Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alsd-1_15-cv-00640/USCOURTS-alsd-1_15-cv-00640-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 863
Nature of Suit: Social Security - DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:405 Review of HHS Decision (DIWC)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

NATASHA D. PETTAWAY, :

Plaintiff, :

vs. : CA 15-0640-C

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, :

Acting Commissioner of Social Security,

:

Defendant.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Plaintiff brings this action, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3), seeking 

judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying her

claims for disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income. The parties 

have consented to the exercise of jurisdiction by the Magistrate Judge, pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. § 636(c), for all proceedings in this Court. (Doc. 20 (“In accordance with

provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Fed.R.Civ.P. 73, the parties in this case consent to 

have a United States magistrate judge conduct any and all proceedings in this case, . . . 

order the entry of a final judgment, and conduct all post-judgment proceedings.”); see 

also Doc. 21 (endorsed order of reference).) Upon consideration of the administrative 

record, plaintiff’s brief, and the Commissioner’s brief,

1 it is determined that the 

Commissioner’s decision denying benefits should be affirmed.

2

 

 1 At the behest of the Court, given the age of this case, the parties in this matter 

waived oral argument.

2 Any appeal taken from this memorandum opinion and order and judgment shall 

be made to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. (See Doc. 21 (“An appeal from a judgment 

entered by a magistrate judge shall be taken directly to the United States court of appeals for 

(Continued)

Case 1:15-cv-00640-C Document 23 Filed 01/05/17 Page 1 of 15
2

Plaintiff alleges disability due to deep venous thrombosis status post vena cava 

filter and pulmonary embolectomy, low back pain, edema, depression, esophageal 

reflux, morbid obesity, and anemia. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) made the 

following relevant findings:

1. The claimant meets the insured status requirements of the Social 

Security Act through September 30, 2015.

2. The claimant has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since 

September 3, 2012, the alleged onset date (20 CFR 404.1571 et seq., and 

416.971 et seq.).

3. The claimant has the following severe impairments: deep venous 

thrombosis status post vena cava filter and pulmonary embolectomy; 

low back pain; edema; depression; esophageal reflux; morbid obesity; 

anemia (20 CFR 404.1520(c) and 416.920(c)).

. . .

4. The claimant does not have an impairment or combination of 

impairments that meets or medically equals the severity of one of the 

listed impairments in 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 (20 CFR 

404.1520(d), 404.1525, 404.1526, 416.920(d), 416.925 and 416.926).

. . .

5. After careful consideration of the entire record, I find that the 

claimant has the residual functional capacity to perform a reduced range 

of sedentary work as defined in 20 CFR 404.1567(a) and 416.967(a). 

Specifically, the claimant is able to lift and carry 10 pounds, stand and 

walk for approximately 2 hours per day, and sit for 6 hours per day with 

normal breaks. The claimant should not perform pushing and pulling 

of leg or foot controls. The claimant would need to alternate between 

sitting and standing at the workstation on an occasional basis. The 

claimant should not have to climb, crouch, kneel, crawl, or squat. Due to 

some dizziness, the claimant should not drive, operate dangerous 

moving machinery, or work at unprotected heights. The claimant 

should be limited to simple routine tasks. Due to depressive symptoms, 

pain, etc. she could be expected to have deficits in concentration, 

 

this judicial circuit in the same manner as an appeal from any other judgment of this district 

court.”))

Case 1:15-cv-00640-C Document 23 Filed 01/05/17 Page 2 of 15
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persistence or pace that could cause her to be off task or nonproductive 

for about 5 percent of the workday. Additionally, the claimant should 

have no interaction with the general public.

In making this finding, I have considered all symptoms and the extent to 

which these symptoms can reasonably be accepted as consistent with the 

objective medical evidence and other evidence, based on the requirements 

of 20 CFR 404.1529 and 416.929 and SSRs 96-4p and 96-7p. I have also

considered opinion evidence in accordance with the requirements of 20 

CFR 404.1527 and 416.927 and SSRs 96-2p, 96-5p, 96-6p and 06-3p.

