MEMORANDUM OPINION

SHARON LOVELACE BLACKBURN, Senior District Judge.

Plaintiff Richard W. Thomason brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g),1 seeking review of the Commissioner of Social Security's final decision denying his application for supplemental security income ["SSI"]. Upon review of the record, the relevant law, and the arguments of counsel, the court is of the opinion that the Commissioner's decision is due to be affirmed.

I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Mr. Thomason initially filed an application for SSI on August 23, 2011. (Doc. 6-3 at R.23.)2 His claim was denied initially. (Id.) Thereafter, he requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge ["ALJ"]. (Id.; doc. 6-5 at R.70.) A video hearing was held on December 19, 2012, with Mr. Thomason appearing in Cullman, Alabama, and the ALJ presiding from Florence, Alabama. (Doc. 6-3 at R.23.) After the hearing, the ALJ found that Mr. Thomason was capable of performing "other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy." (Id. at R.38.) In light of this finding, the ALJ denied Mr. Thomason's claim for SSI on February 8, 2013. (Id.)

Mr. Thomason then asked the Appeals Council to review the ALJ's decision. (Id. at R.18.) On July 12, 2014, the Appeals Council "found no reason under [its] rules to review the Administrative Law Judge's decision. Therefore, [it] denied [Mr. Thomason's] request for review," and the ALJ's decision became the final decision of the Commissioner. (Id. at R.1.)

The present appeal was filed on September 8, 2014. (Doc. 1.) In his Brief, Mr. Thomason alleges, generally, that "the ALJ failed to properly evaluate the credibility of [Mr. Thomason's] testimony of disabling symptoms consistent with the Eleventh Circuit Pain Standard." (Doc. 11 at 3-4).

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

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. Cornelius v. Sullivan, 936 F.2d 1143, 1145 (11th Cir. 1991). It "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 Cir. 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).

III. DISCUSSION

A. THE FIVE-STEP EVALUATION

The regulations require the Commissioner to follow a five-step sequential evaluation to determine whether a claimant is eligible for SSI. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)(1)-(2); Bowen v. City of New York, 476 U.S. 467, 470 (1986). "[A]n individual shall be considered to be disabled for purposes of [determining eligibility for SSI benefits] if [he] is unable 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 twelve months." 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(A). The specific steps in the evaluation process are as follows:

1. Substantial Gainful Employment

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."3 20 C.F.R. § 416.972. If the claimant is working and that work is substantial gainful activity, the Commissioner will find that the claimant is not disabled, regardless of the claimant's medical condition or his age, education, and work experience. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(b). "Under [this] first step, the claimant has the burden to show that [he] is not currently engaged in substantial gainful activity." Reynolds-Buckley v. Commissioner of Social Sec., 457 Fed. Appx. 862, 863 (11th Cir. 2012).4

The ALJ found that Mr. Thomason had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since August 23, 2011, the application date. (Doc. 6-3 at R.25.)

2. Severe Impairments

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 the claimant's physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(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. § 1382c(a)(3)(D). 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. § 416.920(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. § 416.921(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. § 416.923. 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. Thomason had the severe impairment of "history of Kyphoplasty5 at T12/L1 on February 10, 2011." (Doc. 6-3 at R.25 [footnote added].)

3. The Listings

If the claimant has a severe impairment, the Commissioner must then determine whether the claimant's impairment meets the duration requirement6 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. § 416.920(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 his age, education, and work experience. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(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. Thomason did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that met or medically equaled a Listing. (Doc. 6-3 at R.26.)

4. Residual Functional Capacity and Past Relevant Work

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. § 416.920(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 [the claimant's] past relevant work." 20 C.F.R. § 416.960(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 [him] to learn to do it. 20 C.F.R. § 416.960(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. § 416.920(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. Thomason had the following RFC:

(Doc. 6-3 at R.27 [footnote added].) The ALJ also found that Mr. Thomason "was born [in] April . . . 1961 and was 50 years old . . . on the date the application was filed," and he had a limited education and could communicate in English. (Id. at R.37.

The ALJ found that Mr. Thomason could not perform his past relevant work as a painter or construction worker. (Id.)

5. Other Work in the National Economy

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. § 416.920(c)(1). The regulations provide:

20 C.F.R. § 416.960(c)(1).

Because the ALJ found Mr. Thomason could not perform a full range of light work, he consulted a Vocational Expert [VE] to determine whether any jobs exist in the national economy that Mr. Thomason, considering his RFC and other vocational factors, could perform. The VE testified that an individual with Mr. Thomason's limitations and vocational factors could perform the "light" jobs of hand packager, inspector, and gluer. (Doc. 6-3 at R.55-56.) Based on this testimony, the ALJ found that Mr. Thomason could perform other work, and, therefore, had not been under a disability since August 23, 2011. (Id. at R.38.)

