Chinn v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 13

DECISION AND ENTRY - IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT: 1. The Commissioners non-disability finding is vacated; 2. No finding is made as to whether Plaintiff Mozette Chinn was under a disability within the meaning of the Social Security Act; 3. This matt er is REMANDED to the Social Security Administration under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for further consideration consistent with this Decision and Entry; and 4. The case is terminated on the Courts docket. Signed by Magistrate Judge Sharon L. Ovington on 3/19/2020. (srb)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION AT DAYTON
MOZETTE CHINN,
Plaintiff,
vs.
COMMISSIONER OF THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION,
Defendant.

: Case No. 3:18-cv-101
:
:
: Magistrate Judge Sharon L. Ovington
:
(by full consent of the parties)
:
:
:
:
:

DECISION AND ENTRY
I.

Introduction
Plaintiff Mozette Chinn brings this case challenging the Social Security

Administration’s denial of her application for Supplemental Security Income. She
applied for benefits on October 21, 2013, asserting that she could no longer work a
substantial paid job. Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Elizabeth A. Motta concluded that
she was not eligible for benefits because she is not under a “disability” as defined in the
Social Security Act.
The case is before the Court upon Plaintiff’s Statement of Errors (Doc. #7), the
Commissioner’s Memorandum in Opposition (Doc. #10), Plaintiff’s Reply (Doc. #11),
and the administrative record (Doc. #6).

Plaintiff seeks a remand of this case for payment of benefits or, at a minimum, for
further proceedings. The Commissioner asks the Court to affirm ALJ Motta’s nondisability decision.
II.

Background
Plaintiff asserts that she has been under a “disability” since March 1, 1983. When

she filed her application, she was forty-seven years old at that time and was therefore
considered a person “closely approaching advanced age” under Social Security
Regulations. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.963(d). She has a high school education. See id. §
416.964(b)(4).
A.

Plaintiff’s Testimony

Plaintiff testified at the hearing before ALJ Motta that she is in pain and her legs
“like[] to collapse.” (Doc. #6, PageID #77). They have been collapsing for five or six
years. Id. at 78. She started using a cane because her balance worsened after she had a
heart attack in August 2013. Id. Despite using a cane, she has fallen a few times; she
“tip[s] over.” Id. at 89. Her doctor did not prescribe the cane but told her she could use
one if she needed it. Id. at 78.
Plaintiff has pain from fibromyalgia. Id. at 78. When she is having a bad day, her
pain is so severe that she cannot even hug her grandchildren. Id. at 91. She does not
have any specific medication for it because she was only re-diagnosed with it the week
before the hearing and her family doctor referred her to a pain specialist rather than
prescribing it. Id. at 78. Her doctor did, however, prescribe pain medication for

