Whited v. Colvin
Filing
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DECISION AND ORDER. Plaintiff's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings 11 is GRANTED, the Commissioner's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings 12 is DENIED, and this matter is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further administrative proceedings. SO ORDERED. Signed by Hon. Frank P. Geraci, Jr. on 5/17/2017. (AFM)-CLERK TO FOLLOW UP-
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
PAULINE M. WHITED,
Plaintiff,
Case # 16-CV-747-FPG
v.
DECISION AND ORDER
NANCY A. BERRYHILL,1 ACTING COMMISSIONER
OF SOCIAL SECURITY,
Defendant.
Pauline M. Whited (“Whited” or “Plaintiff”) brings this action pursuant to the Social
Security Act (“the Act”) seeking review of the final decision of the Acting Commissioner of
Social Security (“the Commissioner”) that denied her application for Supplemental Security
Income (“SSI”) under Title XVI of the Act. ECF No. 1. The Court has jurisdiction over this
action under 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3).
Both parties have moved for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(c).
ECF Nos. 11, 12.
For the reasons that follow, Plaintiff’s motion is
GRANTED, the Commissioner’s motion is DENIED, and this matter is REMANDED to the
Commissioner for further administrative proceedings.
BACKGROUND
On October 10, 2012, Whited applied for SSI with the Social Security Administration
(“the SSA”). Tr.2 248-53. She alleged that she had been disabled since May 21, 2001 due to
neck and lower back injuries, shoulder problems, and depression. Tr. 264. On March 5, 2015,
Whited and a vocational expert (“VE”) testified at a hearing via videoconference before
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Nancy A. Berryhill is now the Acting Commissioner of Social Security and is therefore substituted for
Carolyn W. Colvin as the defendant in this suit pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d).
2
References to “Tr.” are to the administrative record in this matter.
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Administrative Law Judge Robert T. Harvey (“the ALJ”). Tr. 137-69. At the hearing, Whited
amended her alleged onset date to October 10, 2012. Tr. 140-41. On April 22, 2015, the ALJ
issued a decision finding that Whited was not disabled within the meaning of the Act. Tr. 24-39.
On July 20, 2016, the Appeals Council denied Whited’s request for review. Tr. 1-5. Thereafter,
Whited commenced this action seeking review of the Commissioner’s final decision. ECF No.
1.
LEGAL STANDARD
I.
District Court Review
“In reviewing a final decision of the SSA, this Court is limited to determining whether
the SSA’s conclusions were supported by substantial evidence in the record and were based on a
correct legal standard.” Talavera v. Astrue, 697 F.3d 145, 151 (2d Cir. 2012) (quotation marks
omitted); see also 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The Act holds that a decision by the Commissioner is
“conclusive” if it is supported by substantial evidence. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). “Substantial
evidence means more than a mere scintilla. It means such relevant evidence as a reasonable
mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Moran v. Astrue, 569 F.3d 108, 112 (2d
Cir. 2009) (quotation marks omitted). It is not the Court’s function to “determine de novo
whether [the claimant] is disabled.” Schaal v. Apfel, 134 F.3d 496, 501 (2d Cir. 1998) (quotation
marks omitted); see also Wagner v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 906 F.2d 856, 860 (2d Cir.
1990) (holding that review of the Secretary’s decision is not de novo and that the Secretary’s
findings are conclusive if supported by substantial evidence).
II.
Disability Determination
An ALJ must follow a five-step sequential evaluation to determine whether a claimant is
disabled within the meaning of the Act. See Parker v. City of New York, 476 U.S. 467, 470-71
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(1986). At step one, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant is engaged in substantial
gainful work activity. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(b). If so, the claimant is not disabled. If not,
the ALJ proceeds to step two and determines whether the claimant has an impairment, or
combination of impairments, that is “severe” within the meaning of the Act, meaning that it
imposes significant restrictions on the claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities. 20
C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). If the claimant does not have a severe impairment or combination of
impairments, the analysis concludes with a finding of “not disabled.” If the claimant does, the
ALJ continues to step three.
