-BWC Bresnahan v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 6:2010cv00029 - Document 31 (W.D. Va. 2011)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Norman K. Moon on August 25, 2011. (jcf)

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CLERK' 0FF S tl V A LN!::Rlmc t r T YlHkiDs om G L A FIKD L IN THE U M TED STATESDI STRI C OURT CT FoR THE W ESTERN D I STRI OF V I NI CT RGI A LYNCHBURG DI SI VI ON AL 25 201 6 1 JU = .Y F; w x j o u u CI L ACTI N O. 10- 29 VI ON 6: CV- VI NCENT P.BRES NAHAN,JR. Pl nt ai ff M EMORANDUM O PI ON NI COMMI I SSONER OF SOCI SECURI AL TY JUDGE NORMAN K .M OON Deen . f dant Thi m ateri bef e t cour upon consi a i oft Com m i i s t s or he t der ton he ssonerofSoci al Se urt s(C c i ' y' commisone' motonfrs s i r' i o ummayj me ( ke no.2 ,heM a srt ) r udg nt doc t 4) t gitae J ' rpo ta rc udges e r nd e omme to ( ck tn 29,a teCommiso rstmel obe tons ndain do e o. ) nd h sine ' i y j ci t rt ( ke no. .Fort r s stf t bel Ide lnet f lw t rpo ta d heeo. doc t 30) he eaons e orh ow, ci o olo he e r n rc e omme to a wile e s ndain, nd l ntr ummayj me i fvoroft Commisone . r udg ntn a he si r 1 . OnM ac 28 2008 Admi srtveLa J eM akA. Haa(het D is da rh , , nitai w udg r O' r t S ' sue n ALJ) o ni d t mi n t tPl nifVi e P. e n ha (l es ha 'wasno dia edund r pi on eer nig ha aitf nc nt Brs a n û na n' Br ) t sbl e 42U. C.jj41 i, d , nd l 2ca( ( , ndc e nl t thewa note ildt S. 6()423() a 38 ()3)A) a onsque ty ha s ntte o diabiiy,di biiy i ur s lt sa lt ns ance,ors em ent securt i uppl al iy ncom eundert Soci Securt A c . he al iy t ( mi srtveRe or : 'a 25 .Ona ea,Brs ah nc e t tt ALJ' de sonwa Ad nitai c d,û ' t ) R. pp l e n a ontnds ha he S cii s i pr pe be a e i r led on hi Gd m i mi i ol m e ' w ih a a i ng hob , and m o r c us t e i s ç e ni s nv ve nt' t n ntqui by i pr l di m opery scount t t tm ony ofhi teatng physci , Dr Lar M ekel 1 e ke' . ed he es i sr i i an . ry r (M r 1) 1 ' Compl! 2.TheM agita eJ . sr t udgea e dwih t ltercli a di notr a t ef me gr e t he a t am, nd d e ch h or r . cR uK ..' .. . M eke beg nteai Br na na lata e rya 1 ( 63 , i t tealge r l a r tng ts ha t t s s al s 995 R. ) pror o h le d ons dat ofdiabiiy on J l,l996. Hi tea m entcontnued atl t ough Febr y l et e s lt une sr t i east hr uar 2, 2008( 6 an wasc it te e f t o - a pei be nni J y 1 7,whe R. 00) d onssen xc pt or he neye r rod gi ng ul 99 n Meke wa ons bbaial ( 409 .Si fc nty, r lopi di a< edi lAsesme of r l s a tc . R. ) gniia l Meke ne n i ca s s nt kl A biiy t do W or Re a e Ac i tes' da e J nua y 24, lt o k- l t d tvii r' t d a r 2008, ha Br na n ha poo t t es ha s r ca t f w or i t f l i ar paciy or k n he olow ng eas: m ai ai ng per onalappear nt ni s ance;dem ons r i t atng r ibiiy' rtndi