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Plaintiff’s “general pain” until they could find out what was wrong with her legs and
spine. Id. at 79.
Plaintiff has pain from the back of her right ankle to the top of her toes. Id. at 85.
She “badly sprained that … main tendon.” Id. At the time of the hearing, Plaintiff had
worn an air cast on her right foot for a week. Id. She had a follow-up appointment in
three weeks. Id.
Plaintiff has had trouble with her stomach since she was born. Id. at 79. She has
acid reflux and gets inflammation when she eats. Id. at 80. She gets nauseated, vomits,
and has severe pain. Id. at 90. She has to go to the bathroom a lot. Id. She takes
stomach medication. Id. at 79. Additionally, Plaintiff has high blood pressure that causes
her to feel dizzy and she gets “very, very hot and sweaty.” Id. at 89.
Plaintiff has struggled with mental health since she was a child. Id. at 81. She
“can’t be around people.” Id. Dr. Chan prescribed psychiatric medication. Id. at 80. At
the time of the hearing, Plaintiff had only seen Dr. Chan once. Id. She had seen a
therapist for about two months. Id. Before Plaintiff began treatment with Dr. Chan, Dr.
Teegala prescribed her psychiatric medication. Id. Plaintiff has panic attacks. A “minor
one” lasts between one hour and a few hours. Id. at 88. Other ones last for a few days.
Id. During a good week, she has panic attacks five out of seven days. Id. During a bad
week, she has them every day. Id. Being outside or being around people causes her
panic attacks. Id. at 88-89. Plaintiff does not like to have people behind her. Id. at 91.
She will not go anywhere if she is not able to be in a corner where no one can walk
behind her. Id.
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Plaintiff lives in an apartment with her daughter, two grandsons, and her
daughter’s boyfriend. Id. at 76. She let her driver’s license expire in 1995 because she
almost hit a small child. Id. at 76-77. Her daughter drives her around. Id. at 83.
Plaintiff has trouble bending over, pulling, and lifting. Id. at 89. She can only lift about a
carton of eggs. Id. She cannot lift a gallon of milk. Id. Plaintiff can sometimes prepare
meals but other times, she has trouble standing. Id. at 83. On a good day, she can stand
for ten to fifteen minutes. Id. at 91. On a bad day, she can only stand for a minute or
two. Usually, her grandson or daughter washes dishes. Id. at 84. She can do laundry as
long as she is sitting down and someone gets the laundry in and out of the machines for
her. Id. at 83. She does not vacuum, sweep, or mop. Id. at 84. She can dress herself
except for her bra and air cast boot. Id. at 85. Plaintiff does not use a computer and does
not use the internet on her phone. Id. at 86. During the day, she reads. Id. at 87. She
likes to read thrillers, horror, and historical romance. Id. at 86. But she has a hard time
remembering what is going on in the book if she does not read it all in one day. Id. at 90.
She also sometimes has trouble holding onto the book. Id. She does crafts such as
painting ceramics and drawing “when [her] hands allow it.” Id. at 87. During good
weeks, she can do crafts three or four days a week. Id. During bad weeks, she is lucky if
she is able to do crafts one day. Id. On a bad week, she cannot hold onto anything. Id. at
87. She also listens to music, watches movies, and loves on her cat, Denarius. Id. If she
is having a “very good day,” she visits her neighbor. Id. at 84. She goes grocery
shopping late at night. Id. She never leaves her house without someone else with her.
Id. at 88.
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B.

Medical Opinions
i.

George O. Schulz, Ph.D.

Dr. Schulz examined Plaintiff in March 2013. Id. at 307. Plaintiff reported that
she has struggled with anxiety and panic attacks since she was a child. Id. at 310, 312.
She started seeing a counselor when she was seven years old until she was twelve years
old. Id. at 311. But Plaintiff does not think counseling improved her anxiety. Id. at 311.
Dr. Schulz diagnosed panic disorder with agoraphobia. Id. at 314. He opined that
in a work setting, Plaintiff “is expected to be able to understand and apply instructions
…” consistent with average intellectual functioning.” Id. at 314. She is “mentally
capable of completing routine or repetitive ADL tasks both at home and in the
community or on a job setting.” Id. at 315. He explained that although she “may
experience a subjective sense of reduced effectiveness” in her ability to maintain
attention and concentration and maintain persistence and pace, “objective changes at a
level prompting concerns by employers are not to be expected.” Id. Plaintiff is able to
respond appropriately to coworkers and supervisors in a work setting but is likely to have
some difficulty responding appropriately to work pressure. Id.
ii.

Alan R. Boerger, Ph.D.

Dr. Boerger examined Plaintiff in March 2014 and April 2015. In March 2014, he
noted that Plaintiff’s affect was tense and anxious. Id. at 398. She surveyed the office
when she entered; would not be seen without her husband being present, appeared mildly
irritable, and “gave a great sign of relief when told the interview was ended.” Id. Dr.
Boerger diagnosed panic disorder with agoraphobia and post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Id. at 399. He opined that Plaintiff appeared capable of understanding basic instructions
but may have some difficulty retaining instructions under stress because she is
preoccupied with anxiety in the presence of others. Id. at 400. Plaintiff’s anxiety is
likely to affect her ability to focus and concentrate because of her hypervigilance and
sensitivity to threat. Id. Further, her sensitivity to threat and criticism are likely to cause
her problems in handling work pressures. Id.
At Dr. Boerger’s second examination in April 2015, Plaintiff appeared tense, sat
with her arms folded, scanned the environment, and asked for her daughter to come into
the interview with her. Id. at 479-80. He affirmed his previous assessment. Id. at 48182.
iii.

