Davidson v. Commissioner of Social Security ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA 9 10 MICHEAL D., CASE NO. 2:22-CV-464-DWC 11 Plaintiff, ORDER REVERSING AND 12 v. REMANDING THE COMMISSIONER’S DECISION TO DENY BENEFITS 13 COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, 14 Defendant. 15 16 Plaintiff filed this action, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), for judicial review of the denial 17 of Plaintiff’s applications for disability insurance benefits. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), Fed. 18 R. Civ. P. 73 and Local Rule MJR 13, the parties have consented to proceed before United 19 States Magistrate Judge Christel. See Dkt. 2. This matter is fully briefed. See Dkts.10, 11, 12. 20 After considering the record, the Court concludes the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) 21 erred when he failed to provide clear and convincing reasons supported by substantial evidence 22 for discounting Plaintiff’s subjective symptom testimony. Had the ALJ properly considered 23 Plaintiff’s subjective complaints, Plaintiff’s residual functional capacity (“RFC”) may have 24 1 included additional limitations. The ALJ’s error is, therefore, not harmless, and this matter is 2 reversed and remanded pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) to the Commissioner of 3 Social Security (“Commissioner”) for further proceedings consistent with this Order. 4 BACKGROUND 5 On February 3, 2020, plaintiff filed applications for DIB and SSI, alleging disability as of 6 December 15, 2019. See Dkt. 8, Administrative Record (“AR”) 197, 207. The applications were 7 denied on initial administrative review and on reconsideration. See AR 124, 128, 134, 137. A 8 hearing was held before Administrative Law Judge William Leland (“the ALJ”) on February 22, 9 2021. See AR 31–69. In a decision dated March 2, 2021, the ALJ determined plaintiff to be not 10 disabled. See AR 17–31. Plaintiff’s request for review of the ALJ’s decision was denied by the 11 Appeals Council, making the ALJ’s decision the final decision of the Commissioner of Social 12 Security (“Commissioner”). See AR 1–6; 20 C.F.R. § 404.981, § 416.1481. 13 In the opening brief, Plaintiff maintains that the ALJ erred by failing to properly consider 14 Plaintiff’s subjective symptom testimony. Dkt. 10, p. 1. Plaintiff requests remand for further 15 administrative proceedings. Id. at p. 11–12. 16 STANDARD OF REVIEW 17 Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), this Court may set aside the Commissioner's denial of 18 Social Security benefits if the ALJ's findings are based on legal error or not supported by 19 substantial evidence in the record as a whole. Revels v. Berryhill, 874 F.3d 648, 654 (9th Cir. 20 2017). Substantial evidence is “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as 21 adequate to support a conclusion.” Biestek v. Berryhill, 139 S. Ct. 1148, 1154 (2019) (internal 22 citations omitted). 23 24 1 DISCUSSION 2 1. Whether the ALJ provided specific, clear, and convincing reasons for finding Plaintiff’s subjective symptom testimony not fully supported. 3 Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred because he did not provide specific, clear and convincing 4 reasons to discount Plaintiff’s subjective symptom testimony. Dkt. 10, p. 2–5. 5 To reject a claimant’s subjective complaints, the ALJ must provide “specific, cogent 6 reasons for the disbelief.” Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 834 (9th Cir. 1995) (citation omitted). 7 The ALJ “must identify what testimony is not credible and what evidence undermines the 8 claimant’s complaints.” Id.; see also Dodrill v. Shalala, 12 F.3d 915, 918 (9th Cir. 1993). Unless 9 affirmative evidence shows the claimant is malingering, the ALJ’s reasons for rejecting the 10 claimant’s testimony must be “clear and convincing.” Lester, 81 F.3d at 834 (citation omitted). 11 Questions of credibility are solely within the ALJ’s control. Sample v. Schweiker, 694 F.2d 639, 12 642 (9th Cir. 1982) (quotation marks and citations omitted). The Court should not “second- 13 guess” this credibility determination. Allen v. Heckler, 749 F.2d 577, 580 (9th Cir. 1984). 14 Plaintiff completed Social Security Administration Function Reports1 on February 20, 15 2020, February 26, 2020, and May 10, 2020. AR 250–254, 261–264, 280–287. In these reports 16 Plaintiff stated that he is unable to maintain composure or regular attendance at work. AR 254. 17 Plaintiff also reported that his conditions limit his ability to be around people or places where he 18 cannot leave for the day if he experiences an episode. AR 261. 19 Plaintiff testified at the hearing that he cannot work due to frustration, anger, suicidal 20 thoughts, racing thoughts, and an inability to focus or concentrate. AR 61. Additionally, Plaintiff 21 again testified that his difficulty interacting with other people interferes with his ability to 22 23 1 The Social Security Administration uses this form to obtain information on how the applicant’s illnesses, 24 injuries, or conditions limit their activities. 