Bernard v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 18

AMENDED DECISION AND ORDER re 16 Order on Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings is Amended to correct the court's erroneous finding in the original Decision and Order regarding Plaintiff's ability to perform past relevant work. Plaintif f's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Dkt. 10) is GRANTED; Defendant's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Dkt. 13) is DENIED; the matter is REMANDED for further administrative proceedings consistent with this Amended Decision and Order. Signed by Hon. Leslie G. Foschio on 02/17/2021. (TAH)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
______________________________________
JAMES B.,
Plaintiff,
v.
ANDREW M. SAUL, 2 Commissioner of
Social Security,

AMENDED
DECISION
and
ORDER 1
19-CV-6493F
(consent)

Defendant.
______________________________________

APPEARANCES:

LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH R. HILLER, PLLC
Attorneys for Plaintiff
KENNETH R. HILLER, and
JEANNE ELIZABETH MURRAY, of Counsel
6000 North Bailey Avenue
Suite 1A
Amherst, New York 14226
JAMES P. KENNEDY, JR.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
Attorney for Defendant
Federal Centre
138 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14202
and
KATHRYN L. SMITH
Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney’s Office
100 State Street
Rochester, New York 14614
and

1 This Amended Decision and Order is required to correct the court’s erroneous finding in the original
Decision and Order regarding Plaintiff’s ability to perform past relevant work.
2 Andrew M. Saul became the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration on June 17, 2019, and,
pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 25(d), is substituted as Defendant in this case. No further action is required to
continue this suit by reason of sentence one of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

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NICOL FITZHUGH
Special Assistant United States Attorney, of Counsel
Social Security Administration
Office of General Counsel
601 East 12TH Street
Room 965
Kansas City, Missouri 64106
JURISDICTION
On October 14, 2020, the parties to this action, consented pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(c) to proceed before the undersigned. (Dkt. 15). The matter is presently before
the court on motions for judgment on the pleadings filed by Plaintiff on February 10,
2020 (Dkt. 10), and by Defendant on May 11, 2020 (Dkt. 13).

BACKGROUND
Plaintiff James B. (“Plaintiff”), brings this action under Title II of the Social
Security Act (“the Act”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), seeking judicial review of the
Commissioner of Social Security’s final decision denying Plaintiff’s application filed with
the Social Security Administration (“SSA”), on July 16, 2015, for Social Security
Disability Insurance benefits under Title II of the Act (“SSDI” or “disability benefits”).
Plaintiff alleges he became disabled on May 1, 2011, based on hypertension since
1983, depression since 1990, diabetes since 1990 – not controlled, neuropathy in both
feet since 2008 causing Plaintiff to lose balance and fall, sleep apnea since 1995, blew
out left knee in 1995 requiring surgery and causing pain, and migraines since 2006
causing vomiting and nausea. AR3 at 175, 178. On January 12, 2016, Plaintiff received
a partially favorable determination with Plaintiff’s disability benefits application approved

3

References to “AR” are to page of the Administrative Record electronically filed by Defendant on
September 27, 2019 (Dkt. 5).

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although not for a disability onset date (“DOD”) of May 1, 2011, as Plaintiff asserted in
the disability benefits application, but as of July 16, 2015 (“the adverse DOD”). AR at
61-72, 77, 81. At Plaintiff’s timely request for an administrative hearing challenging the
adverse DOD and contending disability since May 1, 2011, AR at 83-84, on May 1,
2018, a hearing was held in Rochester, New York, before administrative law judge
Michael W. Devlin (“the ALJ). AR at 27-60. Appearing and testifying at the hearing
were Plaintiff, represented by Justine Goldstein, Esq., and vocational expert Dawn
Blythe (“the V.E.”). AR at 27.
On August 21, 2018, the ALJ issued a decision finding Plaintiff was not disabled
at any time between the alleged DOD of May 1, 2011, and December 31, 2016, the date
last insured for purposes of Plaintiff’s SSDI claim, AR at 10-26 (“the ALJ’s decision”),
thus overturning the earlier administrative disability award, which Plaintiff timely
appealed to the Appeals Council. AR at 146-47. On May 2, 2019, the Appeals Council
issued a decision denying Plaintiff’s request for review, rendering the ALJ’s decision the
Commissioner’s final decision. AR at 1-6. On July 1, 2019, Plaintiff commenced the
instant action seeking judicial review of the ALJ’s decision.
On February 10, 2020, Plaintiff moved for judgment on the pleadings requesting
the ALJ’s decision be vacated or reversed with the matter remanded for further
administrative proceedings (Dkt. 10) (“Plaintiffs’ Motion”), attaching the Memorandum of
Law in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Dkt. 10-1)
(“Plaintiff’s Memorandum”). On May 11, 2020, Defendant moved for judgment on the
pleadings (Dkt. 13) (“Defendant’s Motion”), attaching the Commissioner’s Brief in
Support of Defendant’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings and in Response to

