Hunter v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 1:2019cv00120 - Document 21 (W.D. Ky. 2020)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Lanny King on 5/19/2020. The Court hereby AFFIRMS the Commissioner's final decision and DISMISSES Plaintiff's complaint. cc: Counsel (MNM)
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Hunter v. Commissioner of Social Security Case 1:19-cv-00120-LLK UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY BOWLING GREEN DIVISION CIVIL ACTION NO. : 9 CV LLK ANTHONY W. HUNTER Doc. 21 Document 21 Filed 05/19/20 Page 1 of 6 PageID #: 2415 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 his lai fo so ial se 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 fou 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. Ba kg ou d fa ts a d p o edu al histo y I , Plai tiff filed a p io o plai t seeki g judi ial e ie ; the pa ties filed a joi t otio fo a e a d to the Co issio e fo a e de isio ; a d the Cou t g a ted the otio a d e te ed judg e t i fa o of Plai tiff. Hu ter v. Co ’r of So . Se ., No. : CV HBB. Follo i g e a d, the Appeals Cou il e te ed a o de e ui i g the ALJ, a o g othe thi gs, to la if the atu e of Plai tiff s i a ilit to i te a t ith othe s o the jo a d his eed fo supe isio a d suppo t: The [p io ALJ] de isio does ot o tai a ade uate e aluatio of the opi io e ide state age ps hologist, Douglas ‘o i s, Ph.D. [Ad i ist ati e ‘e o d A‘ at ‘o i s opi ed the lai a t should ha e i f e ue t a d asual i te a tio s ith o supe iso s a d the pu li , a d that the lai a t s supe iso e i o e t should e fo ]. D . o ke s, e of a Dockets.Justia.com Case 1:19-cv-00120-LLK Document 21 Filed 05/19/20 Page 2 of 6 PageID #: 2416 suppo ti e atu e. D . ‘o i s also opi ed that ha ges should e i t odu ed g aduall i the o kpla e. [A‘ at ]. The [ALJ] ga e g eat eight to D . ‘o i s opi io . Ho e e , it is u lea ho the est i tio s D . ‘o i s opi ed e e a o odated i the esidual fu tio al apa it [‘FC], hi h li ited the lai a t to o asio al o ta t ith supe iso s, o o ke s a d the pu li a d fe , if a , o kpla e ha ges. I pa ti ula , the [‘FC] did ot i lude a li itatio as to the depth of i te a tio s asual , a est i tio as to hat t pe of supe isio should e offe ed o li it ho ha ges e e to e i t odu ed. The efo e, fu the e aluatio is a a ted. [A‘ at ]. B a of o plia e ith the a o e o de , the ALJ fou d that Plai tiff has the follo i g e tal ‘FC elati e to his i a ilit to i te a t ith othe s o the jo a d eed fo supe isio a d suppo t: [T]he lai a t has the a ilit to pe fo si ple, outi e tasks; sustai o e t atio a d atte tio o e t o hou pe iods fo su h tasks; ith o asio al supe fi ial i te a tio ith o o ke s a d supe iso s ith suppo ti e t pe of supe isio ; little o o ha ge i the o k outi e, ith ha ges g aduall i t odu ed; o lose ta de o k ith othe s a d a oid e posu e to the ge e al pu li . [A‘ at ]. At the ad i ist ati e hea i g, the o atio al e pe t VE testified that a i di idual ho is li ited to light o k a d ho has the a o e e tal ‘FC ould e a le to pe fo the atio al e o o I his su h as i spe to /so te , asse e of jo s i le , a d ha d o ke / pa ke . [A‘ at ]. itte de isio , the ALJ a epted the VE s testi o a d o luded that Plai tiff is ot disa led e ause, although he a o lo ge pe fo [A‘ at a sig ifi a t u his past ele a t o k, he a pe fo othe o k. ]. The ALJ s de isio e a e the Co issio e s fi al de isio , p ese tl efo e this Cou t, he the Appeals Cou il de li ed to assu e ju isdi tio . [A‘ at ]. The ALJ’s e tal RFC fi di gs ade uately add essed the Appeal Cou il’s i itial o e s. Fi st, Plai tiff a gues that the ALJ s e tal ‘FC fi