Victoria E. Banda v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration, No. 8:2020cv01047 - Document 21 (C.D. Cal. 2021)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER OF REMAND by Magistrate Judge Alka Sagar. The decision of the Commissioner is reversed, and the matter is remanded for further proceedings. (see document for further details) (hr)
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Victoria E. Banda v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration Doc. 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 10 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA-SOUTHERN DIVISION 11 12 13 VICTORIA E. B.,1 Plaintiff, 14 15 v. ANDREW M. SAUL, Commissioner 16 of the Social Security 17 Administration, Defendant. 18 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. SACV 20-01047-AS MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER OF REMAND 19 20 21 22 For the reasons discussed below, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, pursuant to Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), this matter is remanded for further administrative action consistent with this Opinion. 23 24 25 26 27 1 Plaintiff’s name is partially redacted in accordance with 28 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2(c)(2)(B) and the recommendation of the Committee on Court Administration and Case Management of the Judicial Conference of the United States. Dockets.Justia.com 1 PROCEEDINGS 2 3 On June 11, 2020, Victoria E. B. (“Plaintiff”) filed a Complaint 4 seeking review of the denial of her application for Disability Insurance 5 Benefits by the Social Security Administration. (Dkt. No. 1). The 6 parties have consented to proceed before the undersigned United States 7 Magistrate Judge. (Dkt. Nos. 7, 11). On October 26, 2020, Defendant 8 filed an Answer along with the Administrative Record (“AR”). (Dkt. Nos. 9 15-16). On March 1, 2021, the parties filed a Joint Submission (“Joint 10 Stip.”) setting forth their respective positions regarding Plaintiff’s 11 claims. (Dkt. No. 20). 12 13 The Court has taken this matter under submission without oral 14 argument. See C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-15. 15 16 BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS 17 18 On November 4, 2016, Plaintiff, formerly employed as a salesperson, 19 doughnut maker, bakery clerk, cookie decorator, and dessert finisher 20 (see AR 32-35, 201-06), filed an application for Disability Insurance 21 Benefits, alleging a disability onset date of September 9, 2016. (See 22 AR 15, 154-60). Plaintiff’s application was denied, initially on April 23 10, 2017, and on reconsideration on July 25, 2017. (See AR 15, 52, 86). 24 25 26 On March 26, 2019, Plaintiff, represented by counsel, testified at 27 a hearing before Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) John Kays. (See AR 3128 43, 48-49). The ALJ also heard testimony from vocational expert (“VE”) Ronald K. Hatakeyama. (See AR 43-48). 2 On April 17, 2019, the ALJ 1 issued a decision denying Plaintiff’s request for benefits. (See AR 152 23). 3 4 Applying the five-step sequential process, the ALJ found at step 5 one that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity from 6 September 9, 2016, the alleged onset disability onset date. (AR 17). 7 At step two, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff had the severe 8 impairments of bipolar disorder, anxiety and alcohol abuse in recent 9 remission. (AR 17-18).2 At step three, the ALJ determined that 10 Plaintiff did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that 11 met or medically equaled the severity of any of the listed impairments 12 in the regulations. (AR 18).3 13 14 The ALJ then assessed Plaintiff’s residual functional capacity 15 (“RFC”)4 and found that Plaintiff could perform the full range of work 16 at all exertional levels with the following limitations: “can perform 17 simple repetitive tasks; able to understand, remember, [and] carry out 18 simple written/oral instructions from supervisors; perform activities 19 within a schedule and maintain regular attendance; perform work activity 20 without additional supervision; occasional interaction [with] 21 supervisors, co-workers and the public; focus and concentration 2 hours 22 23 24 2 The ALJ found that Plaintiff’s other alleged impairments -diabetes, neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and fatty liver -- were nonsevere. (AR 17-18). 