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Plaintiff’s Brief Pursuant to Local Rule 5.5 for Social Security Cases (Dkt.13-1)
(“Defendant’s Memorandum”). Filed on June 1, 2020, was Plaintiff’s Response to the
Commissioner’s Brief in Support and in Further Support for Plaintiff’s Motion for
Judgment on the Pleadings (Dkt. 14) (“Plaintiff’s Reply”). Oral argument was deemed
unnecessary.
Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff’s Motion is GRANTED; Defendant’s Motion is
DENIED; the matter is REMANDED for further proceedings.

FACTS 4
Plaintiff James B. (“Plaintiff”), born April 26, 1952, was 59 years old as of May 1,
2011, his alleged DOD, and 66 years old as of August 12, 2018, the date of the ALJ’s
decision. AR at 21, 148, 175, 193. Plaintiff graduated high school and attended two
years of college, obtaining a nursing degree. AR at 32, 179. Plaintiff’s has previously
worked as a general duty nurse, a nurse supervisor, and as a perfusionist (health care
professional who operates cardiopulmonary bypass machine (heart-lung machine)
during surgeries). AR at 21-22, 179. Plaintiff’s most recent job was as a perfusionist
from which Plaintiff was laid off in April 2011. AR at 33, 35. After the termination of his
employment, Plaintiff was not able to find other employment and after attaining age 62,
presented to the local SSA office to apply for social security where he was advised to
apply for SSDI because of his impairments of diabetes and back issues. AR at 55. It is
undisputed that Plaintiff has diabetes that has resulted in neuropathy of Plaintiff’s upper
and lower extremities. It is also undisputed that after losing his job in 2011, Plaintiff had

4

In the interest of judicial economy, recitation of the Facts is limited to only those necessary for
determining the pending motions for judgment on the pleadings.

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a difficult time obtaining medical treatment and experienced an interruption of scheduled
treatment from his primary care provider, Rochester General Medical Group Northridge
Medical Group (“Northridge Medical”), as well as prevented Plaintiff from obtaining his
medications. See AR at 223-24 (February 27, 2012 Progress Note from Northridge
Medical stating Plaintiff has “not been seen for some time” and stopped taking his
insulin over the summer but continued taking Metformin (blood sugar control) because
he was unable to obtain affordable medical insurance or his prescriptions), 466 (July 15,
2016 Northridge Medical Progress Note reporting Plaintiff “has been lost to follow-up for
several years due to lack of insurance” with prescriptions provided by “another
physician”). During this time, Plaintiff sometimes obtained prescriptions for his
medications from Brian Dailey, M.D. (“Dr. Dailey”), with whom Plaintiff had previously
worked. AR at 627-46.
In connection with his disability benefits application, on November 25, 2015,
Plaintiff underwent a consultative internal medicine examination performed by Harbinder
Toor, M.D. (“Dr. Toor”). Dr. Toor noted Plaintiff’s medical history included diabetes,
diabetic neuropathy in the extremities, injury and pain in lower back and left knee,
hypertension, sleep apnea, insomnia, depression, migraine headaches, balancing
problems, irritable bowel syndrome, thalassemia trait (inability to properly generate red
blood cells resulting in anemia), and ventricular tachycardia. AR at 236-27. Plaintiff’s
prognosis was “guarded,” and Dr. Toor’s medical source statement was that Plaintiff
“has moderate to marked limitation in standing, walking, lifting, and carrying,” pain in
Plaintiff’s legs “interfere[s] with his balance,” Plaintiff ‘has a mild to moderate limitation
doing fine motor activity with the hands,” “moderate limitation in sitting or bending,” and

