Martin Hernandez Jr v. Michael J Astrue, No. 5:2012cv00773 - Document 18 (C.D. Cal. 2013)
Court Description: ORDER AFFIRMING DECISION OF COMMISSIONER by Magistrate Judge Robert N. Block. re Joint Stipulation for Social Security Cases 17 . IT THEREFORE IS ORDERED that Judgment be entered affirming the decision of the Commissioner and dismissing this action with prejudice. (twdb)
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1 O 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 MARTIN HERNANDEZ JR., ) Case No. EDCV 12-0773 RNB ) Plaintiff, ) ) ORDER AFFIRMING DECISION OF vs. ) COMMISSIONER ) CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting ) Commissioner of Social ) Security,1 ) Defendant. ) _____________________________ ) 17 18 The Court now rules as follows with respect to the three disputed issues listed 19 in the Joint Stipulation.2 20 21 1 The Acting Commissioner is hereby substituted as the defendant pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d). No further action is needed to continue this case 23 by reason of the last sentence of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 24 2 As the Court advised the parties in its Case Management Order, the 25 decision in this case is being made on the basis of the pleadings, the administrative 26 record ( AR ), and the Joint Stipulation ( Jt Stip ) filed by the parties. In accordance with Rule 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court has determined 27 which party is entitled to judgment under the standards set forth in 42 U.S.C. § 28 405(g). 22 1 1 A. Reversal is not warranted based on the ALJ s alleged failure to make a 2 proper adverse credibility determination (Disputed Issue No 3). 3 Disputed Issue No. 3 is directed to the ALJ s adverse credibility determination. 4 (See Jt Stip at 16-19.) Specifically, plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred in relying 5 on evidence of plaintiff s daily activities in support of the ALJ s adverse credibility 6 determination. (See Jt Stip at 17-18.) 7 An ALJ s assessment of pain severity and claimant credibility is entitled to 8 great weight. Weetman v. Sullivan, 877 F.2d 20, 22 (9th Cir. 1989); Nyman v. 9 Heckler, 779 F.2d 528, 531 (9th Cir. 1986). Under the Cotton test, where the 10 claimant has produced objective medical evidence of an impairment which could 11 reasonably be expected to produce some degree of pain and/or other symptoms, and 12 the record is devoid of any affirmative evidence of malingering, the ALJ may reject 13 the claimant s testimony regarding the severity of the claimant s pain and/or other 14 symptoms only if the ALJ makes specific findings stating clear and convincing 15 reasons for doing so. See Cotton v. Bowen, 799 F.2d 1403, 1407 (9th Cir. 1986); see 16 also Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1281 (9th Cir. 1996); Dodrill v. Shalala, 12 17 F.3d 915, 918 (9th Cir. 1993); Bunnell v. Sullivan, 947 F.2d 341, 343 (9th Cir. 1991) 18 (en banc). 19 Here, plaintiff testified that he was unable to work because of pain from three 20 hip surgeries, the latest of which was a hip replacement in 2007. (See AR 30-31, 35.) 21 The ALJ determined that although plaintiff s medically determinable impairments 22 could reasonably be expected to cause the alleged symptoms, plaintiff s symptoms 23 concerning the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of these symptoms were not 24 credible to the extent they were inconsistent with the ALJ s assessment of plaintiff s 25 RFC. (See AR 15.) 26 In support of this adverse credibility determination, the ALJ proffered multiple 27 reasons. For example, the ALJ determined that plaintiff s daily activities caring for 28 personal hygiene, doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, and going to church services 2 1 lasting 2 hours undermined plaintiff s credibility because [s]ome of the physical 2 and mental abilities and social interactions required in order to perform these 3 activities are the same as those necessary for obtaining and maintaining employment. 4 (See AR 15.) Plaintiff contends that this reason was improper because his daily 5 activities were not at a level suggesting that plaintiff could hold down a job. (See Jt 6 Stip at 17-18.) 7 The Court disagrees. Under Ninth Circuit jurisprudence, the ALJ s 8 determination that plaintiff s daily activities involved the performance of physical, 9 mental, and social functions that were transferable to a work setting was not 10 erroneous. See, e.g., Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 959 (9th Cir. 2002) (ALJ did 11 not err in finding that the claimant s ability to perform chores such as cooking, 12 laundry, washing dishes, and shopping undermined the credibility of her subjective 13 complaints); Tidwell v. Apfel, 161 F.3d 599, 601, 602 (9th Cir. 1998) (claimant s 14 testimony that she did the laundry, cleaned the house, vacuumed, mopped, dusted, 15 and shopped for groceries was inconsistent with claim of severe back impairment); 16 Orteza v. Shalala, 50 F.3d 748, 750 (9th Cir. 1995) (per curiam) (holding that the ALJ 17 did not err in concluding that the claimant s ability to cook, do dishes, go to the store, 18 visit relatives, and drive indicated that he could perform light work). 