of extreme limitation in the
domain of Attending and Completing Tasks. [Doc. 22] at 17–23. But the reports cannot
support such a finding.
A claimant’s functional limitation must result from a medically
determinable impairment. 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(C); 20 C.F.R. § 416.906. Limitations on
their own cannot sustain a claim for benefits. SSR 09-8p, 2009 SSR LEXIS 8, at *9 (“[W]e do
not consider a limitation in [any] domain . . . unless it results from a medically determinable
impairment(s).”).
In this case, there is no evidence of record that the limitations in
concentration assessed by the teachers result from a medically determinable impairment. In
fact, the evidence in this record is consistent that Plaintiff suffers from HED, asthma, and eye
problems. There is no objective medical evidence suggesting that Plaintiff’s HED, asthma, or
15
eye problems could cause the attention limitations assessed by the teachers. Moreover, there is
no medical evidence suggesting that Plaintiff suffers from any other medically determinable
impairment that could cause the attention limitations assessed by the teachers. Dr. Loescher,
the only medical source to speak to the issue, affirmatively found that “there are no
psychological or social problems reported that are secondary to his [HED],” and she found no
Axis I or Axis II diagnosis. Tr. 405, 406. Thus, even if the ALJ had failed to properly evaluate
the teachers’ reports, the Court finds that no reasonable administrative factfinder, following the
correct analysis, could have found a more restrictive limitation in attending and completing
tasks than the ALJ found. Therefore, any error in evaluating the teachers’ reports is harmless.
Remand is not appropriate.
Conclusion
Plaintiff fails to show reversible error in the ALJ’s credibility analysis or in the
evaluation of the reports from his teachers. Substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s decision,
and the correct legal standards were applied.
To the extent that there was any error in
evaluating the teachers’ reports, it was harmless. Accordingly, remand is not appropriate.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Plaintiff’s
Motion to Reverse and Remand for a Rehearing with Supporting Memorandum [Doc. 22] is
DENIED. The Commissioner’s final decision is affirmed.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
______________________________
STEPHAN M. VIDMAR
United States Magistrate Judge
Presiding by Consent
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