Morales v. Kijakazi
Filing
21
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER re 4 Complaint filed by Norma Morales. Signed by Judge Miguel A. Torres. (dt)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
EL PASO DIVISION
NORMA MORALES,
Plaintiff,
v.
MARTIN O’MALLEY,
COMMISSIONER OF THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION1
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
EP-22-CV-00467-MAT
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff Norma Ana Morales (“Plaintiff”) appeals from a decision of the Commissioner
of the Social Security Administration (“Commissioner”) denying her claim for disability
insurance benefits (“DIB”) under Title II of the Social Security Act. On March 7, 2023, the
parties consented to the transfer of the case to this Court for determination and entry of judgment
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Appendix C to the Local Rules of the United States District
Court for the Western District of Texas. For the following reasons, the Court will VACATE the
Commissioner’s decision and REMAND this case for further proceedings consistent with this
opinion.
I.
BACKGROUND & PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On October 14, 2020, Plaintiff applied for disability insurance benefits, alleging disability
beginning April 6, 2020. Tr. of Admin. R. at 13 [hereinafter, “Tr.”], ECF No. 8. She alleged
disability due to the following injuries or conditions: “Stage 2 Breast Cancer Remission, Heart
Problem, Both Hands Problem, Degenerative Disc Disease – Disc Herniation (lower back), [and]
Martin O’Malley became the Commissioner of Social Security on December 20, 2023. Pursuant to Rule
25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Martin O’Malley should be substituted for Kilolo Kijakazi
as the defendant in this suit.
1
Right Knee Problem.” Id. at 118. At the time of the application, Plaintiff was 60 years old,
defined as a person closely approaching retirement age. Id. at 117. Plaintiff completed her high
school education and three years of college. Id. at 305. In the past, she worked in quality
assurance and as an administrative assistant. Id. at 305; Pl.’s Br. 10, ECF No. 17. On February
26, 2021, Plaintiff’s claims were denied, and again upon reconsideration on July 1, 2021. Tr. at
13. Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) Janice L. Holmes held a hearing by telephone on March
2, 2022, and later issued a decision denying Plaintiff’s claims on March 25, 2022. Tr. at 13-20.
Plaintiff requested review of the ALJ’s decision, which was denied by the Appeals Council on
October 31, 2022.
Tr. at 1-4.
The ALJ’s decision became the final decision of the
Commissioner at that time. Plaintiff now seeks judicial review of the decision.
II.
DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review
Judicial review of the Commissioner’s decision is limited to a determination of whether
(1) the Commissioner’s final decision is supported by substantial evidence on the record and (2)
the Commissioner applied the proper legal standards. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Copeland v.
Colvin, 771 F.3d 920, 923 (5th Cir. 2014).
“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.” Sun v.
Colvin, 793 F.3d 502, 508 (5th Cir. 2015). In applying the “substantial evidence” standard, “the
court scrutinizes the record to determine whether such evidence is present,” id., but it may not
“try the issues de novo” or “reweigh the evidence,” Salmond v. Berryhill, 892 F.3d 812, 817 (5th
Cir. 2018). “[N]or, in the event of evidentiary conflict or uncertainty,” may the court substitute
its judgment for the Commissioner's, “even if [it] believe[s] the evidence weighs against the
-2-
Commissioner's decision.” Garcia v. Berryhill, 880 F.3d 700, 704 (5th Cir. 2018). “Conflicts of
evidence are for the Commissioner, not the courts, to resolve.” Sun, 793 F.3d at 508.
Generally, “[w]here . . . the Secretary has relied on erroneous legal standards in assessing
the evidence, he must reconsider that denial.” Leidler v. Sullivan, 885 F.2d 291, 294 (5th Cir.
1989). However, even if the ALJ commits legal error, “remand is warranted only if the . . . error
was harmful.” Miller v. Kijakazi, No. 22-60541, 2023 WL 234773, at *3 (5th Cir. Jan. 18, 2023)
(per curiam) (unpublished) (citing Shineski v. Sanders, 556 U.S. 396, 407–08 (2009)); see also
Mays v. Bowen, 837 F.2d 1362, 1364 (5th Cir. 1988) (“Procedural perfection in administrative
proceedings is not required. This court will not vacate a judgment unless the substantial rights of
a party have been affected.”). “Harmless error exists when it is inconceivable that a different
administrative conclusion would have been reached even if the ALJ did not err.” Keel v. Saul,
986 F.3d 551, 556 (5th Cir. 2021). It is plaintiff’s burden to show prejudice or harm from the
error. Jones v. Astrue, 691 F.3d 730, 734–35 (5th Cir. 2012).
