Chorovich v. Colvin

Filing 36

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS as to 32 Report and Recommendations. The Commissioners decision is AFFIRMED. Case Closed. Signed by Judge Robert J. Shelby on 3/1/2017. (jds)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH,
CENTRAL DIVISION

MILENE R. CHOROVICH,
Plaintiff,

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND
RECOMMENDATION

v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting
Commissioner of Social Security,

Case No. 2:14-cv-00933-RJS-EJF
Judge Robert J. Shelby

Defendant.
Magistrate Judge Evelyn J. Furse

Plaintiff Milene R. Chorovich asks the court to reverse a Social Security Administration
agency decision finding her not disabled and denying her benefits. Ms. Chorovich applied to the
Social Security Administration for disability insurance benefits under Title II of the Social
Security Act. After conducting a hearing, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) determined
Ms. Chorovich was not disabled under sections 216(i) and 223(d) of the Social Security Act.1
Ms. Chorovich appealed the ALJ’s decision to the agency’s Appeals Council, which denied her
request for review.2 She then filed this appeal of the Commissioner’s final decision.
This case has been referred to Magistrate Judge Evelyn J. Furse pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
636(b)(1)(B). Judge Furse issued a detailed and thorough Report and Recommendation,
ultimately recommending the court affirm the Commissioner’s decision as supported by
substantial evidence.3 Ms. Chorovich objected to the Report and Recommendation arguing, as
she had in her previous filings, that the ALJ failed to properly weigh the opinions of her treating

1

See Admin R. 12-21.
Admin R. 1–6.
3
Dkt. 32.
2

physicians and properly evaluate her credibility. After conducting a de novo review, the court
concludes that the Report and Recommendation correctly rejected these arguments.
First, as discussed in the Report and Recommendation, the ALJ’s decision to give
Ms. Chorovich’s treating physicians’ opinions little weight is supported by substantial evidence
in the record. The ALJ afforded these opinions little weight because “they were inconsistent
with the record as a whole.”4 As detailed by the Magistrate, the ALJ concluded the treating
physicians functional limitations were inconsistent with their own treatment notes and other
medical evidence.
Second, as set forth in the Report and Recommendation, the ALJ’s finding that
Ms. Chorovich’s “statements concerning the intensity, persistence and limiting effects” of her
impairments were “not entirely credible” was supported by substantial evidence. In support of
his credibility finding, the ALJ pointed to specific evidence in the record, including medical
reports, Ms. Chorovich’s account of her daily activities, and evidence that her disability did not
lead her to stop working.5
Because, upon de novo review, the court concludes that the Report and Recommendation
correctly states and applies the law and is supported by the record, the court adopts the Report
and Recommendation in its entirety. The Commissioner’s decision is AFFIRMED.
SO ORDERED this 1st day of March, 2017.
BY THE COURT:

__________________________
ROBERT J. SHELBY
United States District Judge

4
5

Admin R. 18.
Admin R. 19–20.