SHARON LOVELACE BLACKBURN, District Judge.
Plaintiff Alonzo Lee Dukes, Jr., brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), seeking review of the Commissioner of Social Security's final decision denying his application for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits ["DIB"]. Upon review of the record and the relevant law, the court is of the opinion that the Commissioner's decision is due to be affirmed.
Mr. Dukes filed an application for a period of disability and DIB on April 13, 2010, alleging disability beginning on July 18, 2005. (Doc. 4-3 at R.31.)
Mr. Dukes then requested the Appeals Council review the ALJ's decision. (Id. at R.25.) The Appeals Council "found no reason under [its] rules to review the Administrative Law Judge's decision. Therefore, [it] denied [Mr. Dukes's] request for review." (Id. at R.10.) The ALJ's decision is the final decision of the Commissioner. (Id.)
Following denial of review by the Appeals Council, Mr. Dukes filed an appeal in this court. (See generally doc. 1.)
In reviewing claims brought under the Social Security Act, this court's role is a narrow one: "Our review of the Commissioner's decision is limited to an inquiry into whether there is substantial evidence to support the findings of the Commissioner, and whether the correct legal standards were applied." Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219, 1221 (11th Cir. 2002); see also Lamb v. Bowen, 847 F.2d 698, 701 (11th Cir. 1988). The court gives deference to factual findings and reviews questions of law de novo. Cornelius v. Sullivan, 936 F.2d 1143, 1145 (11th Cir. 1991). The court "may not decide the facts anew, reweigh the evidence, or substitute [its] judgment for that of the [Commissioner], rather [it] must scrutinize the record as a whole to determine if the decision reached is reasonable and supported by substantial evidence." Martin v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1520, 1529 (11th Cor. 1990)(quoting Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th Cir.1983))(internal quotations and other citation omitted). "The Commissioner's factual findings are conclusive if supported by substantial evidence." Wilson, 284 F.3d at 1221 (citing Martin v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1520, 1529 (11th Cir. 1990); Allen v. Bowen, 816 F.2d 600, 602 (11th Cir. 1987)). "Substantial evidence" is "more than a scintilla and is such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Winschel v. Commissioner of Social Sec., 631 F.3d 1176, 1178 (11th Cir. 2011)(internal quotations and citations omitted)
Conclusions of law made by the Commissioner are reviewed de novo. Cornelius, 936 F.2d at 1145. "No . . . presumption of validity attaches to the [Commissioner's] conclusions of law." Wiggins v. Schweiker, 679 F.2d 1387, 1389 (11th Cir. 1982).
The regulations require the Commissioner to follow a five-step sequential evaluation to determine whether a claimant is eligible for a period of disability and DIB. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(1)-(2); see also Bowen v. City of New York, 476 U.S. 467, 470 (1986). "The term `disability' means — (A) [the] inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which 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); see also 42 U.S.C. § 416(i)(1). The specific steps in the evaluation process are as follows:
First, the Commissioner must determine whether the claimant is engaged in "substantial gainful activity." Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 137 (1987). The regulations define "substantial gainful activity" as "work activity that is both substantial and gainful."
The ALJ found that Mr. Dukes had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since July 18, 2005, the alleged onset date, through December 31, 2010, the date last insured. (Doc. 4-3 at R.33.)
If the claimant is not engaged in substantial gainful activity, the Commissioner must next determine whether the claimant suffers from a severe impairment or combination of impairments that significantly limits his physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), (c). "[A] `physical or mental impairment' is an impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which are demonstrable by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques." 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(3). The regulations provide: "[I]f you do not have any impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits your physical or mental ability to do basic work activities, we will find that you do not have a severe impairment and are, therefore, not disabled. We will not consider your age, education, and work experience." 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). "An impairment can be considered as not severe only if it is a slight abnormality which has such a minimal effect on the individual that it would not be expected to interfere with the individual's ability to work, irrespective of age, education, or work experience." Brady v. Heckler, 724 F.2d 914, 920 (11th Cir. 1984); see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1521(a). A claimant may be found disabled based on a combination of impairments even though none of the individual impairments alone are disabling. Walker v. Brown, 826 F.2d 996, 1001 (11th Cir. 1985); see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1523. A claimant has the burden to show that he has a severe impairment or combination of impairments. Reynolds-Buckley, 457 Fed. Appx. at 863.
