Wright v. Commissioner Social Security Administration
Filing
15
Opinion and Order: The Commissioner's decision is reversed and remanded for further proceedings. Ordered by Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo. (plb)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON
ALLYSON FRANCES WRIGHT,
Case No. 6:16-cv-01529-JR
Plaintiff,
OPINION AND ORDER
v.
NANCY BERRYHILL, Acting
Commissioner, Social Security
Administration,
Defendant.
RUSSO, Magistrate Judge:
Plaintiff Allyson Wright brings this action for judicial review of the final decision of the
Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner”) denying her application for Title II
Disability Insurance Benefits (“DIB”) under the Social Security Act (“Act”). All parties have
consented to allow a Magistrate Judge enter final orders and judgment in this case in accordance
with Fed. R. Civ. P. 73 and 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).
For the reasons set forth below, the
Commissioner’s decision is reversed and remanded for further proceedings.
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PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In December 2012, plaintiff applied for DIB alleging disability as of September 1, 2008.
Tr. 65-73. After an initial denial, plaintiff filed for reconsideration and was again denied. Tr.
76-87. On November 20, 2014, plaintiff and a vocational expert (“VE”) testified at a hearing
before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). Tr. 28-64. On February 11, 2015, the ALJ issued
a decision finding plaintiff not disabled under the Act. Tr. 10-21. After the Appeals Council
denied plaintiff’s request for review, she filed a complaint in this Court.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Born on April 14, 1959, plaintiff was 49 years old on the alleged onset date and 52 years
old on the date last insured (“DLI”). Tr. 65. Plaintiff previously worked as a copywriter,
freelance writer, and graduate teaching fellow at the University of Oregon. Tr. 155. Plaintiff
graduated college and nearly completed a master’s degree. Tr. 34. Plaintiff alleges disability
due to: bipolar II disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia,
migraines, degenerative joint disease, pain disorder, osteoarthritis, and lumbar radiculopathy. Tr.
65.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The court must affirm the Commissioner’s decision if it is based on proper legal
standards and the findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record. Hammock v.
Bowen, 879 F.2d 498, 501 (9th Cir. 1989). 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) (citation and internal quotations
omitted).
The court must weigh “both the evidence that supports and detracts from the
[Commissioner’s] conclusions.”
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Martinez v. Heckler, 807 F.2d 771, 772 (9th Cir. 1986).
Variable interpretations of the evidence are insignificant if the Commissioner’s interpretation is
rational. Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2005).
The initial burden of proof rests upon the claimant to establish disability. Howard v.
Heckler, 782 F.2d 1484, 1486 (9th Cir. 1986).
To meet this burden, the claimant must
demonstrate an “inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected . . . to last for a continuous
period of not less than 12 months.” 42 U.S.C § 423(d)(1)(A).
The Commissioner has established a five-step sequential process for determining whether
a person is disabled. Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 140 (1987); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520. First,
the Commissioner determines whether a claimant is engaged in “substantial gainful activity.”
Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 140; 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(b). If so, the claimant is not disabled.
At step two, the Commissioner evaluates whether the claimant has a “medically severe
impairment or combination of impairments.”
Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 140-41; 20 C.F.R. §
404.1520(c). If the claimant does not have a severe impairment, she is not disabled.
At step three, the Commissioner determines whether the claimant’s impairments, either
singly or in combination, meet or equal “one of a number of listed impairments that the
[Commissioner] acknowledges are so severe as to preclude substantial gainful activity.”
Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 140-41; 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(d). If so, the claimant is presumptively
disabled; if not, the Commissioner proceeds to step four. Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 141.
At step four, the Commissioner resolves whether the claimant can still perform “past
relevant work.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(f). If the claimant can work, she is not disabled; if she
cannot perform past relevant work, the burden shifts to the Commissioner. At step five, the
Commissioner must establish that the claimant can perform other work existing in significant
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numbers in the national or local economy.
Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 141-42; 20 C.F.R. §
404.1520(g).
