Reynolds v. Astrue

Filing 19

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER re 1 Complaint filed by Marvin Reynolds. It is ORDERED that the decision of the Administrative Law Judge is AFFIRMED. Signed by Magistrate Judge Amos L. Mazzant on 6/13/2013. (kls, )

United States District Court
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
SHERMAN DIVISION

MARVIN REYNOLDS
V.
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

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CASE NO. 4:11-CV-212
Judge Mazzant

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff brings this appeal under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for judicial review of a final
decision of the Commissioner denying his claim for disability insurance benefits and
supplemental security income. After carefully reviewing the briefs submitted by the parties, as
well as the evidence contained in the administrative record, the Court finds that the
Commissioner’s decision should be affirmed.
HISTORY OF THE CASE
On February 15, 2005, Plaintiff protectively filed his applications for disability insurance
benefits under Title II and supplemental security income under Title XVI of the Social Security
Act alleging disability beginning July 9, 2001 (TR 11). These applications were initially denied
on June 30, 2005, and again upon reconsideration on August 31, 2005 (TR 11). Plaintiff then
timely requested and was granted a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”), and
after the hearing, the ALJ issued his decision denying Plaintiff benefits on April 27, 2007 (TR
17-18). Plaintiff then requested the Appeals Council review that decision, but the Appeals
Council denied Plaintiff’s request on September 7, 2007 (TR 4-6). On December 12, 2007,
Plaintiff filed suit against the Commissioner in the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Texas under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (TR 570). United States District Judge Richard A.

Schell adopted the Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge Don. D. Bush
and remanded Plaintiff’s case to consider the opinion of Dr. Matthews (TR 563).
Upon reconsideration, the Appeals Council vacated the April 27, 2007 decision by the
ALJ and remanded Plaintiff’s case back to the ALJ for further proceedings in compliance with
the District Court’s decision (TR 573-75). On remand, a second administrative hearing was held
by the ALJ on January 15, 2010, and again the ALJ denied Plaintiff benefits (TR 559, 561).
Plaintiff filed written exceptions to the decision with the Appeals Council, but it declined to
assume jurisdiction in the case, making the ALJ’s second decision the final decision of the
Commissioner leading to judicial review (TR 545).
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS
Plaintiff was born on August 11, 1960, and was forty years of age at the alleged onset of
disability making him a “younger individual” (TR 20, 21). Plaintiff completed school through
the tenth grade and does not have a GED or any vocational training (TR 452). Plaintiff has
previous work experience as a tow-truck operator, furniture-delivery person, and a welding
assistant (TR 83, 457-60, 526). Plaintiff alleged disability due to chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (“COPD”), hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (“GERD”), leg and knee pain,
dyspnea, ulcers, chronic alcoholism, elevated liver function, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, history
of drug use, adjustment disorder with anxiety, optic atrophy, anorexia, depression, dementia,
carpal tunnel, and a Dupuytren’s contracture in his right hand.
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE’S FINDINGS
The ALJ issued one decision on April 27, 2007, and a second decision on April 30, 2010,
following the remand from the District Court (TR 11, 558, 559). The 2010 decision adopted the
hearing testimony and findings from the 2007 decision with the exception of the remanded issue

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regarding the consideration of Dr. Matthews’ opinions (TR 558, 559). In the 2007 decision, the
ALJ made the prescribed five-step sequential evaluation (TR 13). The ALJ concluded in step
one that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity at any time relevant to his claim
(TR 13). In step two, the ALJ found that Plaintiff’s COPD, hypertension, GERD, leg and knee
pain, dyspnea, ulcers, chronic alcoholism, elevated liver function, alcoholic cardiomyopathy,
history of drug use, and adjustment disorder with anxiety were severe impairments (TR 14).
However, in step three the ALJ found Plaintiff’s alcohol use was a material factor in these severe
impairments, and thus Plaintiff was not considered disabled at this step (TR 14). At step four,
the ALJ found that Plaintiff maintained the residual functional capacity to perform medium work
activity, including his past job as a tow-truck driver (TR 15, 17). This finding led the ALJ to
conclude that Plaintiff was not disabled at any time relevant to his claim and thus not entitled to
disability benefits (TR 17). In the 2010 decision, the ALJ found that Dr. Matthews’ medical
opinions were not entitled to controlling weight and that Plaintiff’s alleged right Dupuytren’s
contracture was not a severe impairment (TR 561). The ALJ reaffirmed his previous 2007
decision denying disability benefits (TR 561).
STANDARD OF REVIEW
In an appeal under § 405(g), this Court must review the Commissioner's decision to
determine whether there is substantial evidence in the record to support the Commissioner's
factual findings and whether the Commissioner applied the proper legal standards in evaluating
the evidence. Greenspan v. Shalala, 38 F.3d 232, 236 (5th Cir. 1994); 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to
support a conclusion. Cook v. Heckler, 750 F.2d 391, 392 (5th Cir. 1985); Jones v. Heckler, 702
F.2d 616, 620 (5th Cir. 1983). This Court cannot reweigh the evidence or substitute its judgment

