Hopson v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 13

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 3/30/2012. (ssm)

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ott- eOFFI u' D1 IDURT Ce s, sT. ATR- QKQ, VA FI kED I THE UNI N TED STATES DI STRI COURT CT FO R TH E W ESTERN D I STRI OF V I N I CT RGI A ROAN O K E DI SI VI ON MA8 3C 2 1 22 X L1 . L DU EK ' r BY. E CE î ZELM A D .H OPSON , Ci lA c i n N o. 7: 1 00 vi to 1 CV 383 Pli if antf , M EM O M N DU M O PI O N NI MI CHA EL J.A STRU E, Comm isone ofSoc a Se urt si r i l c iy, By: Honor bl Gln E.Com'd a e e a ChifUnie St t sDititJ e e t d a e src udg Dee n. f nda t Pl n ifha fl t sa ton c l ngt tnalde son oft Com misone ofSoca aitf s ied hi c i halengi he i cii he si r il Se trt de ngpli ifscai f rdia lt ns a ebe sa s e e t l e trt i om e c liy nyi antf l ms o s biiyi ur nc neft nd upplm n a s cliy nc b neisu d rteS ca S cli Ac, sa nd d 4 U. C. j41 ()a d4 3 a d4 U. . j e ft n e h o il e t t t a me e , 2 S. j 6i n 2 , n 2 SC. ry 1 1# s u.r s ci l J idcinofhi c tspt s nto42U. C. 405( a 42U. C. 38 1 e , epe tvey. urs ito t s our i l ua t r S. j g) nd S. . j1 3 c () As elce b t eme rn aa dag me t u mitdb h pate ,h is s w 38 ()3 . rfe td y h mo a d n r u n s b te yt e rist e sue no be or t c t r whe he t Commi sone 'fnal cii i s ppo tdbys t nta e de e, f e he our a e t r he s i rs i de son s u re ubsa il vi nc orwhe he t r i ' od c us 'one es ia er ma ng t c et t Com misone f f t r t r he e s ' go a e't c stt e ndi he as o he s i r or urhe c i rton.Se 42U. C.j405( . onsdeai e S. g) Thepl i if Zem aHo on,wasbor onJ nua y 21 1 antf, l ps n a r , 955, nd e nt ly co plt d he a ve ual m e e r hi s hoole a i n.M r . o on al o c pl t d o ye ri co l ge.Pl ntf hasw or d a a gh c duc t è s H ps s om e e ne a n le ai i f ke s n a co t r eva eclr s e as ocat a ofk ecea r Shel twor d onar gulrbassi c un s ec i bl e k, als s i e, nd t l ne . as ke e a i n Sep e be of2008. On J 29,2007,M r .Hops fl a i a i f dia lt i tr e tm r une s on ied pplc tons or s biiy nstanc be t and s e e t ls urt i m ebe ft .Pl ntf al ge t ts bec m edia e f neks upplm n a ec iy nco ne is ai if le d ha he a s bld or a lf r s ofs bs a i lga nf ac i t o A ugus 1 2006 due t di t , 1 om u t nta i ul tviy n t 5, o abe es depr s i a hi e s on, nd gh bl pr s ur . M r . ops now m a nt i t ts ha r m ai d di a e t t pr en tm e.A s ood e s e s H on i a ns ha he s e ne s bl d o he es t i t he a ia i f dia lt i ur nc be tt ,t r or r ve l t tM r .Ho on m e t o r pplc ton or s biiy ns a e neis he ec d e a s ha s ps t he i tr saus r quie e soft Ac a a1r e nttm e c r d by t fnaldec son oft nsled tt e r m nt he t t l elva i s ove e he i ii he Co s in r Se g n.4 U. C. j41 () n 4 3 a . mmiso e . e e , 2 S. j 6 i a d 2 () M r . ps scli swe edenid u n i ta c i r to a r c i er ton.Shet n s Ho on' am r e po niil onsde ai n nd e onsd ai he r se a r c i daétno