THE ALJ’S FINDINGS
At step one of the five step sequential evaluation process outlined above, the ALJ found
plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since September 1, 2008, her alleged
onset date. Tr. 12. At step two, the ALJ determined the following impairments were medically
determinable and severe: “cervical spine degenerative disc disease, obesity, asthma,
fibromyalgia, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder.” Id. At step three, the ALJ found
plaintiff’s impairments, either singly or in combination, did not meet or equal the requirements
of a listed impairment. Tr. 13.
Because she did not establish presumptive disability at step three, the ALJ continued to
evaluate how plaintiff’s impairments affected her ability to work.
The ALJ resolved that
plaintiff had the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform a limited range of light work:
She could lift 20 pounds occasionally and 10 pounds frequently. She could sit,
stand, and walk at least 6 hours each in an 8-hour day for a combined total of 8
hours of activity with the customary breaks every 2 hours. She required the
option to change positions once an hour from seated to standing while still
performing essential tasks. She could never climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds and
had to avoid exposure to workplace hazards, such as unprotected heights and
large moving equipment. She had to avoid concentrated exposure to inhaled
irritants. She could occasionally reach overhead. She had no limit on her ability
to climb ramps and stairs or balance. She could occasionally stoop, crouch,
crawl, and kneel. She could understand, remember, and carry out simple
instructions with no more than occasional public contact.
Tr. 14-15.
At step four, the ALJ determined plaintiff could not perform any past relevant work. Tr.
20. At step five, the ALJ concluded, based on the VE’s testimony, that there were a significant
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number of jobs in the national and local economy that plaintiff could perform despite her
impairments, such as office helper, in-home care companion, and laundry sorter. Tr. 20-21.
DISCUSSION
Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred by: (1) omitting migraines as a severe impairment at step
two; (2) discrediting her subjective pain testimony; and (3) assigning no weight to her treating
physicians.
I.
Step Two Finding
Plaintiff contends the ALJ erred by omitting migraines as a severe impairment at step
two. Step two requires the ALJ to assess the claimant’s alleged impairments to determine if any
impairment is both medically determinable and severe.
20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c).
An
impairment is severe if it has “more than a minimal effect on the ability to do basic work
activities.” Webb v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 683, 686 (9th Cir. 2005) (citation and internal quotations
omitted). An impairment is medically determinable if it is diagnosed by an acceptable medical
source and can be confirmed by “signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings.”
Ukolov v.
Barnhart, 420 F.3d 1002, 1005 (9th Cir. 2005) (citation and internal quotations omitted). Step
two is a “de minimis screening device to dispose of groundless claims.” Smolen v. Chater, 80
F.3d 1273, 1290 (9th Cir. 1996) (citing Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 153-54).
Plaintiff sought treatment for migraine-related symptoms on multiple occasions prior to
her DLI. Tr. 511-20, 552, 742, 743, 753. Specifically, in March 2009, plaintiff visited her
primary care physician, Delta Ruscheinsky, M.D., for migraines. Tr. 753. In March 2011,
plaintiff obtained care from neurosurgeon Robert Choi, M.D., and underwent an MRI later that
month with unremarkable results. Tr. 743, 1177. In April 2011, plaintiff presented to urgent
care for treatment of a migraine accompanied with nausea and vomiting. Tr. 516-20. In May
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2011, plaintiff met with Dr. Ruscheinsky for treatment of her migraines.
Tr. 742.
Dr.
Ruscheinsky thereafter referred plaintiff to another neurosurgeon, Stephen McGirr, M.D., who
reviewed an MRI of plaintiff’s cervical spine and determined plaintiff had some “spinal cord
compromise” that was “mild to moderate.” Tr. 554. In June 2011, plaintiff received an epidural
steroid injection for her migraine pain. Tr. 511-14. In August 2011, plaintiff visited urgent care
for a migraine with nausea and vomiting. Tr. 515-20. Within the next month, plaintiff consulted
with Dr. McGirr to discuss potential fusion surgery of her cervical spine at C4-5 and C5-6, the
“compromise” of which plaintiff believed was contributing to her head and neck pain. Tr. 550.