. . .

The claimant alleges that she is disabled and thus unable to work as a 

result of acute deep vein thrombosis and heart problems. Additionally, in 

a Disability Report filed on appeal, the claimant claimed back pain and the 

inability to walk without assistance and the inability to lean back. The 

claimant testified that she experiences constant pain. The claimant further 

testified that she is depressed.

After careful consideration of the evidence, I find that the claimant’s 

medically determinable impairments could reasonably be expected to 

cause some symptoms; however, the claimant’s statements concerning the 

intensity, persistence and limiting effects of these symptoms are not 

entirely credible for the reasons explained in this decision.

In terms of the claimant’s [] DVT status post vena cava filter and 

pulmonary embolectomy, the claimant has shown great improvement. In 

September 2012, the claimant underwent a median sternotomy, removal 

of right ventricle thrombectomy and inferior vena cava filter with a 

principal diagnosis of thrombus in the right ventricle, pulmonary 

embolism, deep venous thrombosis, and morbid obesity. The claimant’s 

discharge following her procedure was held a day because of leg pain and 

shortness of breath which resolved. Subsequently, the claimant was again 

admitted to USA Medical Center with left lower extremity pain and 

swelling. The claimant consented to Coumadin therapy which was started 

in the hospital. The claimant followed up with Mobile Cardiovascular 

Imaging on October 15, 2012, and it was noted she was doing well 

postoperatively. All of her surgical incisions had healed nicely. The 

claimant was encouraged to be more active. Her INR was 1.7. The 

claimant was given compression stockings to wear. The claimant returned 

for periodic follow up appointments where her INR was checked while 

taking the Coumadin. On November 26, 2012, it was noted that the 

claimant would be going out of town on December 21. On December 17, 

2012, the claimant returned for follow up and complained of some pain 

and swelling in her legs. A venous Doppler showed evidence of a subacute DVT in the right superficial femoral vein extending from the mid 

thigh to the distal thigh. The left CFV and popliteal veins showed no 

Case 1:15-cv-00640-C Document 23 Filed 01/05/17 Page 3 of 15
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evidence of DVT with good distal augmentation. The claimant was 

advised to take her Coumadin and wear the compression stockings when 

she traveled. When the claimant returned on January 7, 2013, it was noted 

that she continued to have significant swelling in her leg, as well as chest 

pain and shortness of breath. On January 24, 2013, the claimant called in 

and requested medication for pain and nausea. Dr. Maltese declared the 

claimant unable to work over the next six months as she receive[d] her 

Coumadin therapy. On February 11, 2013, the claimant returned for 

follow up and it was noted that she had recanalized her DVT, not normal 

flow yet but it was improving. On March 18, 2013, it was noted that the 

claimant had a previous DVT as well as a vena cava filter and a 

pulmonary embolectomy. The claimant was observed to be doing very 

well and her venous study looked good. It was noted that there had been 

good recanalization. The decision was made to stop the Coumadin 

therapy. The claimant returned on April 29, 2013, and it was noted she 

was having “considerable improvement and getting good recanalizaton.” 

The claimant was having leg pain but it was noted to have “definitely 

improved.” Dr. O’Gorman noted that he did not feel the claimant was 

using her compression stockings as much as they would like for her to use 

them. The claimant was off anti-coagulation and just using an Aspirin a 

day. She was advised to follow up in six months. The claimant returned 

for care on November 4, 2013, and it was noted that she remained off 

Coumadin and taking only a Baby Aspirin a day. She had a follow up 

venous study which showed no evidence of DVT and represented wall 

thickening in the right superficial femoral vein with good distal 

augmentation. She was still complaining of some pain and swelling in her 

leg along with pain along her sternotomy. It was noted that the claimant 

had not been very consistent with her compression stockings. The 

claimant was prescribed Lortab and advised to follow up in six months.

