ORDER REVERSING AND REMANDING ALJ'S DECISION DENYING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

CHRISTINE M. ARGUELLO, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on review of the Commissioner's decision to deny Plaintiff Debra A. Glenn's ("Plaintiff") application for social security disability benefits under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 401-33. Jurisdiction is proper under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

I. BACKGROUND

A. MEDICAL EVIDENCE

Plaintiff was born on January 1, 1972, and was 37 years old on the date of her alleged disability onset. (AR at 22, 36.)1 She received a high school education up to the tenth grade, and obtained a GED. (AR at 37.) Plaintiff reported that she previously worked as a housekeeper, cashier, and store manager. (AR at 38-39.) With regard to her physiological ailments, Plaintiff's complains that she suffers from back and neck pain, a bulging disc in her back, back spasms, numbness in her right leg, carpal tunnel syndrome, and headaches. (AR at 41-42, 167.) In 2005, she was diagnosed with osteoblastoma and underwent surgery to remove the tumor and to fuse her spine. Plaintiff has not had a recurrence of the cancer. (AR at 368-75.) Plaintiff testified that she is awaiting surgery on a bulging disk and is prescribed medications to manage her pain. (AR at 42.) Plaintiff was also diagnosed with depression and anxiety. She takes antidepressants with no side effects. (AR at 42-43, 49, 213.) Plaintiff testified that for the past year, she has smoked a pack of cigarettes every four days. Prior to that, she smoked two packs of cigarettes per day. (AR at 43.)

B. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Plaintiff filed an application for disability benefits, alleging a disability onset date of September 1, 2009. After her initial application was denied, Plaintiff requested a hearing, which was held on August 24, 2011, before an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"), who issued an unfavorable decision on September 13, 2011. (AR at 22-31.)

The ALJ determined that Plaintiff met the insured status requirements of the Social Security Act through June 30, 2011. In applying the five-step sequential evaluation process outlined in 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520 and 416.920 to determine whether Plaintiff was disabled, the ALJ determined that:

The Appeals Council denied Plaintiff's request for review. (AR at 1-3.) On July 11, 2013, Plaintiff filed her appeal of the Commissioner's final decision. (Doc. # 1.) Plaintiff filed her opening brief on November, 20, 2013, the Commissioner responded on December 6, 2013, and Plaintiff replied on January 14, 2014. (Doc. ## 10, 11, 14.)

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

The Court reviews the ALJ's decision to determine whether substantial evidence in the record as a whole supports the factual findings and whether the correct legal standards were applied. See Wall v. Astrue, 561 F.3d 1048, 1052 (10th Cir. 2009). "Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. It requires more than a scintilla, but less than a preponderance." Id. (quoting Lax v. Astrue, 489 F.3d 1080, 1084 (10th Cir. 2007)). "Evidence is not substantial if it is overwhelmed by other evidence in the record." Grogan v. Barnhart, 399 F.3d 1257, 1261-62 (10th Cir. 2005). In so reviewing, the Court may neither reweigh the evidence nor substitute its judgment for that of the agency. Salazar v. Barnhart, 468 F.3d 615, 621 (10th Cir. 2006).

III. ANALYSIS

Plaintiff raises three arguments in support of her contention that the ALJ committed errors in rendering her decision. Specifically, Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred in: (1) assigning no weight to her treating physician's opinion, (2) failing to conduct a proper legal analysis and misstating the evidence such that the decision is not supported by substantial evidence, and (3) assessing Plaintiff's credibility.

A. WHETHER THE ALJ ERRED BY ASSIGNING NO WEIGHT TO THE OPINION OF PLAINTIFF'S TREATING PHYSICIAN

Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred when she assigned no weight to the opinion of Dr. Eidson, Plaintiff's treating physician. Specifically, Plaintiff argues that Dr. Eidson's opinion was entitled to controlling weight. Alternatively, she argues that the ALJ should have assigned some weight to Dr. Eidson's opinion rather than outright rejecting it.