1 maintain a job. AR 53. Plaintiff also testified that he experiences self-destructive tendencies that 2 have impacted his ability to maintain housing, keep a job, or follow through with treatment for 3 his conditions. AR 57. 4 Regarding Plaintiff’s testimony, the ALJ found Plaintiff’s “medically determinable 5 impairments could reasonably be expected to cause the alleged symptoms.” AR 22. However, the 6 ALJ determined Plaintiff’s “statements concerning the intensity, persistence and limiting effects 7 of these symptoms are not entirely consistent with the medical evidence and other evidence in 8 the record.” AR 18. The ALJ discounted Plaintiff’s subjective testimony for several reasons. See 9 AR 18–24. In particular, the ALJ discounted Plaintiff’s testimony because (1) Plaintiff’s 10 symptoms were inconsistent with his activities of daily living and (2) Plaintiff’s complaints were 11 inconsistent with objective findings. 12 As to the first reason, an ALJ may rely upon a claimant’s daily activities to discredit a 13 claimant’s testimony in two circumstances: if the claimant’s activities contradict his or her other 14 testimony, or if the activities “meet the threshold for transferable work skills.” See Orn v. 15 Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 639 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting Vertigan v. Halter, 260 F.3d 1044, 1050 (9th 16 Cir. 2001)). However, the mere fact a claimant has engaged in daily activities is insufficient 17 evidence, standing alone, to allow an ALJ to conclude those activities are inconsistent with the 18 claimant’s subjective symptoms. Id. The ALJ “must make ‘specific findings relating to the daily 19 activities’ and their transferability or inconsistency to conclude a claimant’s daily activities 20 warrant an adverse credibility determination.” Orn, 495 F.3d at 639 (quoting Burch v. Barnhart, 21 400 F.3d 676, 681 (9th Cir. 2005)). 22 Here the ALJ cited Plaintiff’s activities such as taking public transportation, flying across 23 the country to help his sister move, and managing his finances as evidence that Plaintiff was less 24 1 limited than reported. AR 24. However, these activities do not address the complaints that 2 Plaintiff alleged and are taken out of context of the record as a whole. For example, Plaintiff 3 testified that all of his time is occupied with staying alive, which may involve walking for 4 multiple hours because of his mania or sleeping in his car “with piss bottles everywhere” because 5 of his depression. AR 54. Plaintiff similarly reported that he did not have difficulty with personal 6 care such as bathing and feeding himself except during depressive episodes. AR 262. Plaintiff 7 further reported severe impacts of his conditions, including that he was experiencing 8 homelessness due to his inability to be around other people and was hospitalized twice during the 9 short period he was attending counseling. AR 60, 485, 489. Finally, Plaintiff testified that he has 10 been able to perform jobs that require him to stand up to 11 hours of the day or carry up to 100 11 pounds, however, he has always failed to maintain these positions because his “cap bursts off” 12 and he experiences uncontrollable anger. 48, 49, 59. 13 The ALJ’s decision does not show how the activities of daily living are inconsistent with 14 the limitations Plaintiff alleged. See Burrell v. Colvin, 775 F.3d 1133 at 1138 (9th Cir. 2014) 15 Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 958–59 (9th Cir. 2002). Plaintiff’s bipolar disorder is a 16 disorder which presents episodically; the mere fact Plaintiff has occasionally engaged in certain 17 activities (such as using public transportation) is not inconsistent with a disorder characterized by 18 constantly changing motivation levels, energy levels, and moods. See Kangali v. Barnhart, 454 19 F.3d 627, 628 (7th Cir. 2011) (“The ALJ thought the medical witnesses had contradicted 20 themselves when they said the Plaintiff’s mental illness was severe yet observed that she was 21 behaving pretty normally during her office visits. There was no contradiction; bipolar disorder is 22 episodic.”). Therefore, the ALJ did not provide clear and convincing reasons to discredit 23 Plaintiff’s subjective testimony based on Plaintiff’s daily activities. 24 1 As to the second reason, the ALJ cited objective findings that Plaintiff presented with an 2 above average level of intelligence, grossly intact short-term memory, and linear, logical, and 3 goal-oriented thought process as evidence that Plaintiff’s reported limitations were inconsistent 4 with the medical record. AR 23. The ALJ also cited Plaintiff’s reports that he had seen some 5 improvement in his symptoms with medication. AR 23–24. The ALJ further relied on reports 6 that Plaintiff consistently presented as cooperative, demonstrated appropriate grooming/ hygiene, 7 was able to maintain good/average eye contact, and findings of mood and affect abnormalities 8 were not consistent in the record. AR 22. 