rme rngan c ryigou c mplxj b isr tons r ai t ela lt , undesa ng, e mbei d ar n t o e o ntuci ;eltng o cow or s'dealng w ih t publc'i e tng w ih s r s s'dealng w ih w or sr ses, ker , i t he i , nt rac i t upe vior , i t k tes ' f toni i pe nty; ndmant ni atnto c e rto ( 5 53 .l aspaae unci ng nde nde l a i ai ng te in/onc ntain. R. 30- 3) n e rt docum ent alo dat J , s ed anuar 24,2008,he f herconcl y urt uded t Br nahan had a ls ed hat es it f tve sor he iera itng i ime 1c itng ofan afec i di derundert crt i ofls i 12 0 ( 520 . mpar nt onssi 4 R. ) . TheALJrjce Meke' c ncl i ,i ta a tngtepo iinso saea nc ee td r ls o usons nse d dopi h sto f tt ge y p iinsRihadMia C$ ia 'a A. oh Kall($ i' .( 21.l f tona c pa iy hysca c r ln M ln' nd J n i û l' R. ) n unci l a ct ) Kal ) ass m ent dat N ovem ber 1 2006 and Januar 26,2007,r pec i y,M ian and K allbot ess s ed 6, y es tvel l i h opiedt tBrs ha ha c rai modeaeme tli ime s butt tithelmiai n ha ena n d e t n rt na mpar nt, ha sl i ttons l rs tngfo t i r nljdon prve ttecama fom me tngt bascme a euli rm he mpaime ts ot e n h li nt r ei he i ntl d ma ofc e nds ompe ii wor on as t i d b i. ( 47 51 .TheM a srt J ttve k usane ass' R. 9; 3) ' gita e udge r oned,how ever t si t eas , hat nce hese opi onsw er isued prort M er ' Januar 24, 2008 ni es i o kels y as es m ent ,t w er noti or ed by M er ' l t m per pectve, a t di n s s s hey e nf m kels ong-er s i nd hus d ot lTheSoc a Se urt Adm i sr ton hasafve se pr es f re ua i d s biiy a h ce e tteme t i l c iy ni ta i i - t p oc s o val tng i a lt nd en n il nt o b n fs 2 C. R. j4 412 ()a 4 69 0 *) e Ca b lv A f lNo. 721 8 1 W L 911 a * e ei . 0 F. j 0 .5 0 a nd 1 .2 ( S e mp el . p e, 9 - 2 , 998 t 740, t 2 ( t Ci. c. ,l ) Atse tr e t ALJdeemi whehe t cl ma ha de taeda di aime , 4h r De 31 99s . tp h e , he tr nes t r he ai nt s monsrt n t r nt mp orc ombi a i n ofi r nt ,whih me sore l t l ve ofs ve iy s cii i a oft Lit d n to mpaime s c et qua s he e l e rt pe fed n ny he se I ime ss tf t i 20C. R.j4 1 25. 1 W L 91 40,a *2. l s andt cl m a meest du ai mpar nt e orh n F. 04.5 9 998 5 17 t f o, he ai nt t he r ton r q rme , C. R. 404.509,hecli nti diabld. e uie nt20 F. j 1 t ama s s e cons iut s t ntalevi tt t ubs a i dence on whi t ALJcoul pr ch he d operl base hi det m i i t y s er naton o di r d t teatng physi an. s egar he r i ci A dititudgemus rviw denov t epori oft rpor a rc src j te e o hos tons he e t nd e omme tont ndai o whihapa t ha s cfcal obe td.Se 28U. C.j6 b)1 ; lsv Rihl Me ral c ry s pe ii ly j ce e S. 36( ( ) Mie . c and mo i Hop. 1 F. 1 ( hCi.1 )(npubls dtbl opi on ( tngThomasv. n, s , 08 3d 372 4t r 997 u ihe a e ni ) cii Ar 474 U. 1 0,1 - (98 ) TheCommisone s cfc l obe t t tMekelsas sme t S. 4 4748 1 5). si r pe iial jcs