19 In any event, even assuming arguendo that the ALJ did improperly rely on 20 evidence of plaintiff s daily activities in support of the ALJ s adverse credibility 21 determination, the ALJ cited other reasons that plaintiff does not challenge. 22 Specifically, the ALJ noted that plaintiff s allegations were greater than expected in 23 light of the objective evidence of the record: specifically, in 2008, following 24 petitioner s hip replacement, plaintiff s treating physician released him to less 25 strenuous work. (See AR 15, 17; see also AR 203.) The Court finds that this 26 constituted a legally sufficient reason on which the ALJ could properly rely in 27 support of his adverse credibility determination. See Osenbrock v. Apfel, 240 F.3d 28 1157, 1166 (9th Cir. 2001) (ALJ properly rejected pain testimony where treating 3 1 physician released claimant for return to light duty work); Crane v. Shalala, 76 F.3d 2 251, 253-54 (9th Cir. 1996) (treating physician s opinion that claimant was fully 3 employable may alone constitute substantial evidence). 4 The ALJ also noted that the record indicated only routine and conservative 5 treatment since his hip replacement, consisting of routine check-up appointments with 6 his primary care physician. (See AR 15; see also AR 300-02, 305-06, 342-43.) The 7 Court finds that this constituted a legally sufficient reason on which the ALJ could 8 properly rely in support of his adverse credibility determination. See Parra v. Astrue, 9 481 F.3d 742, 751 (9th Cir. 2007) (evidence of conservative treatment is sufficient 10 to discount a claimant s testimony regarding severity of an impairment); Johnson v. 11 Shalala, 60 F.3d 1428, 1434 (9th Cir. 1995) (ALJ may properly rely on the fact that 12 only conservative treatment had been prescribed). 13 The ALJ also noted that no medical source rendered a statement endorsing the 14 extent of plaintiff s alleged functional limitations. (See AR 15.) The Court finds that 15 this constituted a legally sufficient reason on which the ALJ could properly rely in 16 support of his adverse credibility determination. See Matthews v. Shalala, 10 F.3d 17 678, 680 (9th Cir. 1993) (ALJ properly rejected pain complaints where no physician 18 who examined claimant expressed the opinion that he was totally disabled). 19 It follows that, to the extent that the ALJ may have erred in basing his adverse 20 credibility determination on evidence of plaintiff s daily activities, the error was 21 harmless. See Carmickle v. Comm r, Social Sec. Admin., 533 F.3d 1155, 1162-63 22 (9th Cir. 2008) (holding that ALJ s reliance on two invalid reasons in support of 23 adverse credibility determination was harmless where remaining reasons were 24 adequately supported by substantial evidence); Batson v. Commissioner of Social 25 Security Administration, 359 F.3d 1190, 1197 (9th Cir. 2004) (holding that any error 26 by ALJ in relying on evidence of claimant s daily activities was harmless where 27 adverse credibility determination was otherwise supported by substantial evidence). 28 // 4 1 The Court therefore finds and concludes that reversal is not warranted based 2 on the ALJ s alleged failure to make a proper adverse credibility determination. 3 4 B. Reversal is not warranted based on the ALJ s alleged failure to properly 5 consider the examining physician s opinion (Disputed Issue No. 2). 6 Disputed Issue No. 2 is directed to the ALJ s failure to accord great weight to 7 the opinion of the examining orthopedist, Dr. Bilezikjian. (See Jt Stip at 12-16.) Dr. 8 Bilezikjian opined that plaintiff s hip condition imposed limitations that included, 9 inter alia, the possible need to use crutches at all times for support. (See AR 233.) 10 To reject the uncontradicted opinion of an examining physician, an ALJ must 11 provide clear and convincing reasons. Where, as in this case, the examining 12 physician s opinion is contradicted by that of another doctor, the ALJ must provide 13 specific and legitimate reasons that are supported by substantial evidence in the 14 record. See Regennitter v. Commissioner of Social Sec. Admin., 166 F.3d 1294, 15 1298-99 (9th Cir. 1999); Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830-31 (9th Cir. 1995); 16 Andrews v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 1995); see also Bayliss v. Barnhart, 17 427 F.3d 1211, 1216 (9th Cir. 2005). 18 Here, the ALJ gave significant, but not great weight to Dr. Bilezikjian s 19 opinion because, although Dr. Bilezikjian personally observed and examined plaintiff, 20 he seemed to accept uncritically as true most, if not all, of what [plaintiff] reported ; 21 the ALJ also noted that plaintiff admitted at the hearing that he only used crutches 22 when his pain got too bad. (See AR 17; see also AR 40-41, 230.) The Court finds 23 that this constituted a legally sufficient reason for the ALJ not to accord great weight 24 to Dr. Bilezikjian s opinion. See Morgan v. Chater, 169 F.3d 595, 602 (9th Cir. 25 1999) (a physician s opinion of disability premised to a large extent upon the 26 claimant s own accounts of his symptoms and limitations may be disregarded where 27 those complaints have been properly discounted); Fair v. Bowen, 885 F.2d 597, 605 28 (9th Cir. 1989) (same); Brawner v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 839 F.2d 5 1 432, 433-34 (9th Cir. 1988) (per curiam) (same); see also Andrews, 53 F.3d at 1042 2 (ALJ properly rejected examining physician s opinion that claimant s alcoholism was 3 uncontrolled where, inter alia, claimant testified that he had been able to control his 4 alcohol and drug dependence for years at a time). 