he rnga rviw beo ea Admi srtveLa J ge I an eque td nd e eve vo ai nd e e fr n nitai w ud . n opi onda e Se e be 25, ni t d pt m r 2009,heLaw l t udgea s deer nedt tM r . lo t mi ha s Hops i notdia ed. on s s bl TheLaw J ef udg oundt tpl ntf s f r fo s ve ei iment ont ba e oft pe1 di be e ha ai if ufe s r m e r mpar s he s s y 1 a t s m elt , pe tnso ga toe opha a r fux d s s de esi a e y, be iy,a hit r of lius hy re i n, sr s ge l e l iea e, pr son, nxit o st nd so y m ir i hea c .TheLa J ea s s e M r . g ane da hes w udg s e s d s Hops n' r sdua f o s e i lundi l pa iya f l : ona ca ct s olows Afe ca e u consde a in oft e ier c d,t u ri d fndst tt tr r f l i r to he ntr e or he nde sgne i ha he c am a hast r sdua f tona c pa t t pe f m medi wor asde i d l i nt he e i l unc i l a ciy o ror um k fne i 2 CF 4 4.5 7 a d41 .6 /)wi a a l yt l t b e t weg igu n 0 R 0 1 6 /) n 69 7 t n bit o i o j cs ihn p h i f t 5 p u d a atmewi fe u n l t go c n ngo o j csweg n u t o 0 ons t i t rq e t i i r a yi f b e t ihig p o h fn 25 pounds The c ai a i a e t pe f m wor t ti ve oc s ona . l m nt s bl o r or k ha nvol d ca i l c i ng, a ng,soo ng,c o hi kne lng,a c a i Thec am a i lmbi balnci t pi r uc ng, e i nd r wlng. l i nt s s ve ey lmie by, tnotpr cl d fom wor by he a lt t unde sand, e r l i t d bu e ude r k r biiy o: rt r membe a c ry o c e r nd a r ut omplx ts and i tuci ; ea et m e e a ks nsr tons r lt o mber o t s f he publc andr po t us la c nge wo k st to . cai two d be i; es nd o ua nd ha d r iuai ns The l man ul mode atl t s ver l lm ied i he a lt t i e a twih s pe vior a c r ey o e ey i t n r biiy o nt r c t u r s s nd owor s ker . ( 92) Gi n s ha r iua f ncina ca ct andatrc i rngpl ntf sag TR . ve uc esd l u to l pa iy, fe onsde i ai if e, e a i a prorwo k ex re ,a we lasi fom avoca i lexpe tt Law J duc ton, nd i r pe ince s l nput r tona r, he udge dee mi t tM r .Hops r Gi s t e f tona ca ciyt r t nt he pa tr lva tr ned ha s on e ns ufki nt unc i l pa t o eur o r s ee nt wor asa of i e c e ne . A cc di y, he La J e uli a el c l k n fc l a r or ngl t w udg tm t y onc uded t tpl i i fi no ha a ntf s t dia ed, t ts i no e il d t be isu reihe f r lpr a . Seege , C. R. s bl and ha he s t ntte o neft nde t r ede a ogr m n.20 F. jj40 1 20( a 41 9 ( TheLa J 4.5 9 nd 6.20 9. w udge' o ni de ngbe iswa e nt ly s pi on nyi neft s ve ual a e ast fnalde ii n o t Commi sone by t Soc a Se trt Adm i sr ton' doptd he i c so f he s i r he i l cliy nitai s 2 Appe sCo mcl Ha ng e use a1 a lbl a nita i r m e es M r . al t i. vi xha td 1 vaia e dmi sr tve e di , s Hops hasnow on a ppeaedt t scou t l o hi r. W hie pl i if ma be dia ed f ce ti f m s of e pl m e ,t cr i f t l l antf y s bl or ran or m oy nt he ucal acua detr na i i whe he pli ifi dia e f alf r ofs tntalganf le pl e mi ton s t r antf s s bld or l o ms ubsa i i u m oymen .See t 4 U. C. j4 ()2 a d 1 8 ca .Th r aef l ee n so p o f