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for that of the Commissioner, Bowling v. Shalala, 36 F.3d 431, 434 (5th Cir. 1995), and conflicts
in the evidence are resolved by the Commissioner. Carry v. Heckler, 750 F.2d 479, 484 (5th Cir.
1985).
The legal standard for determining disability under Titles II and XVI of the Act is
whether the claimant is unable to perform substantial gainful activity for at least twelve months
because of a medically determinable impairment. 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d), 1382c(a)(3)(A); see also
Cook, 750 F.2d at 393. In determining a capability to perform “substantial gainful activity,” a
five-step “sequential evaluation” is used, as described below. 20 C.F.R. § 1520(a)(4).
SEQUENTIAL EVALUATION PROCESS
Pursuant to the statutory provisions governing disability determinations, the
Commissioner has promulgated regulations that establish a five-step process to determine
whether a claimant suffers from a disability. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520 (2012). First, a claimant who
at the time of his disability claim is engaged in substantial gainful employment is not disabled.
20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(b). Second, the claimant is not disabled if his alleged impairment is not
severe, without consideration of his residual functional capacity, age, education, or work
experience. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). Third, if the alleged impairment is severe, the claimant is
considered disabled if his impairment corresponds to an impairment described in 20 C.F.R.,
Subpart P, Appendix 1. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(d). Fourth, a claimant with a severe impairment
that does not correspond to a listed impairment is not considered to be disabled if he is capable of
performing his past work. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(e). Finally, a claimant who cannot return to his
past work is not disabled if he has the residual functional capacity to engage in work available in
the national economy. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529(f); 42 U.S.C. § 1382(a).

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ANALYSIS
Plaintiff raises the following issues in his appeal: (1) the ALJ applied the wrong severity
standard when determining the severity of Plaintiff’s disabilities, (2) the ALJ’s finding at step
two in the sequential evaluation process is not supported by substantial evidence and prejudiced
Plaintiff’s case, and (3) the ALJ improperly rejected Dr. Matthews’ opinions regarding Plaintiff’s
alleged Dupuytren’s contracture of his right hand.
With regards to the first issue, Plaintiff asserts that the case must be remanded because
the ALJ failed to apply the correct severity standard set forth in Stone v. Heckler, 752 F.2d 1099
(5th Cir. 1985). During the second step of the five-step sequential evaluation process, the ALJ
must consider the severity of an impairment or combination of impairments to determine if the
claimant is disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii) states an impairment is not severe “if you do
not have any impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits your physical
or mental ability to do basic work activities.” The Fifth Circuit gave its own construction to that
severity standard set out in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c) and stated in its opinion in Stone that “an
impairment can be considered as not severe only if it is a slight abnormality [having] such
minimal effect on the individual that it would not be expected to interfere with the individual’s
ability to work, irrespective of age, education, or work experience.” Stone, 752 F.2d at 1101. The
Fifth Circuit held that it will assume an ALJ applied an incorrect standard and will remand the
case for reconsideration unless the ALJ sets forth the correct standard by reference to its opinion
in Stone, or by an express statement that the construction the court gave to the severity standard
is used. Id. at 1106. While a failure to apply the standard set forth in Stone requires a remand of a
case, the Fifth Circuit later clarified its opinion stating “a case will not be remanded simply
because the ALJ did not use ‘magic words’” set forth in the Stone opinion. Hampton v. Bowen,

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785 F.2d 1308, 1311 (5th Cir. 1986). Instead, the court must look carefully at the opinion of the
ALJ to determine if the ALJ used the correct severity standard. Id.
In Scroggins v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 598 F. Supp. 2d 800, 805-06 (N.D. Tex.
2008), the court concluded a minor difference in wording and lack of citation to Stone was
sufficient to remand the case. The ALJ stated in his decision that an impairment is not severe if
it “would have no more than a minimal effect on the individual’s ability to work,” as opposed to
the standard in Stone stating an impairment is not severe when it “would not be expected to
interfere with the individual’s ability to work.” Id. The court addressed the slight difference
between the standard set out in Stone and the standard used by the ALJ in Scroggins:
[A]ccording to the standard applied by the ALJ, a severe impairment could have,
at most, a minimal effect on a claimant's ability to work. This is not the standard
set forth in Stone, which holds that a severe impairment "would not be expected to
interfere with the individual's ability to work." Stone, 752 F.2d at 1101 (emphasis
added). Unlike the standard applied by the ALJ, Stone provides no allowance for
a minimal interference on a claimant's ability to work. While the difference
between the two statements appears slight, it is clear that the ALJ's construction is
not an express statement of the Stone standard. This difference . . . leads the Court
to conclude that the ALJ applied an incorrect standard of severity at step 2.
Scroggins, 598 F. Supp.2d at 805-06.
While this Court has remanded cases for failing to apply the correct severity standard, it
will not remand cases when the same result would have occurred if the appropriate standard were
applied to the Plaintiff’s impairments. See Taylor v. Astrue, 706 F.3d 600, 603 (5th Cir. 2012).
“Procedural perfection is not required unless it affects the substantial rights of a party,” and as
such, the analysis must go an additional step to determine if there was substantial evidence to
support an ALJ’s finding that a particular impairment is not severe. Taylor, 706 F.3d at 603.
In this case, the ALJ does cite to Stone in his 2007 decision but does not state the
appropriate standard, and Stone is not cited at all in his 2010 decision (TR 12, 558-61).