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“[p]ain can interfere with his routine. . . . “ Id. at 237. Dr. Toor specifically found Plaintiff
with “mild to moderate difficulty grasping, holding, writing, tying shoelaces, zipping
zippers, buttoning a button, manipulating a coin, or holding objects with the hands.” Id.
at 236.
On April 7, 2016, Plaintiff re-established care with at Northridge Medical with
Thomas S. Roberts, M.D. (“Dr. Roberts”) as his primary care physician. AR at 442-58.
On August 12, 2018, Dr. Roberts completed a Treating Medical Source Statement, AR
at 679-82, reporting treating Plaintiff every three to six months since April 2016, as well
as once in 2012, and that Plaintiff’s diagnoses included diabetes mellitus, hypertension,
sleep apnea, depression, diabetic neuropathy, and knee pain. AR at 679. Dr. Roberts
opined Plaintiff could not engage in full-time, competitive employment on a sustained
basis, that Plaintiff’s symptoms were reasonably consistent with the objective medical
findings and functional limitations, and that Plaintiff is not a malinger. Id. According to
Dr. Roberts, Plaintiff’s severe medical conditions would cause him to be off-task 25% of
a workday or workweek, Plaintiff could sit for more than 90 minutes, but only stand for
20 to 30 minutes and could stand/walk less than two hours in an eight-hour workday.
Id. at 680. Plaintiff could frequently lift and carry 10 lbs., occasionally twist and
stoop/bend, rarely crouch/squat, or climb stairs, and never climb ladders. Id. at 681.
Dr. Roberts further opined Plaintiff had significant limitations with reaching, handling,
and fingering attributed to numbness in his fingers caused by Plaintiff’s diabetic
neuropathy, and shoulder pain. Id. at 682.
At the May 1, 2018 administrative hearing, in response to the ALJ’s questioning,
the VE testified that Plaintiff’s PRW as a nurse supervisor was classified in the

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Dictionary of Occupational Titles (“DOT”) as “light” work, but as “sedentary” as
performed by Plaintiff. 5 AR at 42. Plaintiff’s perfusionist job was classified in the DOT
as “medium” work. The VE further testified with regard to the hypothetical posed by the
ALJ that Plaintiff would not be able to perform the perfusionist job, and would be able to
perform the nurse supervisor job as Plaintiff performed it, i.e., as sedentary work, but
not as classified in the DOT as light work, id. at 43-44, and that further restricting
Plaintiff’s RFC of sedentary work to only frequent, as opposed to constant, handling and
fingering would sufficiently erode the sedentary occupational base to preclude any work.
Id. The ALJ, in rendering his opinion, determined Plaintiff could not perform his PRW as
a general duty nurse or perfusionist, both of which are medium work, but Plaintiff could
work as a nurse supervisor which the ALJ found was “sedentary per the D.O.T.” and
“light as performed,” and required frequent handing and fingering. Id. at 21-22. This is
contrary to the VE’s testimony that the nurse supervisor job is “light” per the DOT and

5

The regulations categorize jobs according to their physical exertion requirements as “sedentary,” “light,”
“medium,” “heavy,” and “very heavy.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(a)-(e). As relevant here,
a) Sedentary work. Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and
occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a
sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is
often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are
required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.
(b) Light work. 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, you must have the ability to do
substantially all of these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine 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.
(c) Medium work. Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent
lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium work, we
determine that he or she can also do sedentary and light work.
20 C.F.R. § 404.1567.

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“sedentary” as Plaintiff performed it, and required more than the ability to frequently
handle and finger.

DISCUSSION
1.

