Robinson-Jones v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration ( 2013 )

NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
___________
No. 12-4620
___________
LESHIA I. ROBINSON-JONES,
Appellant
v.
COMMISSIONER, SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
____________________________________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Delaware
(D. Del. Civ. No. 1:11-cv-01206)
District Judge: Honorable Richard G. Andrews
____________________________________
Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
September 20, 2013
Before: FUENTES, VANASKIE and VAN ANTWERPEN, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed: September 24, 2013)
___________
OPINION
___________
PER CURIAM
Leshia I. Robinson-Jones appeals pro se from an order of the District Court
affirming the administrative denial of her application for disability insurance benefits,
and the District Court’s judgment in favor of the Commissioner. We will affirm.
I.
In 2008, Robinson applied for disability insurance benefits under Title II of the
Social Security Act (the "Act"). 1 Robinson alleged disability as of November 2003 on
the basis of back and neck injury, vision problems, emotional stress, asthma, and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. Robinson’s claims were initially denied, and she
requested a hearing before an administrative law judge (“ALJ”), which took place on
October 5, 2010. At the administrative hearing, Robinson amended the alleged onset date
of her disability to August 7, 2008, when she was fifty-three years old. The ALJ found
that Robinson was not under a disability prior to July 28, 2010, but became disabled on
that date when her age category changed.
Robinson appealed, and the Appeals Council of the Social Security Administration
declined further review, making the ALJ’s decision the final agency decision. Robinson
then sought judicial review, and both Robinson and the Commissioner filed motions for
summary judgment. In November 2013, the District Court entered an order denying
Robinson’s motion and granting the Commissioner’s motion, thus affirming the ALJ’s
decision. On December 3, 2013, the District Court entered judgment in favor of the
Commissioner. Robinson timely appealed.
1
Robinson previously filed a disability insurance benefits application in February 2006,
which resulted in a final decision dated August 6, 2008, denying her claim. Robinson
appealed to the District Court. Robinson-Jones v. Astrue, Civil Action No. 10-00588 (D.
Del. Mar. 28, 2012). By Order entered March 28, 2012, judgment was entered in favor of
the Commissioner and against Robinson, and she did not appeal.
2
II.
The District Court had jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), and we
exercise appellate jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Our review is deferential and is
limited to determining whether the ALJ’s decision is supported by substantial evidence.
See, e.g., Brown v. Astrue, 649 F.3d 193, 195 (3d Cir. 2011). Substantial evidence is
“such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate.” Fargnoli v.
Massanari, 247 F.3d 34, 38 (3d Cir. 2001) (internal quotation omitted). Where findings
are supported by substantial evidence, they are “conclusive.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); see
Hartranft v. Apfel, 181 F.3d 358, 360 (3d Cir. 1999).
To qualify for disability benefits, an applicant must demonstrate that she 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 [s]he is not only unable to do [her] previous
work but cannot, considering [her] age, education, and work experience, engage in any
other kind of substantial gainful work which exists in the national economy . . . .” 42
U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(B).
A five-step, sequential evaluation is used to determine whether an applicant
is disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520. The Commissioner must determine: (1) whether the
applicant has engaged in substantial gainful activity since the alleged disability onset
date; (2) whether the applicant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments;
3
(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 (“RFC”) 2 to perform her past relevant work; and (5) whether the
applicant is capable of performing other jobs that exist in the national economy,
considering her age, education, work experience, and RFC. § 404.1520(a)(4); Poulos v.
Comm'r, 474 F.3d 88, 91-92 (3d Cir. 2007).
Only the fifth step is at issue here, where the ALJ determined that Robinson
had the RFC to perform sedentary work. 3 The ALJ further determined that, prior to July
28, 2010, there were jobs that existed in significant numbers in the national economy that
Robinson could have performed. Accordingly, the ALJ concluded that Robinson was not
under a disability prior to July 28, 2010.
III.
In her motion for summary judgment, Robinson sought remand and/or an
award of benefits on four grounds, including that the Commissioner erred as a matter of
2
The term “RFC” addresses what a claimant can still do despite her limitations.
§ 404.1545(a)(1). It is assessed using all relevant evidence from the record, including
statements from medical sources and a claimant’s own description of limitations.
§ 404.1545(a)(3).
3
In determining the physical exertion requirements of work in the national economy, jobs
are classified as sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy. “Sedentary work
involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying
articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools.” § 404.1567(a).
4
law in failing to accord adequate weight to the opinion and assessment of her long-time
treating physician, Dr. Ronald Goodman. 4 Robinson’s arguments had been previously
raised in a prior case she brought seeking disability insurance benefits. Robinson-Jones
v. Astrue, Civil Action No. 10-00588 (D. Del. Mar. 28, 2012). In that case, the District
Court entered judgment in favor of the Commissioner and against Robinson, and she did
not appeal. Of the four claims made in her motion for summary judgment, Robinson has
only raised her “adequate weight” argument in her current appeal. This Court agrees
with the District Court that the principles of res judicata apply to Robinson’s claim, and
we decline to readdress the issue. See Stauffer v. Califano, 693 F.2d 306, 307 (3d Cir.
1982); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.957(c)(1), 416.1457(c)(1).
The District Court also addressed a fifth argument raised by Robinson in her
opposition to the Commissioner’s motion for summary judgment: that substantial
evidence did not support the ALJ’s finding that she had the RFC to perform sedentary
work prior to July 2010. A liberal reading of her appeal to this Court also raises a
challenge to the ALJ’s RFC determination. Accordingly, we will address this argument.
The District Court conducted a comprehensive analysis of the medical
evidence, and correctly determined that the ALJ’s RFC assessment was supported by
substantial evidence. The RFC assessment is consistent with the advice of Dr. Kennedy
4
Robinson also asserted that the Commissioner (1) relied upon a hypothetical question
that was deficient as a matter of law and not supported by substantial evidence; (2) erred
in failing to resolve the conflicts between the vocational expert testimony and the
Dictionary of Occupational Titles; and (3) failed to sustain his burden of establishing that
there is other work in the national economy that she can perform.
5
Yalamanchili, a surgeon who performed Robinson’s cervical discectomy and fusion in
March 2009, and who advised her only to avoid heavy lifting and repetitive above-the-
shoulder activity. It is also consistent with a state agency physician who reviewed
Robinson’s claim for benefits in January 2009. Regarding Robinson’s alleged mental
impairments, the District Court properly noted that the ALJ was not required to accept
the assessment of Ms. Nancy Ball, a licensed clinical social worker. See 20 C.F.R. §§
404.1513(a), 416.913(a); cf. Hartranft, 181 F.3d at 361 (a chiropractor's opinion is not an
acceptable medical source entitled to controlling weight). The District Court also noted
that two state agency psychologist who reviewed Robinson’s claim for benefits in 2009
opined that she did not have a severe mental impairment. Accordingly, we agree with the
District Court that the ALJ’s determination is supported by substantial evidence. See
Fargnoli, 247 F.3d at 38.
For these reasons, and in light of our overall examination of the record, we
will affirm the judgment of the District Court.
6