9 Determining that a claimant’s complaints are “inconsistent with clinical observations” 10 can satisfy the clear and convincing requirement. Regennitter v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 11 166 F.3d 1294 at 1297 (9th Cir. 1999); see also Fisher v. Astrue, 429 F. App’x 649, 651 (9th Cir. 12 2011). However, an ALJ “may not disregard [a claimant’s credibility] solely because it is not 13 substantiated affirmatively by objective medical evidence.” Robbins v. Social Security 14 Administration, 466 F.3d 880, 883 (9th Cir. 2006); see Orteza v. Shalala, 50 F.3d 748, 749–50 15 (9th Cir. 1995); Byrnes v. Shalala, 60 F.3d 639, 641-42 (9th Cir. 1995). Additionally, when a 16 claimant presents mental health issues, “it is error to reject [their] testimony merely because 17 symptoms wax and wane in the course of treatment.” See Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1017 18 (9th Cir. 2014). Instead, to satisfy the clear and convincing standard, an ALJ must explain how 19 specific examples of improvement “in fact constitute examples of a broader development” in a 20 claimant’s mental health treatment. Id. at 1018 (emphasis in original). 21 Here the ALJ did not explain how the clinical findings contradicted Plaintiff’s complaints 22 that he had severe limitations in social interactions and self-destructive tendencies. Plaintiff 23 repeatedly testified that he has never had an issue performing jobs as required; instead, he 24 1 testified that he has quit every job he has held because of his inability to handle situational 2 stressors in the workplace. AR 46, 252, 254, 261. Additionally, the ALJ cites that Plaintiff 3 showed improvement with treatment, but Plaintiff also testified that even with medication he still 4 experiences anger, outbursts, anxiety, and panic attacks. AR 57. The ALJ also did not 5 demonstrate how reports that Plaintiff presented appropriately at appointments and did not show 6 a consistent pattern of mood behaviors was inconsistent with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, 7 which is known to be characterized by waxing and waning symptoms. See Brown-Hunter v. 8 Colvin, 806 F.3d 487, 492 (9th Cir. 2015) (“the agency [must] set forth the reasoning behind its 9 decisions in a way that allows for meaningful review”); Blakes v. Barnhart, 331 F.3d 565, 569 10 (7th Cir. 2003) (“We require the ALJ to build an accurate and logical bridge from the evidence to 11 her conclusions so that we may afford the claimant meaningful review of the SSA’s ultimate 12 findings.”). Therefore, the ALJ did not provide clear and convincing reasons for discrediting 13 Plaintiff’s subjective testimony based on the objective record. 14 2. Harmless Error 15 Identifying an error in the ALJ’s decision, however, does not end the Court’s inquiry. 16 The Ninth Circuit has “recognized that harmless error principles apply in the Social Security Act 17 context.” Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1115 (9th Cir. 2012) (citing Stout v. Commissioner, 18 Social Security Administration, 454 F.3d 1050, 1054 (9th Cir. 2006) (collecting cases)). An error 19 is harmless “so long as there remains substantial evidence supporting the ALJ’s decision and the 20 error does not negate the validity of the ALJ’s ultimate conclusion.” Molina, 674 F.3d at 1115 21 (quoting Batson v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin, 359 F.3d 1190, 1197 (9th Cir. 2004). 22 In this case, the ALJ offered two bases for discrediting Plaintiff’s testimony. As 23 discussed, however, these bases did not constitute specific, clear and convincing reasons, 24 1 supported by substantial evidence, for discrediting Plaintiff. As the ALJ failed to articulate 2 sufficient alternative bases for discounting Plaintiff’s testimony concerning the severity of his 3 limitations, the Court cannot say the errors were “inconsequential to the ultimate nondisability 4 determination.” Molina, 674 F.3d at 1115; Bray v. Commissioner of Social Sec. Admin., 554 F.3d 5 1219, 1227 (9th Cir. 2009). Thus, these are harmful errors requiring remand. 6 CONCLUSION 7 Based on the foregoing reasons, the Court hereby finds the ALJ improperly concluded 8 Plaintiff was not disabled. Accordingly, Defendant’s decision to deny benefits is reversed and 9 this matter is remanded for further administrative proceedings in accordance with the findings 10 contained herein. 11 Dated this 22nd day of September, 2022. 12 A 13 David W. Christel United States Magistrate Judge 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24