(SS) Tribble v. Commissioner of Social Security ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 CHRISTOPHER J. TRIBBLE, Case No. 2:20-cv-02263-JDP (SS) 12 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND 13 v. DENYING COMMISSIONER’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 14 KILOLO KIJAKZI, Commissioner of Social Security ECF Nos. 12 & 16 15 Defendant. 16 17 Plaintiff challenges the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security 18 (“Commissioner”) denying his application for a period of disability and disability insurance 19 benefits (“DIB”) under Title II of the Social Security Act. Both parties have moved for summary 20 judgment. ECF Nos. 12 & 16. For the reasons discussed below, plaintiff’s motion for summary 21 judgment is granted, the Commissioner’s is denied, and this matter is remanded for further 22 proceedings. 23 Standard of Review 24 An Administrative Law Judge’s (“ALJ”) decision denying an application for disability 25 benefits will be upheld if it is supported by substantial evidence in the record and if the correct 26 legal standards were applied. Stout v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 454 F.3d 1050, 1052 (9th Cir. 27 2006). “‘Substantial evidence’ means more than a mere scintilla, but less than a preponderance; it 28 is such relevant evidence as a reasonable person might accept as adequate to support a 1 conclusion.” Lingenfelter v. Astrue, 504 F.3d 1028, 1035 (9th Cir. 2007). 2 “The ALJ is responsible for determining credibility, resolving conflicts in medical 3 testimony, and resolving ambiguities.” Edlund v. Massanari, 253 F.3d 1152, 1156 (9th Cir. 4 2001) (citations omitted). “Where the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational 5 interpretation, one of which supports the ALJ’s decision, the ALJ’s conclusion must be upheld.” 6 Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 954 (9th Cir. 2002). However, the court will not affirm on 7 grounds upon which the ALJ did not rely. Connett v. Barnhart, 340 F.3d 871, 874 (9th Cir. 2003) 8 (“We are constrained to review the reasons the ALJ asserts.”). 9 A five-step sequential evaluation process is used in assessing eligibility for Social 10 Security disability benefits. Under this process the ALJ is required to determine: (1) whether the 11 claimant is engaged in substantial gainful activity; (2) whether the claimant has a medical 12 impairment (or combination of impairments) that qualifies as severe; (3) whether any of the 13 claimant’s impairments meet or medically equal the severity of one of the impairments in 20 14 C.F.R., Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1; (4) whether the claimant can perform past relevant work; and 15 (5) whether the claimant can perform other specified types of work. See Barnes v. Berryhill, 895 16 F.3d 702, 704 n.3 (9th Cir. 2018). The claimant bears the burden of proof for the first four steps 17 of the inquiry, while the Commissioner bears the burden at the final step. Bustamante v. 18 Massanari, 262 F.3d 949, 953-54 (9th Cir. 2001). 19 Background 20 Plaintiff filed an application for DIB, alleging disability beginning August 8, 2016. 21 Administrative Record (“AR”) 176-77. After his application was denied initially and upon 22 reconsideration, plaintiff appeared and testified at a hearing before an ALJ. AR 40-96, 120-24, 23 126-30. On February 12, 2020, the ALJ issued a decision finding that plaintiff was not disabled. 24 AR 15-21. Specifically, the ALJ found that: 25 1. The claimant meets the insured status requirement of the Social 26 Security Act through December 31, 2021. 27 2. The claimant has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since August 8, 2016, the alleged onset date. 28 1 3. The claimant has the following severe impairments: lumbar degenerative disc disease and right hip degenerative joint disease, 2 status post total hip total hip replacement. 3 * * * 4 4. The claimant does not have an impairment or combination of 5 impairments that meets or medically equals the severity of one of the listed impairments in 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. 6 7 * * * 8 5. After careful consideration of the entire record, the undersigned finds that the claimant has the residual functional capacity to 9 perform sedentary work as defined in 20 CFR 404.1567(a). He is limited to occasional performance of postural activities. 10 11 * * * 12 6. The claimant is capable of performing past relevant work as a purchasing manager, (DOT 162.167-022). This work does not 13 require the performance of work-related activities precluded by the claimant’s residual functional capacity. 14 15 * * * 16 7. The claimant has not been under a disability, as defined in the Social Security Act, from August 8, 2016, through the date of this 17 decision. 18 AR 17-21 (citations to the code of regulations omitted). 19 Plaintiff requested review by the Appeals Council, which denied the request. AR 1-6. He 20 now seeks judicial review under 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3). 21 Analysis 22 Plaintiff raises two arguments. First, he argues that the ALJ erred in rejecting his 23 testimony as to the severity of his symptoms. Second, he argues that the ALJ erred in rejecting 24 the medical opinion of his treating physician’s assistant, Jaymie Pearcy. I credit plaintiff’s first 25 argument and need not reach his second. 26 At the hearing before the ALJ, plaintiff testified that his average pain level was a five on a 27 ten-point scale. AR 69. He described the pain radiating from his back as “pretty constant.” Id. at 28 1 86. Daily tasks were slow going. Plaintiff stated that engaging in basic care for his dogs and 2 doing minimally exertive yard work was a time-consuming process. Id. at 75-77. He also 3 testified that he tried to avoid lifting heavier items, like cases of beverages, when he went grocery 4 shopping and instead left those items for his wife to collect. Id. at 79. He described his sleep as 5 “spotty at best” because of pain and noted that, in terms of continuous sleep, he likely only got 6 two hours at a time most nights. Id. at 84-85. 