Doss v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 1:2016cv00145 - Document 24 (W.D. Ky. 2020)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Lanny King on 5/4/2020. The Court hereby AFFIRMS the Commissioner's final decision and DISMISSES Plaintiff's complaint. cc: Counsel (MNM)
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Doss v. Commissioner of Social Security Case 1:16-cv-00145-LLK LISA M. DOSS UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY BOWLING GREEN DIVISION CIVIL ACTION NO. : CV LLK Doc. 24 Document 24 Filed 05/05/20 Page 1 of 7 PageID #: 2472 PLAINTIFF DEFENDANT . ANDREW SAUL, Co issio e of So ial Se u ity MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER This atte is efo e the Cou t o Plai tiff's o plai t seeki g judi ial e ie , pu sua t to U.“.C. § g , of the fi al de isio of the Co e efits. The fa t a d la su issio e de i g he lai fo “o ial “e u it disa ilit a ies of Plai tiff a d Defe da t a e at Do kets Nu e DN . The pa ties ha e o se ted to the ju isdi tio of the u de sig ed Magist ate Judge to dete ase, ith a appeal l i g efo e the “i th Ci uit Cou t of Appeals. [DN a d i e this ]. Be ause the Ad i ist ati e La Judge s ALJ s de isio is suppo ted a d Plai tiff s fi e a gu e ts a e u pe suasi e, the Cou t ill AFFI‘M the Co su sta tial e ide e issio e s fi al de isio a d DI“MI““ Plai tiff s o plai t. P o edu al Histo y Plai tiff filed he o plai t i . [DN ]. Be ause the ad i ist ati e e o d as i o plete due to i audi ilit of the ad i ist ati e hea i g, the pa ties ag eed to a e a d pu sua t to “e te e of U.“.C. § [DN , g fo a e de isio a d fu the ad i ist ati e p o eedi gs, hi h the Cou t g a ted. ]. The Cou t etai s ju isdi tio follo i g a “e te e e a d. Se ’ of Health & Hu a Servs. v. S haefer, U.“. I Ma h ], a d, i O to e , . , the ALJ issued the Co , the Co issio e s fi al de isio [Ad i ist ati e ‘e o d A‘ at issio e filed a otio to eope , hi h the Cou t g a ted. [DN , ]. Dockets.Justia.com Case 1:16-cv-00145-LLK Document 24 Filed 05/05/20 Page 2 of 7 PageID #: 2473 The ALJ’s fi di g that Plai tiff’s heada hes a e o se e e as ot e e si le e o . Fi st, Plai tiff a gues that the ALJ e ed i fi di g he heada hes to e o se e e, o o atio all i sig ifi a t. [DN at efe e i g A‘ at ]. Plai tiff a ies the u de of p o i g that she has a se e e, o o atio all sig ifi a t, i pai e t satisf i g the du atio al e ui e e t. Harle v. Co th Ci . iti g Her v. Co 'r, sho that she suffe s f o a i pai F. d . , . th Ci . F. App , . To eet this u de , she ust e t that has lasted o is e pe ted to last fo a o ti uous pe iod of at least t el e o ths a d that the i pai C.F.‘. §§ , 'r of So . Se ., e t sig ifi a tl li its he a ilit to do asi o k a ti ities. . The egulatio s defi e the ph ase asi o k a ti ities : Basi o k a ti ities. Whe e talk a out asi o k a ti ities, e ea the a ilities a d aptitudes e essa to do ost jo s. E a ples of these i lude Ph si al fu tio s su h as alki g, sta di g, sitti g, lifti g, pushi g, pulli g, ea hi g, a i g, o ha dli g; Capa ities fo seei g, hea i g, a d speaki g; U de sta di g, a i g out, a d e e e i g si ple i st u tio s; Use of judg e t; ‘espo di g app op iatel to supe isio , o o ke s a d usual o k situatio s; a d Deali g ith ha ges i a outi e o k setti g. C.F.