Opinion
Civil Action 7:22-cv-518
04-05-2024
THOMAS M., Plaintiff, v. MARTIN O'MALLEY, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
OPINION AND ORDER
Robert S. Ballou United States District Judge
This social security disability appeal was referred to the Honorable C. Kailani Memmer, United States Magistrate Judge, for proposed findings of fact and a recommended disposition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B). The magistrate judge filed a report and recommendation (“R&R”) on January 26, 2024, recommending that this court deny Plaintiff's summary judgment motion, grant the Commissioner's summary judgment motion, and affirm the Commissioner's final decision. Dkt. 20. Plaintiff filed objections to the R&R and this matter is now ripe for consideration. I overrule Plaintiff's objections, adopt the magistrate judge's R&R in its entirety, and grant the Commissioner's summary judgment motion.
I. BACKGROUND
The court adopts the recitation of facts and procedural background as set forth in the R&R.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review
Where, as here, a matter has been referred to a magistrate judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), the court reviews de novo the portions of the report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which a timely objection has been made. Elijah v. Dunbar, 66 F.4th 454, 460 (4th Cir. 2023); see also 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b)(3). For an objection to trigger de novo review, an objecting party “must object to the finding or recommendation on that issue with sufficient specificity so as reasonably to alert the district court of the true ground for the objection.” United States v. Midgette, 478, F.3d 616, 622 (4th Cir. 2007). “If a litigant objects only generally, the district court reviews the magistrate's recommendation for clear error only.” Elijah, 66 F.4th at 460 (citing Diamond v. Colonial Life & Accident Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005)). “[Objections need not be novel to be sufficiently specific.” Id. In fact, district courts are “not required to consider new arguments posed in objections to the magistrate's recommendation.” Id. at n. 3 (citation omitted).
In the absence of objections, the district court reviews the R&R for clear error and is not required to explain its reasoning for adopting the report. Farmer v. McBride, 177 Fed.Appx. 327, 331 (4th Cir. 2006) (citing Camby v. Davis, 718 F.2d 198, 200 (4th Cir. 1983)); Diamond, 416 F.3d at 315. The district judge may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings and recommendations in the R&R. Id.
When reviewing the decision of an ALJ, the court must uphold the factual findings and final decision of the Commissioner if they are supported by substantial evidence and were reached through application of the correct legal standard. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g); Biestek v. Berryhill, 139 S.Ct. 1148, 1152 (2019). “Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion; it consists of more than a mere scintilla of evidence but may be somewhat less than a preponderance.” Craig v. Chater, 76 F.3d 585, 589 (4th Cir. 1996) (internal citations and alterations omitted); see also Biestek, 139 S.Ct. at 1154 (emphasizing that the standard for substantial evidence “is not high”). “In reviewing for substantial evidence, [the court should not] undertake to re-weigh conflicting evidence, make credibility determinations, or substitute [its] judgment for that of the [Commissioner].” Mastro v. Apfel, 270 F.3d 171, 176 (4th Cir. 2001) (quoting Craig v. Chater, 76 F.3d at 589). However, a reviewing court should not “reflexively rubber-stamp an ALJ's findings,” Lewis v. Berryhill, 858 F.3d 858, 870 (4th Cir. 2017).
B. Analysis
Plaintiff objects to the following aspects of the R&R:
1) The R&R erred by finding the ALJ properly incorporated the mental impairment analysis at steps two and three of the sequential evaluation process into subsequent steps of the evaluation without need for more detailed analysis.
2) The R&R erred by failing to acknowledge that the ALJ's discussion of his activities of daily living did not account for the context in which he performed them.
3) The R&R erred by not finding the ALJ's evaluation of consultative examiner Lindsay Bolger, persuasive.
4) The R&R erred by ignoring plaintiff's argument that the ALJ failed to consider the extent to which plaintiff actually performed the daily activities cited by the ALJ in support of his assessment of plaintiff's allegations.
5) The R&R erred in concluding substantial evidence supports the ALJ's assessment of plaintiff's degenerative disc disease.
6) The R&R erred in concluding substantial evidence supports the ALJ's findings on plaintiff's kidney disease and COPD by failing to acknowledge the ALJ did not makespecific findings whether plaintiff's impairments would cause episodes of pain or fatigue necessitating breaks and how often those breaks would occur.
I have conducted a careful de novo review of Plaintiff's objections, the record, the R&R, the arguments of counsel, and the applicable law, and agree with the magistrate judge's recommendation. I find that the magistrate judge applied the proper standard of review, that there is substantial evidence in the record to support the ALJ's findings of fact and conclusions of law, and that the ALJ's decision is in accord with relevant case precedent.
III. CONCLUSION
Accordingly, it is ORDERED as follows:
1. Plaintiff's Objections to the R&R, Dkt. 21, are DENIED;
2. The Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation, Dkt. 20, is fully ACCEPTED and ADOPTED;
3. Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, Dkt. 15 is DENIED;
4. The Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment, Dkt. 17, is GRANTED;
5. The decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED; and
6. A separate final judgment will be entered.