(SS) Randall v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 1:2009cv01439 - Document 21 (E.D. Cal. 2010)
Court Description: ORDER DENYING Plaintiffs appeal from the administrative decision of the Commissioner of Social Security; Clerk is DIRECTED to enter judgment in favor of Defendant Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, and against Plaintiff Brian L. Randall, signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 12/17/2010. CASE CLOSED. (Marrujo, C)
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(SS) Randall v. Commissioner of Social Security Doc. 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 BRIAN L. RANDALL, 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 ) ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) ) MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, ) Commissioner of Social Security, ) ) ) Defendant. ) ) _____________________________________ ) 1:09-cv-1439 SKO ORDER REGARDING PLAINTIFF’S SOCIAL SECURITY COMPLAINT (Doc. 2) 18 19 BACKGROUND 20 Plaintiff seeks judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (the 21 “Commissioner” or “Defendant”) denying his applications for disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) 22 and Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) pursuant to Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. 23 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3). The matter is currently before the Court on the parties’ briefs, 24 which were submitted, without oral argument, to the Honorable Sheila K. Oberto, United States 25 Magistrate Judge.1 26 27 28 1 The parties consented to the jurisdiction of the United States Magistrate Judge. (Docs. 9, 10.) On April 7, 2010, the action was reassigned to the Honorable Sheila K. Oberto for all purposes. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(c); Fed. R. Civ. P. 73; see also L.R. 301, 305. Dockets.Justia.com 1 FACTUAL BACKGROUND 2 Plaintiff was born in 1965, has an eleventh-grade education, and previously worked as a 3 diesel mechanic and roughneck on a drilling rig. (Administrative Record (“AR”) 12, 21-22, 104.) 4 On March 13, 2006, Plaintiff filed applications for DIB and SSI, alleging disability beginning on 5 January 27, 2006, due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“COPD”), high blood pressure, 6 sleep apnea, and lung infection. (AR 103-06, 120.) 7 A. Medical Evidence 8 On March 24, 2006, pulmonary function testing by San Joaquin Valley Pulmonary Medical 9 Group indicated moderate obstructive airways disease. (AR 315.) On April 12, 2006, a sleep study 10 noted Plaintiff’s mild obstructive sleep disordered breathing. (AR 249.) On May 5, 2006, an 11 echocardiogram revealed mild left atrial enlargement, moderate left and right ventricular 12 enlargement, normal cardiac valves, and trace tricuspid regurgitation. (AR 245.) 13 On May 2, 2006, Plaintiff reported on a questionnaire regarding his daily activities that he 14 shopped for groceries at least three times a month, vacuumed his living room, and took out the 15 garbage. (AR 129.) 16 On July 10, 2006, Emanuel Dozier, M.D., an internist, performed a consultative examination 17 of Plaintiff. (AR 219-222.) As for Plaintiff’s medical history, Dr. Dozier noted that “[t]here is no 18 oxygen used.” (AR 219.) Dr. Dozier observed Plaintiff “in ambulation down the hall and shows no 19 signs of pain, ataxia or shortness of breath. He walks with a normal steppage gait. He is able to sit 20 during the interview without discomfort. He is able to transfer on and off the examination table 21 without assistance.” (AR 220.) 22 On August 18, 2006, Anne Khong, M.D., a state agency physician, assessed Plaintiff’s 23 physical residual functional capacity (“RFC”) and found that Plaintiff (1) could occasionally lift 24 and/or carry up to 10 pounds and frequently less than 10 pounds; (2) stand for at least two hours in 25 an eight-hour workday; (3) sit for about six hours in an eight-hour workday; and (4) perform 26 unlimited pushing/pulling with the upper and lower extremities. (AR 281.) Plaintiff could 27 28 2 1 occasionally climb ramps and stairs (but never ladders, ropes, or scaffolds), balance, stoop, kneel, 2 crouch, and crawl. (AR 282.) Plaintiff had no manipulative, visual, or communicative limitations, 3 but he was to avoid concentrated exposure to fumes, odors, dust, and gases because of his COPD. 4 (AR 282-83.) Dr. Khong’s findings were affirmed by another physician on March 15, 2007. (AR 5 276, 279.) 6 On June 11, 2007, a treatment note indicated that Plaintiff continued to smoke cigarettes and 7 was advised to decrease his tobacco use. (AR 320.) 8 B. Administrative Hearing 9 The Commissioner denied Plaintiff’s applications initially and again on reconsideration; 10 consequently, Plaintiff requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). (AR 44- 11 60, 63-69.) 