Opinion
Civil Action No. 09-211.
September 29, 2009
MEMORANDUM OPINION
I. INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff, Michael Carothers, seeks judicial review of a decision of Defendant, Commissioner of Social Security ("the Commissioner"), denying his applications for disability insurance benefits ("DIB") and supplemental security income ("SSI") under Titles II and XVI, respectively, of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 401- 433 and §§ 1381-1383f. Presently before the Court are the parties' cross-motions for summary judgment pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56. For the reasons set forth below, Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment will be granted and the Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment will be denied.
The Social Security system provides two types of benefits based on an inability to engage in substantial gainful activity: the first type, DIB, provides benefits to disabled individuals who have paid into the Social Security system during past employment, and the second type, SSI, provides benefits to disabled individuals who meet low-income requirements regardless of whether the individuals have ever worked or paid into the Social Security system. Belcher v. Apfel, 56 F.Supp.2d 662 (S.D.W.V. 1999). Based on his earnings record, Plaintiff is insured for purposes of DIB through December 31, 2010. (R. 19).
II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Plaintiff protectively filed applications for DIB and SSI on January 20, 2006, alleging disability since January 5, 2005 due to the combined effect of several medical conditions. (R. 109). Following the denial of Plaintiff's applications for DIB and SSI, he requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"). (R. 74-75). At the hearing, which was held on September 5, 2007, Plaintiff, who was represented by counsel, and a vocational expert ("VE") testified. (R. 39-68).
On December 21, 2007, the ALJ issued a decision denying Plaintiff's applications for DIB and SSI based on his conclusion that Plaintiff retained the residual functional capacity ("RFC") to perform work existing in significant numbers in the national economy. (R. 16-29). Plaintiff's request for review of the ALJ's decision was denied by the Appeals Council on December 24, 2008. (R. 5-7, 11-12). Thus, the ALJ's decision became the final decision of the Commissioner. This appeal followed.
The Social Security Regulations define RFC as the most a claimant can still do despite his or her limitations. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The Court's review of the Commissioner's decision is limited to determining whether the decision is supported by substantial evidence, which has been described as "such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971). It consists of something more than a mere scintilla, but something less than a preponderance. Dobrowolsky v. Califano, 606 F.2d 403, 406 (3d Cir. 1979). Even if the Court would have decided the case differently, it must accord deference to the Commissioner and affirm the findings and decision if supported by substantial evidence. Monsour Medical Center v. Heckler, 806 F.2d 1185, 1190-91 (3d Cir. 1986).
IV. PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiff was born on March 27, 1962. With respect to education, Plaintiff graduated from high school in 1982. (R. 43, 113). At the time of the hearing before the ALJ, Plaintiff, who is 61 tall, weighed 334 pounds, and he smoked 1 ½ packs of cigarettes a day. (R. 47). In the past, Plaintiff has been employed as an ambulance attendant in a power plant (1987 to 1993), a security guard/emergency medical technician for a steel company (1993 to 1998) and a laborer for a veneer manufacturer (1998 to January 2005). (R. 44, 91).
On January 5, 2005, Plaintiff underwent surgery to remove a cystic mass from his abdomen. (R. 50-51, 63-64, 135-43). When Plaintiff was medically cleared to return to work, the employees at his company were on strike. The strike eventually ended and Plaintiff returned to work in August 2005. After two weeks, however, Plaintiff was permanently laid off due to a reduction in force by the employer. For the next six months, Plaintiff received unemployment compensation. (R. 45-47, 142).
During the hearing before the ALJ, Plaintiff's counsel noted that to be eligible for unemployment compensation, a person must be willing and able to work. Counsel then asked Plaintiff if he could have worked a full-time schedule during the 6-month period he received unemployment compensation (until February 2006), and Plaintiff responded "probably." (R. 62). Under the circumstances, Plaintiff's alleged onset date of disability of January 5, 2005 should be amended to a date after February 2006.
Plaintiff testified that he is no longer able to work due to the combined effects of several medical conditions. (R. 63). Plaintiff's main problem, however, is daytime drowsiness and fatigue as a result of sleep apnea, which requires him to nap in the afternoon. (R. 53-54). Plaintiff testified that he is not limited in his ability to sit. However, his ability to stand is limited to 30 to 45 minutes; his ability to walk is limited to 30 minutes on flat surfaces; and he gets "out of breath real quick" when walking up hills or climbing stairs. (R. 59).
Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by episodes of breathing cessation during sleep. For reasons that are unclear, in deep sleep, breathing can stop for a period of time (often more than 10 seconds). These periods of lack of breathing, or apneas, are followed by sudden attempts to breathe. These attempts are accompanied by a change to a lighter stage of sleep. The result is fragmented sleep that is not restful, leading to excessive daytime drowsiness. Weight management (or intentional weight loss) and avoiding alcohol and sedatives at bedtime may relieve sleep apnea in some individuals. If these measures are unsuccessful, continuous positive airway pressure ("CPAP") or bilateral positive airway pressure ("BiPAP"), forms of mechanical breathing assistance that involve the use of a specially designed mask worn over the nose or nose and mouth at night, may be prescribed. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyc (last visited 9/25/2009).
Plaintiff testified that his legs begin to hurt and he gets a burning sensation when he is on his feet too much. (R. 55).
V. MEDICAL EVIDENCE
Plaintiff has longstanding diagnoses of diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ("COPD"). Dr. Alex Kalenak has been Plaintiff's primary care physician ("PCP") since January 2004. For Plaintiff's diabetes, Dr. Kalenak prescribes Avandia and Glucophage, as well as daily self-administered shots of Novolog and Lantus. (R. 50, 119, 246-82, 283-348, 356-400, 401-08). Dr Kalenak also prescribes the following medications for Plaintiff's other medical conditions: Lasix (swelling in legs and feet), Potassium (taken in conjunction with Lasix), Prevacid (gastroesophageal reflux disease or "GERD"), Neurontin (diabetes-related leg pain) and Amitriptyline (depression and difficulty sleeping). (R. 52-53, 119-20).
Diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) disease marked by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar. Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin, resistance to insulin, or both. After many years, diabetes can lead to serious problems throughout your body, including your eyes, kidneys, heart and nerves.www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyc (last visited 9/25/2009).
Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways which causes attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyc (last visited 9/25/2009).
COPD is a lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD: (1) chronic bronchitis, which causes long-term swelling and a large amount of mucus in the main airways in the lungs and (2) emphysema, a lung disease that destroys the air sacs in the lungs. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD for which there is no cure.www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyc (last visited 9/25/2009).
Avandia is used along with a diet and exercise program and sometimes with one or more other medications to treat type 2 diabetes (a condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). It works by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin, a natural substance that helps control blood sugar levels. Glucophage is used alone or with other medications, including insulin, to treat type 2 diabetes. It works by decreasing the amount of glucose you absorb from your food and the amount of glucose made by your liver. Novolog is used to treat people with type 2 diabetes who need insulin to control their diabetes. It works by helping move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy. It also stops the liver from producing more sugar. Lantus is used to treat people with type 2 diabetes who need long-acting insulin to control their diabetes. It is a man-made version of human insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas that helps move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo (last visited 9/25/2009). Prior to Dr. Kalenak, Dr. Robert C. Knapp, an endocrinologist, treated Plaintiff for diabetes. However, Plaintiff was compelled to stop treating with Dr. Knapp after he lost his health insurance because the doctor does not accept medical assistance cards. (R. 50).
Lasix, a "water pill," is used to reduce the swelling and fluid retention caused by various medical conditions including heart disease. Potassium is essential for the proper functioning of the heart, kidneys, muscles, nerves and digestive system. Prevacid is used to treat GERD, a condition in which backward flow of acid from the stomach causes heartburn and injury of the food pipe. Neurontin is used, among other things, to relieve the pain of postherpetic neuralgia. Amitriptyline is used to treat symptoms of depression. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo (last visited 9/25/2009).
Plaintiff was seen by Dr. Jeffrey A. Erukhimov, a pulmonary specialist, on May 24, 2004, following a referral by Dr. Kalenak for complaints of interrupted sleep, coughing and shortness of breath on exertion. With respect to sleep apnea, Plaintiff reported that he continued to wake up during the night despite the use of a BiPAP machine. As to Plaintiff's respiratory symptoms, Dr. Erukhimov's impression was asthma and chronic bronchitis from cigarette smoking. Dr. Erukhimov continued Plaintiff's then current medications, including Combivent, Advair and Atrovent inhalers, and he added Singulair to Plaintiff's medication regime. (R. 243-45).
