Hutson v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 24

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER -- The Court has reviewed the medical evidence, the administrative hearing transcript, the ALJ's decision, and the parties' pleadings and briefs. Based on the forgoing analysis, the Court AFFIRMS the Commissioner's decision. Signed by Magistrate Judge Shon T. Erwin on 11/14/17. (mc)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
DAKOTA HUTSON,
Plaintiff,
v.
NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting
Commissioner of the Social Security
Administration,
Defendant.

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Case No. CIV-16-1356-STE

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for judicial review of the
final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration denying Plaintiff’s
application for benefits under the Social Security Act. The Commissioner has answered
and filed a transcript of the administrative record (hereinafter TR. ____). The parties have
consented to jurisdiction over this matter by a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).
The parties have briefed their positions, and the matter is now at issue. Based on
the Court’s review of the record and the issues presented, the Court AFFIRMS the
Commissioner’s decision.
I.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The Social Security Administration denied Plaintiff’s application initially and on

reconsideration. Following an administrative hearing, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
issued an unfavorable decision. (TR. 11-24). The Appeals Council denied Plaintiff’s

request for review. (TR. 1-6). Thus, the ALJ’s decision became the Commissioner’s final
decision.
II.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION
The ALJ followed the five-step sequential evaluation process required by agency

regulations. See Fischer-Ross v. Barnhart, 431 F.3d 729, 731 (10th Cir. 2005); 20 C.F.R.
§ 416.920. At step one, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial
gainful activity (SGA) since December 23, 2013, the alleged amended disability onset
date. (TR. 13). At step two, the ALJ determined that Ms. Hutson had the following severe
impairments: borderline intellectual functioning; mood disorder; adult antisocial behavior;
and a history of polysubstance abuse. (TR. 13). At step three, the ALJ found that Plaintiff’s
impairments did not meet or medically equal any of the presumptively disabling
impairments listed at 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. (TR. 14).
The ALJ next assessed Plaintiff’s residual functional capacity (RFC) and found she
could:
[P]erform a full range of work at all exertional levels but with the following
nonexertional limitations: no more than simple, routine, repetitive tasks
with no strict production requirements; and no more than simple workrelated decision making with few, if any, changes in the work setting; no
public contact; no more than occasional contact with co-workers and
supervisors; no joint, team, or tandem tasks; and no more than a second
grade reading and math level required.
(TR. 15-16). Then, at step four, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had no past relevant work.
(TR. 22). Finally, at step five, the ALJ presented a vocational expert (VE) with a
hypothetical question including the limitations found in Plaintiff’s RFC to determine
whether there were jobs in the national economy that Plaintiff could perform. (TR. 67-

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69). The VE identified three jobs from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). (TR.
68-69). The ALJ adopted the VE’s testimony and concluded that Ms. Hutson was not
disabled based on her ability to perform the identified jobs. (TR. 22-23).
III.

ISSUES PRESENTED
On appeal, Plaintiff alleges the ALJ erred in: (1) failing to discuss the relevant

factors required in C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1, § 12.00(A), (C); (2) failing to
include functional limitations in the RFC stemming from her severe antisocial behavior;
(3) ignoring Plaintiff’s GAF score; (4) failing to consider whether Plaintiff could perform
the relevant work on a consistent basis; (5) crafting an improper question to the VE; and
(6) finding Plaintiff could perform the national jobs with a limitation to second grade
reading.1
IV.

STANDARD OF REVIEW
This Court reviews the Commissioner’s final “decision to determin[e] whether the

factual findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record and whether the
correct legal standards were applied.” Wilson v. Astrue, 602 F.3d 1136, 1140 (10th Cir.
2010). “Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept
as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. (quotation omitted).

