Rose v. Commissioner Social Security Administration, No. 3:2013cv01954 - Document 17 (D. Or. 2014)
Court Description: OPINION AND ORDER: The Court AFFIRMS the decision of the Commissioner and DISMISSES this matter. See 19-page opinion and order attached. Signed on 11/10/2014 by Judge Anna J. Brown. (mr)
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Rose v. Commissioner Social Security Administration Doc. 17 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON TIA L. ROSE, Plaintiff, 3:13-CV-01954-BR OPINION AND ORDER v. CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Defendant. TIM WILBORN Wilborn Law Office, P.C. P.O. Box 370578 Las Vegas, NV 89137 Attorney for Plaintiff S. AMANDA MARSHALL United States Attorney RONALD K. SILVER Assistant United States Attorney 1000 S.W. Third Avenue, Suite 600 Portland, OR 97204-2902 (503) 727-1003 1 – OPINION AND ORDER Dockets.Justia.com DAVID MORADO Regional Chief Counsel BENJAMIN J. GROEBNER Special Assistant United States Attorney Office of the General Counsel Social Security Administration 701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2900, M/S 221A Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 615-2139 Attorneys for Defendant BROWN, Judge. Plaintiff Tia Rose seeks judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration in which she denied Plaintiff's application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. This Court has jurisdiction to review the Commissioner’s final decision pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). For the reasons that follow, the Court AFFIRMS the decision of the Commissioner and DISMISSES this matter. ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY Plaintiff filed for SSI on August 18, 2010, alleging a disability onset date of February 18, 2006. Tr. 152-55. 1 The application was denied initially and on reconsideration. 1 Citations to the official transcript of record filed by the Commissioner on April 2, 2014 are referred to as “Tr.” 2 – OPINION AND ORDER Tr. 59-88. Plaintiff requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) on March 10, 2011. Tr. 96-99. A hearing was held before ALJ Richard Say on July 24, 2012. Tr. 32-58. At the hearing the ALJ heard testimony from Plaintiff and from vocational expert (VE) Thomas Weiford. Tr. 32-58. On August 3, 2012, the ALJ issued a decision in which he found Plaintiff is not disabled. Tr. 18-27. Pursuant to 20 C.F.R. § 404.984(d), that decision became the final decision of the Commissioner on September 19, 2013, when the Appeals Council denied Plaintiff’s request for review. Tr. 1-3. BACKGROUND Plaintiff was born in January 1971 and was 40 years old at the time of the hearing. Tr. 32-55, 152. eleventh grade and speaks English. She completed the Tr. 36, 169. Plaintiff has not worked since 2003 and has past relevant work experience as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and as a Keno attendant. Tr. 169. She alleges disability due to chronic back pain, nerve pain in both legs, diabetes, and thyroid issues. 3 – OPINION AND ORDER Tr. 168. STANDARDS The initial burden of proof rests on the claimant to establish disability. Cir. 2012). Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1110 (9th To meet this burden a claimant must demonstrate her inability “to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which . . . has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” § 423(d)(1)(A). 42 U.S.C. The ALJ must develop the record when there is ambiguous evidence or when the record is inadequate to allow for proper evaluation of the evidence. McLeod v. Astrue, 640 F.3d 881, 885 (9th Cir. 2011)(quoting Mayes v. Massanari, 276 F.3d 453, 459–60 (9th Cir. 2001)). The district court must affirm the Commissioner’s decision if it is based on proper legal standards and the findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole. U.S.C. § 405(g). 42 See also Brewes v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 682 F.3d 1157, 1161 (9th Cir. 2012). Substantial evidence is “relevant evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Molina, 674 F.3d. at 1110-11 (quoting Valentine v. Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 574 F.3d 685, 690 (9th Cir. 2009)). It is more than a mere scintilla [of evidence] 4 – OPINION AND ORDER but less than a preponderance. Id. (citing Valentine, 574 F.3d at 690). The ALJ is responsible for determining credibility, resolving conflicts in the medical evidence, and resolving ambiguities. 