Bradley v. Social Security Administration Commissioner, No. 4:2013cv04063 - Document 14 (W.D. Ark. 2014)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Barry A. Bryant on July 15, 2014. (mll)
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N THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS TEXARKANA DIVISION VERONICA BRADLEY vs. ` PLAINTIFF Civil No. 4:13-cv-04063 CAROLYN COLVIN Commissioner, Social Security Administration DEFENDANT MEMORANDUM OPINION Veronica Bradley ( Plaintiff ) brings this action pursuant to § 205(g) of Title II of the Social Security Act ( The Act ), 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (2010), seeking judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration ( SSA ) denying her applications for Disability Insurance Benefits ( DIB ) and Supplemental Security Income ( SSI ) under Titles II and XVI of the Act. The parties have consented to the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge to conduct any and all proceedings in this case, including conducting the trial, ordering the entry of a final judgment, and conducting all post-judgment proceedings. ECF No. 9.1 Pursuant to this authority, the Court issues this memorandum opinion and orders the entry of a final judgment in this matter. 1. Background: Plaintiff protectively filed her applications for benefits on May 22, 2008. (Tr. 142-147). Plaintiff alleges being disabled due to breathing problems, asthma, anxiety, personality disorder and a learning disability. (Tr. 377, 434). Plaintiff alleges an onset date of January 1, 2008. (Tr. 12). These applications were denied initially and again upon reconsideration. (Tr. 152-155). Thereafter, Plaintiff requested an administrative hearing on her applications, and this hearing request was granted. 1 The docket numbers for this case are referenced by the designation ECF No. ____ The transcript pages for this case are referenced by the designation Tr. 1 (Tr. 156-157). An administrative hearing was held on August 11, 2009. (Tr. 71-107). On November 2, 2009, the ALJ entered an unfavorable decision on Plaintiff s applications. (Tr. 115-126). Following this, the matter was remanded by the Appeals Council. (Tr. 12) On remand, a second administrative hearing was held on August 29, 2012. (Tr. 41-70). At the administrative hearing, Plaintiff was present and was represented by attorney Greg Giles. Id. Plaintiff, Medical Expert ( ME ) Dr. Alvin Smith, and Vocational Expert ( VE ) Sugi Komarov, testified at this hearing. Id. On the date of this hearing, Plaintiff was twenty-seven (27) years old and had a high school education. (Tr. 49). On September 10, 2012, subsequent to the hearing, the ALJ entered an unfavorable decision on Plaintiff s applications. (Tr. 12-34). In this decision, the ALJ determined the Plaintiff met the insured status of the Act through December 31, 2008. (Tr. 14, Finding 1). The ALJ also determined Plaintiff had not engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity ( SGA ) since January 1, 2008. (Tr. 14, Finding 2). The ALJ determined Plaintiff had severe impairments of asthma, mitral valve regurgitation, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, personality disorder, and substance abuse. (Tr. 14, Finding 3). The ALJ also determined Plaintiff s impairments did not meet or medically equal the requirements of any of the Listings of Impairments in Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Regulations No. 4 ( Listings ). (Tr. 20, Finding 4). In this decision, the ALJ evaluated Plaintiff s subjective complaints and determined her Residual Functional Capacity ( RFC ). (Tr. 22-32, Finding 5). First, the ALJ indicated he evaluated Plaintiff s subjective complaints and found her claimed limitations were not entirely credible. Id. 2 Second, the ALJ determined Plaintiff retained the RFC for light work except she must avoid fumes, odors, dust, gases, and smoke; is limited to work which requires her to understand, remember, and follow simple 1, 2, 3 step instructions and complete repetitive unskilled tasks; and requires only nonpublic work. (Tr. 22, Finding 5). The ALJ evaluated Plaintiff s Past Relevant Work ( PRW ). (Tr. 32, Finding 6). The ALJ determined Plaintiff was unable to perform her PRW as a meat trimmer. Id. The ALJ, however, also determined there was other work existing in significant numbers in the national economy Plaintiff could perform. (Tr. 32-33, Finding 10). The ALJ based his determination upon the testimony of the VE. Id. Specifically, the VE testified that given all Plaintiff s vocational factors, a hypothetical individual would be able to perform the requirements of a representative