Dr. Eidson treated Plaintiff monthly beginning on May 7, 2010. On June 9, 2011, he completed a Lumbar Spine Medical Source Statement, known in Social Security lexicon as an RFC form. Dr. Eidson indicated that, "per patient" report, Plaintiff could sit for 30 minutes at a time, stand for five minutes at a time, and tolerate moderate or normal work stress. Dr. Eidson further opined that, in an eight hour work day, Plaintiff could stand or walk for less than two hours and sit for about four hours, she needed an option to shift positions at will, to walk every 30 minutes, and to take unscheduled breaks approximately every two hours. Dr. Eidson stated that Plaintiff could lift 10 lbs. rarely, but never more than that amount; she could twist rarely, stoop, and crouch occasionally, but never climb ladders or stairs. He also opined that her impairments would likely result in Plaintiff's absence from work more than four days per month.

According to the "treating physician rule," the Commissioner will generally "give more weight to medical opinions from treating sources than those from non-treating sources." Langley v. Barnhart, 373 F.3d 1116, 1119 (10th Cir. 2004); see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2). In deciding how much weight to give a treating physician's opinion, an ALJ must first determine if the opinion is entitled to controlling weight. Watkins v. Barnhart, 350 F.3d 1297, 1300 (10th Cir. 2003). An opinion is entitled to controlling weight if it is well-supported by the medical evidence and is consistent with other substantial evidence in the record. Id. Substantial evidence is "such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Fowler v. Bowen, 876 F.2d 1451, 1453 (10th Cir. 1989) (internal quotation marks omitted).

Whether a treating physician is entitled to controlling weight is subject to a sequential analysis. An ALJ must first consider whether the opinion is "well-supported by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques." 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2). If the answer to this question is "no," then the inquiry at this stage is complete. If the ALJ finds that the opinion is well-supported, she must then confirm that the opinion is "not inconsistent with other substantial evidence in [the] case record." Id. In other words, if the opinion is deficient in either of these respects, then it is not entitled to controlling weight. Watkins, 350 F. 3d at 1300.

Even if a treating physician's opinion is not entitled to controlling weight, however, "[t]reating source medical opinions are still entitled to deference and must be weighed using all of the factors provided in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527." Id. Those factors are:

Drapeau v. Massanari, 255 F.3d 1211, 1213 (10th Cir. 2001); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c). Under Tenth Circuit case law, "an ALJ must give good reasons for the weight assigned to a treating physician's opinion that are sufficiently specific to make clear to any subsequent reviewers the weight the adjudicator gave to the treating source's medical opinion and the reason for that weight." Langley, 373 F.3d at 1119 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).

In weighing Dr. Eidson's opinion, the ALJ stated:

(AR at 30.)

The ALJ does not identify which clinical findings she considers "relatively benign." However, one can infer that she is referring to the MRI and physical examinations, which were precisely what Dr. Eidson relied upon in rendering his opinion, as indicated on his RFC form. Cf. Krauser v. Astrue, 638 F.3d 1324, 1331 (10th Cir. 2011) ("It may be possible to assemble support for this conclusion from parts of the record cited elsewhere in the ALJ's decision, but that is best left for the ALJ [her]self to do in the proceedings on remand.") The Tenth Circuit has repeatedly warned that assigning no weight to a treating physician is particularly problematic when there is no contrary opinion in the record. In Kemp v. Bowen, the court explained:

816 F.2d 1469, 1476 (10th Cir. 1987); see also Chapo v. Astrue, 682 F.3d 1285, 1291 (10th Cir. 2012) (ALJ erred in assigning no weight to an uncontroverted consulting examiner's opinion). Similarly, here, Dr. Eidson was Plaintiff's treating physician and no contrary medical opinion exists in the record. Under these circumstances, although the ALJ was entitled to not give Dr. Eidson's opinion controlling weight pursuant to 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2), it is problematic that she chose to give no weight at all, despite the absence of a contrary medical opinion. See Lamb v. Barnhart, 85 Fed. Appx. 52, 57 (10th Cir. 2003) (remanding for lack of substantial evidence in RFC determination where no doctors had specifically addressed the plaintiff's exertional limitations); Baker v. Barnhart, 84 Fed. Appx. 10, 14 (10th Cir. 2003) (same).