2009). Vasquez v. Astrue, 572 F.3d 586, 591 (9th Cir. The court must weigh all of the evidence whether it supports or detracts from the Commissioner’s decision. Ryan v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 528 F.3d 1194, 1198 (9th Cir. 2008). Even when the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, the court must uphold the Commissioner’s findings if they are supported by inferences reasonably drawn from the record. 2012). Ludwig v. Astrue, 681 F.3d 1047, 1051 (9th Cir. The court may not substitute its judgment for that of the Commissioner. Widmark v. Barnhart, 454 F.3d 1063, 1070 (9th Cir. 2006). DISABILITY ANALYSIS I. The Regulatory Sequential Evaluation At Step One the claimant is not disabled if the Commissioner determines the claimant is engaged in substantial gainful activity. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)(4)(I). See also Keyser v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 648 F.3d 721, 724 (9th Cir. 2011). 5 – OPINION AND ORDER At Step Two the claimant is not disabled if the Commissioner determines the claimant does not have any medically severe impairment or combination of impairments. § 416.920(a)(4)(ii). 20 C.F.R. See also Keyser, 648 F.3d at 724. At Step Three the claimant is disabled if the Commissioner determines the claimant’s impairments meet or equal one of the listed impairments that the Commissioner acknowledges are so severe as to preclude substantial gainful activity. § 416.920(a)(4)(iii). 20 C.F.R. See also Keyser, 648 F.3d at 724. The criteria for the listed impairments, known as Listings, are enumerated in 20 C.F.R. part 404, subpart P, appendix 1 (Listed Impairments). If the Commissioner proceeds beyond Step Three, she must assess the claimant’s residual functional capacity (RFC). The claimant’s RFC is an assessment of the sustained, work-related physical and mental activities the claimant can still do on a regular and continuing basis despite her limitations. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(e). See also Social Security Ruling (SSR) 96-8p. “A 'regular and continuing basis' means 8 hours a day, for 5 days a week, or an equivalent schedule." SSR 96-8p, at *1. 6 – OPINION AND ORDER In other words, the Social Security Act does not require complete incapacity to be disabled. Taylor v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 659 F.3d 1228, 1234-35 (9th Cir. 2011)(citing Fair v. Bowen, 885 F.2d 597, 603 (9th Cir. 1989)). At Step Four the claimant is not disabled if the Commissioner determines the claimant retains the RFC to perform work she has done in the past. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)(4)(iv). See also Keyser, 648 F.3d at 724. If the Commissioner reaches Step Five, she must determine whether the claimant is able to do any other work that exists in the national economy. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)(4)(v). Keyser, 648 F.3d at 724-25. See also Here the burden shifts to the Commissioner to show a significant number of jobs exist in the national economy that the claimant can perform. Lockwood v. Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 616 F.3d 1068, 1071 (9th Cir. 2010). The Commissioner may satisfy this burden through the testimony of a VE or by reference to the Medical-Vocational Guidelines set forth in the regulations at 20 C.F.R. part 404, subpart P, appendix 2. If the Commissioner meets this burden, the claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(g)(1). 7 – OPINION AND ORDER ALJ’S FINDINGS At Step One the ALJ found Plaintiff has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since the application date of August 18, 2010. Tr. 20. At Step Two the ALJ found Plaintiff has severe impairments related to cervical and lumbar degenerative disc disease and a “left Achilles tendon rupture post-debridement and repair.” Tr. 20. At Step Three the ALJ concluded Plaintiff’s impairments do not medically equal the criteria for Listed Impairments under 20 C.F.R. part 404, subpart P, appendix 1. Tr. 21. The ALJ found Plaintiff has the RFC to perform light-exertional work with the following limitations: She can occasionally climb ladders, ropes, and scaffolds; she can occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach overhead, and operate foot controls with her left leg; and she must avoid concentrated exposure to vibration and hazards. Tr. 21. At Step Five the ALJ concluded Plaintiff is capable of performing jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy, including cashier and fast-food worker. Tr. 27. disabled. Accordingly, the ALJ concluded Plaintiff is not Tr. 27. 