Kathy Thomas v. Michael J Astrue, No. 5:2009cv01856 - Document 16 (C.D. Cal. 2010)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OF DECISION by Magistrate Judge Andrew J. Wistrich. The Commissioner's decision is supported by substantial evidence and is free of legal error. Accordingly, the Commissioner's decision is affirmed. IT IS SO ORDERED. (mz)
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Kathy Thomas v. Michael J Astrue Doc. 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 WESTERN DIVISION 11 12 13 14 15 16 KATHY THOMAS, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) ) MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, ) Commissioner of the Social ) Security Administration, ) ) Defendant. ) _____________________________________) Case No. CV 09-1856 AJW MEMORANDUM OF DECISION 17 Plaintiff filed this action seeking reversal of the decision of defendant, the Commissioner of the 18 Social Security Administration (the Commissioner ), denying plaintiff s application for disability insurance 19 benefits. The parties have filed a Joint Stipulation ( JS ) setting forth their contentions with respect to each 20 disputed issue. 21 Administrative Proceedings 22 The procedural facts are summarized in the Joint Stipulation. [JS 2]. In a March 12, 2009 hearing 23 decision that constitutes the Commissioner s final decision in this matter, an administrative law judge 24 ( ALJ ) found that plaintiff had severe impairments consisting of diabetes, headaches, fibromyalgia, post 25 aneurysm, and carpal tunnel syndrome. [Administrative Record ( AR ) 11]. The ALJ concluded that 26 plaintiff was not disabled because she retained the residual functional capacity ( RFC ) to perform a range 27 of sedentary work, and therefore could perform jobs available in significant numbers in the national 28 Dockets.Justia.com 1 economy. [AR17-18]. Standard of Review 2 3 The Commissioner s denial of benefits should be disturbed only if it is not supported by substantial 4 evidence or is based on legal error. Stout v. Comm r, Social Sec. Admin., 454 F.3d 1050, 1054 (9th Cir. 5 2006); Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 954 (9th Cir. 2002). Substantial evidence means more than 6 a mere scintilla, but less than a preponderance. Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1214 n.1 (9th Cir. 7 2005). It is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. 8 Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2005)(internal quotation marks omitted). The court is 9 required to review the record as a whole and to consider evidence detracting from the decision as well as 10 evidence supporting the decision. Robbins v. Social Sec. Admin, 466 F.3d 880, 882 (9th Cir. 2006); 11 Verduzco v. Apfel, 188 F.3d 1087, 1089 (9th Cir. 1999). Where the evidence is susceptible to more than 12 one rational interpretation, one of which supports the ALJ's decision, the ALJ's conclusion must be upheld. 13 Thomas, 278 F.3d at 954 (citing Morgan v. Comm r of Social Sec. Admin., 169 F.3d 595, 599 (9th 14 Cir.1999)). 15 Discussion 16 17 18 Nonexamining physicians Plaintiff contends that the ALJ failed properly to consider the opinion of Ian Happer, M.D., a nonexamining state agency physician. [See JS 3-6]. 19 Dr. Happer concluded that plaintiff could perform sedentary work and could engage in handling and 20 fingering with the left upper extremity frequiently [sic] and non-repetitively due to carpal tunnel 21 syndrome. [AR 174]. The ALJ said that he gave Dr. Happer s opinion great weight and characterized Dr. 22 Happer s limitations as consistent with the ALJ s RFC finding, which included the ability to frequently 23 handle and finger using the left upper extremity. The ALJ did not include in his RFC finding Dr. Happer s 24 preclusion against non-repetitive fingering and handling. Plaintiff argues that because most unskilled 25 sedentary jobs require good use of the hands and fingers for repetitive hand-finger actions, the ALJ s 26 failure explicitly to adopt Dr. Happer s limitation to non-repetitive fingering was reversible error and 27 deprives his decision of substantial support in the record. [JS 3 (alteration and emphasis omitted)(citing SSR 28 83-10)]. 2 1 In SSR 96-9p, the Commissioner explained: 2 Most unskilled sedentary jobs require good use of both hands and the fingers; i.e., bilateral 3 manual dexterity. Fine movements of small objects require use of the fingers; e.g., to pick 4 or pinch. Most unskilled sedentary jobs require good use of the hands and fingers for 5 repetitive hand-finger actions. [¶] Any significant manipulative limitation of an individual's 6 ability to handle and work with small objects with both hands will result in a significant 7 erosion of the unskilled sedentary occupational base. For example, example 1 in section 8 201.00(h) of appendix 2, describes an individual who has an impairment that prevents the 9 performance of any sedentary occupations that require bilateral manual dexterity (i.e., limits 10 the individual to sedentary jobs which do not require bilateral manual dexterity ). When the 11 limitation is less significant, especially if the limitation is in the non-dominant hand, it may 12 be useful to consult a vocational resource. 