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Nevertheless, Plaintiff’s contention that this is a sufficient error for this Court to remand the case
is incorrect. While it is unclear what standard the ALJ applied to determine Plaintiff’s alleged
impairment as not severe, this Court will not summarily remand the case, as requested by
Plaintiff in his first issue, without first determining whether substantial evidence exists to support
the ALJ’s decision that Plaintiff’s right Dupuytren’s contracture was not severe if applied under
the correct standard. See Lawson v. Astrue, No. 4:11-CV-00426, 2013 WL 449298, at *4-5
(E.D. Tex. Feb. 4, 2013).1
In response to Plaintiff’s second issue, the Commissioner asserts that substantial evidence
exists to support the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s right Dupuytren’s contracture was not severe.
This Court agrees. Plaintiff states his medical record establishes that the ALJ incorrectly found
his right Dupuytren’s contracture as not severe. However, on January 26, 2005, an emergency
room physician found no problems with the Plaintiff’s hand and noted his extremities were nontender and had full range of motion, and on August 30, 2005, another physician found no issues
with the Plaintiff’s extremities (TR 136, 247-54). Additionally, Plaintiff claims Dr. Matthews’
opinions demonstrate his impairment was severe; however, the ALJ did not treat her opinion as
controlling and gave it little weight.
Moreover, Plaintiff contends that his and his daughter’s testimony demonstrates that the
right Dupuytren’s contracture was a severe impairment, but the Court finds that the ALJ acted
appropriately when he dismissed this testimony and gave it no weight, because he did not believe
the testimony to be credible. (TR 560). ALJs have the opportunity to view first-hand the
testimony at a hearing, so the ALJ, rather than this Court, is in the best position to evaluate
credibility of the testimony given by the Plaintiff and his daughter. See Harrell v. Bowen, 862

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The issue of whether substantial evidence exists to support the ALJ’s decision is addressed in
issue two of the opinion.
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F.2d 471, 480 (5th Cir. 1988). Substantial evidence in the record supports the ALJ’s conclusion
that Plaintiff’s right Dupuytren’s contracture was not a severe impairment.
In his final issue, Plaintiff argues that the ALJ did not give the appropriate weight to Dr.
Matthews’ opinion regarding his alleged right Dupuytren’s contracture. The Commissioner
asserts that the ALJ correctly gave Dr. Matthews’ opinion little weight, because the record did
not support her opinion regarding Plaintiff’s alleged right Dupuytren’s contracture. While the
opinions of a treating physician are entitled to great weight, her opinions are not conclusive and
“when good cause is shown, less weight, little weight, or even no weight may be given to the
physician's testimony.” Greenspan, 38 F.3d at 237. The Fifth Circuit has recognized some “good
cause” exceptions, such as “disregarding statements that are brief and conculsory, not supported
by medically acceptable clinical laboratory diagnostic techniques, or otherwise not supported by
the evidence.” Id.
In this case, the Commissioner asserts the ALJ had good cause to award Dr. Matthews’
opinion very little weight. This Court agrees. The form filled out by Dr. Matthews regarding
Plaintiff’s alleged right Dupuytren’s contracture and the limitations related to the impairment
provided no explanation for her assessment, and no clinical tests were given to support this
assessment. (TR 320-21). Dr. Matthews only checked boxes that she believed applied to the
Plaintiff’s alleged impairment, and she provided no additional comments or testimony regarding
the impairment. (TR 320-21). Moreover, the Plaintiff had seen two other physicians and neither
noted any problems with his extremities (TR 136, 247-54). Plaintiff argues that evidence in the
record supports the findings of Dr. Matthews by citing to the testimony of the Plaintiff and his
daughter; however, as was previously found, substantial evidence existed to support the ALJ’s
decision to dismiss their testimony due to lack of credibility. Even if the ALJ considered the

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Plaintiff’s testimony to be credible, Plaintiff testified to the ALJ that he could carry a twentypound bag of dog food from the car to his house, which would directly conflict with the
assessment given by Dr. Matthews (TR 721). The determination by the ALJ that the opinion
given by Dr. Matthews was brief, conclusory, and lacked sufficient supporting clinical test and
evidence was reasonable. As a result, substantial evidence exists in the record to support the
ALJ’s decision to not give controlling weight to Dr. Matthews’ opinions regarding Plaintiff’s
alleged right Dupuytren’s contracture.
CONCLUSION

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Pursuant to the foregoing, it is ORDERED that the decision of the Administrative Law
Judge is AFFIRMED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
SIGNED this 13th day of June, 2013.

___________________________________
AMOS L. MAZZANT
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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