In terms of the claimant’s remaining impairments, she has had minimal 

and conservative treatment. The claimant has sought periodic treatment at 

the Mobile County Health Department, and has been diagnosed with low 

back pain, morbid obesity, edema, esophageal reflux, and depression. In 

December 2012, the claimant presented to the health department and 

complained of low back pain which radiated to her bilateral legs. A 

straight leg raising test was positive. An x-ray of the claimant’s lumbar 

spine performed in December 2012 reflected that the vertebral body 

heights and alignment appear maintained, no fracture or sublaxation. No 

acute process was demonstrated. In March 2013, the claimant was 

diagnosed with depression. In June 2013, the claimant was diagnosed with 

anemia, morbid obesity, and prediabetes. She was prescribed Ferrous 

Sulfate. Also in June 2013, the claimant was diagnosed with dysthymic 

disorder and prescribed an antidepressant. In August 2013, the claimant 

presented at the health department in much better spirits since starting 

her anti-depressant, noted to be smiling and laughing. She was diagnosed 

with esophageal reflux, morbid obesity, and anemia. The claimant was 

prescribed Omeprazole and Victoza. In September 2013, the claimant 

presented to the health department and was diagnosed with edema and 

Case 1:15-cv-00640-C Document 23 Filed 01/05/17 Page 4 of 15
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morbid obesity, with a BMI of 44.3. I have considered the medical 

evidence related to obesity in accordance with SSR 02-1P.

As for the claimant’s subjective complaints of physical and mental 

impairments, the claimant’s allegations are not fully credible. While the 

claimant did have DVT status post vena cava filter and pulmonary 

embolectomy, the medical evidence indicates great improvement. The 

claimant no longer has to take Coumadin but now just a Baby Aspirin. 

Her more recent tests reflected no remaining evidence of DVT. While she 

has voiced complaints from time to time of leg pain, she has not been 

compliant with the advice that she wear compression stockings. Further, 

the claimant has been encouraged to be more active, but she testified that 

she does little activity. Regarding the claimant’s remaining physical 

impairments, she has received minimal and conservative treatment.

Objective findings regarding the claimant’s back were normal. The 

claimant has not sought emergency treatment for her physical or mental 

impairments during the period of adjudication. As to the claimant’s 

depression, treatment notes reflect that the claimant showed improvement 

after being prescribed an antidepressant. She has not sought mental health 

treatment from a specialist, nor has she sought mental health counseling. 

Moreover, the claimant has traveled to Virginia and Butler on trips to see 

family and friends during the period of adjudication. The limitation to a 

reduced range of sedentary unskilled work with no contact with the 

general public fully accommodates the claimant’s physical and mental 

health impairments.

As for the opinion evidence, I give great weight to the opinion of Lisa 

Mani, M.D. in finding that the claimant can perform a range of sedentary 

work. While I have further limited the claimant in the residual functional 

capacity, Dr. Mani’s opinion is generally consistent and is supported by 

the medical evidence as a whole. 

I have considered the statements of treating physician Dr. Maltese made 

during the time of the claimant’s Coumadin treatment, stating in January 

2013 that the claimant was “permanently disabled at the present time” 

and declared the claimant “unable to work over the next months as she 

receives her Coumadin therapy.” While the claimant did undergo 

Coumadin therapy for her DVT, the claimant’s symptoms were not 

disabling, and further, have notably improved. The limitation to a reduced

range of sedentary work fully accommodates the claimant’s symptoms.

In sum, the above residual functional capacity assessment is supported by

a preponderance of the most credible evidence of record including the 

claimant’s resolved DVT, the minimal and conservative treatment of her 

physical and mental impairments, and the lack of objective findings as to 

the claimant’s impairments. 

6. The claimant is unable to perform any past relevant work (20 

CFR 404.1565 and 416.965).

Case 1:15-cv-00640-C Document 23 Filed 01/05/17 Page 5 of 15
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. . .

