Opinion
Case No. 3:13-CV-01858-AA
10-28-2014
KATRINA WILSON, Plaintiff, v. CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant.
MERRILL SCHNEIDER Schneider, Kerr & Gibney Law Offices P.O. Box 14490 Portland, Oregon 97293 Attorney for plaintiff S. AMANDA MARSHALL RONALD K. SILVER United States Attorney's Office 1000 S.W. Third Avenue, Suite 600 Portland, Oregon 97201 COURTNEY GARCIA Office of the General Counsel Social Security Administration 701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2900 M/S 901 Seattle, Washington 98104 Attorneys for defendant
OPINION AND ORDER MERRILL SCHNEIDER
Schneider, Kerr & Gibney Law Offices
P.O. Box 14490
Portland, Oregon 97293
Attorney for plaintiff
S. AMANDA MARSHALL
RONALD K. SILVER
United States Attorney's Office
1000 S.W. Third Avenue, Suite 600
Portland, Oregon 97201
COURTNEY GARCIA
Office of the General Counsel
Social Security Administration
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2900 M/S 901
Seattle, Washington 98104
Attorneys for defendant
AIKEN, Chief Judge:
Katrina Wilson ("plaintiff") brings this action pursuant to the Social Security Act ("Act") to obtain judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security ("Commissioner"). The Commissioner denied plaintiff's applications for Title II disability insurance benefits ("DIB") and Title XVI supplemental security income ("SSI"). For the reasons set forth below, the Commissioner's decision is affirmed and this case is dismissed.
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On July 15, 2010, plaintiff applied for DIB and SSI. Tr. 159-72. Her applications were denied initially and upon reconsideration. Tr. 99-107, 111-16. On May 24, 2012, a hearing was held before an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"), wherein plaintiff was represented by counsel and testified, as did a vocational expert. Tr. 31-60. On June 28, 2012, the ALJ issued a decision finding plaintiff not disabled within the meaning of the Act. Tr. 19-26. After the Appeals Council denied her request for review, plaintiff filed a complaint in this Court. Tr. 9-13.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Born November 19, 1958, plaintiff was 51 years old on the alleged onset date and 53 years old on the date of the hearing. Tr. 159, 166. She graduated high school and attended Clackamas Community College for a short time before quitting in 1981. Tr. 35. Plaintiff worked previously as a customer service representative, machine operator, and photo production specialist. Tr. 197-204. Plaintiff alleges disability as of April 26, 2010, due to deteriorating hip joints, asthma, back problems, arthritis, and diabetes. Tr. 47-48, 191.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The court must affirm the Commissioner's decision if it is based on proper legal standards and the findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record. Hammock v. Bowen, 879 F.2d 498, 501 (9th Cir. 1989). Substantial evidence is "more than a mere scintilla. It means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971) (citation and internal quotations omitted). The court must weigh "both the evidence that supports and detracts from the [Commissioner's] conclusions." Martinez v. Heckler, 807 F.2d 771, 772 (9th Cir. 1986). Variable interpretations of the evidence are insignificant if the Commissioner's interpretation is rational. Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2005).
The initial burden of proof rests upon the claimant to establish disability. Howard v. Heckler, 782 F.2d 1484, 1486 (9th Cir. 1986). To meet this burden, the claimant must demonstrate an "inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected . . . to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months." 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A).
The Commissioner has established a five-step sequential process for determining whether a person is disabled. Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 140 (1987); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1502, 416.920. First, the Commissioner considers whether a claimant is engaged in "substantial gainful activity." Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 140; 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(b), 416.920(b). If so, the claimant is not disabled.
At step two, the Commissioner evaluates whether the claimant has a "medically severe impairment or combination of impairments." Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 140-41; 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). If the claimant does not have a severe impairment, she is not disabled.
At step three, the Commissioner determines whether the claimant's impairments, either singly or in combination, meet or equal "one of a number of listed impairments that the [Commissioner] acknowledges are so severe as to preclude substantial gainful activity." Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 140-41; 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). If so, the claimant is presumptively disabled; if not, the Commissioner proceeds to step four. Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 141.
