Beasley v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 5:2016cv00108 - Document 26 (W.D. Ky. 2017)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER by Magistrate Judge Lanny King on 6/9/2017; this matter is REMANDED to the Commissioner for a new decision and further administrative proceedings deemed necessary and appropriate by the Commissioner. A separate judgment shall enter.cc:counsel (KJA)
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Beasley v. Commissioner of Social Security Doc. 26 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY PADUCAH DIVISION CIVIL ACTION NO. : CV 8 LLK TERESA BEASLEY PLAINTIFF issio e of So ial Se u ity DEFENDANT . NANCY A. BERRYHILL, A ti g Co 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 Cou t is u a le to o du t a ea i gful e ie of Plai tiff’s lai s due to i te al i o siste Co i the ad i ist ati e la judge’s ALJ’s fi di gs, the Cou t ill REMAND this atte to the issio e fo a e de isio a d additio al fi di gs. Autho ity fo e a d Plai tiff a gues that, although the pu po t to allo he to pe fo light o k, i fa t, the ALJ’s esidual fu tio al apa it RFC fi di gs suppo t a sede ta e e tio al apa it as opposed to light. Do ket , p. . The efo e, a o di g to the a gu e t, the ALJ’s RFC fi di gs e ui e a o lusio that she has a a i u e e tio al apa it fo sede ta o k. It follo s so the a gu e t goes that, i light of he age, edu atio , a d p io o k e pe ie e, Plai tiff is e titled to a ulti ate fi di g of disa ilit pu sua t to a di e t appli atio of Rule . edi al o atio al guideli es, o g ids . Do ket , p. . of Appe di of the egulatio s the so alled Dockets.Justia.com Fo the easo s elo , the ALJ’s RFC fi di gs as a hole a e too i te all i o siste t to d a a fi o lusio a out Plai tiff’s a i u e e tio al apa it . Be ause the diffe e e et ee a RFC to pe fo eithe sede ta o light o k a dete e ui ed. “ee Villarreal . Co ’r, No. “A CA i e the out o e of this ase, a e a d is FB, WL , at * W.D. Te . No . , olle ti g autho ities fo the p opositio that [ ]he appa e t i te al i o siste ies i a ALJ's [RFC] assess e t a ha e a out o e dete i ati e i pa t upo a so ial se u it dete i atio u de the Medi al Vo atio al Guideli e g ids, ou ts e og ize that a e a d to la if these i o siste ies is ofte e essa at * D. Col. Ma , ; see also De eraeau . Co ’r, No. [B]e ause of the [i te al] i o siste Cou t is left ith o hoi e ut to e a d this ase to the Co –WJM, WL [i the ALJ's RFC fi di gs], the issio e fo ehea i g so that ate ial issues to Plai tiff’s disa ilit lai a e e o iled . The ALJ’s RFC Fi di gs The ALJ fou d that Plai tiff has the follo i g esidual fu tio al apa it RFC : E ertio al li itatio s ased o defi itio of light ork i “o ial “e urit Ruli g ““R , WL 5 : Afte a eful o side atio of the e ti e e o d, the u de sig ed fi ds that the lai a t has the [RFC] to pe fo light o k … ea i g the lai a t a o asio all lift pou ds a d f e ue tl lift pou ds, a d a sta d, sit, a d alk fo si hou s out of a hou da . Additio al postural a d other li itatio s: “he e ui es a sit/sta d optio he e she a sit fo i utes, the sta d fo i utes, a d is li ited to alki g ½ lo k at a ti e. “he a o asio all ha dle o je ts ith he ilate al ha ds, f e ue tl ea h a d ea h o e head, a d f e ue tl li a ps a d stai s, ala e, stoop, k eel, ou h, a d a l. “he a o asio all li ladde s, opes o s affolds, a l, a d e d. Me tal li itatio s: “he is li ited to si ple, epetiti e, u skilled tasks, a o asio all i te a t ith the pu li , supe iso s a d o o ke s, a f e ue tl espo d to outi e ha ges i the o k setti g, ut ill e off task % of ea h o kda due to the o i atio of he i pai e ts. ALJ’s de isio , ad i ist ati e e o d AR , p. . The ALJ’s RFC fi di gs a e i te ally i o siste t. The fo egoi g RFC fi di gs a e i te all i o siste t e ause: , . The te s o asio al a d f e ue t a e te s of a t i “o ial “e u it la . O asio al ea s o u i g f o e little up to / of the ti e. “o ial “e u it Ruli g ““R , WL . F e ue t ea s o u i g f o / to / of the ti e. Id. The ALJ fou d that Plai tiff a a l f e