PATRICIA S. HARRIS, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff Edwin Jay Hesslen ("Hesslen"), in his appeal of the final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (defendant "Berryhill") to deny his claim for Disability Insurance benefits (DIB) and supplemental security income (SSI), contends the Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") erred by performing a flawed analysis of Hesslen's credibility. The parties have ably summarized the medical records and the testimony given at the administrative hearing conducted on October 24, 2013. (Tr. 36-59). The Court has carefully reviewed the record to determine whether there is substantial evidence in the administrative record to support Berryhill's decision. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The relevant period for the purposes of this lawsuit is from the alleged onset date of June 20, 2007, through October 3, 2014, when the ALJ issued his decision.
An overview of the hearing testimony is helpful. Hesslen, who was 29 at the hearing, has a GED and no past relevant work, though he testified to working short stints at fast food restaurants and with a construction company. His last work attempt prior to the hearing was picking up trash at the fair. He worked this job less than one week — it ended when he missed a day due to a migraine headache. Hesslen alleges his "severe migraines" prevent him from working. (Tr. 44). These headaches started in 2006 or 2007,
The ALJ asked a vocational expert to consider a hypothetical individual of Hesslen's age, education and work experience who could perform work at all exertional levels, could perform work where interpersonal contact was incidental to the work performed, the complexity of tasks is learned and performed by rote with few variables and little judgment, and where the supervision required is simple, direct, and concrete. The vocational expert testified that such a worker could perform the jobs of industrial cleaner, hand packer, and machine packager. (Tr. 55-56).
In his October 3, 2014 decision, the ALJ found Hesslen had the following severe impairments: history of open skull fracture, impulse control disorder, cognitive disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and polysubstance dependence, reportedly in sustained remission. The ALJ held Hesslen's statements about the limiting effects of his symptoms were "not entirely credible for the reasons explained in this decision." (Tr. 18). He also found Hesslen's residual functional capacity (RFC) precisely mirrored the limitations contained in the first hypothetical question posed at the hearing. Relying upon the testimony of the vocational expert, the ALJ found Hesslen could perform work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy. Therefore, the ALJ concluded Hesslen was not disabled. (Tr. 13-22).
The primary allegation of disability is Hesslen's claim of frequent, severe migraine headaches throughout the seven year relevant period. Such a serious alleged condition would typically compel a claimant to seek treatment by any conventional means. Here, however, Hesslen sought and obtained treatment once during the relevant period.
With regard to the medical evidence, the ALJ thoroughly discussed the medical treatment, including the results of a consultative examination ordered by the ALJ. The consultative examination, performed by neuropsychologist Dr. Patricia Walz ("Walz"), is the most informative medical record during the relevant period. Walz evaluated Hesslen in September 2014, finding him to have low average range IQ, dysthymia, polysubstance dependence reportedly in remission, antisocial personality disorder, and a GAF of 60 to 65. Walz reported Hesslen could drive, his social skills were fair, his speech was clear and intelligible, his attention and concentration were fair, he persisted well, and his speed of information processing was a bit slow. (Tr. 379-384). The ALJ assigned "great weight" to Walz's opinions. The ALJ did not err in assessing Walz's findings, primarily because there is no medical evidence which detract from her conclusions.
While Hesslen would have the ALJ conclude he cannot keep a job because he cannot "catch on and keep the pace," the ALJ is not obliged to accept Hesslen's statement at face value. The credibility analysis rightly focused on the findings in the medical records, the absence of treatment, the failure to comply with follow up when treatment was ongoing, and Hesslen's daily activities. The ALJ need not discuss each factor enumerated in Polaski, but should utilize the framework and emphasize the most influential factors based upon the facts before him. This case is an example of the ALJ fairly weighing the relevant factors. Substantial evidence supports the ALJ's credibility determination.
In summary, we find the ultimate decision of Berryhill was supported by substantial evidence. We are mindful that the Court's task is not to review the record and arrive at an independent decision, nor is it to reverse if we find some evidence to support a different conclusion. The test is whether substantial evidence supports the ALJ's decision. See, e.g., Byes v. Astrue, 687 F.3d 913, 915 (8th Cir. 2012). This test is satisfied in this case.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the final decision of Berryhill is affirmed and Hesslen's complaint is dismissed with prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.