Bedson v. Colvin

Filing 34

ORDER GRANTING 24 Plaintiff's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings and DENYING 28 Defendant's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. This matter is remanded back to the Commissioner for further proceedings. Signed by US District Judge Terrence W. Boyle on 11/23/2014. (Fisher, M.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
No. 7:13-CV-242-BO
KAREN ELAINE BEDSON,
Plaintiff,
v.
CAROLYN COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.

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ORDER

This matter is before the Court on the parties' cross-motions for judgment on the
pleadings. [DE 24, 28]. A hearing on this matter was held in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on
November 12, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. For the reasons discussed below, this matter is REMANDED
for further consideration by the Commissioner.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff filed applications for Title II disability insurance benefits and Title XVI
supplemental security income on March 2, 2011, alleging disability beginning July 29, 2010. [Tr.
69, 120]. These applications were denied initially and upon reconsideration. On September 18,
2012, an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") held a hearing and rendered an unfavorable decision
on October 12, 2012. The Appeals Council denied the claimant'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) and 1383(c)(3).
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)). Where plaintiff submitted additional evidence to the Appeals Council, and the Appeals
Council considered that evidence, this Court must review the record as a whole, including the
new evidence, to determine whether substantial evidence supports the Commissioner's findings.

Wilkins v. Sec 'y, Dep 't of Health and Human Servs., 953 F.2d 93, 95-96 (4th Cir. 1991). 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). Remand for further proceedings is the proper action in any case
that requires further fact finding. See Smith v. Schweiker, 795 F.2d 343, 348 (4th Cir. 1986)
(remanding where there record evidence was insufficient to order a finding of disability).
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. !d. 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. !d.
The claimant bears the burden of proof at steps one through four, but the burden shifts to the
Commissioner at step five. See Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 146 n.5 (1987).

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At step one, the ALJ determined that plaintiff met the insured status requirements and
had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since her alleged onset date. [Tr. 71]. Ms.
Bedson's sensimotor polyneuropathy and anxiety qualified as severe impairments at step two but
were not found alone or in combination to meet or equal a Listing. [Tr. 71-72]. The ALJ
concluded that plaintiff had the residual functional capacity ("RFC") to perform sedentary work
limited to simple, routine, repetitive tasks, with no public interaction and only occasional
interaction with co-workers. [Tr. 73]. The ALJ then found that plaintiff could not do her past
relevant work, but that she could perform the jobs of addresser and weight tester. [Tr. 76-77].
Thus, the ALJ determined that plaintiff was not disabled as of the date of the opinion. [Tr. 77].
Plaintiff alleges first that the ALJ erred by not finding that she met Listing 11.14, which
requires, inter alia, "significant and persistent" disorganization of motor function in two
extremities, resulting in sustained disturbance of gross and dexterous movements or gait and
station. 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, App'x. 1, §§ 11.14, 11.04B. To demonstrate disturbed
gait, plaintiff relies upon the report of Dr. Susan Torres, the RFC's limitation to standing for only
two hours, and two evaluations which both post-date the ALJ's decision: a January 2013
examination and a February 2013 functional capacity evaluation ("the new evidence"). [DE 25 at
16--17]. These two evaluations were submitted to the Appeals Council, which determined that
they did not relate back to the period before the ALJ's decision as required by 20 C.F.R. §§
404.970(b), 416.1470(b). [Tr. 2].
At the hearing, defendant advocated for remand so that the ALJ could adequately
consider the new evidence. The Court agrees with defendant. While the Appeals Council
discounted the new evidence, it could reasonably change the outcome of the case, as it goes
directly to the question of disturbed gait. See Dunn v. Colvin, 973 F.Supp.2d 630, 650 (W.D. Va.

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2013) (explaining that if new evidence "is contradictory, presents material competing testimony,
or calls into doubt any decision grounded in the prior medical reports ... there is a reasonable
possibility that it would change the outcome of the case .... "). The Court finds that the new
evidence should have been considered, and accordingly, the appropriate action here is to remand
the case to the Commissioner. Upon remand, the Commissioner is to consider the evidence that
was before the Appeals Council and determine whether plaintiff meets Listing 11.14.
Plaintiffs second argument is that the ALJ erred in not determining that she meets
Listing 12.06(5) with post-traumatic stress disorder ("PTSD"). A medically determinable
impairment is required in order to establish disability. 20 C.F.R. §§ 14.1505(a), 416.905(a). Only
"an acceptable medical source," which include licensed physicians and licensed or certified
psychologists, can establish a medically determinable impairment. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1503(a) and
416.903. The acceptable medical sources who examined plaintiff did not diagnose PTSD. [Tr.
474, 561, 577, 513]. Accordingly, plaintiff has not met her burden of establishing that PTSD is a
medically determinable impairment. The Court therefore finds that the ALJ' s determination that
plaintiff does not meet Listing 12.06(5) is supported by substantial evidence.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the plaintiffs motion for judgment on the pleadings [DE 24] is
GRANTED, and the matter is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further proceedings
consistent with this decision.
SO ORDERED, this

_u day ofNovember, 2014.
T RENCE W. BOYLE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT J

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