Bray v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 1:2016cv00183 - Document 19 (W.D. Ky. 2017)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER by Magistrate Judge Lanny King on 8/17/2017. The Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED, and Plaintiff's complaint is DISMISSED. cc:counsel (JWM)
Download PDF
<![CDATA[
Bray v. Commissioner of Social Security LISA A. BRAY Doc. 19 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY BOWLING GREEN DIVISION CIVIL ACTION NO. : 6 CV 8 LLK PLAINTIFF DEFENDANT . NANCY A. BERRYHILL, 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 is ipe fo dete 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 a d , a d the ase i atio . The pa ties ha e o se ted to the ju isdi tio of the u de sig ed Magist ate Judge to dete i e this ase, ith a appeal l i g efo e the “i th Ci uit Cou t of Appeals. Do ket . Be ause the ad i ist ati e la judge’s ALJ’s de isio is suppo ted i a o d ith appli a le legal sta da ds, the Cou t ill AFFIRM the Co su sta tial e ide e a d issio e ’s fi al de isio a d DI“MI““ Plai tiff’s o plai t. Dis ussio The ALJ issued the Co issio e ’s fi al de isio o De e , , fi di g that Plai tiff is ot disa led th ough the date of de isio . Ad i ist ati e Re o d AR , p. . Plai tiff halle ges the ALJ’s esidual fu tio al apa it RFC fi di g that he i pai e e ts allo pe fo a e of a li ited a ge of u skilled, sede ta o k. Mo e spe ifi all , Plai tiff halle ges the ALJ’s fi di g that he dege e ati e dis disease DDD , gast oesophageal eflu disease GERD , pol a th algias, ilate al pla ta a d al a eal spu i g, dia etes, gout, o esit , a d dep essi e a d a iet diso de s AR, p. allo he : to pe fo sede ta o k as defi ed i follo i g li itatio s: she a o asio all li CFR . a a d a ps a d stai s; she a e e li . a , ith the ladde s, opes, Dockets.Justia.com a d s affolds; the lai a t e ui es the use of a a e, fo a ulatio ; she a o asio all stoop, k eel, ou h, a d a l; the lai a t e ui es o k ithout o e t ated e posu e to i atio a d haza ds su h as heights a d o i g a hi e ; a d, the lai a t a u de sta d, e e si ple i st u tio s. AR, p. e , a d a out . Plai tiff akes fou a gu e ts halle gi g the ALJ’s RFC fi di g. . The ALJ’s RFC fi di g ade uately o side ed Plai tiff’s eed to use a a e fo a As oted a o e, the ALJ fou d that Plai tiff e ui es the use of a a e, fo a ulatio . ulatio . AR, p. . “o . “e . Rul. ““R p, WL , at * states that the o upatio al ase fo u skilled, sede ta o k ill e sig ifi a tl e oded if the i di idual ust use a ha d held assisti e de i e, ot o l fo a ulatio , ut also fo ala e e ause of sig ifi a t i ol e e t of oth lo e e t e ities e.g., e ause of a eu ologi al i pai e t . The o upatio al ase is ot sig ifi a tl e oded if the de i e is eeded o l fo p olo ged a ulatio . Id. The ele a t po tio of ““R p states i its e ti et as follo s: Medi ally e ui ed ha d held assistive devi e: To fi d that a ha d held assisti e de i e is edi all e ui ed, the e ust e edi al do u e tatio esta lishi g the eed fo a ha d held assisti e de i e to aid i alki g o sta di g, a d des i i g the i u sta es fo hi h it is eeded i.e., hethe all the ti e, pe iodi all , o o l i e tai situatio s; dista e a d te ai ; a d a othe ele a t i fo atio . The adjudi