25 3 The ALJ specifically considered Listings 12.04 (depressive and 26 bipolar related disorders) and 12.06 (anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders). (AR 18). 27 4 28 A Residual Functional Capacity is what a claimant can still do despite existing exertional and nonexertional limitations. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(1). 3 1 at a time; and miss work once every 30-45 days.” (AR 19-22). At step 2 four, the ALJ found that Plaintiff was unable to perform any past 3 relevant work. (AR 21-22). 4 Plaintiff’s age, At step five, the ALJ determined, based on education, work experience, RFC, and the VE’s 5 testimony, that there were jobs that existed in significant numbers in 6 the national economy that Plaintiff could perform. (AR 22-23). 7 Accordingly, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had not been under a 8 disability, as defined in the Social Security Act, from September 9, 9 2016 though April 17, 2019. (AR 23). 10 11 The Appeals Council denied Plaintiff’s request for review on April 12 23, 2020. (AR 1-5). Plaintiff now seeks judicial review of the ALJ’s 13 decision, which stands as the final decision of the Commissioner. See 14 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c). 15 16 STANDARD OF REVIEW 17 18 This Court reviews the Commissioner’s decision to determine if it 19 is free of legal error and supported by substantial evidence. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Brewes v. Comm’r, 682 F.3d 1157, 1161 (9th Cir. 2012). See “Substantial evidence” is more than a mere scintilla, but less than a preponderance. Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1009 (9th Cir. 2014). “It means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Revels v. Berryhill, 874 F.3d 648, 654 (9th Cir. 2017). To determine whether substantial evidence supports a finding, “a court must consider the record as a whole, weighing both evidence that supports and evidence that detracts from the [Commissioner’s] 28 4 1 conclusion.” Aukland v. Massanari, 257 F.3d 1033, 1035 (9th Cir. 2 2001)(internal quotation omitted). As a result, “[i]f the evidence can 3 support either affirming or reversing the ALJ’s conclusion, [a court] 4 may not substitute [its] judgment for that of the ALJ.” Robbins v. Soc. 5 Sec. Admin., 466 F.3d 880, 882 (9th Cir. 2006).5 6 7 PLAINTIFF’S CONTENTIONS 8 9 Plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred in assessing Plaintiff’s RFC 10 by failing to properly consider (1) Plaintiff’s subjective symptom 11 testimony, (2) the opinion of Plaintiff’s treating physician (Dr. 12 Lupsa), (3) the opinion of a consultative examiner (Dr. Herron), (4) the 13 opinion of a licensed clinical social worker (Karen Depreist), and (5) 14 the opinions of all consultative examiners that Plaintiff was disabled. 15 (See Joint Stip. at 3-14, 23-31, 36-40, 43-49). 16 17 DISCUSSION 18 19 After consideration of the record as a whole, the Court finds that 20 Plaintiff’s first claim -- that the ALJ erred in failing to provide 21 clear and convincing testimony for rejecting Plaintiff’s testimony about 22 her pain and limitations –- warrants a remand for further consideration. 23 Since the Court is remanding the matter based on Plaintiff’s first 24 claim, the Court will not address Plaintiff’s claims that the ALJ erred 25 26 5 The harmless error rule applies to the review of See McLeod v. Astrue, 640 F.3d 881, 886-88 (9th Cir. 2011); Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2005)(An ALJ’s decision will not be reversed for errors that are harmless). 27 administrative decisions regarding disability. 28 5 1 in failing to properly assess the opinions of Plaintiff’s treating 2 physician, the consultative examiners, and the licensed clinical social 3 worker. 