Leslie Rudy, Ph.D., & Vicki Warren, Ph.D.

Dr. Rudy reviewed Plaintiff records in March 2014 and found Plaintiff has seven
severe impairments—essential hypertension; osteoarthritis and allied disorders; disorders
of her back–discogenic and degenerative; fibromyalgia; ischemic heart disease;
inflammatory arthritis; and anxiety disorders. Id. at 118. She opined that Plaintiff has a
mild restriction of activities of daily living; moderate difficulties in maintaining social
functioning; moderate difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; and
no episodes of decompensation of extended duration. Id. Plaintiff retains the capacity
for simple-to-complex mental activity and would do best in an isolated setting with no
production-line pace. Id. at 122-23.
In April 2015, Dr. Warren reviewed Plaintiff’s record and affirmed Dr. Rudy’s
assessment. Id. at 139-45.
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iv.

William Bolz, M.D., & Dimitri Teague, M.D.

In March 2014, Dr. Bolz reviewed Plaintiff’s records. He opined that Plaintiff
could lift and/or carry fifty pounds occasionally and twenty-five pounds frequently. She
could stand and/or walk for a total of six hours in an eight-hour day and sit for six hours.
Id. at 120. Dr. Bolz indicated that she could occasionally climb ladders, ropes, and
scaffolds and frequently climb ramps/stairs. Id. at 121. He noted that Dr. Smith’s
examination findings were “essentially normal despite subjective complaints of fatigue
with extended exertion, which could be attributed to deconditioning.” Id. at 121.
Dr. Teague reviewed Plaintiff’s record in February 2015 and found that Plaintiff
was only able to lift and/or carry twenty pounds occasionally and ten pounds frequently.
Id. at 142-43. He otherwise affirmed Dr. Bolz’s assessment. Id. at 128-47.
III.

Standard of Review
The Social Security Administration provides Supplemental Security Income to

individuals who are under a “disability,” among other eligibility requirements. Bowen v.
City of New York, 476 U.S. 467, 470 (1986); see 42 U.S.C. § 1382(a). The term
“disability”—as defined by the Social Security Act—has specialized meaning of limited
scope. It encompasses “any medically determinable physical or mental impairment” that
precludes an applicant from performing a significant paid job—i.e., “substantial gainful
activity,” in Social Security lexicon. 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(A); see Bowen, 476 U.S. at
469-70.
Judicial review of an ALJ’s non-disability decision proceeds along two lines:
“whether the ALJ applied the correct legal standards and whether the findings of the ALJ
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are supported by substantial evidence.” Blakley v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 581 F.3d 399,
406 (6th Cir. 2009); see Bowen v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 478 F.3d 742, 745-46 (6th Cir.
2007). Review for substantial evidence is not driven by whether the Court agrees or
disagrees with the ALJ’s factual findings or by whether the administrative record
contains evidence contrary to those factual findings. Gentry v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 741
F.3d 708, 722 (6th Cir. 2014); Rogers v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 486 F.3d 234, 241 (6th Cir.
2007). Instead, the ALJ’s factual findings are upheld if the substantial-evidence standard
is met—that is, “if a ‘reasonable mind might accept the relevant evidence as adequate to
support a conclusion.’” Blakley, 581 F.3d at 407 (quoting Warner v. Comm’r of Soc.
Sec., 375 F.3d 387, 390 (6th Cir. 2004)). Substantial evidence consists of “more than a
scintilla of evidence but less than a preponderance ….” Rogers, 486 F.3d at 241
(citations and internal quotation marks omitted); see Gentry, 741 F.3d at 722.
The other line of judicial inquiry—reviewing the correctness of the ALJ’s legal
criteria—may result in reversal even when the record contains substantial evidence
supporting the ALJ’s factual findings. Rabbers v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 582 F.3d 647,
651 (6th Cir. 2009); see Bowen, 478 F.3d at 746. “[E]ven if supported by substantial
evidence, ‘a decision of the Commissioner will not be upheld where the SSA fails to
follow its own regulations and where that error prejudices a claimant on the merits or
deprives the claimant of a substantial right.’” Rabbers, 582 F.3d at 651 (quoting in part
Bowen, 478 F.3d at 746, and citing Wilson v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 378 F.3d 541, 546-47
(6th Cir. 2004)).