7. The claimant was born on December 19, 1970 and was 41 years 

old, which is defined as a younger individual age 18-44, on the alleged 

disability onset date (20 CFR 404.1563 and 416.963).

8. The claimant has at least a high school education and is able to 

communicate in English (20 CFR 404.1564 and 416.964).

9. Transferability of job skills is not material to the determination 

of disability because using the Medical-Vocational Rules as a 

framework supports a finding that the claimant is “not disabled,” 

whether or not the claimant has transferable job skills (See SSR 82-41 

and 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2).

10. Considering the claimant’s age, education, work experience, and 

residual functional capacity, there are jobs that exist in significant 

numbers in the national economy that the claimant can perform (20 CFR 

404.1569, 404.1569(a), 416.969, and 416.969(a)).

. . .

If the claimant had the residual functional capacity to perform the full 

range of sedentary work, a finding of “not disabled” would be directed by 

Medical-Vocational Rule 201.28. However, the claimant’s ability to 

perform all or substantially all of the requirements of this level of work 

has been impeded by additional limitations. To determine the extent to 

which these limitations erode the unskilled sedentary occupational base, I 

asked the vocational expert whether jobs exist in the national economy for 

an individual with the claimant’s age, education, work experience, and 

residual functional capacity. The vocational expert testified that given all 

of these factors the individual would be able to perform the requirements 

of representative occupations such as order clerk (DOT Code 209.567-014, 

sedentary, unskilled, SVP=2) with approximately 125,330 jobs in the 

national economy (after a 50 percent reduction) and approximately 

16[],040 jobs in Alabama (after a 50 percent reduction); charge account 

clerk (DOT Code 205.367-014, sedentary, unskilled, SVP=2) with 

approximately 98,330 jobs in the national economy (after a 50 percent 

reduction) and approximately 1,660 jobs in Alabama (after a 50 percent 

reduction); and addressing clerk (DOT Code 209.587-010, sedentary, 

unskilled, SVP=2) with approximately 96,560 jobs in the national economy 

and approximately 550 jobs in Alabama. 

While the vocational expert’s testimony is generally consistent with the 

information contained in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, the 

vocational expert did note that the Dictionary of Occupational Titles does 

not address sit/stand options or reducing numbers by 50 percent. The 

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vocational expert’s testimony regarding the availability of jobs is based 

upon her knowledge and experience.

Based on the testimony of the vocational expert, I conclude that, 

considering the claimant’s age, education, work experience, and residual 

functional capacity, the claimant is capable of making a successful 

adjustment to other work that exists in significant numbers in the national 

economy. A finding of “not disabled” is therefore appropriate under the 

framework of the above-cited rule.

11. The claimant has not been under a disability, as defined in the 

Social Security Act, from September 3, 2012, through the date of this 

decision (20 CFR 404.1520(g) and 416.920(g)). 

(Tr. 23, 24, 25-26, 26-28, 28-29 & 29-30 (internal citations & footnote omitted; emphasis in 

original).) The Appeals Council affirmed the ALJ’s decision (Tr. 1-3) and thus, the 

hearing decision became the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security.

DISCUSSION

In all Social Security cases, an ALJ utilizes a five-step sequential evaluation 

to determine whether the claimant is disabled, which considers: (1) 

whether the claimant is engaged in substantial gainful activity; (2) if not, 

whether the claimant has a severe impairment; (3) if so, whether the 

severe impairment meets or equals an impairment in the Listing of 

Impairments in the regulations; (4) if not, whether the claimant has the 

RFC to perform her past relevant work; and (5) if not, whether, in light of 

the claimant’s RFC, age, education and work experience, there are other 

jobs the claimant can perform.

Watkins v. Commissioner of Social Sec., 457 Fed. Appx. 868, 870 (11th Cir. Feb. 9, 2012)3

(per curiam) (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4), (c)-(f), 416.920(a)(4), (c)-(f); Phillips v. 

Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1237 (11th Cir. 2004)) (footnote omitted). The claimant bears the 

burden, at the fourth step, of proving that she is unable to perform her previous work. 

Jones v. Bowen, 810 F.2d 1001 (11th Cir. 1986). In evaluating whether the claimant has 

met this burden, the examiner must consider the following four factors: (1) objective 

 3 “Unpublished opinions are not considered binding precedent, but they may be 

cited as persuasive authority.” 11th Cir.R. 36-2.

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medical facts and clinical findings; (2) diagnoses of examining physicians; (3) evidence 

of pain; and (4) the claimant’s age, education and work history. Id. at 1005. Although “a 

claimant bears the burden of demonstrating an inability to return to her past relevant 

work, the [Commissioner of Social Security] has an obligation to develop a full and fair 

record.” Schnorr v. Bowen, 816 F.2d 578, 581 (11th Cir. 1987) (citations omitted). If a 

plaintiff proves that she cannot do her past relevant work, as here, it then becomes the 

Commissioner’s burden—at the fifth step—to prove that the plaintiff is capable—given 

her age, education, and work history—of engaging in another kind of substantial 

gainful employment that exists in the national economy. Phillips, supra, 357 F.3d at 1237; 

Jones v. Apfel, 190 F.3d 1224, 1228 (11th Cir. 1999), cert. denied, 529 U.S. 1089, 120 S.Ct. 

1723, 146 L.Ed.2d 644 (2000); Sryock v. Heckler, 764 F.2d 834, 836 (11th Cir. 1985). 

The task for the Magistrate Judge is to determine whether the Commissioner’s

decision to deny claimant benefits, on the basis that she can perform those sedentary

jobs identified by the vocational expert, is supported by substantial evidence. 

Substantial evidence is defined as more than a scintilla and means such relevant 

evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. 

Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 91 S.Ct. 1420, 28 L.Ed.2d 842 (1971). “In determining 

whether substantial evidence exists, we must view the record as a whole, taking into 

account evidence favorable as well as unfavorable to the Commissioner’s] decision.” 

Chester v. Bowen, 792 F.2d 129, 131 (11th Cir. 1986).4 Courts are precluded, however, 

from “deciding the facts anew or re-weighing the evidence.” Davison v. Astrue, 370 Fed. 

Appx. 995, 996 (11th Cir. Apr. 1, 2010) (per curiam) (citing Dyer v. Barnhart, 395 F.3d 

 4 This Court’s review of the Commissioner’s application of legal principles, 

however, is plenary. Walker v. Bowen, 826 F.2d 996, 999 (11th Cir. 1987).

Case 1:15-cv-00640-C Document 23 Filed 01/05/17 Page 8 of 15
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1206, 1210 (11th Cir. 2005)). And, “’[e]ven if the evidence preponderates against the 

Commissioner’s findings, [a court] must affirm if the decision reached is supported by 

substantial evidence.’” Id. (quoting Crawford v. Commissioner of Social Security, 363 F.3d 

1155, 1158-1159 (11th Cir. 2004)).

On appeal to this Court, Pettaway asserts two reasons why the Commissioner’s 

decision to deny her benefits is in error (i.e., not supported by substantial evidence): (1) 

the ALJ erred in relying upon a non-examining physician’s opinion to support the RFC 

determination while assigning little weight to the opinion of plaintiff’s treating 

physician in violation of Dillard v. Astrue, 834 F.Supp.2d 1325 (S.D. Ala. 2011); and (2) 

the ALJ committed reversible error, in violation of 20 C.F.R. § 416.927(d) and SSR 96-2, 

by failing to assign controlling weight to the opinion of the plaintiff’s treating physician 

and, instead, relying on the opinion of a non-examining physician. Given the close 

affinity between these two issues, they are considered together. At bottom, it is 

plaintiff’s position that the ALJ erred in affording great weight to the opinion of nonexaminer Dr. Mani regarding plaintiff’s RFC and in affording little weight to the 

opinion of the treating physician.

