Redd v. Berryhill

Filing 20

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Senior Judge Glen E. Conrad on 1/22/2018. (ck)

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clERK' OFFI U. . ST. - : CE : DI COURT AT ROANOKE, VA FIED L I THE UNI N TED STATES DI STRJCT COURT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF V I NI CT RGI A ROANOKE DI SI VI ON J 22 2 1 Ay 24 JUI M BY: .' DL . , CLE ;EP EX K EA RL N . ED D , R Ci lAci n No. 1 vi to 7: 7CV00089 Pli if antf , m M ORXNDUM OPI ON M N ANCY A. UW HI Aci BEI LL, tng Comm isone ofSoc a Se urt si r i l c iy, By: Hon.Gl n E.Conr d e a Se o Unie Stt Diti tJ ni r t d a es src udge Dee f ndant . Pl i ifha fl d t sa ton c lngi t fna de son oft Comm isone o Socil antf s ie hi c i hale ng he i l cii he si r f a Se urt de ng pli tf s c am s f dia lt i tr nc be ft a s e e als c iy c iy nyi a n if l i or s biiy nsla e ne is nd upplm nt e urt i c meb n ft l e t eSo ilSe t i Ac, sa nd d 4 U. C.j 41 ()a d 4 3 a 4 n o e eis md r h ca cl t t a me e , 2 S. j 6 i n 2 , nd 2 ry U. C.j 1 1e s c.rs e tv l. J rs ito o ti c u t spzs a tt 4 U. C.j4 5 g S. 38 t el e p ciey u id cin f h s o r i l u n o 2 S. , r 0 () a d 4 U. C.j 1 8 ()3 . Asrfe td b t me r n a a d agu n s b te b te n 2 S. 3 3 c( ) elce y he mo a d n r me t u mitd y h pa tes t is snow bef et c t r whehe t Com misone ' fna dec son i s ri , he s ue or he our a e t r he s i r s i l ii s uppore td by s t nta e de e,o whehe t r i ç ubsa i l vi nc r t r he e s t good ca e' one es iaer m a ng t c et t us 't c st t e ndi he as o he Co s in rf rf rhe c n ie ain. Se 4 U.. j4 5 g . mmiso e o u t r o sd r to e 2 SC. 0 ( ) Thepli itEalN. dd,wasbor o Fe uay 1 1 ,a e nmal c eedhi antf r Re n n br r 2, 968 nd ve ly omplt s hi h s hool e a i g c duc ton. M r Redd pr vi usy wo ked as a c me cal ce r He sopped . e o l r om r i lane . t wordng co plt l i 201 On J y 23,201 andN o m be 20,201 r peci l M r Re l m e ey n 4. ul 2 ve r 2, es tvey, . dd tl d a i a i f di abiiy i ur nce be ft a s e e a s ur t i om e be is I i e pplc tons or s lt ns a ne s nd uppl m nt l ec iy nc neft . n flng hi c r ntc am s M r Re a lge t the be me dia e f a lf ii s ure l i , . dd le d ha cn s bl d or 1 onns o s t ntal f ubsa i ganf e oyme on Oc o r 1 2010,due t pa r a ii,bac pan,and su trng. Att i ul mpl nt t be 8, o nc e tts k i t te i he tme ofa a nita i he rng o Aug t26,201 pl i ifa e i n dmi sr tve n i n us 5, antf m ndedli a ia i nss a t ls pplc to o s o rfe ta alg d ds blt o s td t o J n r 9 2 5 ( .6 ) M. Re dno manan elc n le e ia ii n e ae f a uay , 01 . Tr 6 . 