-BWC Elliott v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 6:2010cv00032 - Document 33 (W.D. Va. 2011)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Norman K. Moon on August 19, 2011. (jcf)

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c rAFxcail c ŠR s uIsLqs TFc m ovc usov xF; a Fl usn AL6 19 2 1 21 JJLt 0tJ EY, < I z l ,k # IN THE UNI TED STATESDI STRI COURT BY. w.w .v.. ' G 1 CT ', .. ' ! o sps* a a. FoR THE W ESTERN D I STRI OF VI NI CT RGI A . ' . . . - .. . LYNCHBURG D I SI VI ON CAS O. l c 00 EN 6: 0- v- 032 CHRI STOPHER D .ELLI OTT,JR. , Pl itf anf M EM ORAN DU M OPI I N ON COMMI ONER OF SOCI SECURI SSI AL TY, De nd . fe ant JUDGEN ORMAN K . OON M Thi m ateri bef e t Courton consi aton oft pari cr s- otonsf s s t s or he der i he tes' os m i or umm ar y j dgme ( k nos 1 a 22) teRe or a Re mme to ($ po t'ofUnie St e u nt doc et . 8 nd , h p t nd co ndain $ r' Re ) td ats Ma srt J eB. a hCrglr(oc tno. , antf' obe tons(oc tno.31, ndte gitae udg W ug i e d ke 30)Pli ifs j ci d ke )a h r po e( k tno. t rt fldb teCo si rofSoca Sec rt (t es ns doc e 32)heeo ie y h mmisone il u iy l commisone'o si r' r ç f nda f). I hi Re t t M a sr t J t e n De n s por, he gitae udger c e omme dst a lgr ntt Commison rs n h t a he si e ' moi f s ton or ummayj dgme ,afr ngteCommisone' fna de son de yi Pl nifs r u nt fimi h si rs i l cii n ng aitf' cl m sf s biiy i ur ncebe ft a s p e e a s c iy i om e u rt Soc al c iy ai ordia lt ns a ne is nd u pl m nt l e urt nc nde he i Se urt Ac (heç t'.Pli ifi l fldobe to t t Re r, i tngt c urt undetkeade tt $ 5 antftmey ie j cinso he po toblgai he o to ra Ac ) nov rviw oft epori ofteRe or t whihobe ton weema .28U. C.j636( ; oee hos tons h p to c jci s r de S. b) ed uch evi Or anov Jo on,687F. 44, ( hCi.1 2)1 H a ng conduct s a r ew , lfndt t pi . hns 2d 48 4t r 98 . vi i ha t obe tonsae wihoutmerta d t tte Ma srt J e wa c r c i fndi t tt he j ci r t i n ha h gitae udg s ore t n i ng ha he lTheRe or wa fld on J y l ,2011a e t e o t c r ' e e toni doc t J y 1 .TheRe t r cedt a p t s ie ul 5 nd n er d n he ou ts l c r c ke on ul 8 por die t h t a o yb maldt Panif Fe eaRueo Ci l rc d r 7 ()2 po ie taGwlti 1 d y a rb ig:rc; c p e i o litf. d rl l f viP o eue 2b() rvd s ht l i n 4 a she en e vt e h f wi a c p o t erc mme d ddip st n ap ry ma s r ea d Gl s e ii wrt nobe to st tep o o e t o y f h e o n e s o ii , at y e v n e p cfc ie j ci n o h r p s d h o t Gn ig a drc mme d t n . ( h ssa d d)Wh r srieima eb mal us a toRue5b()C)tre dn s n eo n ai s' Emp ai d e . ee evc s d y ip ru n t l ()2( ,he o ' d y ae a d da trtepeid wo l o h r s e pr . F d. Ci P. ( ) Fu te ,sr ie b ee to i me n a s r d e fe h r o u d t e wie x i e R. v. 6 d . rh r e vc y lcr n c a s e t r u h tec u t CM / s se i t ee uv ln o s r ieb ma l Lo a Ru e7 g ( ) Th r f r, anifs h o g h o r' ECF y tm s h q iae t f e vc y i c l l ( )3 . ee o e Plitf s . Com m i oner' fnaldeci i i suppored by s t i evi ssi si son s t ubsantal dence and t tPl ntf di notm eet ha ai if d hi bu de of e t bls n t t he w a t t ly di a e fom al f m s of s t nta ga nf s r n s a i hi g ha s o a l s bl d r l or ubsa i l i ul e oyme t Acc di y,ort r s sae h ei 1wilov rul Pl ntf' obe