SUSAN RUSS WALKER, Chief Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff Gina Gayle Bigelow ("Plaintiff") brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C.§ 405(g) seeking judicial review of a decision by the Commissioner of Social Security ("Commissioner") denying her application for disability insurance benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act ("the Act") and supplemental security income under Title XVI of the Act. Upon review of the record and briefs submitted by the parties, the court concludes that the decision of the Commissioner is due to be affirmed.
The court's review of the Commissioner's decision is narrowly circumscribed. The court does not reweigh the evidence or substitute its judgment for that of the Commissioner. Rather, the court examines the administrative decision and scrutinizes the record as a whole to determine whether substantial evidence supports the ALJ's factual findings. Davis v. Shalala, 985 F.2d 528, 531 (11th Cir. 1993); Cornelius v. Sullivan, 936 F.2d 1143, 1145 (11th Cir. 1991). Substantial evidence consists of such "relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Cornelius, 936 F.2d at 1145. A reviewing court may not look only to those parts of the record which support 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). Factual findings that are supported by substantial evidence must be upheld by the court. The ALJ's legal conclusions, however, are reviewed de novo because no presumption of validity attaches to the ALJ's determination of the proper legal standards to be applied. Davis, 985 F.2d at 531. If the court finds an error in the ALJ's application of the law, or if the ALJ fails to provide the court with sufficient reasoning for determining that the proper legal analysis has been conducted, the ALJ's decision must be reversed. Cornelius, 936 F.2d at 1145-46.
Plaintiff filed her application for disability benefits on April 5, 2012, alleging that she became disabled on March 15, 2012, due to epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and "other mental problems" (R. 166, 224). Her application was denied at the initial administrative level, and plaintiff requested a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). (R. 81). The ALJ held a hearing on February 8, 2013, at which plaintiff was represented by counsel. (R. 27-59). On April 30, 2013, the ALJ issued a decision finding plaintiff has not been disabled as defined in the Social Security Act since March 15, 2012, through the date of the ALJ's decision. (R. 7, 10). The ALJ followed the five-step evaluation for determining disability benefits and concluded that Plaintiff had severe impairments of seizure disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, personality disorder, and social phobia. (R. 12); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4). He concluded at step three that none of Plaintiff's impairments or combination of impairments met or medically equaled one of the listings. (R. 12). The ALJ determined that Plaintiff had the residual functional capacity ("RFC") to perform a full range of work at all exertional levels with nonexertional limitations. (R. 14). At step four, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff could not perform her past relevant work as a cashier/checker. (R. 20). The ALJ found that transferability of job skills was not material because the medical-vocational rules supported a finding that Plaintiff was not disabled. (R. 20). The ALJ concluded at step five that Plaintiff's ability to work at all exertional levels was compromised by nonexertional limitations, but Plaintiff could transfer her past work skills to the occupations of cleaner/housekeeper, poultry eviscerator, and production assembler. (R. 21). With the additional limitation that Plaintiff could not have contact with the public, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff could transfer her past work skills to the job of baker worker. (R. 21).
Plaintiff appealed the ALJ's decision to the Appeals Council, and on December 30, 2013, the Appeals Council denied review. (R. 1-9). Plaintiff then filed the present action seeking review of the Commissioner's final decision. (Doc. No. 1).
Plaintiff contends that the Commissioner's decision is due to be reversed because (1) the ALJ committed reversible error in failing to evaluate Plaintiff's mental impairment and resulting functional limitations as required by 20 C.F.R.§ 404.1520a; (2) the ALJ committed reversible error since the testimony of the vocational expert was that there was no work that Plaintiff could perform; (3) the ALJ erred in failing to obtain an updated medical opinion of a medical expert as to medical equivalency, and "the ALJ erred in not ordering a consultative examination when additional medical evidence was submitted from Keesler Air Force Base, that may change the state agency medical or psychological consultant's finding that the impairment is not equivalent in severity to any impairment in the listings of impairments." (Doc. No. 14, at 5).