di gs did ot ade uatel add ess the Appeal Cou il s i itial o e s. [DN at ]. The a gu e t is u pe suasi e fo th ee easo s. Fi st, the a gu e t is ot og iza le o judi ial e ie . Although the “i th Ci uit has ot add essed the issue, … the o e hel i g ajo it of ou ts Case 1:19-cv-00120-LLK Document 21 Filed 05/19/20 Page 3 of 6 PageID #: 2417 i this i uit ... ha e dete i ed that fede al ou ts la k ju isdi tio to o side hethe a ad i ist ati e la judge o plied ith the Appeals Cou il s i st u tio s o e a d. Hu Co 'r, No. CV , WL , at * E.D. Mi h. Ju e , ard v. epo t adopted olle ti g autho ities . “e o d, i de li i g to assu e ju isdi tio , the Appeals Cou il i pli itl fou d that the ALJ s e tal ‘FC fi di gs ade uatel add essed its i itial o e s. Thi d, as efle ted i the a o e p o edu al histo , the ALJ s e tal ‘FC fi di gs did ade uatel add ess the Appeal Cou il s i itial o e s. The ALJ’s e tal RFC fi di gs e e suffi ie tly spe ifi fo o side atio y the VE. “e o d, Plai tiff a gues that the li itatio to suppo ti e t pe supe isio is ot suffi ie tl spe ifi fo o side atio li itatio . [DN e io the [VE], ho as left to his i te p etatio of hat is ea t the at ]. Take to e t e e, suppo ti e supe isio ould ea a shelte ed o k e t. Id. at . The a gu e t is u pe suasi e fo t o easo s. Fi st,, [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. Co krell v. Co , 'r, No. : CV , WL , at * “.D. Ohio Fe . olle ti g autho ities . As the Appeals Cou il oted, the [VE] testi o at the hea i g akes o i di atio that this li itatio ould e pa ti ula l p o le ati , a d is a le to a e jo s that e ist i sig ifi a t u e s that the lai a t ould pe fo [A‘ at ], a d Plai tiff did ot o je t. “e o d, hile Plai tiff a uses the ALJ s uestio to the VE of la ki g spe ifi it , Plai tiff s a gu e t also la ks spe ifi it . A VE s testi o i espo se to a h potheti al uestio se es as su sta tial e ide e i suppo t of a o lusio that a lai a t a pe fo a sig ifi a t u e of jo s i the atio al e o o if the uestio a u atel po t a s the ph si al a d e tal li itatio s the ALJ fou d to e edi le. Eal v. Co 'r, F. d , th Ci . . I faili g to di e t this Cou t's atte tio to the e tal Case 1:19-cv-00120-LLK Document 21 Filed 05/19/20 Page 4 of 6 PageID #: 2418 li itatio s the ALJ allegedl dis ega ded, o i hat a e the h potheti al did ot a u atel po t a Plai tiff's e tal status, Plai tiff's a gu e t la ks the spe ifi it e ui ed this Cou t o appeal. Ada s v. Co ’r, No. CIV.A. Hollo v. Co 'r, DLB, F. d , WL th Ci . , at * E.D. K . Ap . , iti g Hollo e rel. . I othe o ds, Plai tiff s a gu e t la ks spe ifi it e ause he fails to ide tif a e ide e that he has a eed fo suppo ti e supe isio that ould p e lude pe fo a e the jo s ide tified the VE. Co t a to Plai tiff s suggestio , take to e t e e, the VE ould ot ha e u de stood suppo ti e supe isio to ea a shelte ed o k e i o VE had u de stood that, the VE ould ot ha e ide tified a sig ifi a t u the atio al e o o Plai tiff a pe fo e t e ause, if the e of o shelte ed jo s i . The ALJ did ot e i faili g to o side a losed pe iod of disa ility. Thi d, Plai tiff a gues that the ALJ e ed i faili g o side a losed pe iod of disa ilit . [DN at ]. The a gu e t is u pe suasi e fo fi e easo s. Fi st, just e ause the ALJ did ot e pli itl add ess the possi ilit of a losed pe iod of disa ilit i his itte de isio , Plai tiff has ot sho that the ALJ did ot o side ut ulti atel eje ted that possi ilit . “e o d, Plai tiff, th ough ou sel, did ot e uest o side atio fo a losed pe iod of disa ilit . Thi d, as the Appeals Cou il oted, the epo ts f o the o sultati e e a i atio s a d the “tate age edi al o sulta ts, ho ha