ato ust al a s o side the pa ti ula fa ts of a ase. Fo e a ple, if a edi all e ui ed ha d held assisti e de i e is eeded o l fo p olo ged a ulatio , alki g o u e e te ai , o as e di g o des e di g slopes, the u skilled sede ta o upatio al ase ill ot o di a il e sig ifi a tl e oded. “i e ost u skilled sede ta o k e ui es o l o asio al lifti g a d a i g of light o je ts su h as ledge s a d files a d a a i u lifti g apa it fo o l pou ds, a i di idual ho uses a edi all e ui ed ha d held assisti e de i e i o e ha d a still ha e the a ilit to pe fo the i i al lifti g a d a i g e ui e e ts of a sede ta u skilled o upatio s ith the othe ha d. Fo e a ple, a i di idual ho ust use a ha d held assisti e de i e to aid i alki g o sta di g e ause of a i pai e t that affe ts o e lo e e t e it e.g., a u sta le k ee , o to edu e pai he alki g, ho is li ited to sede ta o k e ause of the i pai e t affe ti g the lo e e t e it , a d ho has o othe fu tio al li itatio s o est i tio s a still ha e the a ilit to ake a adjust e t to sede ta o k that e ists i sig ifi a t u e s. O the othe ha d, the o upatio al ase fo a i di idual ho ust use su h a de i e fo ala e e ause of sig ifi a t i ol e e t of oth lo e e t e ities e.g., e ause of a eu ologi al i pai e t a e sig ifi a tl e oded. I these situatio s, too, it a e espe iall useful to o sult a o atio al esou e i o de to ake a judg e t ega di g the i di idual's a ilit to ake a adjust e t to othe o k. Plai tiff a gues that [t]he ad i ist ati e de isio failed to p ope l eigh the effe t of the e ui e e t that [she] ust a ulate ith a a e upo he apa it to pe fo sede ta o k pu sua t to the e ui e e ts of ““R Plai tiff’s elia e o ““R p. Do ket a edu ed a ge of , p. . p is u pe suasi e fo t o easo s. Fi st, the ALJ fou d a d the e ide e suppo ts that Plai tiff ust use a a e fo p olo ged a ulatio ut ot fo ala e. Cli i ia s o siste tl judged Plai tiff ot to e a fall isk. AR, pp. , , a d . Whe asked, Plai tiff de ied ha i g poo ala e. AR, pp. “e o d, the li itatio of ha i g to use a a e fo a VE at the ad i ist ati e hea i g. AR, p. , , a d , . ulatio as gi e to the o atio al e pe t . Plai tiff as gi e a oppo tu it to oss e a i e the VE o the o atio al i pa t of also eedi g the a e fo ala e ut de li ed to do so. Plai tiff’s a gu e t is, the efo e, ai ed. See Kepke v. Co ’ of So . Se ., F. App’ Although the o atio al h potheti al did ot o tai the spe ifi s o te plated , th Ci . ““R p, hi h had the pote tial of e odi g the o upatio al ase, [ ]e ause Kepke failed to p o e this alleged defi ie at the ALJ hea i g, she fo feited this a gu e t ; Ro i so v. Co , WL , at * W.D. Mi h. Ju e , ’ of So . Se ., No. : olle ti g autho ities fo the p opositio that [t]he “i th Ci uit, alo g ith othe ou ts a oss the ou t , ha e ge e all e og ized that a lai a t's failu e to o je t to testi o offe ed a o atio al e pe t, at the ti e of the ad i ist ati e p o eedi g, ai es the lai a t's ight to aise su h issues i the dist i t ou t . . The ALJ’s RFC fi di g ade uately o side ed the esults of the lu O No e e , , a MRI as take of Plai tiff’s lu a MRI f o No e e a spi e. Jaso White, M.D., i te p eted it as e eali g dis he iatio at L L esulti g ild e t al ste osis. AR, p. White e o e ded a MRI of the tho a i spi