4 5 A. The 6 Rejecting Plaintiff’s Subjective Symptom Testimony ALJ Failed to Provide Clear and Convincing Reasons for clear and 7 8 Plaintiff asserts that the ALJ did not provide 9 convincing reasons for rejecting Plaintiff’s testimony about her pain 10 and limitations. (See Joint Stip. at 3-14, 23-27). Defendant asserts 11 that the ALJ provided valid reasons for discounting Plaintiff’s 12 testimony. (See Joint Stip. at 15-23). 13 14 1. Legal Standard 15 16 When assessing a claimant’s credibility regarding subjective pain 17 or intensity of symptoms, the ALJ must engage in a two-step analysis. 18 Trevizo v. Berryhill, 871 F.3d 664, 678 (9th Cir. 2017). First, the ALJ 19 must determine if there is medical evidence of an impairment that could 20 reasonably produce the symptoms alleged. Id. (citing Garrison v. 21 Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1014-15 (9th Cir. 2014)). “In this analysis, the 22 claimant is not required to show that her impairment could reasonably 23 be expected to cause the severity of the symptom she has alleged; she 24 need only show that it could reasonably have caused some degree of the 25 symptom.” Id. (emphasis in original)(citation omitted). “Nor must a 26 claimant produce objective medical evidence of the pain or fatigue 27 itself, or the severity thereof.” Id. (citation omitted). 28 6 1 If the claimant satisfies this first step, and there is no evidence 2 of malingering, the ALJ must provide specific, clear and convincing 3 reasons for rejecting the claimant’s testimony about the symptom 4 severity. Id. (citation omitted); see also Robbins v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 5 466 F.3d 880, 883 (9th Cir. 2006)(“[U]nless an ALJ makes a finding of 6 malingering based on affirmative evidence thereof, he or she may only 7 8 9 10 11 find an applicant not credible by making specific findings as to credibility and stating clear and convincing reasons for each.”); Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1284 (9th Cir. 1996)(“[T]he ALJ may reject the claimant’s testimony regarding the severity of her symptoms only if he 12 makes specific findings stating clear and convincing reasons for doing 13 so.”). “This is not an easy requirement to meet: The clear and 14 convincing standard is the most demanding required in Social Security 15 cases.” Garrison, 759 F.3d at 1015 (citation omitted). 16 17 Where, as here, the ALJ finds that a claimant suffers from a 18 medically determinable physical or mental impairment that could 19 reasonably be expected to produce his alleged symptoms, the ALJ must 20 evaluate “the intensity and persistence of those symptoms to determine 21 the extent to which the symptoms limit an individual’s ability to 22 perform work-related activities for an adult.” Soc. Sec. Ruling (“SSR”) 23 16-3p, 2017 WL 5180304, at *3.6 SSR 16–3p eliminated the term 24 25 6 SSR 16-3p, which superseded SSR 96-7p, is applicable to this 26 case, because SSR 16-3p, which became effective on March 28, 2016, was in effect at the time of the Appeal Council’s April 23, 2020 denial of 27 Plaintiff's request for review. Nevertheless, the regulation on evaluating a claimant’s symptoms, including pain, see 20 C.F.R. § 28 404.1529, has not changed. 7 1 “credibility” from the Agency’s sub-regulatory policy. However, the 2 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has noted that SSR 16–3p: 3 makes clear what [the Ninth Circuit’s] precedent already 4 5 6 7 required: that assessments of an individual’s testimony by an ALJ are designed to “evaluate the intensity and persistence of symptoms after the ALJ finds that the individual has a medically determinable impairment(s) that could reasonably be expected to produce those symptoms,” and not to delve into wide-ranging scrutiny of the claimant’s character and apparent truthfulness. 8 Trevizo, 871 F.3d at 678 n.5 (quoting SSR 16–3p)(alterations omitted). 