Elerson v. Colvin

Filing 14

ORDER overruling objection and adopting 12 Report and Recommendation. The decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED and this action is dismissed with prejudice. Any motion not previously ruled on is denied. Signed by Judge Ron Clark on 9/22/17. (tkd, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
TYLER DIVISION
JOE ELERSON

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§
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§
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vs.
COMMISSIONER, SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:15cv874

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND
RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED
STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
The Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge, which contains her findings,
conclusions, and recommendation for the disposition of this action, has been presented for
consideration. The Report and Recommendation (ECF 12) recommends that the decision of the
Commissioner be affirmed and that the complaint be dismissed with prejudice. Plaintiff filed a
written objection on July 24, 2017.
In this case, the ALJ issued a partially favorable decision finding Plaintiff disabled after
January 14, 2011. As a result, the relevant time period for this complaint seeking judicial review
of the Commissioner’s decision is from the alleged onset date of August 1, 2009 through January
14, 2011. Plaintiff’s objection to the Report and Recommendation is limited to one issue—the
ALJ’s evaluation of one treating physician’s medical source statement. Plaintiff asserts that the
ALJ failed to properly apply the factors set forth in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d)(2) when considering
Dr. Danielson’s opinion.
Plaintiff raised this issue in the original briefing and it was addressed in the Report and
Recommendation. The ALJ assigned little weight to two medical source statements completed by

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Dr. Danielson because the opinions appeared to be based on Plaintiff’s limitations during the
months following surgery rather than after a full recovery. Dr. Danielson performed surgery on
Plaintiff in February 2010 and then completed the medical source statements in April and August
of 2010. The ALJ concluded that the medical evidence showed that Plaintiff’s condition improved
within 12 months of the surgery and later evaluations were inconsistent with Dr. Danielson’s
source statements.
The opinions of treating physicians are generally given considerable weight. 20 C.F.R. §
404.1527. The opinion of a treating physician is not conclusive, however, and may be assessed
little weight when good cause is shown. Perez v. Barnhart, 415 F.3d 457, 466 (5th Cir. 2005).
Rejecting a treating physician’s opinion requires some explanation by the ALJ. Kneeland v.
Berryhill, 850 F.3d 749 (5th Cir. 2017) (citing Loza v. Apfel, 219 F.3d 378, 395 (5th Cir. 2000).
Before rejecting a treating or examining physician’s opinion, an ALJ must consider the opinion in
the context of 20 C.F.R. §404.1527(d)(2), which outlines the following criteria for consideration:
(1) the physician’s length of treatment of the claimant; (2) the physician’s frequency of
examination; (3) the nature and extent of the treatment relationship; (4) the support of the
physician’s opinion afforded by the medical evidence of record; (5) the consistency of the opinion
with the record as a whole; and (6) the specialization of the treating physician. Newton v. Apfel,
209 F.3d 448, 456 (5th Cir. 2000). This analysis is unnecessary, however, if there is contrary and
reliable medical evidence. Id. at 453.
Here, the ALJ provided an explanation for the weight provided for Dr. Danielson’s opinion.
In contrast with the Kneeland case relied upon by Plaintiff,1 the ALJ did not wholly reject Dr.
Danielson’s opinion or fail to acknowledge it. Instead, the ALJ considered the opinion and

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Kneeland, 850 F.3d at 759–60.
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assessed the amount of weight to assign the opinion. The ALJ’s expressed reasons for assigning
little weight to the opinion show consideration of at least some of the § 404.1527 factors, even
though the ALJ did not cite that standard. In addition, the summarized medical record in the ALJ’s
opinion contains all of the other information required for assessment of the § 404.1527 factors and
that information was before the ALJ. See Rollins v. Astrue, 464 Fed.Appx. 353, 358 (5th Cir.
2012). Further, the ALJ determined that Dr. Danielson’s opinion was contrary to the evidence of
record, which would make the § 404.1527 factors unnecessary.

The ALJ provided specific,

appropriate reasons for the weight assigned to Dr. Danielson’s opinion and, even if the ALJ
committed a procedural error, Plaintiff’s substantive rights were not affected. Id. The ALJ’s
findings are supported by substantial evidence.
Having made a de novo review of the objection filed by Plaintiff, the findings, conclusions
and recommendation of the Magistrate Judge are correct and Plaintiff’s objection is without merit.
It is therefore
ORDERED that the Plaintiff’s objection is OVERRULED and the Report and
Recommendation (ECF 12) is ADOPTED. The decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED
and this Social Security action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. It is further
ORDERED that any motion not previously ruled on is DENIED.
So ORDERED and SIGNED this 22 day of September, 2017.

___________________________________
Ron Clark, United States District Judge

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