12 1. 13 On May 13, 2008, ALJ James P. Berry held a hearing where Plaintiff testified to the 14 following. He stopped working because of breathing problems, chest pain, high blood pressure, 15 diabetes, and a “flushing disease.” (AR 23.) He also suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome 16 involving both wrists, swollen feet, heart failure, and back, shoulder, arms, hips, and knee pain. (AR 17 23-24, 26-27.) Plaintiff, however, did not undergo surgery for his carpal tunnel syndrome, and he 18 did not wear braces on his hands. (AR 27.) He had lost weight and now weighed 325 pounds. (AR 19 21.) Plaintiff’s Testimony 20 Plaintiff used oxygen “sometimes” every day, depending “on the weather at times.” (AR 24.) 21 According to Plaintiff, he was using an oxygen machine at the time of Dr. Dozier’s examination, but 22 did not bring it with him because his prescription had not been filled. (AR 29.) 23 Plaintiff also had right thigh weakness, had surgery on the right thigh and foot, and could not 24 kneel, stoop, or squat. (AR 29.) Two weeks before the hearing, Plaintiff was admitted to the 25 hospital because he believed he had a heart attack. (AR 31, 34.) Plaintiff suffered from headaches 26 27 28 3 1 every day, and his blood pressure was uncontrolled even with medication. (AR 27, 32.) Plaintiff 2 only took ibuprofen to alleviate his pain, however. (AR 28.) 3 Plaintiff took Elavil for depression prescribed by his regular doctor but was not receiving any 4 other type of mental health treatment. (AR 33-34.) When contacted by the Social Security 5 Administration in August 2006, however, Plaintiff had stated “very firmly” that there was “no mental 6 or [psychological] issue that need[ed] to be addressed” and that he did not need treatment or 7 medication; his depression did not prevent him from working. (AR 157.) 8 Plaintiff could only lift one to two pounds, walk three feet, stand for 30 minutes, and sit for 9 three to four minutes at a time. (AR 25-26.) Plaintiff also testified, however, that he could sit for 10 thirty minutes in an eight-hour period. (AR 35.) 11 Plaintiff lived with his wife and two children, and he received income from AFDC, or Aid 12 to Families with Dependent Children. (AR 12, 30.) Plaintiff did not cook, shop, or do any 13 housework but just sat at home watching television. (AR 29, 37.) In applying for benefits, however, 14 Plaintiff reported on a questionnaire that his activities included vacuuming the living room, taking 15 the garbage out, grocery shopping at least three times a month, and visiting his mother. (AR 128- 16 30.) 17 2. 18 A vocational expert (“VE”) testified that Plaintiff’s past work as a diesel mechanic and 19 roughneck was heavy2 and skilled. (AR 38.) A hypothetical person with the same age, education, 20 and work experience as Plaintiff could not perform Plaintiff’s past relevant work if that person had 21 to avoid concentrated exposure to pulmonary irritants and could (1) lift and carry ten pounds 22 occasionally and up to ten pounds frequently, (2) stand and walk for two to four hours out of eight 23 hours, (3) sit for six hours, (4) occasionally climb, balance, kneel, crouch, and crawl. (AR 39.) Such 24 a person could perform the sedentary, unskilled jobs of assembler, order clerk, and surveillance Vocational Expert’s Testimony 25 26 2 27 “Heavy work involves lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(d), 416.967(d). 28 4 1 system monitor. (AR 40.) The number of available jobs would be reduced if such a person had to 2 use an oxygen machine while working; the VE did not “typically see people with oxygen machines 3 working” and believed that “it’s because whatever causes the need to use an oxygen machine 4 typically involves enough other disability that the person doesn’t work.” (AR 42.) Such a 5 hypothetical person could not perform any work if he had Plaintiff’s self-described limitations. (AR 6 40-41.) 7 C. ALJ’s Decision 8 On August 25, 2008, the ALJ issued a decision finding Plaintiff not disabled since January 9 27, 2006. (AR 5-15.) Specifically, the ALJ found that Plaintiff (1) had not engaged in substantial 10 gainful activity since the alleged onset date of January 27, 2006; (2) has an impairment or a 11 combination of impairments that is considered “severe” based on the requirements in the Code of 12 Federal Regulations; (3) does not have an impairment or combination of impairments that meets or 13 equals one of the impairments set forth in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1; (4) could not 14 perform his past relevant work; and (5) could perform other jobs that exist in significant numbers 15 in the national economy. (AR 10-15.) The ALJ found that Plaintiff had the RFC to (1) lift and carry 16 ten pounds occasionally and up to ten pounds frequently and (2) stand and walk for two to four hours 17 and sit for six hours in an eight-hour workday with occasional climbing, balancing, kneeling, 18 crouching, and crawling. Plaintiff was also to avoid concentrated exposure to pulmonary irritants. 