Tardie v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 25

ORDER REVERSING AND REMANDING DEFENDANT'S DECISION TO DENY BENEFITS by Judge David W. Christel. (KEB)

Case 3:20-cv-05097-DWC Document 25 Filed 01/07/21 Page 1 of 7

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT TACOMA

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QUINTON T.,
Plaintiff,

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v.

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COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,

CASE NO. 3:20-CV-5097-DWC
ORDER REVERSING AND
REMANDING DEFENDANT’S
DECISION TO DENY BENEFITS

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Defendant.
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Plaintiff filed this action, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), for judicial review of

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17 Defendant’s denial of Plaintiff’s application for supplemental security income (“SSI”).
18 Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73 and Local Rule MJR 13,
19 the parties have consented to have this matter heard by the undersigned Magistrate Judge. See
20 Dkt. 2.
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After considering the record, the Court concludes the Administrative Law Judge

22 (“ALJ”) erred when he improperly discounted Dr. William Weiss’s opinion. As the ALJ’s error
23 is not harmless this matter is reversed and remanded pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. §
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ORDER REVERSING AND REMANDING
DEFENDANT’S DECISION TO DENY
BENEFITS - 1

Case 3:20-cv-05097-DWC Document 25 Filed 01/07/21 Page 2 of 7

1 405(g) to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (“Commissioner”) for
2 further proceedings consistent with this Order.
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FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On June 7, 2016, Plaintiff filed an application for SSI. See Dkt. 20, Administrative

5 Record (“AR”) 13. The application was denied upon initial administrative review and on
6 reconsideration. See AR 13. Two hearings were held before ALJ John Michaelsen on June 1,
7 2018, and October 26, 2018. See AR 13. In a decision dated December 7, 2018, the ALJ
8 determined Plaintiff to be not disabled. See AR 22. Plaintiff’s request for review of the ALJ’s
9 decision was denied by the Appeals Council, making the ALJ’s decision the final decision of
10 the Commissioner. See AR 10; 20 C.F.R. § 404.981, § 416.1481.
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In the Opening Brief, Plaintiff maintains the ALJ erred by improperly: (1) evaluating

12 the medical opinion evidence; and (2) evaluating Plaintiff’s testimony. Dkt. 22.
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STANDARD OF REVIEW
Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), this Court may set aside the Commissioner’s denial of

15 social security benefits if the ALJ’s findings are based on legal error or not supported by
16 substantial evidence in the record as a whole. Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1214 n.1
17 (9th Cir. 2005) (citing Tidwell v. Apfel, 161 F.3d 599, 601 (9th Cir. 1999)).
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DISCUSSION

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I.

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Plaintiff argues the ALJ improperly discounted Dr. Weiss’s opinion. Dkt. 22, pp. 3-7.

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The ALJ must provide “clear and convincing” reasons for rejecting the uncontradicted

Whether the ALJ properly considered the medical opinion evidence.

22 opinion of either a treating or examining physician. Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th
23 Cir. 1996) (citing Embrey v. Bowen, 849 F.2d 418, 422 (9th Cir. 1988); Pitzer v. Sullivan, 908
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ORDER REVERSING AND REMANDING
DEFENDANT’S DECISION TO DENY
BENEFITS - 2

Case 3:20-cv-05097-DWC Document 25 Filed 01/07/21 Page 3 of 7

1 F.2d 502, 506 (9th Cir. 1990)). When a treating or examining physician’s opinion is
2 contradicted, the opinion can be rejected “for specific and legitimate reasons that are supported
3 by substantial evidence in the record.” Lester, 81 F.3d at 830-831 (citing Andrews v. Shalala,
4 53 F.3d 1035, 1043 (9th Cir. 1995); Murray v. Heckler, 722 F.2d 499, 502 (9th Cir. 1983)).
5 The ALJ can accomplish this by “setting out a detailed and thorough summary of the facts and
6 conflicting clinical evidence, stating his interpretation thereof, and making findings.” Reddick
7 v. Chater, 157 F.3d 715, 725 (9th Cir. 1998) (citing Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 751
8 (9th Cir. 1989)).
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Dr. Weiss performed a psychological diagnostic evaluation of Plaintiff in August 2016.