13 SSR 96-9p, 1996 WL 374185, at *8 (emphasis in original). 14 The ALJ obtained a vocational expert s testimony to clarify the effect on the occupational base of 15 plaintiff s nonexertional limitations, including her fingering and handling restrictions. The ALJ s 16 hypothetical question to the vocational expert posited a limitation to occasional handling and fingering with 17 the left upper extremity. The vocational expert testified that the hypothetical person could perform the 18 unskilled, sedentary jobs of information clerk, Dictionary of Occupational Titles ( DOT ) job number 19 237.367-022, and general office clerk, DOT job number 209.562-010. 20 Relying in part on Dr. Happer s opinion, the ALJ ultimately found that plaintiff could perform 21 frequent, rather than occasional, left-sided handling and fingering. The ability to perform an activity 22 frequently subsumes the ability to perform that activity occasionally. Therefore, the ALJ permissibly 23 relied on the vocational expert s testimony identifying jobs that a hypothetical person capable of 24 occasional left-sided handling and fingering could perform. 25 Even if the ALJ erroneously omitted from his RFC assessment Dr. Happer s limitation to non- 26 repetitive handling and fingering with the left upper extremity, substantial evidence supports the ALJ s 27 finding that plaintiff can perform the alternative jobs of information clerk and general office clerk identified 28 by the vocational expert. The DOT states that the job of information clerk, job number 237.367-022, 3 1 requires occasional handling, and that fingering is an activity that is not present in that job.1 Plaintiff s 2 RFC permits frequent (or occasional) handling on the left side, unlimited on the right. The DOT also states 3 that the job of information clerk requires a low degree of aptitude or ability in manual dexterity, 4 corresponding to that possessed by the lowest 1/3 of the population, excluding the bottom ten percent. Thus, 5 while most unskilled sedentary jobs require a high degree of bilateral manual dexterity for fine and/or 6 repetitive movements, the job of information clerk does not. Accordingly, a limitation to non-repetitive 7 fingering and handling would not preclude performance of that job as described in the DOT. See Pinto v. 8 Massanari, 249 F.3d 840, 845 (9th Cir. 2001)( [T]he best source for how a job is generally performed is 9 usually the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. ). 10 The second job identified by the vocational expert, general office clerk, DOT job number 209.562- 11 010, requires frequent fingering and handling, and therefore is within plaintiff s RFC as found by the ALJ. 12 The job of general office clerk, like the information clerk job, requires only a low degree of aptitude or 13 ability in manual dexterity, negating the inference that a limitation to non-repetitive handling and fingering 14 would preclude performance of that job. 15 In sum, nothing in those DOT job descriptions supports plaintiff s contention that she could not 16 perform those jobs if the ALJ had expressly incorporated a limitation to frequent and non-repetitive left- 17 sided fingering and handling. Therefore, the ALJ s failure to include the non-repetitive limitation in his 18 RFC finding was harmless error, at most. See Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1042 (9th Cir. 19 2008)(holding that an error that was inconsequential to the ultimate nondisability determination was 20 harmless). Hypothetical question 21 22 Plaintiff contends that the ALJ s hypothetical question to the vocational expert was defective 23 because it did not include the limitation to non-repetitive fingering and handling with the left upper 24 extremity noted by Dr. Happer. [JS 6-8]. Hypothetical questions posed to the vocational expert must accurately describe all of the limitations 25 26 27 28 1 The Commissioner may take administrative notice of job data available in the DOT and other reliable sources. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1566(d), 416.966(d); Massachi v. Astrue, 486 F.3d 1149, 1152 n.8 (9th Cir. 2007). 4 1 and restrictions of the claimant that are supported by substantial evidence in the record. Robbins v. Soc. 2 Sec. Admin., 466 F.3d 880, 886 (9th Cir. 2006); Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1101 (9th Cir. 1999). For the reasons described above, the ALJ s omission of a limitation to non-repetitive handling and 3 4 fingering was harmless error. Accordingly, plaintiff s contention lacks merit. 