Wiedmaier v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration ( 2021 )

1 2 WO 3 4 5 6 7 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 9 10 Jaime Lee Wiedmaier, No. CV-20-00864-PHX-JJT 11 Plaintiff, ORDER 12 v. 13 Commissioner of Social Security Administration, 14 Defendant. 15 16 17 At issue is the denial by the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) under the 18 Social Security Act (“the Act”) of Plaintiff Jaime Wiedmaier’s Application for Disability 19 Insurance benefits. Plaintiff filed a Complaint (Doc. 1) with this Court seeking judicial 20 review of that denial, and the Court now addresses Plaintiff’s Opening Brief (Doc. 20, 21 “Pl. Br.”), Defendant SSA Commissioner’s Answering Brief (Doc. 21, “Def. Br.”), and 22 Plaintiff’s Reply (Doc. 25, “Reply”). The Court has reviewed the briefs and Administrative 23 Record (Doc. 17, “R.”) and now reverses the Administrative Law Judge’s (“ALJ”) decision 24 (R. at 15–27) and remands this case for computation and award of benefits. 25 I. BACKGROUND 26 On March 10, 2016, Plaintiff filed an application for Disability Insurance benefits 27 alleging disability beginning December 15, 2014. (Id. at 15.) Plaintiff later amended her 28 alleged disability onset date to August 5, 2015. (Id.) Plaintiff’s claim was denied initially 1 on July 14, 2016, and on reconsideration on February 6, 2017. (Id.) Plaintiff appeared 2 before the ALJ for a hearing on her claim on October 31, 2018. (Id.) On February 22, 2019, 3 the ALJ denied Plaintiff’s claim, and on March 4, 2020, the Appeals Council denied 4 Plaintiff’s Request for Review (Id. at 1–7, 27.) 5 The Court has reviewed the medical evidence and will discuss the pertinent 6 evidence in addressing the issues raised by the parties. Upon considering the medical 7 evidence and opinions, the ALJ evaluated Plaintiff’s disability based on the following 8 severe impairments: synovial chondromatosis, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. (Id. at 18.) 9 Ultimately, the ALJ evaluated the medical evidence and testimony and concluded 10 that Plaintiff was not disabled from August 5, 2015, through the date of the decision. (Id. 11 at 26.) The ALJ found that Plaintiff “does not have an impairment or combination of 12 impairments that meets or medically equals the severity of one of the listed impairments in 13 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1.” (Id. at 18.) Next, the ALJ calculated Plaintiff’s 14 residual functional capacity (“RFC”), finding Plaintiff: 15 [H]as the [RFC] to perform light work . . . except: [She] can lift/carry a maximum of twenty-five pounds occasionally and twenty pounds frequently. 16 [She] can stand/walk a maximum of six hours and sit for a maximum of six 17 hours in an eight-hour day. [She] can occasionally push/pull with the right lower extremity. [She] can occasionally climb ladders, ropes and scaffolds. 18 [She] can frequently climb ramps, stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and 19 crawl. [She] must avoid concentrated exposure to extreme cold, and all exposure to dangerous machinery and unprotected heights. [She] can 20 perform occupations requiring no more than simple, routine, repetitive tasks. 21 [She] cannot perform work in a fast-paced production environment. 22 (Id. at 20.) Accordingly, the ALJ found that “there are jobs that exist in significant numbers 23 in the national economy that [Plaintiff] can perform.” (Id. at 25.) 24 II. LEGAL STANDARDS 25 In determining whether to reverse an ALJ’s decision, the district court reviews only 26 those issues raised by the party challenging the decision. See Lewis v. Apfel, 236 F.3d 503, 27 517 n.13 (9th Cir. 2001). The Court may set aside the Commissioner’s disability 28 determination only if it is not supported by substantial evidence or is based on legal error. 1 Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 630 (9th Cir. 2007). Substantial evidence is relevant evidence 2 that a reasonable person might accept as adequate to support a conclusion considering the 3 record as a whole. Id. To determine whether substantial evidence supports a decision, the 4 Court must consider the record as a whole and may not affirm simply by isolating a 5 “specific quantum of supporting evidence.” Id. Generally, “[w]here the evidence is 6 susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, one of which supports the ALJ’s 7 decision, the ALJ’s conclusion must be upheld.” Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 954 8 (9th Cir. 2002) (citations omitted). 9 To determine whether a claimant is disabled for purposes of the Act, the ALJ 10 typically follows a five-step process. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a). The claimant bears the 11 burden of proof on the first four steps, but the burden shifts to the Commissioner at step 12 five. Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1098 (9th Cir. 1999). At the first step, the ALJ 13 determines whether the claimant is presently engaging in substantial gainful activity. 14 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(i). At step two, the ALJ determines whether the claimant has a 15 “severe” medically determinable physical or mental impairment. 