B. Evaluation Process
Under the Social Security Act, disability is defined as the “inability to engage in any
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); see 42 U.S.C. § 416(i). In evaluating a disability claim,
the ALJ follows a five-step sequential process to determine whether: (1) the claimant is presently
engaged in substantial gainful employment; (2) the claimant has a severe medically determinable
physical or mental impairment; (3) the claimant's impairment meets or medically equals an
impairment listed in the appendix to the regulations; (4) the impairment prevents the claimant
-3-
from doing past relevant work; and (5) the impairment prevents the claimant from performing
other substantial gainful activity. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4); Salmond, 892 F.3d at 817.
Between steps three and four, the ALJ determines the claimant's “residual functional
capacity” (“RFC”). 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(e). The RFC “is the most [Plaintiff] can still do
despite [their] limitations.” Id. § 404.1545(a)(1). The ALJ determines the RFC by examining
“all of the relevant medical and other evidence.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(3). The ALJ then uses
the Plaintiff's RFC in making determinations at steps four and five. Id. § 404.1520(e).
“[A]n individual claiming disability insurance benefits under the Social Security Act has
the burden of proving her disability.” Hames v. Heckler, 707 F.2d 162, 165 (5th Cir. 1983).
Thus, the claimant carries the burden of proof through the first four steps. Anderson v. Sullivan,
887 F.2d 630, 632 (5th Cir. 1989). If the claimant meets this burden, at step five the burden
shifts to the Commissioner “to show that there is other substantial gainful employment available
that the claimant is capable of performing.” Fraga v. Bowen, 810 F.2d 1296, 1301–02 (5th Cir.
1987). If the Commissioner satisfies this burden, “the burden then shifts back to the claimant to
prove that he is unable to perform the alternate work.” Id. at 1302.
C. The ALJ’s Findings
In this case, at step one, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial
gainful activity since April 6, 2020, her alleged disability onset date. Tr. at 15. At step two, the
ALJ found that Plaintiff had the following severe impairments: “degenerative disc disease with
facet arthropathy of the lumbar spine, carpal tunnel syndrome, and history of breast cancer status
post lumpectomy and removal of lymph nodes with residual effects.” Id. At step three, the ALJ
concluded that Plaintiff did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that met or
-4-
medically equaled the severity of one of the listed impairments in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P,
Appendix 1. Tr. at 16.
Next, the ALJ found that Plaintiff retained the RFC:
to perform sedentary work as defined in 20 CFR 404.1567(a), lifting/carrying 10
pounds occasionally and less than 10 pounds frequently, standing/walking 2 hours
in an 8 hour day, sitting 6 hours in an 8 hour day, occasionally climbing
ladders/ropes/scaffolds, frequently climbing ramps/stairs, stooping, kneeling,
crouching, and crawling, and frequently fingering with the dominant right hand.
Id. At the fourth step, the ALJ concluded that Plaintiff “is capable of performing past relevant
work as an administrative assistant as generally performed, with the residual functional capacity
set forth above.” Tr. at 19. Additionally, the ALJ noted the vocational expert’s testified that
Plaintiff’s “past work as a quality control manager … is classified as light, [with a specific
vocational preparation (“SVP”)] of 8 in accordance with the Dictionary of Occupational Titles,
and is classified as heavy, as actually performed.” Id. Therefore, the ALJ determined, Plaintiff
was not disabled under the Social Security Act from April 6, 2020 (her alleged disability onset
date), through March 25, 2022 (the date of the ALJ's decision). Tr. at 20.
D. Analysis
Plaintiff raises one issue for the Court. Pl.’s Br. at 10. Plaintiff alleges the ALJ erred
when making her step four finding because the decision was not supported by substantial
evidence where the ALJ improperly assessed Plaintiff’s past relevant work. Id. at 10-14. At step
four, the ALJ found that Plaintiff was capable of performing her past relevant work as an
administrative assistant. Tr. at 19.
