GREG WHITE, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff Jill A. Witnik ("Witnik") challenges the final decision of the Acting Commissioner of Social Security, Carolyn W. Colvin ("Commissioner"), denying her claim for a Period of Disability ("POD"), Disability Insurance Benefits ("DIB"), and Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") under Title(s) II and XVI of the Social Security Act ("Act"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 416(i), 423, 1381 et seq. This matter is before the Court pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and the consent of the parties entered under the authority of 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(2).
For the reasons set forth below, the final decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED.
On October 15, 2010, Witnik filed an application for POD, DIB, and SSI alleging a disability onset date of October 30, 2009. (Tr. 11.) Her application was denied both initially and upon reconsideration. Witnik timely requested an administrative hearing.
On July 16, 2012, an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") held a hearing during which Witnik, represented by counsel, and an impartial vocational expert ("VE") testified. (Tr. 11.) On August 20, 2012, the ALJ found Witnik was able to perform a significant number of jobs in the national economy and, therefore, was not disabled. (Tr. 17-19.) The ALJ's decision became final when the Appeals Council denied further review.
Age thirty-two (32) at the time of her administrative hearing, Witnik is a "younger" person under social security regulations. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1563(c) & 416.963(c). (Tr. 17.) Witnik has a high school education and past relevant work as a child support officer, check-cashing manager, customer service representative, and a department store clerk. Id.
In order to establish entitlement to DIB under the Act, a claimant must be insured at the time of disability and must prove an inability to engage "in substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment," or combination of impairments, that 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." 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.130, 404.315 and 404.1505(a).
A claimant is entitled to a POD only if: (1) she had a disability; (2) she was insured when she became disabled; and (3) she filed while she was disabled or within twelve months of the date the disability ended. 42 U.S.C. § 416(i)(2)(E); 20 C.F.R. § 404.320.
Witnik was insured on her alleged disability onset date, October 30, 2009 and remained insured through September 30, 2011. (Tr. 13.) Therefore, in order to be entitled to POD and DIB, Witnik must establish a continuous twelve month period of disability commencing between these dates. Any discontinuity in the twelve month period precludes an entitlement to benefits. See Mullis v. Bowen, 861 F.2d 991, 994 (6
A disabled claimant may also be entitled to receive SSI benefits. 20 C.F.R. § 416.905; Kirk v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 667 F.2d 524 (6
The ALJ found Witnik established medically determinable, severe impairments, due to migraine headaches, depressive disorder NOS, and anxiety disorder. (Tr. 13.) However, her impairments, either singularly or in combination, did not meet or equal one listed in 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1. Id. Witnik was found incapable of performing her past relevant work, but was determined to have a Residual Functional Capacity ("RFC") for the full range of work at all exertional levels with certain non-exertional limitations. (Tr. 15, 17.) The ALJ then used the Medical Vocational Guidelines ("the grid") as a framework and VE testimony to determine that Witnik was not disabled. (Tr. 17-18.)
This Court's review is limited to determining whether there is substantial evidence in the record to support the ALJ's findings of fact and whether the correct legal standards were applied. See Elam v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 348 F.3d 124, 125 (6
The findings of the Commissioner are not subject to reversal merely because there exists in the record substantial evidence to support a different conclusion. Buxton v. Halter, 246 F.3d 762, 772-3 (6
In addition to considering whether the Commissioner's decision was supported by substantial evidence, the Court must determine whether proper legal standards were applied. Failure of the Commissioner to apply the correct legal standards as promulgated by the regulations is grounds for reversal. See, e.g.,White v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 572 F.3d 272, 281 (6
Finally, a district court cannot uphold an ALJ's decision, even if there "is enough evidence in the record to support the decision, [where] the reasons given by the trier of fact do not build an accurate and logical bridge between the evidence and the result." Fleischer v. Astrue, 774 F.Supp.2d 875, 877 (N.D. Ohio 2011) (quoting Sarchet v. Chater, 78 F.3d 305, 307 (7