9 10 In discrediting the claimant’s subjective symptom testimony, the 11 ALJ may consider: “ordinary techniques of credibility evaluation, such 12 as . . . prior inconsistent statements concerning the symptoms, and 13 other testimony by the claimant that appears less than candid; 14 unexplained or inadequately explained failure to seek treatment or to 15 follow a prescribed course of treatment; and the claimant’s daily 16 activities.” Ghanim v. Colvin, 763 F.3d 1154, 1163 (9th Cir. 2014) 17 (citation omitted). Inconsistencies between a claimant’s testimony and 18 conduct, or internal contradictions in the claimant’s testimony, also 19 may be relevant. Burrell v. Colvin, 775 F.3d 1133, 1137 (9th Cir. 20 2014). In addition, the ALJ may consider the observations of treating 21 and examining physicians regarding, among other matters, the functional 22 23 24 25 26 restrictions caused by the claimant’s symptoms. 1284; accord Burrell, supra. Smolen, 80 F.3d at However, it is improper for an ALJ to reject subjective testimony based “solely” on its inconsistencies with the objective medical evidence presented. Bray v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. 27 Admin., 554 F.3d 1219, 1227 (9th Cir. 2009)(citation omitted). 28 8 1 The ALJ must make a credibility determination with findings that 2 are “sufficiently specific to permit the court to conclude that the ALJ 3 did not arbitrarily discredit claimant’s testimony.” Tommasetti v. 4 Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 2008)(citation omitted); see 5 Brown-Hunter v. Colvin, 806 F.3d 487, 493 (9th Cir. 2015)(“A finding 6 that a claimant’s testimony is not credible must be sufficiently 7 specific to allow a reviewing court to conclude the adjudicator rejected 8 the claimant’s testimony on permissible grounds and did not arbitrarily 9 discredit a claimant’s testimony regarding pain;” citation omitted). 10 11 12 13 14 Although an ALJ’s interpretation of a claimant’s testimony may not be the only reasonable one, if it is supported by substantial evidence, “it is not [the court’s] role to second-guess it.” Rollins v. Massanari, 261 F.3d 853, 857 (9th Cir. 2001). 15 16 2. Plaintiff’s Subjective Statements and Testimony1 17 18 Plaintiff completed an Adult Function Report, dated January 12, 19 2017 (see AR 191-99), in which she reported that she is limited in her 20 ability to work because she is physically tired, is sometimes unable to 21 move because of depression and pain, has distracting audio and visual 22 hallucinations, feels unsafe leaving the house, is paranoid, and is 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 Plaintiff submitted an Adult Function Report, and testified at an administrative hearing. The Court assumes, unless it is clear that Plaintiff was referring to a prior time frame, that Plaintiff’s statements and testimony about her subjective symptoms referred to the symptoms she was experiencing at the time the statements were made. 9 1 overwhelmed. (AR 191).2 On a typical day, she checks her blood sugar, 2 prepares coffee/food, reads, feeds dogs, checks mail, reads again, does 3 laundry and possibly washes dishes, takes a nap, eats dinner with her 4 husband, watches a show, and sleeps. (AR 192). As a result of her 5 conditions, she can no longer walk or stand for long periods, 6 concentrate, focus or produce work. (Id.). She goes out daily and can 7 go out alone, but she does not like to go out. Although she drives, she 8 does not like driving, and parking lots cause her anxiety. She shops in 9 stores for groceries weekly, which takes two to three hours. (AR 194- 10 11 12 13 14 95). She is able to pay bills, handle a savings account and use a checkbook/money orders during moments of clarity throughout the month, but she cannot count change (due to her inability to do quick math and to being distracted because of her conditions). (Id.). She has 15 problems getting along with others because she is paranoid and often 16 feels attacked. She does not get along well with authority figures 17 because she is anxious and intimidated. (AR 196-97). Her conditions 18 affect her ability to walk, stair-climb, use hands, talk, see, memory, 19 complete tasks, concentrate, understand, follow instructions, and get 20 along with others. She does not finish what she starts. She can follow 21 written instructions but she cannot follow spoken instructions very 22 well. (AR 196). 