Yarborough v. Commissioner Social Security Administration
Filing
27
Opinion and Order - The Findings and Recommendation (ECF 23 ) is ADOPTED IN PART, as discussed in this Opinion and Order. The Court REVERSES the Commissioner's decision that Plaintiff is not disabled and REMANDS for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion and Order. Signed on 10/24/2017 by Judge Michael H. Simon. (mja)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON
JACITA ANITRA YARBOROUGH,
Case No. 3:16-cv-856-SB
Plaintiff,
OPINION AND ORDER
v.
NANCY A. BERRYHILL,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.
Michael H. Simon, District Judge.
United States Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman issued Findings and
Recommendation (“F&R”) in this case on August 31, 2017. ECF 23. Judge Beckerman
recommended that the finding of the Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner”) that
Plaintiff is not disabled be affirmed.
Under the Federal Magistrates Act (“Act”), the Court may “accept, reject, or modify, in
whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate.” 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1). If a party files objections to a magistrate’s findings and recommendations, “the court
shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed findings
or recommendations to which objection is made.” Id.; Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3).
PAGE 1 – OPINION AND ORDER
For those portions of a magistrate’s findings and recommendations to which neither party
has objected, the Act does not prescribe any standard of review. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S.
140, 152 (1985) (“There is no indication that Congress, in enacting [the Act], intended to require
a district judge to review a magistrate’s report to which no objections are filed.”); United States
v. Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d 1114, 1121 (9th Cir. 2003) (en banc) (holding that the court must
review de novo magistrate’s findings and recommendations if objection is made, “but not
otherwise”). Although in the absence of objections no review is required, the Act “does not
preclude further review by the district judge[] sua sponte . . . under a de novo or any other
standard.” Thomas, 474 U.S. at 154. Indeed, the Advisory Committee Notes to Fed. R. Civ. P.
72(b) recommend that “[w]hen no timely objection is filed,” the Court review the magistrate’s
recommendations for “clear error on the face of the record.”
Plaintiff timely filed an objection (ECF 25), to which Defendant responded. ECF 26. The
Court has reviewed de novo this portion of the F&R, Plaintiff’s objections, Defendant’s
response, the underlying briefing before Judge Beckerman, and the relevant portions of the
administrative record (“AR”). For the reasons discussed below, the F&R is adopted in part.
DISCUSSION
A. Moderate Limitations in Concentration, Persistence, and Pace
The Court does not adopt the portion of the F&R relating to the RFC limitation to
“unskilled work.” Plaintiff argues that the unskilled work limitation is insufficient to describe
Plaintiff’s difficulties with maintaining concentration, persistence, and pace. The argument is
well taken.
The RFC limits Plaintiff to “unskilled work” without any further specific limitation
regarding concentration, persistence, or pace. An ALJ’s summarized assessment may
“adequately capture[ ] restrictions related to concentration, persistence, or pace where the
PAGE 2 – OPINION AND ORDER
assessment is consistent with restrictions identified in the medical testimony.” Stubbs-Danielson
v. Astrue, 539 F.3d 1169, 1174 (9th Cir. 2008). Stubbs-Danielson is inapplicable, however, when
medical evidence establishes that a plaintiff has limitations in concentration, persistence, or pace.
See Brink v. Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 343 F. App’x 211, 212 (9th Cir. 2009) (“The medical
testimony in Stubbs-Danielson, however, did not establish any limitations in concentration,
persistence, or pace. Here, in contrast, the medical evidence establishes, as the ALJ accepted,
that Brink does have difficulties with concentration, persistence, or pace. Stubbs-Danielson,
therefore, is inapposite.”)).