1 d w itis y * . t thehasr m aned dia ed t t pr s nttme. W ih r s c t hi a i a i f dia lt ha e i s bl o he e e i t e pe t o s pplc ton or s biiy i ur nc be is t r or r ve st tM r Re me t i ur d sat r r m e soft Ac ns a e neft, he ec d e al ha . dd t he ns e t us equie nt he t tr u h t ef u t q a tro 2 6 b tn tt ee fe . Se c n rlv 4 U. C.j 41 ()a h o g h o rh u re f 01 , u o h r atr e e eal, 2 S. j 6 i nd 4 3 a . Co s q nl p an if i e tte t a p ro o d sb l y a d ds b l y i u a c 2 () n e ue ty, litf s n ild o e id f ia ii n ia ii ns r n e t t be ft onl i he has e t bls d t the be n e di a e f a1 f r of s tntalg nl l ne is y f sa ihe ha cm s bld or 1 o ms ubsa i ai e oyme on orbe or De e be 31 201 mpl nt f e c m r , 6. M r Redd' a ia i w e e de e upon i ta c i r ton a r c i r ton. He , s pplc tons r nid niil onsde a i nd e onsde a i t n r se a r ceved a de novo he rng and r viw be or a Ad i sr tve La J e. he eque t d nd e i ai e e f e n m nitai w udg I alo ni n da e Oc obe 6,201 t La J n ! pi o t d t r 5,he w udgealode e mi d t tM r Re i no dia e s t r ne ha . dd s t s bl d. TheLaw J udgef md t tM r Re s f r fom s ve als ve e i panne s i l ng Clmba ot ha . dd ufe s r e r e r m i nt , nc udi ç l r l sr i l ba pe i r la tr die e i t rghtuppe exte iy,and c oni obsnltve ta n/um go, rphe a re y s as n he i r rm t hr c t c i p l nayds a e( D)' ( . ) Ne e tee s t eLa J d ed tr ne ta M r Re d umo r ie s COP . Tr 43 . v rh ls ,h w u g ee mi d h t . d ' ' . r t i t r sdualf nci na c pact t pe f nn almie r ngeoflg e ri laci t The e ans he e i u to l a iy o r o i td a i ht xe tona tviy. La J w udgeas e s d M r Re sr sdua f tona c pa t asf l : sse . dd' e i l unci l a ciy olows Afe c r ulco i ai of t e ie r c d,t t r i d tr a ef nsder ton he ntr e or he mde sgne fnds t t t cai nt ha t r i ua f tonal ca iy t i ha he l ma s he esd l unc i pact o p ro m l h wo k a d fn d i 2 C. R. 4 4 1 6 49 a d ef r i t r s eie n 0 F. 0 .5 7 1 n g 41 9 7 b e c p h c n o tlrt e p s r t h z r s o 6.6 4 ) x e t e n n t oeae x o u e o a ad r c i ng l dde s r s ors fol . He c n oc sona l ha e, lmbi a r , ope , ca f ds a ca i ly ndl snge ,a f lwih t rg u r e r m iy. He c n t e at r nd ee t he i ht ppe xte t a olr e oc sona e ca i l xpos et pul m o mona yi tnt a c m i a s r nia s nd he c l . ( . 4 . Gi n h sr sd a f cin lc pa iy a d a trc n iei g M r Re d' p irwok Tr 4 ) ve i e iu l un to a a ct , n fe o sd rn . d s ro r e re e a t t tm o ofa voc tonalex l t La J ge de e m i t tM r Re i xpe i nc nd he esi ny ai pet he w ud t r ned ha . dd s t bl t pe f r hi pa tr lva wo k as a c me ca cea r Howe r t La J ma e o ro m s s ee nt r om r il l ne . ve , he w udge f ound t t M r Re r t i s fc e f tona c pa t t perbr ce t n lght w or r es ha . dd e a ns uf i i nt unc i l a ciy o l m rai i k ol e itn i sg iia tn e i ten to a e o o . ( .5 ) Ac o dn l, h La J d e x si g n infc n umb r n h ain l c n my Tr 0 . c r i gy t e w u g c l d t tM r Re i notd s bld,a t the i no e ild t be t t ret rf de a oqc ude ha . dd s i a e nd ha s t ntte o neks mde ihe e r l p o rm . S eg n r l 2 C. R.j 4 4.5 0 g a d 41 .2 () TheLa J d eso no rga e e e al 0 F. j 0 1 2 4) n 69 0 g . v w u g ' piin wa a e a t fna de ii n