At step three, the ALJ examines whether a claimant’s impairment meets or medically
equals the criteria of a listed impairment in Appendix 1 of Subpart P of Regulation No. 4 (the
“Listings”). 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(d). If the impairment meets or medically equals the criteria
of a Listing and meets the durational requirement (20 C.F.R. § 404.1509), the claimant is
disabled. If not, the ALJ determines the claimant’s residual functional capacity (“RFC”), which
is the ability to perform physical or mental work activities on a sustained basis, notwithstanding
limitations for the collective impairments. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(e)-(f).
The ALJ then proceeds to step four and determines whether the claimant’s RFC permits
him or her to perform the requirements of his or her past relevant work. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(f).
If the claimant can perform such requirements, then he or she is not disabled. If he or she
cannot, the analysis proceeds to the fifth and final step, wherein the burden shifts to the
Commissioner to show that the claimant is not disabled. To do so, the Commissioner must
present evidence to demonstrate that the claimant “retains a residual functional capacity to
perform alternative substantial gainful work which exists in the national economy” in light of his
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or her age, education, and work experience. See Rosa v. Callahan, 168 F.3d 72, 77 (2d Cir.
1999) (quotation marks omitted); see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1560(c).
DISCUSSION
I.
The ALJ’s Decision
The ALJ’s decision analyzed Whited’s claim for benefits under the process described
above. At step one, the ALJ found that Whited had not engaged in substantial gainful activity
since the amended alleged onset date. Tr. 26. At step two, the ALJ found that Whited has the
following severe impairments: right shoulder supraspinatus tear, cervicalgia, lumbago,
depressive disorder, and marijuana abuse.
Id.
At step three, the ALJ found that these
impairments, alone or in combination, did not meet or medically equal any Listings impairment.
Tr. 26-28.
Next, the ALJ determined that Whited retained the RFC to perform light work3 with
additional limitations. Tr. 28-38. Specifically, the ALJ found that Whited cannot work around
unprotected heights or heavy, moving, or dangerous machinery; can occasionally bend, climb,
stoop, squat, kneel, crawl, and reach, push, and pull with her right upper extremity; cannot climb
ropes, ladders, or scaffolds; and can occasionally maintain attention and concentration for
extended periods, respond appropriately to changes in a work setting, deal with stress, and make
decisions. Tr. 28.
At step four, the ALJ indicated that Whited has no past relevant work. Tr. 38. At step
five, the ALJ relied on the VE’s testimony and found that Whited can adjust to other work that
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“Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects
weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires
a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of
arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, [the claimant] must
have the ability to do substantially all of these activities. If someone can do light work, [the SSA] determine[s] that
he or she can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine dexterity or
inability to sit for long periods of time.” 20 C.F.R. § 416.967(b).
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exists in significant numbers in the national economy given her RFC, age, education, and work
experience. Tr. 38-39. Specifically, the VE testified that Whited could work as a small products
assembler, mail sorter, and inspector/hand packager. Tr. 39. Accordingly, the ALJ concluded
that Whited was not “disabled” under the Act. Id.
II.
Analysis
Whited argues that remand is required because the ALJ’s credibility assessment is not
supported by substantial evidence.4 ECF No. 11-1, at 11-13. Specifically, Whited asserts that
the ALJ erred by finding her “not entirely credible” without any explanation whatsoever. Id.
The Court agrees.
The ALJ must consider all of the claimant’s statements about his or her symptoms and
how those symptoms affect his or her daily activities and ability to work. 20 C.F.R. § 416.929.
However, the claimant’s statements about his or her symptoms will not alone establish that he or
she is disabled. Id. Thus, the ALJ must follow a two-step process when considering the
claimant’s alleged symptoms and their effect on his or her ability to work.
First, the ALJ must consider whether the medical evidence shows any impairment that
“could reasonably be expected to produce the pain or other symptoms alleged[.]” 20 C.F.R. §
416.929(a). Second, if such an impairment is shown, the ALJ must evaluate the “intensity and
persistence” of the claimant’s symptoms to determine the extent to which they limit his or her
work capacity. 20 C.F.R. § 416.929(c)(1).