20 C.F.R. 16 § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). At step three, the ALJ considers whether the claimant’s impairment 17 or combination of impairments meets or medically equals an impairment listed in 18 Appendix 1 to Subpart P of 20 C.F.R. Part 404. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iii). If so, the 19 claimant is automatically found to be disabled. Id. At step four, the ALJ assesses the 20 claimant’s RFC and determines whether the claimant is still capable of performing past 21 relevant work. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iv). If not, the ALJ proceeds to the fifth and 22 final step, where she determines whether the claimant can perform any other work in the 23 national economy based on the claimant’s RFC, age, education, and work experience. 24 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(v). If not, the claimant is disabled. Id. 25 III. ANALYSIS 26 Plaintiff raises two issues for the Court’s consideration. First, Plaintiff argues that 27 the ALJ erroneously rejected an opinion from her treating orthopedic specialist, 28 1 Dr. Timothy Bert. (Pl. Br. at 11–14.) Second, Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred by 2 discounting her symptom testimony. (Id. at 14–22.) 3 The Court agrees with Plaintiff, in part, and finds that substantial evidence does not 4 support the ALJ’s nondisability determination. The Court finds that the ALJ erred by 5 rejecting Dr. Bert’s opinion because the ALJ’s finding that Dr. Bert’s opinion was 6 inconsistent with the medical evidence was unsupported by substantial evidence. The Court 7 also finds that the ALJ did not err by rejecting Plaintiff’s symptom testimony because it 8 was inconsistent with Plaintiff’s noncompliance with treatment recommendations. 9 Nevertheless, Dr. Bert’s improperly rejected opinion establishes Plaintiff’s entitlement to 10 benefits, and thus, the Court will remand Plaintiff’s case for computation and payment of 11 benefits. 12 1. Substantial evidence does not support the ALJ’s evaluation of Dr. Bert’s opinion. 13 14 On October 24, 2016, Dr. Bert gave an opinion regarding Plaintiff’s functional 15 limitations due to her impairments. (R. at 926–28.) Dr. Bert found Plaintiff could sit for 16 four hours per workday and stand and walk for two hours per workday. (Id. at 926.) He 17 also found that Plaintiff’s pain affects her ability to function and would cause her to be off- 18 task for 11-to-15 percent of her workdays. (Id. at 928.) The ALJ gave this opinion minimal 19 weight because it is purportedly inconsistent with the record. (Id. at 24.) Specifically, the 20 ALJ found Plaintiff “experienced significant improvement in her pain and ability to use 21 her right lower extremity status post surgeries.” (Id.) 22 When evaluating medical opinion evidence, “[t]he ALJ must consider all medical 23 opinion evidence,” and there is a hierarchy among the sources of medical opinions. 24 Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 2008). Those who have treated a 25 claimant are treating physicians, those who examined but did not treat the claimant are 26 examining physicians, and those who neither examined nor treated the claimant are 27 nonexamining physicians. Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir. 1995). If a treating 28 physician’s opinion is not given controlling weight, then the ALJ must consider the relevant 1 factors listed in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(1)–(6) and determine the appropriate weight to 2 give the opinion. Orn, 495 F.3d at 632. If a treating physician’s opinion is contradicted by 3 another doctor’s opinion, the ALJ cannot reject the treating physician’s opinion unless he 4 provides specific and legitimate reasons that are based on substantial evidence in the 5 record.” Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1216 (9th Cir. 2005). 6 Substantial evidence does not support the ALJ’s conclusion that Dr. Bert’s opinion 7 was inconsistent with the medical evidence. Specifically, the record belies the ALJ’s 8 conclusion that Dr. Bert’s opinion is undermined by Plaintiff’s improvement with 9 treatment. The records the ALJ cites for support do not bolster the ALJ’s conclusion. (Id. 10 at 24.) Conversely, they likely corroborate Dr. Bert’s opinion. (Id. at 697, 775, 930, 932, 11 988.) The ALJ cites a May 2016 treatment record indicating Plaintiff could begin 12 weightbearing-ambulation as tolerable. (Id. at 24, 775.) But this recommendation was 13 recorded shortly after Plaintiff’s second right-hip surgery and before the record indicates 14 Plaintiff was advised she might need a total hip replacement due to her lack of 15 improvement. (Id. at 793, 988–90.) Similarly, the ALJ cites October and November 2016 16 records that indicate Plaintiff actually had increasing pain, and that she only experienced a 17 few days of relief from injections. (Id. at 930–32.) A February 2017 record cited by the 18 ALJ is from an appointment where Plaintiff “presents to [providers] as a referral for 19 [evaluation for] early hip replacement surgery as [she] is in so much pain and