Field v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 6:2011cv00049 - Document 25 (W.D. Va. 2013)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Norman K. Moon on February 26, 2013. (sfc)
Download PDF
<![CDATA[
I THE UNI N TED STATESD I STRI C OURT CT FOR THE W ESTERN D I STRI OF V I NI CT RGI A LYNCHBURG Dl sl vl ox Cl t A CTI N o.6: 1- 00049 vl ON 1 cv- STEPHEN R.FI ELD, Pl nt ai Z M EM ORANQV M OPI ON NI COMMI I SSONER OF SOCI SECURI AL TY, Dee ant f nd . J UDGE NORMAN K .M OON Thi m ateri bef e m e on cons de aton oft f l i t pari cr s m otonsf s t s or i r i he olow ng: he tes' os - i or s ummayj me (oc tnos 11 a 1 .t Re r a Re o ndain tç e r' of r udg nt d ke . nd 7) he pot nd c mme to tk po t' , l l U nied St es M agitat J t at sr e udge Robert S.Balu ( ke no.21,a Plitf' o jcins lo doc t ) nd anifs be to . ( ke no. )t t Re r. doc t 22 o he po t I hi Re r,t ma srt j n s po t he gitae udgerc e omme t t1afr t tna de ii o t nds ha fim he i l cson f he Commiso r ofSocalSe rt (r ee nt' orte t mmiso r'1d nyi Pl ntf' sine i cuiy ç fnda ,' h fo sine' e ng ai ifs ) cl m s f di biiy i tr ai or sa lt nslance be is and s e e al s iy i neft uppl m nt ecurt ncom e under t Soci he al Se urt Ac (heç t'.Pli iftmey tldobe to t t Re r,oblgai t c r t c iy t t ç ' antf i l ie jcins o he po t i tng he ou t o Ac ) undetke ade no o rviw oft e porinsoft Re l t whih pr robe to wee ra v ee hos to he po' o c ope jcins r t ldge 28 U. C.j 6 b ;Or an v J on,68 F. 44,48 ( h Ci.1 . Ha ng o d. S. 36() pi o . ohns 7 2d 4t r 982) vi c nduce s h arviw,1tnd t tt obe tonsae wihoutmei a t tt ma srt o td uc e e i ha he jci r t rt nd ha he gitae j udgewa c re ti fndi t tt Commisone' fna de iin i s poredby s tnil s orc n i ng ha he si rs i l cso s up t ubsa ta evi dence and t Pl ntf di notm eethi bur ofesabls ng t the was diabl undert hat ai i f d s den t i hi ha s ed he Ac. Ac or ngl frt ra o sae h ri Iwilov mzePli ifso j ci a wil t c di y, o he e s ns ttd een, l e l antf' b e tons nd l a t ma itaej ' Re r f t o. dopthe gsrt udges po tn ot 1. The Com m i i ssoner' f m alfndi m us bc uphel i t a s s ac i ngs t d f hey re upport by subst i ed antal e de e a w e e r c d t o h a i a i n oft co r c l g lsa r Cr g v Chat r,76 vi nc nd r ea he hr ug pplc to he r e t e a t nda d. ai . e F.d 5 589( h Ci.1 6) s ealo42U. C.j405g)(( fndi oft Co sine 3 85, 4t r 99 ; e s S. ( E i ngs he mmiso r The of Soci Securiy as t any f ,i s al t o act f upport by s t i evi ed ubsantal dence, s l be concl i .' hal us ve ). Subs a i evi t ntal dence i ds r evantevi nce as a r onabl m i m i acce asadequa e t s çuch el de eas e nd ght pt t o s r ac ncuso 'Masr v Ap e, F. 1 ,1 ( hCi.20 )(iainomitd)a uppo t o l in, to . f l270 3d 71 76 4t r 01 ctto ' te , nd consit of tm or t n a m er s ntla of e dence but m ay be s ewhat l t ss ç e ha e ci il vi om ess han a prpondean e. Lawsv Cee ez ,3 F. 640, ( hCi.1 ) e r c' ' . lbrz e 68 2d 642 4t r 966 . The Com m i si s oner i r ponsi e f e ua i t m edi e de and as essng s es bl or val tng he cal vi nce s i s ympt m s s g ,a fndi t de e mi t fm c i lc pa iy oft c a m a . 