Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-6_15-cv-00363/USCOURTS-alnd-6_15-cv-00363-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 865
Nature of Suit: Social Security - RSI (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:405 Review of HHS Decision (SSID)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

JASPER DIVISION

LISA ANN MOORE,

Plaintiff,

vs.

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting 

Commissioner, Social Security 

Administration,

Defendant.

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Civil Action Number

 6:15-cv-00363-AKK

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Lisa Ann Moore brings this action pursuant to Section 205(g) of the Social 

Security Act (“the Act”), 42 U.S.C. § 205(g), seeking review of the final adverse 

decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (“SSA”). This 

court finds that the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) applied the correct legal 

standard and that her decision—which has become the decision of the 

Commissioner—is supported by substantial evidence. Therefore, the court 

AFFIRMS the decision denying benefits.

I. Procedural History

Moore filed her application for Title II Disability Insurance Benefits on

September 14, 2012, alleging an onset date of June 15, 2011 due to arthritis, 

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“COPD”), and anxiety. (R. 131-44, 164, 

FILED

 2015 Nov-04 PM 03:29

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

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200). After the SSA denied her application, Moore requested a hearing before an 

ALJ. (R. 83, 86-87). At the time of the hearing on August 8, 2013, Moore was 46

years old; had earned a general equivalency diploma; and had past relevant work 

experience as a poultry eviscerator, cushion maker, automatic hemmer, and 

manufactured home cleaner. (R. 41-43, 165, 184). Moore had not engaged in 

substantial gainful activity since June 15, 2011. (R. 14, 164).

The ALJ subsequently denied Moore’s claim on September 25, 2013, (R. 9-

11, 24), which became the final decision of the Commissioner on January 9, 2015

when the Appeals Council refused to grant review, (R. 1-3). Moore then filed this 

action pursuant to § 205(g) on February 27, 2015. Doc. 1.

II. Standard of Review

The only issues before this court are whether the record contains substantial 

evidence to sustain the ALJ’s decision, see 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Walden v. 

Schweiker, 672 F.2d 835, 838 (11th Cir. 1982), and whether the ALJ applied the 

correct legal standards, see Lamb v. Bowen, 847 F.2d 698, 701 (11th Cir. 1988); 

Chester v. Bowen, 792 F.2d 129, 131 (11th Cir. 1986). Title 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) 

and 1383(c) mandate that the Commissioner’s “factual findings are conclusive if 

supported by ‘substantial evidence.’” Martin v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1520, 1529 

(11th Cir. 1990). The district court may not reconsider the facts, reevaluate the 

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evidence, or substitute its judgment for that of the Commissioner; instead, it must 

review the final decision as a whole and determine if the decision is “reasonable 

and supported by substantial evidence.” See id. (citing Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 

F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th Cir. 1983)).

Substantial evidence falls somewhere between a scintilla and a 

preponderance of evidence; “[i]t is such relevant evidence as a reasonable person 

would accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Martin, 849 F.2d at 1529 

(quoting Bloodsworth, 703 F.2d at 1239) (other citations omitted). If supported by 

substantial evidence, the court must affirm the Commissioner’s factual findings 

even if the preponderance of the evidence is against the Commissioner’s findings. 

See Martin, 894 F.2d at 1529. While the court acknowledges that judicial review of 

the ALJ’s findings is limited in scope, it notes that the review “does not yield 

automatic affirmance.” Lamb, 847 F.2d at 701.

III. Statutory and Regulatory Framework

To qualify for disability benefits, a claimant must show “the inability to 

engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable 

physical or mental impairment which 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 twelve 

months.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A); 42 U.S.C. § 416(i)(I)(A). A physical or 

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mental impairment is “an impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, 

or psychological abnormalities which are demonstrated by medically acceptable 

clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(3).

Determination of disability under the Act requires a five step analysis. 20 

C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)-(f). Specifically, the Commissioner must determine in 

sequence:

(1) whether the claimant is currently unemployed;

(2) whether the claimant has a severe impairment;

(3) whether the impairment meets or equals one listed by the Secretary;

(4) whether the claimant is unable to perform his or her past work; and

(5) whether the claimant is unable to perform any work in the national 

economy.

McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026, 1030 (11th Cir. 1986). “An affirmative 

answer to any of the above questions leads either to the next question, or, on steps 

three and five, to a finding of disability. A negative answer to any question, other 

than step three, leads to a determination of ‘not disabled.’” Id. at 1030 (citing 20 

C.F.R. § 416.920(a)-(f)). “Once a finding is made that a claimant cannot return to 

prior work the burden shifts to the Secretary to show other work the claimant can 

do.” Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553, 1559 (11th Cir. 1995) (citation omitted).