tc a mpl n. or ngl f he eaons ttd er n, l e r e ai ifs j cims nd w iladoptt M agit at Judge' Repor i t o. l he sr e s t n ot L FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Pl n ifcl i e dia lt s nc M a c 1 1 7.A fe a he rng, he ALJi s d a de s o ai tf a m d s biiy i e r h , 99 tr ai t s ue cii n on Janual 15,201 i whi he dd enni Pl ntf s f ed t f l ng s e i paiment y 0n ch ned ai if ufer he olowi ever m r s: anxi y,degener i di di et atve sc sease,and rghtknee t i endonii However t A LJdet m i t ts. , he er ned hat Pl ntf di nothavean i paim entorcom bi i ofi paim ent whi m etorm edi l equal ai if d m r naton m r s ch caly ed a lst i paim ent The A LJ concl i ed m r . uded t t Pl ntf r ai t r dualf i ca t ha ai if et ned he esi unctonal paciy (( FC' t pef m uns le lgh wor e e t th s ul no wor i asti t trq rs ( ' o ror R. ) kild,i t k, xc ptha e ho d t k n etng ha e uie cont w iht gener publc.A lhough Pl ntf waspr uded f om peror i hi pas or as act t he al i t ai if ecl r f m ng s tw k a t uck drver t ALJ f r i , he ound t Pl ntf coul wor as an as em bl ,m ai cl k,oran ofi hat ai if d k s er l er fce ce ne,alobsa lbl i ten tona e on la r lj vaia e n h ai l c omy. Pl ntf a ai if ppeal t ALJ' deci on t t A ppeal Counci. On A pri 24,201 t ed he S si o he s l l 0, he Appeal Counci deni r ew,m aki t A LJ' deci on t fnaldeci on oft Comm i i . s l ed evi ng he S si he i si he ssoner On J ne 1 201 Pl ntf t n fld t i tntci laton,seki j ca rviw oft u 4, 0, ai if he ie he nsa vi ci e ng udiil e e he Commison rstna de son.Purua t 28U. C.j636( ( )B) lrfre t matrt t si e ' i l cii s nto S. b)l( , eerd he te o he M a it a e J e f pr e Rndi off c a a r c m e ed di poston. Afe t pa te g sr t udg or opos d ngs a t nd e om nd s ii t r he ri s fld cos- i f s ie r smotons or ummayj gme ,t Ma srt J r ud nt he gitae udge is d hi Re r,t whih sue s po t o c Pl niftmey5ldobe ton aitf i l e j ci s. o j cin , i do Au u t2 we etmey b e t s fl n g s , r i l. o e I STANDARD OF REVI I. EW The Com m i oner' f ualfndi m us be uphel i t ar suppored by s t i ssi s act i ngs t d f hey e t ubsantal evi dence and w er r e eached t ough a i i oft cor ectl st hr pplcaton he r egal andar Crai v.Chat 76 d. g er, F.d585 58 ( hCi.1 6) seas 42U. C.j405g)(f-efndi oft Commisone of 3 , 9 4t r 99 ; e lo S. ( çlh i ngs he si r So a Se urt a t a y fc,i s re b s t ta e de e,s lbe c l i '. cil c iy s o n a t f uppotd y ubsanil vi nc hal oncusve.) ' Subs antalevi t i dence i is r evantevi s tuch el dence asa r onabl m i m i acce asadequat t eas e nd ght pt eo s ppo tac l i 'Masr v. f ,270F.d 1 ,l ( hCi.20 ) a c it o û e u r oncuson, ' to Ap el 3 71 76 4t r 01, nd onsss f s mor t a m er sci il of evi han e ntla dence but m ay be s ewhat l t a pre om ess han ponder ance.' Ltw. v. ' rç Celb e z 368F. 6 6 ( t Ci.1 ) e r z e, 2d 40, 42 4 h r 966 . The Com m isi s oner i r ponsbl f eval i t m edi evi s es i e or uatng he cal dence and as i sessng s p o s sgns a fndi t de e m i t e f tona c pac t oft c ai a . 