B. ISSUE ON APPEAL

Mr. Thomason contends that "the ALJ failed to properly evaluate the credibility of [Mr. Thomason's] testimony of disabling symptoms consistent with the Eleventh Circuit Pain Standard." (Doc. 11 at 3-4). Based on the record, the court finds that the ALJ properly applied the pain standard and that the record contains substantial evidence to support the ALJ's credibility findings.

In evaluating pain and other subjective complaints, the Commissioner must consider whether the claimant demonstrated an underlying medical condition, and either "(1) objective medical evidence that confirms the severity of the alleged pain arising from that condition or (2) that the objectively determined medical condition is of such a severity that it can reasonably be expected to give rise to the alleged pain." Holt v. Sullivan, 921 F.2d 1221, 1223 (11th Cir. 1991) (emphasis added); see also Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219, 1221 (11th Cir. 2002); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529. When the objective medical evidence does not confirm the severity of the alleged pain, the question becomes whether the underlying medical condition could reasonably be expected to give rise to the alleged pain. Id. This determination is a question of fact for the ALJ, subject to the substantial evidence standard of review. Lamb v. Bowen, 847 F.2d 698, 702 (11th Cir. 1988).

Because the application of this standard often requires a credibility assessment, the ALJ's reasons for discrediting the claimant's testimony must be premised on substantial evidence and be sufficiently explicit. See e.g., Marbury v. Sullivan, 957 F.2d 837, 839 (11th Cir. 1992); Smallwood v. Schweiker, 681 F.2d 1349, 1352 (11th Cir. 1982). The determination of credibility is reserved solely for the Commissioner and is not a proper function for the courts. Daniels v. Apfel, 92 F.Supp.2d 1269, 1280 (S.D. Ala. 2000)(citing Grant v. Richardson, 445 F.2d (5th Cir. 1971)).8 When the Commissioner states a clear finding of credibility, it should not be disturbed unless it is not supported by substantial evidence. MacGregor v. Bowen, 786 F.2d 1050, 1053 (11th Cir. 1986).

In applying the pain standard, the ALJ must explicitly articulate his reasons for rejecting the claimant's subjective complaints of pain; if the ALJ fails to properly articulate his reasons for discrediting the claimant's subjective complaints of pain, the court must accept the testimony as true. Hale v. Bowen, 831 F.3d 1007, 1012 (11th Cir. 1987).

The court finds that the ALJ properly applied the pain standard. In his decision, the ALJ found, "After careful consideration of the evidence, . . . the claimant's medically determinable impairments could reasonably be expected to cause symptoms; however, the claimant's statements concerning the intensity, persistence and limiting effects of these symptoms are not entirely credible. . . ." (Doc. 6-3 at R.33.) In making his findings, the ALJ discussed inconsistencies in Mr. Thomason's testimony regarding his pain, as well as addressing Mr. Thomason's history of conservative medical treatment and medical testing showing mild to moderate symptoms. (Id. at R.33-34.) The court finds the ALJ clearly identified, and properly applied, the appropriate legal standard.

Mr. Thomason also argues, "The ALJ sets forth several reasons for failing to credit the Plaintiff's testimony of disabling symptoms, none of which are supported by substantial evidence of record." (Doc. 11 at 5.) The court disagrees.

1. MRI Results

In support of his contention that the ALJ's credibility determination is not supported by substantial evidence, Mr. Thomason argues:

(Doc. 11 at 6.)

Mr. Thomason's contention that the ALJ "completely disregard[ed]" portions of the MRI results, (id.), is rebutted by the ALJ's Decision, which sets forth all the findings from the MRI, (compare doc. 6-3 at R.34, R.36 with doc. 6-8 at R.236-37). Moreover, Mr. Thomason argues that the ALJ disregarded the findings of the MRI because he did not include the diagnoses of multi-level spondylosis and posterior central annual tears as severe impairments at step two of the sequential analysis. (Doc. 11 at 6.) The law is well established that "the finding of any severe impairment, whether or not it qualifies as a disability and whether or not it results from a single severe impairment or a combination of impairments that together qualify as severe, is enough to satisfy the requirement of step two." Jamison v. Bowen, 814 F.2d 585, 588 (11th Cir. 1987)(citing, inter alia, Cantrell v. Bowen, 804 F.2d 1571, 1573 (11th Cir. 1986); Brady v. Heckler, 724 F.2d 914, 920 (11th Cir. 1984)). The ALJ found Mr. Thomason had a severe impairment — kyphoplasty at T12-L1. Therefore, the ALJ moved past step two and considered Mr. Thomason's condition as a whole at the later steps of the sequential analysis. See id. (citing Hudson v. Heckler, 755 F.2d 781, 785 & n.2 (11th Cir. 1985); Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1240 (11th Cir. 1983)).