oft Com misone by t SocalSe trt Admi sr to s s dopt d s he i l c so he s i r he i c liy nitai n' Appeas Cot l Ha ng e use a 1a ia e a nitai r me e ,54.Re ha now l mci. vi xha t d 1 va lbl dmi sr tve e di s 1 dd s . a ppeaedt t sc l o hi omt s e o e ti o ms mpl m nt he r il ac t a W hie pli if m a be diabld f r c ran f r of e oy e ,t c uca f tll l antf y de e mi to i whehe pl i if i dia e f a1 f m s of s t ntalga nfl e oyme . t r nai n s t r antf s s bld or 1 or ubsa i i l mpl l nt S e 4 U. C,j 4 3 d ( )a d 1 8 c a. Th r ae f u ee n so p o fwhc mu tb e 2 S. j 2 ( )2 n 3 2 () ee r o r lme t f r o ih s e co i r d i m n ng s h a a l i. The eee n saes mmaie a f lo : 1 o j cie nsde e n ki uc n nayss s lme t r u rz d s ol ws () b e tv 1 me ia f csa ci c lfn i g ;( )te o no a d c n lso o te tn p y iin ;() dc l a t nd l a id n s 2 h piins n o cu ins f raig h sca s 3 ni s b e tv e d n eo p y ia ma ietto so i ime t, sd srbe tr u h acama ts u j cie vie c f h sc l nf sai n f mpar ns a e ci d h o g li n ' tsi n ; n ()t ecama tse uc to , o aina i so y r sd ls il, nda e Vie v. e t y a d 4 h li n ' d ain v c to ll tr , e iua k ls a g . tk mo i Fi h 4 8F.d 1 5 ,1 5 - 0 ( t Ci.1 71;Und r o v. bc f, 8F.d 8 0 8 ( t nc , 3 2 1 7 1 96 4h r 9 ) ewo d Riio f 29 2 5 , 51 4h Ci.1 6 ) r 9 2. On a ppea,M r Re r ie s ve a a g e s i udi t tt Law J l . dd as s e r l r um nt, ncl ng ha he udge i pr pe l m o ry a k s d t medi lo ni evi ncea dir ga ded t te tng physca nze i dee mi ng s es e he ca pi on de nd s e r he r a i i in l n t r ni h s r sd lf cin l c pa iy Thi pat ulr a gl n wa te s b e t o s p lme tl i e iua un to a a ct . s ri a r l t s h u j c f u p e n a c me bre i by t pa tes Afe r viwi t r c d a c i rng t pa i s mp l nt ,t ifng he ri . tr e e ng he e or nd onsde i he rte ' me s he co tfndsGgood c us 't r m a t c et t Comm isone f f rhe de opme a ur i d a e' o e nd he as o he s i r or ' t r vel u nt nd c nsd rto . S e4 U. C. 40 ( ) o i eai n e 2 S. j 5g . Unde t r ultonss ti f t t sa r f re l tngm ed c opi on e de e, r he eg @ i e tng orh he t nda ds o vauai i al ni vi nc t opi on ofateai physca i e ttedt S:ontoli we gh '...s l ast o ni n i he ni r tng i in s n il o &c r lng i t o ong he pi o s ç l- u re by m e cal ac e a eclni a a l aor di nosi t hni we ls ppo td di ly c pt bl i c l nd abor t y ag tc ec quesa i not nd s i onsse wih t ohe s tnta e de e i (he cama 'qc e r or .'' Le sv. nc itnt t he t r ubsa il vi nc n t li nts as ec dll' wi Ber l,858 F. 858,86 ( h Ci.201 (leai i orgi l (uoi 20 C. R.jj rvhil 3d 7 4t r 7) atrtons n i na) q tng F. 4 4 1 2 ()2 a d 41 .2 ()2 ) s eas Br wn v. mm' So . c,8 F.d 2 , 8 6 0 .5 7 c4 ) n 69 7 c( ); e lo o Co r c Se . 