8 – OPINION AND ORDER DISCUSSION Plaintiff contends the ALJ erred by (1) rejecting the medical opinion of John Ellison, M.D.; (2) rejecting Plaintiff’s credibility; and (3) improperly evaluating the lay testimony of Judy Bain. I. Medical Opinion of John Ellison, M.D. Plaintiff first argues the ALJ erred in his evaluation of the medical evidence. The ALJ is responsible for resolving conflicts in the medical record, including conflicts among physicians’ opinions. Carmickle v. Comm’r, 533 F.3d 1155, 1164 (9th Cir. 2008). The Ninth Circuit distinguishes between the opinions of treating, examining, and nonexamining physicians. The opinion of a treating physician is generally accorded greater weight than the opinion of an examining physician, and the opinion of an examining physician is accorded greater weight than the opinion of a nonexamining physician. Lester, 81 F.3d at 830. An uncontradicted treating physician’s opinion can be rejected only for “clear and convincing” reasons. F.2d 1391, 1396 (9th Cir. 1991). Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 In contrast, if the opinion of an examining physician is contradicted by another physician’s 9 – OPINION AND ORDER opinion, the ALJ must provide “specific, legitimate reasons” for discrediting the examining physician’s opinion. at 830. Lester, 81 F3d Specific, legitimate reasons for rejecting a physician’s opinion may include its reliance on a claimant’s discredited subjective complaints, inconsistency with medical records, inconsistency with a claimant’s testimony, and inconsistency with a claimant’s daily activities. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1040 (9th Cir. 2008). Tommasetti v. An ALJ may also discount a medical source’s opinion that is inconsistent with the source’s other findings. 1211, 1216 (9th Cir. 2005). Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d It is legal error to ignore an examining physician’s medical opinion without providing reasons for doing so, and an ALJ effectively rejects an opinion when he ignores it. Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1286 (9th Cir. 1996). Dr. Ellison performed a consultative evaluation of Plaintiff on October 23, 2010. Tr. 305. He noted Plaintiff has a history of low-back pain, had pain when bending, and could lift and carry about 20 pounds. Tr. 305. Dr. Ellison also noted decreased range of motion in Plaintiff’s lumbar spine and tenderness in the mid-lumbar area. 10 – OPINION AND ORDER Tr. 306. Dr. Ellison found Plaintiff suffers from chronic low-back pain, well-controlled diabetes, and chronic depression. Tr. 307. The ALJ gave great weight to Dr. Ellison’s opinion and found his opinion is compatible with Plaintif’s RFC. Plaintiff contests this finding. Tr. 23. She argues Dr. Ellison’s limitation that Plaintiff is unable to sit or to stand for more than 15 minutes at a time or to walk more than two blocks is incompatible with the ALJ’s evaluation of Plaintiff’s RFC and his conclusion that Plaintiff can perform light-exertional work. Pl.’s Op. Br. 10 (citing Tr. 305). The Commissioner, however, argues the sit/stand and walking limitations described above were not, in fact, part of Dr. Ellison’s opinion but instead reflect Plaintiff’s selfreports regarding her history and limitations. Def.’s Br. 3. See also Tr. 305. After reviewing Dr. Ellison’s report, the Court concludes the alleged limitations were merely a record of Plaintiff’s self-reports because they appear in a section distinct from that reserved for Dr. Ellison’s own assessment and diagnoses. Compare Tr. 305 and 307. As discussed below, the ALJ rejected Plaintiff’s testimony as not credible. 11 – OPINION AND ORDER Dr. Ellison recorded Plaintiff’s alleged sitting and standing limitations after asking her to describe how her conditions affected her activities of daily living. The limitations that Dr. Ellison recorded, therefore, were, in effect, a record of Plaintiff’s subjective reports, and it was reasonable for the ALJ to reject them based on the record after he found Plaintiff’s testimony was not credible. See Bray, 554 F.3d at 1228. On this record the Court finds the ALJ did not err when he rejected Plaintiff’s alleged sit/stand limitations as they appeared in Dr. Ellison’s report because those limitations did not constitute part of Dr. Ellison’s medical opinion. II. Plaintiff’s Credibility Plaintiff next argues the ALJ failed to give clear and convincing reasons for rejecting her testimony. In Cotton v. Bowen the Ninth Circuit established two requirements for a claimant to present credible symptom testimony: The claimant must produce objective medical evidence of an impairment or impairments, and she must show the impairment or combination of impairments could reasonably be expected to produce some degree of symptom. 