19 (AR 11.) 20 The ALJ found that Plaintiff’s “medically determinable impairments could reasonably be 21 expected to produce the alleged symptoms; however, [Plaintiff’s] statements concerning the 22 intensity, persistence and limiting effects of these symptoms are not credible to the extent they are 23 inconsistent with the residual functional capacity assessment.” (AR 12.) In particular, the ALJ 24 found that, contrary to Plaintiff’s testimony regarding heart problems, “an echocardiogram only 25 showed mild left atrial enlargement and moderate left and right ventricular enlargement, and trace 26 tricuspid regurgitation.” (AR 13, 245.) Testing by San Joaquin Valley Pulmonary Medical Group 27 28 5 1 showed only mild obstructive sleep disordered breathing and moderate obstructive airways disease. 2 (AR 13, 249, 315.) The ALJ further noted that “[t]he record does not show any treatment for 3 [Plaintiff’s] alleged carpal tunnel of both wrists.” (AR 13.) The ALJ, therefore, noted that “[i]t is 4 relevant that [Plaintiff] has not generally received the type of medical treatment one would expect 5 for a totally disabled individual.” (AR 13.) The ALJ also found that Plaintiff’s daily living activities 6 belied his claim of total disability, noting that Plaintiff “testified that he does not do any shopping 7 but reported going shopping 3 times a month. He also reported [in a daily living activities report as 8 part of his application] he does not do any household chores but reported he vacuums the living room 9 and takes the garbage out. He also reported visiting his mother.” (AR 13.) 10 Plaintiff sought review of this decision before the Appeals Council. On June 16, 2009, the 11 Appeals Council denied review. (AR 1-4.) Therefore, the ALJ’s decision became the final decision 12 of the Commissioner. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.981, 416.1481. 13 D. Plaintiff’s Contentions on Appeal 14 On August 13, 2009, Plaintiff filed a complaint before this Court seeking review of the ALJ’s 15 decision. Plaintiff contends that the ALJ failed to provide legally sufficient reasons to reject 16 Plaintiff’s testimony and failed to take into account Plaintiff’s need to use an oxygen machine in 17 assessing his RFC. 18 SCOPE OF REVIEW 19 The ALJ’s decision denying benefits “will be disturbed only if that decision is not supported 20 by substantial evidence or it is based upon legal error.” Tidwell v. Apfel, 161 F.3d 599, 601 (9th Cir. 21 1999). In reviewing the Commissioner’s decision, the Court may not substitute its judgment for that 22 of the Commissioner. Macri v. Chater, 93 F.3d 540, 543 (9th Cir. 1996). Instead, the Court must 23 determine whether the Commissioner applied the proper legal standards and whether substantial 24 evidence exists in the record to support the Commissioner’s findings. See Lewis v. Astrue, 498 F.3d 25 909, 911 (9th Cir. 2007). 26 27 28 6 1 “Substantial evidence is more than a mere scintilla but less than a preponderance.” Ryan v. 2 Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 528 F.3d 1194, 1198 (9th Cir. 2008). “Substantial evidence” means “such 3 relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” 4 Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971) (quoting Consol. Edison Co. of N.Y. v. NLRB, 305 5 U.S. 197, 229 (1938)). The Court “must consider the entire record as a whole, weighing both the 6 evidence that supports and the evidence that detracts from the Commissioner’s conclusion, and may 7 not affirm simply by isolating a specific quantum of supporting evidence.” Lingenfelter v. Astrue, 8 504 F.3d 1028, 1035 (9th Cir. 2007) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). 9 APPLICABLE LAW 10 An individual is considered disabled for purposes of disability benefits if he is unable to 11 engage in any substantial, gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or 12 mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted, or can be expected to 13 last, for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A), 14 1382c(a)(3)(A); see also Barnhart v. Thomas, 540 U.S. 20, 23 (2003). The impairment or 15 impairments must result from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that are 16 demonstrable by medically accepted clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques and must be of 17 such severity that the claimant is not only unable to do his previous work, but cannot, considering 18 his age, education, and work experience, engage in any other kind of substantial, gainful work that 19 exists in the national economy. 