5 Treating physician s opinion 6 Plaintiff contends that the ALJ improperly rejected the opinion of Leslie A. Stanwix, D.O. Plaintiff 7 points to statements by Dr. Stanwix in her August 2006 and October 2006 examination reports that plaintiff 8 was disabled from work, and that she was submitting disability paperwork on plaintiff s behalf. [JS 9-13]. 9 The ALJ must provide clear and convincing reasons, supported by substantial evidence in the record, 10 for rejecting an uncontroverted treating source opinion. If contradicted by that of another doctor, a treating 11 or examining source opinion may be rejected for specific and legitimate reasons that are based on substantial 12 evidence in the record. Batson v. Comm r of Social Sec. Admin., 359 F.3d 1190, 1195 (9th Cir. 2004); 13 Tonapetyan v. Halter, 242 F.3d 1144, 1148-1149 (9th Cir. 2001); Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830-831 14 (9th Cir. 1995). 15 In the section of an August 2006 examination report devoted to plaintiff s subjective complaints and 16 history, Dr. Stanwix noted that plaintiff continue[s] to be disabled from work although she has been cleared 17 for October 1st by Dr. Myers. She has not seen a hand specialist for her carpal tunnel as yet. She follows 18 a poor nutritional pattern. She does not exercise and is a smoker. [AR 274]. In October 2006, Dr. Stanwix 19 noted again in the subjective history of her examination report that plaintiff continues to be in 20 significant pain, but she added that when plaintiff took Percocet in the morning and evening, this is 21 helpful. [AR 270]. Dr. Stanwix also noted that plaintiff said she had been granted disability because of 22 her carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic pain from California, and she would like to continue this 23 disability . . . . [AR 270]. Dr. Stanwix diagnosed chronic pain/arthralgias, probably fibromyalgia; carpal 24 tunnel syndrome, left side, persistent; and depression. [AR 270]. She added that a [f]orm was filled out 25 and will be faxed to employment development department, state of California, for continued disability. [AR 26 270]. 27 The ALJ said that he had read and considered the statements from Dr. Stanwix in which she 28 describes the claimant [as] disabled from illnesses but does not supply specific restrictions based on 5 1 objective medical abnormalities. [AR 15]. The ALJ deferred instead to the opinions of Dr. Happer and Dr. 2 DeBolt, a medical expert who testified during the administrative hearing. [AR 15]. 3 The ALJ did not err in evaluating Dr. Stanwix s reports. Viewed in context, Dr. Stanwix s August 4 2006 statement that plaintiff continues to be disabled simply reflected plaintiff s subjective assessment 5 of her condition as told to Dr. Stanwix. Dr. Stanwix made a point of noting that another treating doctor had 6 cleared plaintiff to return to work in two months, and that plaintiff had taken no steps to treat her left carpal 7 tunnel syndrome or to address her poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and smoking. Dr. Stanwix s reports do 8 not support the inference that she had concluded that plaintiff was, in fact, disabled. 9 Even if Dr. Stanwix s statement that plaintiff continues to be disabled could reasonably be 10 construed as reflecting Dr. Stanwix s opinion, the ALJ permissibly rejected it as unsupported by objective 11 findings. Dr. Stanwix found only minor abnormalities, and her diagnoses are not indicative of disability. 12 See Bayliss, 427 F.3d at 1217 (stating that an ALJ need not accept the opinion of a doctor if that opinion 13 is brief, conclusory, and inadequately supported by clinical findings, and holding that the ALJ properly 14 rejected a treating physician's opinion that was contradicted by the doctor's treatment notes); Sample v. 15 Schweiker, 694 F.2d 639, 642-643 (9th Cir. 1982) (noting that the existence of a diagnosed disorder is not 16 per se disabling, and that there must be proof of the impairment's disabling severity ). Dr. Stanwix noted 17 that plaintiff exhibited some rib and abdominal tenderness, and that there were some abnormalities on 18 urinanalysis. Dr. Stanwix s assessment was right-sided flank pain, suspect renal lithiasis (kidney stones); 19 chronic lower extremity pain of undetermined etiology; left carpal tunnel; diabetes with very poor 20 compliance; hypertension; and suspect drug seeking, narcotic seeking behavior. [AR 274]. In short, 21 contrary to plaintiff s contention, Dr. Stanwix s August 2006 report does not support the inference that 22 plaintiff is disabled, and the ALJ did not err in evaluating it. 23 Dr. Stanwix s October 2006 note indicating that plaintiff had been granted state disability benefits 24 simply reflects what plaintiff told her. Dr. Stanwix remarked that plaintiff wanted to continue on state 25 disability because she had not yet completed a work-up with a rheumatologist for possible fibromyalgia. 