Britt v. Astrue

11-2241-cv
Britt v. Astrue
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
SUMMARY ORDER
Rulings by summary order do not have precedential effect. Citation to a summary order filed on or after January
1, 2007, is permitted and is governed by Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 32.1 and this court’s Local Rule 32.1.1.
When citing a summary order in a document filed with this court, a party must cite either the Federal Appendix
or an electronic database (with the notation “summary order”). A party citing a summary order must serve a copy
of it on any party not represented by counsel.
At a stated term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the
Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, in the City of New York,
on the 20th day of June, two thousand twelve.
PRESENT:
PETER W. HALL,
SUSAN L. CARNEY,
Circuit Judges,
RICHARD M. BERMAN,*
District Judge.
______________________________________________
DAVID L. BRITT, SR.,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. 11-2241-cv
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant-Appellee.
______________________________________________
FOR PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT: KAREN SOUTHWICK, (Howard D. Olinsky,
Jaya Shurtliff, on the brief) Olinsky &
Shurtliff, Syracuse, New York.
*
Judge Richard M. Berman, of the United States District Court for the Southern District
of New York, sitting by designation.
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FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLEE: SIXTINA FERNANDEZ, Special Assistant
United States Attorney, (Mary Ann Sloan,
on the brief) for William J. Hochul, Jr.,
United States Attorney for the Western
District of New York, Buffalo, New York.
Appeal from a judgment of the United States District Court for the Western District of
New York (Telesca, J.). UPON DUE CONSIDERATION, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED,
ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
Plaintiff-Appellant David L. Britt, Sr., appeals from a district court order affirming the
Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of his application for disability insurance and
supplemental security income benefits under the Social Security Act. We assume the parties’
familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of the case, including the findings of
Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) Michael J. Friedman, which we reference only as necessary
to explain our decision.
“In reviewing a district court’s decision upholding a decision of the Commissioner, we
review the administrative record de novo to determine whether there is substantial evidence
supporting the Commissioner’s decision and whether the Commissioner applied the correct legal
standard.” Zabala v. Astrue, 595 F.3d 402, 408 (2d Cir. 2010) (internal quotation marks and
citation omitted). “Substantial evidence means more than a mere scintilla. It means such
relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.”
Burgess v. Astrue, 537 F.3d 117, 127 (2d Cir. 2008) (internal quotation marks and citations
omitted).
Under the Social Security Act a “disability” is an “inability to engage in any substantial
gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which
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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). To determine whether an
individual is disabled, the Social Security Administration Commission created a five-step
sequential evaluation process. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520.
Britt argues that the ALJ erred at step two when he determined that Britt’s obesity and
arthritis were not severe impairments. Britt’s argument is without merit because he did not
furnish the ALJ with any medical evidence showing how these alleged impairments limited his
ability to work. See 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(5)(A); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1512(a).
Britt claims that the ALJ erred at step three when he found that Britt’s right knee
impairment did not meet the requirements of Listing 1.02. To meet the requirements of Listing
1.02, Britt had to show that he had a major dysfunction of his knee. 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart
P, App. 1, Sec. 1.00(B)(2)(b)(1). Britt asserts that he suffered a “gross anatomical deficiency” in
his right knee, but Dr. Colucci’s examination found only a “very slight degenerative change.”
Similarly, Dr. Colucci’s report regarding Britt’s tendinitis found that it was “improved” and that
Britt’s knee was not “catching” or “giving way.” There was thus substantial evidence upon
which the ALJ properly determined—as he explained in his decision—that Britt’s knee problem
did not meet the qualifications of Listing 1.02.
Britt also argues that the ALJ’s residual functional capacity finding was unsupported by
substantial evidence and that the ALJ neglected to apply and explain the “treating physician’s
rule.” The ALJ, however, did have substantial evidence to support his residual functional
capacity finding. That evidence was comprised of the reports and opinions of Dr. Colucci, Dr.
Capicotto, and Dr. Coyle. Nor did the ALJ err in not affording treating physician Dr.
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Wadsworth’s report controlling weight. That report was written in 2009, and it did not relate
Britt’s impairment to the 2001 to 2004 time period relevant to his claim. See Jones v. Sullivan,
949 F.2d 57, 60 (2d Cir. 1991). It was also not consistent with other substantial evidence in the
record. See Halloran v. Barnhart, 362 F.3d 28, 32 (2d Cir. 2004). While we do not encourage
an ALJ to omit providing reasons for not affording the treating physician’s views controlling
weight, we will tolerate the omission when it is clear, as here, that the ALJ has applied the
substance of the treating physician rule. Halloran, 362 F. 3d at 32.
Britt claims that the ALJ did not use the proper legal standard to assess Britt’s credibility,
but that argument is without merit. The ALJ explicitly stated that he had considered the factors
enumerated in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529 and Social Security Ruling 96-7p to determine that Britt’s
reports of disabling levels of pain were inconsistent with other evidence in the record.
Lastly, Britt asserts that, because he had significant nonexertional limitations, the ALJ
erred by failing to consult a vocational expert. Britt’s nonexertional limitations were his
inability to kneel, squat, or climb stairs. These nonexertional limitations, however, are not
significant in this context because they would not cause an additional loss of capacity for Britt to
perform the sedentary work that the ALJ found Britt had the residual functional capacity to
perform. See Zabala, 595 F.3d at 411; see also Social Security Ruling 96-9p.
We have considered Britt’s remaining arguments and find them without merit.
Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
FOR THE COURT:
Catherine O’Hagan Wolfe, Clerk
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