At the time of his initial evaluation by Dr. Erukhimov, Plaintiff weighed 350 pounds. (R. 244).
During the hearing, Plaintiff testified that although he has used a CPAP or BiPAP machine for seven years, he has never been able to sleep through the night because he tosses and turns and the mask comes loose waking him up. He sleeps four to five hours a night but not consecutively. As a result, he has to take a nap in the afternoon. (R. 60-61).
Combivent is used to prevent wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness and coughing in people with COPD. It is in a class of medications called bronchodilators that work by relaxing and opening the air passages to the lungs making breathing easier. Advair is used to prevent wheezing, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties caused by asthma and COPD. It is in a class of medications called steroids that work by relaxing and opening air passages in the lungs, making it easier to breathe. Like Combivent, Atrovent (Ipratropium oral inhalation) is a bronchodilator. Singulair is used to prevent difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing and coughing caused by asthma. It works by blocking the action of substances in the body that cause the symptoms of asthma.www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo (last visited 9/25/2009).
Due to complaints of chest pain, Dr. Kalenak ordered a treadmill stress test for Plaintiff which was performed on June 25, 2004. Plaintiff exercised for 4 minutes, 30 seconds before the stress test was stopped due to increased blood pressure and fatigue. The stress test was negative for ischemia and exercise-induced chest pain. However, Plaintiff's functional capacity and hypertensive response to exercise during the stress test were described as "terrible" and "marked," respectively. (R. 128).
An exercise stress test is a screening tool to test the effect of exercise on your heart. It provides an overall look at the health of your heart. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyc (last visited 9/25/2009).
Cardiac ischemia occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is decreased by a partial or complete blockage of a coronary artery. A sudden, severe blockage may lead to a heart attack. It may also cause a serious abnormal heart rhythm, which can cause fainting or even sudden death. www.mayoclinic.com (last visited 9/25/2009).
Plaintiff's first follow-up visit with Dr. Erukhimov, the pulmonary specialist, took place on August 12, 2004. Plaintiff continued to report daytime sleepiness despite the use of a BiPAP machine, as well as coughing, wheezing and increased shortness of breath on exertion. Dr. Erukhimov described Plaintiff as "quite sleepy," noting that Plaintiff's score on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale that day was "at least 15." Dr. Erukhimov's plan for Plaintiff included adjusting the air pressure of his BiPAP machine; he instructed Plaintiff not to drive when sleepy and to lose weight; and he added a Spiriva inhaler to Plaintiff's medication regime. (R. 241-42).
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a validated questionnaire that is used to assess daytime sleepiness. The scale rates how likely you are to doze off or fall asleep in 8 situations ( e.g., sitting and reading, watching television and sitting inactive in a public place such as a theatre or a meeting). A score of 1 to 6 indicates that you are getting enough sleep; a score of 7 or 8 is average; and a score of 9 or above indicates that you should seek the advice of a sleep specialist without delay.www.sleepeducation.com (last visited 9/25/2009).
Spiriva is used to prevent wheezing, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing in patients with COPD. Like Combivent and Atrovent, Spiriva is a bronchodilator.www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo (last visited 9/25/2009).
Due to the results of Plaintiff's treadmill stress test in June 2004, Dr. Kalenak referred Plaintiff to Dr. Angel R. Flores, a cardiologist, who evaluated Plaintiff on September 17, 2004. As a result of Plaintiff's obesity, the initial heart studies ordered by Dr. Flores were of poor quality, leading the doctor to refer Plaintiff for a MUGA scan. Dr. Flores "strongly urged" Plaintiff to stop smoking and recommended gastric bypass surgery for weight reduction. Because Plaintiff's blood work revealed low high-density lipoprotein ("HDL"), also called "good" cholesterol, Dr. Flores prescribed Tricor for Plaintiff. (R. 123). On January 17, 2005, Dr. Flores added Zocor to Plaintiff's medication regime. (R. 123). At some point thereafter, Dr. Flores also added Zetia to Plaintiff's medication regime. (R. 119).
