Damata v. Astrue, No. 6:2011cv00019 - Document 23 (W.D. Va. 2013)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Norman K. Moon on 1/30/13. (med)
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cŠRx' OFFI U, . SX COURT s CE S DI ATL YNCHBURG VA FT ED U J 32 2 1 AN 23 I THE U NI N TED STATES D I STRI C OURT J CT FoR THE W ESTERN D I STRI OF V I NI B CT RGI A Y: LYNCHBURG DI SON VI I . DE 0 cuuu ' éL E Cl tA CTI NO.6; 1- 00019 vl ON 1 cv- Hops M .DAMATA, Pl nt ai ? M EM O RAN DU M OPI ON NI MI CHAEL J. S A TRUE, Co si e o i S c i mmison r fsocal e urt y, JUDGE N ORMAN K.M OON Dee nt f nda . Thi m a t i bef e t court on consder i of t f l i t pari c s s ter s or he i aton he olow ng: he tes' ros - moto f s mmay j me ( k t n .1 a 1 ) t Re ta Re omme ton ins or u r udg nt doc e os 6 nd 8 . he por nd c , ndai tçtpol l o Unie Sae M a srt J ge RobetS.Bal ( c tno.20 ,Plitf' ç e t' f td tts gitae ud l r lou do ke ) anifs . obe tons( c tno.21 t t Re r;a d t rs e(oc tno.2 te eo fld b t j ci do ke ) o he po t n he epons d ke 2) h rt ie y he Co si rofSoca Se urt (t mmison r'o i efnd t). mmisone il c iy t co s i e , r o e an ' ' l hi Re t t ma srt j gerc mme t tlafr t Co si rsfna n s por, he gitae ud e o nds ha fim he mmisone' i l de i i de i Pl i if s c a m s f r d s biiy i ur nc be ft a s e e t l s c iy c son ny ng a ntf ' l i o i a lt ns a e ne is nd uppl m n a e prt A ,. i , i omeund rt SocalSe uiyAc (he( t'.Pli iftmeyfldo jcinst t Re r, nc e he i c rt t t 1 ' antf i l ie be to o he po t Ac ) oblgatng t courtt underake a #c novo r ew of t e portons of t Re t t whi h i i he o t evi hos i he por o c pr ro jci weel e 28U. C.j 6 b) Or anov Joh on,68 F.d 44,48 (t ope be tons r odg d. S. 36( , pi . ns ' 7 2 4h Ci.1 2) Ha ngc nduce s harviw,lfn t tt o j ci aewiho mei a t t r 98 . vi o td uc e e id ha he b etons r t ut rt nd ha tema srt j ewa c re ti fndi t tteCo sine ' fna de iin i sppo td h gitae udg s orc n i ng ha h mmiso rs i l cso s u re by s t i evi ubsantal dence and t Pl ntf di notm eetherbur n ofesabls ng t s was hat ai if d de t i hi hat he di bl under t A ct Accordi y, f t r sa ed he . ngl or he easons s a ed he ei lw il ove nze Pl ntf s tt r n, l r l ai if o j c insa wila ptt ma itaej e' Re 'i t o. b e to nd l do he g sr t udg s poz n ot t , 1 . The Com m i s oner s f ualfndi m us be uphel i t ar suppored by s t ntal s i ' act i ngs t d f hey e t ubs a i evi dence a w er r nd e eached t ough applcaton oft corectl sandar Crai v.Chat 76 hr i i he r egal t d. g er, F.d 58 58 ( hCi.1 ) s ealo42U. C.j405g)($ fn ngso t Co sine 3 5, 9 4t r 996 ; e s S. ( < idi f he mmiso r The o So a Seurt a t a fc,i sppore by sbsa ta e d nc ,s l bec l i .) f cil c iy s o ny a t f u td u tnil vie e hal oncusve'. ' Subsantalevi t i dence i ts r eva evi s tuch el nt dence asa r easonabl m i m i acceptasadequa et e nd ght t o sppor ac ncuso 'Masr v Ap l270F. 1 ,1 ( hCi. )(iainomitd) a u t o l in,' to . fe, 3d 71 76 4t r 2001 ctto te , nd cons ss of i or t it ç e han a m er s ntla of evi e but m ay be s ewhat l t m e ci il denc om ess han a pe ndea c ' Lawsv Ceeb ez 368F. 640, 2( hCi.1 6) rpo rn e. ' . l rze, 2d 64 4t r 96 . The Comm isi s oner i r ponsi e f eval tng t m edi evi s es bl or ua i he cal dence and as es i s sng s ympt s,sgns,and fndi t det m i t f tonalcapaciy oft cl m ant 20 C. R. om i i ngs o er ne he unci t he ai . F. j 404. 