In Stubbs-Danielson, the ALJ did not err in determining that the plaintiff could perform
“simple tasks,” notwithstanding some evidence that the plaintiff had deficiencies with regard to
pace, because the medical evidence showed that the plaintiff had “a slow pace, both in thinking
& actions” but “retained the ability to ‘carry out simple tasks’.” Id. at 1173. This Court
previously has found that a limitation of “unskilled work” without more is insufficient to
incorporate difficulties in concentration, persistence, and pace. Oberg v. Colvin, 2014 WL
3695609 at *13 (D. Or. July 24, 2014); see also Lubin v. Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 507 F. App’x
709, 712 (9th Cir. 2013) (“Although the ALJ found that Lubin suffered moderate difficulties in
maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace, the ALJ erred by not including this limitation in
the residual functional capacity determination[.]”); Doty v. Astrue, 2014 WL 1269479, at *3 (D.
Or. Mar. 26, 2014) (“Unskilled work, by itself, does not adequately capture plaintiff’s ‘moderate
1155408, at *7 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 20, 2014) (finding that because the ALJ expressly found
limitation’ with regard to concentration, persistence and pace.”); Juarez v. Colvin, 2014 WL
moderate limitations in concentration, persistence, and pace, “the ALJ’s RFC determination
PAGE 3 – OPINION AND ORDER
should have included not only the limitation to unskilled work, but also a moderate
limitation in maintaining concentration, persistence, and pace”).
Here, the ALJ concluded at step two that Plaintiff had moderate difficulties with regard to
concentration, persistence, and pace. The RFC, however, only limited Plaintiff to performing
unskilled work, with no mention of her specific limitations with regard to concentration,
persistence, and pace. Therefore, the ALJ failed adequately to incorporate Plaintiff’s mental
limitations into the RFC. This was error.
B. Leg Elevation Limitation
The Court also declines to adopt the portion of the F&R regarding the ALJ’s failure to
incorporate Plaintiff’s leg elevation limitation into the RFC. Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred in
not incorporating the medical opinion of Dr. Neil Roundy that Plaintiff needed to take frequent
breaks throughout the day to elevate her legs. ECF 17. The Commissioner responds that the RFC
adequately incorporates Dr. Roundy’s opinion. ECF 18. For the reasons explained below, the
Court agrees with Plaintiff.
The RFC represents the most that an individual can do despite her impairments. Social
Security Ruling (“SSR”) 96-8p, available at 1996 WL 374184, at *4. SSR 96-8p states that
“[t]he RFC assessment must be based on all of the relevant evidence in the case record, such
as . . . [m]edical history, [m]edical signs and laboratory findings, . . . [and m]edical source
statements.” Id. at *5. 1 To reject an uncontradicted opinion from an examining physician, the
ALJ must provide clear and convincing reasons that are supported by substantial evidence. Ryan
v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 528 F.3d 1194, 1198 (9th Cir. 2008). An ALJ errs by ignoring an
1
SSRs are binding on the Social Security Administration, but they do not have the force
of law and are not binding on courts. See Holohan v. Massanari, 246 F.3d 1199, 1202 n.1 (9th
Cir. 2001). They are, however, entitled to some deference because they represent the
Commissioner’s interpretation of the agency’s regulations. Id.
PAGE 4 – OPINION AND ORDER
examining physician’s medical opinion without providing reasons for doing so; an ALJ
effectively rejects a medical opinion by ignoring it. Gamble v. Colvin, 2014 WL 4419570, at *3
(D. Or. Sep. 8, 2014) (citing Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 128 (9th Cir. 1996).
Here, Dr. Roundy examined Plaintiff on October 2, 2012, and wrote a report. See
generally AR 865-69. In the section of the report titled “FUNCTIONAL
ASSESSMENT/MEDICAL SOURCE STATEMENT,” Dr. Roundy concluded that, due to
Plaintiff’s chronic deep vein thrombosis (“DVT”) in her left leg, she required “frequent breaks
throughout the day for raising her leg or using compression devices.” AR 868. Dr. Roundy’s
opinion is also in accord with the discharge instructions given to Plaintiff after four
hospitalizations for DVT and swelling in her leg. After all four of these hospitalizations, Plaintiff
was instructed to elevate her legs to alleviate swelling. AR 750, 1038, 1063, 1088.
