Alexander v. Colvin

Filing 31

ORDER GRANTING 23 Plaintiff's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings and DENYING 27 Defendant's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. The decision of the Commissioner is reversed and this matter is remanded for an award of benefits. Signed by US District Judge Terrence W. Boyle on 11/25/2014. (Fisher, M.)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
NORTHERN DIVISION
No. 2:13-CV-63-BO
ANTHONY ALEXANDER,

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Plaintiff,

v.

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CAROLYN COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.

ORDER

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This matter is before the Court on the parties' cross-motions for judgment on the
pleadings. [DE 23, 27]. A hearing on this matter was held in Raleigh, North Carolina on
November 24, 2014 at 3:30p.m, at which the Commissioner appeared via video feed. For the
reasons discussed below, plaintiffs motion is GRANTED, defendant's motion is DENIED, and,
accordingly, the judgment of the commissioner is REVERSED.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff filed applications for Title XVI supplemental security income on September 8,
2010. [Tr. 79]. Mr. Alexander's application was denied initially and upon reconsideration. On
June 19, 2012, an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") held a hearing and rendered an unfavorable
decision on July 31, 2012. The Appeals Council denied Mr. Alexander's request for review,
rendering the ALJ' s decision the final decision of the Commissioner. Plaintiff now seeks judicial
review of the Commissioner's final decision pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
At the time of his application, plaintiff was 39 years old with no relevant work history.
(Tr. 28]. He suffers from visual impairments-it is undisputed that he has no vision In his left
eye and only partial vision in his right eye.

DISCUSSION
When a social security claimant appeals a final decision of the Commissioner, the Court's
review is limited to the determination of whether, based on the entire administrative record, there
is substantial evidence to support the Commissioner's findings. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Richardson
v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971 ). Substantial evidence is defined as "evidence which a

reasoning mind would accept as sufficient to support a particular conclusion." Shively v. Heckler,
739 F.2d 987, 989 (4th Cir. 1984) (quoting Laws v. Celebrezze, 368 F.2d 640,642 (4th Cir.
1966)). If the Commissioner's decision is supported by such evidence, it must be affirmed. Smith
v. Chater, 99 F.3d 635,638 (4th Cir. 1996).

In evaluating whether a claimant is disabled, an ALJ uses a multi-step process. First, a
claimant must not be able to work in a substantial gainful activity. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520.
Second, a claimant must have a severe impairment that significantly limits his or her physical or
mental ability to do basic work activities. ld. Third, to be found disabled, without considering a
claimant's age, education, and work experience, a claimant's impairment must be of sufficient
duration and must either meet or equal an impairment listed by the regulations. /d. Fourth, in the
alternative, a claimant may be disabled if his or her impairment prevents the claimant from doing
past relevant work and, fifth, if the impairment prevents the claimant from doing other work. Id.
The claimant bears the burden of proof at steps one through four, but the burden shifts to the
Commissioner at step five. Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 146 n.5 (1987).
At step one, the ALJ determined that plaintiff met the insured status requirements and
had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since his application date. [Tr. 24]. Mr.
Alexander's right eye low vision, blindness, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes with diabetic
retinopathy, and hypertension qualified as severe impairments at step two but was not found to

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meet or equal a Listing at step three. [Tr. 24-25]. The ALI concluded that plaintiff had the
residual functional capacity ("RFC") to perform medium work that did not involve climbing,
exposure to hazards and which required limited near-far-peripheral acuity, depth perception, and
color vision. [Tr. 25]. The ALJ then found that, although he had no past relevant work, Mr.
Alexander could perform the jobs of hospital cleaner and dining room attendant, therefore he
was not disabled. [Tr. 25].
Plaintiff alleges that the ALJ improperly evaluated the medical opinion evidence by
assigning little weight to the opinion of plaintiffs treating physician, Dr. Lewis. Dr. Lewis
diagnosed Mr. Alexander's with complete blindness in his left eye and partial blindness in his
right eye, leading to limited eyesight which was worse in dim light. [Tr. 286]. Low lighting also
caused him eye pain. [Tr. 288]. Dr. Lewis further opined that, due to plaintiffs eyesight, he
would need constant redirection when carrying things and would have difficulty bending and
climbing stairs. [Tr. 287]. He would require breaks from working and would periodically require
assistance, and Dr. Lewis did not expect Mr. Alexander to improve, given that he had been
treated unsuccessfully for years. [Tr. 289].
The ALJ gave little weight to Dr. Lewis's opinion, stating that "[o]bviously, Dr. Lewis is
not sufficiently familiar withe Social Security disability system" because he found Mr.
Alexander incapable of sedentary work despite having the physical capacity to lift and walk at
the medium exertionallevel. [Tr. 27]. The ALJ mischaracterized Dr. Lewis's opinion. Consistent
with his Mr. Alexander's testimony and the medical record, Dr. Lewis stated that there was
nothing wrong with Mr. Alexander's ability to lift and walk. [Tr. 287]. His impairments are as a
result ofhis vision problems. [Tr. 361-62]. Dr. Lewis specifically referenced plaintiffs vision