In September 2011, plaintiff met with Dr. Ruscheinsky for treatment of migraines prior to the
DLI. Tr. 738. Although plaintiff’s surgery occurred immediately after the DLI, she underwent
surgery on her neck in October 2011 in an attempt to relieve her migraine symptoms. Tr. 523.
The ALJ acknowledged the aforementioned evidence but concluded plaintiff’s migraines
were non-severe 1 because they did not “occur for the requisite 12 consecutive months through
the date last insured.” Tr. 13. Notably, the ALJ pointed to the two-year gap in treatment
between March 2009 and March 2011. Id. In addition, the ALJ noted plaintiff’s reports that her
migraine symptoms resolved following her October 2011 surgery. Tr. 16. Regardless, the ALJ
listed numerous severe impairments at step two and continued the sequential evaluation process.
Tr. 12.
Even assuming the ALJ erred at step two, such an error was harmless because the ALJ
considered plaintiff’s migraines when assessing her RFC. Tr. 14-19; see also Burch, 400 F.3d at
682-84 (omission of an allegedly severe impairment at step two is harmless if step two is decided
1
While the ALJ did not expressly categorize plaintiff’s migraines as medically determinable, it is
clear from both the context and plain language of the ALJ’s decision that plaintiff’s migraines
were, in fact, construed as medically determinable and therefore were explicitly considered in
formulating the RFC. Tr. 13-21.
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in the claimant’s favor and the omitted impairment is considered while formulating the RFC).
Reversal is not warranted on this issue.
II.
Plaintiff’s Testimony
Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred by discrediting her subjective pain testimony. When a
claimant has medically documented impairments that could reasonably be expected to produce
some degree of the symptoms complained of, and the record contains no affirmative evidence of
malingering, “the ALJ can reject the claimant’s testimony about the severity of . . . symptoms
only by offering specific, clear and convincing reasons for doing so.” Smolen, 80 F.3d at
1281 (internal citation omitted).
A general assertion that the claimant is not credible is
insufficient; the ALJ must “state which . . . testimony is not credible and what evidence suggests
the complaints are not credible.” Dodrill v. Shalala, 12 F.3d 915, 918 (9th Cir. 1993). The
reasons proffered must be “sufficiently specific to permit the reviewing 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) (internal citation omitted). Thus, in formulating the RFC, the ALJ is not tasked
with “examining an individual’s character” or propensity for truthfulness, and instead assesses
whether the claimant’s subjective symptom statements are consistent with the record as a whole.
SSR 16-3p, available at 2016 WL 1119029. If the ALJ’s finding regarding the claimant’s
subjective symptom testimony is “supported by substantial evidence in the record, [the court]
may not engage in second-guessing.” Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 959 (9th Cir. 2002)
(internal citation omitted).
At the hearing, plaintiff testified she suffered from severe back and neck pain, along with
migraines, during the relevant period. Tr. 37. As a result, plaintiff stated she could sit for 30
minutes, stand for 45 minutes, and walk for 15 minutes at one time. Tr. 37-38. Further, plaintiff
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explained her migraines lasted between four to nine days and typically ranged from seven to ten
(on a pain scale ranging from one to ten), requiring daily pain killers and muscle relaxers. Tr.
36, 51. Plaintiff also remarked she needed to lie down all day during 67% of the days in 2011.
Tr. 38.
After summarizing her hearing testimony, the ALJ determined that plaintiff’s medically
determinable impairments could reasonably be expected to produce some degree of symptoms,
but her statements regarding the extent of these symptoms were not fully credible due to her: (1)
work activity during the adjudication period; (2) improvement after surgery; (3) failure to report
or seek treatment for her allegedly disabling impairments; (4) unremarkable exams; and (5)
presentation at counseling sessions. Tr. 15-17.