1.
Plaintiff Did Not Waive Her Claim
The Court first addresses the Commissioner’s preliminary argument that Plaintiff waived
the issue regarding past relevant work because she did not argue against the classification during
-5-
the administrative hearing on March 2021. Comm’r’s Br. at 1, 4-7. The Commissioner states
“claimants should not be permitted to scan the record for implied or unexplained conflicts
between the specific testimony of an expert witness and the voluminous provisions of the
[Dictionary of Occupational Titles], and then present that conflict as reversible error …,”
quoting Carey v. Apfel, 230 F.3d 131, 146-47 (5th Cir. 2000). The Commissioner also states that
the ALJ noted in her decision that prior to the administrative hearing, “Plaintiff’s attorney
requested that the record be left open for 30 days … for potential post-hearing arguments
concerning the vocational expert testimony…. [However,] the request did not state any specific
claim or issue, … [so] the ALJ declined to hold the record open.” Comm’r’s Br. at 4.
Plaintiff asserts she did not waive judicial review of the issue because she presented it to
the Appeals Council in her request for review. Pl.’s Reply Br. at 1. Additionally, Plaintiff notes
that “the ALJ issued the Plaintiff’s determination significantly close to the date of the hearing,
which did not allow for any time between the hearing and determination for Plaintiff to submit
objections to the testimony … or to even gain access to the hearing audio.”2 Id. Moreover,
Plaintiff contends that “precedent demonstrates she need not have raised the issue at all prior to
this review.” Sims v. Apfel, 530 U.S. 103, 105 (2000) (holding that issue exhaustion was not
required in a claimant’s request for review before the SSA’s Appeals Council); Pl.’s Reply Br. at
2.
No statute or regulation requires administrative exhaustion in Social Security cases.
Neither the Supreme Court nor the Fifth Circuit has required exhaustion. Notably, in Sims, the
Supreme Court held claimants are not required to raise an issue before the Social Security
Appeals Council to preserve the challenge in federal court. Sims v. Apfel, 530 U.S. at 103
(O'Connor, J., concurring in part and concurring in judgment). The Sims Court, however, did not
2
The telephone hearing was held on March 2, 2022 and the decision was made on March 25, 2022.
-6-
answer the question whether “a claimant must exhaust issues before the ALJ” – the issue in this
matter. Id. at 107.
The Supreme Court has addressed this question as it related to an Appointments Clause
challenge.
See Carr v. Saul, 593 U.S. 83, 90 (2021).
In Carr, the Court held it was
inappropriate to judicially impose an issue-exhaustion requirement on Social Security disability
benefits claimants' challenges to the appointments of administrative law judges who heard their
benefits claims. Id. The Court further emphasized that the courts of appeals “erred in imposing
an issue exhaustion requirement on petitioners’ Appointments Clause claims” where “taken
together, the inquisitorial features of SSA ALJ proceedings, the constitutional character of
petitioners’ claims, and the unavailability of any remedy make clear that ‘adversarial
development’ of the Appointments Clause issue” did not exist in petitioners’ ALJ proceedings.
Id. at 96.
Recently, a district court addressed Appointment Clause challenges in a Social Security
appeal, and discussed the question of exhaustion at the ALJ level. See Bland v. Comm'r of Soc.
Sec., No. 6:18-CV-635-JDK-JDL, 2020 WL 7053503, at *3 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 18, 2020). Bland
explained that
the [Social Security Administration “SSA”] requires the Appeals Council to grant
review of timely Appointments Clause challenges to pre-July 16, 2018 ALJ
decisions raised “either at the Appeals Council level, or previously [ ] raised at the
ALJ level.” SSR 19-1p, 84 Fed. Reg. 9583 (Mar. 15, 2019). Under this ruling, a
claimant does not forfeit her Appointments Clause challenge for failure to raise it
before the ALJ. And Sims forecloses the possibility of forfeiture at the Appeals
Council level…. Thus, the statutes, the case law, and the SSA's ruling do not
impose an exhaustion requirement.
