Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_15-cv-00099/USCOURTS-ared-4_15-cv-00099-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:405 Review of HHS Decision (SSID)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

Tracie Danielle Myers Plaintiff

v. No. 4:15‐CV–099‐KGB‐JTK

Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner,

Social Security Administration Defendant

Instructions for Recommended Disposition

The following recommended disposition was prepared for U.S. District Judge

Kristine G. Baker.  A party to this dispute may file written objections to this

recommendation.  An objection must be specific and state the factual and/or legal basis

for the objection.  An objection to a factual finding must identify the finding and the

evidence supporting the objection.  Objections must be filed with the clerk of the court

no later than 14 days from the date of this recommendation.1  The objecting party must

serve the opposing party with a copy of an objection.  Failing to object within 14 days

waives the right to appeal questions of fact.2

  If no objections are filed, Judge Baker may

adopt the recommended disposition without independently reviewing all of the record

evidence.

1

28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b).

2

Griffini v. Mitchell, 31 F.3d 690, 692 (8th Cir. 1994) (failure to file objections waives

right to de novo review and to appeal magistrate judge’s findings of fact).

Case 4:15-cv-00099-KGB Document 21 Filed 10/16/15 Page 1 of 8
Reasoning for Recommended Disposition

Tracie Danielle Myers seeks judicial review of the denial of her third application

for social security disability benefits.3  In the past, Myers worked as a certified nursing

assistant, but she last worked for a laundry service.4

  Initially, Myers alleged disability

beginning March 2007, but her attorney amended her onset date to March 2010 based

on employment at the laundry service;5 she continued to work there until December

2010.  Myers provided different reasons for leaving her job.6  She based disability on

Crohn’s disease, asthma, depression, high blood pressure, bipolar disorder, and suicidal

tendencies.7

The Commissioner’s decision.  After considering the application, the ALJ

identified severe impairments — Crohn’s disease, hypertension, depressive disorder,

3

SSA record at pp. 167 & 169 (applying on Oct. 26, 2011 and Nov. 22, 2011 and

alleging disability beginning Mar. 7, 2007).  See id. at pp. 176 & 199 (reflecting two prior

applications, denied on June 24, 2008 and Nov. 6, 2008).

4

Id. at pp. 37, 182 & 214.

5

Id. at pp. 36‐38.

6

Id. at p. 37 (testifying that she was fired), p. 43 (explaining that she was let go for

excessive bathroom breaks and being sick), p. 189 (reporting that she worked for Sara’s

Linen Service until she decided to move back to Missouri), p. 204 (stating that she stopped

working on Dec. 15, 2010 because the business closed) & p. 639 (telling mental examiner

that last job was seasonal work that ended).  See also id. at p. 192 (telling agency interviewer

that she hadn’t worked since March 2007, even though earnings history showed work

every year after that time).

7

Id. at p. 204.

2

Case 4:15-cv-00099-KGB Document 21 Filed 10/16/15 Page 2 of 8
and dependent and borderline personality traits8 — and determined Myers can do some

light work.9

  Because a vocational expert identified available light work,10 the ALJ

concluded that Myers isn’t disabled and denied the application.11

After the Appeals Council denied review,12 the ALJ’s decision became the

Commissioner’s final decision for the purpose of judicial review.13  Myers filed this case

to challenge the decision.14  This recommendation explains why substantial evidence

supports the decision and why the ALJ made no legal error.

Myers’s allegations.  Myers contends the decision isn’t supported by substantial

evidence.  She focuses on the medical opinion evidence.  According to Myers, the

weight given to medical opinions isn’t justified.  She claims the ALJ failed to meet the

8

Id. at p. 13.

9

Id. at p. 15.

10Id. at p. 61.

11Id. at p. 25.

12Id. at p. 1.

13See Anderson v. Sullivan, 959 F.2d 690, 692 (8th Cir. 1992) (stating that “the Social

Security Act precludes general federal subject matter jurisdiction until administrative

remedies have been exhausted” and explaining thatthe Commissioner’s appeal procedure

permits claimants to appeal only final decisions).

14Docket entry # 1.

3

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Commissioner’s burden to show work exists that she can do.15

Applicable legal principles.  When reviewing a decision denying an application

for disability benefits, the court must determine whether substantial evidence supports

the decision and whether the ALJ made a legal error.16  For substantial evidence to exist,

a reasonable mind must accept the evidence as adequate to support the determination

that Myers can do some light work and that work exists that Myers can do.17  “Light

work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying

of objects weighing up to 10 pounds.”18  The ALJ required light work involving

superficial interpersonal contact and excluded work involving exposure to the sun.19

The question for the court is whether a reasonable mind will accept the evidence as

adequate to show Myers can work within these parameters.

15Docket entry #s 16 & 20.

16See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (requiring the district court to determine whether the

Commissioner’s findings are supported by substantial evidence and whether the

Commissioner conformed with applicable regulations); Long v. Chater, 108 F.3d 185, 187

(8th Cir. 1997) (“We will uphold the Commissioner’s decision to deny an applicant

disability benefits if the decision is not based on legal error and if there is substantial

evidence in the record as a whole to support the conclusion that the claimant was not

disabled.”).

17Britton v. Sullivan, 908 F.2d 328, 330 (8th Cir. 1990) (substantial evidence exists if

a reasonable mind will accept evidence as adequate to support conclusion).

1820 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(b) & 416.967(b).

19SSA record at p. 15.