5 - 4. 5 Any c nfit i t e d nc a et ber ove by t Co s ine j 1 27-40 1 45. o lc s n he vie e r o es l d he mmiso r ( hi de inae t ad nsrtve 1w j ge or& ',n t c urs a i i i tra or s sg t, he miitai a ud , 6 ' ot he o t, nd t s mmaeil ALJ ) whet t evi her he dence wilper i a concl i i l mt uson nconss ent wih t of t ALJ. Thomas v. it t hat he Cee e z , 331 F. 541 543 ( h Ci. 1 4) The c ur ma not r - i h c ntitng lbr z e 2d , 4t r 96 . o t y e we g o lc i e de e ma ce i lydeemiatons o s tt eisj me frt toft ALJ Ha v vi nc , ke rdbii tr n i , r ubsiut t udg nt o ha he . ys . t Suliant9 F. 1 1 6 ( t Ci.1 0) I t a t c utma onl c nsde whehe t lv 07 2d 453, 45 4 h r 99 . nse d,he ot' y y o i r t r he ALJ' tndi t Pl ntf i notdiabl i s S i ng hat ai if s s ed s upport by s t i e dence and was r ached ed ubsantal vi e bas upon a cor ec a i ton of t r e ed r t pplca i he el vant l w . Cv g, 76 F. a 589. H owever a ai 3d t , det m i ng whet r t evi er ni he he dence pr esent by t ALJ t s ed he o uppor hi deci i am ount t t s son s o s t i e dence i a quesi of l and t ef e w il be consder a ubsantal vi s ton aw, hcr or l i ed new. H i v. cks Hec e ,756 F. 1 22, 1 25 ( h Ci.1 ) ( br gatd on ote gr d b Liey v klr 2d 0 024- 4t r 985 a o e h r oun s y v l . Bowen 858F. 1 1 0 ( t Ci.1 ) rhe mo e,C Sha adu yt a lze( l o t , 2d 77, 8 4 h r 988 .Fu t r r ( ALJ ve t o nay al f he r eva evi nce'and t pr de a s fci expl ton f t r (atonal i cr tng ce ai el nt de o ovi uf i ent ana i or hei r i e n edii rt n e d nc ' BilBr c Co Co p.v.S r s 21 F.d 1 6, 1 0 ( t Ci.200 ( ia ins vi e e.' l an h al r ' pa k , 3 3 8 9 4 h r 0) ctto o te ) mit d . Fe r lRul ofCi lPr e ur 7 pe t apat t s tobe tonst ama itae dea e vi oc d e 2 nnis ry o ubmi j ci o gsrt j dgesnli t t dsrc c r wihnf re nda soft or r d.R. v. 7 b)2)s e u ' lng o he itit out ti oute y he de.Fe Ci P. 2( ( , e ' alo 28 U. C.j 636 b) The diti tc ur c uc sa de nov rviw oft e porinsofa s S. (. slc o t ond t oee hos to ma itae' rpo t ndrc gsrt s e r a e omme aint whc s cfcobe tonsweema .Fe R.Ci P. nd to o ih peii j ci r de d. v. 72b( ,Or an 6 F. a 48. Ge r o j cinst a ma srt j ge' rpor a ()3) pi o, 87 2d t ' neal b eto o gitae ud s e t nd re m endaton,r t atng ar ent aleady pr ent l k t specii t r r by Rul com i eier i gum s r es ed, ac he fciy equied e 7 a ha t sme efc a afiur t o jc. Ve y v Asr e 53 F.Su 2d 841 845 2 nd ve he a fe t s al e o be t ne . tu , 9 pp. , ( ) Th e po to oft ma srt j e' rpo ta rc mme ato t whih no 2008. os rins he gitae udg s e r nd e o nd in o c o jci ae ma e wilbe u l unls te ae ce ry er ousorc tay t lw. Se be ton r d l phed e s h y r lal rone onrr o a e Or ano 6 F. a 47(ii We v.Cal o,468F.Su 8 8 ( D.Ca.97 ) The pi , 87 2d t ctng bb fan pp. 25, 30 E. l1 9). dititc ur ma ac pt rjc,ormo f t rc mme ed ds stonbae o