e. AR, p. . . . D . O De e e , MRI as e eali g: , a tho a i MRI as o tai ed. Mi hael “hado e , M.D., i te p eted the . Mild h pe t ophi ha ges a d s oliosis. . Mild oad ased T p ot usio ith asso iated osteoph tes a d o de li e e t al spi al ste osis. AR, p. D . “hado e ’s tho a i MRI i te p etatio i o po ated the p io lu p. The uppe lu dis . a MRI fi di gs. See AR, a spi e is i luded o the stud , a d the e is ode ate ulgi g ith e t al he iatio of the L dis ith asso iated ild e t al spi al ste osis due to dis ulgi g/he iatio a d h pe t ophi ha ges hi h as oted o the / / lu a MRI . Plai tiff a k o ledges that the ALJ’s de isio i ludes a e ie of …. [the] De e tho a i MRI. Do ket , p. , efe i g to de isio at AR, p. , efe i g to MRI at AR, p. e . Plai tiff a gues that [t]he ad i ist ati e de isio fails to o side i po ta t [No e e lu edi al a ] MRI fi di gs he e aluati g the effe t of the Plai tiff’s dege e ati e dis disease upo he [RFC]. Do ket , p. . Plai tiff’s elia e o the lu a MRI fi di gs is u pe suasi e fo t o easo s. Fi st, i e ie i g the tho a i MRI fi di gs, hi h i o po ated the p io lu the AL i pli itl o side ed the lu a MRI fi di gs, a MRI fi di gs he e aluati g Plai tiff’s RFC. “e o d, e e if the ALJ did ot o side o did ot ade uatel o side the lu a MRI fi di gs, Plai tiff has ot et he u de of p o i g that su h fi di gs e ui e a o e est i ti e RFC tha the ALJ fou d. See o disa led a d . C.F.R. §§ a . a I ge e al, ou ha e to p o e to us that ou a e li d I ge e al, ou a e espo si le fo p o idi g the e ide e e ill use to ake a fi di g a out ou [RFC] . Neithe Plai tiff o the Cou t possesses the edi al e pe tise e essa to o lude that a i di idual ha i g the lu a MRI fi di gs at AR, pp. ould e ui e g eate li itatio s tha the ALJ fou d o li itatio s that ould p e lude u skilled, sede ta ok. . The ALJ’s RFC fi di g ade uately o side ed Plai tiff’s alleged eed to alte ate sitti g/sta di g. I Jul , Plai tiff o pleted the Os est Pai “ ale, stati g, a o g othe thi gs, that pai p e e ts he f o sitti g o e tha ½ hou . The othe hoi es e e o e tha hou , o e tha i utes, a d at all. AR, p. she a sit a e a out a k is. AR, p. . At the ad i ist ati e hea i g i O to e i utes, , Plai tiff testified that , so e he e a ou d th ough the e. It depe ds o ho ad . Plai tiff a gues that [t]he ad i ist ati e de isio e luded a o side atio of the [he ] li ited a ilit fo p olo ged sitti g he fo fi di gs. Do ket ulati g the adjudged [RFC] despite suppo ti g edi al , p. . Plai tiff’s iti is of the ALJ’s ot o side i g he alleged eed to alte ate sitti g/sta di g i light of he testi o a d o pletio of the Os est Pai “ ale is u pe suasi e fo fou easo s. Fi st, Plai tiff’s filli g out a fo a d testif i g to e tai li itatio s do ot o stitute suppo ti g edi al fi di gs. “e o d, i oti g Plai tiff’s testi o that she a sit fo o lo ge tha fiftee i utes due to he a k pai a d i fi di g that Plai tiff’s allegatio s i elatio to he a k a e less tha full edi le ALJ’s de isio , AR, p. , the ALJ did i pli itl o side the alleged eed to alte ate sitti g/sta di g a d a epted it o l to the e te t it ould e a o lu h pe iod. See “o . “e . Rul. odated s heduled eaks a d a p A i di idual a eed to alte ate the e ui ed sitti g of The Co issio e ’s o e a