A MUGA scan is a non-invasive test that uses radioactive materials called tracers to show the heart chambers. The test can check the overall squeezing strength of the heart known as the ejection fraction. A normal result (or an ejection fraction above 55%) indicates that the heart squeezing function is normal.www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyc (last visited on 9/25/2009). The result of Plaintiff's MUGA scan, which was performed on September 24, 2004, was normal (57% ejection fraction). (R. 122).
Gastric bypass is surgery that is done to help you lose weight. After the surgery, you will not be able to eat as much as before, and your body will not absorb all the calories from the food you eat. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyc (last visited 9/25/2009). In his decision, the ALJ implies that Plaintiff has refused to undergo gastric bypass surgery despite the recommendations of his doctors that he lose weight. ("Although weight loss has been recommended to him, he has not had bypass surgery." (R. 25)). The Court notes, however, that Plaintiff offered the only evidence concerning this issue, testifying that after his permanent layoff, he no longer had health insurance and could not afford gastric bypass surgery. (R. 47, 123). There is no evidence that Plaintiff has refused to undergo gastric bypass surgery.
Lipoproteins, which are made of fat and protein, carry cholesterol, triglycerides and other fats called lipids in the blood to various parts of the body.www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyc (last visited 9/25/2009).
Tricor is used with diet changes (restriction of cholesterol and fat intake) to reduce the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides (fatty substances) in your blood. Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to your heart, brain and other parts of your body. Lowering your blood level of cholesterol and fats may help to prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes and heart attacks.www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo (last visited 9/25/2009).
Zocor is used together with lifestyle changes (diet, weight loss, exercise) to reduce the amount of cholesterol and other fatty substances in your blood. It is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Zocor works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body.www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo (last visited 9/25/2009).
Zetia is used together with lifestyle changes (diet, weight loss, exercise) to reduce the amount of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood. It may be used alone or in combination with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. Zetia works by preventing the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine.www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo (last visited 9/25/2009).
On December 17, 2004, Plaintiff was admitted to the hospital for complaints of nausea and vomiting. At the time of admission, it was noted that Plaintiff's medical conditions included obesity, diabetes, hypertension, COPD, diabetic neuropathy and depression. Following a consultation with Plaintiff, Dr. Stephen Bellich recommended exploratory surgery for a possible abdominal mass. Due to Plaintiff's request that the surgery be scheduled after Christmas, he was discharged on December 18, 2004. (R. 215-25).
Over time, diabetes (high blood sugar levels) can damage the covering on your nerves or the blood vessels that bring oxygen to your nerves. Damaged nerves may stop sending messages, or may send messages slowly or at the wrong times. This damage is called diabetic neuropathy, and about 50% of people with diabetes get it. Symptoms may include numbness in your hands, legs or feet and shooting pains, burning or tingling.www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyc (last visited 9/25/2009).
On December 27, 2004, Plaintiff saw Dr. Erukhimov, his pulmonary specialist, for a follow-up visit. In a letter to Dr. Kalenak concerning this visit, Dr. Erukhimov noted that he had been following Plaintiff for obstructive hypoventilation syndrome ("OHS") with sleep apnea; that Plaintiff's asthma had been "well controlled lately;" that Plaintiff did well during a sleep study on November 15, 2004 with adjustments to the pressure of his BiPAP machine; and that Plaintiff continued to weigh 350 pounds. Dr. Erukhimov described his impression as "Asthma, relatively well controlled" and indicated that Plaintiff would continue to use his inhalers as prescribed. In addition, Dr. Erukhimov indicated that the pressure of Plaintiff's BiPAP machine would be adjusted. (R. 234-36).
OHS is believed to result from both a defect in the brain's control over breathing and excessive weight against the chest wall, which makes it hard for a person to take a deep breath. As a result, the blood has too much carbon dioxide and not enough oxygen. People with OHS are often tired due to sleep loss and poor sleep quality. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyc (last visited 9/25/2009).