istcno p src o t y c e , ee t diy he e o nd ipoii s d n t f vt rviw oft rc mme to a t o j cinsma Fe R. v. 7 b)3) ee he e o ndaia nd he b eto de. d. Ci P. 2( ( . I l. As 1 ha ara y o eve ge rl oj ci t a ma srt j ge' rpo ta ve le d bsr d, nea be tons o gitae ud s e r nd r com m endaton,r t atng ar e s aleady pr nt d, l t s sciy r r by Rul e i eier i gum nt r ese e ack he peci t equied e 7 a h vet s meefc a af l et obe t Ve y,5 F.S 2 a 8 To s me 2 nd a he a fe t s ai o jc. ne 39 upp. d t 45. ur o e e ,Pli ifso jcinsheemeeyrpe tagu nt ara prsntd,o aec ncus y xtnt antf' be to r rl e a r me s le dy ee e r r o l or, a whe Pli if s s n antf umma iy sae t t lgl Re r a Re omme ton e r ne l rl t ts ha tthe po t nd c ndai ro ousy concl udes t t s t ntalevi ha ubs a i dence s upport t Com m i soner s deci on. To t ext t s he si ' si ' ' he ent he o jcinsaes fce tys cfc,he musbeovenze be to r ufiinl pe ii t y t r ld. Pl ntf w as 23 yea s ol w he s cl i e t s had becom e com pl el diabl by ai if r d n he am d hat he et y s ed knee and back pai An i pendentphysci m ade f w fndi t s n. nde i an e i ngs o uppor t cl m oft al t he ai ot diabiiy, and al of t physi an opi ons cont ned i t r d dicl t ,durng t s lt l he ci ni ai n he ecor s ose hat i he pei a is ,Pli ifrmane c pa e ofa rn oflg wor The ma srt j rod t sue antf e i d a bl a ge iht k. gitae udge cor e l de enui r cty t ned t t r d cont ned s t i evi hat he ecor ai ubsantal dence t s o upport t ALJ' he S concl i t Pl ntf coul per or atl ta r uson hat ai if d f m eas ange oflghtwor i k. Evauai Pli ifsc mpli sofpan,b ht ALJa t magsrt j ea ee l tng antf' o ant i ot he nd he itae udg dh rd t t Comm isi o he s oner' r atons a t l prnci esartcul ed by t Unied St esCour s egul i nd he egal i pl i at he t at t of Appeal f t Fourh Cicui i Crai v. Chat su s or he t r tn g er, pra. Pl ntf chalenges t l ai if l he egal prncplst ma itaej ea idt t tt ALJ' a ssme ofPl ntf sce i lt but i i e he gsrt udg pple o es he S se s nt ai if' rdbiiy, he c le e lc mei. l pa sng,Pli ifctsWalerv Bo n,88 F.d 47 ( h Ci. r halng a ks rt n si antf ie k . we 9 3 4t r 1 9)whih sa frt prn pl t tEheene dno b o jci e d nc oft panis l 98 , c tnds o he ici e ha ç r e t e be tve vie e he i tef t or is i ensiy.' 1d.at 49. But as expl ned i Crai v.Chat ,t r at y a s a ut y t nt t ' , ai n g er he egul or nd t t or sc e hem s cfc ly p o de frt c nsd rton o o jci me c le de c oft pe iial r vi o he o ieai f be tve dia vi n e he pan (fa s h e d nc e ss i t e l ton o isi e iya pe sse e. i i ny uc vie e xit) n he vauai f t ntnst nd r itnc Howe rbe a epani sb etv a c n awa bec nfr dbyobe tve ve, c us i s u j cie nd a not l ys o me jci idii,camsofdia i panma no berjce Goll bea et a ia e n ca li sblng i y t ee td c ey c us he valbl s o j tv e de e do snots tntae (he cama fjsae nt' a t t becie vi nc e ubsa it t li nts ttme s' s o he sveiy a pesse ce of he pan. 20 C. R. j 41 929( 2) & e rt nd ritn r i F. j 6. ($4 404.5 ( 2 (mph ssa dls eas Wale ,88 F. a 49(s-l r ne d 1 29$() e a i dde ; e lo k r 9 2d t d lhee e lno beobetvee de eoft pan isl o isi e iy.l