Wood v. Colvin

Filing 35

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER- The court affirms the decision of the Commissioner. Signed by Magistrate Judge Brooke C. Wells on 5/12/2017. (las)

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

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER
Plaintiff,

Case No. 2:15-cv-888 BCW

v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Magistrate Judge Brooke Wells
Defendant.

In accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73 and based upon the parties’
consent, 1 this matter is before the undersigned on Plaintiff Richard Wood’s appeal from the
denial of his claim for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Mr. Wood alleges he is disabled
“on the basis of the effects of stroke, depression, pain, memory loss, speech delays, and
anxiety.” 2 Mr. Wood alleges disability beginning on December 1, 2009. 3 After review of the
parties’ briefing, the Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) decision, the record of proceedings in
this case and relevant case law, the undersigned affirms the decision of the Commissioner.
BACKGROUND 4
This appeal relates to Mr. Wood’s application for SSI filed on August 31, 2012 alleging
disability beginning on December 1, 2009. After the claim was denied initially and upon
reconsideration, Mr. Wood requested a hearing before an ALJ. The hearing was held on July 31,

1

Docket no. 21.

2

Opening brief p. 1, docket no. 25.

3

Tr. 22. Tr. refers to the transcript of the record before the court.

4

The parties fully set forth the background of this case, including the medical history, in their memoranda. The
court does not repeat this background in full detail. The reader desiring a more extensive history is directed to the
record and briefing of the parties.

2014 in St. George, Utah. Mr. Wood testified at the hearing along with Victoria Rei a vocational
expert.
Mr. Wood testified that he was involved in a car accident in December 2009 and claimed
he had the following limitations: 1) chronic migraine headaches; 2) body aches i.e. pain that is
characterized as fibromyalgia; 3) memory and speech problems; 4) depression; and anxiety. 5
When asked during the hearing whether there is any work he could perform, Mr. Wood testified
no, and that his pain on a one to 10 scale was “above 10” when it was at its worst. 6 Following
the hearing, the ALJ issued a written decision finding Mr. Wood, who was 62 at the time of the
hearing, not disabled and concluding he could perform other work in the national economy.
At steps one, two and three of the sequential evaluation process, 7 the ALJ found that Mr.
Wood had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since August 31, 2012; he had the severe
impairments of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, major depressive disorder,
personality disorder NOS with dependent and obsessive features, anxiety disorder, and cognitive
disorder; 8 and he did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that met or
medically equaled the Listings.
The ALJ then determined that based on the entire record, that Mr. Wood had the residual
functional capacity (RFC) to perform medium work as set forth in 20 CFR 416.967(c) except “he
could occasionally climb ladders, ropes and scaffolds, crawl and crouch and frequently climb
ramps and stairs, balance, stoop and kneel.” 9 In addition, he could occasionally reach overhead
with both his arms and is able to “understand, remember and carry out work instructions, and
5

Tr. 44-45.

6

Tr. 47.

7

See Williams v. Bowen, 844 F.2d 748, 750-52 (10th Cir. 1988).

8

Tr. 24.

9

Tr. 26.

2

exercise judgment to perform work tasks that are commensurate with the functions of the full
range of unskilled work, with brief and superficial interaction with supervisors, coworkers and
the public.” 10 The ALJ noted that despite Mr. Wood’s allegations of disability since December
1, 2009, the record was void of any treatment for his alleged impairments until January 2011.
The ALJ also determined that the record did not support the severity of symptoms alleged by Mr.
Wood and there were “statements by doctors suggesting the claimant was engaging in possible
malingering or misrepresentation.” 11
At step four the ALJ found that Mr. Wood has no past relevant work. 12 Then, at step
five, the ALJ found based on the testimony of the vocational expert and Plaintiff’s RFC, there
were jobs that existed in significant numbers in the national economy that Mr. Wood could
perform. These jobs included hand packager, 13 machine packager 14 and machine feeder. 15 The
ALJ concluded that a finding of not disabled was warranted.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The Court reviews “the ALJ's decision only to determine whether the correct legal
standards were applied and whether the factual findings are supported by substantial evidence in
the record.” 16 “Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept

10

Id.

11

Tr. 30.

12

Mr. Wood was self-employed for many years as the owner of a drive-in theater. Tr. 128, 204-05.

13

D.O.T. #920.587-018, unskilled medium with 1.7 million jobs. D.O.T. stands for the Dictionary of Occupational
Titles.
14

D.O.T. @920.685-078, unskilled medium with 1.6 million jobs.