1403, 1407 (9th Cir. 1986). 12 – OPINION AND ORDER Cotton, 799 F.2d The claimant, however, need not produce objective medical evidence of the actual symptoms or their severity. Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1284. If the claimant satisfies the above test and there is not any affirmative evidence of malingering, the ALJ can reject the claimant’s pain testimony only if he provides clear and convincing reasons for doing so. Parra v. Astrue, 481 F.3d 742, 750 (9th Cir. 2007)(citing Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 834 (9th Cir. 1995). General assertions that the claimant’s testimony is not credible are insufficient. Id. The ALJ must identify “what testimony is not credible and what evidence undermines the claimant’s complaints.” Id. (quoting Lester, 81 F.3d at 834). Plaintiff testified she has not worked since 2003 due to back pain and other limitations. Tr. 37. She stated she has suffered from back pain since she was injured in a car accident and also has pain in her left Achilles tendon. Tr. 38. Plaintiff testified she has difficulty finding transportation; difficulty walking; and numbness in her fingers, which causes her to drop objects. Tr. 39, 44. She testified she could sit for 15 minutes at a time, stand for 15 minutes at a time, and walk about a block and a half. Tr. 40. Plaintiff also stated she suffers from poor sleep, diabetes, anxiety, and depression. Tr. 42-43. 13 – OPINION AND ORDER The ALJ found Plaintiff’s testimony regarding her symptoms and limitations was not fully credible. Tr. 25. First, the ALJ found Plaintiff’s daily activities were inconsistent with the nature and severity of her alleged symptoms and limitations. Tr. 25. A claimant’s daily activities can provide a clear and convincing reason for rejecting her subjective symptom testimony when they conflict with that testimony. 1113. Molina, 674 F.3d at Here the record reflects Plaintiff engaged in activities that are arguably inconsistent with her alleged limitations. For example, Plaintiff reported shopping for groceries and doing housework. Tr. 117, 305. Plaintiff’s mother also stated Plaintiff could perform housework, prepare meals, and go out for coffee with friends. Tr. 185-87. The ALJ reasonably inferred Plaintiff’s level of activity conflicted with her testimony that she could sit for only 15 minutes at a time and walk only about a block and a half as well as her testimony that her fingers go numb after only ten minutes of use. Tr. 40-41. The ALJ, therefore, provided a clear and convincing reason for rejecting Plaintiff’s subjective symptom testimony. See Molina, 674 F.3d at 1113. Second, the ALJ found Plaintiff’s testimony was contradicted by the medical evidence. 14 – OPINION AND ORDER Tr. 25. Objective medical evidence is a relevant consideration regarding a claimant’s credibility. (9th Cir. 2001). Rollins v. Massanari, 261 F.3d 853, 857 The ALJ specifically found the medical evidence was consistent with the RFC and did not indicate Plaintiff was as limited as she alleged. For example, Plaintiff reported she has difficulty using public transportation and that she cannot take the bus because of “pain and falling.” Tr. 73. At the hearing, Plaintiff testified she had difficulty walking more than a block and a half. Tr. 40. The medical evidence, however, reveals Plaintiff’s most recent MRI did not show significant back problems that would lead to difficulty with ambulation. Tr. 317-18. The medical evidence reflects upon examination Plaintiff showed normal station and gait, coordination, motor strength, muscle bulk, sensory responses, and reflexes. Tr. 322. These findings contradict Plaintiff’s allegations regarding the nature and extent of her limitations, and the ALJ properly considered them when he considered Plaintiff’s credibility. Rollins, 261 F.3d at 857. Third, the ALJ found Plaintiff failed to comply with treatment recommendations. Tr. 25. The ALJ may reject a claimant’s credibility if the claimant does not follow prescribed treatment “and there are no good reasons for this 15 – OPINION AND ORDER failure.” SSR 96-7p. See also Tommasetti, 533 F.3d at 