Under section 1520a, the ALJ first evaluates whether the claimant has a medically determinable mental impairment and, if so, the ALJ then "rate[s] the degree of functional limitation resulting from the impairment(s) in accordance with paragraph (c)." 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520a(c)(2). Paragraph (c) lists the following four areas of assessment: "Activities of daily living; social functioning; concentration, persistence, or pace; and episodes of decompensation." 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520a(c)(3)-(4). The ALJ rates an impairment in the first three functional areas as none, mild, moderate, marked, or extreme. The ALJ rates the fourth area, episodes of decompensation, as none, one or two, three, or four or more. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c)(4). Impairments rated as none or mild in the first three categories and none in the fourth category are generally considered not to be severe. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520a (d)(1). This technique is called the Psychiatric Review Technique Form or "PRTF." Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1213-14 (11th Cir. 2005).
Except for her statement of the issue, Plaintiff provides no further mention of section 1520a or argument describing the way in which the ALJ failed to satisfy section 1520a. Plaintiff does not divide her brief into sections addressing each of the claimed errors. Instead, the whole of her argument is contained within a two-page portion of the brief under the heading, "Summary of the Argument and Standard of Review." (Doc. No. 14, at 8-10). Thus, if Plaintiff means to argue the ALJ failed to satisfy the technical requirements of section 1520a, the Court deems the issue waived. See Shinseki v. Sanders, 556 U.S. 396, 409 (2009) ("[T]he burden of showing that an error is harmful normally falls upon the party attacking the agency's determination."); cf. Sapuppo v. Allstate Floridian Ins. Co., 739 F.3d 678, 681 (11th Cir. 2014) ("We have long held that an appellant abandons a claim when he either makes only passing references to it or raises it in a perfunctory manner without supporting arguments and authority.") (collecting cases); N.L.R.B. v. McClain of Ga., Inc., 138 F.3d 1418, 1422 (11th Cir.1998) ("Issues raised in a perfunctory manner, without supporting arguments and citation to authorities, are generally deemed to be waived.") (citing Cont'l Tech Serv., Inc. v. Rockwell Int'l Corp, 927 F.2d 1198, 1199 (11th Cir.1991)). Even if this issue were not waived, the ALJ satisfactorily performed the required analysis at R. 13-14.
Plaintiff does maintain that "the ALJ should have found her mental impairments, as evidenced by her vast medical records from Keesler Air Force Base, as well as SpectraCare, and recent court ordered institutionalization, medically equaled [Listing 12.04], Affective disorders, specifically Bipolar, depression." (Doc. No. 14, at 9).
Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219, 1224 (11th Cir. 2002). Plaintiff fails to "meet all of the specified medical criteria" of Listing 12.04; therefore, she does not meet the listing. Sullivan v. Zebley, 493 U.S. 521, 531 (1990)("An impairment that manifests only some of those criteria, no matter how severely, does not qualify.").
The ALJ considered each of the paragraph B criteria of Listing 12.04 and 12.08, and determined that Plaintiff did not have mental impairments resulting in at least two of the following: marked restriction of activities of daily living; marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; or repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration. (R. 13-14). Substantial evidence on the record supports the ALJ's decision. (R. 13-14). In activities of daily living ("ADL"), Plaintiff denied any problems with personal care, and she reported that she sometimes prepares meals, performs household chores with encouragement, gets outside using rides, shops, and is able to pay bills, count change, handle a savings account, and use a checkbook. (R. 13, 182-85). The ALJ found that Plaintiff had only mild restrictions in ADL, and he pointed out that Plaintiff and her boyfriend/husband stated on the Initial Claimant Contact form "that all physical limitations noted on ADLs are due to seizures of the effects after a seiz[u]re. Both parties deny any additional physical limitations." (R. 13, 193). The ALJ determined that Plaintiff had moderate difficulties in social functioning. (R. 13). Plaintiff reported difficulty talking, getting along with others, handling stress, and handling changes in routine "if I hurt myself during a seizure and also with bi-polar." (R. 13, 187). The ALJ noted that during a May 2, 2012, interview with the Disability Determination Service ("DDS") representative, however, both Plaintiff and her boyfriend/husband said that Plaintiff can carry on a normal conversation, and the disability specialist "noted no difficulty talking on interview with" Plaintiff. (R. 13, 193). The ALJ determined that Plaintiff had moderate difficulties in concentration, persistence, or pace. (R. 13). Plaintiff and her boyfriend/husband reported Plaintiff had difficulty with memory, completing tasks, concentration, understanding, and following instructions, and she needs reminders for personal grooming, medication, and appointments. (R. 13, 176, 178, 187). The ALJ observed, however, that Plaintiff can manage money. (R. 13, 185). The ALJ stated that Plaintiff had one to two episodes of decompensation of extended duration. (R. 14). Episodes of decompensation are "exacerbations or temporary increases in symptoms or signs accompanied by a loss of adaptive functioning, as manifested by difficulties in performing activities of daily living, maintaining social relationships, or maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace." 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, § 12.00(C)(4). Extended episodes of decompensation "means three episodes within 1 year, or an average of every 4 months, each lasting for at least 2 weeks." Id. Plaintiff was admitted to the Behavioral Medicine Unit ("BMU") at SpectraCare in December 2012, but that stay was only a week and therefore did not qualify as an "extended" episode. (R. 13, 1132-64).