In her “overview” paragraph, Plaintiff also suggests the RFC is “flawed” because “it is too general
in nature . . . .” (ECF No. 19:2). She also states that the ALJ “repeatedly used noncompliance and
willingness to violate the law as reasons for rejecting her claim on credibility . . . .” (ECF No.
19:2). However, Plaintiff wholly fails to support these statements with any case law or developed
arguments elsewhere in the brief and this Court will not develop claims for her. See KeyesZachary, 695 F.3d 1156, 1161 (10th Cir. 2012) (“We will consider and discuss only those
contentions that have been adequately briefed for review.”).
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While the Court considers whether the ALJ followed the applicable rules of law in
weighing particular types of evidence in disability cases, it will “neither reweigh the
evidence nor substitute [its] judgment for that of the agency.” Vigil v. Colvin, 805 F.3d
1199, 1201 (10th Cir. 2015) (internal quotation marks omitted).
V.

ANALYSIS
A.

The ALJ’s Alleged Step Three Error

The Court first addresses Plaintiff’s allegation that the ALJ failed to “discuss[]” the
factors required in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1, § 12.00(A), (C). (ECF No.
19:9). The Court finds this argument wholly inaccurate. This regulation relates to the
findings an ALJ must make at step three, and the ALJ clearly discussed all the necessary
factors at that stage of the analysis. (TR. 14-15). Plaintiff offers no challenge to the actual
step three finding that Plaintiff’s severe impairments do not meet or equal a listed
impairment, and the Court affirms on this issue.
B.

Plaintiff’s RFC

Ms. Hutson next challenges the ALJ’s RFC assessment, claiming that she failed to
include any limitations based on Plaintiff’s severe antisocial behavior and arguing that the
medical record shows she cannot “tolerate even occasional contact with supervisors and
coworkers.” (ECF No. 19:3, 5-6 (emphasis in original)). The Court finds no grounds for
reversal on these issues.
First, Plaintiff alleges that the ALJ failed to include any limitations related to her
antisocial behavior. (ECF No. 19:3, 6). But the ALJ clearly limited Plaintiff to “no public
contact; no more than occasional contact with co-workers and supervisors; [and] no joint,

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team, or tandem tasks[.]” (TR 15-16). Two State agency psychologists reviewed the
medical record and opined that Plaintiff could perform work within these boundaries
despite her severe antisocial behavior and the ALJ gave those opinions “substantial
weight.” (TR. 20, 78-87, 91-101). Plaintiff does not challenge that weight assignment.
Moreover, Plaintiff does not explain how these restrictions fail to account for her antisocial
behavior. See Kirkpatrick v. Colvin, 663 F. App’x 646, 649 (10th Cir. 2016) (rejecting
plaintiff’s argument regarding the alleged omission of certain limitations in an RFC
because “[plaintiff] doesn’t explain how the[] restrictions [that were included in the RFC]
fail to account for his [limitations]”).
Second, Plaintiff claims that substantial evidence shows she cannot engage in even
occasional contact with co-workers or supervisors. (ECF No. 19:5). As evidence, Plaintiff
relies on (1) a consultative examiner who found that “‘the presence of mental illness likely
interfered with [Ms. Hutson’s] ability to adapt to competitive work environment;’” (2) a
consultative examiner who found that she would need help managing funds, vocational
rehabilitation, and anger management; and (3) a treating psychiatrist who thought she
had “extreme limitations in the ability to respond appropriately to changes in the work
setting, be aware of normal hazards, travel in unfamiliar places or use public
transportation, set realistic goals or make independent plans.” (ECF No. 19:5 (citing TR.
294, 317, 324)). How these opinions relate to Plaintiff’s alleged inability to occasionally
interact with co-workers or supervisors is a question Plaintiff does not answer. Moreover,
the ALJ discussed this evidence and largely dismissed it, giving all the opinions little to
only some weight. (TR. 16-21). Plaintiff does not challenge the ALJ’s weight assignments

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and this Court will not reweigh the evidence. In sum, Plaintiff simply fails to identify any
substantial evidence that would preclude her from occasional interaction with co-workers
or supervisors.2 See Arles v. Astrue, 438 F. App’x. 735, 740 (10th Cir. 2011) (rejecting
plaintiff’s claim a limitation should have been included in his RFC because “such a
limitation has no support in the record”).
C.