At step four, the Commissioner resolves whether the claimant can still perform "past relevant work." 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(f), 416.920(f). If the claimant can perform her past work, she is not disabled; if a claimant cannot perform past relevant work, the burden shifts to the Commissioner. At step five, the Commissioner must establish that the claimant can perform other work existing in significant numbers in the national and local economy. Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 141-42; 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(g), 416.920(g). If the Commissioner meets this burden, the claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1566, 416.966.
THE ALJ'S FINDINGS
At step one of the five-step sequential evaluation process outlined above, the ALJ found that plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since the alleged onset date of April 26, 2010. Tr. 21. At step two, the ALJ determined that plaintiff had the following severe impairments: status post hip replacement and diabetes mellitus. Id. At step three, the ALJ found that plaintiff's impairments, either singly or in combination, did not meet or equal the requirements of a listed impairment. Tr. 22.
Because she did not establish presumptive disability at step three, the ALJ continued to evaluate how plaintiff's impairments affected her ability to work. The ALJ resolved that plaintiff had the residual functional capacity ("RFC") to perform less than the full range of sedentary work:
[s]he can lift ten pounds occasionally and less than 10 pounds frequently; she can stand and walk up to two out
of eight hours; she can occasionally stoop and bend, and she should not climb, balance, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Id.
At step four, the ALJ found that plaintiff could perform her past relevant work as a customer service representative. Tr. 26. Accordingly, the ALJ concluded that plaintiff was not disabled under the Act. Id.
DISCUSSION
Plaintiff contends the ALJ erred by: (1) rejecting the opinion of Jeffrey Young, D.O.; and (2) finding that she did not meet or medically equal listing 1.03 at step three.
I. Medical Opinion Evidence
Plaintiff contends the ALJ failed to provide a legally sufficient reason, supported by substantial evidence, for discrediting the opinion of Dr. Young. There are three types of medical opinions in social security cases: those from treating, examining, and non-examining doctors. Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir. 1995). To reject the uncontroverted opinion of a treating or examining doctor, the ALJ must present clear and convincing reasons for doing so. Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1216 (9th Cir. 2005) (citation omitted). If a treating or examining doctor's opinion is contradicted by another doctor's opinion, it may be rejected for specific and legitimate reasons supported by substantial evidence in the record. Id.
In 2004, plaintiff initiated care with Dr. Young; he treated her approximately once per month for asthma, diabetes, and leg and back pain associated with her hip impairments. Tr. 250-308. In May 2012, Dr. Young completed a questionnaire prepared by plaintiff's attorney. Tr. 460-62. In this three-page check-the-box form, Dr. Young indicated that plaintiff suffers from back, leg, and hip pain, and would need to alternate between sitting, standing, and lying down approximately every 30 minutes. Tr. 460. He also opined that plaintiff's symptoms would likely increase in a competitive work environment; she would be expected to miss two full work days per month due to "flares of pain." Id. In regard to plaintiff's alleged peripheral neuropathy, Dr. Young noted that "specific treatment has not been tried" and he was "unsure" whether this condition existed. Tr. 461. Finally, Dr. Young opined that plaintiff did not need a hand-held assistive device to ambulate effectively. Id.
The ALJ gave "limited weight" to Dr. Young's opinion for two reasons. First, the ALJ rejected Dr. Young's limitation that plaintiff would need to alternate positions every 30 minutes because her testimony did not indicate any difficulty with sitting for extended periods. Tr. 24. Second, the ALJ found Dr. Young's opinion that plaintiff would need to miss work two days per month inconsistent with the medical records, which reflected that plaintiff's hip pain improved since surgery. Id. An ALJ may discount a medical report that is inconsistent with the other evidence of the record, including the doctor's own chart notes or the claimant's testimony. Morgan v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 169 F.3d 595, 603 (9th Cir. 1999).
An independent review of Dr. Young's brief and conclusory opinion confirms that his assessed limitations are contravened by plaintiff's testimony and the other evidence of record. First, as the ALJ observed, there is an absence of evidence indicating that plaintiff is unable to sit for a significant amount of time or must frequently change positions. Notably, she can perform household chores, drive to appointments, dance to music for exercise, watch movies, play video games, and do embroidery. Tr. 24, 40-41, 45, 213-20. The ALJ reasonably resolved that these activities evince the ability to engage in sedentary work. Moreover, plaintiff testified at the hearing that she could return to her previous job if given sufficient restroom breaks. Tr. 47, 54. Plaintiff did not indicate any difficulty performing the sitting, standing, and walking requirements for her past relevant work as a customer service representative.