In her first three assignments of error, Witnik asserts that the ALJ erred by failing to give good reasons for rejecting the opinions of treating sources. (ECF No 16 at 17-21.) Specifically, Witnik asserts that the decision fails to even mention the opinion of psychiatrist Dilbagh Saini, M.D., and did not give good reasons for ascribing "no weight" to the medical source statement of Noreen Brady, Ph.D. Id. at 17-20. In addition, while acknowledging that counselor Scott Lee, M.Ed., may not constitute an "acceptable medical source" under the regulations, Witnik avers that the ALJ should have addressed Lee's opinion expressed in a letter to counsel dated February 14, 2012. Id. at 20-21, citing Tr. 579
Under Social Security regulations, the opinion of a treating physician is entitled to controlling weight if such opinion (1) "is well-supported by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques" and (2) "is not inconsistent with the other substantial evidence in [the] case record." Meece v. Barnhart, 2006 WL 2271336 at * 4 (6
If the ALJ determines a treating source opinion is not entitled to controlling weight, "the ALJ must provide `good reasons' for discounting [the opinion], reasons 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 reasons for that weight.'" Rogers, 486 F.3d at 242 (quoting Soc. Sec. Ruling 96-2p, 1996 SSR LEXIS 9 at * 5). The purpose of this requirement is two-fold. First, a sufficiently clear explanation "`let[s] claimants understand the disposition of their cases,' particularly where a claimant knows that his physician has deemed him disabled and therefore `might be bewildered when told by an administrative bureaucracy that she is not, unless some reason for the agency's decision is supplied.'" Id. (quoting Wilson v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 378 F.3d 541, 544 (6
In some circumstances, however, a violation of the "good reasons" rule may be considered "harmless error." The Sixth Circuit has found these circumstances present where (1) "a treating source's opinion is so patently deficient that the Commissioner could not possibly credit it," (2) "the Commissioner adopts the opinion of the treating source or makes findings consistent with the opinion," or (3) "the Commissioner has met the goal of § 1527(d) — the provision of the procedural safeguard of reasons — even though she has not complied with the terms of the regulation." Wilson, 378 F.3d at 547. See also Cole v. Astrue, 661 F.3d 931, 940 (6
Nevertheless, the opinion of a treating physician must be based on sufficient medical data, and upon detailed clinical and diagnostic test evidence. See Harris v. Heckler, 756 F.2d 431, 435 (6
With respect to Dr. Saini, Witnik's argument is premised upon the decision containing "no mention of the opinion of treating psychiatrist Dr. Saini that claimant `is not consistently able to keep up with her ADLs [activities of daily living] and household chores.'" (ECF No. 18 citing Tr. 490.)
Witnik contends that Dr. Saini is her treating physician. However, while Dr. Saini may have become a treating source at some point during the course of treatment, Witnik does not point to any evidence that she was seen by Dr. Saini at any point prior to the psychiatric evaluation performed on February 10, 2011.
Daniels, 152 Fed. App'x at 489-91 (footnotes omitted); accord Hickman v. Colvin, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 82914 (M.D. Tenn. June 18, 2014) ("Precedent in this Circuit suggests that a physician who treats an individual only twice or three times does not constitute a treating source."); Hakkarainen v. Astrue, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16431 (N.D. Ohio Jan. 19, 2012); see also Taylor v. Astrue, 245 Fed. App'x. 387, 391 (5
Because Witnik points to no evidence demonstrating that Dr. Saini had treated her prior to the February 2011 evaluation, the Court declines to find that Witnik had established a treating physician/patient relationship at the time of the evaluation. Because Dr. Saini was not a treating physician at the relevant time, the ALJ was not required to set forth good reasons for rejecting his opinion.
Furthermore, to the extent Witnik would argue that the ALJ should have discussed the February 2011 opinion even if Dr. Saini was not a treating source, the Sixth Circuit has noted, "`an ALJ can consider all the evidence without directly addressing in his written decision every piece of evidence submitted by a party.'" Kornecky, 167 Fed. App'x. at 496 (quoting Loral Defense Systems-Akron v. NLRB, 200 F.3d 436, 453 (6
As such, Witnik's first assignment of error is without merit.
Witnik also argues that the ALJ erred by rejecting the medical source statement signed by treating psychologist Dr. Brady and by counselor Mr. Lee on February 14, 2012. (ECF No. 16 at 19, citing Tr. 578.) In a medical source statement concerning Witnik's mental impairments, Mr. Lee and Dr. Brady indicated that Witnik was markedly limited in her ability to remember, understand, and follow simple instructions; perform work activities at a reasonable pace; keep a regular work schedule and maintain punctual attendance; and, make judgments that are commensurate with the functions of unskilled work. (Tr. 578.) They further indicated that Witnik was extremely impaired in her ability to maintain attention and concentration for two-hour periods; interact appropriately with others; and, withstand the stresses and pressures of routine simple unskilled work. Id. The ALJ addressed this opinion as follows:
(Tr. 16-17.)
