TERRY F. MOORER, Magistrate Judge.
Theresa Gail Miller as the personal representative of the estate of Randall Leon Miller ("Miller" or "Plaintiff"), alleges that the decedent was unable to work because of a disability. His application was denied at the initial administrative level. Plaintiff then requested and received a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"). Following the hearing, the ALJ found that Plaintiff was not under a "disability" as defined in the Social Security Act and denied Plaintiff's claim for benefits. The Appeals Council rejected a subsequent request for review. Consequently, the ALJ's decision became the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (Commissioner).
Under 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A), a person is entitled to disability benefits when the person is unable to
To make this determination,
McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026, 1030 (11
The standard of review of the Commissioner's decision is a limited one. This court must find the Commissioner's decision conclusive if it is supported by substantial evidence. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Graham v. Apfel, 129 F.3d 1420, 1422 (11th Cir. 1997). "Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla, but less than a preponderance. It is such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971). A reviewing court may not look only to those parts of the record which supports the decision of the ALJ but instead must view the record in its entirety and take account of evidence which detracts from the evidence relied on by the ALJ. Hillsman v. Bowen, 804 F.2d 1179 (11th Cir. 1986).
Walker v. Bowen, 826 F.2d 996, 999 (11th Cir. 1987).
Miller was 49 years old at the time of the hearing and had completed the ninth grade. R. 36, 38. He previously worked as a welder. R. 39. Plaintiff alleges that the decedent became disabled on June 22, 2011, from neck surgery, muscle spasms, back pain, and depression. R. 43-45, 48. After the hearing, the ALJ found that Miller suffers from severe impairments of status post discectomy with foraminotomies and anterior fusion at C4-5; degenerative disc disease/lumbago; depression, NOS; anxiety, NOS, and obesity and non-severe impairments of hypertension and hyperlipidemia. R. 14. The ALJ found that Miller was unable to perform his past relevant work, but that he retained the residual functional capacity to perform light work with limitations. Specifically, the ALJ found:
R. 16-17.
Testimony from a vocational expert led the ALJ to conclude that a significant number of jobs exist in the national economy that Miller could perform, including work as an electronics worker, laundry worker, or arcade attendant. R. 21. Accordingly, the ALJ concluded that Miller was not disabled. Id.
Miller presents the following issues for review:
Doc. No. 15, p. 4.
Miller argues that the ALJ improperly rejected his treating physician's opinion about the severity of his limitations. In essence, Plaintiff argues that if the ALJ accepted Dr. Young's assessment about his physical impairments, he would be found disabled. On July 2, 2015, Dr. Alan Young, an internist at Enterprise Medical Clinic, completed a clinical assessment of pain form, in which he found that pain is present to such an extent as to be distracting to adequate performance of daily activities or work, that physical activity greatly increases pain to such a degree as to cause distraction from tasks or total abandonment of a task, and that the side effects of prescribed medication can be expected to be severe and to limit effectiveness due to distraction, inattention, and drowsiness. R. 282. Dr. Young also completed a physical capacities evaluation form, in which he found that Miller can lift no more than fifty pounds occasionally and twenty-five pounds frequently, that he can sit no more than four hours a day and stand or walk no more than two hours a day, that he can rarely climb or reach, that he can occasionally engage in gross and fine manipulation and bend or stoop, that he can frequently operate motor vehicles, work around hazardous machinery, and be exposed to environmental problems, and that he is likely to be absent from work no more than two days per month. R. 283.
The law is well-settled; the opinion of a claimant's treating physician must be accorded substantial weight unless good cause exists for not doing so. Jones v. Bowen, 810 F.2d 1001, 1005 (11th Cir. 1986); Broughton v. Heckler, 776 F.2d 960, 961 (11th Cir. 1985). The Commissioner, as reflected in the regulations, also demonstrates a similar preference for the opinion of treating physicians.
Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1440 (11th Cir. 1997) (citing 20 CFR § 404.1527 (d)(2)). The ALJ's failure to give considerable weight to the treating physician's opinion is reversible error. Broughton, 776 F.2d at 961-2; Wiggins v. Schweiker, 679 F.2d 1387 (11th Cir. 1982).