ue tl a d o asio all . . The ALJ fou d that Plai tiff e ui es a sit/sta d optio he e she a sit fo sta d fo i utes. This suggests that Plai tiff ust sit et ee / o kda . The ALJ fou d that Plai tiff a f e ue tl li a d / / of the a ps a d stai s, ala e, stoop, k eel, ou h, a d a l. It is ot appa e t ho a pe so ho f e ue tl li / i utes, the ust sit up to / of the o kda a a ps a d stai s, et . . The ALJ fou d that Plai tiff a f e ue tl stoop a d ou h ut o l o asio all e d. “toopi g is defi ed as ““R , WL e di g the od do a d a d fo a d . C ou hi g is e di g the od do e di g the spi e at the aist. a d a d fo a d e di g oth the legs a d spi e. Id. . The ALJ fou d that Plai tiff a f e ue tl ea h ut o l o asio all ha dle o je ts ith he ilate al ha ds. Rea hi g is e te di g the ha ds a d a seizi g, holdi g, g aspi g, tu i g o othe , WL s i a di e tio , a d ha dli g is ise o ki g p i a il ith the hole ha d o ha ds. ““R . The pu pose of f e ue t ea hi g is ot appa e t if the i di idual a o l o asio all ha dle. The ALJ’s fi di gs a e at odds ith a fi di g that Plai tiff a pe fo light o k. “e e al of the ALJ’s spe ifi fi di gs a e at odds ith the ALJ’s o e all fi di g that Plai tiff a pe fo light o k. Fo e a ple, the ALJ fou d that Plai tiff e ui es a sit/sta d optio he e she a sit fo i utes, the sta d fo a d / / i utes. This suggests that Plai tiff ust sit et ee / / of the o kda lea i g, at ost, / of the o kda less tha hou s a aila le fo sta di g/ alki g. [T]he full a ge of light o k e ui es sta di g o alki g, off a d o , fo a total of app o i atel hou s of a hou o kda . “itti g a o u i te ti e. ““R , WL itte tl du i g the e ai i g . Also, the ALJ fou d that Plai tiff a f e ue tl ea h ut o l o asio all ha dle o je ts ith he ilate al ha ds. Rea hi g a d ha dli g a e a ti ities e ui ed i al ost all jo s. “ig ifi a t li itatio s of ea hi g o ha dli g, the efo e, a eli i ate a la ge u ould othe ise do. ““R of light jo s that a e pe fo , WL . It is ot appa e t that the e a e a sig ifi a t u e ui e g eate apa ities tha the ALJ fou d. The ALJ fou d that Plai tiff is ot disa led e ause, although she is u a le to pe fo ele a t o k, she a pe fo de isio , AR, p. a sig ifi a t u e of othe jo s i the atio al e o o . AR, p. he past . ALJ’s . The ALJ ga e th ee e a ples of su h jo s a d thei ide tifi atio i the Di tio a of O upatio al Titles DOT : e ha dise a ke DOT DOT e ed a i di idual ho is li ited to o asio al ha dli g. The jo s the ALJ fou d Plai tiff a pe fo e of o upatio s a pe so , WL . , ; la o ato sa ple a ie DOT WL . ; outi g le k , WL . . The ALJ fou d that Plai tiff a o l o asio all ha dle o je ts ith he ilate al ha ds. AR, p. . The DOT des i es the jo s as e ui i g f e ue t ha dli g a d f e ue t o o asio al fi ge i g . Also, the DOT des iptio suggests that the jo s e ui e o e alki g/sta di g tha the ALJ fou d. Mer ha dise arker: Ma ks a d atta hes p i e ti kets to a ti les of e ha dise to e o d p i e a d ide tif i g i fo atio : Ma ks selli g p i e ha d o o es o tai i g e ha dise, o o p i e ti kets. Ties, glues, se s, o staples p i e ti ket to ea h a ti le. P esses le e o plu ge of e ha is that pi s, pastes, ties, o staples ti ket to a ti le. Ma e o d u e a d t pes of a ti les a ked a d pa k the i o es. Ma o pa e p i ted p i e ti kets ith e t ies o pu hase o de to e if a u a a d otif supe iso of dis epa ies. Ma p i t i fo atio o ti kets, usi g ti ket p i ti g a hi e [TICKETER a i dust ; TICKET PRINTER AND TAGGER ga e t ]. Routi g lerk: “ta ps, ste ils, lette s, o tags pa kages, o es, o lots of e ha dise to i di ate deli e outes. Reads add esses o a ti les a d dete i es oute, usi g sta da d ha ts. La orator sa ple arrier: Colle ts sa ples of p odu ts o a ate ials fo la o ato a al sis, pe fo i g a o i atio of follo i g tasks: Tu s al es o dips sa ple o tai e to t a sfe li uid sa ples f o pipeli e, p o essi g e uip e t, ta ks, o othe essels to test tu es, ottles, o u kets. T a sfe s d sa ples, su h as o e, The Cou t is u a le to o du t a ea i gful e ie of Plai tiff’s lai s. Plai tiff a gues