Fields v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 5:2019cv00012 - Document 18 (W.D. Ky. 2019)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Lanny King on 11/25/2019. This matter is REMANDED to the Commissioner for a new decision and any further proceedings deemed necessary and appropriate by the Commissioner. cc: Counsel of Record (MNM)
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Fields v. Commissioner of Social Security RENEE FIELDS Doc. 18 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY PADUCAH DIVISION CIVIL ACTION NO. 5: 9 CV LLK PLAINTIFF DEFENDANT . ANDREW SAUL, Co issio er of So ial Se urity 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 # ha e o se ted to the ju isdi tio of the u de sig ed Magist ate Judge to dete a d . The pa ties i e this ase, ith a appeal l i g efo e the “i th Ci uit Cou t of Appeals. Do ket # . The Ad i ist ati e La Judge s ALJ s fi di g that Plai tiff etai s the a ilit to pe fo u skilled, light o k is ot suppo ted su sta tial e ide e. The efo e, the Cou t ill ‘EMAND this atte to the Co issio e fo a e de isio . The ALJ fou d that Plai tiff a perfor u skilled, light ork. Plai tiff s t eati g ph si ia s, Da id “ ith a d Joh Ce il, diag osed Plai tiff as suffe i g a o g othe thi gs f o se e e, u o t olled, t pe dia etes ellitus fo hi h Plai tiff takes i suli a d asso iated dia eti pe iphe al eu opath . A‘ at , distu a e o pathologi al ha ge i the pe iphe al o i fla . Pe iphe al eu opath is a fu tio al e ous s ste , so eti es li ited to ato lesio s as opposed to those of eu itis; … [k] o etiologies i lude o pli atio s of othe diseases su h as dia etes … , o of to i it states su h as poiso i g ith a se i [o ] lead . Killia . Co ’r of So . Se ., No. pe iphe al eu opath i lude , WL u i g, u , at * W.D. A k. Ju e , pto s of ess, ti gli g, a d pai i the uppe a d lo e e t e ities. Id. Plai tiff testified she e pe ie es u i g, pai , feeli g of eedles, u . “ ess i Dockets.Justia.com legs a d feet a d i ha ds. Ad i ist ati e ‘e o d A‘ at . “he e pe ie es these s p ett u h he e e [he ] lood suga is eal high, so ost all the ti e. A‘ at pto s . Due to he dia eti pe iphe al eu opath as ell as a do i al pai f o p io olo ese tio , D s. “ ith a d Ce il li ited Plai tiff a o g othe thi gs to o o e tha hou s of sta di g/ alki g pe hou o kda . A‘ at , . Additio all , D . Ce il li ited Plai tiff to o asio al ea hi g a d ha dli g i.e. seizi g, g aspi g, tu i g, o othe ise o ki g p i a il ith the hole ha d . A‘ at . At the ad i ist ati e hea i g, the ALJ a k o ledged that Plai tiff ould g id out if est i ted to sede ta o k. A‘ at . I he she etai s the a ilit to pe fo itte de isio , the ALJ fou d that Plai tiff is ot disa led e ause a sig ifi a t u e of u skilled, light jo s i the atio al e o o su h as ottli g li e i spe to , lau d folde , a d s all p odu ts asse le . A‘ at , , . Light o k e ui es a good a ilit to sta d/ alk a d good use of the uppe e t e ities. “pe ifi all , the 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 , ith sitti g o u i g i te ti e. “o ial “e u it ‘uli g ““‘ , WL sta d/ alk fo hou s pe hou o kda . A‘ at e ui e g oss use of the a itte tl du i g the e ai i g , at * . The ALJ fou d that Plai tiff a . Additio all , u skilled, light jo s ge e all s a d ha ds to g asp, hold, a d tu o je ts ut do ot e ui e fi e use of the fi ge s, hi h is asso iated ith sede ta o k . Id. at * ; ““‘ , The efo e, if a epted, the fi di gs of D s. “ ith a d Ce il ould p e lude pe fo WL , at * . a e of u