20 C . R . o , i ns nd i ngs o t r ne he t tona a c t he l i nt F. jj 404. 5 -404.545. Any co lc si t e de e a e t be r s l d by t Commiso r 1 27 1 nfit n he vi nc r o e ove he s i ne (rhi de inae t a nitatve1w j e,o t ',no t c urs a d i i i tra o s sg t, he dmi sr i a udg r $ ' t he o t, n t s mmaeil ALJ ) whet t e dence wilpe m i a concl i i her he vi l r t us on nconss entw ih t of t ALJ. Thomas v. it t hat he Cee eze 3 F. 541 5 (t Ci.1 . The c ur ma notr - ih c nfitng lbrz , 3l 2d , 43 4h r 964) o t y eweg o lci e de e, kece biiydeemi to ,o s tt eisj me f t toft ALJ Ha v vi nc ma rdi lt tr nains r ubsiut t udg nt or ha he . ys . Sulv 90 F.d 1 1 6( h Ci.1 0) I tad,hec ur ma onl c nsde whehe t lian, 7 2 453, 45 4t r 99 . nse t o t y y o i r t r he ALJ' fndi t Pl ntf i notdi abl i s S i ng hat ai i f s s ed s upport by s t i evi ed ubs antal dence a w asre nd ached bas upon a col ct a i i of t rel ed w pplcaton he evant l . Crai 76 F. at 589. However aw g, 3d , de er i ng w het t evi t m ni her he dence pr ent by t ALJ t s es ed he o uppor hi deci on a ount t t s si m s o s t ntal evi ubs a i dence i a quesi of l , and t ef e w il be consder anew . H i Šv. s ton aw her or l i ed cl He ker 756 F. 1 cl , 2d 022, 1 24- ( h Ci. 1 85) ( ogat o ot r gr nds b Li ey v 0 25 4t r 9 abr ed n he ou y vl . Bowe 858F.d 1 1 0 ( h Ci.1 ) Furhe r I LJ ha adut t a l e fl oft ' n, 2 77, 8 4t r 988 . t nno e,W S ve y o nayz al he r evante dence'and t provi a s fci ntexpl na i f t r tatonal i cr tng cerai el vi o de uf e a ton or hei r i e n edii tn e d nc ''BilBr nc CoalCop.v S k ,21 F.d 1 1 ( h Ci.2 vie e.' l a h r . pars 3 3 86, 90 4t r 000)( tto ciains omitd . te ) Fe rlRul ofCi lPr e e7 pemisapat t s mi o j ci t ama itae dea e vi ocdur 2 r t ry o ub t b e tons o gsrt j udge' r i t t dsrc c t'wihi f te da o t or r Fe R.Ci P.7 b)2)s e s ulng o he itit out t n oure n ys f he de. d. v. 2( ( ; e alo 28 U. C.j 636( .Thedititc r c ucsade nov rviw oft eporinsofa s S. b) src ou t ond t oe e hos to ma srt srpor a rco ndaint whihs cfco jcinsweema .Fe R.Ci P. gitae' c t nd e mme to o c pe ii be to r de d. v. 72( ( ;Or ano,687 F. a 48. Ge rlo j ci t a ma srt j ' rpor a b)3) pi 2d t nea b e tons o gitae udges e t nd r c m e ton,r ie a i a gu e s alea y pr s nt d,l c t s c tc t r quie by Rul e om nda i e t r tng r m nt r d e e e a k he pe i iy e r d i e 72 a ha t smeefc a afiur t obe t V ne v Asr ,539F.Supp.2d 841 8 nd ve he a fe t s al e o jc. e y . tue , 45 ( ) Thos po to of t ma srt j ' rpor and rco ndain t whih no 2008 . e rins he gitae udges e t e mme to o c obe to aema wilb uphed unls t y ae ce ry er ouso c rr t lw. Se j cin r de l e l e s he r lal rone r ontay o a e Or ano,68 F. a 47(ii We v.Cal no,468F. pi 7 2d t ctng bb fa Supp.825 8 ( D. 11 79).The , 30 E. Ca.9 ) dititc tma ace ,rjc,ormodf t rc src our y c pt ee t iy he e omme e diposton ba e on isdeno nd d s ii sd t vo rviw oft rc mme tona t o jcinsma e.Fe R. v.P. b)3 . ee he e o ndai nd he be to d d. Ci 72( () 1 I. W. Thema itaej ' Re r prvi st f lwi 6 ca a Voc to lHitr ' gsrt udges po t o de he olo ng t il nd aina so y' so f Pl ntf . or ai if- Pli if wa bon o J y 5,1 63( nitai Rec r he enafe < '37, antfj s r n ul 9 Admi srtve od, r i tr t ' R. 1 ) a i c i rd a yomge i i d lunde t Ac. 20 C. R. j 27 nd s onsdee t r ndviua r he t F. j 404. 5 c ,41 96 c . P li ifs da e ls i ur i De e r 31 201 1 634) 6. 3( ) antf ') t a t ns ed s c mbe , 3 (' 1 a t , mus s t thi dia lt be nbef et tdae, nd e se 5' , nd hus he t how ha s s biiy ga or ha t a xit d I c f t l c i us mont t r c i D1 be is 42 U. C. jj or weve ontnuo hs o e eve B nctt. S. 423()1( ,()1( ;20 C. R.jj 40 1 () 404.31a. To r c i SS1 a( )A) c()B) F. 4.01a , 1 () e eve be ft,( antfjmus e tbls t thi dia lt be nonoratrt daehe neis Pli if t sa ih ha s sbiiy ga fe he t a idf be tt.42U. C. 1 a( ) 2 C. R.j41 501 pple or neis S. j 383()1; 0 F. 6. . ( anit c ee t ee nt grde of fr ls ho i a ltr Plitfl ompltd he lve h a oma c olng nd ae er daGED.( 38. g ai iq ha awokhsoyi lghtme um a hea ane R. ) pl ntf s r itr n i , di nd vy wok. Thi wor i l sjbsa a mea fbrc t ,tlpho a daa lne r s k ncude o s tl a iaor ee ne nd t i i t l ,f t f ass santm a nsaler as ood i t nager w aier and foor coverng s es esi at , t l i al tm or. ( 68. ( antflcamedt thels woke o Aprl30,2008. ( 38. He R. ) Pli it li ha at r d n i R. ) colect unem pl e durng s l ed oym nt i even of t ei quarer f om t f t he ght ts r he ourh q re i 2 tr h t t r quatr 2 ua tr n 007 houg he hid re 009. ( 4749, 6 1 1 ) R. 4, 42-43. ( antflrpore t thi dal a tviisi l prpmi me l,mowi hi Pli if e td ha s iy ci te ncude e ng as ng s lwn,va uumi s ppi ,fs ng a hmtng.( antf as s cai swih a c ng, ho ng ihi nd t i Pli i: lo o ilze t findsa muc a t c awe k.( 1 ) re s h s wie e R. 75. Addii ly,t ma srt j dge' Re ti l saû am Hit y'whc sae t t tonal he gitae u s por ncude fli sol ' ih tts ha Pl ntf ai if t ed f D1 and SSI cl m i t hi diabiiy began on Apr l 30, 2008, il or B , ai ng hat s s lt i a s ri t t de e s o bi a d s r r COPD ,l ba pr bl m s a a hea t s e tng ha pr s i n, pol r i o de , um r o e nd r c ndiin afc hi a lt t wor ( 1 ) g anif as came t thi o to fe t s biiy o k. R. 47. plitfq lo li d ha s condii af ecthi abiiy t concentat t t he f l w eid f tons f s lt