In formulating the RFC, however, the ALJ only noted that “every 30 minutes to an hour
[Plaintiff] needs the opportunity to change positions with no change in the work process.”
AR 15. In the narrative description of the RFC formulation, the ALJ gave “great weight” to Dr.
Roundy’s opinion “because it is consistent with his examination findings and the record as a
whole that shows the claimant needs the opportunity to change positions from sitting, standing,
and walking in order to alleviate leg pain stemming from recurrent DVTs.” AR 23. The ALJ
gave no explanation, however, for the RFC’s failure to incorporate Dr. Roundy’s opinion that
Plaintiff needed frequent breaks to elevate her legs. 2 Changing positions does not encompass a
need to elevate one’s legs, and the qualification that Plaintiff have “no change in the work
process” directly contradicts Dr. Roundy’s opinion that Plaintiff needs frequent breaks. The ALJ
2
As the Commissioner points out, the ALJ did acknowledge that Plaintiff was “slightly
more limited than Dr. Roundy assessed, in terms of postural activities.” AR 23. That
acknowledgement, however, makes no mention of Plaintiff’s need for frequent breaks or leg
elevation and, therefore, does not resolve the issue.
PAGE 5 – OPINION AND ORDER
erred by failing to incorporate Dr. Roundy’s opinion into the RFC or, alternatively, failing to
provide legally sufficient reasons for rejecting the opinion.
The ALJ’s error regarding Dr. Roundy’s opinion was not harmless. An error is harmless
when it is nonprejudicial or inconsequential to the non-disability decision. Stout v. Comm’r, Soc.
Sec. Admin., 454 F.3d 1050, 1054-55 (9th Cir. 2006). Here, had the RFC incorporated Plaintiff’s
need for frequent breaks to elevate her legs, the disability determination could have been
significantly affected. Testimony by the vocation expert (“VE”) underscores this error’s
prejudicial effect. During the August 19, 2014, hearing, the following discussion ensued between
the VE, the ALJ, and Plaintiff’s attorney (“Atty”):
Atty: . . . [I]f a person needed to take extra breaks outside of the
normal breaks, totaling an hour a day, how would [that] affect their
ability to retain competitive employment?
VE: They would not be able to retain competitive employment
under those terms.
Atty: And are there any jobs that would allow a person to elevate
their legs throughout the day?
VE: Not above waist level. I mean—well, this is what I should
say. I think this is the best vocationally relevant way to answer that
question. Production is really important, not only in all jobs, but
especially in these kinds of jobs and if you are elevating your legs
above the waist level, outside of normal breaks, then you are not as
productive as you need to be.
Atty: Okay. What’s the—
ALJ:
At waist level.
VE:
Above waist level.
ALJ:
I said at waist level they could maintain these jobs.
VE: You know, that really depends on how a person does it.
Some workers will have a stool and they put their—the bottoms of
their feet on the stool and their knees are, you know, level with
their waist. At that level, yes, but if again, if they are—I think the
fairest way to answer that, your honor, is that it was production
PAGE 6 – OPINION AND ORDER
based and whether they can maintain at least the 80th percentile of
production compared to the normal good average worker for that
position as deemed appropriate by that employer for that job.
ALJ:
And some workers can’t?
VE: I don’t know. I can’t tell you for sure, but as a vocational
expert I think all I can say is that is the vocationally relevant factor.
ALJ: Well, a question is, If there is a restriction that they—well,
seated the person was—must be allowed to raise her—one of her
legs at level, horizontally, not above waist level, waist level.
Would those jobs still be available?
VE: I think the way that I described it with a stool, yes. I think
that the person, that would be a normal reasonable assumption that
a person still could be at the competitive level. If it is different than
that, like extending the, you know, the leg straight out at waist
level, that may interfere with production. But there are special
stools that are available and often workers will just purchase a
smaller stool and bring that to work if they need to lift their legs.