On January 5, 2005, Plaintiff was admitted to the hospital for exploratory stomach surgery during which a benign cystic mass was removed. Post-operatively, Plaintiff's COPD was managed by Dr. Nicholas Tapyrik who noted that Plaintiff suffers from smoking-related chronic bronchitis, smoking-aggravated asthmatic bronchitis, obesity and sleep apnea, and that Plaintiff "always has a chronic cough." For his diabetes, Plaintiff was managed post-operatively by Dr. Robert Knapp who noted that Plaintiff's diabetes was out of control with severe insulin resistance from the surgery; that Plaintiff had asthmatic bronchitis with an acute flare-up of his COPD; and that Plaintiff's hypertension was under poor control due to the exacerbation of his COPD. Plaintiff was discharged from the hospital on January 9, 2005. (R. 135-43, 150-51, 163-64).
On December 31, 2005, Plaintiff went to the emergency room with complaints of chest pain. He also reported that his asthma had been "acting up" the previous two days. Plaintiff was admitted to the hospital after blood tests revealed elevated blood sugar levels. A pulmonary function study revealed a mild to moderate restrictive defect consistent with Plaintiff's weight, as well as a mild to moderate obstructive defect that did not improve after Plaintiff's use of an inhaled bronchodilator. Following a cardiac catherization which was normal, Plaintiff was diagnosed with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with mild left ventricular dysfunction. (R. 189-204).
At the time of Plaintiff's hospital admission on December 31, 2005, his blood sugar level was 812 mg/dL. (R. 195). Normal blood sugar levels in people who do not have diabetes are 70 to 99 mg/dL upon waking and 70 to 140 mg/dL after meals.http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm (last visited 9/25/2009). Plaintiff's blood sugar levels by the time of his discharge from the hospital on January 4, 2006 were consistently in the 200 range. (R. 193).
Cardiomyopathy is a weakening of the heart muscle or a change in heart muscle structure. It is often associated with inadequate heart pumping or other heart function problems.www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyc (last visited 9/25/2009).
On April 11, 2006, a non-examining State agency medical consultant completed a Physical RFC Assessment for Plaintiff in connection with his applications for DIB and SSI. Based on a review of the evidence in Plaintiff's administrative file at that time, the consultant opined that Plaintiff retained the RFC to perform light work. Specifically, the consultant opined that Plaintiff could occasionally lift and carry 20 pounds and frequently lift and carry 10 pounds; that Plaintiff could stand and/or walk about 6 hours in an 8-hour workday; that Plaintiff could sit about 6 hours in an 8-hour workday; that Plaintiff's ability to push and pull with his upper and lower extremities was unlimited; that Plaintiff could occasionally engage in postural activities such as climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling; and that Plaintiff had no environmental limitations. (R. 349-55).
The Social Security Regulations define light work as "lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls." See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(b) and 416.967(b).
Inexplicably, the consultant found no environmental limitations despite Plaintiff's well-documented diagnoses of asthma and COPD.
Medical records which were submitted shortly before the ALJ hearing show that Plaintiff was seen by his PCP, Dr. Kalenak, on a regular basis to monitor his diabetes — July 31, 2006 (R. 379), October 10, 2006 (R. 376), November 14, 2006 (R. 374), December 28, 2006 (R. 371), February 20, 2007 (R. 369), March 27, 2007 (R. 367), April 26, 2007 (R. 366), June 26, 2007 (R. 362), July 9, 2007 (R. 359), July 31, 2007 (R. 358). During this period, Dr. Kalenak also treated Plaintiff for other complaints, including bilateral knee pain of several months' duration on May 11, 2006 (R. 382) and a buttock abscess on July 29, 2007 (R. 361). Dr. Kalenak's records also contain numerous memos regarding refills of Plaintiff's medications, as well as reports of blood tests ordered for Plaintiff. (R. 357, 360, 363-65, 368, 370, 372-73, 375, 377-78, 383-86, 388-400).
On August 31, 2007, Dr. Kalenak completed two assessments in connection with Plaintiff's applications for DIB and SSI. In the first assessment which pertained to Plaintiff's ability to perform work-related mental activities, Dr. Kalenak opined that Plaintiff's "multiple medical problems" seriously limit his ability to, among other things, remember work-like procedures; maintain regular attendance and be punctual within customary, usually strict tolerances; sustain an ordinary work routine without special supervision; work in coordination with or proximity to others without being unduly distracted; perform at a consistent pace without an unreasonable number and length of rest periods; get along with co-workers; respond appropriately to changes in a routine work setting; and deal with normal work stress. In this assessment, Dr. Kalenak also rendered the opinion that Plaintiff would be absent from work more than 4 days per month due to his "multiple medical problems." (R. 402-03).