23 24 At the administrative hearing, Plaintiff testified that she last 25 worked in 2016, but she had a period of psychosis and was given a leave 26 27 28 2 Since, as noted above, the ALJ did not find Petitioner’s alleged physical impairments severe, the Court will not discuss Plaintiff’s testimony concerning her alleged physical impairments. 10 1 of absence which was extended a year. She described the period of 2 psychosis as hearing things, not feeling like herself, having visual and 3 audio hallucinations, having out-of-control blood sugar, not being able 4 to take care of herself properly, and feeling like she was losing her 5 mind. She wanted to return to work but she was unreliable and unable to 6 work due to her conditions. (AR 33). She is unable to work because her 7 8 9 10 11 mental health prevents her from taking care of herself, her physical state makes her unable to know when she is able to work and sometimes causes her to sleep or recover at home several days a week, and she hears and sees things (preventing her from interacting with people and 12 doing things), albeit not as bad as when she stopped working. 13 36). She sleeps a lot during the day. Id. (AR 35- Although she drives, she 14 does not like to drive because she feels she is a hazard. (AR 37). She 15 has difficulty interacting with people because she is uncomfortable 16 around others and sometimes hears things (which causes her to answer 17 unasked questions or to react to noises). 18 attend to her diabetes constantly. (AR 37, 41). (AR 38). She has to She would not be able to 19 do a simple, low stress job because she has very little energy, takes 20 naps throughout the day (she feels tired due to her diabetes and 21 psychiatric medications), and gets easily distracted. (AR 37, 39). She 22 has panic attacks approximately two to three times a month, “depending 23 on what’s going on in” her life. The panic attacks are random and 24 unpredictable and might be triggered by, for example, being stuck at 25 home without a car and feeling trapped. (Id.). She sees a psychiatrist 26 every two to three weeks and a therapist every three weeks (she has 27 28 11 1 difficulty getting appointments, and she misses appointments because it 2 is hard to get out of bed). (AR 40-41). 3 4 3. The ALJ’s Credibility Findings 5 6 7 After briefly summarizing Plaintiff’s testimony and statements (see AR 19), the ALJ found Plaintiff’s testimony about the intensity, 8 persistence and limiting effects of her mental health symptoms to be 9 inconsistent with the objective medical evidence, her activities of 10 11 12 daily living, and Plaintiff’s prior report of her symptoms. (See AR 1920). 13 The ALJ stated that, while Plaintiff claimed to suffer from 14 15 depression, anxiety, and audio visual hallucinations, her allegations 16 were inconsistent with the notations/findings in several medical 17 records, specifically, (1) an office visit on October 11, 2016 reporting 18 that “Plaintiff’s 19 medication. mood has improved, denies side effects with Noises has [sic] decreased,” (AR 378); (2) mental status 20 health examinations on November 30, 2015, January 4, 2016, March 7, 21 2016, March 21, 2016, April 4, 2016, June 16, 2016, August 1, 2016, 22 August 17, 2016, September 15, 2016, and October 11, 2016 office 23 indicating that Plaintiff has fair grooming, is cooperative, has clear 24 and coherent speech, has a depressed and anxious mood and a restricted 25 affect, denies having auditory or visual hallucinations, is alert and 26 goal-oriented, has intake insight/judgment, and has intact 27 memory/cognition and impulse control including a November 11, 2016 28 12 1 report that Plaintiff’s depressed mood is improving. (AR 400, 398, 395, 2 393, 391, 389, 386, 384, 382, 380, 378; (3) an office visit on November 3 29, 2016 noting that Plaintiff is properly dressed, has good hygiene and 4 grooming, is mildly anxious, has a depressed mood and affect, makes good 5 eye contact, has speech within normal limits, is oriented and linear, 6 denies having auditory or visual limitations at the preset time, and has 7 intact insight and judgment (AR 441); and (4) Kaiser Permanente Progress 8 Notes containing mental status examinations on January 4, 2017, February 9 16, 2017, April 17, 2017, May 12, 2017 and May 17, 2017 indicating that 10 11 12 13 14 Plaintiff has good grooming, appropriate dress, normal and cooperative behavior, normal speech, is oriented and alert, has intact recent and remote memory, fair or good insight, fair or unimpaired judgment, coherent and normal thoughts, congruent mood, affect within normal 15 limits, normal motor, and no suicidal or homicidal ideation, plan or 16 intent (AR 557-58, 674. 