skilled, light o k. The ALJ ga e little eight to the fi di gs of D s. “ ith a d Ce il. A‘ at , efe e i g A‘ at . The ALJ pu po ted to gi e g eat eight to the fi di gs of o e ti e e a i i g o sulta t I he itte de isio , the ALJ ited ‘ule . of Appe di of the egulatio s the so alled edi al o atio al guideli es, o g ids as a f a e o k fo de isio aki g. A‘ at . G id ‘ules . a d . o te plate the sa e i di idual i te s of age, edu atio , a d p e ious o k e pe ie e e ept that that ‘ule . o te plates a a i u sustai ed o k apa ilit li ited to light as opposed to sede ta o k. ‘ule . di e ts a ulti ate fi di g of ot disa led, a d ‘ule . di e ts a fi di g of disa led. Willia Ja es Tid ell, M.D., hi h a o di g to the ALJ do ot appea e ti el i o siste t ith light e e tio al a ti it . Id. efe e i g A‘ at Co . The ALJ ga e little eight to the fi di gs of the issio e s o e a i i g p og a ph si ia , Ja k ‘eed. Id. efe e i g A‘ at . The ALJ did ot ide tify su sta tial reaso s for de li i g to gi e o trolli g eight to the opi io s of Plai tiff’s treati g physi ia s. Plai tiff a gues that the ALJ s fi di g that she a pe fo u skilled, light o k is u suppo ted su sta tial e ide e fo th ee easo s. Fi st, the ALJ did ot ide tif su sta tial easo s fo de li i g to gi e o t olli g eight to the opi io s of he t eati g ph si ia s, D s. “ ith a d Ce il. The atu e of the t eat e t elatio ship e ui es that opi io s f o t eati g ph si ia s e gi e spe ial o side atio . See C.F.‘. § . Ge e all , e gi e o e eight to edi al opi io s f o ou t eati g sou es, si e these sou es a e likel to e the edi al p ofessio als ost a le to p o ide a detailed, lo gitudi al pi tu e of ou edi al i pai to the edi al e ide e that a e t s a d a i g a u i ue pe spe ti e ot e o tai ed f o the o je ti e edi al fi di gs alo e o f o epo ts of i di idual e a i atio s, su h as o sultati e e a i atio s o ief hospitalizatio s. . Gi i g spe ial o side atio to the t eati g sou e opi io s is pa ti ula l app op iate i this ase due to Plai tiff s ell esta lished t eat e t histo ith t o t eati g sou es: … D . Ce il ega t eati g [Plai tiff] i a d o ti ued to do so u til at least . [A‘] , . D . “ ith ega t eati g the Plai tiff i o a efe al f o D . Ce il a d sa he at least th ough the e d of . [A‘] , . Both ph si ia s had t eated [Plai tiff] fo se e al ea s efo e e de i g thei opi io s. Both ph si ia s sa [Plai tiff] app o i atel e e o ths a d so eti es o e ofte . Do ket # at . The t eati g sou es ag ee that Plai tiff suffe s f o poo l o t olled lood suga a d asso iated dia eti pe iphe al eu opath : … [Plai tiff] as hospitalized at Weste Baptist Hospital f o “epte e , to “epte e , fo a ute sig oid di e ti ulitis a d dia etes ellitus u o t olled ith a A C of . . [A‘] The he oglo i A C test de o st ates hethe the lood suga le el has ee o t olled o e the p e ious fe eeks. Vargas . Co ’r, No. EDCV KE“, WL , at * C.D. Cal. Ma . , iti g The . “he as hospitalized agai i De e e fo th ee da s ith the sa e o ditio . [A‘] . … “he as hospitalized f o Jul , to Jul , , fo a ute sig oid di e ti ulitis a d dia etes ellitus u o t olled ith a A C of . [A‘] . … [T]h ee o ths efo e the [Fe ua ad i ist ati e] hea i g she sa D . “ ith fo he dia etes a d he A C at that ti e as . . … [A‘] , . Id. at , . A t eati g ph si ia s edi al opi io is e titled to o t olli g eight if it is ell suppo ted edi all a epta le li i al a d la o ato diag osti te h i ues a d is ot i o siste t ith the othe su sta tial e ide e i ou ase e o d. C.F.