that [t]he o fo i atio of a alte ate sit/sta d optio i utes, the sta d i utes, a d is li ited to alki g / lo k at a ti e , o asio all ha dle o je ts, a d o asio al postu al est i tio s i stoopi g, k eeli g, ou h, a li g suppo t a sede ta e e tio al apa it as opposed to light. Do ket , p. . The efo e, a o di g to the a gu e t, the ALJ’s RFC fi di gs e ui e a o lusio that she has a a i u e e tio al apa it fo sede ta o k; it follo s i light of he age, edu atio , a d p io o k e pe ie e that Plai tiff is e titled to a ulti ate fi di g of disa ilit pu sua t to a di e t appli atio of Rule . of Appe di of the egulatio s. Do ket , p. . Fo the easo s i di ated a o e, the ALJ’s RFC fi di gs as a hole a e too i o siste t to d a a o lusio a out Plai tiff’s a i u e e tio al apa it . Plai tiff a gues that the ALJ’s fi di g that Plai tiff a f e ue tl … stoop, k eel, ou h, a d a l AR, p. iolates Dru o d . Co ’r, F. d th Ci . fi di g that she a o l o asio all stoop, k eel, ou h, a d a l AR, p. i light of the p io ALJ’s . Do ket , pp. . g ai , stals, po de , o g a ula ate ial to o tai e s, usi g sho el, ha d s oop, sa ple sti k, o ha dtool. La els sa ple o tai e s ith ide tif i g data, lo atio of sa ple, a d ti e olle ted. Deli e s sa ples to la o ato fo a al sis. Clea s sa ple o tai e s, usi g spe ified lea i g age ts a d ushes o s ape s. Gathe s sa ples at spe ified lo atio s, stages of p o essi g, a d ti e i te al. Ma olle t sa ples of adioa ti e aste, follo i g p es i ed safet p o edu es, a d e desig ated “a ple , Radioa ti e Waste he i al . Dru o d . Co ’r, F. d th Ci . held that the ad i ist ati e la judge ALJ e ed i fi di g that D u o d had a esidual fu tio al apa it RFC fo ediu o k i light of the p io ALJ's fi di g that Du o d had a RFC fo sede ta o k. The e o as due to a la k of e ide e of edi al i p o e e t i Du o d’s o ditio . Dru o d as ased o p i iples of fai ess to p ote t lai a ts f o a it a e adjudi atio s of RFCs i su se ue t lai s a d ad i ist ati e es judi ata. Just as a so ial se u it lai a t is a ed f o elitigati g a issue that has ee p e iousl dete i ed, so is the Co issio e . Id. at . I adopti g A uies e e Ruli g , WL , the “o ial “e u it Ad i ist atio e og ized the appli a ilit of D u o d i ases a isi g ithi the “i th Ci uit: Whe adjudi ati g a su se ue t disa ilit lai ith a u adjudi ated pe iod a isi g u de the sa e title of the A t as the p io lai , adjudi ato s ust adopt su h a fi di g f o the fi al de isio a ALJ o the Appeals Cou il o the p io lai i dete i i g hethe the lai a t is disa led ith espe t to the The Dru o d e o Plai tiff ide tifies as, at o st, ha less e ause, ased o thei des iptio i the DOT, the jo s elied o the ALJ i suppo t of a ulti ate fi di g of la k of disa ilit do ot e ui e o e tha o asio al stoopi g, k eeli g, ou hi g, o a li g. Ne e theless, e ause the ALJ’s RFC fi di gs as a hole a e i te all i o siste t, ea i gful e ie of Plai tiff’s lai that the ALJ i p ope l depa ted f o the p io ALJ’s RFC fi di gs is i peded o f ust ated. As i di ated a o e, i this i u sta e, ou ts ge e all e a d fo a e de isio o tai i g additio al fi di gs. The efo e, this atte is REMANDED to the Co issio e fo a e de isio a d fu the ad i ist ati e p o eedi gs dee ed e essa a d app op iate the Co issio e . June 9, 2017 u adjudi ated pe iod u less the e is e a d ate ial e ide e elati g to su h a fi di g o the e has ee a ha ge i the la , egulatio s o uli gs affe ti g the fi di g o the ethod fo a i i g at the fi di g. Read togethe , Dru o d a d A uies e e Ruli g esta fi di g u less the e is e a d ate ial e ide e of a ha ge i o a ele a t ha ge i the la . The jo s i uestio a e e ha dise a ke DOT . , WL , a d la o ato sa ple a ie DOT . . The e ui e o stoopi g, k eeli g, ou hi g, o a li g e k eel, a d ou h o asio all i.e., up to / of the ti e . lish that a ALJ is ou d the p io ALJ’s RFC p o e e t i the lai a t’s edi al o ditio , WL , outi g le k DOT . , WL . ALJ’s de isio , AR, p. ept that a la o ato sa ple a ie ust stoop,
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