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(2)-(3), 1382c(a)(3)(B), (D). 20 The regulations provide that the ALJ must undertake a specific five-step sequential analysis 21 in the process of evaluating a disability. In the First Step, the ALJ must determine whether the 22 claimant is currently engaged in substantial gainful activity. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(b), 416.920(b). 23 If not, in the Second Step, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment 24 or a combination of impairments significantly limiting her from performing basic work activities. 25 Id. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). If so, in the Third Step, the ALJ must determine whether the 26 claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments that meets or equals the 27 28 7 1 requirements of the Listing of Impairments (“Listing”), 20 C.F.R. 404, Subpart P, App. 1. Id. 2 §§ 404.1520(d), 416.920(d). If not, in the Fourth Step, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant 3 has sufficient RFC3 despite the impairment or various limitations to perform her past work. Id. 4 §§ 404.1520(f), 416.920(f). If not, in Step Five, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to show that 5 the claimant can perform other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy. Id. 6 §§ 404.1520(g), 416.920(g). If a claimant is found to be disabled or not disabled at any step in the 7 sequence, there is no need to consider subsequent steps. Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1098-99 8 (9th Cir. 1999); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920. 9 10 DISCUSSION A. Plaintiff’s Credibility 11 The ALJ found that Plaintiff’s “medically determinable impairments could reasonably be 12 expected to produce the alleged symptoms; however, [Plaintiff’s] statements concerning the 13 intensity, persistence and limiting effects of these symptoms are not credible to the extent they are 14 inconsistent with the residual functional capacity assessment.” (AR 12.) Plaintiff contends that the 15 ALJ failed to set forth legally sufficient reasons for rejecting his testimony. According to the 16 Commissioner, however, the ALJ gave valid reasons for finding Plaintiff not entirely credible. 17 1. 18 In evaluating the credibility of a claimant’s testimony regarding subjective complaints, an 19 ALJ must engage in a two-step analysis. Vasquez v. Astrue, 572 F.3d 586, 591 (9th Cir. 2009). 20 First, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has presented objective medical evidence of an 21 underlying impairment that could reasonably be expected to produce the pain or other symptoms 22 alleged. Id. The claimant is not required to show that her impairment “could reasonably be expected Legal Standard 23 24 3 27 RFC is an assessment of an individual’s ability to do sustained work-related physical and mental activities in a work setting on a regular and continuing basis of 8 hours a day, for 5 days a week, or an equivalent work schedule. Social Security Ruling 96-8p. The RFC assessment considers only functional limitations and restrictions that result from an individual’s medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments. Id. “In determining a claimant’s RFC, an ALJ must consider all relevant evidence in the record including, inter alia, medical records, lay evidence, and ‘the effects of symptoms, including pain, that are reasonably attributed to a medically determinable impairment.’” Robbins v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 466 F.3d 880, 883 (9th Cir. 2006). 28 8 25 26 1 to cause the severity of the symptom she has alleged; she need only show that it could reasonably 2 have caused some degree of the symptom.” Id. (quoting Lingenfelter, 504 F.3d at 1036). If the 3 claimant meets the first test and there is no evidence of malingering, the ALJ can only reject the 4 claimant’s testimony about the severity of the symptoms if she gives “specific, clear and convincing 5 reasons” for the rejection. Id. As the Ninth Circuit has explained: 6 9 The ALJ may consider many factors in weighing a claimant’s credibility, including (1) ordinary techniques of credibility evaluation, such as the claimant’s reputation for lying, prior inconsistent statements concerning the symptoms, and other testimony by the claimant that appears less than candid; (2) unexplained or inadequately explained failure to seek treatment or to follow a prescribed course of treatment; and (3) the claimant’s daily activities. If the ALJ’s finding is supported by substantial evidence, the court may not engage in second-guessing. 