‘. § . . The ALJ fou d that little eight, as opposed to o t olli g eight, a e g a ted to [the] opi io s [of D s. “ ith a d Ce il] e ause the a e ot easo a l suppo ted o o siste t ith othe su sta tial e ide e of e o d, i ludi g thei o he ei . A‘ at . The ALJ oted that D s. “ ith a d Ce il fou d that Plai tiff s eu ologi al s ste s e e ha a te ized as o st e gth a d o al diffi ult . A‘ at efe e i g A‘ at a d Ce il appea to ha e su us uloskeletal a d al, ph si al e a i atio sho ed o e e t of all e t e ities, Plai tiff had p es i ed the use of a assisti e a at o je ti e fi di gs, hi h e e p e iousl efe e ed o o al oto al gait, she had ot ee ulatio de i e, a d she as a le to sit a d sta d ithout , , , . Additio all , a o di g to the ALJ, D s. “ ith itted opi io s p e ised o e o [Plai tiff s] su je ti e o plai ts. A‘ . I opi i g fu tio al li itatio s due to dia eti pe iphe al eu opath affe ti g Plai tiff s uppe a d lo e e t e ities, the t eati g ph si ia s e e ot e el a epti g Plai tiff s su je ti e o plai ts. No , as Plai tiff illust ates a of a se ies of heto i al uestio s, e e the g oss ph si al o se atio s of the t eati g ph si ia s eu opath s hi h the ALJ elied upo , ited a o e i o siste t ith the p ese e of pto s: Me k Ma ual of Medi al I fo atio , at Ho e ed. . The o al le el fo gl os lated he oglo i is less tha pe e t. Id. Dia eti s a el a hie e su h le els, ut tight o t ol ai s to o e lose to it. Id. Le els a o e pe e t sho poo o t ol, a d le els a out pe e t sho e poo o t ol. Id. Would ge e alized pe iphe al dia eti eu opath e essa il esult is a loss of oto st e gth a d o e e t of a affe ted e t e it ? O ould ge e alized pe iphe al dia eti eu opath ause pai , u i g a d ti gli g i the affe ted e t e it hi h e o es o se ith e te ded sta di g, alki g a d sitti g? … Would ot he dia eti eu opath ha e so e i pa t o he a ilit to use he ha ds[?] Do ket # at , . The efo e, the ALJ did ot ide tif su sta tial easo s fo de li i g to gi e o t olli g eight to the opi io s of the t eati g ph si ia s. The ALJ did ot gi e good reaso s for the eight gi e to the opi io s of the treati g physi ia s. “e o d, Plai tiff a gues that, e e if the t eati g ph si ia opi io s e e ot e titled to o t olli g eight, the e e ot e titled to o l little eight. A‘ at . The ALJ did ot gi e good easo s fo the eight gi e to those opi io s. C.F.‘. § . p o ides, i pe ti e t pa t: Whe e do ot gi e the t eati g sou e's edi al opi io o t olli g eight, e appl the fa to s listed i pa ag aphs i a d ii of this se tio , as ell as the fa to s i pa ag aphs th ough of this se tio i dete i i g the eight to gi e the edi al opi io . We ill al a s gi e good easo s i ou oti e of dete i atio o de isio fo the eight e gi e ou t eati g sou e's edi al opi io . “e tio . . The ele a t fa to s a e: le gth of the t eat e t elatio ship a d the f e ue of e a i atio ; o siste atu e a d e te t of the t eat e t elatio ship; of the opi io ith the e o d as a hole; othe fa to s. “e tio . suppo ta ilit of the opi io ; spe ializatio of the t eati g sou e; a d . The good easo s gi i g e ui e e t is ot a e e fo alit e ause, i additio to fa ilitati g ea i gful e ie , it e ists, i pa t, to let lai a ts u de sta d the dispositio of thei ases, pa ti ula l i situatio s he e a lai a t k o s that his ph si ia has dee ed hi disa led a d the efo e ight e espe iall e ilde ed he told a ad i ist ati e u eau a that she is ot, u less so e easo fo the age 's de isio is supplied. Wilso . Co 'r, F. d asse tio that the opi io s of the t eati g ph si ia s e e , th Ci . ot