In this case, on January 7, 2013, plaintiff’s treating thoracic/cardiovascular 

surgeon, Dr. Carl Maltese, opined that Pettaway “should be classified as permanently 

disabled at the present time.” (Tr. 285 (emphasis supplied).) Treatment notes from Dr. 

Maltese’s office, generated on January 24, 2013, give more “definition” to the treating 

physician’s opinion in making clear that plaintiff would be “unable to work over the 

next six months as she receives her Coumadin therapy for her DVT.” (Id.) As it turned 

out, Pettaway’s Coumadin therapy was ended by one of Dr. Maltese’s partners, Dr. 

Ronald O’Gorman, prior to the conclusion of six months, on March 18, 2013 (Tr. 283

(“She is doing very well. Her venous study looks good. There has been good 

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recanalization. I think at this point it is probably okay to go ahead and stop her 

Coumadin.”)), and was never restarted (compare Tr. 281 with Tr. 278). Indeed, Dr. 

O’Gorman noted on April 29, 2013, that plaintiff was considerably improved and 

though she still had some leg pain that pain had “definitely improved[]” and she was 

not using her compression stockings as much as his office would like. (Tr. 281.) 

Moreover, on November 4, 2013, Dr. Maltese’s office notes reveal that plaintiff’s followup venous study showed no evidence of DVT and though she still complained of some 

pain and swelling in the leg it was clear she was not wearing her compression stockings 

consistently. (Tr. 278.) 

On February 25, 2013, Dr. Lisa Mani, a non-examining, reviewing physician, 

specifically noted that “[t]he less-than-sedentary RFC 4734 rating dated 11/28/2012 is 

affirmed as written . . . based on a review of records before and after this date.” (Tr. 

257.) The rating dated November 28, 2012, indicated plaintiff could lift and carry up to 

10 pounds occasionally and less than 10 pounds frequently; stand and/or walk for a 

total of 2 hours in an 8-hour workday; sit for about 6 hours total during an 8-hour 

workday; had an unlimited ability to push and/or pull using hand and/or foot 

controls, except as shown with respect to lifting and carrying; and had an unlimited 

ability to climb ramps and stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl. (Compare id. 

with Tr. 64-65.) Dr. Mani noted that her RFC rating was “applicable” to September 3, 

2013, “with the conditions addressed or rated not anticipated to last in their present 

state of severity for twelve months.” (Tr. 257.) 

The law in this Circuit is clear that an ALJ “’must specify what weight is given to 

a treating physician’s opinion and any reason for giving it no weight, and failure to do 

so is reversible error.’” Nyberg v. Commissioner of Social Security, 179 Fed.Appx. 589, 590-

591 (11th Cir. May 2, 2006) (unpublished), quoting MacGregor v. Bowen, 786 F.2d 1050, 

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1053 (11th Cir. 1986) (other citations omitted). In other words, “the ALJ must give the 

opinion of the treating physician ‘substantial or considerable weight unless “good 

cause” is shown to the contrary.’” Williams v. Astrue, 2014 WL 185258, *6 (N.D. Ala. Jan. 

15, 2014), quoting Phillips, supra, 357 F.3d at 1240 (other citation omitted); see Nyberg, 

supra, 179 Fed.Appx. at 591 (citing to same language from Crawford v. Commissioner of 

Social Security, 363 F.3d 1155, 1159 (11th Cir. 2004)). 

Good cause is shown 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). Where the ALJ articulate[s] specific reasons for failing to 

give the opinion of a treating physician controlling weight, and those 

reasons are supported by substantial evidence, there is no reversible error. 

Moore [v. Barnhart], 405 F.3d [1208,] 1212 [(11th Cir. 2005)].

Gilabert v. Commissioner of Social Sec., 396 Fed.Appx. 652, 655 (11th Cir. Sept. 21, 2010) 

(per curiam). 