Lastly, where, as here, a plaintiff alleges disability because of pain, she must 

meet additional criteria. In this circuit, “a three part ‘pain standard’ [is applied] 

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when a claimant seeks to establish disability through his or her own testimony of

pain or other subjective symptoms.” Holt v. Barnhart, 921 F.2d 1221, 1223 (11th 

Cir. 1991). Specifically,

The pain standard requires (1) evidence of an underlying medical 

condition and either (2) objective medical evidence that confirms the 

severity of the alleged pain arising from that condition or (3) that the 

objectively determined medical condition is of such a severity that it 

can be reasonably expected to give rise to the alleged pain.1

Id. However, medical evidence of pain itself, or of its intensity, is not required:

While both the regulations and the Hand standard require objective 

medical evidence of a condition that could reasonably be expected to 

cause the pain alleged, neither requires objective proof of the pain 

itself. Thus under both the regulations and the first (objectively 

identifiable condition) and third (reasonably expected to cause pain 

alleged) parts of the Hand standard a claimant who can show that his 

condition could reasonably be expected to give rise to the pain he 

alleges has established a claim of disability and is not required to 

produce additional, objective proof of the pain itself. See 20 CFR §§ 

404.1529 and 416.929; Hale [v. Bowen, 831 F.2d 1007, 1011 (11th 

Cir. 1987)].

Elam v. R.R. Ret. Bd., 921 F.2d 1210, 1215 (11th Cir. 1991) (parenthetical 

information omitted) (emphasis added). Moreover, “[a] claimant’s subjective 

testimony supported by medical evidence that satisfies the pain standard is itself 

sufficient to support a finding of disability.” Holt, 921 F.2d at 1223. Therefore, if 

a claimant testifies to disabling pain and satisfies the three part pain standard, the 

ALJ must find a disability unless the ALJ properly discredits the claimant’s 

testimony.

 1 This standard is referred to as the Hand standard, named after Hand v. Heckler, 761 F.2d 1545, 1548 (11th Cir. 

1985).

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Furthermore, when the ALJ fails to credit a claimant’s pain testimony, the 

ALJ must articulate reasons for that decision: 

It is established in this circuit that if the [ALJ] fails to articulate reasons for 

refusing to credit a claimant’s subjective pain testimony, then the [ALJ], as a 

matter of law, has accepted that testimony as true. Implicit in this rule is the 

requirement that such articulation of reasons by the [ALJ] be supported by 

substantial evidence

Hale, 831 F.2d at 1012. Therefore, if the ALJ either fails to articulate reasons for 

refusing to credit the plaintiff’s pain testimony, or if the ALJ’s reasons are not 

supported by substantial evidence, the court must accept as true the pain testimony 

of the plaintiff and render a finding of disability. Id.

IV. The ALJ’s Decision

In performing the five-step analysis, the ALJ found that Moore had not 

engaged in substantial gainful activity since June 15, 2011 and therefore met Step 

One. (R. 14). Next, the ALJ found that Moore satisfied Step Two because she 

suffered from the severe impairments of “degenerative disc disease of the lumbar 

spine and . . . []COPD[] secondary to continuing tobacco abuse.” (R. 14). The ALJ 

then proceeded to the next step and found that Moore did not satisfy Step Three 

since she “does not have an impairment or combination of impairments that meets 

or medically equals the severity of one of the listed impairments.” (R. 15-16). 

Although the ALJ answered Step Three in the negative, consistent with the law, 

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see McDaniel, 800 F.2d at 1030, she proceeded to Step Four, where he determined 

that Moore:

has the residual functional capacity [“RFC”] to perform light work as 

defined in 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(b) and 416.967(b) with a sit/stand option 

for one to two minutes every hour or so. She can perform posturals such as 

stooping, crouching, crawling, kneeling and bending occasionally. She can 

never climb ladders, ropes or scaffolds. She should avoid concentrated 

exposure to dust, fumes, gases and poor ventilation. She should avoid 

dangerous machinery and unprotected heights.