ihmu tb c n ie e 2 S. j 23d ( ) n 3 2 () ee r oz lme t f r o whc s e o sd r d r i ma igs c a a ay i.Th s ee n saesl rz da f l ws ()o j cieme ia f cs n kn u h n n l ss e e lme t r l mmaie s ol : 1 be t o v dc la t a dciia fn ig ;2 t eo no sa dc n l in o te t h sca s ( ) u j ciee d n e n l c li dn s ( )h piin n o cuso s fr ai y iin ;3 s b e tv vie c n ngp ofphysca ma fsai ofi r nt,a desrbe t oughacli ntst tmony; nd( t i l nie ttons mpaime s s ci d hr ama ' esi a 4)he cli a ' e a i voc tona hit y,r i am nts duc ton, a i l sor esduals ls a a . Vie v.Fi h,438F. 11 kil, nd ge t k nc 2d 57, 1 5 - 0( t Ci.1 71; d r o v. bio f 2 8F.d8 0 8 (t Ci. 9 2 . 1 9 6 4h r 9 ) Un ewo d Ri c f, 9 2 5 , 51 4 h r 1 6 ) Afe a r vi w of t r co d i t s c e t co t i una e t concude t t t tr e e he e r n hi as , he ur s bl o l ha he Comm isone ' fnal c so i s s i rs i de ii n s upporedbys bsa tal vi nc .TheAdm i sr tveLa J e t u t n i e de e nita i w udg as i d t t s c e c sgne o hi as onve d an a i sr tve he rng on Fe a y 24,2009.M r .Hops n ne dm nita i ai bnzr s o t tfed a t he r ng, di a voc tona e r .The voc tona e r of e ed opi onsast t es ii t he a i as d a i l xpe t a i l xpe t f r ni o he n t r a de e t na r q ie nso plitf' patwo k.( 1 8 1 9 .Afe o e vngM r. au e n x ri l e u rme t f an ifs s r TR 2 - 2 ) tr bsr i o s Ho on a t hea i a bas d on hi r vi w oft exitngm e ca r co d, heAdmi sr tve ps t he rng, nd e se e he si di l e r t nita i La J edetr ne t or raps hol ca e uai dohept r or hee. ( 1 .A w udg e mi d o de yc ogi l val ton t l he ec d r ' TR 29) t ' f w we kst r afe , hedia lt dee m i ton s r i e a r nge f raps hol c le l ton e e he e tr t s biiy tr na i e v c s r a d o yc ogi a vaua i byDr M a vn A.Ga dne ,J . Afe exa ni M r . ps Dr Ga d rc . ri r r r tr mi ng s Ho on, . r ne omplt d ar por on ee e t M ac 31 2 0 DrGa d r ig o e rc re ts v r, j r e r sieds r e wi ps c o i rh , 0 9. . rne da n s d e u rn , e ee mao d p e sv io d r t y h tc h f a ur s c nnabi a e; nd s i lphobi D r Ga dne c pl t d as a e e ofpl i if sm e a et e;n s bus a oc a a. . r r om e e t t m nt a ntf nt l abiiy t do w ork- el ed actvii TheLaw J lt o r at i tes. udge t pr m ded w rtt i enogat i t t hen opot i en nt ores o he voc tona e r,whih pu po tdl i l ai l xpe t c r re y ncuded m a y oft wor r a e lm iai nsct d by t n he k-elt d i t to ie he ps hol s i hi s a e e . The La J ge r i on t voca i na e r ' wr te r pons s yc ogi t n s t t m nt w ud eled he to l xpe t s it n es e i de e mi ngt tpli tf c dr t n t he pas r l va wor asac e ne . n t r ni ha a n if oul e ur o r t e e nt k la r The difc t i t s c s i t tt Adm i sr tve La J fiuly n hi a e s ha he nita i w udge' i e r t i t t s nt roga ores o he voca i le r sm pl do noti ude a 1oft sgnii a w or r l t d lm ia i c t d by D r tona xpe t i y ncl 1 he i t c nt k- e a e i t tons ie . G a dne i hi wrte opi on. I hi s a e e of pl i if s m e t l abiiy f w or r