10 AR 389-394. Dr. Weiss reviewed Plaintiff’s medical history, performed a mental status
11 examination (“MSE”), and diagnosed Plaintiff with major depressive disorder, generalized
12 anxiety disorder, hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, allergies, and migraines. AR 38913 393. He opined Plaintiff’s sustained concentration and persistence were markedly impaired by
14 his depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. AR 393. Dr. Weiss also opined Plaintiff’s social
15 interaction was markedly impaired, as well as Plaintiff’s ability to adapt. Dr. Weiss wrote that
16 “[a]t the present time, [Plaintiff] would not be able to maintain gainful employment” but “may
17 be able to obtain and maintain gainful employment” with “treatment, psychotherapy and a
18 suitable regimen of psychotropic medication[.]” AR 393.
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The ALJ discussed Dr. Weiss’s opinion and gave it little weight for two reasons: (1) it

20 is inconsistent with Dr. Weiss’s findings; (3) it is inconsistent with Plaintiff’s activities of daily
21 living. AR 20.
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First, the ALJ discounted Dr. Weiss’s opinion because “contemporaneous testing

23 showed signs of greater functioning than his opinion suggests.” AR 20. In support, the ALJ
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ORDER REVERSING AND REMANDING
DEFENDANT’S DECISION TO DENY
BENEFITS - 3

Case 3:20-cv-05097-DWC Document 25 Filed 01/07/21 Page 4 of 7

1 noted Plaintiff appeared alert with a logical thought process and performed well in some
2 portions of the MSE, such as in proverb interpretation and in abstract thinking. AR 20, citing
3 AR 393. Dr. Weiss reviewed Plaintiff’s medical history, performed an MSE, and diagnosed
4 Plaintiff with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, hypothyroidism,
5 Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, allergies, and migraines. AR 389-393. He opined to several marked
6 limitations. See AR 393. Thus, in this instance, the ALJ relied on the same results from Dr.
7 Weiss’s psychological evaluation of Plaintiff and came to a different conclusion. Compare AR
8 20 with AR 389-393. The ALJ is “simply not qualified to interpret raw medical data in
9 functional terms…” Nguyen v. Chater, 172 F.3d 31, 35 (9th Cir. 1999); see also Schmidt v.
10 Sullivan, 914 F.2d 117, 118 (7th Cir. 1990) (“[J]udges, including administrative law judges . . .
11 must be careful not to succumb to the temptation to play doctor”). Further, although the ALJ
12 cites to portions of Dr. Weiss’s opinion with normal findings, the ALJ ignored other portions
13 of the opinion which were abnormal. For example, Dr. Weiss observed “facies indicative of
14 dysphoria.” AR 392. He noted Plaintiff is sad and has low energy. AR 392. Dr. Weiss
15 acknowledged Plaintiff “has had suicidal ideation and began an attempt but talked herself out
16 of continuing.” AR 392. An ALJ errs when he selectively focuses on evidence that tends to
17 suggest a plaintiff is not disabled. See Edlund v. Massanari, 253 F.3d 1152, 1156 (9th Cir.
18 2001); see also Gallant v. Heckler, 753 F.2d 1450, 1456 (9th Cir. 1984) (it is error for the ALJ
19 to ignore or misstate competent evidence in order to justify a conclusion). Accordingly, the
20 ALJ’s first reason for discounting Dr. Weiss’s opinion is not specific and legitimate and
21 supported by substantial evidence.
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Second, the ALJ discounted Dr. Weiss’s opinion because it is inconsistent with

23 Plaintiff’s activities of daily living, “many of which he did routinely[.]” AR 20. Although the
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ORDER REVERSING AND REMANDING
DEFENDANT’S DECISION TO DENY
BENEFITS - 4

