Myrick v. Colvin
Filing
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ORDER granting 29 Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings; denying 27 Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings; and adopting 32 Memorandum and Recommendation - Signed by District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan on 03/31/2014. (Baker, C.)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
No. 7:12-CV-359-FL
THERESA LYNN MYRICK,
Plaintiff,
v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.
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ORDER
This matter comes before the court on the parties’ cross-motions for judgment on the
pleadings (DE 27, 29). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
72(b), United States Magistrate Judge James E. Gates issued a memorandum and recommendation
(“M&R”) (DE 32), wherein it is recommended that the court deny plaintiff’s motion, grant
defendant’s motion, and that the final decision by defendant be affirmed. Plaintiff timely filed an
objection to the M&R and the response time has expired. In this posture, the issues raised are ripe
for ruling. For the reasons that follow, the court adopts the recommendation of the magistrate judge.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff filed an application for supplemental security income on April 13, 2010, alleging
disability beginning May 15, 2007. This application was denied initially and upon reconsideration.
A video hearing was held on September 6, 2011, before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) who
determined that plaintiff was not disabled in a decision dated September 21, 2011. The appeals
council denied plaintiff’s request for review on October 31, 2012, and plaintiff filed the instant
action on December 31, 2012.
DISCUSSION
A.
Standard of Review
The court has jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) to review the Commissioner’s final
decision denying benefits. The court must uphold the factual findings of the ALJ “if they are
supported by substantial evidence and were reached through application of the correct legal
standard.” Craig v. Chater, 76 F.3d 585, 589 (4th Cir. 1996). “Substantial evidence is . . . such
relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.”
Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971) (quotations omitted). The standard is met by “more
than a mere scintilla of evidence but . . . less than a preponderance.” Laws v. Celebrezze, 368 F.2d
640, 642 (4th Cir. 1966).
To assist it in its review of the Commissioner’s denial of benefits, the court may “designate
a magistrate judge to conduct hearings . . . and to submit . . . proposed findings of fact and
recommendations for the disposition [of the motions for judgment on the pleadings].” See 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1)(B). The parties may object to the magistrate judge’s findings and recommendations,
and the court “shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified
proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made.” Id. § 636(b)(1). Absent a
specific and timely filed objection, the court reviews only for “clear error,” and need not give any
explanation for adopting the M&R. Diamond v. Colonial Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315
(4th Cir. 2005); Camby v. Davis, 718 F.2d 198, 200 (4th Cir.1983). Upon careful review of the
record, “the court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or
recommendations made by the magistrate judge.” 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).
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The ALJ’s determination of eligibility for Social Security benefits involves a five-step
sequential evaluation process, which asks whether:
(1) the claimant is engaged in substantial gainful activity; (2) the claimant has a
medical impairment (or combination of impairments) that are severe; (3) the
claimant’s medical impairment meets or exceeds the severity of one of the
impairments listed in [the regulations]; (4) the claimant can perform [her] past
relevant work; and (5) the claimant can perform other specified types of work.
Johnson v. Barnhart, 434 F.3d 650, 654 n.1 (4th Cir. 2005) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520). The
burden of proof is on the claimant during the first four steps of the inquiry, but shifts to the
Commissioner at the fifth step. Pass v. Chater, 65 F.3d 1200, 1203 (4th Cir. 1995).
In the instant matter, the ALJ performed the sequential evaluation. At step one, the ALJ
found that plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since April 13, 2010, the date of
her application. At step two, the ALJ found that plaintiff had the following severe impairments: right
knee impairment, right shoulder impairment, and bipolar disorder. However, at step three, the ALJ
further determined that these impairments were not severe enough to meet or medically equal one
of the impairments in the regulations. Prior to proceeding to step four, the ALJ determined that
plaintiff had the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform sedentary work, including lifting
and carrying up to ten pounds occasionally and lesser amounts frequently, sitting for six hours in
an eight-hour day, and occasionally standing and walking. The ALJ found plaintiff can perform
activities such as occasionally climbing stairs or ramps, ladders, ropes or scaffolds, balancing,
kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching overhead, and frequent stooping. The ALJ also found
plaintiff can perform simple, repetitive, routine tasks. In making this assessment, the ALJ found
plaintiff’s statements about her limitations not fully credible. At step four, the ALJ concluded
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plaintiff was unable to perform any past relevant work. At step five, upon considering plaintiff’s
age, education, work experience and RFC, the ALJ determined that there were jobs that existed in
significant numbers in the national economy that plaintiff is capable of performing.
