Bond v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 21

MEMORANDUM-DECISION & ORDER: that Plaintiff's #16 motion for judgment on the pleadings is Denied; that the Commissioner's #20 motion for judgment on the pleadings is Granted; that the Commissioner's final decision is Affirmed and that the Plaintiff's #1 Complaint is Dismissed. Signed by Judge David N. Hurd on 07/16/2021. (hmr)

Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 385 F. Supp. 3d 174, 183 (N.D.N.Y. 2019) (citation

omitted).
"The claimant's RFC is determined based on all of the relevant medical
and other evidence in the record, including the claimant's credible testimony,
objective medical evidence, and medical opinions from treating and
consulting sources." Rivera v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 368 F. Supp. 3d 626, 640
(S.D.N.Y. 2019). "In practice, administrative law judges rely principally on
medical source opinion and subjective testimony when assessing impaired
individuals' ability to engage in work-related activities." Tammy Lynn B.,
382 F. Supp. 3d at 192-93 (citation omitted).
1. Dr. Sennett
Plaintiffs first RFC-related argument is about a medical source statement
provided by Margaret Sennett, M.D., plaintiffs long-time primary care
doctor. Pl.'s Mem. at 11-16. According to plaintiff, the ALJ "failed to
establish good reasons for discounting [this] opinion," which "proffered
limitations that are preclusive of sustained work activity."

Id. at 15-16.

Broadly speaking, the Regulations divide evidence from a claimant's
medical sources into three categories: (1) treating; (2) acceptable; and

-9-

claimant need not be bedridden to be found disabled. Balsamo v. Chater, 142
F.3d 75, 81 (2d Cir. 1998). Indeed, "people should not be penalized for
enduring the pain of their disability in order to care for
themselves." Woodford v. Apfel, 93 F. Supp. 2d 521, 529 (S.D.N.Y. 2000).
However, the Regulations explicitly direct the ALJ to consider a claimant's
activities of daily living when assessing the ultimate question of
disability. See Coger v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 335 F. Supp. 3d 427, 436
(W.D.N.Y. 2018); see also Coyle v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 2018 WL 3559073, at
*7 (July 24, 2018) (Carter, M.J.) ("[A]n ALJ may rely on Plaintiffs activities
of daily living in weighing opinion evidence in the record.").
That is exactly what the ALJ did in this case. In reaching his RFC
determination, the ALJ noted that plaintiff testified that she "performs a
wide variety of household chores," cares for her grandson, and is able to cook,
clean, do laundry, and go shopping. R. at 22. The ALJ determined that these
activities were broadly supported by various treatment notes from her
providers, which often mentioned that claimant "engaged in light physical
activity every week." Id. Based on these findings, the ALJ concluded that
"claimant has maintained a broad range of daily activities" that is consistent
with a sedentary RFC. Id.
Plaintiff disputes this conclusion. She insists that she can only perform
these daily activities at something far less than a sustained or consistent
- 16 -

a claimant's mental impa irments. Kohler v. Astrue, 546 F.3d 260, 265 (2d
Cir. 2008). First, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has a
"medically determinable mental impa irment." 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520a (b)(l). If
so, the ALJ must rate the degree of functional limita tion resulting from the
mental impa irment(s). § 404.1520a (b)(2). This involves consideration of
"four broad functional a rea s": (1) understanding, remembering, or applying
information; (2) interacting with others; (3) concentrating, persisting, or
maintaining pace; and (4) adapting or managing oneself. § 404.1520a(c)(4).
These functional areas are measured on a five-point scale ranging between
"none," "mild," "moderate," "marked," and "extreme," with the last point on
the scale representing "a degree of limitation that is incompatible with the
ability to do any gainful a ctivity." § 404.1520a (c)(4). If the degree of
limitation in ea ch of these areas is "none" or "mild," the impairment(s) will be
considered non-severe absent evidence that "otherwise indica tes that there is
more than a minimal limitation in [the claimant's] ability to do basic work
a ctivities." § 404.1520a(d)(l).
The ALJ concluded that plaintiff had not established any "severe" mental
impa irment(s). R. at 18. The ALJ also applied the "special technique" to
plaintiffs evidence of mental impairments and determined that plaintiff had:
no restriction in understanding, remembering, or
applying information; no difficulties in interacting
with
others;
no
difficulties 1n
maintaining
- 18 -

Dr. Sennett's assessment of more restrictive limitations, including the mental
limitations she assessed. R. at 21. Thus, because the ALJ clearly considered
plaintiffs mental impairments as part of his larger RFC analysis, plaintiffs
argument must be rejected. See, e.g., Hanson v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 2016
WL 3960486, at *4 (N.D.N.Y. June 29, 2016) (Report

& Recommendation of

Carter, M.J.) (explaining that the ALJ discharged his obligations by including
discussion of non-severe mental impairments at step four), adopted

by 2016

WL 3951150 (N.D.N.Y. July 20, 2016) (Suddaby, J.). 6
IV.

CONCLUSION

The ALJ applied the appropriate legal standards and supported his
written decision with substantial evidence in the record.
Therefore, it is
ORDERED that
1. Plaintiffs motion for judgment on the pleadings is DENIED;
2. The Commissioner's motion for judgment on the pleadings is
GRANTED;
3. The Commissioner's final decision is AFFIRMED; and
4. Plaintiffs complaint is DISMISSED.

6 Even assuming otherwise, the failure to credit and incorporate this "mild" limitation in
adapting and managing oneself would not warrant remand. As the Commissioner explains,
limitations in tolerating stress or learning new tasks remain compatible with "unskilled work
activity." Def.'s Mem. at 13-14.

• 20 •

The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter a judgment accordingly and
close the file.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
United State District J
Dated: July 16, 2021
Utica, New York.

- 21 -