‘. § . . The ALJ fou d that De e e ai M‘Is i a d e e o , Plai tiff as p es i ed Ult a fo he heada hes, hi h helped; i O to e heada hes e e des i ed as sta le ith edi atio ; i August as a ps hiat i / so ati o e la ; i Fe ua , a ai M‘I as egati e; a d i August al e ept fo so e si usitis; i , the , a heada he spe ialist opi ed the e , Plai tiff e pe ie ed o l o e heada he; i O to e , the heada hes e e des i ed as u de o t ol ith Case 1:16-cv-00145-LLK Document 24 Filed 05/05/20 Page 3 of 7 PageID #: 2474 edi atio . [A‘ at , , , , , , , , , ]. I light of the fo egoi g e ide e, the ALJ s fi di g of o se e e heada hes as suppo ted su sta tial e ide e. E e if the ALJ s fi di g as ot suppo ted su sta tial e ide e, the e o as ha the ALJ due to he othe e ause Plai tiff has ot p o e that the li itatio s a k o ledged i pai e ts failed to a o less odate the li itatio s, if a , aused he heada hes. “pe ifi all , the ALJ fou d Plai tiff a ha e o o e tha o asio al e posu e to i atio , e t e es of te pe atu e, dusts, gases, odo s, a d othe fa to s k o to t igge heada hes; a d she is li ited to si ple outi e tasks ith o eed to sustai o e t atio , pe siste e, a d pa e e o d t o hou s at a ti e. [A‘ at Additio all , the o atio al e pe t VE la ified that the jo s Plai tiff ould e e ui ed to pe fo o e a se e pe o th a d ei g off task te pe e t of the ti e. [A‘ at ALJ fou d that Plai tiff has se e al se e e i pai the li iti g effe ts of all i pai The efo e, e ts a d, i dete ]. I othe o ds, the C.F.‘. § , th Ci . iti g Maziarz v. Se ' , . e . e t, e.g., Plai tiff s heada hes] as se e e o o se e e ... is legall i ele a t a d does ot a ou t to [ e e si le] e o . Hedges v. Co F. App' allo i i g he li itatio s, o side [ed] e t s , e e those that a e ot se e e. hethe the ALJ ha a te ized [a pa ti ula i pai ]. F. d The ALJ’s ot listi g Plai tiff’s PTSD a o g he se e e i pai , th Ci . 'r, . e ts as ot e e si le e o . “e o d, Plai tiff a gues the ALJ e ed i ot listi g post t au ati st ess diso de PT“D a o g he se e e, o o atio all sig ifi a t, i pai e ts. [DN ho e e , list ipola diso de as a se e e i pai se e e i pai e t as ha e t. [A‘ at ]. At o st, the ALJ s ot listi g PT“D as a less e o e ause Plai tiff has eithe alleged o p o e that the li itatio s a k o ledged the ALJ due to ipola diso de do ot a o Hedges v. Co 'r, F. App' , th Ci . . at efe e i g A‘ at ]. The ALJ did, odate a li itatio s due to PT“D. See Case 1:16-cv-00145-LLK Document 24 Filed 05/05/20 Page 4 of 7 PageID #: 2475 Plai tiff failed to p o e he dege e ati e dis disease satisfies Listi g . A . Thi d, Plai tiff a gues that the ALJ e ed i fi di g he dege e ati e dis disease does ot satisf Listi g . A . [DN at efe e i g A‘ at ]. A o di g to the ALJ, [t]he edi al e ide e does ot esta lish the e uisite e ide e of e e oot o p essio , spi al a a h oiditis o lu a spi al ste osis as e ui ed u de listi g . While these fi di gs o espo d to su se tio s A , B , a d C of Listi g . the ALJ s fi di gs ith espe t to Listi g . Listi g . . [A‘ at ]. , Plai tiff halle ges o l A . A p o ides that the follo i g diso de of the spi e is pe se disa li g: . . Diso de s of the spi e e.g., he iated u leus pulposus, spi al a a h oiditis, spi al ste osis, osteoa th itis, dege e ati e dis disease, fa et a