ha r ' se s ns y wer oft cl ofteatng physi a opi onst ar notentted t def ence;t tt r d e he ass r i ci n ni hat e il o er ha he ecor ot m ie s he s upporst A LJ' deci on;and t M ian and K allact l had t benef of t he S si hat l i ualy he h M er ' l t m t eat entr ds,contar t t M agitat J kels ong-er r m ecor r y o he sr e udge' det m i i s er naton. M er of er a diabiiy opi on on A ugus 31,2006,satng t Br nahan had a kel f ed s lt ni t t i hat es n be o m e t dior er t t6 o e ofe t n not... ve s ve el hi e e hi d l um r f n al s d s ha d r t n ha m ha e r y nd r d s aiy f toni ' ( 409) M o eo r bo h M ia sa Ka i' a s s me ss ow t tt y unci ng. R. . r ve , t ln' nd lls s e s nt h ha he ' c i rdMeke' a ot rme c rc r upt t tpei ( eR. 493 508509 .l onsdee r ls nd he dial e ods o ha rod. Se 492- , - ) t ef e agr w ih t Com m isi t M ian and K allw er abl t r subsantalbeneft her or ee t he s oner hat l i e e o eap t i i f om M e kelsl t m per pectve. r r ' ong-er s i A teatng physi a s opi on i gener l entted t sgnii w ei . See Hunt v. r i ci n' ni s aly il o i fcant ght er Sulian, F. 31, ( hCi,1 92) I e i i e ildt c toli weg wheei i lv 993 2d 35 4t r 9 . nde d,t s ntte o onr lng iht r t s E ls pore b m edi a l a ce a e c i ca a d l bor t y di g tc t c q a i n d - up t d y wel c ly c pt bl lni l n a a or a nos i e hni ues nd s ot ic itntwiht ohe s tni e de ei (h rc d. 20C. R.j44.5 ( () n onsse t he t r ubsa tal vi nc n te) e or ' ' F. 1 27d)2 . How ever cert n isues s as t cl m ant sr i f i capaciy, a d s ts a ton o , ai s , uch he ai ' esdual unctonal t n a if c i f t r r ent f a ls ed i he equiem s or it mpaim ent a eS e e v dt t Commisone . 20 C. R. r , r s s r e o he r s i r' ' F. j 4 1 27( Thus ate tngph i an' c cl i o t eis sa enotû veg a s il 4.5 *. , rai ysci s on usons n hos sue r ç nj ny peca gi sgnii i fcance.'11 Accor ngl , M er ' m ent capaciy eval i and ls ed i paim ent ' t di y kels al t uaton it m r 3 o ni d mou t ( dia lt deemi to s, U me c o ninlle ildt c r lng pi on t nto 1 s biiy tr naing)not dial pi o s ntte o ontoli a wei und rt te tng phys c a r e ' Tr m a v Asr N o. 08- 58 201 W L 5 26 ght e he r a i i i n ul .' u n . t ue, 7: cv- 4, 0 521 ( . Va. b.1 2 0) Th ALJwa c rc t s hol ( 21. W D. Fe 6, 01 . e s oret o o d. R. ) I a ton,k fa ph i a sopi o i ... n nss e twih ot rs t nta e de c i n ddii s i ysci n' ni n s i co it n t he ubsa i l vi n e, t s ul bea c d sgniia l ls wei . Cr gv. e ,7 F.d585, ( hCi.1 ) ho d c ored i fc nty es ght' ai Chatr 6 3 ' 590 4t r 996. Furt m or t A LJ çm ay gi ltl w ei t at eatng physi an' concl or opi onswher her e, he û ve ite ght o r i ci s us y ni e t physi an' ow n m edi not and t cl m antsdaiy actvii ar i he ci s cal es he ai ' l i tes e nconsit w ih hi s ent t s me c lopi o ' Den