Plaintiff’s GAF Score

According to Plaintiff, a therapist assigned her a GAF score “which reflected
unemployability” and the ALJ ignored it. (ECF No. 19:5). Again, the Court finds no grounds
for reversal.
“The GAF is a 100–point scale divided into ten numerical ranges, which permits
clinicians to assign a single ranged score to a person’s psychological, social, and
occupational functioning.” Keyes–Zachary, 695 F.3d at 1162 n. 1. In 2010 – a full three
years before her amended alleged disability onset date – Plaintiff was given a GAF score
of 47. (TR. 292). The ALJ did not discuss that particular score, but did discuss a GAF
score of 61 that Plaintiff received in March 2013, and a GAF score of 15 that Plaintiff
received following an overdose in May 2013. (TR. 21). Ultimately, the ALJ gave the scores
little weight, noting that they are subjective, rather than objective, measures and are not
intended for forensic purposes. (TR. 21).
The Court finds no error in the ALJ’s failure to specifically discuss a GAF score
assigned three years before Plaintiff alleges that she became disabled. See, e.g., Clifton

Plaintiff testified to such behavior, but the ALJ found her to be less than credible. (TR. 14, 1620). Plaintiff does not challenge the credibility findings.
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v. Chater, 79 F.3d 1007, 1009-10 (10th Cir. 1996) (“The record must demonstrate that
the ALJ considered all of the evidence, but an ALJ is not required to discuss every piece
of evidence.”). Further, while Plaintiff clearly believes her GAF score reflected an inability
to work, “the [Social Security Administration] does not consider GAF scores to ‘have a
direct correlation to the severity requirements in [the] mental disorders listings,’” and the
“‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has discontinued its use because
of ‘its conceptual lack of clarity . . . and questionable psychometrics in routine practice.’”

Rose v. Colvin, 634 F. App’x. 632, 636 (10th Cir. 2015) (citations omitted); see also Butler
v. Astrue, 412 F. App’x 144, 147 (10th Cir. 2011) (noting GAF scores that are not linked
to any work-related limitations are not particularly helpful and cannot alone determine
disability). So, the Court rejects any argument suggesting reversal on the issue.
D.

Plaintiff’s Ability to Sustain Work

Plaintiff next describes herself as “violent” and complains that the ALJ failed to
consider whether she would be able to sustain work for eight hours a day, five days a
week, or hold a job for a significant time without decompensating. (ECF No. 19:6-7, 9).
However, aside from claiming the “earning records reflect Ms. Huston never approach[ed]
SGA levels,” (ECF No. 19:7), Plaintiff relies exclusively on her own testimony to show she
is incapable of working eight-hours a day and maintaining employment. (ECF No. 19:45). But the ALJ found Plaintiff lacked credibility, (TR. 14, 16-20), and Plaintiff does not
challenge that assessment. Further, the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff could maintain a work
schedule and long-term employment is implicit in the RFC assessment. See SSR 96-8p,
1996 WL 374184, at *1 (noting the RFC “is an assessment of an individual’s ability to do

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sustained work-related physical and mental activities in a work setting on a regular and
continuing basis. A ‘regular and continuing basis’ means 8 hours a day, for 5 days a week,
or an equivalent work schedule.”). Accordingly, the Court affirms on this ground.
E.

