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Nature of Suit Code: 865
Nature of Suit: Social Security - RSI (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:0405 Review of HHS Decision

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

PINE BLUFF DIVISION

Michael Anthony Owen Plaintiff

v. No. 5:15CV00256 JM-JTR

Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner,

Social Security Administration Defendant

Recommended Disposition

Instructions

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

James M. Moody, Jr. 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 Moody may adopt the recommended disposition without independently

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 5:15-cv-00256-JM Document 14 Filed 07/06/16 Page 1 of 8
reviewing all of the record evidence.

Reasoning for Recommended Disposition

Michael Anthony Owen seeks judicial review of the denial of his application

for supplemental security income (SSI).3

 Owen last worked as a floor waxer.4 His

employer, which reimbursed him for the gas cost of his daily commute from his home

in Huntsville, Arkansas, to where he worked in Farmington, Arkansas, eventually had

to terminate him due to rising gasoline prices.5

 He based disability on chronic

obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), back and shoulder problems, intestinal

problems, and staph infection.6

The Commissioner’s decision. Owen alleged disability beginning September

2007 when he lost his floor-waxer job, but the earliest date he could receive SSI was

September 26, 2012 when he applied.7

 As a result, the ALJ considered whether Owen

3

SSA record at p. 136 (alleging disability beginning Sept. 1, 2007).

4

Id. at pp. 29-31, 152, 167 & 173.

5

Id. at pp. 38 & 401:

OWEN: I was living in Hunstville, so the drive all the way to

Farmington and back you know —. 

ALJ: So, it was really just the, the cost of the gasoline was the

problem. Is that what you’re talking about?

OWEN: Right, yeah.

6

Id. at p. 166.

7

20 C.F.R. § 416.335.

2

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was disabled beginning on that date.

The ALJ identified emphysema, anxiety, and depression as severe

impairments.8

 The ALJ determined Owen can do some unskilled light work.9 After

consulting a vocational expert, the ALJ determined jobs exist that Owen can do and

denied the application.10

After the Appeals Council denied review,11 the ALJ’s decision became the

Commissioner’s final decision for the purpose of judicial review.12 Owen filed this

case to challenge the decision.13 In reviewing the decision, the court must determine

whether substantial evidence supports the decision and whether the ALJ made a legal

error.14 This recommendation explains why the court should affirm the decision.

8

SSA record at p. 11.

9

Id. at p. 12.

10Id. at p. 18.

11Id. at p. 1.

12See 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 that the

Commissioner’s appeal procedure permits claimants to appeal only final

decisions).

13Docket entry # 1.

14See 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

3

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Owen’s allegations. Owen challenges several aspects of the ALJ’s decision:

(1) he contends the ALJ failed to fully and fairly develop the record, (2) he claims the

ALJ failed to consider his impairments in combination, (3) he challenges the

evaluation of his credibility, and (4) he contends he cannot do light work. For these

reasons, he maintains substantial evidence does not support the decision.15

Applicable legal principles. For substantial evidence to exist, a reasonable

mind must accept the evidence as adequate to show Owen can do some light unskilled

work.16 “Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent

lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds.”17 The ALJ placed the

following requirements on light work:

(1) no concentrated exposure to pulmonary irritants; and

(2) simple, routine, repetitive tasks involving incidental interpersonal

contact and simple, direct, concrete supervision.18

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.”).

15Docket entry # 11.

16Britton v. Sullivan, 908 F.2d 328, 330 (8th Cir. 1990).

1720 C.F.R. § 416.967(b).

18SSA record at p. 12.

4

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The first requirement flowed from emphysema; the second requirement, from mental

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

decision for the following reasons:

1. Medical evidence establishes no disabling impairment. A claimant

must prove disability with medical evidence; his subjective allegations

are not enough to prove disability.19 The medical evidence shows Owen

sought treatment for complaints of abdominal pain,20 but diagnostic

testing showed no cause for pain.21

Diagnostic imaging showed mild hyper-expansion of the lungs; the

1942 U.S.C. § 423 (d)(5)(A) (“An individual’s statement as to pain or other

symptoms shall not alone be conclusive evidence of disability...; there must be

medical signs and findings, established by medically acceptable clinical or

laboratory diagnostic techniques, which show the existence of a medical

impairment...which could reasonably be expected to produce the pain or other

symptoms alleged and which...would lead to a conclusion that the individual is

under a disability”); 20 C.F.R. § 416.908 (“A physical or mental impairment must

be established by medical evidence consisting of signs, symptoms, and laboratory

findings, not only by your statement of symptoms.”); 20 C.F.R. § 416.929

(“[S]tatements about your pain or other symptoms will not alone establish that you

are disabled; there must be medical signs and laboratory findings which show that

you have a medical impairment(s) which could reasonably be expected to produce

the pain or other symptoms alleged and which, when considered with all of the

other evidence (including statements about the intensity and persistence of your

pain or other symptoms which may reasonably be accepted as consistent with the

medical signs and laboratory findings), would lead to a conclusion that you are

disabled.”).