With respect to Dr. Kalenak's assessment of Plaintiff's ability to perform work-related mental activities, the ALJ declined to give "significant weight" to this assessment because the evidence relating to Plaintiff's depression did not establish a severe mental impairment. (R. 20). As noted by Plaintiff, however, Dr. Kalenak clearly stated a number of times that his assessment of Plaintiff's ability to perform work-related mental activities, such as remembering, maintaining regular attendance and performing at a consistent pace without an unreasonable number and length of rest periods, was based on Plaintiff's "multiple medical problems." The doctor never attributed Plaintiff's difficulties in these areas to depression. (Document No. 10, p. 6). Therefore, the ALJ's basis for discounting this assessment was unfounded.
In the second assessment which related to Plaintiff's RFC based on his diabetes, Dr. Kalenak noted that he sees Plaintiff every 1 to 3 months for treatment; that Plaintiff's diagnoses include diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, COPD, sleep apnea and depression; and that Plaintiff's symptoms include, among others, fatigue, difficulty walking, swelling, general malaise, depression, extremity pain and numbness and difficulty concentrating. As to the need for unscheduled breaks during the workday, Dr. Kalenak opined that, on average, Plaintiff would need to rest every 10 minutes for 15 to 30 minutes. Concerning attendance, Dr. Kalenak again rendered the opinion that Plaintiff would be absent from work as a result of his medical conditions more than 4 days per month. (R. 404-08).
On August 31, 2007, Dr. Erukhimov, Plaintiff's treating pulmonologist since May 2004, also completed two assessments relating to Plaintiff's applications for DIB and SSI. In the first assessment which pertained to Plaintiff's RFC based on his sleep disorder, Dr. Erukhimov noted that Plaintiff's pulmonary diagnoses include chronic bronchitis, asthma, sleep apnea and OHS; that he sees Plaintiff every six months for treatment; and that, despite treatment, Plaintiff suffers from recurrent daytime sleep attacks which can occur suddenly and require Plaintiff to sleep for approximately 2 hours. Dr. Erukhimov opined, among other things, that Plaintiff's daytime sleepiness would frequently interfere with the attention and concentration needed to perform even simple work tasks during a typical workday; that Plaintiff would be unable to perform the following aspects of a competitive job: (a) public contact, (b) routine, repetitive tasks at a consistent pace, (c) detailed or complicated tasks, (d) strict deadlines, (e) close interaction with coworkers and supervisors, (f) fast paced tasks (production line) and (g) exposure to work hazards; that due to chronic fatigue, Plaintiff would need to take 7 unscheduled breaks during a workday to rest for approximately 45 minutes; and that Plaintiff's sleep disorder is at least as medically severe as Listing 11.03 in the Social Security Regulations relating to seizure disorder. (R. 410-13).
With respect to the length of Plaintiff's treatment by Dr. Erukhimov, the ALJ in his decision mistakenly states on two occasions that Dr. Erukhimov began treating Plaintiff in May 2006, rather than May 2004. (R. 26-27).
In the second assessment which addressed Plaintiff's RFC based on his pulmonary problems, Dr. Erukhimov noted that Plaintiff's symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness. Dr. Erukhimov also noted that Plaintiff suffers from acute asthma attacks approximately 2 times per month from which he is incapacitated for 2 or 3 weeks. Dr. Erukhimov opined that Plaintiff is incapable of even low stress jobs because he is "very sleepy during the day." Dr. Erukhimov further opined that Plaintiff would need unscheduled breaks to rest every 2 hours for 45 minutes to 2 hours during an 8-hour workday. Finally, like Dr. Kalenak, Dr. Erukhimov opined that Plaintiff would be absent from work more than 4 days per month due to his medical conditions. (R. 414-17).
VI. DECISION OF THE ALJ
When presented with a claim for disability benefits, an ALJ must follow a sequential evaluation process, which was described by the United States Supreme Court in Sullivan v. Zebley, 493 U.S. 521 (1990), as follows:
See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4) and 416.920(a)(4).