4

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A reasonable mind will accept the evidence as adequate for the following

reasons:

1. Myers’s physical impairment can be treated.  “An impairment which

can be controlled by treatment or medication is not considered

disabling.”20  Myers has one significant physical impairment: Crohn’s

disease.  “Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects

the digestive tract, characterized by cramping pain, diarrhea, and

sometimes nausea or vomiting.”21  “Treatment consists of managing ...

symptoms, getting the disease into remission, and preventing relapses.”22

“Most people with Crohn’s disease have periods of remission and are able

to hold jobs and lead normal lives for the most part.”23

Treatment records show Myers has had Crohn’s disease since at least

August 2006.24  Her doctor prescribed medication,25 but Myers stopped

taking medication.26  The ALJ correctly observed that Myers was

hospitalized for her symptoms prior to her amended onset date, but she

20Estes v. Barnhart, 275 F.3d 722, 725 (8th Cir. 2002).

21Tish Davidson, David Edward Newton & Rebecca J. Frey, Crohn’s Disease, 2 The

Gale Encyclopedia of Med. 1222 (4th ed.).

22Id. at p. 1225.

23Id. at p. 1226.

24SSA record at p. 780.

25Id.

26Id. at p. 313 (Apr. 19, 2009: she said she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in

Nov. 2005, but took medication intermittently due to financial difficulties), p. 349 (Nov. 11,

2009: she wasn’t taking medication due to lack of medical insurance and money; she said

she just got on Medicaid and hoped to get medication soon), p. 560 (Jan. 25, 2011: she’s

been off medication for a while) & p. 604 (Sept. 28, 2011: she said she was on medication,

but stopped forthree to four years;recently resumed when she started having symptoms).

5

Case 4:15-cv-00099-KGB Document 21 Filed 10/16/15 Page 5 of 8
wasn’t taking medication.27  When Myers complied with prescribed

treatment, her symptoms improved.28  The improvement shows Myers has

a treatable impairment.  A treatable impairment isn’t disabling under

social security law.

Other physical issues provide no basis for disability.  Blood pressure and

asthma are controlled with medication.  The ALJ properly relied on the

role of treatment in managing symptoms.  Myers says she supposed to

avoid the sun because of her medication,29 but the ALJ excluded work

requiring sun exposure.  No evidence implicates an inability to do light

work.  A reasonable mind will accept the evidence as adequate to support

the decision.

2.  Mental impairment doesn’t prevent working.  The record contains

reports of two mental exams.  The first exam was conducted for the

second application.30  According to the examiner, Myers can do simple,

repetitive and detailed, complex tasks.31  The first exam isn’t really

relevant to the claim because it precedes the time period for which

benefits were denied.

The second exam was conducted for the third application.32  According to

the examiner, Myers can cope with mental demands of basic work tasks

and interact in a socially adequate manner.33  Myers testified that she

27Id. at p. 20.

28Id. at p. 698 (reporting improvement on medication).

29Id. at p. 58.

30Id. at p. 299.

31Id. at p. 302.

32Id. at p. 637.

33Id. at p. 643.

6

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doesn’t like to be around people,34 but the ALJ accommodated the

allegation by requiring superficial interpersonal contact.  A reasonable

mind will accept the evidence as adequate to support the decision.

3.  The ALJ did not err in weighing medical opinion evidence.  Myers

complains about the ALJ’s consideration of medical opinion evidence, but

the ALJ must resolve conflicts in medical opinions to determine a

claimant’s ability to work; the ALJ can accept or reject the conclusions of a

medical expert to the extent the expert’s conclusions are consistent with

the record as a whole.35

According to agency medical experts, Myers has the physical ability to do

light work.36  Mental health experts determined she can do unskilled

work.37  Myers suggests later‐submitted treatment records undermines

these determinations, but later‐submitted evidence shows improvement

with treatment.  The later‐submitted evidence provides no basis for a

further reduction in the ability to work.

Myers contends the ALJ erred by writing that the medical experts

provided detailed explanations and bases for their determinations, but the

medical experts did just that.  The medical experts conducted a function‐

by‐function analysis of Myers’s ability to work38 and summarized the

medical evidence underlying their determinations. 39

Myers complains because one of medical experts is an orthopedist without

expertise in Crohn’s disease, but the ALJ ordered a physical exam after the

hearing.  The physical examiner specializes in internal medicine and had

34Id. at p. 48.

35Pearsall v. Massanari, 274 F.3d 1211, 1219 (8th Cir. 2001).

36SSA record at pp. 630 & 674.

37Id. at pp. 660 & 677.

38Id. at pp. 630‐33 & 666.

39Id. at pp. 636 & 666‐667.

7

Case 4:15-cv-00099-KGB Document 21 Filed 10/16/15 Page 7 of 8
no negative medical findings.40  The examiner’s findings overcame the

suggested shortcoming in the orthopedist’s opinion.

4.  Vocational evidence supports the decision.  After determining Myers

can no longer work as a certified nursing assistant — because the job is

medium work — the ALJ questioned a vocational expert about available

light work.  The vocational expert identified assembly machine tender and

small parts packer as representative jobs.41  The availability of

representative jobs shows work exists that Myers can do, regardless of

whether such work exists where she lives, whether a job vacancy exists, or

whether she would be hired if she applied for work.42  Because such work

exists, Myers isn’t disabled under social security law.

Conclusion and Recommended Disposition

Substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s decision because a reasonable mind will

accept the evidence as adequate to support the decision.  Myers’s impairments do not

prevent unskilled light work.  The ALJ made no reversible legal error.  For these

reasons, the undersigned magistrate judge recommends DENYING Myers’s request for

relief (docket entry # 2) and AFFIRMING the Commissioner’s decision.

Dated this 16th day of October, 2015.

____________________________________

United States Magistrate Judge

40Id. at p. 864.

41Id. at p. 61.

4242 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(B).

8

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