73 3 51 26 - 9 (t Ci. 01 ) W h n teLa J g d e no gvec n r ligweg t o ate tn p ysca s 4 h r 2 7 . e h w ud e o s t i o toln i h t r aig h iin' o ni t La J pi on, he w udge mus c i ra no xc usve ls off t st detr i wha wei t t onsde ne l i it acor o e m ne t ght o g vet opi o oft te i physcan a a1ot rm e c lopi onsi t r co d. J i he nin he r atng ii nd l he di a ni n he e r ohns n v. o Bnn a t4 4 F.d 6 0 6 4 (t Ci. 0 5 ;s eas 2 C. R.j 40 1 27c a d 41 .2 /) r h r, 3 3 5 , 5 4 h r 2 0 ) e lo 0 F. j 4.5 () n 69 7 (it t efco st bec n ie e ) Th La J d emu tas p o i eS o d r ao i gi) l i h a t r o o sd r d . e w u g s lo r v d t o e s ns n h s s ng g n tc o d tr n to o d cso f rt e weg t( qgv ljEh )te tn s u c ' me ia oie f ee miain r e iin o h ih he ies t e r ai g o r es dc l o il n. 2 C. R. j4 4 1 2 ( 2 a d41 .2 ()2 ; e as S 9 -p,1 9 SS LEXI p ro ' 0 F. j 0 .5 7X4 ) n 69 7 c () s e lo SR 6 8 9 6 R i ' S 5(uy2 1 9 )(1 t e(e iua fncin l a a iy a s sme tc nlcswiha o ii nfo a J 1 , 9 6 çf h r sd lu to a c p ct) se s n o tit t n pn o r m ç me ia s t c ,he g w J g qmu te p an wh t o n o wa no a o td.) Une st e d c l ol e t La ud e s x li y he piin s t d p e ' . ls h r ' La J w udget xplc tyi c t st we g gi n t a1o t r l va e de ,' r vi wi c ur G iil ndia e he i ht ve o 1 f he e e nt vi nce'a e e ng o t e ca t de e m i whe he t La J nno t r ne t r he w udge' sndi a e s ppore by s t nta e de . s ngs r u td ubsa i l vi nce Go d nv. h i r7 F. 2 , 3 ( t Ci. 9 4 ; e as M oto v, li 8 F.d1 6 r o Sc weke, 25 2d 31 2 5 4h r 1 8 ) s e lo r e Covn, 26 3 7 , r 1 9 ( t Ci.2 6 (W e h v h l t t $a n c sa y p e iae t e a i i s bsa ta 8 4h r 01 ) $ ç a e ed ha gq e e s r rd c t o ng gng n u tnil e de r vi w i a r c d o t ba i f rt ALJ Sr i 'i udi ç dic son ofwhi h vi nce e e s e or f he ss o he ' ulng, ncl ng a s us i c e de vi nce t ALJ f t c e bl a why, a s c fc a i a i of t pe tne lgal he o md r di e nd nd pe ii pplc ton he ri nt e r q ie nst t erc r e i e c .' (uoi Ra f r v. li 7 4 F.d28 , 9 (t Ci. e urme t o h e o d v d n e'' q tng do d Covn, 3 3 8 2 5 4 h r ) 2 3) 01 ). I t sc e t r or r ve st tM r Re be t e re pan a numbne si hi n hi as , he ec d e al ha . dd gan o xpe ince i nd s n s rg wrs a a m i J nua y of2013,whe he washos t i d f t ee da a di gnos d i ht it nd r n a r n pialze or hr ys nd a e wi d e v i tr mbo i o te u pe e rmiy ( .5 2 3 ) Th ts me y a,Mr Re d t e p en h o ss f h p r xte t . Tr 3 - 3 . a n e r . d h ijle hsba k wh l u l dn at c a wo k. ( .6 3 . M1 Re d s b e u n l s ug t nt d i c ie noa ig nzk t r Tr 6 ) . d u s q e ty o h r . te t e f ba k pai a pan a numbne si hi rghtuppe e r m iyon muli eoc sons r am nt or c n nd i nd s n si r xte t tpl ca i . ( . 