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IV.

The ALJ’s Decision
As noted previously, it fell to ALJ Motta to evaluate the evidence connected to

Plaintiff’s application for benefits. She did so by considering each of the five sequential
steps set forth in the Social Security Regulations. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.920. She reached
the following main conclusions:
Step 1:

Plaintiff has not engaged in substantial gainful employment since
October 21, 2013.

Step 2:

She has the severe impairments of coronary artery disease, obesity,
anxiety disorder, and beginning on or about August 2016,
supraspinatus tendonitis with mild arthritis.

Step 3:

She does not have an impairment or combination of impairments that
meets or equals the severity of one in the Commissioner’s Listing of
Impairments, 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1.

Step 4:

Her residual functional capacity, or the most she could do despite her
impairments, see Howard v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 276 F.3d 235, 239
(6th Cir. 2002), consists of “light work … subject to the following
limitations: (1) lifting and carrying 20 pounds occasionally and 10
pounds frequently; (2) sitting, standing, and walking six hours each
during an 8-hour workday; (3) occasional postural activities, such as,
balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and climbing
stairs and/or ramps; (4) no climbing ladders, ropes, or scaffolds; (5)
no exposure to hazards, such as dangerous machinery, driving as part
of job duties, or unprotected heights; (6) no complex or detailed
instructions and only simple, repetitive tasks; (7) limited to low stress
work, defined as work without strict production quotas or fast pace
any only routine with few changes in the work setting; (8) no contact
with the public as part of job duties and only occasional contact with
coworkers and supervisors, including no teamwork or over-theshoulder supervision; and as of August 2016, overhead reaching on
the right limited to frequently (as opposed to constantly).”

Step 4:

She has no past relevant work.

Step 5:

She could perform a significant number of jobs that exist in the
national economy.
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(Doc. #6, PageID #s 41-64). These main findings led the ALJ to ultimately conclude that
Plaintiff was not under a benefits-qualifying disability. Id. at 64.
V.

Discussion
A.

Medical Opinions

Plaintiff contends that the ALJ failed to properly weigh the examining
psychologists’ opinions and record-reviewing consultants’ opinions.
The Regulations require an ALJ to consider and evaluate every medical opinion in
the record. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.927(b), (c). Unless the ALJ assigns controlling weight
to a treating source’s opinion, the ALJ must consider all of the following factors in
deciding the weight to give any medical opinion: examining relationship; treatment
relationship; supportability; consistency; specialization; and other factors. Id. at (c).
Dr. Boerger
ALJ Motta assigned “some weight” to Dr. Boerger’s opinions “because they are
generally consistent with the findings.” (Doc. #6, PageID #62) (internal citations
omitted). She specified, “his assessments are entitled to some weight to the extent that
his opinion is consistent with the findings of some functional limitations due to her
mental impairments. However, those opinions are entitled to little weight to the extent
they may purport to establish a condition of disability, or greater functional limitations
than described above.” Id. The ALJ discounted his opinions because Plaintiff’s
presentation—including marked anxiety and social distress—at the evaluations was
“vastly different than her presentation noted by the bulk of the record.” Id. She