Id. (emphasis added). The Bland court further stated the “SSA has not announced an exhaustion
requirement in proceedings before the ALJ.” Id. (citing SSR 19-1p, 84 Fed. Reg. 9582 (Mar. 15,
-7-
2019)). The regulations provide that the claimant must identify “[t]he reasons [she] disagree[s]
with the previous determination or decision,” 20 C.F.R. § 416.1433(a)(3), and the ALJ provides
notice of the “specific issues to be decided in [the party's] case.” Id. § 404.938(b)(1). If the
claimant objects to the issues, she must “notify the administrative law judge in writing at the
earliest possible opportunity.” Id. § 404.939. This objection requirement is not an exhaustion
prescription. See Ramsey v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 973 F.3d 537 (6th Cir. 2020) (finding no
statutory exhaustion requirement).
Finally, the Court notes that the administrative review process is conducted in “an
informal, non-adversarial manner.” 20 C.F.R. § 416.1400(b). SSA ALJ’s have the duty to
investigate and “develop the facts fully and fairly relating to an applicant’s claims for disability
benefits.” Ripley v. Chater, 67 F.3d 552, 557 (5th Cir. 1995).
While Plaintiff’s counsel in this matter did not cross examine the vocational expert
regarding his hypotheticals at the time of the hearing, the Court is not persuaded that the Plaintiff
was required to exhaust all arguments at the ALJ hearing, and finds no persuasive legal support
to conclude that doing so is a legal requirement. Specifically, the Court notes that Plaintiff took
steps to preserve the issue. First, Plaintiff requested for the record to remain open for thirty days
for potential post-hearing arguments concerning the vocational expert testimony.
Second, the Plaintiff did in fact raise the issue to the Appeals Council.
Tr. at 4.
Tr. at 420-21.
Additionally, the length of time Plaintiff had worked as an administrative assistant was not clear
from the record. Therefore, as the Court will explain below, Plaintiff’s claim does warrant
reversal of the Commissioner’s decision because it is not supported by substantial evidence.
Considering these factors, the Court concludes that Plaintiff did not waive her claim by not
objecting to the vocational expert’s testimony during the hearing.
-8-
2. Past Relevant Work
Plaintiff asserts her job as an administrative assistant cannot qualify as past relevant work
because the past job failed to meet the definition of past relevant work. Pl.’s Br. at 10-11.
Specifically, Plaintiff alleges she “did not perform the job long enough to learn it according to
Agency standards.” Id. Plaintiff states the vocational expert classified her employment at Red
Mountain Holding Company as an administrative assistant–a sedentary position with a specific
vocational preparation (“SVP”) of 7. Id. at 12. Because the position carried an SVP of 7,
Plaintiff asserts “it required over two years up to and including four years” to sufficiently learn
how to perform the job. Id. at 11. Yet, Plaintiff explains, “Plaintiff’s detailed earnings report
demonstrates that … [she performed] this work from May 2010 to December 2011… and thus
could not have performed the job for over 2 years.” Id. at 12. Further, Plaintiff contends, the
ALJ “never inquired from the [vocational] expert or addressed in the determination if other
factors such as education were taken into account in making [her] determination.” Id. at 13.
Finally, Plaintiff argues that this error is not harmless because “given the Plaintiff’s age and
sedentary RFC, her inability to perform her past work at step 4 would have resulted in a finding
of disability pursuant to the Medical-Vocational Guideline Rules.” Id.
The Commissioner responds that the ALJ properly assessed Plaintiff’s past relevant work
because she relied on the vocational expert’s testimony. Br. in Supp. of Comm’r’s Decision 3
[hereinafter, “Comm’r’s Br.”], ECF No. 19.
The Commissioner adds that “during the
administrative hearing, the vocational expert testified that Plaintiff had past relevant work
(PRW) that included the job of administrative assistant … [and] Plaintiff’s attorney did not argue
against this classification.” Id. at 1. Further, the Commissioner contends that the Dictionary of
Occupational Titles (“DOT”) “explains that SVP also includes educational experience, such that
-9-
a four-year college curriculum is equivalent to two years of SVP.” Id. at 2. Therefore, the
Commissioner alleges, Plaintiff’s three years of college, “the equivalent of at least one year of
SVP… combined with [Plaintiff’s] 20 months of work” as an administrative assistant “more than
met the SVP 7 durational requirement. Id.
