Opinion
No. CIV S-10-1789 CMK (TEMP).
August 24, 2011
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff, who is proceeding with retained counsel, brings this action for judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Pursuant to the written consent of all parties, this case is before the undersigned as the presiding judge for all purposes, including entry of final judgment. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). Pending before the court are plaintiff's motion for summary judgment (Doc. 12) and defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment (Doc. 17). For the reasons discussed below, the court will grant plaintiff's motion for summary judgment or remand and deny the Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment.
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Because the parties are familiar with the factual background of this case, including plaintiff's medical history, the undersigned does not exhaustively relate those facts here. The facts related to plaintiff's impairments and medical history will be addressed insofar as they are relevant to the issues presented by the parties' respective motions.
1. The claimant met the insured status requirements of the Social Security Act though December 31, 2008.
2. The claimant has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since September 1, 2003, his amended alleged onset date of disability.
3. The claimant has the following severe impairment: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with a history of substance abuse.
4. The claimant does not have a mental impairment or combination of mental impairments that meets or medically equals one of the listed impairments in 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1.
5. After careful consideration of the entire record, the undersigned finds that the claimant has the residual functional capacity to perform a full range of work at all exertional levels but with the following nonexertional limitations: Mentally, he is limited to simple unskilled work without frequent contact with co-workers or the public.
6. The claimant is unable to perform any of his past relevant work.
7. The claimant was born on July 1, 1949 and was 53 years old, which is defined as an individual closely approaching advanced age, on September 1, 2003.
8. The claimant has at least a high school education and is able to communicate in English.
9. Transferability of job skills is not an issue in this case because the claimant's residual functional capacity limits him to simple, unskilled work.
10. Considering the claimant's age, education, work experience, and residual functional capacity, there are jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy that the claimant can perform.
11. The claimant has not been under a disability, as defined in the Social Security Act, from September 1, 2003 through the date of this decision.
CAR 21-29. After the Appeals Council declined review on May 12, 2010, this appeal followed.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The court reviews the Commissioner's final decision to determine whether it is: (1) based on proper legal standards; and (2) supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole.See Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1097 (9th Cir. 1999). "Substantial evidence" is more than a mere scintilla, but less than a preponderance. See Saelee v. Chater, 94 F.3d 520, 521 (9th Cir. 1996). It is "such evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 402 (1971). The record as a whole, including both the evidence that supports and detracts from the Commissioner's conclusion, must be considered and weighed. See Howard v. Heckler, 782 F.2d 1484, 1487 (9th Cir. 1986); Jones v. Heckler, 760 F.2d 993, 995 (9th Cir. 1985). The court may not affirm the Commissioner's decision simply by isolating a specific quantum of supporting evidence. See Hammock v. Bowen, 879 F.2d 498, 501 (9th Cir. 1989). If substantial evidence supports the administrative findings, or if there is conflicting evidence supporting a particular finding, the finding of the Commissioner is conclusive. See Sprague v. Bowen, 812 F.2d 1226, 1229-30 (9th Cir. 1987). Therefore, where the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, one of which supports the Commissioner's decision, the decision must be affirmed, see Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 954 (9th Cir. 2002), and may be set aside only if an improper legal standard was applied in weighing the evidence, see Burkhart v. Bowen, 856 F.2d 1335, 1338 (9th Cir. 1988).III. DISCUSSION
Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred by improperly discounting and ignoring record medical opinions and improperly relying on the Grids to find plaintiff not disabled.
A. MEDICAL OPINIONS
Plaintiff contends the ALJ improperly rejected the opinions of Dr. Will, an internist who performed a neuropsychiatric exam, and Dr. Kalman, an independent examining psychiatrist. Plaintiff further contends the ALJ improperly failed to address the opinions of treating psychologist Dr. SanFilippo and consultative psychiatrist, Dr. Surulinathan. The weight given to medical opinions depends in part on whether they are proffered by treating, examining, or non-examining professionals. See Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830-31 (9th Cir. 1995). Ordinarily, more weight is given to the opinion of a treating professional, who has a greater opportunity to know and observe the patient as an individual, than the opinion of a non-treating professional. See id.; Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1285 (9th Cir. 1996); Winans v. Bowen, 853 F.2d 643, 647 (9th Cir. 1987). The least weight is given to the opinion of a non-examining professional. See Pitzer v. Sullivan, 908 F.2d 502, 506 n. 4 (9th Cir. 1990).
