Jamison v. Social Security Administration
Filing
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OPINION AND ORDER by Magistrate Judge Steven P. Shreder REVERSING and REMANDING the decision of the ALJ. (tmb, Chambers)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
SABRINA M. JAMISON,
Plaintiff,
v.
NANCY A. BERRYHILL,
Acting Commissioner of the Social
Security Administration, 1
Defendant.
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) Case No. CIV-15-430-SPS
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OPINION AND ORDER
The claimant Sabrina M. Jamison requests judicial review of a denial of benefits
by the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
§ 405(g). She appeals the Commissioner’s decision and asserts the Administrative Law
Judge (“ALJ”) erred in determining she was not disabled. For the reasons set forth
below, the Commissioner’s decision is hereby REVERSED and the case REMANDED
for further proceedings.
Social Security Law and Standard of Review
Disability under the Social Security Act is defined as the “inability to engage in
any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment[.]” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). A claimant is disabled under the
Social Security Act “only if h[er] physical or mental impairment or impairments are of
1
On January 20, 2017, Nancy A. Berryhill became the Acting Commissioner of Social Security. In
accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d), Ms. Berryhill is substituted for Carolyn W. Colvin as the
Defendant in this action.
such severity that [s]he is not only unable to do h[er] previous work but cannot,
considering h[er] age, education, and work experience, engage in any other kind of
substantial gainful work which exists in the national economy[.]” Id. § 423 (d)(2)(A).
Social security regulations implement a five-step sequential process to evaluate a
disability claim. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920. 2
Section 405(g) limits the scope of judicial review of the Commissioner’s decision
to two inquiries: whether the decision was supported by substantial evidence and whether
correct legal standards were applied. See Hawkins v. Chater, 113 F.3d 1162, 1164 (10th
Cir. 1997). 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.’”
Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971), quoting Consolidated Edison Co. v.
NLRB, 305 U.S. 197, 229 (1938); see also Clifton v. Chater, 79 F.3d 1007, 1009 (10th
Cir. 1996). The Court may not reweigh the evidence or substitute its discretion for the
Commissioner’s. See Casias v. Secretary of Health & Human Services, 933 F.2d 799,
800 (10th Cir. 1991). But the Court must review the record as a whole, and “[t]he
substantiality of evidence must take into account whatever in the record fairly detracts
2
Step One requires the claimant to establish that she is not engaged in substantial gainful activity. Step
Two requires the claimant to establish that she has a medically severe impairment (or combination of
impairments) that significantly limits her ability to do basic work activities. If the claimant is engaged in
substantial gainful activity, or her impairment is not medically severe, disability benefits are denied. If
she does have a medically severe impairment, it is measured at step three against the listed impairments in
20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpt. P, App. 1. If the claimant has a listed (or “medically equivalent”) impairment,
she is regarded as disabled and awarded benefits without further inquiry. Otherwise, the evaluation
proceeds to step four, where the claimant must show that she lacks the residual functional capacity
(“RFC”) to return to her past relevant work. At step five, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to show
there is significant work in the national economy that the claimant can perform, given her age, education,
work experience, and RFC. Disability benefits are denied if the claimant can return to any of her past
relevant work or if her RFC does not preclude alternative work. See generally Williams v. Bowen, 844
F.2d 748, 750-51 (10th Cir. 1988).
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from its weight.” Universal Camera Corp. v. NLRB, 340 U.S. 474, 488 (1951); see also
Casias, 933 F.2d at 800-01.
Claimant’s Background
The claimant was born December 30, 1970, and was forty-three years old at the
time of the administrative hearing (Tr. 228). She has an eleventh grade education, and
has worked as an outside deliverer, secretary, collection clerk, customer service
representative, and insurance agent (Tr. 109, 114). The claimant alleges that she has been
unable to work since January 1, 2006, due to fibromyalgia, sciatica, degenerative disc
disease, hypothyroidism, migraine headaches, depression, and anxiety (Tr. 276).
Procedural History
On November 21, 2012, the claimant applied for disability insurance benefits
under Title II of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 401-434, and for supplemental
security income benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 138185. Her applications were denied. ALJ James Bentley conducted an administrative
hearing and determined that the claimant was not disabled in a written opinion dated
August 8, 2014 (Tr. 57-74). The Appeals Council denied review, so the ALJ’s written
opinion is the Commissioner’s final decision for purposes of this appeal. See 20 C.F.R.
