Hopson v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 13

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

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