l t d r r n s it n ni n s t t m nt a ntf na lt or k- e a e a tvii s Dr Ga dne o ne ha pli ife re sma kedi ime i ra lt t de l t ci te , . r r pi dt t antf xpe ince r mpar ntnhe biiy o a wih compl i tuci ; n e ac a oprael wih ot rpe s , nd r s ex nsr tons i t r t ppr it y t he r ons a e ponda o it l t us l ppr pra ey o ua w or s t tonsa c nges The ps hol i tno e m ode a e i paim e i pl i if sabiiy t k iua i nd ha . yc og s t d r t m r nt n a ntf lt o u d rtn a dr me rsmp eisr cin ; ar o t i l i tu to s a ma ej d me t n e sa d n e mbe i l n tu to s c ry u smp e nsr cin ; nd k u g ns on sm pl wor r l t de ii .I hi o ni t Admi sr tveLa J i e k-e aed c sons n s pi on, he nitai w udgei c t d t the ndia e ha Sgve gratweghtt t opi onofDr Gad r' ( 95 .l ed,nhi hypot tca quesi ii s e i o he ni . rne.' TR ) nde i s hei l tons t t voca i na e r , he Adm i s r tve La J o he to l xpe t t nit a i w udge i l d al oft w or r l t d lm ia i nc ude 1 he k- e a e i t tons ct d by Dr Ga dne i hi sae e tofpl ntf m e a a lt f wor r l t a tviis. I ie . r r n s tt m n ai ifs ntl biiy or k-e aed c i te l n pr opoundi wrte que to t t vo to e r t La J e f ld t t kei o ac ount ng itn si ns o he cai nal xpe q he w udg aie o a nt c , howe r t obs r a i ma byDr Ga dne i hi o r lr oor a t M r . ve ,he e v tons de . r r n s ve al e t s o s Hops sc ton. on' ondii Dr Ga dne , whos o ni heAd i s tveLa l epl e gr a weihts cfcal sa e . r r on e pi ont m nika i w udg ac d e t g , pe ii ly tt d asf l w s: olo The cam a i a et pe f smpl a r peii t s andm ai ai r gul li nt s bl o ronn i e nd e ttve a ks nt n e ar a tnda e i t wor ac .The cam a ' ma ked i i ntofc e r ton te nc n he kpl e li nts r mpa nne onc ntai woul r ul i a w o k r a ed i pa nne ofc d es t n r el t m i nt once t a i pe s s e e orpa . n r ton, r it nc ce 1I hi sa e e a t pl i if swor -r lt lmiains i . adne di nott de t t c i rplitl s n s t t m nt s o antf' k eaed i tto ,7rG r r d m rake o onsde an i a ii t c n etaeo ap riulrts , e a ii t rmanfc s do aj bts o he a ii t pefr o a bly o o c nrt n at a ak h r bly o e i o u e n o ak, r r bly o rom n t c t t s Gi d ba i i awor e r nme . us ne ss n k nvio nt 4 She i a et pe f m wor a tviiswihou s calora tona s r son. s bl o ror k ci te t t pe i ddii l upe vii Thecli a ' a t y a veba halucnai i whih s s esa hea she am nts udior nd r l l i tons n c he e nd r r m ur r gr ndc l r n a ef miirbuts e tpr oc upyi The a elkey de ed a hid e r n la om wha e c ng. y r i l t i r a ei feq nc a it nst i ac o nc e s n r ue y nd n e iy n ompe ii wo k s ti Shei a et ttve r e tng. s bl o a ce i t u tons f om s pe vi o s Thes i t u i m us be e r m e y c pt nsr c i r u r sr. e nsr ctons t xte l smpl onet t e - tp pr e es Duet am ake i r e tofr c i e o hr e se oc dur . o r d mpaim n e ent m e o ya i m r nd mmedit r c l s woul ha s ve edit uly i ln n ngne a e e al, he d ve e r fk t n e r i w pr e e i a wor s ti The c a m a ti