However, there are limited circumstances when the ALJ can disregard the treating physician's opinion. The requisite "good cause" for discounting a treating physician's opinion may exist where the opinion is not supported by the evidence, or where the evidence supports a contrary finding. See Schnorr v. Bowen, 816 F.2d 578, 582 (11th Cir. 1987). Good cause may also exist where a doctor's opinions are merely conclusory; inconsistent with the doctor's medical records; or unsupported by objective medical evidence. See Jones v. Dep't. of Health & Human Servs., 941 F.2d 1529, 1532-33 (11th Cir. 1991); Edwards v. Sullivan, 937 F.2d 580, 584-85 (11th Cir. 1991); Johns v. Bowen, 821 F.2d 551, 555 (11th Cir. 1987). The weight afforded to a physician's conclusory statements depends upon the extent to which they are supported by clinical or laboratory findings and are consistent with other evidence of the claimant's impairment. Wheeler v. Heckler, 784 F.2d 1073, 1075 (11th Cir. 1986). The ALJ "may reject the opinion of any physician when the evidence supports a contrary conclusion." Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1240 (11th Cir. 1983). The ALJ must articulate the weight given to a treating physician's opinion and must articulate any reasons for discounting the opinion. Schnorr, 816 F.2d at 581.
After reviewing all the medical records, the ALJ discounted the opinion of Dr. Young as set forth in the physical capacities assessment and pain forms based on the following:
R. 19.
In addition, the ALJ acknowledged that Dr. Young "has a long treatment relationship" with Miller and assigned "partial weight" to Dr. Young's opinion "to the extent it is consistent with the objective medical evidence and findings herein (Exhibits 4F, 6F-7F)." R. 19.
The ALJ's determination is supported by substantial evidence. The extreme limitations identified by Dr. Young in the physical capacity evaluation and clinical assessment of pain forms are not supported by his own treatment records. The medical records indicate that Miller sought treatment from Dr. Young and other physicians for his back and neck condition on a sporadic basis. On July 12, 2011, Miller presented to Dr. Young with complaints of neck pain and muscle spasms. R. 257. Upon reviewing an MRI, Dr. Young assessed a herniated cervical disk at C5-6 and prescribed Naprosyn, Soma, and Lortab. R. 258. On August 16, 2011, Dr. Frank S. Hodges, an orthopedic surgeon, performed an anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion C5-6 with plate and allograft. R. 218-221. A radiology report indicated "anatomic alignment following anterior discectomy spacer placement and fusion at C5-6." R. 223.
On November 17, 2011, Miller went to Dr. Connie Chandler at Dale Medical Center complaining of severe lower back pain and difficulty walking after falling at Piggly Wiggly. R. 252. Dr. Chandler found no symptoms of "painful cervical spine." Id. An x-ray indicated minimal spur formation, no fractures, and an otherwise normal lumbar spine. R. 251. Dr. Chandler's diagnostic impression was "acute L/S sprain." R. 252. Upon discharge, Miller was prescribed Toradol and Lortab. R. 253.
The record contains no medical treatment notes until July 3, 2012, when Miller returned to Dr. Young complaining of back pain and muscle spasms since a motor vehicle accident in January 2012. R. 259. Miller reported that his pain was stable with his current medication. R. 259. A physical exam indicated normal range of motion with tenderness in the thoracic lumbar sacral, paralumbar, and parathoracic regions. R. 260. Dr. Young diagnosed Miller as suffering from hyperlipidemia, lumbago, and lumbar disk disease and prescribed Naprosyn, Soma, and Lortab as needed. R. 261.
Eleven months later on June 4, 2013, Miller presented to Dr. Young with complaints of severe neck and lower back pain. R. 272. Dr. Young's examination indicated normal symmetry, tone, strength, and range of motion with no instability. Dr. Young diagnosed Miller as suffering from anxiety and depression, benign essential hypertension, and lumbar disk disease and prescribed Xanax, Celexa, Naprosyn, and Lortab. R. 275.
The medical records indicate that pain medication alleviated some of Miller's symptoms, that he reported no side effects, and that he sought treatment for his impairments on a sporadic basis. Nothing in the record indicates that Dr. Young or any other physician recommended Miller refrain from work or other physical activity during the relevant time period. This court therefore concludes that the discounting of Dr. Young's opinion that Miller suffers from extreme limitations on the basis that the treating physician's opinion is inconsistent with the medical records is supported by substantial evidence.
Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred in assessing his residual functional capacity to perform light work because he did not provide a function-by-function assessment of Miller's work-related abilities in accordance with SSR 96-8p. In addition, Plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred in failing to specify the frequency that he would need to alternate between sitting and standing in violation of SSR 96-9p.