10 Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 2008) (citations and internal quotation marks 11 omitted); see also Bray v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 554 F.3d 1219, 1226-27 (9th Cir. 2009); 12 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529, 416.929. Other factors the ALJ may consider include a claimant’s work 13 record and testimony from physicians and third parties concerning the nature, severity, and effect of 14 the symptoms of which he complains. Light v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 119 F.3d 789, 792 (9th Cir. 1997). 7 8 15 2. 16 In this case, the ALJ found that Plaintiff’s medically determinable impairments could 17 reasonably be expected to produce the alleged symptoms. (AR 12.) Therefore, absent affirmative 18 evidence of malingering, the ALJ’s reasons for rejecting Plaintiff’s testimony must be clear and 19 convincing. As discussed further below, the Court finds that the ALJ gave clear and convincing 20 reasons supported by the record to discount Plaintiff’s credibility. Analysis 21 First, the ALJ found that the objective medical evidence in the record did not fully support 22 Plaintiff’s subjective complaints. Although the inconsistency of objective findings with subjective 23 claims may not be the sole reason for rejecting subjective complaints of pain, Light, 119 F.3d at 792, 24 it is one factor which may be considered with others. Moisa v. Barnhart, 367 F.3d 882, 885 (9th Cir. 25 2004); Morgan v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 169 F.3d 595, 600 (9th Cir. 1999). Here, for 26 example, the ALJ found that, contrary to Plaintiff’s testimony regarding heart problems, “an 27 28 9 1 echocardiogram only showed mild left atrial enlargement and moderate left and right ventricular 2 enlargement, and trace tricuspid regurgitation.” (AR 13, 245.) Testing by San Joaquin Valley 3 Pulmonary Medical Group showed only mild obstructive sleep disordered breathing and moderate 4 obstructive airways disease. (AR 13, 249, 315.) The ALJ further noted that “[t]he record does not 5 show any treatment for [Plaintiff’s] alleged carpal tunnel of both wrists.” (AR 13.) The ALJ, 6 therefore, noted that “[i]t is relevant that [Plaintiff] has not generally received the type of medical 7 treatment one would expect for a totally disabled individual.” (AR 13.) See Parra v. Astrue, 481 8 F.3d 742, 751 (9th Cir. 2007) (“[E]vidence of ‘conservative treatment’ is sufficient to discount a 9 claimant’s testimony regarding severity of an impairment.”). 10 Second, it was appropriate for the ALJ to consider Plaintiff’s activities of daily living in 11 determining that he was not entirely credible. The mere fact of a claimant’s carrying on certain daily 12 activities does not necessarily detract from credibility as to overall disability. However, a negative 13 inference is permissible where the activities contradict the other testimony of the claimant, or where 14 the activities are of a nature and extent to reflect transferable work skills. Daily activities support 15 an adverse credibility finding if a claimant is able to spend a substantial part of her day engaged in 16 pursuits involving the performance of physical functions or skills that are transferable to a work 17 setting. Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 639 (9th Cir. 2007); Morgan, 169 F.3d at 600; see also Thomas 18 v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 959 (9th Cir. 2002). A claimant’s performance of chores such as 19 preparing meals, cleaning house, doing laundry, shopping, occasional childcare, and interacting with 20 others has been considered sufficient to support an adverse credibility finding when performed for 21 a substantial portion of the day. See Stubbs-Danielson v. Astrue, 539 F.3d 1169, 1175 (9th Cir. 22 2008); Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 680-81 (9th Cir. 2005); Thomas, 278 F.3d at 959; Morgan, 23 169 F.3d at 600; Curry v. Sullivan, 925 F.2d 1127, 1130 (9th Cir. 1990). 24 In Stubbs-Danielson, for example, the court found that the ALJ sufficiently explained his 25 reasons for discrediting the claimant’s testimony because the record reflected that the claimant 26 performed normal activities of daily living, including cooking, housecleaning, doing laundry, and 27 28 10 1 helping her husband in managing finances. 