7 , 31 7 3 7 8 8 3, 6 , 6 , 7 8 6 91 , 28 9 9 9 2 . On o Mr Re d' te tn Tr 5 5 6 , 4 , 5 , 3 8 0 8 8 8 7, 8 , 5 9 , 5 , 8 ) e f . d s raig 4 physc a was Andr w M .W at r ,M . ,a physc a a Ca ii Clni Fn iy M e cne ii ns e le s D. ii n t rlon i c m l di i Roa noke sae , r M r Reddwa te t f di nos so c oni l rbac pan a c oni / lm whe e . s r aed or ag e f l c owe k i nd k c rghtm i tpai On J y 23, 5, . at r co pl t al a s s m e ofM r Redd' physca i s n. ul 201 Dr W le s m eed z s e s nt . s i l c pa lte . Dr W at r o nedt tM r Re c sa o wak f t ho sa atm ea f ra a biii s . le s pi ha . dd an tnd r l or wo ur t i nd o t a offveholr i an eghthourwor y; ha hec n stf t e holr a atm ea f at t l ot l i zs n i kda t t a i or hr e zs t i nd or o a of fve hour i a e ghthotr wo kda a t the ca fe nty lf up t t n pounds a l s n n i - l r y; nd ha n r que l it o e nd o c so al l tu t ffe n p t s ( .8 9 . Dr W atr frh r o n d t a M r Re d c a in ly i p o ite omd . Tr 1 ) . les u te pie h t . d f c nnot us hi rght hand f smpl gr s ng or fne m n pul to ld t t he çr quies n e s i or i e a pi i ni ai n,az ha Ee r o pporunii be t tes yondno mal kbr a du i a 8hourda t 1edown t r to bei tvef r wor e ks rng n yoi o es r naci or ac ranpeida h fn sn c say. ( . 9 . e ti ro s e i d e e sr ' Tr 81 ) ' I de e ni M 1 Re sr sdua fl tona c pa iy,t La J n t nni ng . dd' e i l l i l a c t he w udge di no d s us o nc d t ic s r a sg weghtt a1 ofDr W ale s opi ons I t d,afe r c mtng Dr W at r 'a s s e , sin i o 1 . t r ' ni . nsea tr e ot i . le s s es m nt t e La J d e sl rl sae a ol ws E e t esg e a c r s s me weg tt ( . h w ug l mmaiy ttd sf lo : Th md rin d c o d o ih o Dr W atr ' opi on t t e e t ti r ogni st cama ' ca ct f a r nge oflgh le sq ni o he xtnt ha t ec ze he li nts pa iy or a i t e e t n lwo k a tvt . ( . ) No a l, h La J g ddno a r s, c ls p o d x ri a r ciiy' Tr 48 . tby t e w ud e i t dd e s mu h e s r vie o ' S o d ra o s'f rrj cig Dr W atr 'o i o rg r i p an ipsia iiyt u ehi rg G o e s n ' o ee tn , . l s pnin e adng litf n b l o s s iht g e t ha dfrgapigo tnema iuain o Dr' l r'o i o ta teplitf wo l rq r n o rs n r i np lto , r .Wat s pnin h t h anif ud e uie e e tab e k t led wno r s dliga eg tho rwo kd y 20C. R. j4 4.5 7 ()a d x r ra s o i o r e t t n n ih - u r a . r F. j 0 1 2 /)2 n 41 .27c ( ) Be a ete eo no sweeic n itn wi t eLa J d esd tr n to o 69 ()2 . c us h s piin r n o sse t t h w u g ' eemi ain f h pl i i sr i ua f nc i antY esd l u tonalc pa t t La J a ciy, he w udge wasr uie t e an why t o ni eq r d o xpl i he pi ons ween ta o td. Se S R 9 - p 1 9 SS LEM S 5(uy 2 1 9 ) I t a e c o s h r o d pe e S 68, 9 6 R J 1 , 9 6 . n he bs n e f uc e a ton,t c ti una et de e mi whehe t La J xplna i he our s bl o t r ne t r he w udge' de ii i s s c son s uppore by td s b tn il vie c . S eM o r e 8 F.da 1 ( b evn ta net rtea pelt c u t r u sa ta e d n e e n o , 26 3 t 91 o sr ig h t i h p lae o r no he t ditit c r c n unde tke a mea ng u s tntale de e r viw lnl s a La J he src ou t a ra ni f l ubsa i - vi nc e e l es w udge a e u tl e p an hi ra o f rt d feig weg t a sg e t me ia o no ) s eas d q aey x lis s e s ns o he ifrn ih s si n d o dc l piins; e lo Boge v. ry il No 1 - 81 2 7 U. Ap LEXI 2 4 , t* (t Ci. c 1 , 01 ) ly Ber h l, . 623 , 01 S. p. S 51 4 a 3 4 h r De . 