The Commissioner points out that Dr. Brady only saw Witnik on two occasions prior to completing the form, again calling into question whether Dr. Brady qualifies as a treating source. (ECF No. 17 at 12.) Notably, in her reply, Witnik does not dispute the assertion that she saw Dr. Brady on only two occasions prior to the form's completion. (ECF No. 18 at 3-4.) Rather, Witnik contends that such an argument constitutes a post hoc rationale and that the ALJ must make the initial determination of whether a medical source qualifies as treating. Id. Witnik cites no law to support this assertion. Id. In fact, this assertion contradicts the Sixth Circuit's above cited decision in Daniels, wherein the court found that a doctor was not a treating source "despite [the ALJ] casually referring to her as the treating source. . ." 152 Fed. App'x at 490. Moreover, unlike in Daniels, the ALJ did not refer to Dr. Brady as a treating source.
The Court finds that Dr. Brady's brief course of treatment did not establish a treating relationship. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502 ("we will consider that you have an ongoing treatment relationship with an acceptable medical source when the medical evidence establishes that you see, or have seen, the source with a frequency consistent with accepted medical practice for the type of treatment and/or evaluation required for your medical condition(s)); Smith v. Astrue, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37203 at *18 (N.D. Ohio Mar. 20, 2012) ("Two psychiatric visits only one month apart were insufficient to establish a treating relationship, as it is not a frequency consistent with the longitudinal nature of psychiatric treatment."); Fleischer v. Astrue, 774 F.Supp.2d 875, 879 (N.D. Ohio 2011) ("Indeed, courts have consistently held that one, or even two or three, examinations will not suffice to establish an ongoing treatment relationship.") (citations omitted); Lucas v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75385, *15 (W.D. Mich. July 6, 2010) (two visits did not establish an ongoing relationship)
Finally, assuming for the sake of argument that Dr. Brady did constitute a treating source, the ALJ set forth good reasons for rejecting her opinion. The ALJ pointed out that Dr. Brady ascribed Witnik a Global Assessment of Functioning ("GAF") score of 55 on December 6, 2011, as did Dr. Saini in the psychiatric evaluation completed on February 10, 2011. (Tr. 491-93.) The GAF scale reports a clinician's assessment of an individual's overall level of functioning. Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 32-34 (American Psychiatric Association, 4
Witnik argues that GAF scores are obsolete and should not be used in the adjudication of disability claims. (ECF No. 16 at 19-20, ECF No. 18 at 4.) It is true that the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has explained that a "GAF score is not particularly helpful by itself" explaining that it is "a subjective determination that represents the clinician's judgment of the individual's overall level of functioning." Oliver v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 415 Fed. App'x. 681, 684 (6
As such, Witnik's second assignment of error is without merit.
Finally, Witnik argues that the ALJ erred by not addressing the opinion Mr. Lee in a letter dated February 14, 2012 — the same date Mr. Lee completed the medical source statement cosigned by Dr. Brady and discussed above.
It does not appear to be contested that Mr. Lee does not constitute an "acceptable medical source" under the regulations. As explained in a decision of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, "[a]n ALJ must consider other-source opinions and generally should explain the weight given to opinions for these `other sources.' But other-source opinions are not entitled to any special deference." Hill v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 560 Fed. Appx. 547, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 5848 (6th Cir. 2014) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).
The Commissioner asserts that the opinions expressed in the letter merely mirrored the functional limitations expressed in the medical source statement completed the same date. (ECF No. 17 at 12.) Witnik disagrees, and asserts the letter and the medical source statement are "very different," but does not offer any meaningful explanation beyond stating that the letter provided a "narrative explanation" of Witnik's limitations. (ECF No. 18 at 4.) The Court agrees with the Commissioner, as the letter provided by Mr. Lee does not provide any meaningful additional information concerning Witnik's work related limitations. Therefore, by discussing the reasons for assigning no weight to the medical source statement completed the same date, the ALJ adequately explained the weight given to Mr. Lee's opinions.
As such, Witnik's third assignment of error is without merit.
Witnik's fourth and fifth assignments of error appear to be interrelated. (ECF No. 16 at 21-22.) Witnik points out that the ALJ's RFC finding limited her to "no interaction with the general public." As best as this Court can understand Witnik's "argument," she believes the VE's testimony fails to satisfy the Commissioner's burden at Step Five, because unfamiliar, new co-workers would be strangers akin to the general public. Witnik's argument conveniently ignores the fact that the ALJ further found that she could, however, have superficial interaction with co-workers and supervisors. (Tr. 15.) Furthermore, Witnik cites no law in support of her argument and makes only an unexplained reference to Social Security Ruling 85-15. (ECF Nos. 16 at 22, 18 at 6.) It is not this Court's function to develop an argument on a plaintiff's behalf. See McPherson v. Kelsey, 125 F.3d 989, 995-96 (6
For the foregoing reasons, the Court finds the decision of the Commissioner supported by substantial evidence. Accordingly, the decision is AFFIRMED and judgment is entered in favor of the defendant.
IT IS SO ORDERED.