i i g o sulta t, Douglas Ba k, M.D., did e pli itl o side the No e e lu a MRI fi di gs. AR, p. . D . Ba k assig ed fe e est i tio s tha the ALJ. Co pa e ALJ’s RFC fi di gs at AR, p. a d D . Ba k’s RFC fo fi di gs at AR, pp. . The ALJ ulti atel de ided to gi e little eight to D . Ba k’s fi di gs, hi h ould ha e pe itted pe fo a e of light o k, e ause the agg egate e o d p ese ted suggests that the lai a t’s edu ed o ilit i he a k a d lo e e t e ities, alo g ith he o e all ph si al pai , has ea hed a poi t that she is li ited to pe fo i g o k at the sede ta le el. ALJ’s de isio , AR, p. . I a e e t, D . Ba k’s o pletio of the RFC fo illust ates that the lu a MRI fi di gs a e ot e essa il i o pati le ith the ALJ’s RFC fi di gs. sede ta a o o k odated sta di g a d, possi l , s heduled alki g pe iodi all . Whe e this eed a ot e eaks a d a lu h pe iod, the o upatio al ase fo a full a ge of u skilled sede ta o k ill e e oded . Thi d, Plai tiff ai ed a iti is of the ALJ’s ot o side i g he alleged eed to alte ate sitti g/sta di g ot oss e a i i g the VE o the atte at the hea i g. See Kepke, sup a Kepke a gues that the ALJ failed to p o ide spe ifi s i the RFC a d h potheti als as to the f e ue of he eed to alte ate et ee sitti g a d sta di g. … Be ause Kepke failed to p o e this alleged defi ie at the ALJ hea i g, she fo feited this a gu e t . Fou th, a e o pe tai i g to alte ate sitti g/sta di g as ha less e ause the jo s of polishe a d o de le k, hi h the ALJ ited as ep ese tati e e a ples of jo s Plai tiff ould pe fo ot ithsta di g he li itatio s AR, p. Co ’ of So . Se ., No. : , appa e tl allo fo sitti g/sta di g at ill. See S yde v. , WL , * N.D. Ohio No . , The ALJ the asked a … h potheti al [i hi h] this i di idual ould eed to e a le to sit o sta d alte ati el , at ill…. [The VE] espo ded that the e e e othe jo s i the atio al o egio al e o o pe so ould pe fo Co : Polishe , DOT ’ of So . Se ., No. – –DLB, . … WL O de Cle k, DOT . E.D. K . Ap il . , that su h a ; Hodge v. The VE i di ated that … o de le k positio s ould allo a o ke to alte ate sitti g a d sta di g ; Ko e ky v. Co ’ of So . Se ., o F. App’ , th Ci . No p i iple of ad i ist ati e la o o se se e ui es us to e a d a ase i uest of a pe fe t opi io u less the e is easo to elie e that e a d ight lead to a diffe e t esult . . The ALJ’s e tal RFC fi di g as legally ade uate. Plai tiff a gues that [t]he ad i ist ati e de isio e ed i faili g to p ope l e aluate the Plai tiff’s e tal i pai . a d ““R e ts a d esulti g fu tio al li itatio s as e ui ed [ WL ]. Do ket , p. . CFR §§ . , These egulatio s a d uli g state that, i dete i i g a lai a t’s e tal RFC, a ALJ should o side the follo i g fa to s, hi h a e ele a t to a ilit to do past a d othe o k: a ilit to u de sta d, a out, a d e e e i st u tio s; a d a ilit to espo d app op iatel to supe isio , o o ke s, a d usto a o k p essu es i a o k setti g. I fi di g that Plai tiff’s dep essi e a d a iet diso de s li it he to u de sta di g, e e e i g, a d a i g out si ple i st u tio s AR, pp. o side ed Plai tiff’s a ilit to u de sta d, a out, a d e e a d , the ALJ’s de isio e pli itl e i st u tio s fa to o. , sup a . I de li i g to fi d a additio al e tal li itatio , the ALJ’s de isio i pli itl fou