20 C. R. ym t m , i , nd i ngs o t r ne h unc i l a iy he l m nt F. jj404.5 -404.5 An c lcsi t e de eaet ber ol db t Commiso r( 1 27 1 45. y ontit n he vi nc r o es ve y he sine or hi d i t t ALJ,no t c rs a i i i tra whehe t e de ewilpemi a s esgnae,he ) t he ou t, nd t s mmaeil t r he vi nc l r t co l i n i ns s e tw ih t toft e ALJ Thoma v Ceeb e z 331F.d 5 , 43( t Ci. nc us o nco it n t ha h . s . l r z e, 2 41 5 4h r 1 64) The c tma no r we g c lci e de e ma c e biiy dee mi to ,or 9 . our y t e i h onfitng vi nc , ke r di lt t r nai ns s ttt isj ubsiue t udgme tf t tofteALJ Ha v Sulian,90 F. 1 1 ( hCi.l 90 . n or ha h . ys . lv 7 2d 453, 456 4t r 9 ) I t t courtmay onl consi w he hert A LJ' fndi t Pl ntf i notdi abl i ns ead, he y der t he S i ng hat ai if s s ed s s uppored by subs antalevi t t i dence and wasr eached bas upon a corecta i i oft r evant ed r pplcaton he el l . Cr g,16 F. at589. How ever de e m i ng w he h t e d ncepr e ed by t ALJt aw ai 3d t r ni t er he vi e es nt he o , s or hi de son a ou s t s t ta e de ce i a q ton of l w , and t ef e w ilbe upp t s cii m nt o ubsan i l vi n s ues i a her or l consi red a . H i v.Heckl , 756F. 1 2,1 25 ( t Ci.1 5) ab o t don ot r de new cks er 2d 02 024- 4h r 98 , r ga e he gr s Liel v Bowe 858F. l ,1 ( hCi.l ) Furh moe GA LJShave adut t ound , v y . n, 2d 77 80 4t r 988 . ter r, C yo anal t loft r eva evi yze al he el nt dence'and t pr de asufk i expl i f t rSatonal i o ovi t ent anaton or hei r i e n ce tngc rai e de e''BilBr hCoalCor v S k,2l F. 18 l 0(t Ci.2 rdii et n vi nc .' l anc p. . pars 3 3d 6, 9 4h r 000) (iai o te . cttons mitd) Fe rlRul ofCi lPr e e7 pemisapat t s to j ci t ama srt dea e vi oc dur 2 r t ry o ubmi b etons o gitae j dge' r i t t dititc twihi f te da oft ode .Fe R. v. 72( ( , e u s ulng o he src our t n oure n ys he r r d. Ci P. b)2)s e ' alo 28 U. C.j 636( .Thedititc tc csade nov rviw oftos p tonso a s S. b) src our ondu t oee h e ori f magitae' rpo t ndrc srt s e r a e omme to t whihs cii o j ci weema Fe R.Ci P. ndain o c pe fc b etons r de. d. v. 7 b ( ;Or ano,687 F. a 48. Ge ea obe to t a ma srt j dge' rpor a 2()3) pi 2d t n rl j cins o gitae u s e t nd r ecom m enda i r t atng ar ent aleady pr ent l t specii t r r by Rul 72 ton, eier i gum s r es ed, ack he fciy equied e a dh v tesmeefc a af i r t o jc. V n yv Asr e 5 9F. u p. d8 , 45( 0 8 . n a e h a fe t s al e o be t e e . tu , 3 S p 2 41 8 2 0 ) u Thos pori ofhema srt udg srp t ndr c mme ai t whihnoobetonaema e tons t gitaej e' e ora e o nd ton o c j ci r de w ilbe uphel unl t a cl rl eroneousorcont ar t l . See Or ano,687 F. a 47 l d ess hey re ea y r r y o aw pi 2d t (ii We bv Ca f n 4 8F. u p 8 , 3 ( D. l1 7 ).Th d sr tc u t ya c p, ct ng b . l a o, 6 S p . 25 8 0 E. Ca.9 9 ) e iti o r ma c e t c rjc, mo f t rc ee tor diy he e omme ddipostonba e onisdenov rviw oft rc nde s ii s d t o e e he e omme ton ndai a t obe to ma .Fe R. v. 72( () nd he j cins de d. Ci P. b)3 . 