The ALJ found that Mr. Dukes had the following severe impairments: "cluster headaches, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and a history of polysubstance abuse in full remission." (Doc. 4-3 at R.33.)
If the claimant has a severe impairment, the Commissioner must then determine whether the claimant's impairment meets the durational requirement and whether it is equivalent to any one of the listed impairments, which are impairments that are so severe as to prevent an individual with the described impairment from performing substantial gainful activity. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iii), (d)-(e); see 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 [The Listings]. If the claimant's impairment meets or equals a Listing, the Commissioner must find the claimant disabled, regardless of the claimant's age, education, and work experience. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(d). The claimant has the burden of proving that his impairment meets or equals the criteria contained in one of the Listings. Reynolds-Buckley, 457 Fed. Appx. at 863.
The ALJ found that Mr. Dukes "did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that met or medically equaled the severity of one of the listed impairments in 20 CFR Part404, Subpart P, Appendix 1." (Doc. 4-3 at R.33.)
If the impairment does not meet or equal the criteria of a Listing, the claimant must prove that his impairment prevents him from performing his past relevant work. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iv), (f). At step four, the Commissioner "will first compare [her] assessment of [the claimant's] residual functional capacity ["RFC"] with the physical and mental demands of [his] past relevant work. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1560(b). "Past relevant work is work that [the claimant has] done within the past 15 years, that was substantial gainful activity, and that lasted long enough for [her] to learn to do it. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1560(b)(1). If the claimant is capable of performing his past relevant work, the Commissioner will find he is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1560(e). The claimant bears the burden of establishing that the impairment prevents him from performing past work. Reynolds-Buckley, 457 Fed. Appx. at 863.
The ALJ found that Mr. Dukes had the following RFC:
(Doc. 4-3 at R.36.) The ALJ found that Mr. Dukes could perform his past relevant work. (Id. at R.39.)
The ALJ did not address Mr. Dukes's other vocational factors. Nevertheless, the court notes that Mr. Dukes was born in 1966, (id. at R.49); therefore, he was a younger individual on the alleged onset date, see 20 CFR § 404.1563(c). He has a college degree. (Doc. 4-3 at R.50.)
If the claimant establishes that he is unable to perform his past relevant work, the Commissioner must show that the claimant — in light of his RFC, age, education, and work experience — is capable of performing other work that exists in substantial numbers in the national economy. Reynolds-Buckley, 457 Fed. Appx. at 863; see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c)(1). The regulations provide:
20 C.F.R. § 404.1560(c)(1). If the claimant is not capable of performing such other work, the Commissioner must find the claimant is disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(f). If, however, the Commissioner finds that the claimant can perform other work, the claimant has the burden to prove he in not capable of performing such other work.
Because the ALJ found Mr. Dukes was capable of performing his past relevant work, the ALJ did not address whether other jobs existed in the national economy that an individual of Mr. Dukes's age and with his RFC, education, and work experience could perform.
Mr. Dukes argues that the ALJ's decision is not supported by substantial evidence. (Doc. 8 at 5.) He contends the ALJ erred (1) by failing to present all his limitations in a hypothetical to the vocational expert ["VE"], (doc. 8 at 7), and (2) by discounting the weight accorded his treating physician, Dr. Victor Sung, (id. at 7-9). The court has reviewed the entire record before the ALJ, as well as the parties' briefs, and it finds that the Commissioner's decision is due to be affirmed.
Mr. Dukes contends:
(Doc. 8 at 7.)
In this case, the ALJ's hypothetical questions to the VE contained each and every limitation she found. (Compare doc. 4-3 at 36 with id. at 76-77.) After reviewing Mr. Dukes's past relevant work, the ALJ asked the VE:
(Doc. 4-3 at R.76-77.) In her decision, the ALJ found Mr. Dukes had the RFC "to perform a full range of work at all exertional levels but with the following nonexertional limitations:"
(Id. at R.36.) All of these limitations and restrictions were included in the ALJ's hypothetical questions to the VE. Therefore, the court finds no reversible error.
"The Secretary, and not the court, is charged with the duty to weigh the evidence, to resolve material conflicts in the testimony, and to determine the case accordingly." Wheeler v. Heckler, 784 F.2d 1073, 1075 (11th Cir. 1986) (citing Laffoon v. Califano, 558 F.2d 253, 254 (5th Cir.1977)). The ALJ considers medical opinions together with the rest of the relevant evidence received in making her determination. See C.F.R. § 404.1520b. The regulations provide specific criteria for evaluating medical opinions from acceptable medical sources: (1) examining relationship; (2) treatment relationship; (3) supportability; (4) consistency; (5) specialization; and (6) "other factors."