The ALJ also determined that Plaintiff did not satisfy the paragraph C criteria of Listings 12.04 or 12.08. (R. 14). In particular, the ALJ found that "[t]he record does not contain evidence that [Plaintiff] is unable to function outside a highly supporting living arrangement." (R. 14); see 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, § 12.04(C). The ALJ's findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record and, except for her broad reference to the medical evidence, Plaintiff points to no contrary evidence. (Doc. No. 14, at 9).
Plaintiff further argues that, after receiving medical evidence from Keesler Air Force Base, the ALJ erred by "fail[ing] to obtain an updated medical judgment as to medical equivalence per Social Security Ruling 96-6p `mental limitations: A substantial loss of the ability to perform any one of several basic work-related activities on a sustained basis (i.e., 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, or an equivalent work schedule) will substantially erode the unskilled sedentary occupational base and would justify a finding of disability . . . .'" (Doc. No. 14, at 9).
The ALJ committed no reversible error. Social Security Ruling 96-6 requires in relevant part
Larry v. Commissioner of Social Sec., 506 F. App'x. 967, 968-69 (11th Cir. Feb. 7, 2013)(emphasis and first and third alterations added).
Here, the ALJ did develop the record for the twelve months prior to April 5, 2012, Plaintiff's application date. Id.; 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1512(d), 416.912(d). The medical records during the relevant period begin on November 29, 2011, when Plaintiff was seen at SpectraCare for intake. (R. 16-18, 250-56). Plaintiff "reported that she only had seizures during childhood and her last seizure was in her childhood." (R. 16, 251). Her presenting complaints included panic attacks, crying, anger, and she stated she previously had been diagnosed as bipolar. (R. 250). On November 30, 2011, Dr. Lopez prescribed Plaintiff medication for bipolar disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, and personality disorder. (R. 18, 244-47). Plaintiff was supposed to return for therapy on December 13, 2011, but she failed to appear for her appointment. (R. 242-43). Plaintiff also failed to respond to a no-show letter regarding the December 2011 appointment, and she failed to attend a March 14, 2012, appointment scheduled with Dr. Lopez. (R. 18, 248-49). As a result, SpectraCare terminated its relationship with Plaintiff in mid-March 2012. (R. 18, 248-49).
On January 10, 2012, Plaintiff was seen in the emergency room at Southeast Alabama Medical Center for a probable seizure, but she left before triage, stating that she felt better and wanted to leave. (R. 16, 220-22). Plaintiff returned to the emergency room on February 2, 2012, for a seizure. (R. 16, 215). She reported that the seizure happened at work, was tonic clonic, and lasted about thirty seconds. The notes indicate that Plaintiff was "near baseline and [Plaintiff] notes that she does not really want an evaluation but is willing to do so. . .," and she denied associated symptoms. (R. 16, 216). Plaintiff was in distress, awake, and confused but answered questions. (R. 217). She was given Fosphenytoin by IV but stated, "my back is burning, Stop this medication and I am leaving!" and tried to pull at the IV. (R. 217). Plaintiff left angrily in no apparent distress. (R. 217). She was diagnosed with subtherapeutic Dilantin levels. (R. 16, 218-19). The notes indicate, "Your dilantin level was low and has been replaced; ensure to be taking your medication to decrease your risk of having more frequent seizures." (R. 218). Plaintiff was not hospitalized for seizures after the March 15, 2012, onset date.