§§ 404.981, 416.1481.
Decision of the Administrative Law Judge
The ALJ made his decision at step five of the sequential evaluation. He found that
the claimant retained the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) perform a limited range of
light work, i. e., she could lift and/or carry twenty pounds occasionally and ten pounds
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frequently; could sit/stand/walk for six hours total during an eight-hour workday; could
occasionally climb ramps and stairs, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl; and could never
reach overhead (Tr. 65). The ALJ also found the claimant required a sit/stand option
defined as temporary changes in position from sitting to standing, and vice versa, with no
more than one change in position every half hour without leaving the workstation (Tr. 6566). Due to psychologically based factors, the ALJ further found the claimant could
perform simple tasks with routine supervision, could have occasional contact with coworkers and supervisors, and no contact with the public (Tr. 66). The ALJ concluded
that although the claimant could not return to her past relevant work, she was
nevertheless not disabled because there was work that she could perform in the national
economy, e. g., small products assembler, inspector packer, and electrical accessory
assembler (Tr. 73-74).
Review
The claimant contends that the ALJ erred by failing to: (i) find her fibromyalgia,
arthritis, and mixed connective tissue disease were severe impairments, (ii) incorporate
limitations in the RFC related to her muscle and joint pain, (iii) properly evaluate the
opinion of consultative examiner Dr. Robert Spray, (iv) properly assess her credibility,
(v) properly evaluate the Third Party Function Report submitted by her neighbor, and
(vi) pose a proper hypothetical question to the vocational expert (“VE”). The Court finds
the claimant’s third and fourth propositions persuasive, and the decision of the
Commissioner must therefore be reversed and the case remanded to the ALJ for further
proceedings.
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The ALJ determined that the claimant had the severe impairments of major
depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, personality disorder with avoidant
features, minimal degenerative disc disease, pain disorder, hypertension, migraines with
no photosensitivity, and obesity (Tr. 59-63). The medical record reveals that Dr. James
Russell diagnosed the claimant with mixed connective tissue disease on February 24,
2006, after she reported significant joint pain “all over” (Tr. 457). At a follow-up
appointment on May 15, 2016, the claimant indicated to Dr. Russell that a rheumatologist
had diagnosed her with fibromyalgia since her last visit (Tr. 455). Dr. Russell diagnosed
the claimant with fibromyalgia and obesity (Tr. 455).
The claimant was regularly treated at the Sallisaw Health and Wellness Center
from February 24, 2011, through July 8, 2014 (Tr. 353-413, 432-42, 548-53). Her
diagnoses included, inter alia, depression, sciatica, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism,
polyneuropathy, chronic pain, anxiety, lumbago, and common migraine without aura, and
her treatment largely consisted of medication management (Tr. 353-413, 432-42, 54853). Providers frequently noted the claimant’s back was tender to palpation and/or that
muscle spasms were present (Tr. 401, 404, 407, 435-36, 467-68, 477-78, 491, 502). On
June 24, 2014, x-rays of the claimant’s sacroiliac joints were unremarkable, and x-rays of
her lumbar spine showed limbus type vertebra at L-4, and facet arthrosis at L5-S1
(Tr. 552-53).
On May 22, 2014, the claimant presented to Dr. Omar Silvestre, a rheumatologist,
for evaluation of polyarthralgias (Tr. 543-47). She reported increased pain in her hips,
low back, hands, elbows, knees, feet, and ribcage (Tr. 543). Lab test results showed a
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positive antinuclear antibodies test; a negative extractable nuclear antigen antibodies test,
rheumatoid factor, and anti-cyclic citrullinate peptide; normal erythrocyte sedimentation
rate; and minimally elevated C-reactive protein (Tr. 543). X-rays of the claimant’s
hands, hips, and sacroiliac joints were normal (Tr. 543). On physical examination, Dr.
Silvestre noted the claimant had diffuse pain in most joints and control points, but no
synovitis or effusions, and that she had good range of motion (Tr. 544). Dr. Silvestre also
noted there was no evidence of inflammatory arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosous, or
other connective tissue disease, and that his musculoskeletal exam was unremarkable
despite the claimant’s reported muscle pain (Tr. 544). Dr. Silvestre opined that the
claimant’s symptoms were most likely consistent with fibromyalgia, and recommended
aerobic exercise, weight loss, physical therapy, and continuation of her current
medication (Tr. 545).