The regulations state that if the Plaintiff “can still do [their] past relevant work, we will
find that you are not disabled.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(iv). To determine whether work
qualifies as past relevant work, there are three requirements: (1) the work must have been
performed within the last 15 years (“relevant time period”), (2) the work must have lasted long
enough for the person to learn to do it (“duration requirement”), and (3) the work must be
considered substantial gainful activity (“earnings requirement”). See Copeland v. Colvin, 771
F.3d 920, 924 (5th Cir. 2014) (quoting SSR 82-61, 1982 WL 31387, at *1 (S.S.A. Jan. 1, 1982));
see also 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1560(b)(1), 404.1565(a).
(a) Relevant time period
The fifteen-year period is measured from the time of adjudication, or, if the claimant's
date last insured has expired, the date claimant was last insured. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1565(a);
SSR 82-62, 1982 WL 31386, at *2 (S.S.A. Jan. 1, 1982); Craven v. Berryhill, No. 4:18-CV00008-Y-BP, 2018 WL 4658530, at *4 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 11, 2018), report and recommendation
adopted, No. 4:18-CV-008-Y, 2018 WL 4637285 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 27, 2018). In this case,
Plaintiff's insured date has not expired. Tr. at 15. Thus, the fifteen-year period will be measured
from July 1, 2021, her date of adjudication at the reconsideration level. Tr. at 13. Plaintiff was
an administrative assistant from May 2010 to December 2011. Pl.’s Br. at 12. Therefore,
Plaintiff’s administrative assistant position is within the relevant time period to be considered
past relevant work.
- 10 -
(b) Duration requirement
Social Security Ruling (“SSR”) 82–62 states that, as to the duration requirement, the
work experience should have been of adequate duration “for the worker to have learned the
techniques, acquired information, and developed the facility needed for average performance in
the job situation.” SSR 82-62, 1982 WL 31386, at *2 (S.S.A. Jan. 1, 1982). “The length of time
for this depends on the nature and complexity of the work.” A.K.T. (XXX-XX-XXXX) v. U.S.
Com'r Soc. Sec. Admin., No. 09-CV-0680, 2010 WL 3035496, at *1 (W.D. La. Aug. 3, 2010).
The regulations state that to evaluate whether a Plaintiff can do past relevant work, an ALJ may
“use the services of vocational experts … or other resources, such as the Dictionary of
Occupational Titles (“DOT”).” 20 C.F.R. 404.1560 (b)(2).
The DOT contains a comprehensive list of jobs throughout the United States with
detailed descriptions of the requirements of each job. For each job, the DOT sets
forth the specific vocational preparation (“SVP”), which refers to the amount of
lapsed time required by a typical worker to learn the techniques, acquire the
information, and develop the facility needed for average performance in a specific
job-worker situation.” An SVP of 7, which is required in the administrative
assistant position, is defined as “over 2 years and up to and including 4 years.”
DOT, app. C.
Christensen v. Comm'r, Soc. Sec. Admin., No. 4:21-CV-648-P, 2022 WL 3905491, at *4 (N.D.
Tex. Aug. 1, 2022), report and recommendation adopted, No. 4:21-CV-0648-P, 2022 WL
3928395 (N.D. Tex. Aug. 30, 2022) (internal quotation and citations omitted).
In this case, Plaintiff challenges that she did not perform her past position as an
administrative assistant long enough for it to be considered past relevant work. Pl.’s Br. at 11.
Specifically, Plaintiff asserts that her three years of college education with “such a remote and
generalized curriculum offers little vocational impact towards the ability to return to such work.”
Pl.’s Reply Br. 3, ECF No. 20. Plaintiff adds that she completed her three years of college in
- 11 -
1995—“15 years before she performed the relevant past job briefly in 2010, and 27 years before
the hearing.” Id.
However, the fifteen-year requirement of past relevant work relates to the
relevant time period requirement and not the duration requirement.
