Sanchez v. Saul
Filing
22
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER. Signed by Judge Robert F. Castaneda. (lc3)
Case 3:20-cv-00158-RFC Document 22 Filed 01/06/21 Page 1 of 7
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
EL PASO DIVISION
FLORENTINA SANCHEZ,
Plaintiff,
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
vs.
ANDREW M. SAUL, COMMISSIONER
OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION,
Defendant.
No. EP-20-CV-00158-RFC
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff Florentina Sanchez appeals from the decision of the Commissioner of the Social
Security Administration (“Commissioner”), denying her claim for supplemental security income
(“SSI”) under Title II of the Social Security Act. Both parties consented to trial on the merits
before a United States Magistrate Judge (ECF Nos. 2, 17), and the case was transferred to this
Court for trial and entry of judgment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Appendix C of the Local
Court Rules of this district.
For the reasons set forth below, this Court orders that the
Commissioner’s decision be AFFIRMED.
I.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On January 25, 2018, Plaintiff filed an application for SSI alleging disability beginning on
October 1, 2017. (R:12, 181-86.) Plaintiff’s application was initially denied on March 29, 2018
(R:114-118) and again upon reconsideration on September 17, 2018. (R:122-125.) On March 5,
2019, a de novo hearing was held before an administrative law judge (“ALJ”) by video. (R:2956.) The ALJ issued an unfavorable determination on May 22, 2019. (R:9-28.) The Appeals
Council denied Plaintiff’s request for review on May 11, 2020. (R:1-6.)
II.
ISSUE
1
Case 3:20-cv-00158-RFC Document 22 Filed 01/06/21 Page 2 of 7
Plaintiff’s sole contention is that the ALJ’s decision was unsupported by substantial
evidence because the ALJ disregarded the medical evidence and medical opinion of Plaintiff’s
treating physician. (ECF No. 20:2.)
III.
DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review
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. Martinez v. Chater,
64 F.3d 172, 173 (5th Cir. 1995); Greenspan v. Shalala, 38 F.3d 232, 236 (5th Cir. 1994).
Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla, but 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) (quoting Parsons v. Heckler, 739 F.2d 1334, 1339 (8th
Cir. 1984)).
If the Commissioner’s findings are supported by substantial evidence, they are conclusive
and must be affirmed. Martinez, 64 F.3d at 173. In applying the substantial evidence standard, a
court must carefully examine the entire record, but may not reweigh the evidence or try the issues
de novo. Haywood v. Sullivan, 888 F.2d 1463, 1466 (5th Cir. 1989). A court may not substitute
its own judgment, “even if the evidence preponderates against the [Commissioner’s] decision,”
2
Case 3:20-cv-00158-RFC Document 22 Filed 01/06/21 Page 3 of 7
because substantial evidence is less than a preponderance. Harrell v. Bowen, 862 F.2d 471, 475
(5th Cir. 1988). Conflicts in the evidence are for the Commissioner, and not the courts, to resolve.
Spellman v. Shalala, 1 F.3d 357, 360 (5th Cir. 1993).
B. Evaluation Process
Disability is the “inability to engage in substantial gainful activity by reason of any
medically determinable physical or mental impairment which has lasted or can be expected to last
for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). The ALJ evaluates
disability claims according to a sequential five-step process: (1) whether the claimant is currently
engaged in substantial gainful activity; (2) whether the claimant has a medically determinable
impairment(s) that is severe; (3) whether the claimant’s impairment(s) meets or equals the severity
of an impairment listed in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart B, Appendix 1; (4) whether the
impairment(s) prevents the claimant from performing past relevant work; and (5) whether the
impairment(s) prevents the claimant from doing any other work. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(4).
An individual applying for benefits bears the initial burden of proving that she is disabled
at the first four steps. Selders v. Sullivan, 914 F.2d 614, 618 (5th Cir. 1990). Once met, the burden
will then shift to the Commissioner to show that there is other substantial gainful employment
available that the claimant can perform. Harrell v. Bowen, 862 F.2d 471, 475 (5th Cir. 1988). If
the Commissioner satisfies this burden, “the burden then shifts back to the claimant to prove that
[s]he is unable to perform the alternate work.” Selders, 914 F.2d at 618 (citing Fraga v. Bowen,
810 F.2d 1296, 1302 (5th Cir. 1987)).
Here, at the first step, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful
activity since January 25, 2018, the alleged onset date. (R:14.) At the second step, the ALJ found
that Plaintiff had the following severe impairments: “obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, remote history
3
Case 3:20-cv-00158-RFC Document 22 Filed 01/06/21 Page 4 of 7
of right carpal tunnel syndrome and traumatic rupture of collateral ligament of the right wrist
status-post surgeries.” (Id.) At the third step, the ALJ found that Plaintiff did not have an
impairment or combination of impairments that met or medically equaled the severity of one of
the listed impairments. (R:17.)
Before the fourth step, the ALJ found that Plaintiff has the RFC to do light work with the
following limitations: Plaintiff cannot engage in “frequent pushing and pulling with the dominant
right upper extremity; frequent handling with the dominant right upper extremity; and frequent
bilateral overhead reaching.” (R:18.)
At the fourth step, the ALJ found that Plaintiff was able to perform past relevant work as a
hairdresser. (R:22.) The ALJ found that this work does not require the performance of workrelated activities precluded by Plaintiff’s RFC. (R:22-23.) The ALJ concluded that Plaintiff had
not been under a disability, as defined in the Social Security Act, from January 25, 2018, through
the date of the ALJ’s decision. (R:23.)