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emphasized that Plaintiff generally denied significant psychological difficulties to her
treating doctors and “[m]ini-mental status examination, with few and sporadic
exceptions, note normal mood, affect, and orientation.” Id. Substantial evidence does
not support the ALJ’s conclusions.
Although the ALJ questioned Plaintiff’s presentation, Dr. Boerger did not. He
noted at both evaluations that Plaintiff “was consistent in presenting her history and
symptoms.” Id. at 399, 481. Further, the record shows that Plaintiff regularly reported
anxiety to her physicians. For example, in September 2013, Nicole Samuel, MD, noted
that Plaintiff reported “daily panic attacks that are often worse when she leaves the house
to go to the store.” Id. at 380. She prescribed medication for Plaintiff. Id. at 383.
In addition, Yamini V. Teegala, MD, Plaintiff’s primary care physician, indicated
in September 2015 that Plaintiff “suffers from anxiety and reports a terrible anxiety
attack this morning ….” Id. at 940. Dr. Teegala “[d]iscussed the mental, physical and
sexual abuse she experienced as a child from her father, as well as a boyfriend when she
was 14 years old as triggers for her anxiety attacks.” Id. She referred Plaintiff to a
counselor so that she could work through her anxiety and PTSD. Id. at 944-45. In
December 2015, Dr. Teegala noted that Plaintiff was in the office for a recheck on her
anxiety attack. Id. at 933. Plaintiff reported that she still feels a little panic. Id. And,
Plaintiff’s gastroenterologist noted in July and October 2015 that Plaintiff had anxiety.
Id. at 628, 636.