Along with the relevant medical records before the onset date, the ALJ considered Plaintiff's treatment for anger, nervousness, and anxiety at SpectraCare in November 2012, her no-show for treatments in November and December 2012, her sporadic treatment, as well as her in-patient treatment in December 2012, when she was admitted for a week in the Behavioral Medicine Unit ("BMU"). (R. 18-19, 1132-64, 1166, 1188). Plaintiff was noted to be noncompliant with her medication before her admission to the BMU. (R. 18, 1134, 1154). Even if the May 2012 opinion of Dr. Williams is deemed out of date in the wake of the in-patient treatment at the end of 2012, the one-week treatment in the BMU does not satisfy the two-week requirement for a period of decompensation. 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, § 12.00(C)(4).
The ALJ also considered Plaintiff's own reports. Plaintiff stated in her Seizure Questionnaire that she had seizures in February, March, and April 2012, she could tell when a seizure was coming, and they lasted a couple of minutes. (R. 16, 190-91). She testified before the ALJ, however, that she did not know when a seizure was coming, she did not know how long they lasted, and she was having seizures three to four times each week. (R. 43-44, 54). She reported in her Seizure Questionnaire that her Dilantin caused her difficulty thinking and tiredness; however, she denied any side effects from medications in her Disability Report. (R. 191, 199). The ALJ found Plaintiff's statements concerning the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of her medical symptoms "not entirely credible," and Plaintiff does not specifically dispute that finding. (R. 16).
The ALJ is not required to order a consultative examination if the record contains sufficient evidence for the ALJ to make an informed decision. Doughty v. Apfel, 245 F.3d 1274, 1280-81 (11th Cir. 2001)(before ordering consultative examination the ALJ must give "`full consideration to whether the additional information needed . . . is readily available from the records of [the claimant's] medical sources' . . . [and] necessary information is not in the record and cannot be obtained from the claimant's treating medical sources or other medical sources")(citations omitted). Here, the record in Plaintiff's case contained sufficient evidence for the ALJ to make an informed decision, and it does not reveal an evidentiary gap that clearly prejudiced Plaintiff. See Brown, 44 F.3d at 935. Consequently, no further medical opinion was required.
Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erroneously disregarded the testimony of Doug Miller, the vocational expert ("VE"), who testified there would be no jobs in the national economy for a person of Plaintiff's age, education, and work background, who had no exertional limitations, but who would have four unscheduled days absent from work each month due to seizures, who was precluded from working at unprotected heights, around dangerous machinery, or operating automotive equipment; was precluded from climbing ropes, ladders, or scaffolding; was precluded from working around or having concentrated exposure of five minutes or more to temperature extremes and humidity; who could have occasional contact with the public and could work in close proximity to coworkers and supervisors, but would need to work independently; who could occasionally adapt to workplace changes; could perform simple, routine, repetitive tasks; and who could maintain attention and concentration for up to two hours at a time. (R. 47-49).
The ALJ did not rely on the above-mentioned hypothetical from the VE; instead, the ALJ relied on the same hypothetical but without the four unscheduled absences per month due to seizures. (R. 14). Under this hypothetical, the VE gave the opinion that there were significant jobs in the national economy for an individual with such functioning capacity, including cleaner, housekeeper, poultry eviscerator, and production assembler. (R. 47-48). The ALJ's determination not to include the work absences was supported by substantial evidence. After her March 15, 2012, alleged onset date, Plaintiff did not go to the hospital for treatment of seizures,
Upon review of the record as a whole, the court concludes that the Commissioner's decision is supported by substantial evidence and a proper application of the law. Accordingly, it is the RECOMMENDATION of the Magistrate Judge that the decision of the Commissioner be AFFIRMED.
The Clerk of the Court is ORDERED to file the Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge and to serve a copy on the parties to this action. The parties are DIRECTED to file any objections to this Recommendation on or before December 29, 2014. Any objections filed must identify specifically the findings in the Magistrate Judge's Recommendation to which the party objects. Frivolous, conclusive or general objections will not be considered by the District Court.
Failure to file written objections to the proposed findings and recommendations in the Magistrate Judge's report shall bar the party from a de novo determination by the District Court of issues covered in the report and shall bar the party from attacking on appeal factual findings in the report accepted or adopted by the District Court except upon grounds of plain error or manifest injustice. Resolution Trust Co. v. Hallmark Builders, Inc., 996 F.2d 1144, 1149 (11th Cir. 1993); Henley v. Johnson, 885 F.2d 790, 794 (11th Cir. 1989).
20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, § 12.04.