1 DI 11. ScUSSI ON As I h v ara y o s r e ,g n rlo j cin t a ma itae j d e s rp r a d a e l d b ev d e e a be t s o e o gsrt u g ' e o t n r omme ton, eie a i a gu t ar a pr s ntd,a kt e s cfciyr uie by Rul 7 ec ndai r t r tng r men s le dy e e e Ic h pe ii t eq r d e 2 a h et s ef ta af l et obe t Ve e 5 F.Sup 2dat845.Pl nifspi r nd av he ame fec s aiur o j c. ny, 39 p. aitf' rmay o jcinrieae ag me t ara ype e td.Plitf so j cin sae i i e trt i a be to etrts ru n s le d r sne an if be to , ttd n t n iey,s s s f l :çf emagsrt udgei onl rp tnge de cegi nb c ulai e m ,notact l olows E' -h itaej s y e eai vi n ve y ons ttve xa ualy te tngdo t s ( ha iveyunfian prj c sme'Thi o j tonimeeyarsae to rai cor. Tl ts r ar d eudie . s beci s rl ettmen f ' Plitf'c nta postoni himoi f s anifs e rl ii n s ton or ummayj dgme , c wa Sha teALJdi tgi r u ntwhih s û th t dn' ve m ea 1 ofw ei orm y doct st eatng m e i t di ot ght or r i n he agnosi aboutmy chr c sif pai i my s oni tf ness n n b ck a t sr c d r fe st a is e. He gi esmor c i r ton t t pe e who don' te t a nd hi e or e l ct h t s u v e onsde a i o he opl tra me'li no t magitaej ge' duyt rs vec lcige de erweghe de e o ma .' ts the srt ud s t o eol onfitn vi nc ,e i vi nc , r ke cr biiy det m i i aboutt m edi opi onsi t r d.H a 907 F. a 1456.Rat , edi lt er natons he cal ni n he ecor ys, 2d t her t cour m ay onl consi whet t ALJ' fndi i s he t y der her he S i ng s uppored by subsantalevi t t i dence.Crai g, 76 F. d a 589. The M a sr t J dge a i d t co r c s a ar ofr vi w ;he di no m e e y 3 t gita e u pple he r e t t nd d e e d t rl r epeatevi dence gi by consulatve exa . ven ti m Furhe r vi w oft r c d i c t t tt M a s r t J t re e he e or ndi a es ha he git a e udge wasc r c i c l ng or e t n onc udi t heA LJ' decii i s hatt S son s upport by s t ntalevi ed ubs a i denceateach s ep oft s t he equentaleval ton. i ua i The fndi at s eps one and t o oft eval ton wer f abl t Pl ntf and ar not i i ngs t w he ua i e avor e o ai if e n diput Atsep t ee,t ALJ f s e. t hr he ound t tPl ntf f l t m eethi bur ofshow i t hi ha ai if aied o s den ng hat s kne t ndo tsm e Litng l02 orLitng 1. be us x-a s i a a t m i lde o m iy e e nii t s i . s i 08 ca e r ys how ng n na o ca f r t w er l ng and t cons t i exam i f e acki he ulatve ner oundt hehad a nor alr hat m angeofm oton i hi knee. i n s W ih r ga d t Pl i if sd e r tvedi cdi e s t ALJf d t tt r quie e sofLitng t e r o a ntf ' eg ne a i s s a e, he oun ha he e r m nt si 1 0 we enot a if e bec us t r w a no e d nc s i ne v r tc m pr s i a c p ni d .4 r s ts i d a e he e s vi e e how ng r e oo o e son c om a e b m ot l s s or l s r fe l s orp ii s r i htl r ii t s si bo h sti a s pi e y or os , ens y os , e lx os , ostve t a g eg a sng e t n t itng nd u n postons,andt ew asno evi ii her dence ofs nala achnoi tsorsenosi . TheA LJ' concl on t pi r dii t s S usi hat Pl ntf ' m ent i paim entdi notm eetorequalLitng 12.06 w a s ppore b t e o ni o a ai ifs al m r d si su t d y h pi ons f c ula i ps hol c le m i era a sa eps hol gita by Pl i tf s o r porsa ut ons t tve yc ogi a xa n nd t t yc o s nd a n if wn e t bo hi condii Si iary,t A LJ' fndi t tPl ntf r ai t RFC t pe f m unskil , lght s ton. m l l he S i ng ha ai if et ned he o r or led i wor wass k uppored by t opi onsofs alm edi and ment healh pr es onal . Fi l t t he ni ever cal al t of si s naly, he co uso t t o weea iabl i tenai le on f apes wihPl ntf' RFC a d ncl in ha j bs r val e n h tona c omy or ron t ai ifs n r t i i w as s esrctons uppored by t opi on ofavocatonalexper . t he ni i t Pli ifas obe t t t Re tont bai ta t MagitaeJ h ad ontitof antf lo