Poston v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration

Filing 21

ORDER RULING ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION adopting 17 Report and Recommendation, reversing the decision of the Commissioner pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and remanding the action for further consideration. Signed by Honorable Margaret B. Seymour on 12/06/2017. (bshr, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Joseph Edward Poston,

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) C/A No. 1:17-0345-MBS
Plaintiff,
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vs.
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ORDER
Nancy A. Berryhill, Acting Commissioner )
of Social Security,
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Defendant.
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____________________________________)
Plaintiff Joseph Edward Poston filed the within action on February 6, 2017, seeking judicial
review of a final decision of Defendant Commissioner of Social Security denying Plaintiff’s claims
for disability insurance benefits.
In accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and Local Rule 73.02, D.S.C., this matter was referred
to United States Magistrate Judge Shiva V. Hodges for pretrial handling. On November 13, 2017,
the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation in which she observed she could not
determine whether the Commissioner’s decision is supported by substantial evidence. Specifically,
the Magistrate Judge found that the administrative law judge (ALJ) (1) failed to review a medical
source statement from Nailah Roland, M.D., which statement constituted new evidence that pertained
to the relevant period; (2) failed to review the entire case record and weigh relevant factors in 20
C.F.R. § 404.1527(c) and § 419.92(c) with respect to according the appropriate weight to the opinion
of John Bennett Martinie, M.D.; and (3) failed to consider whether Plaintiff’s ongoing medical
treatment and pain would affect Plaintiff’s ability to stay on task and complete a normal workday and
workweek. For these reasons, the Magistrate Judge also determined that the ALJ should reconsider
Plaintiff’s credibility in light of the entire record, including Dr. Roland’s opinions and other new
evidence. The Magistrate Judge recommended that the matter be reversed and remanded for further

administrative proceedings. Plaintiff filed no objections to the Report and Recommendation. On
November 22, 2017, the Commissioner filed a Notice of Not Filing Objections to the Report and
Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge.
The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to this court. The recommendation has
no presumptive weight. The responsibility for making a final determination remains with this court.
Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270 (1976). The court is charged with making a de novo
determination of any portions of the Report and Recommendation to which a specific objection is
made. The court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the recommendation made by the
Magistrate Judge or may recommit the matter to the Magistrate Judge with instructions. 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1). In the absence of a timely filed objection, a district court need not conduct a de novo
review, but instead must “only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record in order
to accept the recommendation.” Diamond v. Colonial Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th
Cir. 2005).
The court has carefully reviewed the record and concurs in the recommendation of the
Magistrate Judge. The court adopts the Report and Recommendation and incorporates it herein by
reference. The case is reversed pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and remanded to
the Commissioner for further consideration as set forth herein and in the Report and
Recommendation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Margaret B. Seymour
Senior United States District Judge
Columbia, South Carolina
December 6, 2017

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