(R. 16). In light of Moore’s RFC, the ALJ determined that Moore “is unable to 

perform any of her past relevant work” as a poultry eviscerator, cushion maker, 

auto hemmer, or manufacturing home cleaner. (R. 23). Lastly, in Step Five, the 

ALJ considered Moore’s age, education, work experience, and RFC, and 

determined that “there are jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national 

economy that [Moore] can perform.” Id. Therefore, the ALJ found that Moore “has 

not been under a disability, as defined in the Social Security Act, from June 15, 

2011.” (R. 24).

V. Analysis

Moore asserts that the ALJ’s decision is not supported by substantial 

evidence because the ALJ: (1) failed to appropriately consider the opinion of Dr. 

John Bovina, Moore’s treating physician; (2) inappropriately weighted the 

opinions of Dr. Jonathan Ledet and Dr. James Lindsey; (3) erred in discrediting 

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Moore’s subjective testimony; and (4) improperly questioned the vocational expert 

(“VE”) at Moore’s hearing. See doc. 10 at 18-42. None of these contentions, 

however, establish that the ALJ committed reversible error.

1. The ALJ did not err by affording Dr. Bovina’s opinions and conclusions

limited weight.

Relying on Eleventh Circuit law that an ALJ must give “substantial or 

considerable weight” to the medical opinion of a treating physician unless “good 

cause” is shown,

2 Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1240-41 (11th Cir. 2004), 

Moore argues that the ALJ erred by affording the medical conclusions and 

opinions of Dr. Bovina, her treating physician, limited weight. See doc. 10 at 18-

31. To support her contentions, first, Moore disputes the ALJ’s finding that the 

evidence supports a finding contrary to Dr. Bovina’s opinion and that Dr. Bovina’s

opinion was not bolstered by the evidence. Moore is correct generally that Dr. 

Bovina stated in his July 2013 opinion that Moore should sit continuously for only 

2 hours a day, stand or walk for only 1-2 hours a day, and rest for 2-3 hours per 

day, (R. 352), that Moore is “confounded by depression,” (R. 347), and that Moore 

“will always have a level of chronic pain that limits her daily activity,” id.

However, as the ALJ pointed out, Dr. Bovina offered no objective clinical data to 

 2 “‘[G]ood cause’ exists when the: (1) treating physician’s opinion was not bolstered by the evidence; (2) evidence 

supported a contrary finding; or (3) treating physician’s opinion was conclusory or inconsistent with the doctor’s 

own medical records.” Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1241 (11th Cir. 2004) (quoting Lewis v. Callahan, 125 

F.3d 1436, 1440 (11th Cir. 1997)). Moreover, “[w]hen electing to disregard the opinion of a treating physician, the 

ALJ must clearly articulate [her] reasons.” Id.

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support his opinion testimony. (R. 22). Indeed, a review of Dr. Bovina’s opinion 

testimony and his functional capacity assessment reveals that, but for discussion of 

a 2006 magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) record, he does not specifically 

reference any objective evidence in his discussion of Moore’s medical limitations. 

(R. 339-47, 351-52). Under Eleventh Circuit law, “[t]he opinion of a ‘treating 

physician may be rejected when it is so brief and conclusory that it lacks 

persuasive weight,’” as in this case, where Dr. Bovina testified generally that 

Moore’s pain level of six out of ten was “reasonably expected” given the 

“[medical] history [Moore had] given to [Dr. Bovina].” Hudson v. Heckler, 755 

F.2d 781, 784 (11th Cir. 1985) (quoting Bloodsworth, 703 F.2d 1233 at 1240); (R. 

346).

The ALJ also noted that Dr. Bovina’s findings were inconsistent with the 

objective medical evidence. (R. 22). Images of Moore’s chest were “clear”

(although the radiologist did note that the images “rais[ed] the question of chronic 

airway changes and possible early infiltrate”), (R. 236), and the 2006 MRI 

referenced above returned only “[m]ild” and “[m]inimal” findings of disc

degenerative disease, (R. 326, 327). Additionally, objective medical tests 

conducted by other physicians have similarly indicated that Dr. Bovina’s opinion 

testimony was exaggerated; in fact, tests revealed that Moore had “no decreased 

range of motion,” could “squat and rise from a squatted position . . . with no

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difficulty,” had “[l]ungs clear to auscultation bilaterally,” and could “[m]ove[] all 

extremities well,” as well as other, similar results. (R. 237, 244, 248, 252, 256, 

321). Because Dr. Bovina failed to specifically identify objective medical evidence 

that supports his testimony—and because the objective medical evidence in the 

record contradicts his opinion regarding the alleged severity of Moore’s 

impairments—the ALJ’s decision to grant “little deference” to Dr. Bovina’s 

opinion is supported by substantial evidence.