significantly 20 symptomatic.” (Id. at 988.) Based on the ALJ’s analysis, the Court discerns no sustained 21 improvement that undermines Dr. Bert’s opinion. Nor do the physical findings the ALJ 22 cites support her evaluation of Dr. Bert’s opinion. The ALJ cites a physical exam after 23 Plaintiff’s first surgery, which is of little consequence since she required another surgery 24 after her first. (Id. at 793.) Finally, the April 2016 physical findings cited by the ALJ do 25 not undermine Dr. Bert’s opinion. (Id. at 24, 697.) The cited findings indicate that Plaintiff 26 had back pain and painful range of motion shortly after her second hip surgery. (Id.) 27 In sum, none of the findings cited by the ALJ undermine Dr. Bert’s opinion. The 28 records the ALJ relies upon do not support her conclusion that Plaintiff “experienced 1 improvement in her pain and ability to use her right lower extremity status post surgeries.” 2 (Id. at 24.) Accordingly, substantial evidence does not support the ALJ’s evaluation of 3 Dr. Bert’s opinion, and thus, the ALJ erred. 4 2. The ALJ did not err by discounting Plaintiff’s symptom testimony. 5 Plaintiff testified that her hip pain and mental health impairments prevent her from 6 working. (Id. at 64.) Regarding her hip, Plaintiff testified that she has had two surgeries but 7 was “still having a lot of trouble with [her hip].” (Id. at 63.) She cannot sit or stand for long 8 without pain. (Id. at 63–64.) She also testified that she has manic and depressive symptoms 9 that contribute to her functional limitations. (Id. at 64–65.) The symptoms include panic 10 attacks, flashbacks, anxiety, and issues with concentration. (Id. at 71–73.) The ALJ 11 discounted Plaintiff’s allegations for several reasons. First, the ALJ found Plaintiff’s 12 testimony was inconsistent with the objective medical evidence. (Id. at 22.) Second, the 13 ALJ found Plaintiff’s improvement with treatment was inconsistent with her allegations. 14 (Id.) Third, the ALJ found her testimony was inconsistent with Plaintiff’s educational 15 background. (Id.) Fourth, the ALJ found her allegations were inconsistent with her 16 noncompliance with treatment, specifically her failure to take prescribed psychiatric 17 medications. (Id. at 23.) 18 An ALJ performs a two-step analysis to evaluate a claimant’s testimony regarding 19 pain and symptoms. Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1014 (9th Cir. 2014). First, the ALJ 20 evaluates whether the claimant has presented objective medical evidence of an impairment 21 “which could reasonably be expected to produce the pain or symptoms alleged.” 22 Lingenfelter v. Astrue, 504 F.3d 1028, 1035–36 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting Bunnell v. 23 Sullivan, 947 F.2d 341, 344 (9th Cir. 1991) (en banc) (internal quotation marks omitted)). 24 If the claimant presents such evidence then “the ALJ can reject the claimant’s testimony 25 about the severity of her symptoms only by offering specific, clear and convincing reasons 26 for doing so.” Garrison, 759 F.3d at 1014–15 (citing Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1281 27 (9th Cir. 1996)). This is the most demanding standard in Social Security cases. Id. at 1015. 28 “In evaluating the credibility of pain testimony after a claimant produces objective medical 1 evidence of an underlying impairment, an ALJ may not reject a claimant’s subjective 2 complaints based solely on a lack of medical evidence to fully corroborate the alleged 3 severity of pain.” Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 682 (9th Cir. 2005). 4 Substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s symptom testimony 5 is undermined by her noncompliance with psychiatric treatment. Noncompliance with 6 treatment is a permissible basis for an ALJ to discount a claimant’s testimony. See 7 20 C.F.R. § 404.1530(a) (“In order to get benefits, you must follow treatment prescribed 8 by your medical source(s) if this treatment is expected to restore your ability to work.”); 9 see also Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1112 (9th Cir. 2012). Plaintiff is incorrect that 10 noncompliance with treatment is an insufficient basis to reject a claimant’s testimony when 11 that claimant experiences mental impairments. (Pl. Br. at 20.) Plaintiff’s argument would 12 have weight in cases where a claimant’s noncompliance is directly caused by her mental 13 impairments, but Plaintiff does not identify a link between her noncompliance with 14 treatment and her mental impairments. Instead, the ALJ reasonably interpreted the 15 available evidence and found that Plaintiff responded well to treatment on medication, but, 16 at times, failed to comply with her treatment. (R. at 22, 892, 993, 996 1011, 1198.) 17 Additionally, the ALJ also reasonably concluded that the objective evidence—specifically, 18 Plaintiff’s normal mental status examinations—undermines Plaintiff’s allegations 19 regarding her mental impairments. (Id. at 23, 723, 827, 832, 834, 841, 845.) These 20 conclusions are supported by substantial evidence and justify the ALJ’s decision to 21 discount Plaintiff’s allegations of disabling symptoms. 