Pursuant to the terms of the SSA’s Program Operations Manual System (“POMS”) 3 DI
25005.015(c), “[i]f the claimant performed work that had a continuity of skills, knowledge, and
work processes with another job, consider that work when determining if the claimant did the
work long enough to learn it, even if the work was outside the relevant period.” 2011 WL
4753471 (2022). See also SSR 82-62, 1982 WL 31386, at *2. Therefore, Plaintiff’s college
education, although done in 1995 and outside the relevant time period, may support a continuity
of skills argument to satisfy the duration requirement for an SVP of 7. See Defendant’s Exhibit
A (stating that SVP may be acquired in a school environment).
However, the regulations also state:
[t]he importance of your educational background may depend upon how much
time has passed between the completion of your formal education and the
beginning of your physical or mental impairments and by what you have done
with your education in a work or other setting. Formal education that you
completed many years before your impairment began, or unused skills and
knowledge that were a part of your formal education, may no longer be useful or
meaningful in terms of your ability to work.
20 C.F.R. § 404.1564(b)(emphasis added).
Plaintiff argues that the three years she spent in college included such “remote and
generalized education [it] would contribute minimal to no vocational impact in regards to the
specialized skills required of an SVP 7.” Pl.’s Reply Br. at 3. The Commissioner argues that
“POMS are not binding on the Commissioner, but they may be viewed as binding on an ALJ in a case
that falls squarely within one of the provisions.” Bettery v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., No. 14-03321, 2015 WL
4742296, at *8 n.9 (W.D. La. Aug. 10, 2015). “Generally, a court defers to POMS provisions unless it
determines that they are arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law.” Taylor v. Saul, No. 4:18-CV-00765-OBP, 2019 WL 4667515, at *4 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 25, 2019)
3
- 12 -
DOT Appendix C allows for higher education to shorten the required training time to learn a
particular job. Comm’r’s Br. at 5.
The Commissioner relies on Sanders v. Astrue to bolster this argument. Sanders v.
Astrue, No. 4:12-CV-2913, 2014 WL 6965038 (S.D. Tex. Dec. 8, 2014). In Sanders, the court
held that when taking into account plaintiff’s one year of college education, her previous work as
a car rental clerk, and her eleven years as a reservation agent, there was sufficient evidence to
support a finding that plaintiff’s work as a secretary at a car dealership was past relevant work.
Id. at 10. The Sanders court focused on the issue of transferability of past relevant skills,
including secretarial skills, to clerical skills because the ALJ in that case found at step five that
plaintiff’s work as a secretary was past relevant experience that was transferable to other
occupations involving clerical skills. Id. at 10-11.
Plaintiff’s circumstances and argument are distinguishable from Sanders. The district
court decision in Craven v. Berryhill is instructive in showing how the instant case is
distinguishable from Sanders.
Craven v. Berryhill, No. 4:18-CV-00008-Y-BP, 2018 WL
4658530, at *5 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 11, 2018), report and recommendation adopted, No. 4:18-CV008-Y, 2018 WL 4637285 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 27, 2018).
“While a step five determination involves past work experience, a step four
analysis focuses on whether the claimant's impairment prevents her from
returning to past relevant work. In step five, past relevant work experience is a
factor to consider amongst several other factors such as the claimant's RFC, age,
and education. Accordingly, a step four analysis is much narrower while a step
five analysis is broader in scope and incorporates several factors.”
Id. (internal citations omitted). “The decision as to whether the claimant retains the functional
capacity to perform past work which has current relevance has far-reaching implications and
must be developed and explained fully in the disability decision. Since this is an important and,
in some instances, a controlling issue, every effort must be made to secure evidence that resolves
- 13 -
the issue as clearly and explicitly as circumstances permit.” SSR 82-62, 1982 WL 31386, at *34.
The inquiry here is whether the ALJ applied the correct legal standard and whether
substantial evidence in the record as a whole supports the ALJ’s decision. Craven, 2018 WL
4658530, at *5 (citing Audler v. Astrue, 501 F.3d 446, 447 (5th Cir. 2018)).
The plaintiff bears the burden of proof at step four. Although [the plaintiff] bears
the burden at step 4, and even considering that an ALJ is not required to explicitly
detail what evidence is considered in reaching his finding, the ALJ's analysis must
be sufficient to show whether the plaintiff carried the burden. Merely asserting
that the plaintiff worked long enough at one job without any explanation is
insufficient.
Benjaman v. Comm'r, SSA, No. 422CV00083ALMCAN, 2023 WL 1093886, at *5 (E.D. Tex.
