Channel v. Commissioner of SSA

Filing 16

MEMORANDUM RULING. Signed by Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne on 03/30/2015. (nkl, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
MARSHALL DIVISION
RAMERALD CHANNEL
v.
COMMISSIONER, SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

§
§
§
§
§

Case No. 2:13-CV-0292-RSP

MEMORANDUM RULING

On December 14, 2011, Administrative Law Judge Raymond J. Malloy issued a decision
finding that Petitioner Ramerald Channel was not disabled within the meaning of the Social
Security Act from August 20, 2010 through the date of the decision. Mr. Channel, who was 39
with a high school education at that time, was found to be suffering from severe impairments
including cervical disc disease and lumbar spondylolisthesis as the result of being an
unrestrained backseat passenger in a low-speed motor vehicle accident on August 20, 2010.
These impairments resulted in restrictions on his ability to work, and he had not engaged in any
substantial gainful activity since at least August 20, 2010. Before that time he had worked as a
pipe worker, construction worker, tech detailer, and Pilgrim’s Pride worker. He was not able to
return to that kind of work.
After reviewing the medical records and receiving the testimony at the hearing, the ALJ
determined that Petitioner had the residual functional capacity to perform the full range of light
work, as defined in the Social Security Regulations, except for never climbing ladders, ropes or
scaffolds, and only occasionally crawling, crouching, kneeling, stooping, balancing and climbing
ramps or stairs. Based on the testimony of a vocational expert witness, the ALJ determined that
1

Petitioner could perform the requirements of certain jobs that exist in substantial numbers in the
national economy, such as call out operator, sorter, and gate guard. This finding resulted in the
determination that Petitioner was not entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. Petitioner
appealed this finding to the Appeals Council, which denied review on February 6, 2013.
Petitioner timely filed this action for judicial review seeking remand of the case for award of
benefits.
This Court's review is limited to a determination of whether the Commissioner's final
decision is supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole and whether the
Commissioner applied the proper legal standards in evaluating the evidence. See Martinez v.
Chater, 64 F.3d 172, 173 (5th Cir.1995); Greenspan v. Shalala, 38 F.3d 232, 236 (5th Cir.1994),
cert. denied, 514 U.S. 1120, 115 S.Ct. 1984, 131 L.Ed.2d 871 (1995). Substantial evidence is
more than a scintilla, but can be less than a preponderance, and is such relevant evidence as a
reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Ripley v. Chater, 67 F.3d 552,
555 (5th Cir.1995). A finding of no substantial evidence will be made only where there is a
“conspicuous absence of credible choices” or “no contrary medical evidence.” Abshire v. Bowen,
848 F.2d 638, 640 (5th Cir.1988) (citing Hames v. Heckler, 707 F.2d 162, 164 (5th Cir.1983)). In
reviewing the substantiality of the evidence, a court must consider the record as a whole and
“must take into account whatever in the record fairly detracts from its weight.” Singletary v.
Bowen, 798 F.2d 818, 823 (5th Cir.1986).
Plaintiff raises five issues on this appeal:
1. Plaintiff meets listings 1.04 and 1.00(b)(2)(b) which affects plaintiff’s ability to
ambulate effectively and therefore the ALJ’s decision was not supported by
substantial evidence.

2

2. The ALJ failed to evaluate the severity of plaintiff’s impairments as a whole,
specifically his ability to stand, walk and/or sit with his exertional and nonexertional
limitations.
3. The ALJ erred in discrediting the plaintiff without an explanation for rejecting
testimony that was supported by objective medical evidence.
4. The ALJ erred in finding plaintiff could perform light work in opposition to the
V.E.’s testimony.
5. The ALJ erred in failing to consider a closed period of disability.
Issue No. 1:
Plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred in not finding that Plaintiff’s impairments meet or
medically equal the requirements of one of the listed impairments in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, leading
to a finding of disability at Step Three. Plaintiff quotes the requirements of listing 1.04, which
pertains to disorders of the spine, but does not identify which of the three sections of the listing
he contends he meets. Nor does he identify what evidence in the record supports that finding.
The ALJ addressed this issue on page 4 of his opinion (Tr. 22). The requirements of listing 1.04
are very demanding. Falco v. Shalala, 27 F.3d 160, 162 (5th Cir. 1994). Plaintiff bears the
burden of proof at Step Three and must show pain, limitation of motion, muscle atrophy or
weakness, and sensory or reflex loss to meet the first and easiest part of the listing. The Court’s
review of the record does not support Plaintiff’s argument that the ALJ erred in this finding.
Issues Nos. 2 and 4:
Both of these issues deal with whether the ALJ properly determined Plaintiff’s residual
functional capacity. Plaintiff first argues that the ALJ’s finding was contrary to the opinion of
the Vocational Expert, but the V.E. does not assess the claimant’s capacity. Instead he takes the
residual functional capacity set by the ALJ and opines as to what jobs can be performed by a

3

person with those restrictions. Contrary to Plaintiff’s representations, the ALJ gave a lengthy
review of Plaintiff’s medical history at pages 4 - 9 of his opinion (Tr. 22-27). The ALJ noted
that Dr. James Wright found that Plaintiff had the capacity for medium work. Dr. Khan set
Plaintiff’s capacity at light work with minimal restrictions, and Dr. McClure provided the
capacity that the ALJ found most persuasive, and also most conservative, and adopted as his
own. This finding by the ALJ is supported by far more than mere substantial evidence.
Issue No. 3:
Plaintiff complains in this issue that the ALJ discounted the credibility of Plaintiff’s
testimony regarding his pain and other symptoms without proper explanation.

The

Commissioner concedes that while the ALJ has great discretion in weighing the evidence and
determining credibility, there are parameters governing those findings. For instance, in Social
Security Ruling 96-7, the Commissioner clarified that:
It is not sufficient for the adjudicator to make a single, conclusory
statement that “the individual's allegations have been considered” or that “the
allegations are (or are not) credible.” It is also not enough for the adjudicator
simply to recite the factors that are described in the regulations for evaluating
symptoms. The determination or decision must contain specific reasons for the
finding on credibility, supported by the evidence in the case record, and must be
sufficiently specific to make clear to the individual and to any subsequent
reviewers the weight the adjudicator gave to the individual's statements and the
reasons for that weight.
A review of the ALJ’s opinion, especially at pages 7 and 8, shows that the ALJ did
perform the required analysis of the record and give the specific reasons for his credibility
determination. The Court finds that the record, and particularly the medical evidence, amply
supports the ALJ’s finding that the Plaintiff’s complaints of pain and disabling symptoms were
not fully credible.

4

Issue No. 5:
.

Plaintiff’s final issue is that the ALJ erred in failing to asses a closed period of disability.
Such a finding would be appropriate if the ALJ had found disability during some of the eligible
period but improvement thereafter. In this case, the ALJ found that Plaintiff was not disabled
within the meaning of the Act during any part of the relevant time period. Thus, Plaintiff’s
improvement is not at issue and no closed period of disability was appropriate.
Conclusion:
Having found that the record supports the finding of the ALJ, the decision of the
Commissioner is affirmed and this action is dismissed.
SIGNED this 3rd day of January, 2012.
SIGNED this 30th day of March, 2015.

____________________________________
ROY S. PAYNE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

5