15

D.O.T. #699.686-010, unskilled medium with 1.4 million jobs.

16

Madrid v. Barnhart, 447 F.3d 788, 790 910th Cir. 2006).

3

as adequate to support a conclusion.” 17 It requires more than a scintilla, but less than a
preponderance of evidence.
Additionally, the ALJ is required to consider all of the evidence; however, the ALJ is not
required to discuss all the evidence. 18 In reviewing the ALJ’s decision the Court evaluates the
record as a whole, including that evidence before the ALJ that detracts from the weight of the
ALJ’s decision. 19 The Court, however, may neither “reweigh the evidence [n]or substitute [its]
judgment for the [ALJ’s].” 20 Where the evidence as a whole can support either the agency’s
decision or an award of benefits, the agency’s decision must be affirmed. 21 Further, the Court
“may not ‘displace the agenc[y’s] choice between two fairly conflicting views, even though the
Court would justifiably have made a different choice had the matter been before it de novo.’” 22
DISCUSSION
Mr. Wood asserts the “critical issue in this appeal is whether the ALJ was correct in
finding Wood capable of performing medium work.” 23 Allegedly, if there was a finding of a
lessor exertional level, such as light or sedentary, Mr. Wood would have been found disabled
under the medical-vocational guidelines or grids. 24 Mr. Wood contends the ALJ erred by failing
to properly evaluate his pain and “evaluated the effect of [his] pain solely on the basis of
objective evidence.” 25 Mr. Wood also takes issue with how the ALJ determined his RFC

17

Lax v. Astrue, 489 F.3d 1080, 1084 (10th Cir. 2007) (citation omitted).

18

Zoltanski v. FAA, 372 F.3d 1195, 1200 (10th Cir. 2000).

19

Shepherd v. Apfel, 184 F.3d 1196, 1199 (10th Cir. 1999).

20

Lax, 489 F.3d at 1084 (citation omitted).

21

See Ellison v. Sullivan, 929 F.2d 534, 536 (10th Cir. 1990).

22

Lax, 489 F.3d at 1084 (quoting Zoltanski, 372 F.3d at 1200).

23

Opening brief p. 2.

24

See 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2.

25

Opening brief p. 4.

4

arguing the ALJ pick and chose some evidence while neglecting other evidence. In addition, the
ALJ erred by failing to do a function-by-function. Mr. Wood further argues that the ALJ failed
to adequately consider his migraine headaches and failed to account for his mental limitations.
The Commissioner contests each of these arguments.
A. The ALJ did not commit error in making Mr. Wood’s pain determination
“’The absence of an objective medical basis which supports the degree of severity of
subjective complaints alleged is just one factor to be considered in evaluating the credibility of
the testimony and complaints.’” 26
The ALJ cited to a lack of evidence supporting fibromyalgia and noted that Mr. Wood
had never been diagnosed or sought treatment for it. The ALJ also considered other evidence
surrounding Mr. Wood’s claims of pain. For example the ALJ noted his daily activities, 27 the
gap in treatment sought by Mr. Wood, 28 medical evidence that undermined allegations of
disabling pain 29 and statements by doctors suggesting Mr. Wood was engaging in malingering or
misrepresentation. 30 Such considerations are consistent with what the ALJ was required to do
under the Regulations. 31 Contrary to Mr. Wood’s arguments, the ALJ’s analysis does not run
counter to the instruction in Luna v. Bowen 32 regarding a pain analysis and the mere fact that the
Commissioner allegedly addressed the pain arguments in “one paragraph” is not a basis for
remand.

26

Luna v. Bowen, 834 F.2d 161, 165 (10th Cir. 1987) (quoting Polaski v. Heckler, 751 F.2d 943, 948 (8th Cir.
1984)).

27

Tr. 25.

28

Tr. 27.

29

Tr. 27.

30

Tr. 30

31

See 20 C.F.R. § 416.929.