Dr. Robert Spray performed a psychological consultative examination on January
18, 2013 (Tr. 414-20). Dr. Spray noted that the claimant seemed agitated, but had an
appropriate and variable affect (Tr. 415). He also noted her thoughts tended to be
circumstantial, tangential, and derailed, and that she had difficulty staying on task
(Tr. 415). As to her speech, Dr. Spray found it was normal in fluency, rate, and volume,
but pressed at times (Tr. 415). Dr. Spray’s cognition testing revealed the claimant had
adequate cognitive functioning (Tr. 416-17). Dr. Spray diagnosed the claimant with
major depression, recurrent, generalized anxiety disorder, pain disorder, and personality
disorder with borderline and avoidant features (Tr. 416).
He opined that her
communication was hindered by her thought processes; her attention and concentration
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may wax and wane depending upon her level of anxiety and subjective pain; her ability to
persist with tasks could be variable in a job setting; and that she may have difficulty
completing tasks in a timely manner due to subjective pain and high levels of anxiety
(Tr. 417).
Dr. Ronald Schatzman performed a physical consultative examination on February
5, 2013 (Tr. 421-30). Dr. Schatzman found, inter alia, that the claimant had no point
tenderness or swelling in her hands, knees, or legs; full grip strength bilaterally; normal
deep tendon reflexes in all extremities; full range of motion and no tenderness in her
cervical spine, thoracic spine, and lumbar-sacral spine; 0/18 fibromyalgia tender points;
and a safe and stable gait with appropriate speed (Tr. 424). He assessed the claimant with
morbid obesity, anxiety by history, depression by history, fibromyalgia by history, back
pain by history, degenerative disc disease by history, hypothyroidism by history, sciatica
by history, and migraine headaches by history (Tr. 425).
At the administrative hearing, the claimant testified as to her past work history, her
impairments, and her medical treatment (Tr. 80-115). She stated her most significant
limitation was fibromyalgia, which caused muscle pain and weakness “everywhere”
(Tr. 90-91). She indicated she could not fix her hair because she was unable to hold her
arms above her head that long (Tr. 91). She testified that she could sit for ten or fifteen
minutes before needing to change positions, could walk from her car into a store, but
could only walk halfway across her yard before needing to stop (Tr. 93). The claimant
further testified that muscle spasms in her legs cause the backs of her knees to swell,
prevent her from walking, and cause her to fall frequently, and that she experiences
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migraine headaches two to four times per month (Tr. 94, 103-105). She also stated her
hands, arms, legs, and feet are consistently numb, and that she has no ability to grip
(Tr. 95). As to her mental impairments, the claimant stated she was very depressed and
moody, and was unable to concentrate due to her pain (Tr. 101).
In his written decision, the ALJ summarized the medical evidence, including the
claimant’s hearing testimony, and a Third Party Function Report submitted by her
neighbor. The ALJ noted Dr. Spray’s examination findings, but did not provide any
analysis or assign any weight with regard to his assessment (Tr. 67). The ALJ then found
the claimant not completely credible, and discounted the Third Party Function Report in
part because it was based on the claimant’s subjective complaints (Tr. 67-70). The ALJ
then gave great weight to the state reviewing physicians’ and psychologists’ opinions,
finding they were fully supported by and consistent with the medical record as a whole
(Tr. 70-71).
“An ALJ must evaluate every medical opinion in the record, although the weight
given each opinion will vary according to the relationship between the disability claimant
and the medical professional. . . . An ALJ must also consider a series of specific factors
in determining what weight to give any medical opinion.” Hamlin v. Barnhart, 365 F.3d
1208, 1215 (10th Cir. 2004) [internal citation omitted], citing Goatcher v. United States
Department of Health & Human Services, 52 F.3d 288, 290 (10th Cir. 1995). The
pertinent factors are:
(i) the length of treatment relationship and frequency of
examination; (ii) nature and extent of the treatment relationship, including the treatment
provided and the kind of examination or testing performed; (iii) the degree to which the
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physician’s opinion is supported by relevant evidence; (iv) consistency between the
opinion and the record as a whole; (v) whether or not the physician is a specialist in the
area upon which an opinion is rendered; and (vi) other factors brought to the ALJ’s
attention which tend to support or contradict the opinion. Watkins v. Barnhart, 350 F.3d
1297, 1300-01 (10th Cir. 2003), citing Drapeau v. Massanari, 255 F.3d 1211, 1213
(10th Cir. 2001). Here, the ALJ summarized Dr. Spray’s report, but provided no analysis
at all in relation to the pertinent factors. This was important because Dr. Spray raised
questions about the claimant’s ability to communicate, concentrate, and persist with and
complete tasks in a timely manner (Tr. 417). The Commissioner argues that Dr. Spray’s
psychological limitations were not stated with certainty and were contradicted by other
evidence in the record; however, the ALJ offered no such explanation for declining to
impose any correlating restrictions when forming the claimant’s RFC. See, e.g., Haga v.