s v. tue No.3:0c 1 2011WL 26 dia nin. ' nion Asr , 1 v-09, 04847, t* ( . Va.ul a 2 W D. J y l 20l )(ii Cr g16F. a 59 .Ac or n y,t ALJrj ce M ek ' opi onsfrwel , 1 ctng ai 2d t 0) c digl he ee td rels ni o l s t it r ons,s atng: ubsanta ed eas t i D r M er ' own r dscont n m uli e and conss entnot i t tm edi i . kels ecor ai tpl it atons ha caton lse dtecli ntss oms e blnghi t be n(na tque)busn s es ne h ama ' ympt , na i m o gi a ni s ies i vi cont sw ih t publc,cont tng antque s nvol ng act t he i ac i i hopsf r als or ent pace,ent i i o erng nt r als ent pace cont act ,pr ng and dipl ng hi pr r s epari s ayi s oduct f s e,and m ai ai ng a s or al nt ni c t l ue a r c dsofhi s oc a s l t a a to . M o eo r t cl i a i no a a og nd e or s t k nd ae r ns c i ns r ve , he a m nt s t f nd t be s una e t f usa c e r t t the c nnotdrve i pe e l ou o o bl o oc nd onc nta e ha a i nde nd nty, m a nt n s fc e hygi ne m o a ti s i t pl c prc on hi iem sf rs l ,a i ai uf i i nt e , ve bou n oc e y, a e i es st o a e nd r s m any iem s .... efnih t ( 23 .Th f e ngi wels R. ) e orgoi s l uppore Mer ofe rpo tdt tBr na nbe fte td. kel tn e re ha es ha neitd sgniia tyfo me cai ( 246, 36 5 - 5 6 627 .Se Gr sv He ke , i fc nl r m di ton. R. 337, 4, 4546, 79, 24, ) e os . c lr 78 F. 11 11 ( hCi.19 ($fas om c nberas bl c ntole b me c to 5 2d 63, 66 4t r 96) û ympt a 1 e ona y o r ld y diain ortet n,ii no dia i '.Meke' notsalos t tBr na ne ag di arng rame t ts t sblng.) r ls e s how ha es ha ng e n a e ' ofd l a tvii , nc udi a t n ng we kl gr up t r p s s i , ( 1 41 440, aiy c i tes i l ng te di e y o he a y e sons R. 8, 8, 442, 448-50,457- 560- 569,576- 585,588,591,593- , 606 09, 1 61 ) a c rngf 59, 64, 79, 96 - 61 , 4 , nd ai or hi c t ( 23, 5 . s as R. 564, 66) I addii i i w el es abls t tt Com m i i n ton, t s l t i hed ha he ssonerm ay consi iw or doneby t der d k he cl m antafert aleged onse ofdiabiiy ast ng t s ai t he l t s lt endi o how t t cl m antwasnott hat he ai hen dia e ' Si nv Cal sbld.' gmo . fano,61 F. 41 42- ( hCi.l 0) Hee,heALJrle i lr 7 2d , 43 4t r 98 . r t eid n age pa t t evie et tBr s ha rnt a tque s ops (eeR.23 2l 246, 3 30 r on he d nc ha ena n a wo ni s h . S , 0, 290, 03, 5, 32 381 435 535,5 561 567 .l t c s oft busne sheitrce wihohes( 7, , , 46, , ) n he oure he i s, nea td t t r R. 56 575 578,r t edf niur ( 546,oc a i alypurhaedive oy( 5 ,dove 2, , ) esor ur t e R. ) c son l c s n ntr R. 7) r bewe nl ainsi Amhes a Da vil rgulry,( .5 52, 3) a prc ive or t e oc to n rt nd n le e al 2 R 0- 61 , nd ied n nt y usngrfrnc bo ( 53 .Whiehi wokwasa rnl notpr iabe ino tels i eee e oks R. ) l s r ppae ty oft l,t neh e s c tttdd ai ul ka tviy,' t ntemea ngoft rgultons 20C. R.j onsiue d nf wor ci t 'wihi h g ni he e ai . F. 404.57 