C. Analysis
Plaintiff’s sole contention is that the ALJ’s RFC determination was unsupported by
substantial evidence. (ECF No. 20:2.) In particular, Plaintiff claims that the ALJ erred in
disregarding medical evidence and the medical opinion of Plaintiff’s treating physician, Dr.
Kathleen Robertson. (Id.)
Plaintiff was diagnosed with traumatic rupture of her right wrist with chronic pain in
October of 2016. (R:550.) She was referred to Dr. Robertson, an orthopedic hand specialist, who
saw Plaintiff in December of 2016. (R:548-49.) Dr. Robertson noted Plaintiff’s wrist surgeries in
2012, 2013, and 2015, and diagnosed Plaintiff with arthritis and traumatic rupture of the collateral
ligament, noting Plaintiff’s use of hydrocodone and tramadol for pain. (R:547, 542-4, 538.) Dr.
4
Case 3:20-cv-00158-RFC Document 22 Filed 01/06/21 Page 5 of 7
Robertson saw Plaintiff again in February and March of 2018. (R: 556, 537.) On June 22, 2018,
Dr. Robertson provided a medical source statement in which she opined that Plaintiff was unable
to work. (R:588-93.) At the hearing, Plaintiff testified about her rheumatoid arthritis, torn
triangular fibrocartilage complex on the right hand, and migraine headaches. (R:36.) Plaintiff also
testified about her severe and chronic pain in her right wrist, on which she had three surgeries, that
impaired her ability to lift. (R:37-38.)
The ALJ wrote regarding Dr. Robertson’s medical source statement, “[i]t is unclear if the
author is familiar with the Social Security Administration’s disability evaluation or the evidence
of record.” (R:21.) The ALJ also found Dr. Robertson’s findings regarding Plaintiff’s physical
limitations “unpersuasive” because they were “inconsistent with the record.” (Id.) The ALJ based
this determination on Dr. Robertson’s opinion that Plaintiff “could lift and carry 10 pounds
occasionally [and] occasionally reach[,] handle, finger, feel, push and pull with the right upper
extremity.” (Id.) The ALJ reasoned that this opinion contradicted Dr. Robertson’s finding that
Plaintiff had, in the ALJ’s words, “normal strength in her upper extremities, with a full range of
motion and intact light touch sensation.” (Id.) The ALJ further noted Dr. Robertson’s prior
findings that Plaintiff could perform daily activities such as shopping, cooking, and climbing stairs
assisted with a rail. (Id.)
Only the ALJ may resolve conflicts in the evidence. Masterson v. Barnhart, 309 F.3d 267,
272 (5th Cir. 2002). Here, substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s conclusion that Dr. Robertson’s
medical source statement was unpersuasive because it was inconsistent with her own examination
findings. Qualls v. Astrue, 339 F. App’x 461, 466 (5th Cir. 2009) (holding that substantial
evidence supported ALJ’s decision to assign less weight to medical opinion that was inconsistent
with doctor’s own clinical notes and the opinions of other physicians). The ALJ was correct to
5
Case 3:20-cv-00158-RFC Document 22 Filed 01/06/21 Page 6 of 7
point out that Dr. Robertson’s findings of “normal strength in [Plaintiff’s] upper extremities, with
a full range of motion and intact light touch sensation” are inconsistent with her conclusion that
Plaintiff was unable to work due to disability of her arms. (R:21, citing R:751-3, 588-593, 726,
738, 217-224, 247-254.) Thus, the ALJ did not err in assigning Dr. Robertson’s opinion little
weight based on the inconsistencies in Dr. Robertson’s medical source statement and examination
notes.
Substantial evidence also supports the ALJ’s conclusion that Plaintiff’s subjective
complaints were inconsistent with the medical evidence. Garcia v. Colvin, 622 F. App’x 405, 409
(5th Cir. 2015) (holding that ALJ gave due consideration to plaintiff’s reports of pain where the
ALJ determined that plaintiff’s subjective reports were inconsistent with the objective medical
evidence). Here, the ALJ discussed Plaintiff’s testimony at the hearing and the statements in her
function report, including Plaintiff’s statements that she was unable to lift anything with her right
hand, hold only a cup of water with her left hand, walk no more than 100 feet, and other limitations.
(R:20.) But the ALJ found these statements inconsistent with Plaintiff’s reports that she was able
to perform household chores such as wash dishes daily, prepare meals, sweep and mop, attend
church and go grocery shopping, and conflicting statements about whether she could take care of
her personal needs. (Id., citing 217-224, 247-254.) Thus, the ALJ gave due consideration to the
Plaintiff’s subjective complaints of pain and functional limitations, and the ALJ’s conclusion was
supported by substantial evidence in pointing out inconsistencies in Plaintiff’s statements.
Finally, the Court notes that Plaintiff briefly argues that, “The ALJ failed to discuss the
medical evidence from Dr. Palafox . . . .” (ECF No. 20:4.) However, this is the only mention
Plaintiff makes of Dr. Palafox in her brief. Plaintiff does not indicate what evidence the ALJ failed
to consider, or how consideration of that evidence would have changed the ALJ’s determination.
6
Case 3:20-cv-00158-RFC Document 22 Filed 01/06/21 Page 7 of 7
The Court should “not reverse the decision of an ALJ for lack of substantial evidence where the
claimant makes no showing that he was prejudiced in any way by the deficienc[y] he alleges.”
Brock v. Chater, 84 F.3d 726, 729 (5th Cir. 1996). As Plaintiff has made no such showing with
regard to the evidence from Dr. Palafox, the Court will not reverse on those grounds.
IV.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the Court hereby ORDERS that the decision of the Commissioner
be AFFIRMED.
SIGNED this 6th day of January, 2021.
ROBERT F. CASTANEDA
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
7
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?