Significantly, the ALJ relied on plaintiff's activities of daily living to reject her subjective symptom testimony and plaintiff does not challenge this finding on appeal. Tr. 23; see generally Pl.'s Opening Br.; Pl.'s Reply Br.
Plaintiff's treatment records also demonstrate significant improvement since her October 26, 2010, surgery. Two weeks post- surgery, plaintiff needed crutches to walk, whereas Dr. Young noted, as of September 2011, that she could ambulate effectively without an assistive device. Tr. 458, 461. Plaintiff's ten-week post-operative report reveals that she recovered well, showing increased strength and range of motion. Tr. 384. As such, she reported being "very happy with her left hip." Id. Dr. Young's opinion that plaintiff's pain would interfere with her ability to attend work consistently is further undermined by her daily activities and her admission at the hearing that she was capable of performing the physical requirements of her past relevant work. Tr. 46-47, 54, 205-20.
In sum, the ALJ provided legally sufficient reasons, supported by substantial evidence, to disregard some of Dr. Young's evaluation. The ALJ's assessment of Dr. Young's opinion is affirmed.
II. Step Three Finding
Plaintiff also argues that the ALJ erred by failing to find that she met or equaled listing 1.03. To establish a listed impairment at step three, the claimant must demonstrate that "all of the specified medical criteria [are met]." Sullivan v. Zebley, 493 U.S. 521, 530 (1990). "An impairment that manifests only some of those criteria, no matter how severely, does not qualify." Id.
Listing 1.03 requires that a claimant undergo "[r]econstructive surgery or surgical arthrodesis of a major weight-bearing joint, with [the] inability to ambulate effectively, as defined in 1.00(B)(2)(b), . . . within 12 months of onset." 20 C.F.R. § 404, Subpt. P, App. 1 § 1.03. To establish ineffective ambulation, the claimant must demonstrate:
an extreme limitation of the ability to walk; i.e., an impairment(s) that interferes very seriously with the individual's ability to independently initiate, sustain, or complete activities. Ineffective ambulation is defined generally as having insufficient lower extremity functioning (see 1.00(J)) to permit independent ambulation without the use of a hand-held assistive device(s) that limits the functioning of both upper extremities.20 C.F.R. § 404, Subpt. P, App. 1 § 1.00(B)(2)(b). In other words, "to ambulate effectively, individuals must be capable of sustaining a reasonable walking pace over a sufficient distance to be able to carry out activities of daily living [and] have the ability to travel without companion assistance to and from a place of employment or school." Id.
At step three, the ALJ expressly considered listing 1.03 but found that plaintiff did not meet or equal it because "treatment records do not reflect that [plaintiff] is unable to ambulate effectively on a sustained basis [or that she] was unable to return to effective ambulation within twelve months of onset." Tr. 22.
Here, the record supports the ALJ's conclusion. Plaintiff testified at the hearing that she can navigate her apartment and other "short distances" without use of an assistive device; for longer distances, she "take[s] [her] cane" because she does not feel as "stable or comfortable without it." Tr. 46. As noted above, plaintiff's treating doctor, Dr. Young, opined that she did not need a hand-held assistive device to ambulate effectively. Tr. 461. Also as noted above, plaintiff independently carries out her activities of daily living. Specifically, she can shop, drive, and perform limited household chores, such as cooking and cleaning. Tr. 205-11, 214; see also Roybal v. Colvin, 2013 WL 4768033, *9 (C.D.Cal. Sept. 4, 2013) (affirming the ALJ's step three finding where the claimant's activities of daily living demonstrated the ability to ambulate effectively and the claimant's medical providers did not indicate that an assistive device was warranted). The AL J's step three finding is affirmed.
CONCLUSION
The Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED and this case is DISMISSED.
IT IS SO ORDERED
Dated this 28th of October 2014.
/s/_________
Ann Aiken
United States District Judge