Raid Elfadly v. Commissioner Social Security ( 2014 )

BLD-047 NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
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No. 14-3392
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RAID ELFADLY,
Appellant
v.
COMMISSIONER SOCIAL SECURITY
____________________________________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of New Jersey
(D.C. Civil No. 2-13-cv-03164)
District Judge: Honorable Claire C. Cecchi
____________________________________
Submitted for Possible Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)
or Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
November 25, 2014
Before: AMBRO, JORDAN and KRAUSE, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed December 10, 2014)
_________________
OPINION*
_________________
*
This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not
constitute binding precedent.
PER CURIAM
Proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, Raid Elfadly appeals from the judgment
of the District Court affirming the denial of his claim for disability benefits. For the
reasons set forth below, we will summarily affirm.
I.
In February 2010, Elfadly applied for disability insurance benefits and
supplemental security income. Elfadly alleged that he suffers from depression, diabetes,
hypertension, anxiety, and coronary artery disease. His claims were denied initially in
August 2010, and Elfadly requested review by an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”).
Elfadly had a hearing on his claim in August 2011, at which he was represented by
counsel. The ALJ then called a supplemental hearing in February 2012 to hear additional
testimony from a medical expert. In March 2012, the ALJ denied Elfadly’s claims in a
written opinion, and the Appeals Council denied Elfadly’s request for review.
Elfadly and his counsel then sought review in the United States District Court for
the District of New Jersey. Elfadly argued three points of error: (1) the ALJ failed to
give his treating cardiologist’s opinion controlling weight and failed to consider the
necessary factors when giving a treating source less than controlling weight; (2) the ALJ
erred by finding that Elfadly’s mental impairments are non-severe; and (3) the ALJ failed
to properly evaluate Elfadly’s credibility. The District Court rejected these arguments
and affirmed the ALJ’s decision. Elfadly then filed a timely notice of appeal pro se and a
motion for appointment of counsel.
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II.
We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. “The role of this Court is
identical to that of the District Court, namely to determine whether there is substantial
evidence to support the Commissioner’s decision.” Plummer v. Apfel, 186 F.3d 422, 427
(3d Cir. 1999); 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Substantial evidence is “more than a mere scintilla,”
and is defined as “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as
adequate.” Plummer, 186 F.3d at 427 (internal quotation marks omitted); accord
Chandler v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 667 F.3d 356, 359 (3d Cir. 2011). If the ALJ’s factual
findings are supported by substantial evidence, we, like the District Court, are bound by
those findings, even if we would have decided them differently. Hartranft v. Apfel, 181
F.3d 358, 360 (3d Cir. 1999).
To qualify for disability benefits, an applicant must demonstrate that he is “unable
to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable
physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has
lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months.”
42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(A). Further, the applicant’s physical or mental impairments
must be “of such severity that he is not only unable to do his previous work but cannot,
considering his age, education, and work experience, engage in any other kind of
substantial gainful work which exists in the national economy.” Id. § 1382c(a)(3)(B).
A five-step evaluation is used to determine whether an applicant is disabled. 20
C.F.R. § 404.1520. The ALJ must determine: (1) whether the applicant has engaged in
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substantial gainful activity since the alleged disability onset date; (2) whether the
applicant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments; (3) whether the
impairment or combination of impairments meets the criteria of a listed impairment; (4)
whether, despite the severe impairment, the applicant retains the residual functional
capacity to perform past relevant work; and (5) whether the applicant is capable of
performing other jobs that exist in the national economy, considering his age, education,
work experience, and residual functional capacity. Id. § 404.1520(a)(4); Poulos v.
Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 474 F.3d 88, 91-92 (3d Cir. 2007). However, if the ALJ
determines that an applicant is not disabled before proceeding through all five steps, he
need not analyze the remaining steps. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4).
The ALJ thoroughly evaluated Elfadly’s claims against the record evidence,
including testimony from Elfadly, a vocational expert, and a medical expert, as well
opinions from consultative examiners and Elfadly’s treating cardiologist. The ALJ
concluded that: (1) Elfadly had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since his
alleged onset date; (2) Elfadly’s coronary artery disease was a severe impairment, but his
other physical and mental impairments were not severe; (3) Elfadly did not have an
impairment or combination of impairments that met the criteria of a listed impairment;
and (4) Elfadly had the residual functional capacity to perform his past work as a
dispatcher. As such, Elfadly was not disabled, and the ALJ denied his claims.
The District Court affirmed the ALJ in a thorough opinion with detailed citation to
the record, rejecting Elfadly’s three arguments in turn. First, Elfadly’s argument that his
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mental impairments were severe failed because the ALJ properly relied on the contrary
opinions of psychiatric and psychological experts and the lack of treating mental health
records. Next, the District Court found that the ALJ properly declined to give controlling
weight to Elfadly’s treating physician’s opinion because it was inconsistent with
substantial evidence in the record and, indeed, had its own internal inconsistencies. See
Johnson v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 529 F.3d 198, 202 (3d Cir. 2008). The ALJ also
considered the appropriate factors in determining the weight given to Elfadly’s treating
physician’s opinion and adequately explained this analysis. See Fargnoli v. Massanari,
247 F.3d 34, 43-44 (3d Cir. 2001); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c). Finally, the District Court
held that the ALJ evaluated Elfadly’s credibility under the relevant factors and properly
relied on the opinions of medical experts in finding some of Elfadly’s testimony not
credible. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529(c).
We agree with the District Court’s analysis and find that the ALJ’s decision is
supported by substantial evidence. Elfadly asks this Court to reconsider his case because
his symptoms are ongoing. He notes that he had additional complications in November
2013 and July 2014, and that in September 2014 he was approved for home care. These
post-decision developments, however, do not undermine the ALJ’s conclusions because
“evidence that was not before the ALJ cannot be used to argue that the ALJ’s decision
was not supported by substantial evidence.” Matthews v. Apfel, 239 F.3d 589, 594 (3d
Cir. 2001). Elfadly offers no other basis for reversal or remand, and our review of the
record reveals none.
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III.
In sum, we agree with the District Court that the ALJ’s decision is supported by
substantial evidence. Because no substantial question is presented on appeal, we will
summarily affirm the District Court’s judgment. In light of our disposition, Elfadly’s
motion for appointment of counsel is denied as moot.
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