When evidence from Plaintiff's treating doctor is deemed insufficient to determine whether a claimant is disabled, the Commissioner should contact the treating doctor to determine if additional information is available. See 20 C.F.R. 404.1512(e); Fleetwood v. Barnhart, 211 F. App'x 736, 742 (10th Cir. 2007). If recontacting the physician does not adequately provide substantial evidence, the ALJ may order a consultative examination. See 20 C.F.R. 404.1512(e). In particular, a consultative examination should be ordered when "[a] conflict, inconsistency, ambiguity, or insufficiency in the evidence must be resolved" and the Commissioner is "unable to do so by recontacting your medical source." See 20 C.F.R. 404.1512(b)(4). Accordingly, the Court remands this case to the ALJ to develop a record that demonstrates that her RFC is based on substantial evidence. The ALJ may develop the record by seeking clarification or supplemental information concerning Plaintiff's functional limitations, or by ordering a consultative examination.2

In addition, the ALJ discredited Dr. Eidson's opinion because it was "based on the claimant's self-report as opposed to objective findings . . . ." (AR at 30.) This explanation presents two separate problems. First, the RFC form indicates only three specific instances in which Plaintiff's self-report may have informed Dr. Eidson's opinion. It does not demonstrate that the remaining opinions were also the product of Plaintiff's self-report. Second, the ALJ's decision does not explain how Dr. Eidson's opinion is inconsistent with his objective findings. Yet, the RFC form indicates Dr. Eidson's clinical findings: that Plaintiff had an abnormal musculoskeletal exam and an MRI indicating postsurgical changes and moderate central disc herniation. In her review of the medical evidence, the ALJ acknowledged that during her visits to Dr. Eidson, Plaintiff consistently complained of back pain and a physical examination showed "periodic tenderness, weakness, reduced sensation, and reduced lumbar range of motion." (AR at 28.) Without specific references to the those portions of the record that are inconsistent, it is difficult for this Court to determine how the ALJ arrived at her conclusion that Dr. Eidson's opinion was inconsistent with his objective findings. Likewise, the ALJ claims that Dr. Eidson's opinion "departs substantially from the remainder of the medical record", but does not explain how this is so. See Krauser, 638 F.3d at 1331 (reversing ALJ decision that stated treating source's opinion was inconsistent with the record "in conclusory fashion, without reference to those portions of the record with which [the doctor's] opinion was allegedly inconsistent").

As further explanation for assigning no weight to Dr. Eidson's opinion, the ALJ stated:

(AR at 30.)

In Frey v Bowen, the Tenth Circuit held that an ALJ could not reject a treating physician's opinion on the ground that "a family doctor naturally advocates his patient's cause" because "[i]t is a conclusory statement that contradicts our established legal rule, without suggesting some exceptional basis in the facts of this case." 816 F.2d 508, 515 (10th Cir. 1987) (internal quotation marks omitted). Recently, in Crowder v. Colvin, the Tenth Circuit reiterated that holding and determined that an ALJ erred when he rejected a consultant examiner's opinion because the claimant's attorney requested the examination. No. 13-1222, 2014 WL 1388164, *2 (10th Cir. Apr. 10, 2014). Despite the ALJ's assertion that opinion was inconsistent, which the court separately found unpersuasive, the court determined that there was no exceptional basis for ignoring the general rule. Id. Similarly, here, the ALJ has not stated, no does the record reveal an "exceptional basis in the facts of this case" for discrediting Dr. Eidson's opinion because of an alleged bias, thereby ignoring the rule that a treating physician's opinion is entitled to deference. The ALJ seems to recognize as much—she insinuated Dr. Eidson fabricated his findings, yet acknowledged that "it is difficult to confirm such situations". (AR at 30.)

