Washington v. Comm Social Security ( 2003 )

Opinions of the United
2003 Decisions States Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit
1-30-2003
Washington v. Comm Social Security
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential
Docket 01-4196
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NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
_______________
No: 01-4196
______________
NATHAN WASHINGTON,
Appellant
v.
JOANNE B. BARNHART, COMMISSIONER
OF SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. Civil Action No. 00-cv-03746)
District Judge: Honorable Anita B. Brody
Argued on September 9, 2002
Before: CHIEF JUDGE BECKER, ROTH
and RENDELL, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed January 30, 2003)
Michael Patrick Boyle, Esquire (Argued)
123 S. Broad Street
Suite 2140
Philadelphia, PA 19109
Attorney for Appellant
James A. Winn
Regional chief Counsel, Reg. III
Margaret J. Krecke (Argued)
Assistant Regional Counsel
Office of the General Counsel
Social Security Administration
P.O. Box 41777
Philadelphia, PA 19101
Patrick L. Meehan
United States Attorney
Joan K. Garner
Assistant United States Attorney
Deputy Chief, Civil Division
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
610 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Attorneys for Appellee
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OPINION
ROTH, Circuit Judge:
Following exhaustion of his administrative remedies,1 petitioner Nathan Washington
brought this action seeking review of the Commissioner’s denial of his claims for disability
insurance benefits (DIB) and supplemental security income (SSI). On September 24, 2001,
the District Court issued an Explanation and Order overruling Washington’s objections to
the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation and granting summary judgment to the
Commissioner. Washington now appeals this ruling. The District Court had subject matter
jurisdiction to review the Commissioner’s final determination pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§
405(g) and 1383(c)(3), and we exercise appellate jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
The Social Security Act defines “disability” as the “inability 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 12 months.” 42 U.S.C.
§ 423(d)(1)(A). In denying the claims at issue, the ALJ ruled that Washington was not
disabled within the meaning of the Act. This determination was based on the ALJ’s finding
1
The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued his decision on April 2, 1999. This
determination was affirmed by the Appeals Council and became final on July 7, 2000.
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that, despite his mental and physical impairments, Washington possessed the residual
functional capacity to perform limited light work.
Our review of a final determination by the Commissioner “is limited to determining
whether that decision is supported by substantial evidence.” Hartranft v. Apfel, 181 F.3d
358, 360 (3d Cir. 1999) (citing 42 U.S.C. § 405(g)). A finding of substantial evidence
does not require “a large or considerable amount of evidence, but rather such relevant
evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id.
(quoting Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S. 552, 108 S. Ct. 2541, 2545, 101 L. Ed. 2d 490
(1988)). Accordingly, “[w]e will not set the Commissioner’s decision aside if it is
supported by substantial evidence, even if we would have decided the factual inquiry
differently.” Id. For the reasons set forth more fully in the District Court’s Explanation
and Order, we believe there is substantial evidence to support the Commissioner’s
determination.
In reaching this conclusion, we reject Washington’s contention that the ALJ
committed a reversible error of law when he found that Washington does not suffer an
impairment that meets or equals Listing of Impairment 12.04, which addresses affective
disorders. A claimant attempting to meet the requirements of this Listing must show both
evidence of one of the listed depressive disorders and evidence that the disorder results in,
among other things, “[m]arked restriction of activities of daily living,” “[m]arked
difficulties in maintaining social functioning,” or “[m]arked difficulties in maintaining
concentration, persistence, or pace.” Id. The burden is on Washington to show that his
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condition meets these requirements, and he provides little evidence that this is the case.
While it seems clear that Washington was depressed at some point in 1997 (Tr. at 168), it
is also clear that, as a result of taking Paxil, he was no longer depressed in 1998. (Tr. at
167). There is other substantial evidence to support the ALJ’s determination that
Washington did not meet the 12.04 requirements. Agency psychologists, for example,
determined that Washington’s depression did not meet or equal the requirements. (Tr. at
81). Despite the fact that Dr. Goode concluded in 1997 that Washington had a depressive
disorder (Tr. at 157-58), the weight of the evidence in the record indicates that he does not
meet the requirements of 12.04.
We also note as persuasive the following points made by the District Court in
support of its decision to overrule Washington’s objections to the Magistrate Judge’s
Report and Recommendation. First, as required by our precedent, the ALJ gave serious
consideration to Washington’s subjective complaints regarding the painful side effects of
his medication. See Green v. Schweiker, 749 F.2d 1066, 1068 (3d Cir. 1984). He
nevertheless chose not to credit those aspects of Washington’s testimony that were not
strongly supported by the medical evidence. Accordingly, the ALJ’s conclusion that the
side effects did not prohibit Washington from performing certain types of work was
properly based on his determination regarding the credibility of the testimony offered. See
Van Horn v. Schweiker, 717 F.2d 871, 873 (3d Cir. 1983).
Second, in light of the ALJ’s determination that he was not disabled, Washington’s
history of substance abuse problems was not directly relevant to the outcome of his case.
5
See 20 C.F.R. § 416.935 (requiring that disability determination be made prior to any
consideration of whether substance abuse is a contributing factor to claimant’s disability).
Therefore, the District Court properly determined that the ALJ’s apparent consideration of
Washington’s substance abuse does not amount to reversible error.
Finally, the District Court, citing the applicable standard of review, characterized
Washington’s objection to the ALJ’s finding regarding the severity of his mental problems
as nothing more than “a fundamental disagreement with the conclusion reached by the ALJ.”
As the District Court correctly noted, the standard of review does not allow it to second-
guess the conclusions reached by the ALJ if they are supported by substantial evidence.
Furthermore, our review of the record reveals ample evidentiary support for the ALJ’s
conclusions. The medical evidence simply does not support a finding that Washington’s
depression is “severe,” as required by the applicable regulations, and the reports of Drs.
Kurlansik and Lowey, which do not directly contradict the ALJ’s determination at any rate,
were never moved into evidence by Washington’s counsel.
Accordingly, having reviewed the record, we agree with the District Court’s
determination that there is substantial evidence to support the decision reached by the
Commissioner. Additionally, we note that Washington waived many of the remaining
arguments asserted in his brief by failing to raise them before the District Court. See
Krysztoforski v. Chater, 55 F.3d 857, 860-61 (3d Cir. 1995). We therefore decline to
address the following issues: (1) whether he satisfies Listing 12.05C of the Listing of
Impairments; (2) whether a conflict exists between the testimony of the vocational expert
6
and the job classifications contained in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles; and (3)
whether the ALJ adequately conducted the individualized inquiry mandated by Social
Security Ruling 85-15.
For the reasons stated herein, we will affirm the District Court’s order granting
summary judgment to the Commissioner.
_____ /s/ Jane R. Roth______________
CIRCUIT JUDGE
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