o r e, ha ee s r rom de esson, pr i ha dit t f l ng die tons a i sow o t j b. ( 1 ) Thesae s fkuly olowi rci , nd s l n he o R. 47. tt a nc de e ( antf')a iain a t i ta a r c nsdeai lvesof ge y nid Pli ifs pplc to t he niil nd e o i rton e l a nitatverviw. ( 7 89. On De e r9,2009,(he ALJ...hed a dmi sr i e e R. 6- ) c mbe t) l he rng t c i r Pli ifs dsbiiy cam. ( 3 ) ( antfl was ai o onsde antf') ia lt li R. 6. Pli it r p es ntd by c uns la t he rng,whih i l d t si ny fo ( antfl er e e o e t he a i c ncude e tmo r m Pl i ii a (jvoc tona e pet(: '... ( 36- ) nd a ai l x r ç j .R. 73. VE' On M ac 2 201 t ALJ e trd hi de ii de ng Pli ifs rh 4, 0, he nee s cson nyi antf') camsfrDI a SSI ( 1 29. TheALJft t tg antflha svee li o B nd . R. 9- ) omd ha pli it s e r i nuent consitng of bi a di or mpai s si pol r s der, obest al iy, cohol abus dior , e s der c r ni obsr ci pul r dsa e deg neai j ntdie e a coonay h o c tu tve monay ie s , e rtve oi sas nd r r atr dsas. ( 21) Co i rng t s i ime s t ALJ fund t t rey ie e R. . nsdei he e mpar nt, he o ha ( antfjrti dt RFC (te iualfncina cpact )t pef m lghtwor Pli if eane he s sd u to l a if' o ror i r k a dei d i 20 C. R.j40 1 7(9,e pthec nno ra h ovehe d,s d s fne n F. 4.56 1 xce a t ec r a houl avoi m oder e expos e t f es,odor dust gas ,and poor ve iaton,and d at ur o um s, , es ntl i mus a dc e rtd e u et ha r .TheALJc ncl dt t( anif t voi onc ntae xposr o zads o ude ha Plitfj i a e t l rtnd, rti a f l smpl j b i t ci , manti s bl o mdesa ean, nd olow i e o nsnltons i an conce r i and atenton f ext ntaton t i or ended pe ods of tm e,and m ai ai r ar ri i nt n egul at tendance at t wor ace. The RFC outi by t A LJ al f he kpl lned he so ound t hat ( antfl woul notr quie s cals pe vso t s t i a wor r i ,t t Pli if d e r pe i u r iin o usan k outne ha ( antfl c d be e c e t c mplt a no ma wo kda a wor e Pli it oul xpe td o o ee r l r y nd kwe k w ihout exace baton of ps t r i ychol cal s ogi ympt s t he i abl t m ai an om , hat s e o nt i - 4- s aly appr i e behavi and t the ca per orm t per oci l oprat or, ha n f he sonalcar f i e unctons needed t m ai ai an acce abl l o nt n pt e evel of per sonal hygi ene. The ALJ f ound ( antfjc pa eofaki smpl queto a a e i i tu to a t t Pli if a bl s ng i e sins nd ccptng nsr cin, nd ha ( anit ha no sg t ntr tito i hi a lte i rgadt wok-eltd Plitfl s inika esrcins n s biiis n e r o r r ae a ptton. ( 2 ) The ALJ dee ne t tPli if wasnotc pa e of da ai R. 4. tnui d ha antfj a bl pef mi hi pa trlva wok. ( 28. Ho ve,gi n t e de e ror ng s s ee nt r R. ) we r ve he vi nc obt ned f om t voca i ai r he tonale xpertatt adm i statve hearng,t ALJ f he ni r i i he ound t tg antfjcn pefr wo k,s h a i eve r i or tona clr a ha pli if a rom r uc s ntriwe, nf mai l ek nd rutrwhihe ssi sg t ntn o e c xit n inika umbesi t nai le o r n he tona c nomy.