Standard and Scope of Judicial Review
A claimant is “disabled” within the meaning of the Act and entitled to disability

benefits when she is unable “to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of
any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which . . . has lasted or can
be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” 42 U.S.C. §§
416(i)(1); 1382c(a)(3)(A). A district court may set aside the Commissioner’s
determination that a claimant is not disabled if the factual findings are not supported by
substantial evidence, or if the decision is based on legal error. 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g),
1383(c)(3); Green-Younger v. Barnhart, 335 F.3d 99, 105-06 (2d Cir. 2003). In
reviewing a final decision of the SSA, a district 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) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “Substantial evidence is more
than a mere scintilla. It means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might
accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. It is not, however, the district court’s
function to make a de novo determination as to whether the claimant is disabled; rather,
“the reviewing court is required to examine the entire record, including contradictory
evidence and evidence from which conflicting inferences can be drawn” to determine
whether the SSA’s findings are supported by substantial evidence. Id. “Congress has

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instructed . . . that the factual findings of the Secretary, 6 if supported by substantial
evidence, shall be conclusive.” Rutherford v. Schweiker, 685 F.2d60, 62 (2d Cir. 1982).
2.

Disability Determination
The definition of “disabled” is the same for purposes of receiving SSDI and SSI

benefits. Compare 42 U.S.C. § 423(d) with 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a). The applicable
regulations set forth a five-step analysis the Commissioner must follow in determining
eligibility for disability benefits. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520 and 416.920. See Bapp v.
Bowen, 802 F.2d 601, 604 (2d Cir. 1986); Berry v. Schweiker, 675 F.2d 464 (2d Cir.
1982). All five steps need not necessarily be addressed because if the claimant fails to
meet the criteria at either of the first two steps, the inquiry ceases and the claimant is
not eligible for disability benefits, but if the claimant meets the criteria for the third or
fourth step, the inquiry ceases with the claimant eligible for disability benefits. 20 C.F.R.
§§ 404.1520 and 416.920.
The first step is to determine whether the applicant is engaged in substantial
gainful activity during the period for which the benefits are claimed. 20 C.F.R. §§
404.1520(b) and 416.920(b). The second step is whether the applicant has a severe
impairment which significantly limits the physical or mental ability to do basic work
activities, as defined in the relevant regulations. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c) and
416.920(c). Third, if there is an impairment and the impairment, or its equivalent, is
listed in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 of the regulations (“Appendix 1” or
“the Listings”), and meets the duration requirement of at least 12 continuous months,

6

Pursuant to the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994, the function of
the Secretary of Health and Human Services in Social Security cases was transferred to the
Commissioner of Social Security, effective March 31, 1995.

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there is a presumption of inability to perform substantial gainful activity, and the claimant
is deemed disabled, regardless of age, education, or work experience. 42 U.S.C. §§
423(d)(1)(A) and 1382a(c)(3)(A); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(d) and 416.920(d). As a fourth
step, however, if the impairment or its equivalent is not listed in Appendix 1, the
Commissioner must then consider the applicant’s “residual functional capacity” or “RFC”
which is the ability to perform physical or mental work activities on a sustained basis,
notwithstanding the limitations posed by the applicant’s collective impairments, see 20
C.F.R. 404.1520(e)-(f), and 416.920(e)-(f), and the demands of any past relevant work
(“PRW”). 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(e) and 416.920(e). If the applicant remains capable of
performing PRW, disability benefits will be denied, id., but if the applicant is unable to
perform PRW relevant work, the Commissioner, at the fifth step, must consider whether,
given the applicant’s age, education, and past work experience, the applicant “retains a
residual functional capacity to perform alternative substantial gainful work which exists
in the national economy.” Rosa v. Callahan, 168 F.3d 72, 77 (2d Cir. 1999) (quotation
marks and citation omitted); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1560(c) and 416.960(c). The burden of
proof is on the applicant for the first four steps, with the Commissioner bearing the
burden of proof on the final step. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4) and 416.920(a)(4);
Burgess v. Astrue, 537 F.3d 117, 128 (2d Cir. 2008).
In the instant case, the ALJ found Plaintiff met the insured status requirements
for SSDI through December 31, 2016, AR at 15, has not engaged in substantial gainful
activity since May 1, 2011, his alleged DOD, id., and suffers from the severe
impairments of lumber degenerative disc disease, history of injury in the left knee, left
knee degenerative joint disease, diabetes, diabetes neuropathy in the extremities,