j cs o he por he ss h the srt udge ad d lc c i t r s ' l a ng hi t r pr e t t e Com m i sone . Pl i if doe not i ntf t s os d n e e t' e di m o e es n h s i r a ntf s de iy he upp e cont c ofi er tnordoeshe pr de r lit nt es ovi eason t beleve t M agit at Judge hasany confi or o i he sr e lct bi s i f vor of De e n . Th M a sr t J a n a f nda t e gi ta e udge' a l i was t r s na ys s ho ough a b e on t e nd as d h evi dence ofr d and t r evantl and noton anyprediposton t f t Com m isi ecor he el aw s ii o avor he s oner' s posii ton. Fialy, antf obe t t t or rIis donJ y l 20l , nyi Pli ifsrqu to n l Pli if jcso he de sue ul 4, 1 de ng antf' e esfr adea tj me a i tt Commisone f fiur t fl atmeya we t hi c mpl nt ful udg nt gans he si r or al e o ie i l ns r o s o ai . Thi i no a o j tont t M a srt J e' Re r a i t rf ei o ryldge Eve s s t n beci o he gitae udg s po t nd s heeor mprpel o d. n i lwer t consr i as am oton f r f eo tue t i or econsder i oft order,Pl ntf hasnotadvanced any i aton hat ai if go r undsf g a tngt m o i n.A m o i n t r c i ri i a opra e whe e i m e el r ie a es or r n i he to to o e onsde s n ppr it r t r y et r t pe o sag me t.Ab v teBetI c v Me Bo a n nRo hn , n .9 F. D. 9 l ( D. rviu r u ns o e h l n . . l h n a o g I c, 9 R. 9 , 01 E. , Va 1 3)(e ngamotont rc ie t ti o ry û kld!t Cou tort nkwha te . 98 d nyi i o e onsd r ha mprpe l s e he r t ehi as th Co r h dara yto h tr u h rg t o wrn l'; c o dUnv o a Pae t u d v Ge . u t a l d h ug tho g - ih l r o gy' a c r i.fv . tn Fo n . . n e y ) Elc Co,755 F.Supp.2d 738,744 ( . Va.201 ) My de aloft rquetfra d a t e. . W D. 1. ni he e s o eful j udgme twa apr erexecs ofmydiceint a dd ful i t smatra dipos o t n s op rie srto o voi ea t n hi te nd s e f he cl m s on t rm eris. ai hei t I .CONCLUSI V ON Ha ngun ra e adenov rviw o t t to oft Re r t whihs cfcobe to vi de tk n o e e fha porin he po to c pe ii jcin wa ma , Gndt t aitf'obe tonsaewihou mei.Fu t r r myrviw ofhercod s de 1 ha Pl nifs jci r t t rt rhemoe, e e t e r i cat t t M agit at J ndi es hat he s r e udgew ascor ecti fndi t t Com m isi ' fnaldeci on i r n i ng hat he s oner s i si s s pore by s t n i le de e a t tPl i ifdi no m e thi bur n ofe t bls ng t the up t d ubs a ta vi nc nd ha a ntf d t e s de s a ihi ha w a t t ly dia e fom al f m so s t nta g nf e pl e .Ac or ngl lw il nt a s o a l s bl d r l or f ubsa i l ai ul m oym nt c di y, l e er n ode over igPl ntf'obeci , ptngt Ma srt J ge' Re ti t o, r tn t r r ruln ai ifs j tonsado i he gitae ud s por n ot ganig he Co sin rs t nf r u r u g n, e yn Plitf' moinfr u r u g n, mmiso e' moi o s mmayj d me td n ig anifs to o s mmayj d me t o a dim i si t sacton a s rki i fom t actve docketoft cour . nd s s ng hi i nd t i ng t r he i he t The Cl k oft Cour i her diect t s a certfed copy of t s m em or er he t s eby r ed o end ii hi andum opi on a t ac om pa ng or e t al c ni nd he c nyi d r o l ouns lofr c d a t U nie St t sM ag sr t J e e e or nd o t d a e it a e udg B . a crgl r Th Cl r s l m a laco t Pl ntf . w ugh i e . e e k ha l i py o ai if Etrdhs/ dyoA gs21. neeti Y a f uut 0l , NO K.M O UNI TED STATES DI STRI J CT UDGE

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