Second, Moore contests the ALJ’s finding that Dr. Bovina’s July 2013 

opinions and conclusions were inconsistent with Dr. Bovina’s own medical 

records. Although Dr. Bovina’s opinion asserts significant limitations on Moore’s

ability to sit, stand, and walk, (R. 344-47), his treatment notes variously indicate 

that Moore’s lungs were “clear,” (R. 260, 263, 267, 270, 273, 310, 334); that she 

had “[n]o CVA [costovertebral angle] tenderness,” (R. 260, 267, 270); and that she 

had reported “decreased pain and an increase in function,” (R. 268, 271, 274, 311, 

335), among other, similar statements. Because Dr. Bovina’s treatment notes 

contradict his allegations of Moore’s functional limitations, substantial evidence 

supports the ALJ’s decision to give Dr. Bovina’s opinion little deference.

In light of the fact that the ALJ’s decision to discredit Dr. Bovina’s 

functional opinion is supported by substantial evidence—and because the ALJ 

properly articulated that she discredited Dr. Bovina’s opinion because it “failed to 

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provide objective clinical data or other objective information to support his 

opinion” and was “contradicted by not only his own treatment records, but by 

those of the [other doctors] and objective medical testing,” (R. 22)—Moore cannot 

find relief on this ground.

2. The ALJ acted within her discretion by granting Dr. Lindsey and Dr. 

Ledet’s findings “substantial weight.”

Moore also objects to the ALJ’s decision to afford “substantial weight” to 

the opinions of consulting examiners Dr. Lindsey and Dr. Ledet when she only 

gave Dr. Bovina, Moore’s treating physician, little weight.

3 Doc. 10 at 29-31; see

(R. 21). Although an examining physician’s opinion is generally entitled to less 

weight than a treating physician’s opinion, Wilson v. Heckler, 734 F.2d 513, 518 

(11th Cir. 1984), an ALJ may privilege non-treating physicians’ opinions over a 

treating physician’s opinion when the ALJ has good cause to disregard the treating 

physician’s opinion and when the non-treating physicians’ opinions are consistent 

with other evidence in the record, Fries v. Comm’r of Social Sec., 196 Fed. App’x 

827, 833 (11th Cir. 2006); Crawford v. Comm’r of Social Sec., 363 F.3d 1155, 

1160 (11th Cir. 2004). The substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s decision here. 

First, for the reasons discussed above, the ALJ’s determination that Dr. Bovina’s 

 3 Moore also objects to the ALJ’s determination that Dr. Renee Philipot Bowen’s opinion received “little weight” in 

the ALJ’s disability determination. Doc. 10 at 29-31. However, Dr. Bowen is a chiropractor. (R. 354). As such, she

“is not considered an ‘acceptable source’ and, thus, [her] opinion cannot establish the existence of an impairment.” 

Crawford v. Comm’r of Social Sec., 363 F.3d 1155, 1160 (11th Cir. 2004) (referencing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1513(a), 

416.913(a)). Moreover, Dr. Bowen’s findings do not advance Moore’s argument, because even though she found 

that Moore’s lumbar motion was “limited,” she noted only “mild degenerative changes” in her neck and spine. (R. 

354). Accordingly, this argument cannot succeed.

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opinion deserved little weight was appropriately within her discretion. Second, Dr. 

Lindsey’s and Dr. Ledet’s opinions “were based upon an examination of the 

claimant and [were] consistent with other medical evidence of record.” See (R. 21).

Dr. Lindsey, a psychologist who examined Moore to evaluate her mental 

health, found that, although Moore has had “suicidal ideations,” (R. 296), and 

demonstrates “[major] [d]epressive [d]isorder” and “[p]anic [d]isorder [w]ithout 

[a]goraphobia,” (R. 299), these diagnoses suggested only a “mild impairment” to 

her employability, id. Dr. Lindsey encouraged Moore to seek counseling, as he 

found that her “mental health condition could improve . . . if she was able to secure 

outpatient counseling.” (R. 299). These findings align with the remainder of 

Moore’s file, because although Moore and her sister allege that Moore has 

symptoms of depression and panic attacks when in large crowds, (R. 177, 197-98, 

318), her medical records do not reflect that mental health issues impair her daily 

function. In fact, nowhere in Dr. Bovina’s treatment records—from August 2011 

until May 2013—did he diagnose anxiety or depression,

4 (R. 259-74); only in 

February 2013, more than a year and a half after Moore’s alleged onset date, did a 

nurse practitioner diagnose Moore as “positive for [a]nxiety,” (R. 331). Moreover, 

Dr. Bovina’s psychological assessments indicated that Moore was “[a]lert and 

oriented . . . [with m]ood and affect appropriate.” (R. 260, 274, 334). Additionally, 

 4 The medical records do not reflect a diagnosis of anxiety or depression, although they reflect, however, that at this 

time Dr. Bovina was prescribing Moore Ativan for anxiety. (R. 261, 264, 267, 270, 274.)