The Hypothetical Question to the VE

Relying on her previous arguments, Plaintiff alleges that because the RFC did not
contain the proper limitations, the hypothetical question to the VE was fundamentally
flawed. (ECF No. 19:6). She further argues that the ALJ failed to “relate with specificity”
the Plaintiff’s “specific impairments” and “failed to utilize all of the Plaintiff’s impairments.”
(ECF No. 19:9). In particular, Plaintiff complains about the terms “simple” and “routine”
in the hypothetical question. (ECF No. 19:10). Again, the Court finds no grounds for
reversal.
Plaintiff is correct that before a VE’s testimony can constitute substantial evidence,
the hypothetical question posed to the expert must precisely relate a claimant’s
impairments. See Bainbridge v. Colvin, 618 F. App’x 384, 391 (10th Cir. 2015). But that
question “must contain ‘only those impairments borne out by the evidentiary record.’” Id.
(citation and internal ellipsis omitted)). Here, the ALJ asked the VE whether jobs would
be available for a claimant who could perform “no more than simple, routine, repetitive
tasks with no strict production requirements, no more than simple work-related decision
making with few, if any, changes in the work setting” and who needed “no public contact
and no more than occasional contact with coworkers and supervisors.” (TR. 67). The
question also reflected that the claimant could perform “no joint team or tandem tasks
and no more than a second grade reading and math level required.” (TR. 69). These

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questions included all the limitations in Plaintiff’s RFC, and the Court has already rejected
Plaintiff’s related challenges to the RFC assessment. Finally, Plaintiff fails to explain why
the hypothetical question’s reference to simple and routine work did not adequately
address her limitations and the Court finds no error on this point. See Richards v. Colvin,
640 F. App’x 786, 790 (10th Cir. 2016); see also Rivera v. Colvin, 629 F. App’x 842, 846
(10th Cir. 2015) (“[The ALJ] found that Rivera could understand, remember, and carry
out simple instructions, and that she could occasionally interact with supervisors and
coworkers, but should have no contact with the public. The ALJ included all of these
limitations in his hypothetical questions to the VE. The VE’s answer was therefore
sufficient to support the ALJ’s disability decision.”).
F.

The Reading Requirements of the Step Five Jobs

Finally, Plaintiff alleges that the ALJ erred in finding Plaintiff can perform the jobs
of janitor (DOT 381.687-018), warehouse worker (DOT 922.687-058), and bottling line
attendant (DOT 920.687-042) because the jobs “all require much more than a second
grade reading and math level.” (ECF No. 19:11-12). Plaintiff cites no case law to support
her conclusion, instead relying on her attorney’s assertion that he could not have
performed such jobs “by the fourth grade and that was making straight A’s . . . .” (ECF
No. 19:12).
To perform the janitor job, Plaintiff would need to have:
Level 2 – READING: Passive vocabulary of 5,000-6,000 words. Read at rate
of 190-215 words per minute. Read adventure stories and comic books,
looking up unfamiliar words in dictionary for meaning, spelling, and
pronunciation. Read instructions for assembling model cars and airplanes.

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Level 1 – Add and subtract two-digit numbers. Multiply and divide 10’s and
100’s by 2, 3, 4, 5. Perform the four basic arithmetic operations with coins
as part of a dollar. Perform operations with units such as cup, pint, and
quart; inch, foot, and yard; and ounce and pound.
DOT 381.687-018 (Cleaner, Industrial). For the jobs of warehouse worker and bottling
line attendant, Plaintiff would need the same math abilities but would need only:
Level 1 - READING: Recognize meaning of 2,500 (two- or three-syllable)
words. Read at rate of 95-120 words per minute. Compare similarities and
differences between words and between series of numbers.
DOT 922.687-058 (Laborer, Stores); DOT 920.687-042 (Bottling-Line Attendant).
The VE testified that these three jobs required only a second grade reading ability,
(TR. 69), and aside from an anecdotal story about his own fourth grade experiences,
Plaintiff’s attorney offers no conflicting evidence or case law. Accordingly, the Court
affirms on this issue.
ORDER
The Court has reviewed the medical evidence, the administrative hearing
transcript, the ALJ’s decision, and the parties’ pleadings and briefs. Based on the forgoing
analysis, the Court AFFIRMS the Commissioner’s decision.
ENTERED on November 14, 2017.

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