a o a ot d l r gr ps o oc dur s n k e tng. l i n s nxi us r m a ge ou f pe e. She i ca bl ofi e aci wih a s lnumbe ofc opl s pa e ntr tng t mal r owor r butnot ke s wih t g r lpu i I i lkey t tt sr s sofc m pe ii wo k woul t he ene a blc. t s i l ha he tes e o ttve r d i e iyt c aman ' hal nai nsa de es i a l a t pr bl ntnsf he l i ts luci to nd pr son nd e d o oba e de ompe aton. Shehasbe n hos t i d on a l a tt i nottle oc aso c ns i e pialze t e s wo f lr e c i ns i t pa tf me a heat r as n he s or nt l lh e ons. ( 5 3 .Fo p r s so Dr Gad e ' e au to , t r e i anne t wa si t b o TR 8 ) r u po e f . r n rs v lain a t k d mp i n' s ad o e ne ma ' whi h r s t i as rouslm ia i a a s t nta l si t abiiy t efeci l f nc i c e uls n e i i tton nd ubsa i l os n he lt o f tvey u ton. l a a st t c t ha ,n o de t a c a ey a s spl ntf sca ct t pe m t t ppe r o he our t t i r r o c ur t l s es ai if pa iy o dbr he ts sa s cae wihpa t ua j b ,hev c to a e p r s ul h v b e a v s dt a plitf a k so itd t ri lr o s t o ain l x e t ho d a e e n d ie h t an if c e re e as t n i ll soff nci a i par n ofc e r ton, r itnc ,orpa xpe inc s ubsa ta os u ton nd m ime t onc nta i pe sse e ce. M or ove ,twoul s e r s na et ha i or d t voc tona e r t tt he sr s of e ri d e m ea o bl o ve nf me he a i l xpe tha t tes es t c ompeii wor woul i e iyt c ama ' haluci to a de e so a l d t ttve k d nt nsf he l i nts l nai ns nd pr s i n nd ea o pr bl de ompe ain. ( 583) Obvi l s hma f ttonsofme a il s c dbe oba e c ns to ' TR ' . ousy, uc niesai ntl lne s oul e xpece t a f d pl ntf spe f ma ofwor f whi h s mi hto he iebephyscal td o fe ai if ror nce k or c he g t m s i ly a m e t ly c pa e. nd n a l a bl l W ake v. we 8 F.d47,50( h Ci.1 9) t Unie Stt Cour ofAppe s n l r Bo n, 89 2 4t r 98 ,he td aes t al f t Fourh Cicui comme e a f l : or he t r t nt d s olows Thepu pos ofbrngi i avocai na e r i t a ss t ALJi de e mi ng r e i ng n to l xpe t s o s it he n t r ni w he hert r i w or a ia e i t na i t he e s k va l bl n he tonale onom y whi h t spa tc a c c hi ri ul r ca ma c n pe f r . l or rf avoc tona e r' opi ont ber e ntor li nt a r o m n de or a i l xpe t ni o elva s he pf , tm us be ba e u n a c i r to ofa 1ot re de e i t r or l ul i t s d po ons de a i n 1 he vi nc n he ec d, and i m us bei r s et pr rhypot tc lq tonswhi h f il s to a 1 t t n e pons o ope he ia uesi c a ry e ut 1 of li n 'i ar n s ( tto o te ) cama t mp ime t. Ci in mitd . s a l t i tntc e, hec t ssmpl t bl t c l t tt a s s ntofe e by n he nsa as t our i i y ma e o onc ude ha he s es me frd t vocai le r, c wa a e by t Admi sr tveLa J he tona xpe t whih s doptd he nitai w udge, bas d on a1 of was e 1 t wor r l td lmia i doc nt d byt ps hol s who e m i d M r .Ho on a t he k-e ae i ttons ume e he yc ogit xn ne s ps t he be s oft Adm i sr tve La J he t he ni ta i w udge. I i s f t s y t tt hy t tc lque to putt t s a e o a ha he po he i a