B.
Analysis
Plaintiff objects to the M&R’s conclusion that the ALJ properly considered her impairments
in determining her RFC. Specifically, she argues that the ALJ did not take note of relevant findings
in plaintiff’s medical records that support greater limitations regarding her right shoulder and hand.
Plaintiff asserts that the ALJ did not address portions of medical examinations that occurred in
March 2011 and April 2011, along with a report from a MRI on plaintiff’s right shoulder performed
January 29, 2011. Upon de novo review of plaintiff’s objection, the court concludes that plaintiff’s
objection should be overruled.
1.
March and April 2011 Examinations
First, plaintiff argues the March 2011 examination’s finding of 50 percent passive range of
motion and 20 percent active range of motion in her right shoulder was “[c]ompletely missing from
[the ALJ] analysis.” (Obj. 3). However, the ALJ noted that plaintiff’s January 2011 examination
found her to be “extremely limited with painful range of motion,” and that plaintiff’s March 2011
examination showed “reduced range of motion secondary to pain.” (Tr. 19). Indeed, the ALJ stated
that it was restricting “exertional and postural limitations” in plaintiff’s RFC to account for her right
arm pain. (Tr. 20). Yet the ALJ found limitations beyond those noted in her RFC unsupported by
the evidence of record.
The record indicated plaintiff’s limitations were largely restricted to the deltoid muscle of
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her shoulder. For instance, the March 2011 examination noted plaintiff’s “[r]otator cuff strength
actually seems to be okay,” that she had “good shoulder shrug,” and that “[s]he does not seem to
have aggravation of her symptoms in her arm with neck movements but mostly it is focused right
at the shoulder.” (Tr. 343). Plaintiff’s left arm moved “normally.” (Id.). As to plaintiff’s hand, the
examination reported that her “[g]rip strength was down in general and she complains of numbness
in her fingers but was not very specific about that and I cannot find it on skin testing.” (Id.). She
further complained of hand pain in a May 2011 examination, but this was caused “after hitting her
hand into her dog accidentally.” (Tr. 353). Such evidence does not indicate a disabling hand
condition. An April 2011 nerve conduction study found “no other abnormalities” in her right arm
outside of the deltoid and also reported “no obvious findings to explain symptoms radiating all the
way down the entire arm.” (Tr. 342). The record also included evidence that plaintiff could cook
“as long as she does not have to stand for a long time,” that she could do laundry while sitting, that
she could wash dishes except for her difficulties standing, and that she could use a cane. (See 3rd
Party Function Rep. – Adult, from Lisa Rosak (sister); Tr. 183-188). Substantial evidence supported
the ALJ’s RFC determination.
Plaintiff also asserts that the ALJ mischaracterized plaintiff’s limited range of motion when
she described it “as being secondary to pain,” arguing that this characterization “is not at all what
the examining physician states.” (Obj. 3). Plaintiff goes on to cite portions of the record in support
of her contention that she suffered from a nerve condition in the deltoid muscle, and that this
condition, rather than mere pain, caused her reduced motion and weakness. (Id.). Yet plaintiff fails
to explain how this distinction would have affected the ALJ’s assessment of plaintiff’s RFC. The
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claimant’s RFC is based on what he or she is capable of doing, not on the cause of those limitations.
See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545 (“Your residual functional capacity is the most you can still do despite
your limitations”). Whether plaintiff’s limitations were caused by a nerve condition or pain, it does
not refute the ALJ’s findings regarding the kind of activities she can perform.
Plaintiff challenges the ALJ’s statement that “a nerve conduction study from April 2011 was
normal aside from absence of activity in the deltoid,” arguing that “the examining physician did not
state the remainder of findings were normal.” (Tr. 19). However, the physician stated that “[t]he
other muscles are tested in the right upper extremity and no other abnormalities are seen,” that “[t]he
supraspinatus and infraspinatus are both tested and found to be normal,” that “there is no obvious
abnormality [in plaintiff’s triceps],” and that “[t]here are no obvious findings to explain symptoms
radiating all the way down the entire arm.” (Tr. 345). The ALJ’s characterization of the April 2011
examination is substantially accurate.