17 18 The ALJ found that Plaintiff’s statement that she was paranoid to 19 leave the house (see AR 191) to be inconsistent with her statements that 20 she goes out daily, shops for groceries weekly, and goes out to dinners 21 with her husband and/or to the doctors almost daily (see AR 194-95). 22 (AR 20). 23 24 The ALJ also found Plaintiff’s statements about her difficulties 25 with memory, completing tasks, concentrating, understanding, following 26 instructions, and getting along with others (see AR 196) to be 27 inconsistent with Plaintiff’s statement that she can pay bills, handle 28 13 1 a savings account, and use a checkbook/money orders (see AR 194). (AR 2 20). 3 4 The ALJ further found Plaintiff’s testimony about having panic 5 attacks two to three times a month on a random basis (see AR 38-39) to 6 be inconsistent with a notation in a February 16, 2017 Kaiser Permanente 7 Progress Note that Plaintiff reported that her panic attacks are less 8 frequent, once a month, and that her depression is well-controlled (see 9 AR 666). (AR 20). 10 11 12 4. Analysis 13 14 The Court finds that the ALJ failed to provide clear and convincing 15 reasons for rejecting Plaintiff’s testimony about the intensity, 16 persistence and limiting effects of her symptoms. 17 18 While the ALJ properly found there was a lack of objective medical 19 evidence supporting Plaintiff’s testimony concerning her symptoms and 20 limitations, see SSR 16-3p, *5 (“objective medical evidence is a useful 21 indicator to help make reasonable conclusions about the intensity and 22 persistence of symptoms, including the effects those symptoms may have 23 on the ability to perform work-related activities”); 20 C.F.R. § 24 404.1529(c)(2) (“Objective medical evidence . . . is a useful indicator 25 to assist us in making reasonable conclusions about the intensity and 26 persistence of your symptoms and the effect those symptoms, such as 27 pain, may have on your ability to work.”); see also Nguyen v. Colvin, 28 14 1 639 Fed.Appx. 510, 511 (9th Cir. 2016)(“A diagnosis, in itself, is not 2 sufficient to establish a disability.”), this factor cannot, by itself, 3 support an adverse finding about Plaintiff’s testimony. See Trevizo, 4 871 F.3d at 679 (once a claimant demonstrates medical evidence of an 5 underlying impairment, “an ALJ ‘may not disregard [a claimant’s 6 testimony] solely because it is not substantiated affirmatively by 7 objective medical evidence.’”)(quoting Robbins, supra); see also SSR 8 16-3p, *7 (“We must consider whether an individual’s statements about 9 the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of his or her symptoms 10 11 12 13 14 are consistent with the medical signs and laboratory findings of record. . . . However, we will not disregard an individual’s statements about the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of symptoms solely because the objective medical evidence does not substantiate the degree 3 15 of impairment related-symptoms alleged by the individual.”). 16 Although 17 an inconsistency between a claimant’s statement of 18 disabling symptoms and limitations and a claimant’s daily activities may 19 be used to discount a claimant’s testimony, see 20 C.F.R. § 20 404.1529(c)(3)(1) (a claimant’s daily activities are one factor to be 21 considered in evaluating a claimant’s symptoms, such as pain); Ghanim, 22 763 F.3d at 1165 (“Engaging in daily activities that are incompatible 23 with the severity of symptoms alleged can support an adverse credibility 24 determination.”); Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1113 (9th Cir. 25 2012)(“[T]he ALJ may discredit a claimant’s testimony when the claimant 26 reports participation in everyday activities indicating capacities that 27 28 3 As discussed below, the ALJ did not provide any other valid reason for discounting Plaintiff’s testimony. 