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ventricular tachycardia, hypertension, sleep apnea, insomnia, migraine headaches, and
obesity, id., but that Plaintiff’s history of irritable bowel syndrome (“IBS”), thalassemia
trait, major depressive disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder, neither singly or in
combination, do not cause more than a minimal limitation in the claimant’s ability to
perform basic work activities and thus are not severe. Id. at 16-17. The ALJ further
found that through the date last insured, Plaintiff did not have an impairment or
combination of impairments meeting or medically equal to the severity of any listed
impairment in Appendix 1, id. at 17, and that Plaintiff retains the RFC to perform
sedentary work as defined in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(a), except that Plaintiff can
occasionally lift and/or carry 10 lbs., frequently, as opposed to constantly, lift and/or
carry less than 10 lbs., stand or walk up to two hours and sit for six hours in an eighthour workday, can push and/or pull 10 lbs., and is limited to only occasionally climbing
ramps or stairs, occasionally balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling,
can never climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds and can frequently, as opposed to
constantly, handle and finger bilaterally. Id. at 17-21. Based on Plaintiff’s RFC and the
VE’s testimony at the administrative hearing, the ALJ concluded that Plaintiff could
perform his PRW as a nurse supervisor, id., at 21-22, such that Plaintiff was not under a
disability as defined in the Act at any time from the alleged May 1, 2011 DOD through
December 31, 2016, Plaintiff’s date last insured. Id. at 22.
In support of his motion, Plaintiff argues the ALJ failed to properly evaluate the
opinion of Dr. Roberts, Plaintiff’s treating physician, and failed to incorporate into the
RFC all the limitations assessed by Dr. Roberts, particularly with regard to the extent to
which Plaintiff’s ability to use his fingers and arms is diminished by diabetic neuropathy,

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Plaintiff’s Memorandum at 11-18, and the ALJ failed to properly assess Plaintiff’s
credibility and to account for Plaintiff’s subjective complaints based on Plaintiff’s lack of
treatment while without medical insurance. Id. at 18-23. In opposition, Defendant
argues the ALJ appropriately evaluated the overall record of Plaintiff’s allegations of
disabling limitations, Defendant’s Memorandum at 13-21, and reasonably weighed Dr.
Roberts’s opinion in the context of the overall record in formulating the RFC. Id. at 2128. In reply, Plaintiff argues that because the ALJ failed to properly evaluate Dr.
Roberts’s opinion and to address or incorporate the more limiting aspects of the opinion
into the RFC, the RFC is not based on substantial evidence, Plaintiff’s Reply at 1-2, and
the ALJ failed to properly assess Plaintiff’s credibility and account for Plaintiff’s
subjective complaints because of Plaintiff’s lack of treatment following the termination of
his employment. Id. at 2. A thorough review of the record establishes the ALJ’s
formulation of Plaintiff’s RFC determination that Plaintiff could frequently, as opposed to
constantly, finger and handle is inconsistent with the ALJ’s giving “significant weight” to
Dr. Toor’s consultative opinion, which opinion included that Plaintiff has “moderate
limitation in sitting or bending,” AR at 237, specifically described as “mild to moderate
difficulty grasping, holding, writing, tying shoelaces, zipping zippers, buttoning a button,
manipulating a coin, or holding objects with the hands.” Id. at 236.
In particular, “courts in this district have found mild to moderate hand limitations
to be inconsistent with the ability to frequently reach, handle, and finger.” Carlin v.
Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 2020 WL 5995181, at * 3 (W.D.N.Y. Oct. 9, 2020) (quoting
McFarland-Deida v. Berryhill, 2018 WL 1575273, at * 4 (W.D.N.Y. Apr. 2, 2018) (“[T]he
Court finds that the ALJ erred when he afforded ‘significant weight’ to Dr. Toor’s opinion