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The ALJ failed to recognize that Dr. Boerger’s opinion that Plaintiff’s “sensitivity
to [threat] and criticism are likely to cause her problems in handling work pressures” is
consistent with Dr. Schulz’s opinion that Plaintiff “is likely to have some difficulty
responding appropriately to work pressure.” Id. at 315. Indeed, the although the ALJ
summarized Dr. Schulz’s opinion, she failed to weigh Dr. Schulz’s opinion at all.
Dr. Warren & Dr. Rudy
The ALJ assigned “some, but not great, weight” to the assessments of the State
agency psychological consultants, Dr. Warren and Dr. Rudy. She specifically discounted
their opinion that Plaintiff “would do best in an isolated setting with no production line
pace.” Id. at 61. The ALJ found that their opined limitations “appear to be based almost
exclusively on the claimant’s subjective allegations of agoraphobia.” Id.
Substantial evidence does not support the ALJ’s assumption. The recordreviewing psychologists explained the reasons behind their opined limitations. Dr. Rudy
and Dr. Warren indicate that Plaintiff has sustained concentration and persistence
limitations “[d]ue to panic disorder and PTSD.” Id. at 122, 143-44. She has social
interaction limitations because she is “[i]rritable and socially avoidant.” Id. at 122-23,
143-44. Finally, her adaptation abilities are “[r]educed due to anxiety.” Id. at 123, 144.
Further, the record-reviewing psychologists found that Plaintiff’s statements were
only partially credible. This suggests that they did not rely solely on her “subjective
allegations of agoraphobia.” Instead, they relied on the medical evidence they reviewed.
Dr. Warren, for instance, noted, “[Medical evidence of record] does indicate high levels
of anxiety ….” Id. at 141. The psychologists also relied on the examining psychologists’
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evaluations. They gave great weight to Dr. Boerger’s opinions and Dr. Schulz’s
opinions.
The ALJ questioned their reliance on Plaintiff’s complaints of agoraphobia, noting
that Plaintiff goes to the library, grocery store, other stores, her daughter’s house (when
they lived separately), and doctor appointments without difficulty. However, this isn’t
necessarily a complete picture of the record. For instance, Plaintiff testified that if she
goes to the library, she goes to one in New Carlisle, where there are less people. Id. at
92. And she can go months without going. Id. She goes to the grocery store late at
night. Id. at 84. She never leaves the house by herself—she always has someone with
her. Id. at 88.
The ALJ likewise pointed out that “[Plaintiff] did not seek any formal treatment
for her allegedly disabling anxiety until June of 2016 when she reported needing a
psychiatrist for her SSDI.” Id. at 62. Primary-care doctors provide “formal treatment”
for psychological disorders. And, in this case, Plaintiff’s primary-care physician treated
Plaintiff’s mental impairments long before June 2016. And, the ALJ previously
acknowledged that her primary-care physicians prescribed her medication for her anxiety
and PTSD. Id. at 58. The record confirms this, as explained in more detail above.
Further, “a claimant’s failure to seek formal mental health treatment is ‘hardly
probative’ of whether the claimant suffers from a mental impairment, Burton v. Apfel,
208 F.3d 212 (6th Cir. 2000) (table), and ‘‘should not be a determinative factor in a
credibility assessment’’ relating to the existence of a mental impairment.” Boulis-Gasche
v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 451 F. App’x 488, 493 (6th Cir. 2011) (quoting Strong v. Soc.
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Sec. Admin., 88 F. App’x 841, 846 (6th Cir. 2004) (quoting Blankenship v. Bowen, 874
F.2d 1116, 1124 (6th Cir. 1989) (“[I]t is a questionable practice to chastise one with a
mental impairment for the exercise of poor judgment in seeking rehabilitation”))).
Finally, the ALJ emphasized notes from Dorothy McNeil at Mental Health
Services for Clark and Madison County, who evaluated Plaintiff in June 2016.
Specifically, the ALJ found, “the evaluation from that source noted that her presentation
was consistent with some confabulation of symptoms and that her allegations of
agoraphobia were incongruent.” (Doc. #6, PageID #62) (internal citation omitted). Ms.
McNeil noted, “she reports dx of agoraphobia, even though there appears to be some
incongruence.” Id. at 975. Further, Ms. McNeil noted under the title of
“Presence/Absence/Effectiveness of Coping Skills, Motivation:” “[rule out] engagement
of symptom confabulation.” Id. (emphasis added). Notably, this is not a diagnosis or
even a conclusion; it is a possibility. After the initial evaluation, Ms. McNeil transferred
Plaintiff to Mark Schweikert, LPC, for counseling. He referred her for further psychiatric
evaluation due to the severity of her anxiety. Id. at 1125. Additionally, he noted in July
2016, “We[] completed inventory which was in extreme range for anxiety.” Id. at 1121.
In sum, substantial evidence does not support the ALJ’s reasons for rejecting Dr.
Dr. Rudy and Dr. Warren’s opinion that Plaintiff would do best in an isolated setting with
no production-line pace.
Dr. Bolz & Dr.Teague
Plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred in assigning “great weight” to Dr. Bolz’s and
Dr. Teague’s “patently ill-formed and non-credible” opinions. (Doc. #7, PageID #1133).
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Plaintiff asserts that the ALJ did not meaningfully analyze these opinions before
assigning them great weight. Id. at 1134. Moreover, their opinions do not support the
ALJ’s residual functional capacity assessment. Id.
Although ALJ Motta assigned “great weight” to the assessments of the State
Agency medical consultants, Dr. Bolz and Dr. Teague, she discounted most of their
opinions. For instance, the ALJ rejected Dr. Bolz and Dr. Teague’s “characterization of
[Plaintiff’s] impairments, as osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis”
because they “are not supported by objective or clinical findings.” (Doc. #6, PageID
#61). Indeed, earlier in her decision, the ALJ found that “[t]here is no documentary
evidence supporting diagnoses of fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis.” Id. at 60.
The ALJ also disagreed with Dr. Bolz and Dr. Teague’s postural and
environmental restrictions. She added restrictions to account for Plaintiff’s obesity and
subjective complaints. For example, the ALJ limited Plaintiff to occasional postural
activities such as balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and climbing ramps
and stairs. Further, Plaintiff could never climb ladders, ropes, and scaffolds. In
comparison, Dr. Bolz and Dr. Teague found Plaintiff could frequently climb ramps and
stairs and occasionally climb ladders, ropes, and scaffolds. She had no limitations
balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling.
The ALJ only gave one reason for assigning their opinions “great weight.” She
found, “the claimant’s coronary artery disease and the limitations to the general
requirements of light work activity as descried [sic] above.” Id. at 61. This is confusing
for two reasons. First, the sentence itself is incomplete. One can only presume she
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meant to adopt or agree with those findings. Second, Dr. McKee and Dr. Bolz opined she
was capable of medium work activity—specifically, she could lift and/or carry fifty
pounds occasionally and twenty-five pounds frequently. Id. at 120. It was only upon
reconsideration that Dr. Teague found Plaintiff could only lift and/or carry twenty pounds
occasionally and ten pounds frequently. Id. at 141-42.
Given that she disagreed with most of Dr. Bolz and Dr. Teague’s opinions, it is
difficult to determine why she found they were entitled to “great weight.” Although
ALJs are not generally required to discuss all the factors identified in the regulations for
weighing a record-reviewing medical source’s opinions, ALJ Motta failed to provide any
meaningful explanation grounded in the regulatory factors for the weight she placed on
these physicians’ opinions. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.927(b)-(c). Therefore, substantial
evidence fails to support the ALJ’s according these opinions “great weight.”
Accordingly, for the above reasons, Plaintiff’s Statement of Errors is well taken.1
B.