( 2 ) R. 9. On Aprl2,2 0,( antfj rq se r ve of t ALJs de iin, i 01 Pli if e ue td e iw he . cso whih t Appe l Co i d nidon Ocobe 1 2011 ( 16. Thsa a c he as uncl e e t r 2, . R. - ) i ppe l f l d. On Ap i 30, 201 t Co t grntd g antf s moto t olowe rl 2, he ur a e pli if ) in o s e nt t rcod t pr de te s c nd pag of ( antf' te tng upplme he e r o ovi h e o e Pli ifs rai ps hitits De mbe 4,2009 rpo t The Cour has c i r d t e tr yc ars'q ce r e r. t onsde e he n ie r d,as s e e ed,i r ecor uppl m nt n eachi isdeci on i t sa l ng t si n hi ppea . #. As 1 ha ara o ev d,ge rlobe to t a ma srt j dge' rpor a ve le dy bsr e nea. jcins o gitae u s e t nd r ecom m cndaton,r ier i ar ent aleady pres ed,l t s fciy r red by Rul i e t atng gum s r ent ack he pecii t equi e 72 a ha t sme efc asa fiur t o j c. Ve y,539 F.Supp.2d a 8 Hee, nd ve he a fe t al e o b e t ne t 45. r Pli ifs o j ci hee meey rpet ag nt ara pr sntd. antf' b e tons r rl e a rume s le dy ee e * t ee t he xtnt he obe to co dbec nsr dt bes t e l s cfc,he mus b ove le jcins ul o tue o ufkinty pe ii t y t e m ld. Re adi Plitf' obe to t tt ALJ mi-vauae hi ps hars' o nins g r ng anifs jcin ha he se l td s yc itits pi o a utt lmii efcsofhi alge psc ogia lmiai ,t ma srt j ge' Re t bo he i tng fe t s le d y hol c l i ttons he gitae ud s por pr l r ons t t r or was not sufi ent t s opcry eas hat he ec d tci o upport t concl y opi ons t he usor ni he ps hi ti tof e e i D e e be 2009,a t ,i f c ,t ps hi ti tha p e o l i o m e yc a rs f r d n c m r nd hat n a t he yc a rs d r vi us y nf r d t saea e y(n atlpho i eve c uce t de l t rc r )t tPli ifS o d he tt g nc i ee ne ntr iw ond td o veop he e o d ha antf ç ul c * anifso jcin aemo t v r ai ri rto s wiht e c pino c a gn afw wo d a a dn Plit ' beto s r sl eb t et ain , t he x e t f h n ig e r s nd d ig f y m e o aco eofs nt es ofhi orgi agum e st tt A LJm i- val td t opi onsofhi ps chitita upl e enc , s i nal r nt ha he se uae he ni s y ars nd pos a i m pl e hypot tc q s i t t voc tona e r .A sIha pr vi l e ai whe apa t ed n nco et he i al ue ton o he a i l xpe t ve e ousy xpl neds n ry smpl r pa esispr ousagume si t guie ofob e i ,t r peae ar nt c tt e ge al i y e ckag t evi r nt n he s j ctons he e td gume s onsiut ner o jcinsta lc t r q st s e iiiy V nyv Asr e 5 9F. u p. d8 ,8 4 4 ( 0 8 . be t h ta k he e uii p cfct. e e . tu , 3 S p 2 41 4 - 6 2 0 ) o e t o bl pefr smpl,t kil wok o argua bai' ( 47 ) Addiinal bot t prba y' rom i e ms led r n e lr ss' R. 4. to ly, h he saea nc ps h ogit a Pli ifsown lc nsd prfsi lc nsl (d ' f tt ge y yc ol ss nd antf' ie e oe sona ou eor d LPC' ound ) t tPli ifc dwok ( 47 5 5 ) i e t LPC a rntysae t tPli ifEs ha antf oul r R. 4, 04, 29 ;ndc d,he ppae l ttd ha