In addition to considering its source, to evaluate whether the Commissioner properly rejected a medical opinion the court considers whether: (1) contradictory opinions are in the record; and (2) clinical findings support the opinions. The Commissioner may reject an uncontradicted opinion of a treating or examining medical professional only for "clear and convincing" reasons supported by substantial evidence in the record. See Lester, 81 F.3d at 831. While a treating professional's opinion generally is accorded superior weight, if it is contradicted by an examining professional's opinion which is supported by different independent clinical findings, the Commissioner may resolve the conflict. See Andrews v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 1995). A contradicted opinion of a treating or examining professional may be rejected only for "specific and legitimate" reasons supported by substantial evidence. See Lester, 81 F.3d at 830. This test is met if the Commissioner sets out a detailed and thorough summary of the facts and conflicting clinical evidence, states her interpretation of the evidence, and makes a finding.See Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 751-55 (9th Cir. 1989). Absent specific and legitimate reasons, the Commissioner must defer to the opinion of a treating or examining professional. See Lester, 81 F.3d at 830-31. The opinion of a non-examining professional, without other evidence, is insufficient to reject the opinion of a treating or examining professional. See id. at 831. In any event, the Commissioner need not give weight to any conclusory opinion supported by minimal clinical findings. See Meanel v. Apfel, 172 F.3d 1111, 1113 (9th Cir. 1999) (rejecting treating physician's conclusory, minimally supported opinion); see also Magallanes, 881 F.2d at 751.
Dr. Will examined plaintiff on August 31, 2005, provided a narrative report, and completed a mental residual functional capacity questionnaire. CAR 380-383, 437-439. Dr. Will's diagnoses included sociopathic personality disorder, with violent episodes, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. CAR 438. With respect to plaintiff's ability to adjust to a job, Dr. Will assessed plaintiff as being "poor/none" in all categories. CAR 383. The ALJ rejected Dr. Will's opinion on the sole basis that "the objective medical evidence does not support . . . [the] extreme restriction of [plaintiff's] ability to function." CAR 28. The reason set forth by the ALJ for rejecting Dr. Will's opinion does not meet the standards set forth above.
Although the body of the ALJ's discussion sets forth an extensive discussion as to why the ALJ found plaintiff not credible with respect to his claims of having post traumatic stress disorder as a result of service in Vietnam, and Dr. Will's assessment was based in part on plaintiff's self-reported mental impairment history, the record is replete with the objective examinations of other mental health practitioners which support, rather than undermine, Dr. Will's opinion. For instance, Dr. Surulinathan, who examined plaintiff in August 2004, prior to Dr. Will's assessment, noted a dysphoric mood, ability to recall only one of three objects after five minutes despite prompting, inability to spell "world" backwards, and inability to articulate differences and similarities. CAR 546. Dr. Surulinathan opined plaintiff might not be able to perform work activities on a consistent basis and might not be able to maintain regular attendance. CAR 547. Physicians who examined plaintiff after Dr. Will's assessment also made significant objective findings of impaired mental functional capacity. Dr. SanFilippo, a treating clinical psychologist, on mental examination of plaintiff in August 2007 reported plaintiff as being angry and depressed, hypervigilant, with unpredictable anger, and concluded plaintiff had the signs and symptoms consistent with major depressive disorder. CAR 317-318. In November 2007, examining psychiatrist Dr. Kalman performed a mental status examination; objective findings included impaired memory with inability to recall any of three objects at five minutes, inability to do serial 3's, esoteric interpretation of a proverb, lack of basic information regarding the preceding five United States presidents; depressed mood; restricted affect and delusions of a persecutor type. AT 310-311. Dr. Kalman also cited clinical findings of poor memory, mood disturbance, anhedonia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, social withdrawal, and hostility and irritability in support of his Axis I diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder and Axis II diagnosis of rule/out antisocial personality. CAR 301-302. Treating psychologist Dr. Ardalan also performed a mental status examination in April 2008 and in addition to PTSD, diagnosed antisocial personality disorder. CAR 565. In light of these multiple objective findings in the medical record, the ALJ's rejection of Dr. Will's opinion on the sole basis that it was unsupported by objective medical evidence cannot be sustained.
The ALJ did not address either Dr. Surulinathan's or Dr. Sanfilippo's reports. CAR 23-24, 28. While Dr. SanFilippo's report did not opine as to plaintiff's mental residual functional capacity and it was not error to fail to specifically address this opinion in the ALJ's decision, given the consistency of the mental status examinations by these specialists in the field of psychiatry, and the dates of the examinations (both before and after Dr. Will's assessment), it appears the ALJ failed to consider the entirety of the record. On remand, the ALJ should specifically discuss the limitations assessed by Dr. Surulinathan.