occupation such as a marker 2 with approximately 700 such jobs in Arkansas and 100,000 such jobs in the nation, production assembler with approximately 1,000 such jobs in Arkansas and 129,000 such jobs in the nation, and nut and bolt assembler with approximately 600 such jobs in Arkansas and 88,000 such jobs in the nation. Id. Based upon this finding, the ALJ determined Plaintiff had not been under a disability as defined by the Act from January 1, 2008 through the date of the decision. (Tr. 33, Finding 11). On September 26, 2012, Plaintiff requested the Appeals Council s review of the ALJ s unfavorable decision. (Tr. 8). On April 11, 2013, the Appeals Council declined to review this disability determination. (Tr. 1-3). On June 10, 2013, Plaintiff filed the present appeal. ECF No. 1. The Parties consented to the jurisdiction of this Court on June 28, 2013. ECF No. 9. Both Parties have filed appeal briefs. ECF Nos. 12, 13. This case is now ready for decision. 2. Applicable Law: In reviewing this case, this Court is required to determine whether the Commissioner s 3 findings are supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (2006); Ramirez v. Barnhart, 292 F.3d 576, 583 (8th Cir. 2002). Substantial evidence is less than a preponderance of the evidence, but it is enough that a reasonable mind would find it adequate to support the Commissioner s decision. See Johnson v. Apfel, 240 F.3d 1145, 1147 (8th Cir. 2001). As long as there is substantial evidence in the record that supports the Commissioner s decision, the Court may not reverse it simply because substantial evidence exists in the record that would have supported a contrary outcome or because the Court would have decided the case differently. See Haley v. Massanari, 258 F.3d 742, 747 (8th Cir. 2001). If, after reviewing the record, it is possible to draw two inconsistent positions from the evidence and one of those positions represents the findings of the ALJ, the decision of the ALJ must be affirmed. See Young v. Apfel, 221 F.3d 1065, 1068 (8th Cir. 2000). It is well-established that a claimant for Social Security disability benefits has the burden of proving his or her disability by establishing a physical or mental disability that lasted at least one year and that prevents him or her from engaging in any substantial gainful activity. See Cox v. Apfel, 160 F.3d 1203, 1206 (8th Cir. 1998); 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A). The Act defines a physical or mental impairment as an impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which are demonstrable by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(3), 1382(3)(c). A plaintiff must show that his or her disability, not simply his or her impairment, has lasted for at least twelve consecutive months. See 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). To determine whether the adult claimant suffers from a disability, the Commissioner uses the familiar five-step sequential evaluation. He determines: (1) whether the claimant is presently engaged 4 in a substantial gainful activity ; (2) whether the claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits the claimant s physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities; (3) whether the claimant has an impairment that meets or equals a presumptively disabling impairment listed in the regulations (if so, the claimant is disabled without regard to age, education, and work experience); (4) whether the claimant has the Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) to perform his or her past relevant work; and (5) if the claimant cannot perform the past work, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to prove that there are other jobs in the national economy that the claimant can perform. See Cox, 160 F.3d at 1206; 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)-(f). The fact finder only considers the plaintiff s age, education, and work experience in light of his or her RFC if the final stage of this analysis is reached. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920 (2003). 3. Discussion: In her appeal brief, Plaintiff claims the ALJ s disability determination is not supported by substantial evidence in the record and should be reversed and remanded. ECF No. 12, Pgs. 11-20. Specifically, Plaintiff claims the ALJ erred (1) in failing to find Plaintiff met a Listing, (2) in the weight given to the opinions of Plaintiff s treating physicians, (3) in his assessment of Plaintiff s mental impairments, (4) in discounting Plaintiff s credibility, (5) in his treatment of Plaintiff s GAF scores, and (6) by failing to present a proper hypothetical to the VE. Id. In response, the Defendant argues the ALJ did not err in any of his findings. ECF No. 13. Because this Court finds the ALJ erred in his RFC determination and by failing to fully evaluate Plaintiff s Global Assessment of Functioning ( GAF ) scores, this Court finds Plaintiff s case must be reversed and remanded. Prior to Step Four of the sequential analysis in a disability determination, the ALJ is required to determine a claimant s RFC. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iv). This RFC determination must 5 be based on medical evidence that addresses the claimant s ability to function in the workplace. See Stormo v. Barnhart, 377 F.3d 801, 807 (8th Cir. 2004). The ALJ should consider all the evidence in the record in determining the RFC, including the medical records, observations of treating physicians and others, and an individual s own description of his limitations. Stormo v. Barnhart, 377 F.3d 801, 807 (8th Cir. 2004) (quoting Krogmeier v. Barnhart, 294 F.3d 1019 (8th Cir. 2002)). In social security cases where a mental impairment is alleged, it is important for an ALJ to evaluate a claimant s Global Assessment of Functioning ( GAF ) score in determining whether that claimant is disabled due to the claimed mental impairment. GAF scores range from 0 to 100. Am. Psychiatric Ass n, Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) 34 (4th ed., text rev. 2000). The Eighth Circuit has repeatedly held that GAF scores (especially those at or below 40) must be carefully evaluated when determining a claimant s RFC. See, e.g., Conklin v. Astrue, 360 F. App x. 704, 707 (8th Cir. 2010) (reversing and remanding an ALJ s disability determination in part because the ALJ failed to consider the claimant s GAF scores of 35 and 40); Pates-Fires v. Astrue, 564 F.3d 935, 944-45 (8th Cir. 2009) (holding that the ALJ s RFC finding was not supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole, in part due to the ALJ s failure to discuss or consider numerous GAF scores below 50). Indeed, a GAF score at or below 40 should be carefully considered because such a low score reflects a major impairment in several areas such as work, family relations, judgment, or mood. Conklin, 360 F. App x at 707 n.2 Am. Psychiatric Ass n, Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) 34 (4th ed., text rev. 2000)). A GAF score of 40 to 50 also indicates a claimant suffers from severe symptoms. Specifically, a person with that GAF score suffers from [s]erious symptoms (e.g., suicidal ideation, severe obsessional rituals, frequent shoplifting) OR any 6 serious impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., no friends, unable to keep a job). Am. Psychiatric Ass n, Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) 34 (4th ed., text rev. 2000). Between September 2008 and June 2012, Plaintiff had numerous GAF scores which ranged from a low of 35 to a high of 60, with the vast majority scores being in the 40's. A sampling of these scores is as follows: Date GAF Score Tr. # 09/11/08 10/08/08 11/13/08 01/07/09 01/26/09 03/02/09 05/04/09 06/04/09 07/02/09 08/04/09 09/08/09 09/28/09 10/26/09 11/24/09 01/04/10 09/29/10 11/12/10 02/08/12 02/29/12 04/29/12 04/23/12 05/07/12 06/06/12 60 40 45 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 45 45 35 51 45 45 45 45 630 680 677 675 673 671 670 731 732 667 735 736 737 751 740 704 787 799 801 814 813 812 805 The ALJ s opinion only made reference to some of Plaintiff s GAF scores but provided no discussion or analysis. It was the ALJ s responsibility to properly evaluate those GAF scores and make a finding regarding their reliability as a part of the underlying administrative proceeding. See 7 Conklin, 360 F. App x at 707. Indeed, it is especially important that the ALJ address low GAF scores where, as in this case, Plaintiff has been diagnosed with depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and personality disorder. Accordingly, because the ALJ was required to evaluate these scores and provide a reason for discounting the low GAF scores but did not do so, Plaintiff s case must be reversed and remanded for further development of the record on this issue. See Pates-Fires, 564 F.3d at 944-45. 4. Conclusion: Based on the foregoing, the undersigned finds that the decision of the ALJ, denying benefits to Plaintiff, must be reversed and remanded. A judgment incorporating these findings will be entered pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 52 and 58. ENTERED this 15th day of July 2014. /s/ Barry A. Bryant HON. BARRY A. BRYANT U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE 8
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