e assessed the e o d th oughout the pe iod at issue, ake o i di atio that the lai a t as disa led fo a ele a t pe iod. [A‘ at ]. Fou th, Plai tiff ide tifies o e ide tia asis fo fi di g a losed pe iod of disa ilit a d does ot allege a sta t o e d date. Fifth, Plai tiff ide tifies o e ide e that his ph si al i pai e ts i p o ed. Disa ilit is defi ed as a i a ilit to e gage i a su sta tial gai ful a ti it easo of a edi all dete i a le ph si al o e tal i pai e t hi h a e e pe ted to esult i death o hi h has lasted o a e e pe ted to last fo a o ti uous pe iod of ot less tha o ths. U.“.C.A. § d A . I o de to fi d a losed pe iod of disa ilit , the [ALJ] ust fi d that at so e Case 1:19-cv-00120-LLK Document 21 Filed 05/19/20 Page 5 of 6 PageID #: 2419 poi t i the past, [Plai tiff] as disa led a d that, at so e late poi t i the past, he i p o ed to the poi t of o lo ge ei g disa led. Murr v. Co Te . Ma . , ’r, No. : CV DCP, WL , at * E.D. . Plai tiff alleged disa ilit due to dege e ati e dis disease ith ild he iatio at C a d dege e ati e osteoa th itis. [A‘ at i p o ed. While Plai tiff otes that a Ap il ode ate a d a Jul ]. He ide tifies o e ide e that these i pai e ts e i al M‘I ha a te ized his e t al a al ste osis as e i al M‘I ha a te ized it as ild [DN at ], the e as o sig ifi a t diffe e e. “ted a s Medi al Di tio a defi es e t al a al ste osis as a a o i g of the e t al a al of the spi e. The , a d the M‘I sho ed a AP a te oposte io a al dia ete of app o i atel M‘I sho ed a AP a al dia ete of app o i atel . [A‘ at , ]. D . Hu e’s opi io s do ot suppo t a fi di g of a losed pe iod of disa ility. Fou th, Plai tiff a gues that the opi io s of his t eati g ph si ia , Ti oth Hu e, M.D., suppo t a fi di g of a losed pe iod of disa ilit . [DN I Ja ua gai ful e plo a d i Ju e at ]. , D . Hu e opi ed that I feel that [Plai tiff] is u a le to pe fo e t due to p o le s ith his a k, a s, a d legs. [A‘ at , ]. The ALJ dis ou ted these opi io s e ause the e e o a issue ese ed fo the u de sig ed as a age t fo the Co issio e . [A‘ at ]; see C.F.‘. § . d A state e t a edi al sou e that ou a e disa led o u a le to o k does ot ea that e ill dete I Jul a d Fe ua , D . Hu e o pleted ph si al ‘FC fo a epted, ould p e lude e e sede ta o k E hi its fou d that the disa li g i e that ou a e disa led. . F a d F . [A‘ at s i a a e that, if ]. The ALJ a ipulati e a d sta di g/ alki g li itatio s assig ed , D . Hu e e e e titled to little eight e ause the e e [i ] o siste t ith the edi al e o d[s]. [A‘ at ]. Plai tiff did ot a gue that the ALJ s fi di g of la k of disa ilit th ough the Ma , de isio date as ot suppo ted su sta tial e ide e e ause the ALJ e ed i eighi g D . Hu e s edi al opi io s. That a gu e t is ai ed. See M Pherso v. Kelse , F. d , th Ci . [I]ssues ad e ted to i a pe fu to a e , u a o pa ied 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. . Case 1:19-cv-00120-LLK Document 21 Filed 05/19/20 Page 6 of 6 PageID #: 2420 The a gu e t is u pe suasi e fo t o easo s. Fi st, as stated a o e, i o a gu e t, the e is o e ide e that Plai tiff s ph si al i pai e tio ith the p io e ts i p o ed. “e o d, as the Appeals Cou il fou d, the [ALJ] tho oughl dis ussed these opi io s [E hi its F a d F], des i i g the o je ti e fi di gs a d o se atio s that o t adi t D . Hu e s assess e ts. [A‘ at efe e i g A‘ at ]. O de Be ause the Ad i ist ati e La Judge s ALJ s de isio is suppo ted su sta tial e ide e a d Plai tiff s fou a gu e ts a e u pe suasi e, the Cou t he e AFFI‘M“ the Co de isio a d DI“MI““E“ Plai tiff s o plai t. May 19, 2020 issio e s fi al
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