easo a l suppo ted . The ALJ s a e o o siste t ith … thei o at o je ti e fi di gs a d appea ed to e ased o Plai tiff s su je ti e o plai ts A‘ fell sho t of the e ui e e t of gi i g good easo s. The ALJ erred i fi di g that Plai tiff a perfor u skilled, light ork i the a se e of a supporti g edi al opi io . Plai tiff s thi d a d fi al a gu e t is that, i fi di g that she a pe fo u skilled, light o k, the ALJ effe ti el eje ted e ery edi al opi io ega di g hat she a still do despite he i pai a d i pe e ts issi l pla e[d] pla ed hi self i the ole of edi al e pe t. Do ket # at . As i di ated a o e, the ALJ ga e little eight to the fi di gs of D s. “ ith, Ce il, a d ‘eed a d pu po ted to gi e g eat eight to the fi di gs of o e ti e e a i i g o sulta t, D . Tid ell, hi h a o di g to the ALJ do ot appea e ti el i o siste t ith light e e tio al a ti it . A‘ at efe e i g A‘ at . I fa t, D . Tid ell fou d that Plai tiff a sta d ithout pai o dis o fo t fo to i utes a d a alk ithout pai , dis o fo t, sho t ess of eath, dizzi ess fo up [to] the [le gth of a] foot all field. A‘ at . These fi di gs a e at odds ith the ALJ s fi di g that Plai tiff a sta d/ alk hou s pe hou o kda . A‘ at . Additio all , D . Tid ell fou d that Plai tiff a use a pe to sig he a e, hold a up of offee, zippe pa ts, ut [ ot utto ] the shi t [a d] should ot ha e t ou le holdi g a gallo [of] ilk o a ag of g o e ies. A‘ at . These fi di g a e at odds ith the e ui e e t of u skilled, light o k of ei g a le to use o e s a o je ts. “o ial “e u it ‘uli g ““‘ , WL s a d ha ds to g asp, hold, a d tu , at * . The efo e, Plai tiff pe suasi el a gues that the ALJ effe ti el eje ted e e ele a t edi al opi io ega di g hat she a still do despite he i pai e ts. The e ai i g uestio is hethe , i fi di g that Plai tiff a pe fo solel o o edi al fa to s, the ALJ i pe is o issi l pla ed hi self i the ole of edi al e pe t. The e ightli e ule that edi al opi io s ust [al a s] e the uildi g lo ks of the [ALJ s] ‘FC [ esidual fu tio al apa it fi di g]. Sadler . Co , u skilled, light o k ased ’r, No. . Depe di g o the fa ts of a ase, a ALJ s dete , WL , at * E.D. Mi h. Aug. i atio of a lai a t s ‘FC i the a se e of a suppo ti g edi al opi io a efle t that he i p ope l pla ed do to a d su u te ptatio to su stitute [his] o ed to the i te p etatio of edi al e o ds fo that of a ph si ia ho has e a i ed the e o ds. Id. uoti g Bro . Co 'r, F. App , th Ci . . I othe ases, it a e app op iate fo a ALJ to fashio his ‘FC ased o o edi al fa to s ot ithsta di g the fa t that o ph si ia offe [ed] a opi io o siste t ith that of the ALJ. Id. uoti g Mok el Aljah i . Co 'r, F. App , th Ci . Sadler e o iled these e t e es dis ou t the edi al opi io s a d . appl i g a t o pa t test. If the ALJ did ot p ope l the e as o othe asis fo he ‘FC fi di g, the ALJ a ted i p ope l . Id. I othe o ds, [i]f the ALJ has p ope l dis ou ted the opi io e ide e, the uestio e o es hethe the e as a othe asis fo assig i g the [‘FC]. Id. This opi io has al ead o luded that the ALJ e ed i ot p o idi g good easo s fo gi i g little eight to the opi io s of the t eati g ph si ia s. The efo e, the ALJ e ed i dis ou ti g those opi io u less the e as a othe asis fo the ALJ s assig e t of Plai tiff s ‘FC. I suppo t of his ‘FC fi di g, the ALJ oted that Plai tiff s i pai p e e ted [he ] f o e gagi g i all of the o e ts ha e ot e ti el al outi e a ti ities of life, e.g., d i i g a a , doi g household ho es, p epa i g s all eals, doi g lau d , a d goi g to hu h. A‘ at of . These t pes i i al dail fu tio s a e ot o pa a le to t pi al o k a ti ities e ui ed to pe fo light jo s due to thei spo adi o i te itte t ha a te . Rogers . Co 'r, F. d , u skilled, th Ci . . The efo e, the e as o othe su sta tial asis fo the ALJ s ‘FC fi di g. The ALJ e ed i dete i i g Plai tiff a pe fo u skilled, light o k i the a se e of a suppo ti g edi al opi io . See also C.F.