d that Plai tiff has o se e e, o o atio all sig ifi a t, i pai e t affe ti g he a ilit to espo d app op iatel to supe isio , o o ke s, a d usto a o k p essu es i a o k setti g fa to o. . Fo the easo s elo , this fi di g of a o se e e e tal i pai e t as suppo ted su sta tial e ide e. I No e e , Ollie C. De his a ati e epo t, D . De a d e e is, Ed.D., e a i ed Plai tiff at the Co is fou d ild to ode ate li itatio s i the a eas of u de sta di g e i g o e a d t o stage i st u tio s; sustai i g atte tio to o plete tasks; so ial i te a tio ; a d apa it to adapt to p essu es of o CFR §§ issio e ’s e uest. I . a d . al dail o k a ti it . AR, p. . state: Me tal a ilities. Whe e assess ou e tal a ilities, e fi st assess the atu e a d e te t of ou e tal li itatio s a d est i tio s a d the dete i e ou esidual fu tio al apa it fo o k a ti it o a egula a d o ti ui g asis. A li ited a ilit to a out e tai e tal a ti ities, su h as li itatio s i u de sta di g, e e e i g, a d a i g out i st u tio s, a d i espo di g app op iatel to supe isio , o o ke s, a d o k p essu es i a o k setti g, a edu e ou a ilit to do past o k a d othe o k. ““R states, i pe ti e t pa t: Regulatio s No. , se tio . / . , p ese ts the oad issues to e o side ed i the e aluatio of RFC i e tal diso de s. It states that this e aluatio i ludes o side atio of the a ilit to u de sta d, to a out a d e e e i st u tio s, a d to espo d app op iatel to supe isio , o o ke s, a d usto a o k p essu es i a o k setti g. Co side atio of these fa to s, hi h a e o tai ed i se tio . of the Listi g of l pai e ts i Appe di , is e ui ed fo the p ope e aluatio of the se e it of e tal i pai e ts. I De e state age e a d Ma h is’ fi di gs, the o e a i i g p og a ps hologists, “a fo d Goli , Ph.D., a d Ch isti B ue i g, Ph.D., o pleted the ps hiat i e ie te h i ue PRT fo li i g; , ased, i pa t, o D . De ild diffi ulties i , fi di g that Plai tiff has: ai tai i g so ial fu tio i g; ild est i tio of a ti ities of dail ild diffi ulties i ai tai i g o e t atio , pe siste e, o pa e; a d o epeated episodes of de o pe satio ea h of e te ded du atio . AR, pp. a d . I so fi di g, the p og a ps hologists fou d o se e e, o o atio all sig ifi a t, e tal i pai as e t. See o e o e ide e othe C.F.R. §§ . ad , . ad If e ate the deg ees of ou li itatio ild, e ill ge e all o lude that ou i pai e t s is ot se e e, u less the ise i di ates that the e is o e tha a i i al li itatio i ou a ilit to do asi o k a ti ities . Alte ati el , e e if the ALJ did e i ot fi di g a o atio all sig ifi a t li itatio i Plai tiff’s a ilit to espo d app op iatel to supe isio , o o ke s, a d usto a o k p essu es i a o k setti g, the ALJ as ot e ui ed to fi d a disa li g deg ee of li itatio i.e., o e that ould e e pe ted to p e lude all u skilled, sede ta o k . A e a d, the efo e, is i app op iate. See Ko e ky, sup a No p i iple of ad i ist ati e la o o o se se e ui es us to e a d a ase i uest of a pe fe t opi io u less the e is easo to elie e that e a d ight lead to a diffe e t esult . ORDER The Co issio e ’s fi al de isio is AFFIRMED, a d Plai tiff’s o plai t is DI“MI““ED. August 17, 2017
]]>
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You
should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
