JAMES P. DONOHUE, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff Jeron R. Lott appeals the final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration ("Commissioner") that denied his applications for Disability Insurance Benefits ("DIB") and Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 401-33 and 1381-83f, after a hearing before an administrative law judge ("ALJ"). For the reasons set forth below, the Court recommends that the Commissioner's decision be affirmed.
At the time of the administrative hearing, Plaintiff was a 35-year-old man with a high school diploma. Administrative Record ("AR") at 45, 216. His past work experience includes employment in various manufacturing businesses, and as a porter and sanitation engineer. AR at 216. Plaintiff was last gainfully employed in 2004. Id.
On June 17, 2010, Plaintiff filed applications for SSI and DIB, alleging an onset date of August 31, 2005. AR at 190-91, 194-99. Plaintiff asserts that he is disabled due to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. AR at 215.
The Commissioner denied Plaintiff's claims initially and on reconsideration. AR at 120-23, 129-40. Plaintiff requested a hearing, which took place on November 18, 2011. AR at 39-115. On December 30, 2011, the ALJ issued a decision finding Plaintiff not disabled and denied benefits based on her finding that Plaintiff could perform a specific job existing in significant numbers in the national economy. AR at 11-33. Plaintiff's administrative appeal of the ALJ's decision was denied by the Appeals Council, AR at 1-6, making the ALJ's ruling the "final decision" of the Commissioner as that term is defined by 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). On August 26, 2013, Plaintiff timely filed the present action challenging the Commissioner's decision. Dkt. 1, 3.
Jurisdiction to review the Commissioner's decision exists pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3).
Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), this Court may set aside the Commissioner's denial of social security benefits when the ALJ's findings are based on legal error or not supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole. Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1214 (9th Cir. 2005). "Substantial evidence" is more than a scintilla, less than a preponderance, and is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971); Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 750 (9th Cir. 1989). The ALJ is responsible for determining credibility, resolving conflicts in medical testimony, and resolving any other ambiguities that might exist. Andrews v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 1995). While the Court is required to examine the record as a whole, it may neither reweigh the evidence nor substitute its judgment for that of the Commissioner. Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 954 (9th Cir. 2002). When the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, it is the Commissioner's conclusion that must be upheld. Id.
The Court may direct an award of benefits where "the record has been fully developed and further administrative proceedings would serve no useful purpose." McCartey v. Massanari, 298 F.3d 1072, 1076 (9th Cir. 2002) (citing Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1292 (9th Cir. 1996)). The Court may find that this occurs when:
Id. at 1076-77; see also Harman v. Apfel, 211 F.3d 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2000) (noting that erroneously rejected evidence may be credited when all three elements are met).
As the claimant, Mr. Lott bears the burden of proving that he is disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act (the "Act"). Meanel v. Apfel, 172 F.3d 1111, 1113 (9th Cir. 1999) (internal citations omitted). The Act defines disability as the "inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity" due to a physical or mental impairment which has lasted, or is expected to last, for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A). A claimant is disabled under the Act only if his impairments are of such severity that he is unable to do his previous work, and cannot, considering his age, education, and work experience, engage in any other substantial gainful activity existing in the national economy. 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(2)(A); see also Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1098-99 (9th Cir. 1999).
The Commissioner has established a five-step sequential evaluation process for determining whether a claimant is disabled within the meaning of the Act. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920. The claimant bears the burden of proof during steps one through four. At step five, the burden shifts to the Commissioner. Id. If a claimant is found to be disabled at any step in the sequence, the inquiry ends without the need to consider subsequent steps. Step one asks whether the claimant is presently engaged in "substantial gainful activity." 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(b), 416.920(b).
When the claimant's impairment neither meets nor equals one of the impairments listed in the regulations, the Commissioner must proceed to step four and evaluate the claimant's residual functional capacity ("RFC"). 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(e), 416.920(e). Here, the Commissioner evaluates the physical and mental demands of the claimant's past relevant work to determine whether he can still perform that work. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(f), 416.920(f). If the claimant is able to perform his past relevant work, he is not disabled; if the opposite is true, then the burden shifts to the Commissioner at step five to show that the claimant can perform other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy, taking into consideration the claimant's RFC, age, education, and work experience. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(g), 416.920(g); Tackett, 180 F.3d at 1099, 1100. If the Commissioner finds the claimant is unable to perform other work, then the claimant is found disabled and benefits may be awarded.
On December 30, 2011, the ALJ found:
AR at 13-32.
The principal issues on appeal are:
Dkt. 19 at 1.
Plaintiff assigns error to the ALJ's assessment of an October 2010 medical source statement jointly completed by his treating providers, Drs. Kim and Berghuis. AR at 493-95. Plaintiff also argues that the ALJ erred in rejecting some of the limitations identified by examining psychologists Drs. McDuffee and Dees. The Court will address the opinions in turn.