Remand

A remand is appropriate when the ALJ’s decision is unsupported by substantial
evidence or when the ALJ failed to follow the Administration’s own regulations and that
shortcoming prejudiced the plaintiff on the merits or deprived the plaintiff of a substantial
right. Bowen, 478 F.3d at 746. Remand may be warranted when the ALJ failed to
provide “good reasons” for rejecting a treating medical source’s opinions, see Wilson,
378 F.3d at 545-47; failed to consider certain evidence, such as a treating source’s

1

In light of the above discussion, and the resulting need to remand this case, an in-depth analysis of
Plaintiff’s other challenges to the ALJ’s decision is unwarranted.

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opinions, see Bowen, 478 F.3d at 747-50; failed to consider the combined effect of the
plaintiff’s impairments, see Gentry, 741 F.3d at 725-26; or failed to provide specific
reasons supported by substantial evidence for finding the plaintiff lacks credibility, see
Rogers, 486 F.3d at 249.
Under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), the Court has authority to affirm,
modify, or reverse the Commissioner’s decision “with or without remanding the cause for
rehearing.” Melkonyan v. Sullivan, 501 U.S. 89, 99 (1991). Consequently, a remand
under sentence four may result in the need for further proceedings or an immediate award
of benefits. E.g., Blakley, 581 F.3d at 410; Felisky v. Bowen, 35 F.3d 1027, 1041 (6th
Cir. 1994). The latter is warranted where the evidence of disability is overwhelming or
where the evidence of disability is strong while contrary evidence is lacking. Faucher v.
Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 17 F.3d 171, 176 (6th Cir. 1994).
A judicial award of benefits is unwarranted in the present case because the
evidence of disability is not overwhelming and the evidence of disability is not strong
while contrary evidence is lacking. However, Plaintiff is entitled to an Order remanding
this case to the Social Security Administration pursuant to sentence four of § 405(g) due
to the problems discussed above. On remand, the ALJ should be directed to evaluate the
evidence of record, including the medical source opinions, under the applicable legal
criteria mandated by the Commissioner’s Regulations and Rulings and by case law; and
to evaluate Plaintiff’s disability claim under the required five-step sequential analysis to
determine anew whether Plaintiff was under a disability and whether her application for
Supplemental Security Income should be granted.
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IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:
1.

The Commissioner’s non-disability finding is vacated;

2.

No finding is made as to whether Plaintiff Mozette Chinn was
under a “disability” within the meaning of the Social Security
Act;

3.

This matter is REMANDED to the Social Security
Administration under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for
further consideration consistent with this Decision and Entry;
and

4.

The case is terminated on the Court’s docket.

Date: March 19, 2020

s/Sharon L. Ovington
Sharon L. Ovington
United States Magistrate Judge

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