Specifically, the ALJ pointed to inconsistencies between plaintiff’s hearing testimony and
her subjective reports to medical providers.
Tr. 17.
Inconsistencies between a claimant’s
hearing testimony and the medical record constitutes a legally sufficient reason for discrediting
subjective pain testimony. Connett v. Barnhart, 340 F.3d 871, 874 (9th Cir. 2003). Substantial
evidence supports the ALJ’s conclusion as to this issue. At the hearing, plaintiff asserted that her
migraine pain subsided but did not disappear after her October 2011 surgery.
Tr. 51.
Conversely, plaintiff told Dr. McGirr in November 2011 that she was “ecstatic” her migraines
were completely gone post surgery. Tr. 547. Moreover, in January 2012, plaintiff reported to
Dr. Ruscheinsky she was “thrilled” her migraines had gone away. Tr. 722.
In addition, the ALJ resolved that plaintiff’s work activity and job search undermined her
subjective symptom statements. Tr. 17. An ALJ can discredit a claimant’s subjective pain
testimony if she participates in “activities indicating capacities that are transferrable to a work
setting.” Molina v. Astrue, 374 F.3d 1104, 1113 (9th Cir. 2012); see also Carter v. Astrue, 472
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Fed.Appx. 550, 552 (9th Cir. 2012) (affirming the ALJ’s adverse credibility finding where the
claimant “worked part-time for nearly another year after his alleged disability onset date”); Bray
v. Astrue, 554 F.3d 1219, 1221, 1227 (9th Cir. 2009) (affirming the ALJ’s adverse credibility
finding where the claimant “recently worked [part-time] as a personal caregiver for two years,
and has sought other employment since then”). Plaintiff worked as a freelance copywriter
through 2010, two years after the alleged disability onset date. Tr. 182-83. Further, plaintiff
sought employment and attended a job interview after she stopped performing freelance work.
Tr. 1168, 1170.
The ALJ also found that plaintiff lacked credibility with regard to her subjective
symptom testimony because she sought minimal treatment for migraines prior to 2011. Tr. 1516.
An ALJ may consider a claimant’s failure to report symptoms in making an adverse
credibility finding. Greger v. Barnhart, 464 F.3d 968, 972 (9th Cir. 2006). Similarly, an ALJ
may consider the lack of supporting objective medical evidence in “determining the severity of
the claimant’s pain.” Rollins v. Massanari, 261 F.3d 853, 857 (9th Cir. 2001). As noted in
section I, plaintiff only sought treatment one time for migraine-related symptoms between the
alleged onset date and March 2011. Tr. 753. Moreover, plaintiff visited Dr. Ruscheinsky in
2010 but made no mention of headaches. Tr. 750.
In sum, the ALJ provided clear and convincing reasons, supported by substantial
evidence, for rejecting plaintiff’s subjective symptom testimony. As such, this Court need not
discuss all of the reasons provided by the ALJ because at least one legally sufficient reason
exists. Carmickle v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 533 F.3d 1155, 1162-63 (9th Cir. 2008). The
ALJ’s evaluation of plaintiff’s testimony is affirmed.
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III.
Medical Evidence
Plaintiff asserts the ALJ erred by giving no weight to any of her four treating physicians:
James Morris, M.D., Miguel Estevez, M.D., Sharon Flynn, M.D., and Dr. Ruscheinsky. The
opinion of a treating physician is given controlling weight if it is consistent with the record and
supported by clinical findings. Holohan v. Massanari, 246 F.3d 1195, 1202 (9th Cir. 2001); 20
C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2). Even if the treating physician’s opinion is not entitled to controlling
weight, an ALJ must provide clear and convincing reasons, supported by substantial evidence,
for rejecting that physician’s opinion. Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir. 1995). If a
treating physician’s opinion is contradicted by another physician or the record, the ALJ must
provide specific and legitimate reasons for entitling that opinion no weight. Id.
A.
Dr. Morris
In August 2012, plaintiff began treatment with Dr. Morris for pain management. Tr. 599.
