Kyle v. Astrue

Filing 20

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER. The case is remanded for additional findings at step three. The ALJ is directed to determine and specify whether or not Plaintiff meets the step three listing for 2.07 as it relates to her Meniere's disease. Signed by Magistrate Judge Don D. Bush on 9/17/2014. (kls, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
SHERMAN DIVISION
LINDA KYLE
V.
COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

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CASE NO. 4:12-CV-00655

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER OF
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
The Plaintiff brings this appeal under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for judicial review of a final
decision of the Commissioner denying her claim for Disability Insurance Benefits (“DIB”). 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 Reversed and
Remanded.
HISTORY OF THE CASE
Plaintiff protectively filed an application for Supplemental Security Income disability benefits
under Title XVI of the Social Security Act on May 26, 2010, claiming entitlement to disability
benefits for Meniere’s Disease, thyroid problems, and mitro vavle prolapse. Plaintiff’s application
was denied initially and on reconsideration. Pursuant to Plaintiff’s request, a hearing was held
before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) on April 19, 2011 in Paris, Texas. Plaintiff was
represented by Roger I. Owen, a non-attorney representative, at the proceeding. At the hearing,
Plaintiff and an impartial vocational expert, Charles E. Smith, testified.

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On May 3, 2011, the ALJ denied Plaintiff’s claim, finding Plaintiff “not disabled.” Plaintiff
requested Appeals Council review, which the Appeals Council denied on August 17, 2012.
Therefore, the May 3, 2011 decision of the ALJ became the final decision of the Commissioner for
purposes of judicial review under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). See 20 C.F.R. § 404.981 (2005).
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE'S FINDINGS
After considering the record, the ALJ made the prescribed sequential evaluation. The ALJ
made the following findings:
1.

The claimant has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since May 26,
2010, the application date (20 C.F.R. 416.971 et seq.).

2.

The claimant has the following severe impairments: Meniere’s disease
with vertigo, deafness in the left ear, and heart problems with history of
mitral valve prolapse (20 C.F.R. 416.920(c)).

3.

The claimant does not have an impairment or combination of impairments
that meets or medically equals one of the listed impairments in 20 C.F.R.,
Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 (20 C.F.R. 416.920(d), 416.925 and
416.926).

4.

After careful consideration of the entire record, the undersigned finds that the
claimant has the residual functional capacity to perform sedentary work as defined
in 20 C.F.R. 416.967(a) except she can occasionally stoop, crouch, crawl, kneel,
and balance; occasionally climb ladders, but never climb stairs; and due to vertigo
she can never be exposed to heights or dangerous moving machinery.

5.

The claimant has no past relevant work (20 C.F.R. 416.965).

6.

The claimant was born on February 26, 1963 and was 47 years old, which
is defined as a younger individual age 45-49, on the date the application
was filed (20 C.F.R. 416.963).

7.

The claimant has at least a high school education and is able to
communicate in English (20 C.F.R. 416.964).

8.

Transferability of job skills is not an issue because the claimant does not
have past relevant work (20 C.F.R. 416.968).
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9.

Considering the claimant’s age, education, work experience, and residual
functional capacity, there are jobs that exist in significant numbers in the
national economy that claimant can perform (20 C.F.R. 416.969 and
416.969(a)).

10.

The claimant has not been under a disability, as defined in the Social Security Act,
since May 26, 2010, the date the application was filed (20 C.F.R. 416.920(g)).

(Tr. 10-16).
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Judicial review of the Commissioner’s final decision of no disability is limited to two
inquiries: whether the decision is supported by substantial evidence in the record, and whether the
proper legal standards were used in evaluating the evidence. Greenspan v. Shalala, 38 F.3d 232, 236
(5th Cir. 1994). If supported by substantial evidence, the Commissioner’s findings are conclusive
and must be affirmed. Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 390 (1971). Substantial evidence is
more than a scintilla, less than a preponderance, and is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind
might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Id. at 401. The Court may not reweigh the
evidence in the record, try the issues de novo, or substitute its judgment for that of the
Commissioner. Bowling v. Shalala, 36 F.3d 431, 434 (5th Cir. 1995). A finding of no substantial
evidence is appropriate only if no credible evidentiary choices or medical findings exist to support
the decision. Johnson v. Bowen, 864 F.2d 340, 343-44 (5th Cir. 1988). The Court is not to
substitute its judgment for that of the Commissioner, and reversal is permitted only “where there is
a conspicuous absence of credible choices or no contrary medical evidence.” Hames v. Heckler, 707
F.2d 162, 164 (5th Cir. 1983).
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

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a medically determinable impairment. 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d), 1382c(a)(3)(A); see also Cook v.
Heckler, 750 F.2d 391, 393 (5th Cir. 1985). In determining a capability to perform “substantial
gainful activity,” a five-step “sequential evaluation” is used, as described below.
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 (1987). 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) (1987). 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) (1987). 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 (1987). 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(d) (1987). 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) (1987).
At the fifth step, it must be determined whether claimant could perform some work in the
national economy. 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) (1987); 42 U.S.C. § 1382(a).
At this juncture, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to show that there are jobs existing
in the national economy which Plaintiff can perform, consistent with his medically determinable
impairments, functional limitations, age, education, and work experience. See Bowen v. Yuckert, 482
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U.S. 137 (1987). Once the Commissioner finds that jobs in the national economy are available to
the claimant, the burden of proof shifts back to the claimant to rebut this finding. See Selders v.
Sullivan, 914 F.2d 614, 618 (5th Cir. 1990).
In this case, a determination was made at the fifth step.
ANALYSIS
Plaintiff brings three points of error. The first point of error is that the ALJ erred in finding
that her Meniere’s Disease did not meet a listing at step three. Plaintiff contends that the record
indicates that she has met the listing. She must show under this listing a history of frequent attacks
of balance, disturbance, tinnitus, and progressive hearing loss. This must be demonstrated by
disturbed function of vestibular labyrinth demonstrated by caloric or other vestibular tests, as well
as hearing loss established by audiometry.
Plaintiff has put forth credible evidence that she met the criteria. Unfortunately, the ALJ did
not specifically state why he felt she did not meet the listing. The ALJ erred in failing to state any
reason for the adverse determination at step three. See Audler v. Astrue, 501 F.3d 446 (5th Cir.
2007).
Yet, even if error, the Court is required to determine whether such error was harmless.
Morris v. Bowen, 864 F.2d 333,334 (5th Cir. 1988). Plaintiff has pointed out in her response, as
indicated in the record,s why she meets the listing. Absent some explanation from the ALJ to the
contrary, it would appear that she has met her burden and therefore she has shown that her
substantial rights were affected by the ALJ’s failure to set out the basis for his decision at step three.

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The case is remanded for additional findings at step three.1 The ALJ is directed to determine
and specify whether or not Plaintiff meets the step three listing for 2.07 as it relates to her Meniere’s
disease.
SO ORDERED.
SIGNED this 17th day of September, 2014.
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DON D. BUSH
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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Since the Court has remanded the case, it need not address the remaining points of error.
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