The Tenth Circuit has previously admonished an ALJ for discounting a treating physician's opinion "based upon [her] own speculative conclusion that the report was based only on claimant's subjective complaints and was `an act of courtesy to a patient.'" Langley, 373 F.3d at 1121. The court explained, "`[i]n choosing to reject the treating physician's assessment, an ALJ may not make speculative inferences from medical reports and may reject a treating physician's opinion outright only on the basis of contradictory medical evidence and not due to his or her own credibility judgments, speculation, or lay opinion.'" Id. (emphasis in original) (quoting McGoffin v. Barnhart, 288 F.3d 1248, 1252 (10th Cir. 2002)). Because the Court has determined that a remand is necessary, the ALJ should specifically address whether there is an "exceptional basis in the facts of this case" for ignoring the treating physician rule.

B. WHETHER THE ALJ'S DECISION IS SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

Plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred by failing to conduct the proper legal analysis of the medical evidence and by misstating the evidence in the record such that her decision is not supported by substantial evidence.

After considering the evidence in the record, the ALJ concluded that:

(AR at 30.) The Court is unable to discern how the ALJ arrived at this conclusion and is required to scrutinize whether the ALJ's decision is supported by substantial evidence. See Wall, 561 F.3d at 1052.

The ALJ reviewed the record to find support for Plaintiff's claims of chronic pain. The ALJ first discussed the MRI results which demonstrated stable presentation of post-operative levels and confirmed a moderate disc bulge and central disc herniation at L5-S1, without noted stenosis or cord compression. The ALJ noted that Plaintiff was prescribed medication for her pain. Clinical findings showed a stiff gait, reduced lumbar range of motion, tenderness to palpitation, weakness, and reduced sensation. The ALJ also noted that Plaintiff was diagnosed with osteoblastoma in 2005, and underwent removal surgery and a spinal fusion at T11-L2, but has not experienced a recurrence of bone cancer. (AR at 28-29.)

The ALJ was not persuaded that Plaintiff was impaired to the degree found by Dr. Eidson. The ALJ found that Plaintiff

(AR at 29.) While this Court is cautious not to reweigh the evidence in the record, see Salazar, 468 F.3d at 621, it shares Plaintiff's concern that in various instances, the ALJ misstated the record evidence. For instance, the record demonstrates that Plaintiff received both massage therapy and a chiropractic adjustment in November 2008 (AR at 253), and that Dr. Eidson referred her to Dr. Cohen, a neurologist.4 (AR at 279, 289, 382-83.)

Moreover, despite a thorough, albeit at times flawed, analysis of the record, the ALJ fails to explain why or how her findings support her determination that Plaintiff can frequently crouch, kneel, and crawl; can occasionally climb stairs, balance, and stoop; but cannot climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds. See (AR at 26). The ALJ gave no weight to both Dr. Eidson and the single decision maker's opinions, which were the only pieces of the record to touch upon Plaintiff's ability to do these things. Without references to the portions of the record that support these limitations, this Court "cannot determine the source, medical or otherwise, for most, if not all, of the limitations contained in the ALJ's RFC findings." Allen v. Astrue, No. 09-1271, 2010 WL 2925169, at *4 (D. Kan. July 21, 2010). To the extent there is very little medical evidence directly addressing Plaintiff's RFC, "the ALJ made unsupported findings concerning her functional abilities." Fleetwood v. Barnhart, 211 F. App'x 736, 740 (10th Cir. 2007). "Without evidence to support [her] findings, the ALJ was not in a position to make an RFC determination." Id.

This Court is mindful that the ALJ need not follow a medical opinion, and that at step four, it is Plaintiff's burden to show that her impairments render her unable to perform her past relevant work. See Castine v. Astrue, 334 Fed. App'x 175, 179 (10th Cir. 2009) (order and judgment). However, because this case is being remanded, the Court instructs the ALJ to reassess Plaintiff's RFC, include record support for her assessment, and scrupulously represent the record in her decision.