AR 50-52.
As the VE explained, whether Plaintiff can maintain the necessary level of production to
retain competitive employment depends upon whether Plaintiff needs to elevate her legs at or
above waist level, whether her leg needs to be extended horizontally, or whether her leg can be
bent at the knee with her foot on a stool. The record is unclear as to exactly how Plaintiff needs
to elevate her leg, including such issues as how high and straight versus bent.
Additionally, the frequency with which Plaintiff needs to take breaks to elevate her leg
similarly affects the disability determination. As the VE testified, Plaintiff would be unable to
retain competitive employment only if she required breaks outside of the normal breaks, totaling
an hour a day. The frequency and manner in which Plaintiff needs to elevate her legs, therefore,
affects the disability determination. Unfortunately, the record is ambiguous as to how frequently
Plaintiff needs to take breaks. Dr. Roundy stated: “Maximum standing and walking capacity: At
least two hours but less than six hours. Specific number of hours: Four. This is due to her
PAGE 7 – OPINION AND ORDER
requirement for frequent breaks throughout the day for raising her leg or using compression
devices.” AR 868. Dr. Roundy’s opinion, though unclear, appears to indicate that Plaintiff needs
approximately two hours in a day to elevate her legs or use compression devices, since her
maximum standing and walking capacity is six hours, but specifically four hours due to her need
for breaks. It is not clear whether those two hours need to be separated such that a normal lunch
hour could not be included as one of those two hours. Therefore, the record provides no
meaningful way to evaluate whether Plaintiff can retain competitive employment, given her
limitations.
C. Remand
Within the Court’s discretion under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) is the “decision whether to
remand for further proceedings or for an award of benefits.” Holohan v. Massanari, 246
F.3d 1195, 1210 (9th Cir. 2001) (citation omitted). Although a court should generally remand to
the agency for additional investigation or explanation, a court has discretion to remand for
immediate payment of benefits. Treichler v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 775 F.3d 1090, 10991100 (9th Cir. 2014). The issue turns on the utility of further proceedings. A remand for an
award of benefits is appropriate when no useful purpose would be served by further
administrative proceedings or when the record has been fully developed and the evidence is
insufficient to support the Commissioner’s decision. Id. at 1100. A court may not award benefits
punitively and must conduct a “credit-as-true” analysis on evidence that has been improperly
rejected by the ALJ to determine if a claimant is disabled under the Act. Strauss v. Comm’r of
the Soc. Sec. Admin., 635 F.3d 1135, 1138 (9th Cir. 2011).
As discussed above, the ALJ erred by not incorporating Plaintiff’s specific mental
limitations into the RFC. The ALJ further erred by failing to either incorporate Dr. Roundy’s
opinion that Plaintiff needed frequent breaks to elevate her legs or use a compression device into
PAGE 8 – OPINION AND ORDER
the RFC or provide a legally sufficient reason for rejecting that opinion. The Court finds that the
record contains ambiguities that need to be developed further. Specifically, the frequency and
manner in which Plaintiff needs to elevate her leg—whether at waist height or above waist
height, with bent knee or horizontally—needs to be determined. Additionally, whether Plaintiff
can maintain employment when her limitations in concentration, persistence, and pace are
incorporated into her RFC needs to be evaluated. Therefore, the Court finds that additional
proceedings are necessary, and remand for an award of benefits is not appropriate.
CONCLUSION
The Findings and Recommendation (ECF 23) is ADOPTED IN PART, as discussed in
this Opinion and Order. The Court REVERSES the Commissioner’s decision that Plaintiff is not
disabled and REMANDS for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion and Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED this 24th day of October, 2017.
/s/ Michael H. Simon
Michael H. Simon
United States District Judge
PAGE 9 – OPINION AND ORDER
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?