Mr. Thomason argues that he is disabled due to back pain. (Doc. 11 at 4.) There is no question that the ALJ thoroughly considered Mr. Thomason's complaints of disabling back pain — whether he found the pain was caused by his prior back surgery or some other spinal "deformity." Therefore, the court finds no basis for reversing the Commissioner's decision based on the ALJ's failure to consider the August 2011 MRI.

2. Dr. DeLoach's Examination

Mr. Thomason argues:

(Doc. 11 at 6-7.)

"In determining whether substantial evidence exists, the Court must also consider evidence that is favorable as well as unfavorable to the Commissioner's decision. . . . [T]he Commissioner's findings must be grounded in the entire record; a decision that focuses on one aspect of the evidence and disregards other contrary evidence is not based upon substantial evidence." Lynch v. Astrue, 358 Fed. Appx 83, 86 (11th Cir. 2009)(citing Chester v. Bowen, 792 F.2d 129, 131 (11th Cir. 1986); McCruter v. Bowen, 791 F.2d 1544, 1548 (11th Cir. 1986)). Dr. Deloach's report at issue stated that Mr. Thomason "require[d] some effort" to "get up and out of a chair;" however, he was able to get on and off the examining table "without any problems." (Doc. 6-8 at R.265.) He also noted that Mr. Thomason "had to sit or hold something" to get dressed. (Id.,) The ALJ did not ignore this evidence; to the contrary, he expressly noted these statements in his decision.9 (Doc. 6-3 at R.34.) Certainly, the ability to get on and off the examining table appears inconsistent with the inability to rise from a chair without effort or to stand while getting dressed. Nevertheless, the court finds that the ALJ expressly considered this evidence in determining that Mr. Thomason's back pain was no more than moderate. (Doc. 6-3 at R.34, R.36.) Moreover, the ALJ discussed other medical reports and examination notes in the record. Therefore, the court finds that Mr. Thomason's claim that the ALJ chose isolated notations to support his decision and ignored other evidence is not supported by the record.

3. Conservative Treatment

Mr. Thomason contends that the ALJ's finding that his claims of disabling back pain were negated by his conservative treatment is as mischaracterization of the evidence and is not supported by substantial evidence. (Doc. 11 at 7 [citing doc. 6-3 at 35].) The court disagrees. The ALJ held:

(Doc. 6-3 at 35.)

The court has carefully reviewed the entire record and concludes that the ALJ properly characterized Mr. Thompson's complaints and his treatment. Although his treatment for back pain was extensive, it was conservative following his kyphoplasty, consisting of prescription medications and one injection. The court finds no reversible error.

4. Dr. Heilpern's Opinion

Mr. Thompson argues that the ALJ erred in giving great weight to the opinion of the state reviewing physician, Dr. Heilpern. (Doc. 11 at 8.) He contends, "Dr. Heilpern's opinion is inconsistent with the treating records documenting abnormal physical findings as well Dr. DeLoach's observations that the Plaintiff required `some effort to get up and out of the chair' and `had to sit or hold on to something' when getting dressed." (Doc. 11 at 8 [citing R.253, 262, 265, 308] [emphasis deleted].)

Flowers v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 441 F. Appx 735, 740 (11th Cir. 2011).

The ALJ found that Dr. Heilpern's opinion was consistent with the medical records, including the August 2011 MRI and Dr. Deloach's report. (Doc. 6-3 at 36.) The court agrees. Indeed, contrary to Mr. Thomason's assertion, Dr. Heilpern's reports specifically refers to Dr. DeLoach's observations regarding Mr. Thomason's difficulty with rising from a chair and difficulty in dressing himself while standing; he also notes that Dr. DeLoach observed Mr. Thomason had no difficulty getting on and off the table and other findings regarding Mr. Thomason's claim of disabling back pain. (See doc. 6-8 at R.270, 273.) Mr. Thomason has not shown that the ALJ erred in assigning great weight to Dr. Heilpern's opinion.

Thus, based on its review of the administrative record, the court finds that the ALJ's factual findings are supported by substantial evidence and that he correctly applied the law to those facts. Therefore, the Commissioner's decision denying Mr. Thomason's claim for SSI will be affirmed.

CONCLUSION

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.