"[T]he ALJ must state with particularity the weight given to different medical opinions and the reasons therefor." Winschel v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 631 F.3d 1176, 1179 (11th Cir. 2011) (citing Sharfarz v. Bowen, 825 F.2d 278, 279 (11th Cir.1987) (per curiam)). "An acceptable medical opinion as to disability must contain more than a mere conclusory statement that the claimant is disabled. It must be supported by clinical or laboratory findings." Oldham, 660 F.2d at 1084. Accordingly, with good cause, the ALJ may disregard a treating physician's opinion "but [she] `must clearly articulate [the] reasons for doing so,'" because "[i]n the absence of such a statement, it is impossible for a reviewing court to determine whether the ultimate decision on the merits of the claim is rational and supported by substantial evidence." Id. (quoting Cowart v. Schweiker, 662 F.2d 731, 735 (11th Cir.1981)).
The treating physician's opinions at issue in this case are contained in a two-page document, entitled "Supplemental Questionnaire," completed by Victor Sung, M.D., on October 19, 2010. (Doc. 4-10 at 492-93.) Dr. Sung did not elaborate as to the basis for his opinions. Moreover, although this document purports to be Dr. Sung's opinions regarding Mr. Dukes's psychiatric status, he noted that he did not obtain a psychological evaluation. (Id.) Nevertheless, Dr. Sung noted in the questionnaire that Mr. Dukes had "marked" restrictions of his ability to maintain social functioning, his ability to complete tasks in a timely manner, and his ability to respond appropriately to customary work pressures. (Id. at 492.) With regard to the side-effects of his medications, Dr. Sung noted that Mr. Dukes "had already had a significant side effect, which is an abscess at the site of one of his pain injections. All future injections carry risk of pain, infection, bleeding. The other (potential) medication side effects include sedation, GI upset, tremor, or muscle aches." (Id. at R.493.)
The ALJ gave "little weight" to Dr. Sung's opinions, stating:
(Doc. 4-3 at R.38 [footnote added].)
According to the medical records, the court finds that Dr. Sung performed a suboccipital nerve block on Mr. Dukes on May 10, 2010. (Doc. 4-9 at R.276.) Dr. Sung reported that Mr. Dukes tolerated the procedure "well" and was scheduled to return for another nerve block in three months. (Id.) The record contains a signed informed-consent form dated August 23, 2010, (see doc. 4-11 at 495, 498-99); however, the court has not located any treatment notes or other report regarding this procedure. Moreover, the court has not located any notes indicating other nerve block procedures until May 2011. (See id. at R.502, 504.) There is a progress note that indicates Mr. Dukes was diagnosed with "Cellulitis and abscess of the neck" on October 6, 2010 by Dr. Joseph Golden. (Id. at R.525.) This appears to be the side effect referenced in Dr. Sung's opinion. (See doc. 4-10 at 493.) Although the ALJ incorrectly noted that Dr. Sung's treatment of Mr. Dukes began in August 2010, the treating relationship between Dr. Sung and Mr. Dukes before the date last insured appears to have been limited to two suboccipital nerve blocks with no significant follow-up treatment.
Dr. Sung's conclusory opinions regarding Mr. Dukes's restrictions and limitations are simply not supported by his treatment notes or other medical records. Moreover, the court finds that Dr. Sung's opinions are inconsistent with other evidence regarding Mr. Dukes's limitations, including, but not limited to, evidence of Mr. Dukes's daily activities, the treatment records (or lack thereof) for the period before between May 2010 and December 31, 2010, and the opinion of consulting psychologist, Sally Gordon. The court finds that the ALJ's decision to accord Dr. Sung's opinions little weight is supported by the record.
For the reasons set forth above, the decision of the Commissioner is due to be affirmed. An Order affirming the decision of the Commissioner will be entered contemporaneously with this Memorandum Opinion.
20 C.F.R. § 404.1572; 20 C.F.R. § 416.972.
Doughty v. Apfel, 245 F.3d 1274, 1278 n.2 (11th Cir. 2001).
20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(6).