Case 3:20-cv-05097-DWC Document 25 Filed 01/07/21 Page 5 of 7

1 ALJ did not specify which activities contradict Dr. Weiss’s opinion, Dr. Weiss discussed some
2 of Plaintiff’s activities and acknowledged that Plaintiff lived with roommates and was capable
3 of cooking, doing chores, reading, and playing video games. AR 392. Courts have repeatedly
4 stated that “a person's ability to engage in personal activities … does not constitute substantial
5 evidence that he or she has the functional capacity to engage in substantial gainful activity.”
6 Kelley v. Callahan, 133 F.3d 583, 589 (8th Cir. 1998); see also O'Connor v. Sullivan, 938 F.2d
7 70, 73 (7th Cir. 1991) (“The conditions of work are not identical to those of home life”).
8 Plaintiff’s ability to complete the activities listed above does not necessarily show he could
9 “perform an eight-hour workday, five days per week, or an equivalent work schedule.” See
10 Social Security Ruling (“SSR”) 96-8p, 1996 WL 374184, at *1. Moreover, the ALJ failed to
11 explain how Plaintiff’s ability to complete these activities shows he could sustain a full-time
12 work schedule. See Mulanax v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 293 Fed. Appx. 522-523 (9th Cir.
13 2008) (citing SSR 96-8p) (“Generally, in order to be eligible for disability benefits under the
14 Social Security Act, the person must be unable to sustain full-time work – eight hours per day,
15 five days per week”). In addition, disability claimants “should not be penalized for attempting
16 to lead normal lives in the face of their limitations.” Reddick, 157 F.3d at 722. Thus, the ALJ’s
17 second reason for discounting Dr. Weiss’s opinion is not specific and legitimate and supported
18 by substantial evidence.
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For the above stated reasons, the Court finds the ALJ failed to provide specific and

20 legitimate reasons supported by substantial evidence for discounting Dr. Weiss’s opinion.
21 Accordingly, the ALJ erred.
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“[H]armless error principles apply in the Social Security context.” Molina v. Astrue,

23 674 F.3d 1104, 1115 (9th Cir. 2012). An error is harmless, however, only if it is not prejudicial
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ORDER REVERSING AND REMANDING
DEFENDANT’S DECISION TO DENY
BENEFITS - 5

Case 3:20-cv-05097-DWC Document 25 Filed 01/07/21 Page 6 of 7

1 to the claimant or “inconsequential” to the ALJ’s “ultimate nondisability determination.” Stout
2 v. Comm'r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 454 F.3d 1050, 1055 (9th Cir. 2006); see Molina, 674 F.3d at
3 1115. The determination as to whether an error is harmless requires a “case-specific
4 application of judgment” by the reviewing court, based on an examination of the record made
5 “‘without regard to errors’ that do not affect the parties’ ‘substantial rights.’” Molina, 674 F.3d
6 at 1118-1119 (quoting Shinseki v. Sanders, 556 U.S. 396, 407 (2009)).
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Had the ALJ provided great weight to Dr. Weiss’s opinion, the ALJ may have included

8 additional limitations in the residual functional capacity (“RFC”). For example, Dr. Weiss
9 opined Plaintiff’s sustained concentration and persistence were markedly impaired by his
10 depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. AR 393. In contrast, in the RFC, although he limited
11 Plaintiff to simple, repetitive, routine tasks, the ALJ did not include any limitations regarding
12 productivity. See AR 17. Therefore, if Dr. Weiss’s opinion was provided great weight and
13 additional limitations were included in the RFC and in the hypothetical questions posed to the
14 vocational expert, the ultimate disability determination may have changed. Accordingly, the
15 ALJ’s error is not harmless and requires reversal. The ALJ is directed to reassess Dr. Weiss’s
16 opinion on remand.
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II.

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Plaintiff asserts the ALJ improperly considered his testimony regarding his symptoms.

Whether the ALJ properly evaluated Plaintiff’s testimony.

19 Dkt. 22, pp. 7-9. The Court concludes the ALJ committed harmful error in assessing Dr.
20 Weiss’s opinion and directed the ALJ to re-evaluate the opinion on remand. See Section I,
21 supra. Because Plaintiff will be able to present new evidence and new testimony on remand
22 and because the ALJ’s reconsideration of the medical evidence may impact his assessment of
23 Plaintiff’s testimony, the ALJ must reconsider Plaintiff’s testimony on remand.
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ORDER REVERSING AND REMANDING
DEFENDANT’S DECISION TO DENY
BENEFITS - 6

Case 3:20-cv-05097-DWC Document 25 Filed 01/07/21 Page 7 of 7

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CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing reasons, the Court hereby finds the ALJ improperly concluded

3 Plaintiff was not disabled. Accordingly, Defendant’s decision to deny benefits is reversed and
4 this matter is remanded for further administrative proceedings in accordance with the findings
5 contained herein.
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Dated this 7th day of January, 2020.

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David W. Christel
United States Magistrate Judge

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ORDER REVERSING AND REMANDING
DEFENDANT’S DECISION TO DENY
BENEFITS - 7