b)( i n S nf woka tvi ' Eheki ofwor us lydonefrpa o 1 24 defnig s ul r ci t as l nd gai y' t k ual o yr pr i, et rorno apr i i r lz d.) oftwh he t oft s eaie '. ' Fi l Iaddr Br nahan' cl m t thi antqui w as m er y a hobby t tr r naly, ess es s ai ha s i ng el ha equied m i m a i l m e . l i e de t tt A LJdi n c e tt tc ai , ncl n t tbot ni l nvo ve nt t s vi nt ha he d ot r di ha l m co udi g ha h Brs ha a M eke do a dBrs h n' r ei t busne s ( 23 .AnALJ' ena n nd r l wnplye e na a s ol n he i s . R. ) S c edi l y d t r i ton i en il t pa tc a de e e e Se Shl y v Hec l r 7? F. r bii e e m na i s tted o ri ul r f r nc . e kel . k e , 9 2d t 987 98 (t Ci.1 )(G c us heh t op t t t obsr t de a a dt , 9 4h r 984 G a e ad he poruniy o eve he me nor n o Be det m i t cr biiy oft cl m ant t ALJ' obs er ne he edi lt he ai , he S ervatonsconcer ng t i ni hese quesi ar tons e t begi ngr twei t'.l a ton,t ALJnotdi onsse i wihi Br na n' o ve ea gh.) n ddii he ' e nc itnces t n es ha s t s i o a be we n hi t s i on a t ot re de e. Alh e tm ny, nd t e s e tm y nd he he vi nc t ough Br na n i ta l es ha nii ly sa e t the di no r pa ro r fni h a ie she s d, lt ra it d t the di s , a bet t t d ha d t e i r e i s ny t m ol he a e dm te ha d o l i i rque l ( 1 38 56- ) Eve t stsi ywa i c tatt Meke' Fe u r 1 nfe nty. R. 3, , 67. n hi etmon s n onrs o r ls bray 2, 2008lte sai t tt rt ye r g ena n ha atmptdt rso ea sla iue . etr ttng ha t he as Brs ha j s te e o etr nd el ntq s' ove ' ( l 601.l a ton, l tes melteri c tdt ta tqui wa d tmos ... R. 4, ) n ddii whie h a et ndiae ha ni ng s d a t a hobby,'t ALJpr ded an exhausi r ew ofM er ' t ea m entnot whi sugges ed ' he ovi tve evi kels r t es ch t o he wie ( 1 n.1 .TheALJno e f e mpl, ha onNo m b 8, t r s . R. 4 ) t d, or xa e t t ve er 2007, e k M r el 2 tk u iil oieta ti i a po i tl a10mi ru dti. 1a ej dca n t h ths s p r xmaey 7 - l o n rp c e r pore t tBr s ha ( san i sa hom e t th h be n c e ng up. He goe t t e t d ha e na n d ha tque t ha e as e l ani s o he g Amhes)sor dal a t Da leonc pe we k. ( 1 n., 3) Th ALJr s bl rt t e iy nd o nvil e r e ' R. 4 1 61 . e ' eaona y concl uded t t m ai enance oft s at antque s hat he nt wo epar e i hops beled cl m st t saleged i ai hat hi l h yrquie mi mal te i ( 1 1 ) obb e rd ni atnton. R. 4- 5. 1I. Fort f eg ng r as ,ld clne t f l w t r por a r c m e to a w il he or oi e ons e i o olo he e t nd e om nda i n, nd l ga s mmayj rnt u r udgme ti fvo oft Commiso r n n a r he sine . The Cl k oft cour i diect t s a ceri ed copy oft sopi on t al couns of er he t s r ed o end tfi hi ni o 1 el r d,and t t Pl ntf ecor o he ai if. Etrdtié S dyoAuut21. nee hs a f gs,01 - > NO K.M OO UNI TED STATES DI STRI J CT UDGE 6

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