5 6 C. Reversal is not warranted based on the ALJ s alleged failure to make a 7 proper listings determination (Disputed Issue No. 1). 8 Disputed Issue No. 1 is directed to the ALJ s determination that plaintiff s hip 9 condition did not meet or equal the requirements of Listing 1.03 (reconstructive 10 surgery of a major weight-bearing joint). (See Jt Stip at 3-8.) 11 At step three of the sequential evaluation process, the ALJ must determine 12 whether a claimant s impairment or combination of impairments meets or equals a 13 listed impairment set out in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. See Tackett 14 v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1099 (9th Cir. 1999). To meet a listed impairment, the 15 claimant must establish that he satisfies each element of the listed impairment in 16 question. See Sullivan v. Zebley, 493 U.S. 521, 530, 110 S. Ct. 885, 107 L. Ed. 2d 17 967 (1990); Tackett, 180 F.3d at 1099. To equal a listed impairment, a plaintiff 18 must establish symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings at least equal in severity 19 and duration to the characteristics of a relevant listed impairment, or, if a claimant s 20 impairment is not listed, then to the listed impairment most like the claimant s 21 impairment. Tackett, 180 F.3d at 1099 (quoting 20 C.F.R. § 404.1526). 22 Listing 1.03 requires [r]econstructive surgery or surgical arthrodesis of a 23 major weight-bearing joint, with inability to ambulate effectively, as defined in 24 1.00B2b, and return to effective ambulation did not occur, or is not expected to occur, 25 within 12 months of onset. See 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, § 1.03. The 26 Commissioner has generally defined ineffective ambulation as having insufficient 27 lower extremity functioning . . . to permit independent ambulation without the use of 28 a hand-held assistive device(s) that limits the functioning of both upper extremities. 6 1 See 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, § 1.00B2b. An example of ineffective 2 ambulation includes the inability to walk a block at a reasonable pace on rough or 3 uneven surfaces. See id. 4 Preliminarily, plaintiff contends that the ALJ s determination that plaintiff 5 failed to meet or equal the requirements of Listing 1.03 was erroneous because it was 6 merely a boilerplate finding. (See Jt Stip at 7-8.) The Court rejects this contention 7 because the ALJ extensively discussed the evidence, so that the basis of his listings 8 determination was clear (see AR 16-17). See also Lewis v. Apfel, 236 F.3d 503, 513 9 (9th Cir. 2001) (ALJ s listings determination was adequate where he discussed and 10 evaluated evidence supporting his conclusion ); Gonzalez v. Sullivan, 914 F.2d 1197, 11 1201 (9th Cir. 1990) ( It is unnecessary to require the [Commissioner], as a matter 12 of law, to state why a claimant failed to satisfy every different section of the listing 13 of impairments where there were specific findings supporting the conclusion). 14 Although plaintiff cites various portions of the record as evidence purporting 15 to meet or equal the requirements of Listing 1.03, the crux of plaintiff s claim appears 16 to be that the ALJ s determination was not supported by substantial evidence because 17 of two pieces of evidence of ineffective ambulation. (See Jt Stip at 4-6.) First, 18 plaintiff points to the opinion of Dr. Bilezikjian that plaintiff may need to use 19 crutches at all times for support. (See Jt Stip at 4.) However, as the Court found 20 above, the ALJ provided a specific and legitimate reason to not give great weight to 21 Dr. Bilezikjian s opinion. 22 Second, plaintiff points to the ALJ s RFC determination that plaintiff cannot 23 walk on uneven terrain. (See Jt Stip at 5-6; see also AR 14.) However, such a 24 limitation by itself does not establish an inability to ambulate effectively for purposes 25 of the listings. See, e.g., Moreno v. Astrue, 444 Fed. Appx. 163, 164 (9th Cir. 2011) 26 (ALJ s RFC determination that limited claimant to walking on even terrain did not 27 establish inability to ambulate effectively under the listings); Perez v. Astrue, 831 F. 28 Supp. 2d 1168, 1176 (C.D. Cal. 2011) (medical opinion that claimant should not walk 7 1 on uneven terrain did not equate to inability to ambulate effectively); Delavara v. 2 Astrue, 2013 WL 645626, at *5 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 20, 2013) (ALJ s finding that uneven 3 ground might affect plaintiff s ability to work did not equate to inability to ambulate 4 effectively). 5 The Court therefore finds and concludes that reversal is not warranted based 6 on the ALJ s alleged failure to make a proper listings determination. 7 8 ******************* IT THEREFORE IS ORDERED that Judgment be entered affirming the 9 decision of the Commissioner and dismissing this action with prejudice. 10 11 DATED: April 4, 2013 12 13 14 ROBERT N. BLOCK UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 8
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