Social security rulings do not have the force and effect of statutes or regulations. See Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 636 (9th Cir. 2007); Fagan v. Astrue, 231 Fed. Appx. 835, 837 fn.2 (10th Cir. 2007); Walker v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 943 F.2d 1257, 1295 (10th Cir. 1991); Paxton v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 856 F.2d 1352, 1356 (9th Cir. 1988). However, the Rulings are generally entitled to deference. Fagan, 231 Fed. Appx. at 837. In this case, the ALJ gave sufficient deference to the Rulings when making his residual functional capacity finding.
Social Security Ruling 96-8p requires that the ALJ consider all the evidence and assess the plaintiff's ability to do work-related activities, including sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling. See SSR 96-8p at *3, *5 (1996). SSR 96-8p provides that, at Step 4 of the sequential evaluation, the RFC should not be expressed in terms of exertional categories. Id. At Step 5, however, the RFC must be expressed in terms of the exertional categories, such as "sedentary," "light," "medium," or "heavy." Id. Cx
The court finds that the ALJ adequately evaluated Miller's functional limitations and restrictions. The ALJ determined that Miller "has the residual functional capacity, generally, to perform light exertional work" as defined in 20 C.F.R. 404.1567 and 416.967 with limitations. R. 16. The Regulations provide in part:
20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(b), 416.967(b).
In his determination, the ALJ discussed Miller's allegations, daily activities, and medical records. In addition, he discussed Miller's impairments and subjective complaints and determined that the record indicated that Miller had the residual functional capacity to perform light work with certain limitations. The ALJ found that, based on the testimony of the vocational expert and considering Miller's age, education, work experience, and residual functional capacity, Miller was capable of making a successful adjustment to other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy. Only after establishing that Miller could perform light work so long as he had a sit-stand option to relieve pain and discomfort and ambulated short distances no more than 20 minutes in duration per instance, did the ALJ determine that other jobs exist in the national economy that Miller could perform.
The ALJ considered both medical and non-medical evidence in the record before determining Miller has the residual functional capacity to perform light work with limitations. The purpose of the function-by-function analysis requirement is to ensure that the ALJ determines, based on the entire record, that the claimant is able to perform the functions required in a particular classification of work. An "analysis of the evidence and statement that [the claimant] could perform [light] work indicate[s] how much work-related activity [the claimant can] perform" because SSR 96-9p defines the amount of and type of work-related activity required for light work. Freeman v. Barnhart, 220 Fed. Appx. 957, 960 (11th Cir. 2007); Eubanks-Glades v. Colvin, No. 13-60029-CIV, 2013 WL 6116810, *14 (S.D. Fla., Nov. 20, 2013). In this jurisdiction, "there is no rigid requirement that the ALJ specifically refer to every piece of evidence in his decision, so long as the ALJ's decision . . . is not a broad rejection which is not enough to enable the court to conclude that [the ALJ] considered [his] medical condition as a whole." Dyer v. Barnhart, 395 F.3d 1206, 1211 (11th Cir. 2005). A review of the ALJ's opinion indicates to the court that the ALJ did consider Miller's medical condition as a whole in making his residual functional capacity determination and, therefore, fulfilled the requirement of a function-by-function analysis. Castel v. Commissioner of Social Security, 355 Fed. Appx. 260, 263 (11th Cir. 2009).
Plaintiff argues that the ALJ failed to specify the frequency of Miller's need to alternate sitting or standing. The reasonable implication, however, is that Miller could sit or stand on his own volition. See Williams v. Barnhart, 140 F. App'x 932, 937 (11th Cir. 2005). In addition, the ALJ analyzed Miller's residual functional capacity and articulated specific limitations for the vocational expert to consider, including a sit/stand option, and the expert made an individualized assessment of his ability to procure employment. As such, any error on the part of the ALJ to provide a more comprehensive function-by-function assessment of Miller's limitations is harmless under these circumstances. See Howard v. Colvin, No. 2:13cv-00140-B, 2014 WL 3767595 (S.D. Ala. July 31, 2014).
The court has carefully and independently reviewed the record and concludes that substantial evidence supports the ALJ's conclusion that Plaintiff was not disabled. Thus, the court concludes that the decision of the Commissioner is supported by substantial evidence and is due to be affirmed.
A separate order will be entered.