20SSA record at pp. 263 (Sept. 8, 2012), p. 249 (Sept. 19, 2012), p. 223

(Sept. 25, 2012), p. 226 (Oct. 8, 2012), p. 317 (Oct. 15, 2012), p. 319 (Oct. 25,

2012) & p. 321 (Nov. 15, 2012).

21Id. at pp. 226, 317, 319 & 321.

5

Case 5:15-cv-00256-JM Document 14 Filed 07/06/16 Page 5 of 8
finding is consistent with emphysema.22 The descriptor “mild”

suggested no disabling symptoms. 

Before applying for SSI, Owen was treated for a staph infection; the

treating doctor drained a boil on a forearm and prescribed antibiotics.23

Owen strained his back lifting a vehicle engine.24 That’s all the medical

evidence showed. Even considered in combination, the evidence showed

nothing preventing light work. According to Owen, he can lift 50

pounds;25 that’s more than light work requires.

2. The record contained sufficient evidence to determine whether

Owen was disabled. Owen complains because the ALJ didn’t order a

consultative physical exam. However, such an examination is only

required if treatment records do not provide sufficient medical evidence

to determine whether the claimant is disabled.26 The ALJ must fairly and

fully develop the record as to the matters at issue.27

The record addressed the matters at issue: COPD, back and shoulder

problems, intestinal problems, and staph infection. COPD: diagnostic

imaging showed mild hyper-expansion of the lungs. Back and shoulder

problems: diagnostic imaging showed mild compression deformities at

level T9 and T10 in the mid-spine;28 a primary care provider found

tenderness on both sides of the mid-back.29 Treatment records reflect no

22Id. at p. 408.

23Id. at pp. 277 & 283.

24Id. at pp. 286, 295 & 298.

25Id. at p. 193.

26Barrett v. Shalala, 38 F.3d 1019, 1023 (8th Cir. 1994).

27Landess v. Weinberger, 490 F.2d 1187, 1189 (8th Cir. 1974).

28SSA record at p. 302.

29Id. at p. 356.

6

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complaints of shoulder pain. Intestinal problems: diagnostic testing

provided no cause for problems. Staph infection: the one-time

occurrence was treated. No reason existed for a consultative physical

exam.

3. Inconsistencies support the credibility evaluation. Owen

complains because the ALJ discounted his pain allegations, but an ALJ

may discount complaints of pain based on inconsistencies.30 The record

contained inconsistences. Owen reported three surgeries,31 but there’s

no evidence of surgery. He reported that he stopped working because of

medical conditions,32 but he later acknowledged that he lost his job due

to the rising costs of his fuel reimbursement vouchers.33 Before a

medical procedure, he reported no drug use, but during the procedure,

the doctor learned Owen took methadone on a daily basis.34 Owen

claimed a bulge in his spine limits his ability to work,35 but there’s no

evidence of a bulge. He complained about chronic disabling pain, but

he sought treatment for acute problems. Such inconsistencies provided

a sufficient basis for discounting complaints of pain.

4. The evidence supports light work. Light work requires

lifting/carrying 20 pounds occasionally and 10 pounds frequently.36

Owen can lift 50 pounds.37 Light work sometimes requires a great deal

30Partee v. Astrue, 638 F.3d 860, 865 (8th Cir. 2011); Dunahoo v. Apfel, 241

F.3d 1033, 1038 (8th Cir. 2001).

31SSA record at p. 183.

32Id. at p. 166.

33Id. at pp. 38 & 401.

34Id. at p. 228.

35Id. at p. 183.

3620 C.F.R. § 416.967(b).

37SSA record at p. 193.

7

Case 5:15-cv-00256-JM Document 14 Filed 07/06/16 Page 7 of 8
of walking. Owen claims shortness of breath prevents walking, but

diagnostic imaging showed mild hyper-expansion of the lungs. The

descriptor “mild” suggests no severe limitation. Medical experts

identified no severe physical impairment.38 The ALJ provided for

respiratory symptoms. A reasonable mind will accept this evidence as

adequate to show Owen can do light work.

5. The ALJ accounted for mental impairment. Owens says the ALJ

failed to consider the mental examiner’s diagnosis of a personality

disorder,39 but that diagnosis was for a long-standing Axis II disorder. 

If Owen has a personality disorder, he had it during the years he worked

and it did not prevent him from working. The ALJ accounted for the

Axis I diagnoses — depression and anxiety — as well as personality

disorder by requiring simple, routine, repetitive tasks involving

incidental interpersonal contact and simple, direct, concrete supervision.

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. The ALJ made no legal

error. For these reasons, the undersigned magistrate judge recommends DENYING

Owen’s request for relief (docket entry # 2) and AFFIRMING the Commissioner’s

decision.

Dated this 6th day of July, 2016.

__________________________________

United States Magistrate Judge

38Id. at pp. 56 & 67.

39Id. at p. 403.

8

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