Jan. 10, 2023), report and recommendation adopted, No. 4:22-CV-83, 2023 WL 1073695 (E.D.
Tex. Jan. 27, 2023) (internal citations omitted). To support her finding that Plaintiff’s work as an
administrative assistant qualified as past relevant work, the ALJ noted the vocational expert
“testified claimant is able to perform past relevant work … That work was performed at the level
of substantial gainful activity within the past 15 years.” Tr. at 19. The vocational expert,
however, did not opine whether Plaintiff had worked for a sufficient amount of time to
adequately learn the skills of an administrative assistant. The DOT describes the job of an
administrative assistant as one who “[a]ids executive in staff capacity by coordinating office
services, such as personnel, budget preparation and control, housekeeping, records control, and
special management studies: Studies management methods in order to improve workflow,
simplify reporting procedures, or implement cost reductions….” See Dictionary of Occupational
Titles, 169.167-010.
Presumably, the ALJ took into account Plaintiff’s three years of college education, but
the ALJ did not discuss Plaintiff’s education in her decision, nor was it discussed at the hearing.
- 14 -
The ALJ’s sole reliance on the vocational expert’s testimony is not substantial evidence that
Plaintiff’s past work as an administrative assistant is past relevant work. Certainly, the very brief
period of time that the Plaintiff worked as an administrative assistant was not discussed by the
vocational expert, who only testified generally that the Plaintiff had worked as an administrative
assistant. The Court is not persuaded that Plaintiff meets the duration requirement of her
position as an administrative assistant based solely on her twenty months on the job and three
years of a general college education many years before. Thus, the Court finds that the ALJ erred
in finding at step four that Plaintiff could perform her past relevant work as an administrative
assistant, and remand is required for further consideration on this point.
(c) Earnings Requirement
Finally, the third requirement to determine whether work qualifies as past relevant work,
is that the work must be considered substantial gainful activity (“SGA”). SGA is defined as
“work activity involving significant physical or mental abilities for pay or profit.” Newton, 209
F.3d at 452; 20 C.F.R. § 404.1572. Here, the ALJ noted in her decision that Plaintiff’s work as
an administrative assistant “was performed at the level of substantial gainful activity.” Tr. at 19.
Further, the ALJ cited to Plaintiff’s Exhibits 9D and 5E which detailed Plaintiff’s earnings as an
administrative assistant.
Id.
Plaintiff does not argue against this classification.
Notably,
Plaintiff also notes that her earnings as an administrative assistant were $24,873 in 2010, and
$31,300 in 2011. Pl.’s Br. at 12. Therefore, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s past work as an
administrative assistant was substantial gainful activity.
In summary, Plaintiff’s past position as an administrative assistant meets two of the three
requirements necessary to be considered past relevant work. Plaintiff’s position is within the
relevant time period and the work was substantial gainful activity. However, Plaintiff’s job as an
- 15 -
administrative assistant from March 2010 to December 2012 is not long enough to satisfy the
SVP 7 duration requirement of an administrative assistant. Therefore, the Court finds that there
is not substantial evidence in the record to support a finding that Plaintiff’s job constituted past
relevant work. Whether Plaintiff can perform her past relevant work is critical to the ultimate
disability finding in this case. “Harmless error exists when it is inconceivable that a different
administrative conclusion would have been reached even if the ALJ did not err.” Keel v. Saul,
986 F.3d 551, 556 (5th Cir. 2021). Here, the ALJ had credited the vocational expert’s opinion
and concluded that “since there is a finding that claimant can return to past relevant work … the
issue of job sources and numbers is not of significant relevance in the decision” and found
Plaintiff was not disabled. Tr. at 19-20.
Because the ALJ’s determination that Plaintiff could return to past relevant work is not
supported by substantial evidence, the conclusion that she is not disabled is also not supported by
substantial evidence.
III.
CONCLUSION
For these reasons, the Court finds the decision of the Commissioner that Plaintiff is not
disabled is VACATED and this case be REMANDED to the Commissioner of Social Security
for further proceedings pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
SIGNED and ENTERED this 26th day of March, 2024.
____________________________________
MIGUEL A. TORRES
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
- 16 -
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?