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that McFarland-Deida had mild hand limitations, but failed to explain his finding that
McFarland-Deida can nonetheless frequently reach, handle, and finger bilaterally.”);
Moe v. Colvin, 2017 WL 6379239, at *6 (W.D.N.Y. Dec. 14, 2017) (“[T]he ALJ gave Dr.
Balderman’s opinion ‘significant weight’ but his limitation regarding Plaintiff’s use of his
hands repetitively is not necessarily compatible with the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff can
frequently handle and finger, i.e., do such activities for up to one-third to two-thirds of an
8-hour day (up to 2.64 to 5.36 hours).”)). “More significantly, the point is not whether
the courts have found certain activities consistent with certain medical findings; the point
is that the ALJ did not connect the dots between Dr. Toor’s opinion and the RFC.”
Carlin, 2020 WL 5995181, at *3.
Similarly, in the instant case, the ALJ gave “significant weight” to the consultative
opinion of Dr. Toor, yet failed to “connect the dots” between Dr. Toor’s opinion that
Plaintiff had a mild to moderate limitation to fingering and handling, and the RFC
formulation that Plaintiff could frequently finger and handle. Despite acknowledging the
general limitations imposed by Dr. Toor, AR at 21-22, the ALJ does not discuss Dr.
Toor’s more specific finding regarding the types of activities with which Plaintiff had
difficulty, including “mild to moderate difficulty grasping, holding, writing, tying
shoelaces, zipping zippers, buttoning a button, manipulating a coin, or holding objects
with the hands.” Id. at 236. Further, although the ALJ gives “some weight” to Dr.
Roberts’s August 12, 2018 opinion, the ALJ does not discuss that Dr. Roberts opinion
that Plaintiff had significant limitations with reaching, handling, and fingering attributed
to numbness in his fingers caused by Plaintiff’s diabetic neuropathy, and shoulder pain.
AR at 682. Although Dr. Roberts’s opinion is dated after Plaintiff’s date last insured, it

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pertains to Dr. Roberts’s treatment of Plaintiff since April 2016. Id. at 679. Accordingly,
the ALJ erred in the RFC determination and the matter must be REMANDED to permit
the ALJ to address the deficiencies.
Should the ALJ, upon remand, determine that Plaintiff is not able to frequently
handle and finger, Plaintiff would be unable to perform his PRW as a nurse supervisor
which is significant in light of the VE’s testimony that there are no other jobs in the
national economy that Plaintiff could then perform. 7 AR at 43-44. In such
circumstances, the issue would remain as to when Plaintiff’s RFC was reduced to work
of sedentary exertion, which is the issue for which Plaintiff requested the administrative
hearing after initially being found eligible for disability benefits as of July 16, 2015, i.e.,
the date of Plaintiff’s disability benefits application.
”The onset date of disability is the first day an individual is disabled as defined in
the Act and the regulations.” Titles II & XVI: Onset of Disability, SSR 83-20, 1983 WL
31249, at *1 (S.S.A. 1983), 8 Although Plaintiff alleges he became disabled as of May 1,
2011, disability benefits awarded on Title II claims “may be paid for as many as 12
months before the month an application is filed. Therefore, the earlier the onset date is
set, the longer is the period of disability and the greater the protection received.”9 SSR

7 Although upon remand the ALJ may find Plaintiff, despite his impairment to handling and fingering, could
perform the nurse supervisory job such that the ALJ will not need to consider the disability onset date and
render the ensuing discussion unnecessary, the court addresses the issue because Plaintiff requested
the administrative hearing only to challenge the initial administrative decision that Plaintiff was disabled as
of July 16, 2015, the date of his disability benefits application, rather than May 1, 2011 as Plaintiff claimed
in his application.
8 Although SSR was rescinded and replaced on October 2, 2018, by SSR 18-1p and SSR 18-2p, because
the ALJ’s decision was rendered on August 12, 2018, prior to the date of rescission, SSR 83-20 is
controlling with regard to Plaintiff’s action. See Holstrom v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 2020 WL 3989349, at
*4 n. 3 (W.D.N.Y. July 15, 2020) (citing Land v. Commissioner of Social Security, 2020 WL 1329982, *3 n.
3 (M.D. Fla. 2020)).
9 Based on Plaintiff’s filing his disability benefits application on July 16, 2015, Plaintiff could not be
awarded disability benefits under Title II prior to 12 months earlier, i.e., July 16, 2014, even if the record
establishes Plaintiff was disabled prior to July 16, 2014. SSR 83-20 at *1.