As a matter of law, more weight is given to a treating physician's opinion than to that of a non-treating physician because a treating physician "is employed to cure and has a greater opportunity to know and observe the patient as an individual." Magallanes, 881 F.2d at 751; see also Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 631 (9th Cir. 2007). A treating physician's opinion, however, is not necessarily conclusive as to either a physical condition or the ultimate issue of disability, and can be rejected, whether or not that opinion is contradicted. Magallanes, 881 F.2d at 751. If an ALJ rejects the opinion of a treating or examining physician, the ALJ must give clear and convincing reasons for doing so if the opinion is not contradicted by other evidence, and specific and legitimate reasons if it is. Reddick v. Chater, 157 F.3d 715, 725 (9th Cir. 1988). "This can be done by setting out a detailed and thorough summary of the facts and conflicting clinical evidence, stating his interpretation thereof, and making findings." Id. (citing Magallanes, 881 F.2d at 751). The ALJ must do more than merely state his/her conclusions. "He must set forth his own interpretations and explain why they, rather than the doctors', are correct." Id. (citing Embrey v. Bowen, 849 F.2d 418, 421-22 (9th Cir. 1988)). Such conclusions must at all times be supported by substantial evidence. Reddick, 157 F.3d at 725.
The opinions of examining physicians are to be given more weight than non-examining physicians. Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir. 1996). Like treating physicians, the uncontradicted opinions of examining physicians may not be rejected without clear and convincing evidence. Id. An ALJ may reject the controverted opinions of an examining physician only by providing specific and legitimate reasons that are supported by the record. Bayliss, 427 F.3d at 1216.
Opinions from non-examining medical sources are to be given less weight than treating or examining doctors. Lester, 81 F.3d at 831. However, an ALJ must always evaluate the opinions from such sources and may not simply ignore them. In other words, an ALJ must evaluate the opinion of a non-examining source and explain the weight given to it. Social Security Ruling ("SSR") 96-6p, 1996 WL 374180, at *2. Although an ALJ generally gives more weight to an examining doctor's opinion than to a non-examining doctor's opinion, a non-examining doctor's opinion may nonetheless constitute substantial evidence if it is consistent with other independent evidence in the record. Thomas, 278 F.3d at 957; Orn, 495 F.3d at 632-33.
Drs. Kim and Berghuis explained that they believed Plaintiff could physically perform light or medium work, but that they did not find him capable of performing "work on a regular and sustained basis[,]" due to his concentration impairments, his inability to learn, follow, or complete job tasks (due to depression and hallucinations), his difficulties interacting appropriately with co-workers, supervisors, and the public (due to depression, anxiety, and irritability), and his difficulties sitting still for any length of time (due to agitation). AR at 493. Drs. Kim and Berghuis also specifically indicated that they found Plaintiff's complaints to be credible and that they did not believe he was malingering. Id. Lastly, Drs. Kim and Berghuis indicated that they believed Plaintiff's impairments would "likely result in high absenteeism (3+ days per month)." Id.
The ALJ assessed the opinion of Drs. Kim and Berghuis as follows:
AR at 29. Plaintiff argues that this reasoning is not legitimate because a person does not have to be credible in order to be disabled, and also because Drs. Kim and Berghuis specifically did not question his credibility. Dkt. 19 at 5-6.
Addressing Plaintiff's more abstract argument first: it is true that a claimant can be found to lack credibility and also be found disabled. But that point is not particularly relevant here, because the ALJ did not claim otherwise. Instead, the ALJ reasoned that because the opinion of Drs. Kim and Berghuis was rendered in reliance on Plaintiff's non-credible selfreport, it is less credible as a result. AR at 29. Plaintiff disputes this reasoning, citing Ryan v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration, 528 F.3d 1194, 1199-2000 (9th Cir. 2008), for the proposition that when a doctor does not question a claimant's credibility, and supports his or her opinion with her own observations, an ALJ cannot discount that doctor's opinion based on a claimant's lack of credibility. Dkt. 19 at 5-6. The facts of this case distinguish it from Ryan, however. In this case, Drs. Kim and Berghuis did not cite any of their own observations as support for their opinions; instead, they pointed only to Plaintiff's reported symptoms, including some symptoms that the ALJ specifically found to lack credibility in other parts of the decision (i.e., hallucinations (AR at 22, 330)). Their treatment notes reveal that they frequently assessed the severity of Plaintiff's mental symptoms via a self-report questionnaire (e.g., AR at 411, 417, 420, 427, 437, 525, 532, 535), but there is no evidence that they objectively tested his concentration abilities, for example, before opining that Plaintiff was incapable of learning, following, or completing job tasks due to poor concentration caused by depression and hallucinations.
Furthermore, Drs. Kim and Berghuis were apparently unaware that Plaintiff had admitted on a previous occasion that his complaints of hallucinations were insincere, which undermines the providers' opinion that Plaintiff's complaints were credible. See Calkins v. Astrue, 284 Fed. Appx. 613, 615-16 (9th Cir. Jun. 17, 2010). Dr. Berghuis himself noted that Plaintiff completed a questionnaire endorsing symptoms that would indicate bipolar disorder, but that when he questioned Plaintiff about those answers he found it "ver[y] questionable" whether Plaintiff indeed met the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder. AR at 450. Lastly, the ALJ noted that Plaintiff did not always follow through with appointments and medication regimen, a fact that Dr. Berghuis's and Dr. Kim's treatment notes corroborate (AR at 442, 467-68, 535), and which further undermines the credibility of Plaintiff's subjective complaints because they did not always reflect full compliance.