s i ns o t vocai na e r di noti l a s he to l xpe t d ncude ny ugge ton t tpli ifsa lt t conc ntae,a he si ha antf biiy o e r t nd r c pact t wor on ape sse tba i, a iy o k r it n ss woul bem a ke y a f c e by he e o i ldysunci n. d r dl fe t d r m tona f to N ori t r a r as t beleve t tt voc tona ex r co i e t lkelhood of s r o s he e ny e on o i ha he a i l pe t nsder d he i i e i us de ompe aton ba ed o haluci tonst twoul bei ensfe by t sr s ofco ttve c ns i s n l na i ha d nt iid he tes es mpe ii wor l s h cr k. n uc icumsa s t c t ivest tt r i tgoo c us 'f r m a oft s t nce , he our bele ha he e s t d a e' or e nd hi ca et t Comm iso rs t tpr ra c m pr he i hy t tc quesinsc n beputt s o he s ine o ha ope nd o e nsve po he ial to a o a qua ii d vocai na e r.l c n t nbede em i d whehe M r .Hops c pe f m pas lfe to l xpe t t a he t r ne t r s on an ror t wo ka tvte , roh r o s gv nh rp riua c mbn to o e e t n la dn n x rina r ciiis o te j b , ie e a t lr o iain f x ri a n o e e to l c o lmiain , swel sh ra e e u ain a dp s wok e peinc .S eg n.20C. R. j i tto s a la e g , d c to , n a t r x re e e e , F. j 4 4.5 0 9 a d( )a d41 9 0 9 a d( ) 0 1 2 ( n g n 6.2 ( n g . Gi n t co tsdiposton i t sm atr t c ttndsi 'nne s a y t c i r ve he ur' s ii n hi te ,he our s t l ce s r o onsde pl i ifsa gume t tt Ad i sr tveLa J antf r nt ha he m nitai w udgec omm itd pr e ale ori te oc dur n' n t ra ng t q ton t voc tona ex r i t sc s b m i tn i ew gaore r t rt n by mde tki o uesi he a i l pe t n hi a e y te nt l t is ahe ha quesi ng t e r a a s e e ala i s r tve he rng. The c t n e s o c e i toni he xpe t t uppl m nt dm nit a i ai our ca nvi i n as s n w hi h w rte ques i ng ofa voc tona e r w oul be r as bl bot i t r soft c it n toni a i l xpe t d e ona e, h n e m he s b e tmat oft pa tc a c s a f pur esofc e vngrs lc .Ont ot rha u j c ter he riulr a e nd or pos ons r i e otres he he nd, i t i t tc e, he c ta r e t ti w oul c r a nl ha bee m or pr duc i t ha ha n he nsan as t our g e s ha t d e t i y ve n e o tve o ve d 6 t voc tonale r a ia ef o alque toni a f co i r to ofa va i t ofdif r t he a i xpe t va lbl or r si ng, nd or nsde ai n rey fe en hypot t c lques i . H ad s h a pr ed ebe n pur ue i i ve y lke y t tt ne d f a he i a tons uc oc ur e s d, t s r i l ha he e or s c n a mi srtv a j dc to c u dh veb e a od d e o d d nitaie du iain o l a e n v ie . Fort r a o sa e t co tfndsG d ca e' orr ma oft sc et t he e s ns tt d, he ur i ç goo us 'f e nd hi as o he Co sin rf rf rhe d v lp n a dc n ie ain.Se 4 U. C. 4 5g . mmiso e o u t r e eo me t n o sd rto e 2 S. j 0 () An a o it or rofr m a wilbe e t r d t sda ppr pra e de e nd l n e e hi y. Thecer i die t d t s nd c tfe copisoft sopi on t a1c ms lofr or l k s r c e o e erii d e hi ni o l ot e ec d. DATED:Thi VP s d yof ac , 2012. a M rh ChifUnie St t DititJ e t d aes src udge

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