Lotts v. Colvin

Filing 24

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Michael F. Urbanski on 8/1/2014. (jat)

CL SAT ROA U.S. ST. couFr
ERK' OFFf
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DI
NOKE,
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Fl
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I T H E U N I ED S
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T
TAT E S D I
STR I CO U RT
CT
FO R T H E W E STE RN D I T RI O F VI I I
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RG N A
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SON B U R G D I SI N
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CAR O LY N W .CO LW N ,
C om m i onerofSoci Securt
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By:H on.M i hae F.U r ns
c l
ba ki

Unie St esDiti Judge
td at stct

D ef
endant
.

M E M O R AN D U M O PI I N
N O

Thi s ilsc iydia Et a a wa r erdt t Ho a eloe C.
s oca e urt sbi y ppel s efre o he norbl l Hoppe, td
Unie

Sae Ma itae ud e p us a t o2 U.. j6 6 $() , o pr p s df ig of a t n a
tts gsrt J g , t u n t 8 SC. 3 9 17) ft o o e mdn s fc a d
tc
e omme ddiposton.Thema srt j fldarpor a tc
nde s ii
gitae udge le e t nd e omme dononJ 4,
nda
une

201 t c
4, e omme i t tpli fsmodonf s
ndng ha andf'
or ummayj gme bede e t Commisone'
r ud nt
nid,he
si ts
motonf s
i or ummayj me beg a e a t Commisone' f lde ii beafr d.
r udg nt rntd nd he
si rs ma cson flme
Pli ffldobjc
andf te e éonst t rpor onJ 20, 4, ndt smatri no rpef t c ts
o he e t une 201 a hi te s w i ot he our'
consder
i aùon. Fott reas setf t her n t cour wiladoptt re tand recom m endadon
he ons
or h ei he
t l
he por
i fl
n ul.
1.

The r tand t
epor
ecom m e
ndadon pr desa det ied ove ew oft t e
ovi
al
rvi
he elvantptocedur
al
li or whi t cours adopt and i
lst y, ch he
t
s
ncom ot esher n by t er
at
ei
ef ence. A concie s m a i as
s um ry s
f l s:Lots s f rsf degener
olow
t uf e rom
adveback dior and i l m at y boweldiot
s der
nfam
or
s der. R.23,25,

1 An ALJc i r d hi dia l ya ia whih i l d opi onsfom DrJohn 0 .d '
55.
onsde e s s bii pplc don, c ncude ni r
t
.
f
Rob'
M ars M . . one ofLots't eatng physcin,and fom K ennet Per ns a physc a sas it
h, D ,
t r i
ia
r
h ki ,
ii n' ssant

whowor f Dr Mas TheALJga DrMas sopi onlteweg ,f lngii enal
ks or . rh.
ve . th' ni il iht mci tntr l
t
y

i onsse a rli he vt onLot' s e d rpo ta notngt taph iin' assa i
nc itnt nd eyng a '
l
y
ts ubjc ve e r, nd, i ha
ysca s sitnts

nota a c ptbl melcls ur e ga Mt Pel 'opi onT ppr prat weght' R. TheALJ
n c e a e cia o c, ve . rdns ni t o i e i . 37.
a
'
uli at y concl
tm el
uded t Lot r ni a r i f i capac t t pe ot alm ied r nge of
hat t et ns esdual unctonal
iy o rf m i t a

l t t a t t fr i no dsbe u d tt Ac.R. 6 3 - 9 Lot s bsq e t s b te
kh wo k nd heeo e s t ia ld n e he t 2 , 83 . ts u e u nl u mi d
y
t
addii
tonalevi nce t t SocilSecurt AppealCounci i t f m ofa l t r f
de
o he
a
iy
l n he ot
ete rom D r M a sh
. t

da e M a 1 2 2 The Appe l Counclc i r d t sl te , f ound t tt si o m a
t d y 7, 01 .
as
i onsde e hi e t r but f
f
ha hi nf r don
2.
t hen led he nsant vi
doe notpt deabai frc ngmgt ( ISdeii ' R.1- Lotst fl t i t ci l
s
ovi
ss o ha ' he ALJ' cson.
'
acton.
i

11.

Lotses ental m a t as i ent ofer or Fi t he ar
t s ily kes '
wo sgnm s
r . rs,
gues t t r tand
hat he epot
r
ecom m endaton i recty concl
i ncot l
udest D t.M ar h l t t was s it t t Socil
hat
s eter hat
ubm ted o he
a

Secur t Appe s Counci doesnotm eett Fotr h Cicui' sandar f r a Second,he
iy
al
l
he tt t ts t
d or em nd.

a g t tt t por a t c m e ùon i or e ty fndst tt a Soc a Se t t
t ues ha he e t nd e om nda
nc r c l i ha he
i l c uiy

