Bryan v. Kijakazi ( 2021 )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA EASTERN DIVISION □ No. 4:20-CV-22-D GUY ALAN BRYAN, ) Plaintiff v. ORDER KILOLO KIJAKAZI, □ Acting Commissioner of Social Security, ) Defendant. On August 23, 2021, Magistrate Judge Jones issued a Memorandum and Recommendation (“M&R”) and recommended that this court deny plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings [D.E. 17], grant defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings [D.E. 19], and affirm defendant’s final decision. See [D.E. 22]. On September 1, 2021, plaintiff objected to the M&R [D.E. 23]. On September 17, 2021, defendant responded [D.E. 24]. “The Federal Magistrates Act requires a district court to make a de novo determination of those portions of the magistrate judge’s report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made.” Diamond v. Colonial Life & Accident Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005) (cleaned up); see 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Absent a timely objection, “a district court need not conduct a de novo review, but instead must only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record in order to accept the recommendation.” Diamond, 416 F.3d at 315 (quotation omitted). The court has reviewed the M&R, the record, and plaintiff's objections. As for those portions of the M&R to which plaintiff made no objection, the court is satisfied that there is no clear error on the face of the record. The court has reviewed de novo the portions of the M&R to which plaintiff objected. The scope of judicial review of a final decision concerning disability benefits under the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 301 et seq., is limited to determining whether substantial evidence supports the Commissioner’s factual findings and whether the Commissioner applied the correct legal standards. See, e.g., 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Shinaberry v. Saul, 952 F.3d 113, 120 (4th Cir. 2020); Woods v. Berryhill, 888 F.3d 686, 692-93 (4th Cir. 2018); Walls v. Barnhart, 296 F.3d 287, 290 (4th □□□□ 2002); Hays v. Sullivan, 907 F.2d 1453, 1456 (4th Cir. 1990). Substantial evidence is evidence “a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971) (quotation omitted); see Biestek v. Berryhill, 139 S. Ct. 1148, 1154 (2019). It “consists of more than a mere scintilla of evidence but may be less than a preponderance.” Smith v. Chater, 99 F.3d 635, 638 (4th Cir. 1996); see Biestek, 139 S. Ct. at 1154; Shinaberry, 952 F.3d at 120. This court may not reweigh the evidence or substitute its judgment for that of the Commissioner. See, e.g., Shinaberry, 952 F.3d at 120; Hays, 907 F.2d at 1456. Rather, in determining whether substantial evidence supports the Commissioner’s decision, the court examines whether the Commissioner analyzed the relevant evidence and sufficiently explained his findings and rationale concerning the evidence. See, e.g., Shinaberry, 952 F.3d at 120; Sterling Smokeless Coal Co. v. Akers, 131 F.3d 438, 439-40 (4th Cir. 1997). Plaintiff's objections restate the arguments made to Judge Jones concerning whether the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) properly considered evidence from Dr. Crawford concerning plaintiff s ability to lift, carry, and handle light objects, erred in finding that plaintiff s migraines and headaches were nonsevere, failed to consider plaintiff s hypersomnia, erred in determining plaintiff's credibility was inconsistent concerning his headaches and migraines when compared with the medical evidence, erred in finding plaintiff able to do medium work, relied on insubstantial evidence to assess plaintiff’ s pain, and erred in failing to discuss the pain caused by arthritis. Compare [D.E. 18] 5-16, with [D.E. 23] 1-18. However, both Judge Jones and the ALJ applied the proper legal standards. See M&R [D.E. 22] 2-16. Moreover, substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s analysis. See id. In sum, the court OVERRULES plaintiffs objections to the M&R [D.E. 23], ADOPTS the conclusions in the M&R [D.E. 22], DENIES plaintiffs motion for judgment on the pleadings [D.E. 17], GRANTS defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings [D.E. 19], AFFIRMS defendant’s final decision, and DISMISSES this action. The clerk shall close the case. SO ORDERED. This 2! day of September, 2021. tative — United States District Judge