When the objective medical evidence alone does not substantiate the claimant’s alleged
symptoms, the ALJ must assess the credibility of the claimant’s statements considering the
following factors: (1) the claimant’s daily activities; (2) the location, duration, frequency, and
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Whited advances another argument that she believes requires reversal of the Commissioner’s decision.
ECF No. 11-1, at 9-11. However, because the Court disposes of this matter based on the ALJ’s improper credibility
assessment, that argument need not be reached
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intensity of the claimant’s symptoms; (3) precipitating and aggravating factors; (4) the type,
dosage, effectiveness, and side effects of any medication taken to alleviate symptoms; (5) other
treatment received to relieve symptoms; (6) any measures the claimant has taken to relieve
symptoms; and (7) any other factors concerning the claimant’s functional limitations and
restrictions due to symptoms. 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.929(c)(3)(i)-(vii).
The ALJ’s credibility findings “must be set forth with sufficient specificity to permit
intelligible plenary review of the record.” Phelps v. Colvin, 20 F. Supp. 3d 392, 403 (W.D.N.Y.
2014) (quotation marks and citation omitted). Social Security Ruling 96-7p warns that:
It is not sufficient for the [ALJ] to make a single, conclusory
statement that “the individual’s allegations have been considered”
or that “the allegations are (or are not) credible.” It is also not
enough for the [ALJ] simply to recite the factors that are described
in the regulations for evaluating symptoms. The determination or
decision must contain specific reasons for the finding on
credibility, supported by the evidence in the case record, and must
be sufficiently specific to make clear to the individual and to any
subsequent reviewers the weight the [ALJ] gave to the individual’s
statements and the reasons for that weight.
S.S.R. 96-7p, 1996 WL 374186, at *2 (July 2, 1996) (emphasis added).5
Here, the ALJ’s credibility determination is conclusory and insufficient. The ALJ stated
that:
The undersigned finds that [Whited]’s testimony is credible, but
not to the extent alleged . . . After careful consideration of the
evidence, the undersigned finds that [Whited]’s medically
determinable impairments could reasonably be expected to cause
the alleged symptoms; however, [Whited]’s statements concerning
the intensity, persistence and limiting effects of these symptoms
are not entirely credible for the reasons explained in this decision.
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The Court notes that S.S.R. 96-7p was recently superceded by S.S.R. 16-3p, which became effective on
March 28, 2016. S.S.R. 96-7p, however, remains the relevant guidance for the purposes of Whited’s claim, which
was filed on October 10, 2012. See Bailey v. Colvin, No. 1:15-CV-00991 (MAT), 2017 WL 149793, at *5 n.2 (Jan.
14, 2017).
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Tr. 30. Although the ALJ indicated that the credibility determination would be explained later in
his decision, the ALJ never explained why he found Whited “not entirely credible.”
The Commissioner attempts to provide support for the ALJ’s credibility determination,
ECF No. 12-1, at 28-29, however, “[a] reviewing court may not accept appellate counsel’s post
hoc rationalizations for agency action.” Snell v. Apfel, 177 F.3d 128, 134 (2d Cir. 1999)
(quotation marks and citation omitted). Although the Commissioner is correct that the ALJ
acknowledged Whited’s daily activities and treatment history and summarized the medical and
opinion evidence of record, none of these statements were tied to the credibility assessment. Tr.
29-38. The ALJ failed to consider the regulatory factors and specifically explain why he found
Whited’s statements concerning the limiting effects of her symptoms not credible. Accordingly,
remand is required.
CONCLUSION
Plaintiff’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (ECF No. 11) is GRANTED, the
Commissioner’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (ECF No. 12) is DENIED, and this
matter is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further administrative proceedings consistent
with this opinion, pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). See Curry v. Apfel, 209 F.3d
117, 124 (2d Cir. 2000); 42 U.S.C. § 1383(c)(3). The Clerk of Court is directed to enter
judgment and close this case.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: May 17, 2017
Rochester, New York
______________________________________
HON. FRANK P. GERACI, JR.
Chief Judge
United States District Court
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