Admi sttveLa Judg (ALJ'di noterilt weghtheasg dt t opi onofKe t
nitai w
e< ' d
d )
t t he i
sine o he ni
nneh
Per ns a physci sas i antw ho w ot f D r.M ar h. The cout hasr e ed t m a sr e
ki ,
i an' sst
ks ot
s
t
eviw he gitat

j 'rpor,Lot' objci t t rpor,a t petne por oft a nitaie
udges e t ts e tons o he e t nd he ri nt dons he dmi stt
v
r c d a i s dong,ma agtnovo dee m i do oft epori oft rpot t whih t
e or nd,n o i
de .
tr na n hos tons he e t o c he

pli fobjce Thec tf net rofLot' objc meiorous
andf e td.
our mds ihe
ts e dons rt i .
A . D r M at s Let er
.
sh'
t
The r ta r
epor nd ecom m endaton accur el s sf t t applcabl s anda f as essng
i
at y et ot h he
i e t rd or s i
whet D t.M at h' l t war ant r and,a poi w li Lotsconcedes. <A cai ants ng a
her
s s etet r s em
nt lch t
d lm
eeki
t a on taebassofnew evi
em nd
l
i
dence ...m us s
t how t t evi ncei new and m at raland m us
hat he de
s
ei
t

esabls good caus f f lng t pres t evi nce ea i .' W iki v.Sec' . D e '.ofH ealh
t ih
e or aii o
ent he de
rler' l ns
t
t

a Huma S nr.95 F. 9 96n.3(t Ci.9 ) Evi nc i ne i ii notduplc d or
nd
n e s, 3 2d 3y
4h t1 91. de e s w f ts
ia ve

c ul
um adve;i i m at i i t ei a t onabl possbiiyi w otl ha changed t out e oft
t s eral f her s eas
e
i lt t td ve
he com
he

Commisone ' deii Me e v, tue 662F.d70 7 ( hCi. )(iigW i ns 95
si rs cson.
t Asr ,
3 0, 04 4t t2011 ctn l , 3
ki
F.d a 96.Ho ve ,
2 t ) we t
(heCour ma notatmptt weg t ne e de eort rs l
t
j
t y
te
o ih he w vi nc
o e ove
confi s wih exi i evi
lct t
stng dence. D unn v.Col n,973 F.Supp.2d
vi

6 6 ( D.Va 201 )(iig S t v.Chae,9 F. 6 ,638
30, 42 W.
. 3 ct mih
n
tt 9 3d 35
(t Ci. 9 6) l ta ,tmu td tt newhehe t ee i e ewa
4h r 1 9 ). nse d i s eemi
t r h vd nc s
<m at il' i ot w ot ,w het t e dence had <a z onabl
t era'- n her
ds
her he vi
d eas
e

posi lt ofc ng'g t outo oftec s.'L (ii Rie v.
sbiiy ha m he c me l ae' i ctng l
a
Apfl 8 F.S 2d 57 5 80 ( D.Va 200 ). I t ne
e, 8 upp.
2, 79- W.
. 0) f he w
e dence Ti contadi ory,pr ent m a era com petng t tm ony,or
vi
ts
r ct
es s t i l
i esi
cal i o doubtany decii gr
ls nt
son ounded i t prorm edi lr t n'
n he i
ca epor s'

1 ,he ii c n ev beta teAL wo l h ver ahe adfee t
t n t s o c ia l h t h J ud a e c d ifrn
r ul upon consderng i,and t cour m us r s
es t
i i t
he
t t ever e.

I a 1 (eti f lctsa d .Lotsa srst tt t ae<sgtfc ntfct difrnc s'
d. t 4 c ran ul ie dde ) t set ha hee r firiia a tml fe e e'
beae n t opi onofDrMas rviwe byt ALJa Dt Mas slte rviwe byt
tv e he ni
. rh e e d he
nd . rh' etr e e d he
Appe l Councl PlsObj,DktNo. ,a 3.Butt tpor a r omme do gi sa
as
i. . . . 23 t
'
he e t nd ec
nda n ve n
e r el det l outi ofw hy tlsi nots
xt em y aied lne
li s
o.

rlheALJwa ara a r t tDr Mas beive t tLotsha
l
s le dy wae ha . th le d ha t s
ïr culr pai goi down bot l a' has fdifculy am btl i '
Tadi a
n ng
h egs'
< fi t
tatng'
and fw al ng s t dit nces' has fdilczt clm bi sais'
f ki
hor s a y'
f f- tly i ng t r y'
i
çc
tannot s and f any pt onged perod of tm e,'and has <a poor
t
or
ol
i
i '
<
Pr
ognoss f re r '
i or cove y.'

Re ta Re omme don,Dk. 2 a 1 - 5(ompai numeouspa sge fom Dr
por nd c
nda
tNo. 2, t 4 1 c
tng
r
sa s r
.
Mas slte,R. 8,opor ofhi o ni fom Mac 6, 2, 6 - ) Adddo ly t
rh' etr 64 t dons s pi on r
r h 201 R. 4045. i nal,he
c ta r e wih t r por t ta r f r nc st fzur t s sdo notr l t t t t lva tm e
our g e s t he e t ha ny e e e e o a t e e t
ea e o he e e nt i

p ro .S ei a 1 (D1Mas so i o rg r igLotsqp o n ssaesmpyn t ee a t
ei d e i t 5 < 7 rh' pnins e adn t' r g o i r i l o rlv nt o
< .
t tmepei c rdbyt ALJ' deiin.) Fi ly be a et lte meeyta stswha
he i rod ovee he S cso ' . nal, cus he ett rl e set t
'
D t M a h' protopi on m ade cear,Lots a
. rs s i
ni
l
t ' rgum ent t D r.M a h' l t coul Tcarf ' and
s hat
rs s eter
d fl iy'

f se't opi onsofMrPeki a Dt Vit Le (not rte tngphysca )i wihout
f tr'he ni
bol
. r ns nd . cor e a he rai
iin s t
m ert The l t doesnotbolt t
i.
eter
ser hese opi onsany m or ta D r.M ar h' orgm a opi on does.
ni
e lan
s s i ' l ni