C. WHETHER THE ALJ ERRED IN ASSESSING PLAINTIFF'S CREDIBILITY

Finally, because this issue is likely to arise on remand, the Court will address Plaintiff's contention that the ALJ erred when she determined that Plaintiff was not credible.

"[C]redibility determinations `are peculiarly the province of the finder of fact,' and should not be upset if supported by substantial evidence." White v. Barnhart, 287 F.3d 903, 909 (10th Cir. 2011) (quoting Kepler v. Chater, 68 F.3d 387, 390-91 (10th Cir. 1995)). Provided the ALJ links her credibility assessment to specific evidence in the record, her determination is entitled to substantial deference. Id. at 910; SSR 96-7p, 1996 WL 374186, at *2 (July 2, 1996) (ALJ's decision "must contain specific reasons for the finding on credibility, supported by evidence in the case record"). Because the determination of credibility is left to the ALJ as the finder of fact, that determination is generally binding on a reviewing court.

Plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred by failing to properly apply the factors delineated in SSR 96-7p in assessing her credibility. That regulation provides a non-exhaustive list of factors that an ALJ's must consider in addition to the objective medical evidence. Those factors include: (1) Plaintiff's daily activities; (2) the location, duration, frequency, and intensity of pain or other symptoms; (3) factors that precipitate and aggravate the symptoms; (4) medications and any side effects; (5) treatment, other than medication, that the individual has received; (6) measures other than treatment that Plaintiff uses to relive pain; and (7) any other relevant factors. SSR 96-7P, 1996 WL 374186, *3. Though the ALJ did not recite the list of factors, her analysis addressed several of these considerations, as well as other relevant factors. See (AR at 27) (daily activities); (AR at 27) (medications and side effects); (AR at 29) (treatment history). The ALJ is not required to set forth a formalistic factor-by-factor recitation of the evidence, but must set forth only the specific evidence he relied upon in evaluating Plaintiff's testimony. See Qualls v. Apfel, 206 F.3d 1368, 1372 (10th Cir. 2000). The Court finds that the ALJ's analysis was sufficient. However, on remand, she should reconsider Plaintiff's credibility in light of the factual errors discussed in this order.

Plaintiff takes particular issue with the ALJ's decision to discredit her based on her testimony regarding tobacco use. The ALJ explained:

(AR at 29.) As Plaintiff points out, the December 27, 2010 treatment record notes that Plaintiff smokes "approximately one pack per day" but then goes on to state that she smokes 4-5 cigarettes per day. (AR at 275-76.) Although these two statements are contradictory, the ALJ is entitled to resolve inconsistencies in the record. Haga v. Astrue, 482 F.3d 1205, 1208 (10th Cir. 2007).

Plaintiff also contends that the ALJ erred in relying on Plaintiff's appearance and demeanor. "Although an ALJ may not rely solely on [her] personal observations to discredit a plaintiff's allegations, she may consider [her] personal observations in [her] overall evaluation of the claimant's credibility." Qualls, 206 F.3d at 1373 (citing Teter v. Heckler, 775 F.2d 1104, 1106 (10th Cir.1985) (where other evidence corroborates claimant's pain as genuine, ALJ may not reject claimant's allegations solely on basis of her demeanor); SSR 96-7p, 1996 WL 374186, at *8 (ALJ may not accept or reject claimant's allegations based solely on ALJ's personal observation of claimant, but ALJ should consider personal observations in overall evaluation of claimant's credibility)). Here, the ALJ properly considered her personal observations of Plaintiff as part of her overall assessment of Plaintiff's credibility. Therefore, the ALJ did not err in assessing Plaintiff's credibility.5

IV. CONCLUSION

Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the ALJ's denial of social security disability benefits is REVERSED. This case is REMANDED to the Commissioner for proceedings consistent with this Order.