th itis, e te al f a tu e , esulti g i o p o ise of a e e oot i ludi g the auda e ui a o the spi al o d. With: A. E ide e of e e oot o p essio ha a te ized eu o a ato i dist i utio of pai , li itatio of otio of the spi e, oto loss at oph ith asso iated us le eak ess o us le eak ess a o pa ied se so o efle loss a d, if the e is i ol e e t of the lo e a k, positi e st aight leg aisi g test sitti g a d supi e . Listi g . A . Plai tiff a ies the u de of p o i g that the li i al ite ia of a listed i pai e t a e satisfied, a d this u de is o st ued st i tl e ause the Listi g ep ese ts a auto ati s ee i g i of a i pai e t as pe se disa li g i depe de tl of a othe edi al o o atio al fa to . See Se ' v. Ze le , U.“. , A i pai e t that a ifests o l so e of [a listed i pai ite ia, o atte ho se e el , does ot ualif . ; Ela e rel. Gola v. Co Ci . i pai It is i suffi ie t that a lai a t o es lose to 'r, F. d , e t's] th eeti g the e ui e e ts of a listed e t. . Plai tiff does a gua l sho that she suffe s f o e e oot o p essio as o te plated Listi g . A . See Plai tiff s fa t a d la su a , DN at efe e i g A‘ at Jul M‘I sho i g [a]t L “ , the e is … dis ulge … ith … i o ass effe t o the ight g eat[e ] tha left late al e ess, e pe ted lo atio “ oot . Ho e e , Plai tiff ide tifies o page efe e e to the ad i ist ati e Case 1:16-cv-00145-LLK Document 24 Filed 05/05/20 Page 5 of 7 PageID #: 2476 e o d sho i g the e iste e of eu o a ato i dist i utio of pai , li itatio of otio of the spi e, oto loss at oph ith asso iated us le eak ess o us le eak ess a o pa ied efle loss a d … positi e st aight leg aisi g test sitti g a d supi e . The Co his e ie of the ad i ist ati e e o d sho s o o asio s. [DN at efe e i g A‘ at de li es to sea h o its o issio e asse ts that al oto , se so , a d/o efle fu tio o se e al , , , , , ]. The Cou t i itiati e, goi g e o d hat Plai tiff he self ites , pages of the ad i ist ati e e o d i sea h of li i al e ide e suppo ti g o u de a gu e t. See M Pherso v. Kelse , pe fu to a se so o e , u a o pa ied F. d , th Ci . , , i i g Plai tiff s Listi g . A [I]ssues ad e ted to i a so e effo t at de eloped a gu e tatio , a e dee ed ai ed. It is ot suffi ie t fo a pa t to e tio a possi le a gu e t i the ost skeletal a , lea i g the ou t to ... put flesh o its o es. . Plai tiff failed to p o e he ipola diso de satisfies Listi g . . Fou th, Plai tiff a gues that the ALJ e ed i fi di g he ipola diso de does ot satisf Listi g . [DN e ause, a o di g to the ALJ, the se e it of i pai at efe e i g A‘ at sho that he i pai e t does ot satisf the pa ag aph B ite ia. ]. To satisf the pa ag aph B ite ia of Listi g . , Plai tiff ust e t esults i at least o e e t e e o t o a ked li itatio s i [fou ] oad a ea[s] of fu tio hi h a e: u de sta di g, e e e i g, o appl i g i fo atio ; i te a ti g ith othe s; o e t ati g, pe sisti g, o ai tai i g pa e; o adapti g o a agi g the sel es. [A‘ at ]. The ALJ fou d that Plai tiff is o l ode atel li ited i all fou a eas. Id. Plai tiff, ho e e , halle ges o l the ALJ s fi di g that she is ode atel li ited i he a ilit to o e t ate, pe sist, o ai tai pa e. [DN at ]. The efo e, Plai tiff ust sho that she has a e t e e i a ilit to o e t ate, pe sist, o A si ple o d sea h of Plai tiff s fa t a d la su a e eals