B. M r Pe ki 'Opi on
. r ns
ni
A physcan' asssanti consder a fnon- pt bl m edi s uce' unde t
i i s it s
i ed r acce a e
cal ot '
t he

rgultons Hal Col n,No.7:2CV-03 201 W L 988 ,a + ( . Va. r 13 2 4,
e ai , lv. vi
1 - 0 27, 4
750 t 8 W D. Ma. , 01 )
butt ALJha ad yt c i raloft a ia ee de e i l nge de epr i dfom
he
s ut o onsde l he valbl vi nc ,ncudi vi nc ovde r
ï her nonm edi s cess asphyscan' as it s W oodsv.Com m ' ofSoc.Sec. N o.6:2ot '
cal our uch
ii s ss ant .
r
,
1

CV- 4, 3W L 4678 ,a * ( . Va. 30 2 3.Therpor a r c
0001 201
381 t 6 W D. Aug. , 01 )
e t nd e omme a
nd don
cor l r
recty ecogni t s sandar See Repor and Recom m endaton,D kt N o.22,at9.
zed hi t
d.
t
i
.

Furhemor t c r a e swiht ma itaej t tfheAL c i rdt s tnc of
t r e,he ou t gre t he gsrt udge ha d
t J onsdee he ubsa e
g jPeknsso ni whe hee l e Dt Mas sopi ont paa rphsetir' 1 a 1
Mr ti ' pi on n vauatd . rh' ni wo rga al . d. t 0.
e'
Thet aiyoft ALJSa l i a t Dt Mas sopi on a iswihe lf c t M1Peki '
otlt he ' nayss s o . rh' ni ppl t qua ore o : r ns
e
.
opi on. A st t tand recom m e
ni
he epot
ndadon not ,Lotshasnotchalenged t w ei gi n by t
es t
l
he ght ve
he

ALJt Dr Mas so non.Thus at h t usgeoft phrs f ppt it weght' ovi s
o . rh' pii
, lhoug he a
he ae ï optae i 'pr de
a
ltl i ihtis l,hec e i whih t ALJusdima scerbot t weg heasg dMr
ite nsg teft ontxtn c he
e t ke la h he iht sine .
Pe ki 'opi on and why he di s ltl wei due t isi
r ns ni
d o: ite ght
o t nconss ency wih t tea t
it
t he r tnentt
ecords

ofD r M a h,Thatconcl i m or
. rs
uson, eover i s
, s uppor ed by s t
t
ubsandalevi
dence.

Fu temo e t ec u t g e swihtema itaejd esc n lso t te e i t eAL
rh t r ,h o t a re t h gszt u g ' o cu in ha, v n f h J
e ed i f ii t ar at t wei he as i
rr n alng o dcul e he ght
sgned M r.Per ns opi on wih s l i s i t
ki ' ni
t ufk ent pec fciy,

s herwoul behamls.Se Halv. vn, 4W L 988 0,a * ctngFihe v. n,
uc r
d
r es e l Coli 201
75 t gti
i s r Bowe 869

F.d1 5 , 0 7(t Ci. 9 9 (d p igt rpo t n tc mme d d n f igteAL '
2 0 5 1 5 7h t 1 8 ) a o tn he e r a d e o n a o mdn h JS
ove i i f ii t consde t opi on ofa physcan' asssantnott war antr and becaus
rsght n alng o
i t he ni
i i s it
o r em
e

KheALJSde ii whl notpr d al pefc,ss
f
t
' cson, ie
oce url re ti uppore bys tnda e de e'.
y
td ubsa l vi nc '
)
Ass h,t c ta e st tt ALJSa lssofMr Peki 'opi ondoe notwarnt
uc he our gre ha he ' nayi
. r ns ni
s
ra
r and.
em

111.

I s tLots objc
n hot, t' e donsaewihoutmei.Therpor a rc
r t
rt
e t nd e omme donc rcl
nda
ore ty
applest 1w t t r e
i he a o he elvantf s oft case. Accordi y,t cour wiladopti i 611 A n
act
he
ngl he
t l
t n 1.

a o i t O t rwilbe e e e t sda
ppr pra e de l
nt t d hi y.
The Cl r i die t d t s a c rii d c py oft sM e o a m O pi on t alc
e k s r c e o end e tfe o
hi m r ndu
ni o l ouns lof
e
r d.
ecot

Ent ed:A ugus 1,2014
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t

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