22 Some of the ALJ’s remaining reasons for rejecting Plaintiff’s allegations— 23 especially her allegations regarding her physical limitations—were likely unsupported by 24 substantial evidence. Nevertheless, any errors committed by the ALJ in evaluating 25 Plaintiff’s symptom testimony were harmless. Since the ALJ provided valid reasoning 26 supported by substantial evidence, the additional rationales for rejecting Plaintiff’s 27 symptom testimony were superfluous. Thus, any errors made in those analyses were 28 inconsequential. See Stout v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 454 F.3d 1050, 1055 (9th Cir. 1 2006) (finding that harmless error principles apply when an error is inconsequential to the 2 ultimate nondisability determination). 3 Substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s rejection of Plaintiff’s symptom testimony. 4 The ALJ reasonably determined that Plaintiff’s allegations of disabling symptoms were 5 inconsistent with the objective evidence and evidence indicating Plaintiff was 6 noncompliant with her medication. These reasons were permissible bases to reject 7 Plaintiff’s testimony, and accordingly, the ALJ did not commit reversible error in 8 evaluating Plaintiff’s symptom testimony. 9 C. The appropriate remedy is to remand Plaintiff’s case for computation and payment of benefits. 10 11 Plaintiff argues that “[l]imitations congruent with Dr. Bert’s assessment . . . 12 establish limitations inconsistent with the ability to perform any sustained work.” (Pl. Br. 13 at 22.) Thus, Plaintiff argues that the Court should apply to credit-as-true rule and remand 14 her case for benefits. (Id.) 15 The credit-as-true rule applies if each part of a three-part test is satisfied. See 16 Garrison, 759 F.3d at 1020. First, the record must have been fully developed and further 17 administrative proceedings would serve no useful purpose. Id. Next, the ALJ must have 18 failed to provide sufficient reasons for rejecting the claimant’s testimony or medical 19 opinions. Id. Finally, if the improperly discredited evidence were credited as true, then the 20 ALJ would be required to find the claimant disabled. Id. Even if all elements of the credit- 21 as-true rule are met, the Court maintains “flexibility to remand for further proceedings 22 when the record as a whole creates serious doubt as to whether the claimant is, in fact, 23 disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act.” Id. 24 Here, each element of the credit-as-true rule is met, and the rule applies. First, the 25 record is fully developed, and further proceedings would not serve a useful purpose. 26 Defendant argues that further proceedings would be useful to resolve outstanding issues. 27 (Def. Br. at 14.) Specifically, Defendant argues that remand for further proceedings is 28 appropriate because some evidence undermines Plaintiff’s allegations regarding her mental 1 impairments. (Id.) The Court disagrees since the record is fully developed regarding 2 Plaintiff’s physical limitations and no outstanding issues exist regarding Plaintiff’s 3 physical impairments and symptoms. Further, Plaintiff’s physical impairments are 4 dispositive of her case. Second, the ALJ erred by failing to provide sufficient justification 5 for rejecting Dr. Bert’s opinion. Third, if Dr. Bert’s opinion were credited as true, then the 6 ALJ would be required to find Plaintiff’s disabled. At Plaintiff’s hearing before the ALJ, 7 the vocational expert testified that a person with limitations consistent with Dr. Bert’s 8 opinion would be unable to sustain work. (Id. at 78–79.) Finally, the record does not create 9 serious doubt that Plaintiff is, in fact, disabled. Defendant argues there is serious doubt 10 because reviewing physicians found Plaintiff could perform simple, unskilled work. Again, 11 the Court disagrees. Dr. Bert’s opinion is consistent with the record as a whole and 12 Defendant fails to identify evidence that seriously undermines his opinion regarding 13 Plaintiff’s functional limitations. 14 IV. CONCLUSION 15 Substantial evidence does not support the ALJ’s nondisability determination. 16 Though the ALJ reasonably discounted Plaintiff’s symptom testimony, the ALJ erred by 17 rejecting Dr. Bert’s treating physician opinion. The ALJ’s conclusion that the opinion was 18 inconsistent with Plaintiff’s improvement was, itself, inconsistent with the evidence. 19 Because the credit-as-true rule applies, the Court finds the appropriate remedy is to remand 20 Plaintiff’s case for computation and award of benefits. 21 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED reversing the February 22, 2019 decision of the 22 Administrative Law Judge (R. at 27). 23 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED remanding this case to the Social Security 24 Administration for computation and payment of benefits. 25 . . . . 26 . . . . 27 . . . . 28 1 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED directing the Clerk to enter final judgment 2 || consistent with this Order and close this case. 3 Dated this 12th day of July, 2021. CN 4 “wok: Unie States#District Judge 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 -10-