1039 (a claimant’s unexplained failure to follow a prescribed treatment recommendation is a relevant credibility consideration). Here Plaintiff failed to pursue a “relatively straightforward” spinal-fusion surgery to alleviate her low-back pain. 341. Tr. 25, Moreover, Plaintiff alleged disability primarily due to low-back pain. While the recommended spinal-fusion surgery was not guaranteed to alleviate all of Plaintiff’s symptoms (Tr. 341), Plaintiff’s failure to follow through with surgery gives further weight to the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s testimony was not credible because it would have been “a very appropriate course of action” to alleviate Plaintiff’s allegedly disabling low-back pain. Id. (March 2011 letter from Dr. Pankaj Gore, M.D., in which he stated he discussed the option of spinal- fusion surgery with Plaintiff). Plaintiff, nevertheless, argues her failure to follow through with back surgery was not a legally sufficient reason for the ALJ to reject her testimony. She states she did not follow through with the recommendation because she first needed to get her Achilles tendon repaired. Plaintiff, however, in fact, underwent Achilles-tendon surgery in March 2012, and, as of the date of the ALJ’s decision, there was not any record that 16 – OPINION AND ORDER Plaintiff had pursued the recommended spinal-fusion surgery further. The Court, therefore, rejects Plaintiff’s argument. Plaintiff also argues she was unable to pursue surgery because she was homeless and did not have adequate postoperative recovery space. Pl.’s R. Br. 5. The Court notes, however, that Plaintiff’s Achilles-tendon surgery was successful despite some difficulty with a wet cast and Plaintiff’s homelessness. Although the Court appreciates the difficulty of Plaintiff’s housing situation, the Court also notes Plaintiff was living in a motel as of May, 2011. By the time of the hearing Plaintiff was living with her mother, and Plaintiff still had not undergone spinal-fusion surgery. Tr. 22, 25. The Court, thus, finds it was reasonable for the ALJ to conclude that Plaintiff’s failure to follow through with treatment recommendations was not supported by good reason. See SSR 96- 7p. The Court, therefore, concludes on this record that the ALJ did not err when he found Plaintiff’s testimony was not credible because the ALJ provided legally sufficient reasons supported by the record for doing so. 17 – OPINION AND ORDER See Ludwig, 681 F.3d at 1051. III. Lay Testimony of Judy Bain Finally, Plaintiff argues the ALJ improperly rejected the lay opinion of Plaintiff’s mother, Judy Bain. The ALJ must consider lay-witness testimony and is required to provide “germane reasons” when rejecting lay testimony. Molina, 674 F.3d at 1114. The ALJ, however, is not required to address each witness “on an individualized witness-by-witness basis.” Id. The ALJ also need “not clearly link his determination to” specific reasons for rejecting lay testimony as long as he cites “arguably germane reasons” for doing so. Lewis v. Apfel, 236 F.3d 503, 511 (9th Cir. 2001). Ms. Bain completed a third-party function report. 90. Tr. 183- She reported Plaintiff was unable to stand for very long, walk very far, or lift very much weight. Tr. 183-90. She stated Plaintiff needed to rest after walking about half of a block and that she had difficulty lifting, squatting, bending, standing, reaching, walking, sitting, and kneeling. Tr. 188. The ALJ rejected Ms. Bain’s testimony and gave it little weight because it was “not fully consistent with the information in the objective medical record.” Tr. 23. Inconsistency with the medical record is a germane reason for rejecting lay-witness testimony. Bayliss, 427 F.3d at 1218. 18 – OPINION AND ORDER Because the medical evidence conflicts with Ms. Bain’s testimony, the Court is satisfied the ALJ met his burden to provide germane reasons for rejecting the lay-witness testimony. See Lewis, 236 F.3d at 511. On this record, therefore, the Court concludes the ALJ did not err when he rejected the lay-witness testimony because the ALJ provided legally sufficient reasons supported by substantial evidence in the record for doing so. CONCLUSION For these reasons, the Court AFFIRMS the decision of the Commissioner and DISMISSES this matter. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED this 10th day of November, 2014. /s/ Anna J. Brown ANNA J. BROWN United States District Judge 19 – OPINION AND ORDER
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