3 2 7 ( o ldng ta i wa E o po sb e ... o c nd tme n n f la pelt rv e o t ALJS c ncu i h t t s û t sil n t o uc a i g u p lae e iw f he ' d cso 'sn eSheALJd dn t ic so a sg weg t oa1 ft o i in o (h cama ts e iiny ic ç ' t i o d sus r sin ih t 1o he p no s f t e li n 'j te tngphyscin ...a t s o zi weei nsse wiht ALJSdeemi to ofghe rai ia nd he e pilons r nco itnt t he ' tr nain t cama ts r sd a Smcina c p ct ' Ac o d n l, e n i a p o rael li n 'q e i u l to l a a iy). c r i gy rma d s p r p it. For t r as he e ons sa e t c t fnds E tt d, he our ç good ca e' t r nd t c s t t us ' o ema he a e o he Co misone f r f rhe de opme a c i r to .2 I t Comm iso r i una e t m s i r o u t r vel nt nd onsde ai n f he s i ne s bl o decde t s c e i pl ntY s f voron t ba i of t e si r c d,t Comm iso rwil i hi as n ai i a he ss he xitng e or he s i ne l co uc a s pplm e ala i sr tve he dng a whih bot sdes wilbe alo nd t u e nt dm nita i a t c h i l l wed t pr e o es nt a to le de a a gu e . An a opra eor rofr m a wilbee e ed t sda ddii na vi nce nd r m nt ppr i t de e nd l nt r hi y. TheClr i die t d t s nd c riid co e oft sm e a lm o ni t a1 c e k s r c e o e e tfe pi s hi mor nd l pi on o l ouns lof e r or ec d. Lh t d y ofJanuar 2018. z a . y, DATED : s Thi l 1 k Se o Urie St t Diti tJ ni r ltd aes src udge 1The c tde i t Commisone s i tton t r viw t r d deno t dicoverevi e our clnes he s i r' nvia i o e e he ecor vo o s denc t s hat upporst La J t he w udge' decson t dicountDr W aler opi ons TheUnie St e Cour ofAppe s s ii o s . t s' ni . td ats t al f rt Fo t Cic tha ma ce rt a i i $ o rh rve n c ufs prvic ...t e g g i o he urh rui s de la h t t s 6 t te e iwig o l ) o n e n o nae n Ea tfndn )e r ie i t frtisa c . Ra f r 73 F. a 29 s eas Fo v Covn, 3 F. p' fc-i ig xecs s n he is n tn e' d od, 4 3d t 6; e lo x . li 6 2 Ap x ' 7 , (t Ci. 1 )(< rcrut e e n ma e ce rta i i no Eh c u ts r l t s c lt a t h w 50 75 4 h r 20 5 $ ic iprc de t k s la h tt s t t e o r') oe o pe uae s o o Ou teALJa pidtelw t i fndng o t h oheieteALJS u ttc to sta wo l p r psfnds p r h p le h a o t i i s r o yp t sz h s 'j si ain h t ud eha i up o t i i te rc r .) lse d t a p o it c u s i t Se n t t a e y fra iina iv siain o n h e o d'. n ta , he p r prae o re s o d ma d o he g nc o ddto l n e tg to r ' r e pln to 'wh nt c u ti un bet dvauagjt bui frt ALJSd cso ' Ra f r ,7 4 F. a x a ain' e he o r s a l o s l te he s o he ' e iin. d o d 3 3d t e ' 2 ,se as M a co v.Covn 7 0 F.d 6 2,6 (t Ci.2 1 )( ol ng ta t lc ofe lnai fr 95. e lo s i li, 8 3 3 40 4h r 0 5 h di h t he a k xpa ton o ds rdin acama ' sae nsrq r drma d . ic e t g li nts ttme t e uie e n ) i ' 2 I lghtoft cour' decii t r ni he ts son o emand t c et t Comm isoner t c tdeclne t addr s he as o he s i , he our i so es M r Re sr ni cl msoferor . dd' emai ng ai r . 6

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