Because Drs. Kim and Berghuis did not support their opinion with their own clinical findings, and instead appeared to rely on Plaintiff's non-credible self-report, Ryan does not apply here. This situation is akin to Bray v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration, where the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals noted that where a physician's opinion that is based on self-report that the ALJ properly finds to lack credibility, the ALJ can reasonably discount that opinion. 554 F.3d 1219, 1227-28 (9th Cir. 2009). Plaintiff does not challenge the ALJ's adverse credibility determination, thereby bolstering the ALJ's reasoning in this case. Therefore, the ALJ provided legitimate reasons to discount Drs. Kim and Berghuis's joint opinion.
Plaintiff challenges the ALJ's rejection of some of Dr. Dees's September 2010 opinion, specifically his opinions that Plaintiff's impairments caused marked and severe limitations in various areas of cognitive and social functioning. AR at 29 (referring to AR at 549-60). Dr. Dees opined that Plaintiff had a severe limitation in his ability to exercise judgment and make decisions, and cited as support for that opinion Plaintiff's self-reported suicidal and homicidal thoughts, his feeling unsafe, his history of participating in gang violence and poor decisionmaking and self-sabotaging behaviors, and his impulsivity. AR at 554. The ALJ agreed that the record "does not reflect unimpaired judgment and decision making, but I do not agree that the claimant's subjective and unverified reports support a severe limitation in this domain." AR at 29. The ALJ also found that Dr. Dees's opinions regarding Plaintiff's marked limitations in the ability to perform routine tasks, respond appropriately to and tolerate the pressures of a normal work setting, and maintain appropriate behavior in a work setting were likewise based on Plaintiff's self-report, and therefore lacked credibility. Id.
As the Court noted in the previous subsection, Plaintiff does not challenge the ALJ's adverse credibility determination. He furthermore does not persuasively dispute that the "observations" recorded by Dr. Dees as supporting his opinions merely reiterate Plaintiff's subjective self-report. AR at 554. Accordingly, the ALJ did not err in discounting Dr. Dees's opinion to the extent it was rendered in reliance on Plaintiff's non-credible self-report. See Bray, 554 F.3d at 1227-28.
Plaintiff objects to the ALJ's rejection of portions of Dr. McDuffee's July 2011 opinion (AR 501-10). The ALJ noted that although Dr. McDuffee assessed various marked and severe limitations in cognitive and social functioning, she did not provide explanations for all of those opinions, and the ones she did explain relied on non-credible self-reporting. AR at 30 (citing AR at 504). The ALJ also indicated that Dr. McDuffee's statement that Plaintiff has "minimal [history] of employment" (AR at 504) is "simply inaccurate" (AR at 30).
For the reasons explained in the previous subsections, the ALJ did not err in discounting Dr. McDuffee's opinions to the degree she rendered them in reliance on Plaintiff's non-credible self-reporting, particularly given that Plaintiff does not challenge the ALJ's adverse credibility determination. Furthermore, the ALJ reasonably cited Plaintiff's earnings report as evidence that Plaintiff's work history was arguably more than minimal. See AR at 200-04. The ALJ's interpretation of the Plaintiff's job history further elucidates why she believed the record revealed more than "minimal" work experience. AR at 26-27 (describing Plaintiff's work history and the reasons why various jobs ended). Thus, the ALJ provided specific and legitimate reasons to discount Dr. McDuffee's opinion.
Plaintiff's cousin, Troy Perry, wrote a statement on his behalf. AR at 260-61. The ALJ considered Mr. Perry's statement, but found that it was entitled to "little weight" because some of Mr. Perry's statements reiterated non-credible statements made by Plaintiff. AR at 30. The ALJ noted, for example, that Mr. Perry reported that Plaintiff had told him that he heard "voices that are not there" (AR at 260), but that Plaintiff also admitted that his reports of auditory hallucinations were not reliable (AR at 330). Plaintiff argues that the ALJ did not provide a germane reason to discount Mr. Perry's statement. See Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1288-89 (holding that an ALJ can reject lay evidence only upon giving germane reasons).
The Court disagrees. The ALJ correctly noted that Mr. Perry primarily recorded what he heard Plaintiff say about his symptoms, and the ALJ found that Plaintiff's testimony lacked credibility (AR at 16-27): a finding not challenged by Plaintiff. For example, Mr. Perry described Plaintiff's reports of suicidal ideation, paranoia in public spaces, and auditory hallucinations, and the ALJ explained why she found those reports to lack credibility. AR at 26, 260. Because Mr. Perry's statement contains a reiteration of complaints properly found to lack credibility, the ALJ did not err in discounting Mr. Perry's statement. See Valentine v. Comm'r of Social Sec. Admin., 574 F.3d 685, 694 (9th Cir. 2009).
For the foregoing reasons, the Court recommends that this case be AFFIRMED. A proposed order accompanies this Report and Recommendation.
Objections to this Report and Recommendation, if any, should be filed with the Clerk and served upon all parties to this suit within