32

834 F.2d 161, 164 (10h Cir. 1987).

5

B. The RFC determination was proper and there was no error in a function-by-function
analysis
The ALJ found that Mr. Wood had the RFC to perform medium work as defined in 20
C.F.R. § 416.967(c). “Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with
frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium
work, we determine that he or she can also do sedentary and light work.” 33 The ALJ further
qualified the RFC adding certain items and restricting others such as limiting interaction with
supervisors, coworkers and the public. 34
In support of this finding the ALJ thoroughly reviewed the medical evidence. The ALJ
considered findings of the state agency medical consultants, discounted the opinion of Sean
Stucki, PA-C a treatment provider, because he is not an acceptable medical source, 35 considered
the brief mental health treatment received by Mr. Wood and examined the opinion of Tim
Kockler, Ph.D., the psychological consultative examiner. Along with considering other
physician opinions, the ALJ explicitly states that the non-medical opinion of Mr. Wood’s friend,
Julie Anne Beck, was also considered. 36
Plaintiff takes further issue with the ALJ’s RFC determination arguing that Social
Security Ruling 96-8 requires a function-by-function assessment in this case. Mr. Wood argues
that the ALJ’s analysis failed to address “the critical limitations of lifting, standing and walking,
all of which are required by medium exertion.” 37
33

20 C.F.R. § 416.967.

34

Tr. 26.

35

See 20 C.F.R. § 416.913(a).

36

Tr. 30.

37

Reply p. 3, docket no. 32.

6

Social Security Ruling 96–8p provides that “[t]he RFC assessment is a function-byfunction assessment based upon all of the relevant evidence of an individual's ability to do workrelated activities.” 38 The Ruling states further that an ALJ's “[i]nitial failure to consider an
individual's ability to perform the specific work-related functions could be critical to the outcome
of a case.” 39
The court agrees with Plaintiff that Hendron v. Calvin, 40 cited to by the Commissioner,
does not render SSR 96-8p obsolete, but its reasoning is helpful to the current analysis. In
Hendron the Tenth Circuit held that an ALJ did not overlook a claimant’s problems with sitting
even though the ALJ did not make findings regarding all the elements of sedentary work.
Instead the court looked to the entire analysis as a whole including the findings made at step 4
and 5. The Hendron court also relied on the principles found in Keyes-Zachary v. Astrue. 41
“‘Where, as here, we can follow the adjudicator’s reasoning in conducting our review, and can
determine that correct legal standards have been applied, merely technical omissions in the
ALJ’s reasoning do not dictate reversal. In conducting our review, we should, indeed must,
exercise common sense…. [W]e cannot insist on technical perfection.’” 42
The ALJ in this matter did not explicitly discuss lifting, standing and walking. But, those
functionalities were inherent within the ALJ’s analysis of medical records and Mr. Wood’s daily
activities. For example, Mr. Wood drove himself to an appointment in 2012 and had no trouble
locating the office or participating in testing. Mr. Wood had no problem with personal care,
would go outside once a day, goes to stores with his friend and goes fishing. There are no
38

SSR 96–8p, 1996 WL 374184, at *3.

39

Id.

40

767 F.3d 951, 956-57 (10th Cir. 2014).

41

695 F.3d 1156, 1166 (10th Cir. 2012).

42

Hendron v. Colvin, 767 F.3d at 957 (quoting Keyes-Zachary, 695 F.3d at 1166).

7

complaints in the record from Mr. Wood that he had trouble standing or walking during these
activities. Finally, multiple treatment notes provided that Mr. Wood had 5/5 motor strength. In
following the reasoning of Keyes, as set forth in Hendron, the court can follow the ALJ’s
reasoning and does not need technical perfection. This is not a case where the ALJ’s decision is
void of analysis or reasoning.
Therefore, the court rejects Mr. Wood’s arguments concerning the ALJ’s RFC
determination and finds that it is supported by substantial evidence. The court declines Mr.
Wood’s invitation to reweigh the evidence. 43
Finally, the court has carefully reviewed Plaintiff’s arguments regarding migraine
headaches and mental limitations and finds them unpersuasive. The ALJ found that Plaintiff had
limitations and rejected Mr. Wood’s complaints of migraine headaches finding them “well
controlled with medication.” 44 An ALJ is required to consider all of the evidence; but need not
discuss all of it. 45 The ALJ’s consideration of these alleged ailments, including the mental
limitations, was sufficient under this standard.
ORDER
For the reasons set forth above the court affirms the decision of the Commissioner.
DATED this 12 May 2017.

Brooke C. Wells
United States Magistrate Judge

43

See Oldham v. Astrue, 509 F.3d 1254, 1257 (10th Cir. 2007) (“We review only the sufficiency of the evidence and
not its weight.”).
44

Tr. 25.

45

Zoltanski v. FAA, 372 F.3d 1195, 1200 (10th Cir. 2000).

8