Fose g.He klr t j ci vi nc he i tef r t ntnst '; tr v c e, ' 78 F. 1 25, 11 ( h Ci. 1 ) (a ) Th t i, onc a me c ly 0 2d 1 29 4t r 986 j s me . a s e dia l det r i bl i pai e m na e m nnentwhi coul r ch d easonabl be expect t produce t pai y ed o he n a lg d byt cl ma i s wn byob e tvee de e t cama tsale a ins le e he ai nt s ho j ci vi nc ,he li n ' lg to as t t s iy and per i t o he evert s sence of he pai m ay not be di m i ed m er y r n s ss el be a e o e tve e de o t pan is l ( so e t t e se e ofa c us bj ci vi nce f he i tef a ppos d o he xitnc n i nue t t c ul pr duc t pan a lg d) s h a i lme tsues or mpai nt ha o d o e he i le e , uc s nfa d is s m i m us es ar notpr ntt cor obor e t e sence ofpai pas ng cl s e ese o r at he xi t n. Cr g,76F. a 5 Nonehee s çlq si no t s y' ai 3d t 95. t ls ,çthi s t o a ' t tobe tve me c e de e a ohe obe tve e i nc aenotcu i t ha jci dial vi nc nd t r jci vde e r rcal o eval tng t i enst and per i t ua i he nt iy s sence of a cl m ants pai a t ext t ai ' n nd he ent o whi i i rshe a lt t wor Alhough a cl mant' ale i abouther ch t mpai r biiy o k. t ai s lgatons pa nma notb dic e tds ey be a s t y ar not santatd b ob c i i y e s r die oll c u e he e sub t i e y je tve e d nc o hepai f't o iss v rt t y ned notbeac e e t t e e vie e ft n fcf r t e e i he e s y cptd o he xtnt t y a eic sse wiht a aiabl e i nc,i l n obe tv e i nc o he r n on itnt t he v l e vde e ncudig j cie vde e f t underl ng i r , and t e ent t whi t i r ent can he yi mpaiment he xt o ch hat mpaim r a on yb epe tdt c s t e s abl e x ce o au e hepai t cai ale ss sfesl) n he l mant lge he ufr . 1 (mpha i a de . d. e ss d d) Ap yig t e sa ads t ma srt j dge dee ne t t<s sa ile d nc pl n hes tnd r , he gitae u tnni d ha lub tnta vie e s ppo t t ALJS d tnni to t t( antf'qpan c mpli s a e o y pa tal c e bl, u rs he ' e e nai n ha Pli ifs i o ant r nl rily r di e' ' gve t tç ihe L r sbjci pan c ansnort obe tveme c le de ei t i n ha ç t r he) u e tve i omplit ne he j ci dia vi nc n he r c r s por a tndi o de lt tng pan. Alhoug Pl i ifa s re t the t m pl i sof e o d up t - ng f biia i i i ' t h a ntf s e t d ha r ko a nt ' panha be n c nsse a aeweldoc nti h rme c lrc ds't ma itaej e i ve e o itnt nd r l ume n e dia e or , he gsrt udg ' fund t tçthi ( s no t c s ' a t rc d dsl e t tPli ifstubetvepan o ha û l s wal t he ae, s he eor icosd ha antf' 6 j ci i g ' s ass m ent have r ess s anged f om ze t s r ro o evenr'a t e wer çofen gaps ofm a m ont i ' nd her eçt ny hs n bet ween her m edi vi is com pl ni of pai ' cal st ai ng n. ' M or eover Pl ntf r ved onl , ai if ecei y Econs va i teat entt addr s he com pl nt ofpai ' and s us onl i of t t t E er tve r m o es r ai s n,' he ed y bupr en o rea he pan s o (ve whe s wa c ee by a me i lasitnc prgrm) a s r i ymptms e n n he s ov rd dca ssa e o a , nd he r pored on pai quesi i esi Augus 2006 and J y 2008 t she t no pai m edi i e t n tonna r n t ul hat ook n caton at al. She engaged i a br aray of daiy actvii t t ALJ r l n oad r l i tes hat he easonabl f y ound t be o i nconsit wih St lmiatons one woul