539 F.3d at 1175. These activities tended to suggest that 2 the claimant may have still been capable of performing the basic demands of unskilled work on a 3 sustained basis. Id. 4 The ALJ found that Plaintiff’s daily living activities belied his claim of total disability, noting 5 that Plaintiff “testified that he does not do any shopping but reported going shopping 3 times a 6 month. He also reported [in a daily living activities report as part of his application] he does not do 7 any household chores but reported he vacuums the living room and takes the garbage out. He also 8 reported visiting his mother.” (AR 13.) The ALJ appropriately considered Plaintiff’s admitted 9 activities of daily living, which included housekeeping, shopping, and visiting his mother, which are 10 comparable to the activities in the cases cited above. The ALJ found that Plaintiff’s statements were 11 inconsistent with his claimed inability to work. Plaintiff’s activities of daily living were, therefore, 12 clear and convincing evidence to discount his credibility. 13 In sum, the ALJ cited clear and convincing reasons for rejecting Plaintiff’s subjective 14 complaints regarding the intensity, duration, and limiting effects of his symptoms. See Batson v. 15 Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 359 F.3d 1190, 1196-97 (9th Cir. 2004) (claimant’s contradictory 16 testimony unsupported by objective medical evidence constituted substantial evidence in support of 17 ALJ’s negative credibility determination). Moreover, the ALJ’s reasons were properly supported 18 by the record and sufficiently specific to allow this Court to conclude that the ALJ rejected Plaintiff’s 19 testimony on permissible grounds and did not arbitrarily discredit Plaintiff’s testimony. 20 B. 21 Plaintiff’s Oxygen Use Plaintiff asserts that he needs to use oxygen every day, a factor that, according to the VE, 22 would reduce the number of available jobs that Plaintiff could perform despite his limitations. 23 Plaintiff contends that a remand to the Commissioner is warranted because the “ALJ’s decision is 24 silent as to his consideration of [Plaintiff’s] testimony regarding the extent of his use of oxygen.” 25 (Doc. 14 at 8.) Alternatively, Plaintiff argues that the ALJ failed to properly consider the impact that 26 Plaintiff’s oxygen use would have on the occupational base; therefore, remand is warranted for the 27 28 11 1 ALJ to determine the extent of the erosion on the remaining occupational base as a result of 2 Plaintiff’s use of oxygen. Defendant maintains that the ALJ properly accounted for Plaintiff’s 3 oxygen use in assessing his RFC by excluding him from jobs with concentrated exposure to 4 pulmonary irritants. 5 In this case, Plaintiff points to no evidence that he would need to use an oxygen machine 6 while working. Contrary to Plaintiff’s present assertion that he uses oxygen every day, Plaintiff 7 testified that he used oxygen occasionally and only as needed, depending on the weather. (AR 24, 8 173.) Moreover, Dr. Dozier noted that Plaintiff was not using oxygen, although Plaintiff claimed 9 at the hearing that he had not brought his oxygen machine to the examination because his 10 prescription had not been filled. (AR 29, 219.) As noted above, pulmonary testing revealed only 11 mild obstructive sleep disordered breathing and moderate obstructive airways disease. (AR 13, 249, 12 315.) Plaintiff’s daily living activities also belied his claim of total disability. (AR 13.) Substantial 13 evidence, therefore, supports the ALJ’s reasons for discounting Plaintiff’s credibility. 14 Further, “[a]n ALJ is free to accept or reject restrictions in a hypothetical question [to a VE] 15 that are not supported by substantial evidence.” Osenbrock v. Apfel, 240 F.3d 1157, 1164-65 (9th 16 Cir. 2001). In addition, “in interpreting the evidence and developing the record, the ALJ does not 17 need to discuss every piece of evidence.” Howard ex rel. Wolff v. Barnhart, 341 F.3d 1006, 1012 18 (9th Cir. 2003) (internal quotation marks omitted). In any event, the ALJ considered the effect of 19 Plaintiff’s COPD on his breathing limitations and occasional need for oxygen in determining that 20 Plaintiff’s RFC included a limitation to avoid concentrated exposure to pulmonary irritants. See 21 Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1217 (9th Cir. 2005) (“In making his RFC determination, the 22 ALJ took into account those limitations for which there was record support that did not depend on 23 [the claimant’s] subjective complaints.”). Accordingly, Plaintiff’s contention in this regard is 24 unavailing. 25 26 27 28 12 1 CONCLUSION 2 Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that the ALJ’s decision is supported by substantial 3 evidence in the record as a whole and is based on proper legal standards. Accordingly, the Court 4 DENIES Plaintiff’s appeal from the administrative decision of the Commissioner of Social Security. 5 The Clerk of this Court is DIRECTED to enter judgment in favor of Defendant Michael J. Astrue, 6 Commissioner of Social Security, and against Plaintiff Brian L. Randall. 7 8 IT IS SO ORDERED. 9 Dated: ie14hj December 17, 2010 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 13
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