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the medical record does not reflect that Moore asserted any limitations on her daily 

activities as a result of poor mental health. (R. 259-274, 333-36). As such, 

substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s determination to give substantial weight to 

Dr. Lindsey’s determination that Moore was only mildly impaired by her mental 

health symptoms.

Similarly, Dr. Ledet, who examined Moore’s physical ailments, found that 

Moore had “no limitation[s]” on her spine and shoulders. (R. 322). In fact, Dr. 

Ledet’s opinion included the following findings: “[a]mbulation [is] normal,” 

“[g]ait is normal,” and “[Moore has f]ull range of motion of all joints tested . . . 

including lumbar and cervical spine.” (R. 321-22). These findings align with the 

aforementioned objective medical imaging and medical records reflecting Moore’s 

visits to Dr. Bovina, both of which reflected mild limitations—at most—on 

Moore’s ability to function. Furthermore, Moore’s descriptions of her daily 

activities similarly align with Dr. Ledet’s findings, as she noted that she only 

requires five minutes to prepare simple meals; she can do dishes, laundry, and 

sweeping; and she can walk 100 yards before needing to rest. (R. 194-97). Because 

Dr. Ledet’s opinions are supported by the remaining information in the record, the 

ALJ did not err in affording his opinion “substantial weight.”

Because Dr. Lindsey’s and Dr. Ledet’s opinions correspond with the rest of 

the record—and because the ALJ appropriately demonstrated good cause to afford 

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Dr. Bovina’s opinion “little weight”—the ALJ’s determination that Dr. Lindsey 

and Dr. Ledet should receive “substantial weight” is within her discretion. 

Therefore, Moore cannot find relief on this ground.

3. The ALJ acted within her discretion when determining that Moore’s

assertions of pain were “not entirely credible.”

Moore also argues that the ALJ erred by finding “not entirely credible” her

statements concerning the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of her 

symptoms. See doc. 10 at 32-40; (R. 17). At issue here is the ALJ’s finding that 

although Moore’s medically determinable symptoms “could reasonably be 

expected to cause [her] alleged symptoms,” the alleged “intensity, persistence and 

limiting effects of those symptoms” were not entirely credible. (R. 17). Based on 

the record, the court agrees.

When faced with a claimant who shows that a “medically determinable 

impairment . . . could reasonably be expected to produce [the alleged] symptoms,” 

the ALJ must evaluate the “intensity and persistence” of the alleged symptoms to 

determine if they limit the claimant’s capacity for work.5 20 C.F.R. §§404.1529(b)-

(c). Factors to consider include: the claimant’s daily activities; the location, 

duration, frequency, and intensity of pain and other symptoms; precipitating and 

 5 The ALJ here did not explicitly apply the Hand standard that the Eleventh Circuit outlines for pain; however, the 

ALJ’s analysis makes clear that she appropriately relied upon the standard in making her credibility determination. 

See Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219, 1225-26 (11th Cir. 2002) (“Although the ALJ d[id] not cite or refer to the 

language of the three-part test . . . his findings and discussion indicate that the standard was applied. Furthermore, 

the ALJ cites to 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529, which contains the same language regarding the subjective pain testimony 

that this Court interpreted when initially establishing its three-part pain standard.”).

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aggravating factors; measures the claimant has taken to relieve pain; treatment, 

other than medicine, that the claimant has received to alleviate her symptoms; and 

other factors concerning functional limitations. Id. If an ALJ rejects a claimant’s 

pain testimony, she must articulate reasons for that decision; otherwise, as a matter 

of law, the claimant’s testimony is accepted as true. Hale, 831 F.2d at 1012.

The ALJ extensively outlined her reasons for discrediting Moore’s

subjective pain and mental health symptoms.6 For example, as discussed at length

above, the objective medical evidence does not support a finding of disabling 

impairment. The above discussion also indicates that Moore’s daily activities do 

not necessitate a finding of disabling impairment. Moreover, when evaluating her 

compliance with treatment, the ALJ noted that Moore continues to smoke despite 

repeated medical advice to the contrary and despite the fact that she alleges 

disability based on her COPD condition.