expect fom an i vi sent t the i t i d r ndi dual di abl by pai .'' s ed n Pli ifobe t t tt ALJa te ma srt j e soul ha fund t ts onl c ul antf jcs ha he nd h gitae udg h d ve o ha he y o d cl f t si hour perw ee and t t y s d nothave concl ean our o x s k, hat he houl uded t s plyed wih hat he a t he chidr eve day. Butt actviy ques i r l en ry he i t tonnaie i t adm i s r i r d i udes he r n he nit atve ecor ncl r s at ent t she s t em s hat penther days occupi on her com put r and t s w as abl t cl ed e hat he e o ean, cook,bat a pl wih he chidr w ihouthel on a daiy bass. Pl ntf s di eem ent he, nd ay t r l en, t p, l i ai if' sagr w ih t ALJ' i e r aton ofhe stt ent i unw ar nt t he S nt p et i r a em s s ra ed. The ma srt j e obsn'd t t t phy i a who e mi d Pli if t ev r gitae udg e e ha hc scins xa ne antf t e n o eve he t bei a ut diteso dsomf t' And,a t ma itaej geobsr d the bsr d r o n c e srs r ic or. ' s he gsrt ud eve ,t t ALJ cied t opi onsoft e i ng a r ew i physci ,al ofwhom agr t none t he ni he xam ni nd evi ng i ans l eed hat o ( antf ') i r e s pr cude he fom pe f mig a s bsa il ganf a tv t ' f Pl i ifs mpaim nt e l d r r ror n ny u tnta i ul ciiy. ' Thema itaej ec re tydeemi dt t ALJa idt r ult yfa wokt t gsrt udg orcl tr ne he he pple he eg aor rme r o he fcsi t rc d a ra he t e iey raona ec l i ta t obe tve me ia a t n he e or nd e c d he ntrl e s bl oncuson h t he jci dc l e de e (ncudig Pl i ifs ilmie c mpli s of k e a bac pan' ,t e de e o vi nc i l n antf' çi td o ant ne nd k i ' he vi nc f ) Pl ntf conse vatve cour e of teat ent a t evi nce conce ni Pl ntf s daiy ai ips r i s r m , nd he de r ng ai if l a i tes al s ctvii 1 uggest t he i r ent wer notassever as s aleged. Ast magi r e ed hat r mpaim s e e he l he stat j sae i t ngi t me c lrc r gi g)a o jci i c tonofpans sveea udge ttd,d hi n he dia e ods ves ny be tve ndiai no i oe r s t rnde g antfjdia e ' Thec l i oft ma srt j ea t ALJc o e r pli if sbld. ' oncusons he gitae udg nd he ompot r w ih a i e 1 and a e s t pplcabl aw r uppored by s a i evi t ubstntal dence i t r d n he ecor Ac o di l t o j cinsmus beo r ld. c r ngy,he b e to t ve nle 11 1. Ha n u ra e aJenov rviw oft Re r,Ifndt tPli ifso jcinsae vig ndetk n oee he pot i ha antf' be to r wiho mei.Myrve oft rc di c tst tt ma srt j ewasc re ti fndi t ut rt e iw he e or ndiae ha he gitae udg orc n i ng t t Comm i s oner' fnaldeci on i s hat he si si si s uppored by s t i evi t ubs antal dence and t Pl ntf di hat ai if d not m eether bur ofesablshi t s was di abl under t A c . Accor ngl l wil den t i ng hat he s ed he t di y, l e e a or ro rui Pli ifso jcins a tngt ma srt j ntr n de ver lng antf' be to , dopi he gitae udge' Re r i t o, s po tn ot ga i t Commisone' moton fr s rntng he si rs i o ummay j r udgme ,de i Plitf' moton f nt nyng anifs i or s ummayj me ,a dimisngt sa tona srki ifo t a tved ke oft c ur. r udg nt nd s si hi ci nd ti ng t rm he ci oc t he o t E trdti b nee hs )% dyo Jn ay2 1. a faur,0 3 ' . . NO K.M OO UNI TED STATES DI STRI J CT UDGE
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