Breitmeyer v. Commissioner Social Security Administration
Filing
16
OPINION & ORDER: The ALJ's decision that Breitmeyer was not disabled prior to May 19, 2006, is not based on correct legal standards and supported by substantial evidence. The decision of the Commissioner is reversed and this matter is remanded pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for further proceedings consistent with this opinion and order. Signed on January 20th, 2012 by Judge James A. Redden.(eo)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON
PORTLAND DIVISION
ROBERT DALE BREITMEYER,
Plaintiff,
CV. 10-1187 RE
OPINION AND ORDER
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.
REDDEN, Judge:
Plaintiff Robert D. Breitmeyer ("Breitmeyer"), brings this action to obtain judicial review
of a final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration ("Commissioner")
denying his claim for Disability Insurance Benefits ("DEB") and Supplemental Security Income
("SSI") disability benefits under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. For the reasons set
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forth below, the decision of the Commissioner is reversed and this matter is remanded for further
proceedings.
BACKGROUND
Born in 1956, Breitmeyer has completed a general educational development ("GED")
diploma and has worked as a cab driver, cashier, dishwasher, glass installer, and packager of
electrical parts. In October 2008, Breitmeyer filed applications for disability insurance benefits
alleging disability since November 30, 2000, due to neck injury and surgery. His application was
denied initially and upon reconsideration. On April 13, 2010, a hearing was held before
Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") Elliot.
In a decision dated April 28, 2010, the ALJ found
Breitmeyer disabled as of May 19, 2006. Breitmeyer's request for review was denied, making
the ALJ's decision the final decision of the Commissioner. Breitmeyer now seeks judicial review
of the Commissioner's decision.
ALJ's DECISION
The ALJ found Breitmeyer had medically determinable severe impairments of
degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and a disc fusion. The ALJ found that these
impairments did not meet or medically equal a listed impairment.
The ALJ determined that from November 30, 2000, through May 18, 2006, Breitmeyer
retained the residual functional capacity to perform sedentary work, limited to lifting and
carrying up to 10 pounds, to working up to 4 hours standing during an 8 hour day, with no
overhead work. The ALJ found he was restricted to simple or semiskilled work.
The ALJ determined that since November 30,2000, Breitmeyer was not able to perform
his past relevant work. On May 19, 2006, the ALJ found that Breitmeyer's age category changed
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from a younger individual to an individual closely approaching advanced age, and based on the
new age category, the ALJ found that, considering the claimant's age, education, work
experience, and residual functional capacity, there were no jobs in significant numbers that he
could perform. However, prior to May 19,2006, considering the same issues, the ALJ found that
there were significant numbers ofjobs that plaintiff could perform, citing those identified by the
vocational expert, including small product assembler, semi conductor wafer breaker, and
microfilm document preparer. Because the claimant was found disabled on May 19, 2006,
which is after his last date insured, he is not eligible for disability insurance benefits.
The medical records in this case accurately set out Breitmeyer's medical history as it
relates to his claim for benefits. The court has carefully reviewed the extensive medical record,
and the parties are familiar with it. Accordingly, the details of those medical records will be set
out below only as they are relevant to the issues before the court.
DISCUSSION
Breitmeyer contends that the ALJ erred by: (1) finding him not fully credible; (2)
improperlyrejecting the opinion of an examining physician; and (3) relying on erroneous
VocationalExpert ("VE") testimony. Because this matter is remanded on other grounds, the
court need not reach the third argument.
I. Credibility
The ALJ must consider all symptoms and pain which "can be reasonably accepted as
consistent with the objective medical evidence and other evidence." 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529(a);
416.929(a). Once a claimant shows an underlying impairment which may "reasonably be
expected to produce pain or other symptoms alleged," absent a finding of malingering, the ALJ
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must provide "clear and convincing" reasons for finding a claimant not credible. Lingenfelter v.
Astrue, 504 F.3d 1028,1036 (9th Cir. 2007)(citing Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1281 (9th Cir.
1996)). The ALJ's credibility findings must be "sufficiently specific to permit thereviewing
court to conclude that the ALJ did not arbitrarily discredit the claimant's testimony."
Orteza v. Shalala, 50 F.3d 748, 750 (9th Cir. 1995)(citing Bunnell v. Sullivan, 947. F.2d 341, 34546 (9th Cir. \99\)(en banc)).