15 1 are transferable to a work setting;” “Even where those activities 2 suggest some difficulty functioning, they may be grounds for 3 discrediting the claimant’s testimony to the extent that they contradict 4 claims of a totally debilitating impairment.”), the ALJ improperly found 5 inconsistencies in Plaintiff’s testimony. 6 7 The ALJ’s assertion that Plaintiff stated she was paranoid to leave 8 the house (see AR 20 [“In spite of her allegation of paranoia to leave 9 the house ([AR 191]), the claimant stated she goes out daily and shops 10 11 12 13 14 weekly to Plaintiff’s dinners and statements doctors about ([AR leaving 194-95]).”]) her house mischaracterized and her paranoia. Plaintiff did not state that she was paranoid to leave the house. Rather, in response to a question asking how Plaintiff’s conditions 15 limit her ability to work, Plaintiff stated, in part, “I feel unsafe 16 leaving the house. I am paranoid. I am overwhelmed and spiral into 17 existential crisis.” (AR 191). These statements, on their own, do not 18 indicate or reflect a connection between Plaintiff’s fear of leaving the 19 house and Plaintiff’s paranoia. Indeed, Plaintiff’s fear of leaving the 20 house may have been related to her other stated limitations, such as 21 not doing yard work because she does not “like going outside or getting 22 dirty” (AR 194) and not liking to drive (AR 37, 194). Moreover, 23 Plaintiff’s paranoia may have been related to her statement about her 24 difficulties in getting along with families, friends, neighbors, or 25 others because of her paranoia (AR 196). The ALJ did not ask Plaintiff 26 at the administrative hearing about her statements regarding feeling 27 unsafe leaving the house and experiencing paranoia, and possibly 28 misconstrued Plaintiff’s statements about feeling unsafe leaving the 16 1 house and experiencing paranoia. Therefore, the ALJ erred in finding 2 such statements to be inconsistent with Plaintiff’s statements about her 3 activities outside the house. 4 5 The ALJ also erred in finding Plaintiff’s statements about her 6 difficulties 7 with memory, completing tasks, concentrating, understanding, following instructions, and getting along with others 8 (see AR 196) to be inconsistent with Plaintiff’s ability to handle her 9 financial affairs and bank accounts (see AR 194-95). (AR 20). 10 11 12 13 14 Plaintiff stated that she was able to pay bills, handle a savings account, and use a checkbook/money orders, but was unable to count change. (AR 194). When asked to explain her answers, Plaintiff stated, “[U]nable to do quick math any longer, too distracted. Handle others in 15 moments of clarity, throughout the month.” 16 explain how 17 Plaintiff’s Plaintiff’s stated handling difficulties of (Id.). money with is memory, The ALJ failed to inconsistent completing with tasks, 18 concentrating, understanding, following instructions, and getting along 19 with others. Moreover, it is not clear whether the ALJ considered 20 Plaintiff’s explanation that she is able to handle her financial affairs 21 “in moments of clarity, throughout the month,” and the ALJ did not ask 22 Plaintiff at the administrative hearing about her explanation. 23 24 Finally, the ALJ also erred in finding that Plaintiff’s testimony 25 about having panic attacks two to three times a month, randomly, was 26 inconsistent with her prior report about the frequency of her panic 27 attacks and the status of her depression. (AR 20). At the March 26, 28 2019 hearing, Plaintiff testified that she has panic attacks, which she 17 1 estimated occurred “[l]ike two to three times a month, depending on 2 what’s going on in my life, and then sometimes they’re just random.”; 3 and that the panic attacks were “completely unpredictable.” (AR 38-39). 