* * *
Pursuant to his statutory authority to implement the SSI Program, (footnote omitted) the Secretary has promulgated regulations creating a five-step test to determine whether an adult claimant is disabled. See Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 140-42 (1987). (footnote omitted). The first two steps involve threshold determinations that the claimant is not presently working and has an impairment which is of the required duration and which significantly limits his ability to work. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.920(a) through (c) (1989). In the third step, the medical evidence of the claimant's impairment is compared to a list of impairments presumed severe enough to preclude any gainful work. See 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, App. 1 (pt. A) (1989). If the claimant's impairment matches or is "equal" to one of the listed impairments, he qualifies for benefits without further inquiry. § 416.920(d). If the claimant cannot qualify under the listings, the analysis proceeds to the fourth and fifth steps. At these steps, the inquiry is whether the claimant can do his own past work or any other work that exists in the national economy, in view of his age, education, and work experience. If the claimant cannot do his past work or other work, he qualifies for benefits. §§ 416.920(e) and (f).
* * *493 U.S. at 525-26.
With respect to the ALJ's application of the five-step analysis in the present case, steps one and two were resolved in Plaintiff's favor; that is, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since his alleged onset date of disability and the medical evidence established that Plaintiff suffers from the severe impairments of morbid obesity, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea and asthma. (R. 19-20). Turning to step three, the ALJ found that Plaintiff did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that met or equaled the requirements of any impairment listed in Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 of the Social Security Regulations. (R. 23-24). Prior to proceeding to step four, the ALJ assessed Plaintiff's RFC, concluding that Plaintiff retained the RFC to perform at least sedentary work with the following limitations: (a) no job requiring the lifting or carrying of items weighing more than ten pounds; (b) no job involving frequent or prolonged standing or walking; (c) no job requiring exposure to hazards such as machinery or heights; and (d) no job in which he would be exposed to pulmonary irritants such as fumes, odors, dusts or gases. (R. 24-25). As to step four, the ALJ found that Plaintiff could not perform any of his past jobs in light of his RFC. (R. 28). Finally, at step five, based on the testimony of the VE, the ALJ found that considering Plaintiff's age, education, past work experience and RFC, there were a significant number of other jobs in the national economy which Plaintiff could perform, including the unskilled sedentary jobs of a telemarketer, a surveillance system monitor and an assembler. (R. 28-29).
The Social Security Regulations define sedentary work as "lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met." See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(a) and 416.967(a).
VII. LEGAL ANALYSIS
A cardinal principle guiding disability eligibility determinations is that the ALJ accord treating physicians' reports great weight, especially "when their opinions reflect expert judgment based on a continuing observation of the patient's condition over a prolonged period of time." Morales v. Apfel, 225 F.3d 310, 317 (3d Cir. 2000), quoting Plummer v. Apfel, 186 F.3d 422, 429 (3d Cir. 1999). Moreover, if a treating physician's medical opinion is well-supported and not inconsistent with other substantial evidence in the case record, an ALJ is required to give the opinion controlling weight, i.e., it must be adopted. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527(d)(2) and 416.927(d)(2).
In support of his motion for summary judgment, Plaintiff asserts that the ALJ erred by failing to give controlling weight to the opinions rendered by his treating physicians in the RFC assessments completed on August 31, 2007, which compel a conclusion that he is disabled. After consideration, the Court concludes that Dr. Kalenak's opinion regarding Plaintiff's work-related limitations was entitled to controlling weight. Competitive employment requires the ability to work on a regular and continuing basis, i.e., 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. See Social Security Ruling 96-8p. If adopted, the opinion rendered by Dr. Kalenak in the RFC assessments completed on August 31, 2007 would dictate a finding that Plaintiff is unable to engage in competitive employment as a result of his medical conditions. For example, Dr. Kalenak opined that Plaintiff would need significantly more than the usual number of breaks provided to an employee by an employer to rest, and that Plaintiff would miss more than the number of days a month tolerated by an employer due to his medical conditions.
As noted by Plaintiff, the ALJ's error in failing to give controlling weight to the opinion of Dr. Kalenak resulted in an RFC assessment that did not include all of his work-related limitations. In turn, the VE's testimony in response to the hypothetical question which was based on the inadequate RFC assessment does not constitute substantial evidence supporting the ALJ's decision. (Document No. 10, pp. 13-19).