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83-20; 1983 WL 31249 at *1. Further, an award of Title II disability benefits requires
disability be established prior to the claimant’s date last insured, id., in the instant case,
December 31, 2016. SSR 83-20 at *1. 10
With regard to disabilities of nontraumatic origin, as present in the instant case, in
establishing the disability onset date, the ALJ must consider “the applicant’s allegations,
work history, if any, and the medical and other evidence concerning impairment
severity.” SSR 83-20 at *2. As in the instant case, “[w]ith slowly progressive
impairments, it is sometimes impossible to obtain medical evidence establishing the
precise date an impairment became disabling.” Id. Under such circumstances present
in the instant case involving progressive impairments of nontraumatic origin, specifically,
Plaintiff’s progressive diabetic neuropathy, Facts, supra at 5-6, “[d]etermining the proper
onset date is particularly difficult when, for example, the alleged onset and the date last
worked are far in the past and adequate medical records are not available. In such
cases, it will be necessary to infer the onset date from the medical and other evidence
that describe the history and symptomatology of the disease process. SSR 83-20 at 2.
SSR 83-20 further provides that “the [onset] date alleged by the individual should be
used if it is consistent with all the evidence available. When the medical or work
evidence is not consistent with the allegation, additional development may be needed to
reconcile the discrepancy. However, the established onset date must be fixed based on
the facts and can never be inconsistent with the medical evidence of record.” Id. at *3.
“SSR 83-20 plainly provides that where the medical evidence of record does not provide

10

In contrast, “[u]nder Title XVI, there is no retroactivity of payment.” SSR 83-20 at *1. Further, unlike
Title II, disability eligibility under Title II does not require establishing disability by an insured status
deadline. Id. Plaintiff did not apply for disability benefits under Title XVI.

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a clear onset date and the date must be inferred, the ALJ should seek the assistance of
a medical expert to make this inference.” Perry v. Berryhill, 2019 WL 105304, *5
(W.D.N.Y. 2019) (emphasis added). The ALJ may also call and rely upon the testimony
of lay witnesses, such as a claimant's “family members, friends, and former employers,”
in determining an onset date. SSR 83-20, 1983 WL 31249 at *3.
In the instant case, although Plaintiff asserts May 1, 2011 as his DOD, the record
establishes Plaintiff was not working on May 1, 2011 because he was laid off from his
most recent job as a perfusionist and attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to obtain new
employment for several years after the lay-off, as well as that Plaintiff maintains he was
having physical difficulties performing the perfusionist job prior to being terminated. AR
at 52-55. The Commissioner initially administratively determined Plaintiff was disabled
as of July 16, 2015, which is the date Plaintiff applied for disability benefits, but which
does not coincide with any specific medical evidence or opinion in the record. Further,
the May 1, 2018 administrative hearing at which the ALJ obtained the VE’s testimony
regarding Plaintiff’s PRW was held on May 1, 2018, after Plaintiff’s date last insured,
December 31, 2016, for purposes of disability benefits under Title II, and thus provides
no basis to ascertain Plaintiff’s DOD as the hearing did not precede Plaintiff’s date last
insured. Accordingly, if, upon remand, the ALJ determines Plaintiff’s limitation to
fingering and handling renders Plaintiff’s unable to return to his PRW as a nurse
supervisor such that Plaintiff is disabled, the ALJ must also determine when Plaintiff
became disabled.

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Case 6:19-cv-06493-LGF Document 18 Filed 02/17/21 Page 17 of 17

CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff’s Motion (Dkt. 10) is GRANTED; Defendant’s
Motion (Dkt. 13) is DENIED; the matter is REMANDED for further administrative
proceedings consistent with this Amended Decision and Order. The Clerk of Court is
directed to close the file.
SO ORDERED.
/s/ Leslie G. Foschio
______________________________________
LESLIE G. FOSCHIO
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

DATED:

February 17th, 2021
Buffalo, New York

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