4 In a February 16, 2017 Kaiser Permanente Progress Note, Plaintiff 5 reported that “[p]anic attacks, less frequent, once a month” and that 6 “[d]epression is well controlled.” (AR 666). However, Plaintiff did 7 not testify she definitively suffered two to three panic attacks a 8 month; rather, she gave an estimate of the number of monthly panic 9 attacks which she then stated were random and unpredictable. Moreover, 10 11 12 13 14 variability in the frequency of panic attacks is not be uncommon. See Garrison, 759 F.3d at 1017 (“As we have emphasized while discussing mental health issues, it is error to reject a claimant’s testimony merely because symptoms wax and wane in the course of treatment. Cycles 15 of improvement and debilitating symptoms are a common occurrence. . .”). 16 The ALJ at the administrative hearing did not ask Plaintiff about any 17 alleged discrepancy in the number of panic attacks Plaintiff suffered in 18 March 26, 2019 and February 16, 2017. Therefore, Plaintiff’s statements 19 in February 2017 about the frequency of her panic attacks were not 20 necessarily inconsistent with her testimony in March 2019. 21 22 Because the Court finds that the ALJ did not discount Plaintiff’s 23 symptom testimony on legally permissible grounds, the Court is unable to 24 defer to the ALJ’s credibility determination. Cf. Flaten v. Sec’y of 25 Health & Human Servs., 44 F.3d 1453, 1464 (9th Cir. 1995)(the court will 26 defer 27 to the ALJ’s credibility determinations when they are appropriately supported in the record by specific findings justifying 28 that decision)(citations omitted). 18 1 B. Remand Is Warranted 2 3 The decision whether to remand for further proceedings or order an 4 immediate award of benefits is within the district court’s discretion. 5 Harman v. Apfel, 211 F.3d 1172, 1175-78 (9th Cir. 2000). Where no 6 useful purpose would be served by further administrative proceedings, or 7 where the record has been fully developed, it is appropriate to exercise 8 this discretion to direct an immediate award of benefits. Id. at 1179 9 (“[T]he decision of whether to remand for further proceedings turns upon 10 11 12 13 14 the likely utility of such proceedings.”). However, where, as here, the circumstances of the case suggest that further administrative review could remedy the Commissioner’s errors, remand is appropriate. McLeod v. Astrue, 640 F.3d 881, 888 (9th Cir. 2011); Harman, 211 F.3d at 1179- 15 81. 16 17 Since the ALJ failed to properly 18 testimony, remand is appropriate. assess Plaintiff’s symptom Because outstanding issues must be 19 resolved before a determination of disability can be made, and “when the 20 record as a whole creates serious doubt as to whether the [Plaintiff] 21 is, in fact, disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act,” 22 further administrative proceedings would serve a useful purpose and 23 remedy defects. Burrell, 775 F.3d at 1141 (citations omitted).14 14 24 The Court has not reached any other issue raised by Plaintiff except to determine that reversal with a directive for the immediate 25 payment of benefits would not be appropriate at this time. “[E]valuation of the record as a whole creates serious doubt that 26 Plaintiff is in fact disabled.” See Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1021 (2014). Accordingly, the Court declines to rule on Plaintiff’s 27 claims regarding the ALJ’s failure to properly consider the opinion of Plaintiff’s treating physician (Dr. Lupsa) (see Joint Stip. at 27-31, 28 36-38), the opinion of a consultative examiner (Dr. Herron) (see Joint Stip. at 38-40, 43-45), the opinion of a licensed clinical social worker (continued...) 19 1 2 ORDER 3 4 For the foregoing reasons, the decision of the Commissioner is 5 reversed, and the matter is remanded for further proceedings pursuant to 6 Sentence 4 of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 7 8 LET JUDGMENT BE ENTERED ACCORDINGLY. 9 10 11 DATED: July 8, 2021 12 13 /s/ ALKA SAGAR UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 14 (...continued) 27 (Karen Depreist) (see Joint Stip. at 45-47), and the opinions of all consultative examiners that Plaintiff was disabled (see Joint Stip. at 28 47-49). Because this matter is being remanded for further consideration, these issues should also be considered on remand. 20
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