Social Security Rulings are agency rulings published "under the authority of the Commissioner of Social Security" and "are binding on all components of the Social Security Administration."Sykes v. Apfel, 228 F.3d 259, 271 (3d Cir. 2000).
See Taylor v. Barnhart, 474 F.Supp.2d 650, 669-70 (D.Del. 2007) ("According to the VE, if a person had to take four unscheduled breaks of 15 minutes in length during a normal workday, `a person would miss an hour a day on an unscheduled basis, which would exceed normal work tolerances.'"); Rush v. Barnhart, 432 F.Supp.2d 969, 984 (D.N.Dak. 2006) (VE testified that normal breaks during workday would be 15-minute breaks in the morning and afternoon); Smith v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 09-182, 2009 WL 2762687 (W.D.Pa. 2009) (According to the VE, it is customary for an employer to give an employee 3 breaks during the workday); Brueggen v. Barnhart, No. 06-154, 2006 WL 5999614, at *2 (W.D.Wis. Dec. 15, 2006) (VE testified that for unskilled work, bathroom breaks would typically be limited to the "normal" morning and afternoon break periods and the lunch break); Metzger v. Barnhart, No. 03-3368, 2004 WL 2092010, at *5 (D.Minn. Sept. 16, 2004) (VE testified that anything beyond a roughly 15-minute break in the morning and afternoon and a 30-minute lunch would not be tolerated by an employer).
See Dixon v. Massanari, 270 F.3d 1171, 1179 (7th Cir. 2001) (VE testified that most employers would tolerate 2 missed days of work per month, but not 3); Sherman v. Astrue, 617 F.Supp.2d 384, 392 (W.D.Pa. 2008) (VE testified that an employer would not tolerate more than one absence per month); Cross v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 07-950, 2008 WL 4425851, at *2 (W.D.Pa. Sept. 30, 2008) (VE testified that an employer's tolerance of employee absenteeism is generally one absence per month in unskilled work, two on occasion).
A review of the administrative record in this case shows that Dr. Kalenak's opinion regarding Plaintiff's work-related limitations as a result of his medical conditions is supported by substantial evidence, including his treatment records, his referral of Plaintiff for evaluations by heart and lung specialists, reports of Plaintiff's diagnostic studies and blood tests, and the number of medications (20) prescribed for Plaintiff in an attempt to control his chronic medical conditions. In addition, Dr. Kalenak's opinion regarding Plaintiff's work-related limitations, including Plaintiff's need for excessive breach and intolerable absenteeism, was corroborated by Dr. Erukhimov, Plaintiff's long-time pulmonologist, in the RFC assessments that he completed on August 31, 2007.
With respect to the weight to which Dr. Erukhimov's opinion regarding Plaintiff's work-related limitations was entitled, the Court notes that more weight generally is given "to the opinion of a specialist about medical issues related to his or area of specialty than to the opinion of a source who is not a specialist." 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527(d)(2) and 416.927(d)(2). Thus, although Dr. Erukhimov's opinion may not have been entitled to controlling weight due to the absence of his treatment records for the relevant time period, his opinion was nevertheless entitled to great weight.
Further, Dr. Kalenak's opinion regarding Plaintiff's work-related limitations was not inconsistent with other substantial evidence in the record. As noted by Plaintiff, the Commissioner did not request a consultative examination in this case. Therefore, the only contrary medical opinion concerning Plaintiff's ability to perform competitive work was rendered by a non-examining State agency medical consultant on April 11, 2006. (Document No. 10, pp. 8-9). Clearly, the ALJ erred in according greater weight to the opinion of a non-examining State agency medical consultant that was rendered approximately 1 ½ years before the hearing, than to the opinions of two long-time treating physicians, one of whom is a specialist. See Brownawell v. Commissioner of Social Security, 554 F.3d 352, 357 (3d Cir. 2008), citing Dorf v. Bowen, 794 F.2d 896, 901 (3d Cir. 1986) (The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has "`consistently held that it is improper for an ALJ to credit the testimony of a consulting physician who has not examined the claimant when such testimony conflicts with testimony of the claimant's treating physician.'"). Under the circumstances, Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment will be granted.
VIII. CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the decision of the ALJ will be reversed and the case remanded to the Commissioner for a calculation of the disability benefits to which Plaintiff is entitled commencing no earlier than February 2006.