o efe e e to a dist i utio , oto loss, o at oph esides si pl uoti g Listi g . A . Plai tiff does state that [a] t eati g o thopedist fou d positi e ight side st aight leg aise testi g. [DN at efe e i g A‘ at ]. Ho e e , the e is o i di atio that st aight leg aisi g as positi e sitti g a d supi e. Case 1:16-cv-00145-LLK Document 24 Filed 05/05/20 Page 6 of 7 PageID #: 2477 ai tai pa e. A e t e e li itatio is the i a ilit to fu tio i depe de tl , app op iatel o effe ti el , a d o a sustai ed asis. [A‘ at ]. Plai tiff ide tifies o page efe e e to the ad i ist ati e e o d sho i g a e t e e i a ilit to o e t ate, pe sist, o ai tai pa e. The Cou t de li es to sea h o its o i itiati e , of the ad i ist ati e e o d i sea h of li i al e ide e suppo ti g Plai tiff s Listi g See M Pherso v. Kelse , F. d , th Ci . The ALJ’s fi di g that Plai tiff a pe fo . pages a gu e t. . so e light o k had a ade uate edi al asis. Fifth a d fi all , Plai tiff a gues that the ALJ s ph si al esidual fu tio al apa it ‘FC fi di gs, hi h li it Plai tiff to a a ge of light o k, is ot suppo ted su sta tial e ide e e ause the do ot o espo d to the fi di gs of a si gle ph si ia . [DN at efe e i g A‘ at ]. The a gu e t is u pe suasi e fo t o easo s. Fi st, Plai tiff a k o ledges that the ALJ s ph si al ‘FC fi di gs o espo d losel to those of Ad a De ishi, M.D., a d that, i fa t, the ALJ s fi di gs a e o e est i ti e tha D . De ishi s fi di gs. [DN at efe e i g A‘ at ph si ia opi ed that [Plai tiff] as a le to pe fo th Ci . , ]. The efo e, this is ot a ase i hi h o … light o k. Rudd v. Co . “e o d, e e if o ph si ia opi ed that Plai tiff a pe fo ha ged ith the espo si ilit of dete 'r, F. App' , light o k, the ALJ is i i g the ‘FC ased o [his] e aluatio of the edi al a d o edi al e ide e. Id. The efo e, to e ui e the ALJ to ase [his] ‘FC fi di g o a ph si ia 's opi io , ould, i effe t, o fe upo the t eati g sou e the autho it to ake the dete i atio o de isio a out hethe a i di idual is u de a disa ilit , a d thus ould e a a di atio of the Co issio e 's A si ple o d sea h of Plai tiff s fa t a d la su a e eals o efe e e to a e t e e li itatio esides si pl uoti g Listi g . o to a i a ilit to fu tio i depe de tl , app op iatel , effe ti el , o a sustai ed asis. Plai tiff faults the ALJ fo ot dis ussi g o asio al fi di gs of tea ful ess T . , , , p essu ed spee h, T . , , ti ed appea a e T . , dep essed affe t , p ofou d e o loss o eu ologist e a i atio T . ; o plai ts of pa a oid thoughts a d hallu i atio s T . , , ; assessed a ia o ph si al o sultati e e a T . ; a d ou selo s assess e t of poo to o a ilit to ai tai atte tio a d o e t atio T . . [DN at ]. Ho e e , these o asio al li itatio s do ot p o e the e iste e of a e t e e i a ilit to o e t ate, pe sist, o ai tai pa e satisf i g the o th du atio e ui e e t . Case 1:16-cv-00145-LLK Document 24 Filed 05/05/20 Page 7 of 7 PageID #: 2478 statuto espo si ilit to dete WL i e hethe a i di idual is disa led. Id. uoti g “o . “e . ‘ul. p, , at * . O de Be ause the ALJ s de isio is suppo ted su sta tial e ide e a d Plai tiff s fi e a gu e ts a e u pe suasi e, the Cou t he e AFFI‘M“ the Co issio e s fi al de isio a d DI“MI““E“ Plai tiff s o plai t. May 4, 2020
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