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when finding that he was not capable of performing full time work at any level of exertion. [Tr.
288].
If an ALJ decides to reject an opinion or testimony regarding the claimant's symptoms or
functional deficits, the AU must do so with sufficient specificity to allow the Court to determine
whether the ALJ's determination is supported by substantial evidence. Hatcher v. Sec 'y, Dep 't of
HHS, 898 F.2d 21, 23-25 (4th Cir, 1989). The ALJ cited no specific evidence from the file when
rejecting Dr. Lewis's opinion. [Tr. 27]. The record is replete with evidence supporting Dr.
Lewis's opinion.
Shortly after Mr. Alexander first sought treatment in 2010, he presented to White Eye
Associates ("WEA'') with severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy and vitreous hemorrhaging in
both eyes. [Tr. 300]. He then underwent a consultative examination with Dr. Land, who
diagnosed bilateral cataracts, possible glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. [Tr. 279-80]. Dr. Land
opined that Mr. Alexander "shows significant visual impairments and needs assistance in daily
living due to his visual impairments." [Tr. 280]. This opinion was consistent with that of Dr.
Lewis, however the ALJ addressed neither Dr. Land's opinion nor the consistency between Dr.
Land's and Dr. Lewis's opinions as required by 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527. In December of2010, Dr.
Barondes at WEA concluded that plaintiff's left eye was beyond repair, but surgery would be
undergone on his right eye to restore "some ambulatory vision." [Tr. 298]. Approximately two
months after his surgery, plaintiff was blind in his left eye and had 20/200 vision in his right eye.
[Tr. 293].
In May, 2011, Mr. Alexander went to another consultative examiner, who warned against
any driving and diagnosed visual acuity of only 20/200 in the right eye and total vision
impairment of the left eye. [Tr. 282-83]. By December 2011, plaintiff's right eye vision was

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20/400 unaided and 20/60 with manifest correction. [Tr. 365]. The ALI's conclusory statement
that Dr. Lewis's medical opinion is inconsistent with the record is false. Her opinion is consistent
with both the record and the opinion of Dr. Land, and it should have been given controlling
weight under the regulations. 20 C.F.R. §404.1527(c)(2).
The ALJ also erred in his assessment of Mr. Alexander's credibility. He found plaintiff
not credible regarding because "the claimant testified he was unable to afford glasses," which
would improve his right eye's vision. (Tr. 27]. The ALJ went on to note that the record
"indicates he was approved for Medicaid in early 2012, so treatment and most medications
should not be an issue." [!d.]. First, Medicaid will not cover his eyeglasses. See North Carolina
Adult Medicaid Manual, Title 2905 §XXIV. Second, "(i]t flies in the face of the patent purposes
of the Social Security Act to deny benefits to someone because he is too poor to obtain medical
treatment that may help him." Lovejoy v. Heckler, 790 F.2d 1114, 1117 (4th Cir. 1968) (internal
quotation omitted). Third, even if Mr. Alexander were able to get glasses, he would still be
completely blind in his left eye and have only 20/60 vision in his right eye. [Tr. 363]. He would
still be unable to drive and would require assistance from others on the job. [Tr. 280, 283]. As
the vocational expert testified, if plaintiff needed more than the usual 30-day demonstration
period for unskilled work, he would be unemployable. [Tr. 661. Accordingly, the ALI's decision
is not supported by substantial evidence.
The decision of whether to reverse and remand for benefits or reverse and remand for a
new hearing is one which "lies within the sound discretion ofthe district court." Edwards v.

Bowen, 672 F.Supp. 230, 236 (E.D.N.C. 1987). The Fourth Circuit has held that it is appropriate
for a federal court to "reverse without remanding where the record does not contain substantial
evidence to support a decision denying coverage under the correct legal standard and when

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reopening the record for more evidence would serve no purpose." Breeden v. Weinberger, 493
F.2d 1002, 1012 (4th Cir. 1974). Remand, rather than reversal, is required when the ALJ fails to
explain his reasoning and there is ambivalence in the medical record, precluding a court from
"meaningful review." Radford v. Colvin, 734 F.3d 288, 296 (4th Cir. 2013) (citing Kastner v.

Astrue, 697 F.3d 642, 648 (7th Cir. 2012)). Here, the ALI clearly explained his reasoning, it was
simply in error. It is abundantly clear that the record does not contain substantial evidence to
support a decision denying coverage. Plaintiff is virtually blind, cannot drive, and all of the
medical evidence demonstrates that he would need daily assistance in order to do any type of
job. As the vocational expert testified, there are no jobs at the unskilled level that can
accommodate such requirements. The Court therefore reverses the decision of the Commissioner
and remands to the agency for an award of benefits.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the plaintiffs motion for judgment on the pleadings [DEA31 is
GRANTED, and the decision of the Commissioner is REVERSED. Accordingly, this case is
REMANDED for an award of benefits consistent with this Order.

SO ORDERED, this ¥ d a y ofNovember, 2014.

~w·¥
T RRENCE W. BOYLE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDG

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