Astrue, 482 F.3d 1205, 1207–08 (10th Cir. 2007) (“[T]his court may not create or adopt
post hoc rationalizations to support the ALJ's decision that are not apparent from the
ALJ's decision itself.”). Furthermore, the ALJ appeared to adopt Dr. Spray’s opinion as
to the claimant’s mental impairment diagnoses; however, he rejected without explanation
Dr. Spray’s opinions concerning the effects of her mental impairments on her adaptive
functioning (Tr. 67). The ALJ should have explained why he found certain aspects of Dr.
Spray’s findings persuasive but not others. See Haga, 482 F.3d at 1208 (“[T]he ALJ
should have explained why he rejected four of the moderate restrictions on Dr. Rawlings’
RFC assessment while appearing to adopt the others. An ALJ is not entitled to pick and
choose through an uncontradicted medical opinion, taking only the parts that are
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favorable to a finding of nondisability. . . . [T]he ALJ did not state that any evidence
conflicted with Dr. Rawlings’ opinion or mental RFC assessment.
So it is simply
unexplained why the ALJ adopted some of Dr. Rawlings’ restrictions but not others.”).
The claimant also contends, inter alia, that the ALJ erred in analyzing her
credibility. At the time of the ALJ’s decision, a credibility determination was governed
by Soc. Sec. Rul. 96-7p. See, e .g., Hardman v. Barnhart, 362 F.3d 676, 678 (10th Cir.
2004), quoting Soc. Sec. Rul. 96-7p, 1996 WL 374186 (July 2, 1996).
But the
Commissioner issued a ruling on March 16, 2016, which eliminated the term “credibility”
and provided new guidance for evaluating the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects
of a claimant’s symptoms. Soc. Sec. Rul. 16-3p, 2016 WL 1119029 (Mar. 16, 2016).
“Generally, if an agency makes a policy change during the pendency of a claimant’s
appeal, the reviewing court should remand for the agency to determine whether the new
policy affects its prior decision.” Frantz v. Astrue, 509 F.3d 1299, 1302 (10th Cir. 2007),
quoting Sloan v. Astrue, 499 F.3d 883, 889 (8th Cir. 2007).
Although the ALJ’s
credibility analysis was arguably sufficient under the old standard, the record does not
reflect how the ALJ would have evaluated the claimant’s subjective statements under
Soc. Sec. Rul. 16-3p. 3 Consequently, the decision of the Commissioner must be reversed
and the case remanded to the ALJ for evaluation in accordance with the new standard.
3
While it is arguable that the evidence cited by the ALJ in support of his credibility determination would
likewise have satisfied Soc. Sec. Rul. 16-3p, thus obviating the need for reversal and remand, see, e. g.,
Wellenstein v. Colvin, 2015 WL 5734438, at *11 (N.D. Iowa Sept. 30, 2015) (noting that the Court of
Appeals for the Eighth Circuit denied remand for consideration of a new social security ruling upon
finding that “although the policy changed during the pendency of the case, the policy did not affect the
case.”), citing Van Vickle v. Astrue, 539 F.3d 825, 829 n.6 (8th Cir. 2008), the undersigned Magistrate
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Conclusion
In summary, the Court finds that correct legal standards were not applied by the
ALJ, and the decision of the Commissioner is therefore not supported by substantial
evidence. The decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration is
accordingly hereby REVERSED and the case REMANDED for further proceedings
consistent herewith.
DATED this 28th day of March, 2017.
______________________________________
STEVEN P. SHREDER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Judge finds that any re-evaluation of the evidence in light of the new standard is not for this court to make
on review but rather for the ALJ to consider in the first instance.
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