The ALJmay consider objective medical evidence and the claimant'streatment history,
as well as the claimant's dailyactivities, work record, and observations of physicians and third
parties with personal knowledge of the claimant's functional limitations. Smolen, 80 F.3d at
1284. The ALJ mayadditionally employ ordinary techniques of credibility evaluation, suchas
weighing inconsistent statements regarding symptoms by the claimant. Id. The ALJ may not,
however, make a negative credibility finding "solelybecause" the claimant's symptom testimony
"is not substantiated affirmatively by objective medical evidence." Robbins v. Soc. Sec. Admin.,
466 F.3d 880, 883 (9th Cir. 2005).
The ALJ noted that Breitmeyer's credibility was undermined by a lack of objective
evidence. Tr. 17-20. The ALJ found plaintiffs assertion of disabling chronic pain was
inconsistent withhis daily activities. Tr. 20. He notedthat the imaging results (MRI and x-rays)
did not support plaintiffsalleged functional limitations. Tr. 18-19. The ALJ found that "while
the claimantasserts numerous subjective complaints, the record reveals he received only
conservative and routine treatment." Tr. 19. He was prescribed only Ibuprofen for pain. Id. The
ALJ citedBreitmeyer's non-compliance with recommended treatment, and noted the claimant's
sporadic work history priorto his alleged onsetdate. Tr. 17,19.
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The ALJ identified clear and convincing reasons to find Breitmeyer not entirely credible
as to his functional limitations.
II.. The Examining Physician
Disability opinions are reserved for the Commissioner. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527(e)(1);
416.927(e)(1). If no conflict arises between medical source opinions, the ALJ generally must
accord greater weight to the opinion of a treating physician than that of an examining physician.
Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir. 1995). In such circumstances the ALJ should also
give greater weight to the opinion of an examining physician over that of a reviewing physician.
Id. But, if two medical source opinions conflict, an ALJ need only give "specific and legitimate
reasons" for discrediting one opinion in favor of another. Id. at 830. The ALJ may reject
physician opinions that are "brief, conclusory, and inadequately supported by clinical findings."
Bayliss v. Barnhart, All F.3d 1211,1216 (9th Cir. 2005).
Daryl Birney, Ph.D. completed a Neuropsychological Screening of Breitmeyer on
December 19,2008, which included numerous tests. Tr. 304. Dr. Birney diagnosed cognitive
disorder nos, and dysthymic disorder, and stated that Breitmeyer had "mildly"diminished
processing speed. Tr. 305. Dr. Birney cited test results indicatingthat "[processing speed,
visual scanning, and recognizing essential missing parts are all poor." Tr. 306. He assessed a
GAF1 of 55.
1 The GAF scale is a tool for "reporting the clinician's judgment of the individual's
overall level of functioning." American Psychiatric Ass'n., Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders 32 (4th ed. 2000)). It is essentially a scale of zero to 100in which the clinician
considers "psychological, social, and occupational functioning on a hypothetical continuum of
mental health-illness," not including impairments in functioning due to physical or environmental
limitations. Id at 34. A Global Assessment of Functioning ("GAF") score between 51 and 60
indicates "[mjoderate symptoms (e.g. flat affect and circumstantial speech, occasional panic
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The ALJ reviewed Dr. Birney's opinion, and noted that plaintiff had been treated for
mental impairments periodically. Tr. 17. Breitmeyer had been in counseling briefly in 2004, but
told Dr. Birney he "didn't think it was helpful and [he] didn't like the medication that was
prescribed so he stopped going." Tr. 17, 305. The ALJ noted that Dr. Birney did not consider
whether Breitmeyer's limitations would continue if he obtained proper treatment, and that his
conclusions were not consistent with the claimant's daily activities. Tr. 17.
The ALJ found that Dr. Birney's uncontested assessment was inconsistent with
Breitmeyer's cooking, housekeeping, shopping, learning to play the guitar, and caring for his
young son. Tr. 17,19. This is not accurate because there is lay testimony that Breitmeyer
performed these activities slowly. Tr. 186-93. Moreover, Sandra Lundblad, Psy.D. completed a
Psychiatric Review Technique form covering the period November 30, 2000 to January 15,2009.
Tr. 320-32. Dr. Lundblad opined that Breitmeyer was moderately impaired in maintaining
concentration, persistence, and pace. Tr. 330. The ALJ did not address Dr. Lundblad's opinion.
The ALJ failed to provide specific, legitimate, clear and convincing reasons to reject Dr. Birney's
uncontested opinion regarding mental limitations.
The government argues that the ALJ's error is harmless because the ALJ properly limited
Breitmeyer to simple routine or semiskilled work, which would account for Dr. Birney's opinion
that the claimant's processing speed, ability to recognize missing parts from common objects,
graphomotor speed, and visual scanning ability are "mildly defective." Tr. 305. The government
attacks) or moderate difficulty in social, occupational or school functioning (e.g., few friends,
conflicts with peers or co-workers)." Id at 32.
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cites no authority for the proposition that a limitation to simple routine or semiskilled work
adequately accommodates such limitations.
CONCLUSION
For these reasons, the ALJ's decision that Breitmeyer was not disabled prior to May 19,
2006, is not based on correct legal standards and supported by substantial evidence. The
decision of the Commissioner is reversed and this matter is remanded pursuant to sentence four
of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for further proceedings consistent with this opinion and order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated this j^day ofJanuary, 2012.
JA^jES A. REDDEN
United States District Judge
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