7 The ALJ determined that plaintiff’s reported activities, which included performing self- 8 hygiene, laundry, cleaning, vacuuming, emptying the dishwasher, taking out the garbage, grocery 9 shopping, doing yard work, and driving, did not support his allegations of disabling symptoms. 10 AR at 19. In reaching this conclusion, the ALJ also noted that plaintiff was able to fish and hunt. 11 Id. Where, as here, a plaintiff’s impairments could reasonably be expected to produce the 12 symptoms alleged, the ALJ can reject the plaintiff’s testimony about the severity of their 13 symptoms only by offering “specific, clear and convincing reasons for doing so.” Garrison v. 14 Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1014-15 (9th Cir. 2014) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting 15 Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1281 (9th Cir. 1996)). The ALJ’s reasons must have substantial 16 support in the record. Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 959 (9th Cir. 2002). Here, the ALJ fell 17 short of these standards. 18 It is settled law in this circuit that “the mere fact that a plaintiff has carried on certain daily 19 activities . . . does not in any way detract from her credibility as to her overall disability.” Orn v. 20 Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 639 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting Vertigan v. Halter, 260 F.3d 1044, 1050 (9th 21 Cir. 2001)) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Fair v. Bowen, 885 F.2d 597, 603 (9th 22 Cir. 1989) (“Many home activities are not easily transferable to . . . the more grueling 23 environment of the workplace, where it might be impossible to periodically rest or take 24 medication.”). Plaintiff did testify that he could perform the aforementioned daily activities, but 25 that he did so slowly and conservatively. See, e.g., AR at 78-79 (describing his ability to prune 26 the yard). Plaintiff emphasized that he relied heavily on assistance from his wife and was 27 uncomfortable undertaking certain activities if he was home alone. Id. at 77-79. The ALJ failed 28 to discuss these limitations and how they might impact the transferability of the activities to a 1 workplace setting. See Orn, 495 F.3d at 639 (quoting Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 681 (9th 2 Cir. 2005)) (internal quotations omitted) (holding that the ALJ must make “specific findings 3 relating to [the daily] activities and their transferability to a work setting to conclude that a 4 claimant’s daily activities warrant an adverse credibility determination”). And plaintiff’s ability 5 to perform these limited activities is not inconsistent with testimony about his pain and functional 6 limitations. Cf. Garrison, 759 F.3d at 1016 (“We have repeatedly warned that ALJs must be 7 especially cautious in concluding that daily activities are inconsistent with testimony about pain, 8 because impairments that would unquestionably preclude work and all the pressures of a 9 workplace environment will often be consistent with doing more than merely resting in bed all 10 day.”). Finally, the ALJ’s analysis of plaintiff’s hunting and fishing hobbies was cursory at best. 11 The decision failed to mention or discuss that the hunting was und ertaken pursuant to a disabled 12 person’s hunting license and that plaintiff could not fish absent assistance from another 13 individual. AR 223, 374. The ALJ also failed to acknowledge that plaintiff emphasized the need 14 for “extended break[s]” during these activities. Id. at 223. 15 The decision’s other rationale for rejecting plaintiff’s subjective complaints, inconsistency 16 with the medical evidence, cannot support the decision alone. See Bunnell v. Sullivan, 947 F.2d 17 341, 345 (9th Cir. 1991) (“[O]nce the claimant produces objective medical evidence of an 18 underlying impairment, an adjudicator may not reject a claimant’s subjective complaints based 19 solely on a lack of objective medical evidence to fully corroborate the alleged severity of pain.”). 20 Thus, the only remaining question is whether to remand for additional proceedings or payment of 21 benefits. “The decision whether to remand a case for additional evidence, or simply to award 22 benefits is within the discretion of the court.” Sprague v. Bowen, 812 F.2d 1226, 1232 (9th Cir. 23 1987). A court should remand for further administrative proceedings, however, unless it 24 concludes that such proceedings would not serve a useful purpose. Dominguez v. Colvin, 808 25 F.3d 403, 407 (9th Cir. 2016). I cannot say that additional proceedings would have no utility in 26 the present case. That the ALJ failed to provide sufficient reasons for discounting plaintiff’s 27 subjective testimony based on his activities does not compel a finding that she will be unable to 28 do so in further proceedings. 1 Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that: 2 1. Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment, ECF No. 12, is granted. 3 2. The Commissioner’s cross-motion for summary judgment, ECF No. 16, be denied. 4 3. The matter is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this order. 5 4. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in plaintiffs favor. 6 7 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: _ September 28, 2022 Q_——. 9 JEREMY D. PETERSON 10 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28