antf ' i notdia e me al 'butt sha abrahi c iin'( 5 .Therc r rfe t t t sbld ntly,' ç doe ve e t ng ondto ' R. 29) e od elcs ha, t oughout t r evant perod, healhcar pe onnel consit nty f hr he el i t e rs s e l ound Pl ntf t be al , ai if o ert ore e a noti dites. ( 40 0 49 94,537,568. On muli e ocasons hi intd, nd n sr s R. 0-2, 2) tpl c i , s de a r i desrbe a plaa . ( 406,492,537,539. The ma srt j ge c re ty me no s ci d s e snt R. ) gitae ud orcl det m i t t ALJreas bl w ei d t t eatng ps a rs ' Decem ber2009 opi on. er ned hat he ona y ghe he r i ychi t it s ni Pli ifssc obe to i a vebai c py o hi oi na ag ntt tt ALJ antf e ond jcin s r tm o f s rgi l rume ha he pos an i ed ncom pl e hypot i quesi t t VE. Pl ntf cont et hetcal ton o he ai if ends t t hypot i hat he hetcal f l t i ude lm iatons as outi by t teatng ps ati t How e r,as t m agi r e aied o ncl i ti lned he r i ychi r s. ve he stat j ee pli d,iwa a oprae ba e ont r od,frt ALJt a c d ge trweg t udg x ane t s ppr it, s d he ec r o he o c or rae iht o t opi onsoft s at agency ps he ni he t e ychol ss t n t t teatng ps hi rs sopi on,and t ogi t ha o he r i yc atit' ni hus t A LJ di noter i om itng t teatng ps ati ' addii t s he d rn ti he r i ychi rsts tonal m upport lm iatons fom ed i t i r t hypot i quesi t t VE. The hypot i pr nt t t V E cor ecty r l s t he hetcal ton o he hetcal ese ed o he r l efect he concl i oft st e agency exam i s a t ass m entofPl ntf s m ent i paim ent us ons he at ner nd he ess ai if al m r s as s f t i t RFC . et orh n he Thec ncusonsoft ma itaej a t ALJc o li he gsrt udge nd he ompo t t a ia elw a ae r wih pplc bl a nd r s uppore bysbsa ile i ncei t rc d.Ac r ngy,t o j tonsmus beover ld. td u tnta vde n he e or codi l he beci t rue 1 . 11 Ha ng unde tke ade nov r viw o t Re r,lfnd t tPli ifsob e to ae vi ra n o e e f he po t i ha antf' j c ins r wiho me i.Myr ve oft rc r i c e t tt ma itaej ewa c rc i fndig t ut rt e iw he c o d ndiats ha he gsrt udg s ore tn i n t t Com m i i ' fnaldeci i i s hat he ssoners i son s upport by s t ntalevi ed ubs a i dence a t Pl ntf di nd hat ai if d notme thi bu d n ofe t bls ng t thewa dia e unde t Ac . Ac or ngy,1wile e e s re sa ihi ha s s bld r he t c di l l ntr a ode o r lng Pli ifs obe to ,a ptng t magsrt j ge' Re r i t o n r r venli antf jcins do i he itae ud s po t n ot, grntng t Co sine ' moton f s a i he mmiso rs i or ummay j me ,de yi Pli ifsmoin fr l udg nt n ng antf to o smmayj d mc ta dds sigti a to a dsrkn i fo teatv d c to tec u t u r u g n , n imisn h s cin n t ig t r m h cie o ke f h o r. i s trdti JJ#. dyo Fbur 2 1. nee hs - a f eras 03 > NO AN K.M OO I NI J TED STATES DI STRI JUDGE CT
]]>
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You
should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