‘. § . Ge e all , e do ot o side a ti ities like taki g a e of ou self, household tasks, ho ies, the ap , s hool atte da e, lu a ti ities, o so ial p og a s to e su sta tial gai ful a ti it . ; “o ial “e u it ‘uli g ““‘ p, WL , at * O di a il , ‘FC is a assess e t of a i di idual's a ilit to do sustai ed o k elated ph si al a d e tal a ti ities i a o k setti g o a egula a d o ti ui g asis. A egula a d o ti ui g asis ea s hou s a da , fo da s a eek, o a e ui ale t o k s hedule. . A judi ial a ard of e efits is ot arra ted i this ase. The e ai i g uestio is the app op iate e ed . A o di g to Plai tiff: Fo the a o e stated easo s, the de isio of the Co issio e should e e e sed a d Plai tiff a a ded e efits ased o he Title appli atio of O to e , . O i the alte ati e, this atte should e e a ded to the Co issio e fo fu the fi di gs i o fo it ith the appli a le ules a d egulatio s a d ased o the e ide e of e o d. Do ket # at . Whe a ou t fi ds that the ALJ's de isio is ot suppo ted su sta tial e ide e, it a a a d e efits as opposed to e a d fo a e de isio o l if all esse tial fa tual issues ha e ee esol ed a d the e o d ade uatel esta lishes a plai tiff's e title e t to e efits. Wiser . Co , th Ci . uoti g Fau her . Se 'y of Health & Hu a Ser s., F. d . A judi ial a a d of e efits is p ope o l he e the p oof of disa ilit is o e 'r, F. App' , th Ci . hel i g o he e the p oof of disa ilit is st o g a d e ide e to the o t a is la ki g. Id. As oted a o e, Plai tiff s t eati g ph si ia s opi ed li itatio that, if a epted, ould p e lude pe fo a e of u skilled, light o k, a d the ALJ a k o ledged that Plai tiff ould g id out if est i ted to sede ta o k. A‘ at . Ne e theless, all esse tial fa tual issues ha e ot ee esol ed. This is e ause, hile the ALJ did ot gi e good easo s fo gi i g little eight, as opposed to o t olli g eight A‘ at to the opi io s of the t eati g ph si ia s; upo e a d, the ALJ a still fi d that these opi io s a e e titled to less tha o t olli g o defe e tial eight. See S yder . Co CV , WL , at * E.D. Mi h. “ept. , 'r, No. CV All esse tial fa tual issues ha e ot ee esol ed i this ase…. The ALJ ust eigh D . Le ha t's opi io s ega di g Plai tiff's fu tio al li itatio s i a o da e ith the t eati g ph si ia ule a d agai st the othe edi al e ide e i the e o d. Afte su h a a al sis, the ALJ a still fi d that D . Le ha t's opi io is ot e titled to o t olli g eight. ; Sa derso . Co 'r, No. : CV , WL , at * W.D. Mi h. Ma , This ase is ei g e a ded e ause the ALJ failed to p o ide good easo s fo assig i g less tha o t olli g eight to the t eati g ph si ia opi io s, ot e ause the e is o pelli g e ide e that Plai tiff is disa led ; Ri hards . Co , [T]he Ma h, ’r, No. CIV.A. GWU, WL , at * E.D. K . Fe . assess e t ould ot e essa il e e titled to o t olli g eight a d a e a d of the a tio fo fu the o side atio ould allo this esse tial fa tual dete i atio to e ade. . Order The efo e, this atte is ‘EMANDED to the Co p o eedi gs dee ed e essa a d app op iate the Co November 25, 2019 issio e fo a e de isio a d a fu the issio e .
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