Plaintiff argues that the ALJ’s discussion of plaintiff’s MRI was insufficient because it failed
to list the MRI’s full findings, including a “linear signal extending into the subscapularis
tendon. . . .consistent with an interstitial tear,” “complete fatty atrophy of the teres minor muscle
belly,” “signal abnormality of the superior labrum concerning for tear,” “lack of joint fluid” and
“fluid collection within the infraspinatus muscle belly, consistent with a ganglion.” (Tr. 356-57).
The ALJ described the MRI as “showing an intact rotator cuff with tendonitis, and possibly a
ganglion or some labral damage.” (Tr. 19). Notably, this summation of the MRI is a near-exact
quote of the interpretation that plaintiff’s treating physician provided in his
March 2011
examination report. (Tr. 343) (“[MRI] was read as having an intact rotator cuff with tendonitis.
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Possibly a ganglion and possibly some labral damage.”). The ALJ was entitled to rely upon the
interpretation of a treating physician better-trained to determine the test’s medical significance. The
ALJ is not required to detail the full technical findings of a MRI to show that he considered it.
Felton-Miller v. Astrue, No. 2:10-cv-5-FL, 2010 WL 4809028 (4th Cir. Nov. 17, 2010). Nor has
plaintiff explained how these findings should have impacted the ALJ’s assessment.
Finally, even if the ALJ’s assessed RFC did not account for the full level of limitations in
plaintiff’s shoulder, it would not have effected the ultimate conclusion on disability. At hearing,
plaintiff’s counsel asked the vocational expert to consider the hypothetical that plaintiff was limited
to occasional fingering and no overhead reaching. The expert replied that the plaintiff would only
be able to perform one of the three categories of jobs she otherwise found plaintiff able to perform,
that of machine tender. Yet the expert explained that the she eliminated the other two categories of
jobs because they required “occasional fingering,” not because they required overhead reaching.
Furthermore, even the machine tender category included 1,126,000 jobs in the United States, and
14,550 in North Carolina. This number of jobs is sufficient to establish available work for plaintiff.
Hodges v. Apfel, No. 99-2265, 2000 WL 121251, *1 (4th Cir. Jan. 28, 2000) (claim for disability
benefits defeated when plaintiff qualified for 153 jobs); Hicks v. Califano, 600 F.2d 1048, 1051 n.
2 (4th Cir. 1979)(110 jobs did not “constitute an insignificant number”). Thus, any errors arising
from a failure to include additional limitations in the RFC were harmless. Ngarurih v. Ashcroft, 371
F.3d 182, 190 n.8 (4th Cir. 2004) (“While the general rule is that an administrative order cannot be
upheld unless the grounds upon which the agency acted in exercising its powers were those upon
which its action can be sustained, reversal is not required where the alleged error clearly had no
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bearing on the procedure used or the substance of the decision reached.”) (internal quotation
omitted); see also Garner v. Astrue, 436 Fed. App’x 224, 226, n.* (4th Cir. 2011) (plaintiff failed
to show he was harmed by ALJ’s failure to list certain impairments).
Plaintiff also objects to the ALJ’s decision to grant “great weight” to the opinions of medical
consultants who conducted examinations in August 2010 and December 2010. Plaintiff argues that
these consultants did not have the benefit of the January, March or April 2011 examinations or
testing. As explained above, plaintiff has not shown how these later examinations should change
the conclusion of disability. Accordingly, the objection is overruled.
In sum, substantial evidence supported the ALJ’s decision regarding plaintiff’s shoulder
injury, and plaintiff’s objections regarding the ALJ’s consideration of her right shoulder and hand
condition must be overruled.
CONCLUSION
Upon de novo review of those portions of the M&R to which specific objection has been
filed, and upon considered review of those portions of the M&R to which no such objection has been
made, the court ADOPTS the recommendation of the magistrate judge, DENIES plaintiff’s motion
for judgment on the pleadings (DE 27), GRANTS defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings
(DE 29), and AFFIRMS the final decision by defendant. The clerk is directed to close this case.
SO ORDERED, this the 31st day of March, 2014.
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LOUISE W. FLANAGAN
United States District Judge
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