In his initial reports, Dr. Morris believed plaintiff to be medically disabled. Tr. 604. Dr. Morris
continued working with plaintiff through September 2014. Tr. 1021. In March and September
2014, Dr. Morris wrote letters indicating plaintiff was disabled “for more than a year and . . .
her condition is permanent and she will be unable to work in the future.” Tr. 837, 839.
The ALJ gave Dr. Morris’s opinion no weight because he did not treat plaintiff during the
relevant time period. Tr. 18. Additionally, the ALJ stated there was no evidence Dr. Morris
reviewed plaintiff’s pre-DLI records. Tr. 18. An ALJ need not accept the opinion of a treating
physician if the treating relationship was initiated after the relevant time period and the opinion
is not offered retrospectively. Morgan v. Colvin, 2013 WL 6074119, *10 (D. Or. Nov. 13,
2013) (citations omitted).
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Initially, Dr. Morris does not clearly define when plaintiff’s disability began. There is no
apparent overlap between plaintiff’s DLI and Dr. Morris’s letters.
Although Dr. Morris
received reports from Dr. Ruscheinsky, the record does not reflect that he reviewed plaintiff’s
medical history in depth. Tr. 599. Moreover, Dr. Morris did not begin treating plaintiff until
one year after the DLI. In sum, Dr. Morris likely knows a great deal about plaintiff’s symptoms
from August 2012 through September 2014; however, there is no indication from his opinion
that plaintiff was disabled prior to the September 2011 DLI. The ALJ’s decision is affirmed as
to this issue.
B.
Dr. Estevez
In June 2012, plaintiff commenced care with Oregon Neurology Associates. Tr. 1030. In
October 2013, Dr. Estevez, a provider at Oregon Neurology Associates, started treating plaintiff.
Tr. 1042. Within the next year, plaintiff visited Dr. Estevez five times for her chronic migraine
disorder. Tr. 1064, 1070, 1075, 1080, 1085. In an undated letter, Dr. Estevez opined: “given the
frequency of headaches [plaintiff] is not able to perform any job for even a 4 hour work day.”
Tr. 838.
The ALJ rejected Dr. Estevez’s statement because it only related to the treatment he
provided between October 2013 and August 2014. Tr. 19. As previously mentioned, the opinion
of a treating physician can be rejected if it is not retrospective and there is no treatment
relationship during the relevant time period. Morgan, 2013 WL 6074119 at *10. Here, although
Dr. Estevez diagnosed plaintiff with chronic migraines, there is no indication that he reviewed
plaintiff’s medical records relating to the adjudication period. Further, Dr. Estevez failed to
specify when plaintiff’s chronic migraines began and his opinion is not retrospective. The ALJ’s
rejection of Dr. Estevez’s opinion is upheld.
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C.
Dr. Flynn
In April 2013, plaintiff initiated treatment with a new primary care physician, Dr. Flynn.
Tr. 734. Although no treatment relationship existed at the time 2, Dr. Flynn opined in November
2012 that plaintiff was debilitated by pain. Tr. 220.
The ALJ afforded Dr. Flynn’s opinion no weight due to the lack of treatment during the
relevant time period. Tr. 18. As noted in sections III(A) and (B), it is legally sufficient to
discredit a treating physician’s opinion if it is not retrospective and treatment does not
correspond to the adjudication period. Morgan, 2013 WL 6074119 at *10. According to the
record, Dr. Flynn began treating plaintiff in April 2013 and her November 2012 opinion offered
no retrospective analysis. Tr. 734. The ALJ’s decision is affirmed in this regard.
D.
Dr. Ruscheinsky
In 2004, Dr. Ruscheinsky became plaintiff’s primary care provider.
Tr. 38.
In
September 2011, Dr. Ruscheinsky opined that “[plaintiff] has been suffering from daily
intractable, severe pain for greater than 1 year due to degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis
and headaches.” Tr. 219. Dr. Ruscheinsky concluded that “[plaintiff] has been unable to work
for [sic] past year.” Id.