Plaintiff also challenges the rejection by the ALJ of Dr. Kalman's opinion. After performing a mental status exam and reviewing plaintiff's medical records, Dr. Kalman opined that plaintiff was incapable of even low stress work, would likely be absent more than three times a month, and was markedly limited in the ability to accept instructions and criticism from supervisors. CAR 302-311. The ALJ accorded minimal weight to Dr. Kalman's opinion because the record lacked evidence that plaintiff served as a "tunnel rat" in Viet Nam and therefore the plaintiff's claim of suffering from PTSD was not credible. While rejection of a doctor's opinion based on properly discredited subjective symptoms can be a specific and legitimate reason, in this case, Dr. Kalman's assessment of plaintiff's mental residual functional capacity was not predicated solely on plaintiff's self reported symptoms of PTSD, but also based on his review of the medical records and his own clinical findings on mental status exam. CAR 309. Moreover, while the ALJ correctly noted that Dr. Kalman assessed plaintiff's ability to carry out one or two-step instructions was only mildly limited, the ALJ failed to discuss, or even acknowledge the other significant limitations assessed by Dr. Kalman, which would appear to preclude any work activity. CAR 28, 305-308. The matter will therefore be remanded for further evaluation of the medical evidence.
B. GRIDS
Finally, plaintiff contends the ALJ improperly relied on the grids and should have obtained the testimony of a vocational expert. The Medical-Vocational The Medical-Vocational Guidelines ("the grids") are in table form. The tables present various combinations of factors the ALJ must consider in determining whether other work is available. See generally Desrosiers, 846 F.2d at 577-78 (Pregerson, J., concurring). The factors include residual functional capacity, age, education, and work experience. For each combination, the grids direct a finding of either "disabled" or "not disabled."
There are limits on using the grids, an administrative tool to resolve individual claims that fall into standardized patterns: "[T]he ALJ may apply [the grids] in lieu of taking the testimony of a vocational expert only when the grids accurately and completely describe the claimant's abilities and limitations."Jones v. Heckler, 760 F.2d 993, 998 (9th Cir. 1985); see also Heckler v. Campbell, 461 U.S. 458, 462 n. 5, 103 S. Ct. 1952, 1955 n. 5 (1983). The ALJ may rely on the grids, however, even when a claimant has combined exertional and nonexertional limitations, if nonexertional limitations are not so significant as to impact the claimant's exertional capabilities. Bates v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1059, 1063 (9th Cir. 1990), overruled on other grounds, Bunnell v. Sullivan, 947 F.2d 341 (9th Cir. 1991) (en banc); Polny v. Bowen, 864 F.2d 661, 663-64 (9th Cir. 1988);see also Odle v. Heckler, 707 F.2d 439 (9th Cir. 1983) (requiring significant limitation on exertional capabilities in order to depart from the grids).
Exertional capabilities are the "primary strength activities" of sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling. 20 C.F.R. § 416.969a (b) (2003); SSR 83-10, Glossary;compare Cooper v. Sullivan, 880 F.2d 1152, 1155 n. 6 (9th Cir. 1989).
Non-exertional activities include mental, sensory, postural, manipulative and environmental matters that do not directly affect the primary strength activities. 20 C.F.R. § 416.969a (c) (2003); SSR 83-10, Glossary; Cooper, 880 F.2d at 1155 n. 7 (citing 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, app. 2, § 200.00(e)). "If a claimant has an impairment that limits his or her ability to work without directly affecting his or her strength, the claimant is said to have nonexertional (not strength-related) limitations that are not covered by the grids." Penny v. Sullivan, 2 F.3d 953, 958 (9th Cir. 1993) (citing 20 C.F.R., pt. 404, subpt. P, app. 2 § 200.00(d), (e)).
In assigning error to the ALJ's failure to consult a vocational expert, plaintiff notes that plaintiff's impairments are exclusively nonexertional in nature. In opposition, defendant argues that the ALJ properly found that the occupational base was not significantly eroded by plaintiff's nonexertional impairments because plaintiff could perform unskilled work at all exertional levels. In making this finding, however, the ALJ ignored significant nonexertional limitations which were assessed by medical practitioners, and which, as discussed above, were not properly considered by the ALJ. See, e.g. CAR 383 (Dr. Will assessed plaintiff as having "poor/none" ability to adjust to a job in all categories); CAR 305-308 (Dr. Kalman assessed plaintiff as incapable of even "low stress" work and markedly limited in ability to accept instructions and criticism from supervisors; on average plaintiff estimated to be likely absent from work more than three times a month). On remand, the ALJ must either properly discount the nonexertional impairments assessed by all of the treating and examining physicians, or obtain the testimony of a vocational expert and include in the hypotheticals the limitations assessed which are not properly rejected.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, this matter will be remanded under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for further development of the record and further findings addressing the deficiencies noted above.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment (Doc. 12) is granted;
2. Defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment (Doc. 17) is denied;
3. This matter is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this order; and
4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment and close this file.
DATED: August 23, 2011