7 (R. 19-20, 244, 246, 248, 250, 255, 263, 

266-67, 269-70, 273, 297, 310, 320, 330, 333-34). The ALJ also appropriately 

 6 Moore also alleges that the ALJ failed to appropriately consider the combined effect of her alleged impairments 

when determining Moore’s pain and overall condition. Doc. 10 at 38. However, the ALJ explicitly stated that Moore 

“d[id] not have an impairment or combination of impairments” to substantiate a finding of disability, thus satisfying 

the required showing. (R. 15); see Jones v. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 941 F.2d 1529, 1533 (11th Cir. 1991) 

(holding that the ALJ’s finding that the claimant did not have “an impairment or combination of impairments listed 

in, or medically equal to one [in the listings]” is sufficient to show that the ALJ had considered the impairments in 

combination). The court is accordingly unconvinced by Moore’s argument.

7 In her opinion, the ALJ focused on the fact that Moore had not reduced her cigarette consumption and instead still 

smoked “half a pack of cigarettes a day,” and that “it does not appear [Moore] has made any effort to quit.” (R. 20). 

However, the record actually reflects that Moore has decreased her cigarette intake from a one-and-a-half packs per 

day in 2010, (R. 226), to one-half pack per day in 2013, (R. 34, 297). While this does constitute a decrease in 

cigarette consumption, the ALJ’s error here is harmless, as Moore is still heavily smoking notwithstanding her 

COPD condition. See Caldwell v. Barnhart, 261 F. App’x 188, 190 (11th Cir. 2008) (holding that when an ALJ 

commits an error and, even if the error were corrected it “would not contradict the ALJ’s ultimate findings, the 

ALJ’s decision will stand”).

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considered Dr. Bovina’s “conservative treatment” for Moore’s alleged impairments 

as another factor discrediting the alleged severity of Moore’s impairments. (R. 19, 

21); see Wolfe v. Chater, 86 F.3d 1072, 1078 (11th Cir. 1996) (discrediting 

allegations of pain because, among other reasons, the “course of treatment for his 

[ailments] were entirely conservative in nature”) (quotations omitted); see also 20 

C.F.R. §§ 404.1529(c)(3)(v), 416.929(c)(3)(v). Indeed, the record does not reflect 

that Dr. Bovina recommended any treatment other than medication (beyond 

advising Moore to cease smoking); he never recommended physical therapy, 

steroid injections, surgery, or mental health counseling. See (R. 19, 259-78, 333-

36).

Based on this record, the ALJ’s decision to deem Moore’s pain severity “not 

entirely credible” is supported by substantial evidence. Therefore, the court denies 

this ground for relief.

4. The ALJ did not commit reversible error by failing to ask the VE a 

hypothetical question that incorporated all of Moore’s alleged symptoms.

Moore also objects to ALJ’s hypothetical questions posed to the VE. Doc. 

10 at 41. Specifically, Moore argues that because the ALJ did not ask the VE a 

hypothetical question that included all of Moore’s alleged symptoms—in 

particular, that Moore “ha[d] to lie down for several hours a day”—the ALJ’s 

disability determination should be overturned. Id. The court finds otherwise, 

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mainly because Moore’s attorney asked the VE a question that did incorporate this 

alleged symptom into her hypothetical, (R. 45), so any error by the ALJ was 

harmless, and because the Eleventh Circuit has held that “[an] ALJ [is] not 

required to include findings in the hypothetical that [she] had properly rejected as 

unsupported.” Crawford, 363 F.3d at 1161. As discussed above, the ALJ’s decision 

to discount Moore’s allegations of her pain symptoms was supported by substantial 

evidence; therefore, her decision not to incorporate that alleged symptom into her 

hypothetical was supported by substantial evidence.

In light of the fact that the ALJ did not commit reversible error in neglecting 

to question the VE about the availability of jobs that would allow Moore to rest for 

several hours a day, Moore may not find relief on this ground.

Conclusion

Based on the foregoing, the court concludes that the ALJ’s determination 

that Moore is not disabled is supported by substantial evidence and that the ALJ 

applied proper legal standards in reaching this determination. Therefore, the 

commissioner’s final decision is AFFIRMED. A separate order in accordance 

with the memorandum of decision will be entered.

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DONE the 4th day of November, 2015.

 

_________________________________

ABDUL K. KALLON

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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