The ALJ afforded Dr. Ruscheinsky’s opinion no weight because: (1) it was based solely
on plaintiff’s subjective complaints; (2) during 2011 she only saw plaintiff twice; and (3) it is not
supported by her own clinical findings. Tr. 18.
As to the ALJ’s first reason, an ALJ cannot reject a treating physician’s opinion by
questioning the claimant’s credibility where, as here, “the doctor does not discredit those
2
It is undisputed that plaintiff’s care with Dr. Flynn began in 2013. It is unclear from the record
why Dr. Flynn’s opinion letter is dated November 2012; however, she is a provider with Oregon
Medical Group, the same organization as Dr. Ruscheinsky.
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complaints and supports [her] ultimate opinion with [her] own observations.” Ryan v. Comm’r
Soc. Sec. Admin., 528 F.3d 1194, 1199-1200 (9th Cir. 2008). Dr. Ruscheinsky treated plaintiff
throughout the relevant period and, as discussed in greater detail below, there is no indication Dr.
Ruscheinsky’s reports are based on anything other than her own observations. Additionally, Dr.
Ruscheinsky never questioned the credibility of plaintiff’s complaints.
As to the second justification, the ALJ mischaracterizes the record. While it is true that
plaintiff only saw Dr. Ruscheinsky twice in 2011 prior to the DLI, she saw Dr. Ruscheinsky in
March of 2009 and 2010, both during the relevant period.
Tr. 750, 753.
Moreover, Dr.
Ruscheinsky was plaintiff’s primary care provider and referred plaintiff to many of the
specialists plaintiff visited during the adjudication period, one of whom determined that surgery
was required. Tr. 550. It can be inferred that Dr. Ruscheinsky obtained and reviewed the
records of these specialists in rendering her opinion.
Turning to the third justification, Dr. Ruscheinsky’s opinion is supported by her own
examinations as well as the clinical findings of other physicians, including Dr. McGirr’s MRI,
which revealed mild to moderate spinal cord compression and stenosis. Tr. 554; see also Dahl v.
Comm’r, 2015 WL 5772060, *5 (D. Or. Sept. 30, 2015) (even mild degenerative disc disease can
be disabling) (collecting cases). Therefore, the ALJ committed harmful legal error in evaluating
Dr. Ruscheinsky’s opinion.
IV.
Remedy
The decision whether to remand for further proceedings or for the immediate payment of
benefits lies within the discretion of the court. Harman v. Apfel, 211 F.3d 1172, 1176-78 (9th
Cir. 2000). 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
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proceedings or when the record has been fully developed and the evidence is insufficient to
support the Commissioner’s decision. Treichler v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 775 F.3d 1090,
1099-1100 (9th Cir. 2014). The 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); see also Dominguez v. Colvin, 808 F.3d 403, 407-08 (9th Cir. 2015)
(summarizing the standard for determining the proper remedy).
As discussed herein, the ALJ erred by failing to provide a legally sufficient reason,
supported by substantial evidence, for rejecting Dr. Ruscheinsky’s opinion. The record before
this Court is nonetheless ambiguous regarding the extent of plaintiff’s allegedly disabling
impairments. On the one hand, plaintiff only sought treatment for headaches one time between
September 2008, the alleged onset date, and March 2011. Additionally, plaintiff continued
working through 2010. On the other hand, plaintiff sought extensive treatment for her pain
symptoms throughout 2011, including surgery.
The record demonstrates that plaintiff’s
migraines increased in severity sometime after the alleged onset date, but it is unclear if and/or
when those symptoms became disabling.
Accordingly, further proceedings are required to resolve this case. Upon remand, the
ALJ must reconsider migraines at step two and reformulate plaintiff’s RFC, and obtain additional
VE testimony, if necessary.
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CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the Commissioner’s decision is REVERSED and
REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED this 7th day of August 2017.
s/Jolie A. Russo
JOLIE A. RUSSO
United States Magistrate Judge
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