26 Plaintiff had received a positive EMG report from another doctor indicating left-sided carpal tunnel 27 syndrome and had questions about what to do with this diagnosis from this point forward. [AR 270]. Dr. 28 Stanwix made no examination findings because she did not examine plaintiff that day. [AR 270]. 6 1 Nonetheless, she reported that she filled out a form for continued disability to be faxed to the California 2 state employment development department. [AR 270]. That report does not appear to be included in the 3 record. 4 Nowhere in her October 2006 report did Dr. Stanwix say that plaintiff was disabled or describe any 5 work-related functional limitations. See Morgan, 169 F.3d at 600 (holding that the ALJ permissibly rejected 6 an examining doctor s report that did not show how the claimant's symptoms translated into specific 7 functional deficits that precluded work activity); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1513(d), 416.913(d) (setting forth the 8 requirements for medical source reports); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567, 416.957 (setting forth the standards for 9 evaluating medical opinions); cf. Meanel v. Apfel, 172 F.3d 1111, 1113-1114 (9th Cir. 1999)(holding that 10 the ALJ properly rejected a treating physician's meager opinion that failed to explain how the claimant's 11 impairment affected her ability to work, and that the ALJ permissibly relied on the opinion of an examining 12 physician who made specific findings regarding the claimant's work-related limitations). 13 Dr. Stanwix s references to completing a state disability form on plaintiff s behalf do not constitute 14 a medical opinion that plaintiff is disabled for social security disability purposes. Even if Dr. Stanwix s 15 reports are construed to contain a medical opinion of disability, the ALJ permissibly concluded that Dr. 16 Stanwix presented no objective or clinical findings supporting such an assessment. Accordingly, plaintiff s 17 contentions lack merit. 18 Duty to develop the record 19 Plaintiff contends that because the ALJ deemed Dr. Stanwix s treating records inadequate to 20 support a finding of disability, the ALJ was obligated to recontact Dr. Stanwix to seek additional 21 information and/or clarification. [JS 15]. 22 The ALJ has a special duty to fully and fairly develop the record and to assure that the claimant's 23 interests are considered, even where, as here, the claimant is represented by counsel. Celaya v. Halter, 24 332 F.3d 1177, 1183 (9th Cir. 2003)(quoting Brown v. Heckler, 713 F.2d 441, 443 (9th Cir. 1983)); see 25 Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1288 (9th Cir. 1996). A claimant, however, retains the burden of proving 26 that he is disabled. Mayes v. Massanari, 276 F.3d 453, 459 (9th Cir. 2001). The ALJ's duty to develop the 27 record further is triggered only when there is ambiguous evidence or when the record is inadequate to allow 28 for proper evaluation of the evidence. Mayes, 276 F.3d at 459-460 (rejecting the argument that the ALJ 7 1 breached his duty to develop the record as an impermissible attempt to shift the burden of proving disability 2 away from the claimant). 3 For the reasons explained above, even if Dr. Stanwix s reports are construed to contain a disability 4 opinion, the ALJ permissibly rejected them. Plaintiff did not meet her burden to produce evidence showing 5 that she is disabled. The record was not fatally ambiguous, and the ALJ was not obliged to recontact Dr. 6 Stanwix. Therefore, plaintiff s contention lacks merit. See Thomas, 278 F.3d at 958 (rejecting the argument 7 that the ALJ had a duty to recontact an evaluator whose report was contradictory because the 8 requirement for additional information is triggered only when the evidence from the treating medical source 9 is inadequate to make a determination as to the claimant's disability, the ALJ made no finding that the 10 treating source evidence was inadequate to make a determination, and the ALJ articulated valid reasons for 11 discrediting the report). Conclusion 12 13 The Commissioner's decision is supported by substantial evidence and is free of legal error. 14 Accordingly, the Commissioner's decision is affirmed. 15 IT IS SO ORDERED. 16 July 19, 2010 _________________________ ANDREW J. WISTRICH United States Magistrate Judge 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 8
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