In this case, the ALJ clearly accorded little weight the statements of Dr. Maltese 

noted above: “While the claimant did undergo Coumadin therapy for her DVT, the 

claimant’s symptoms were not disabling, and further, have notably improved. The 

limitation to a reduced range of sedentary work fully accommodates the claimant’s 

symptoms.” (Tr. 28.) And while it is true that the ALJ accorded great weight to the RFC 

determination of non-examiner Dr. Mani, finding it generally consistent with and 

supported by the medical evidence as a whole, she also noted that her RFC 

determination “further limited the claimant[.]” (Id.) Indeed, the ALJ’s latter statement is 

true inasmuch as the ALJ found, contrary to Dr. Mani, that Pettaway should not 

perform pushing and pulling of leg or foot controls; should never climb, crouch, kneel,

crawl or squat; and would need a sedentary job allowing a sit/stand option. (Compare 

Tr. 25 with Tr. 257 & 64-65.)

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The undersigned turns first to plaintiff’s argument that the ALJ erred in relying 

upon a non-examining physician’s opinion to support her RFC determination while 

assigning little weight to the opinion of plaintiff’s treating physician in violation of 

Dillard v. Astrue, 834 F.Supp.2d 1325 (S.D. Ala. 2011). There can be little question but 

that this Court, in Dillard, supra, held that “the Commissioner’s fifth-step burden cannot 

be met by a lack of evidence or, where available, by the residual functional capacity 

assessment of a non-examining, reviewing physician; instead, this fifth-step burden 

must be supported by the residual functional capacity [] assessment of a treating or 

examining physician.” 834 F.Supp.2d at 1332 (citation and footnote omitted). The 

undersigned, however, finds the plaintiff’s reliance on Dillard misguided. Initially, the 

Court notes that Dr. Maltese offered no assessment of plaintiff’s RFC but simply 

conclusorily stated that she was disabled for the “present time[,]” and later offered 

some “definition” to the disability opinion by indicating that plaintiff would be unable 

to work while undergoing Coumadin therapy, a treatment regimen which ended only a 

few months after the disability opinion was rendered. Notwithstanding that the ALJ 

had no obligation to accord great weight to Dr. Maltese’s statements since they relate to 

a dispositive issue reserved to the Commissioner, compare Kelly v. Commissioner of Social 

Security, 401 Fed.Appx. 403, 407 (11th Cir. Oct. 21, 2010) (“A doctor’s opinion on a 

dispositive issue reserved for the Commissioner, such as whether the claimant is 

‘disabled’ or ‘unable to work,’ is not considered a medical opinion and is not given any 

special significance, even if offered by a treating source[.]”) with Lanier v. Commissioner 

of Social Security, 252 Fed.Appx. 311, 314 (11th Cir. Oct. 26, 2007) (“The ALJ correctly 

noted that the opinion that Lanier was unable to work was reserved to the 

Commissioner.”), as specifically indicated by the ALJ Pettaway’s condition improved to 

the point that her symptoms were not disabling. Indeed, by March 18, 2013, plaintiff’s 

Case 1:15-cv-00640-C Document 23 Filed 01/05/17 Page 12 of 15
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Coumadin therapy was completed and her venous studies were good (Tr. 283), 

approximately six months after her deep venous thrombosis problems began on 

September 10, 2012 (see Tr. 204). Thus, even giving consideration to Dr. Maltese’s 

conclusory non-medical disability opinions on January 7 & 24, 2013, since those 

opinions were “temporary” and do not otherwise constitute the treating physician’s 

RFC determination,5 this Court has no basis to find that the ALJ in any manner violated 

Dillard under the specific facts of this case. More importantly, plaintiff’s Dillard 

argument is misguided because, as this Court has held on numerous occasions, “[i]n 

order to find that the ALJ’s RFC assessment is supported by substantial evidence, [] it is 

not necessary for the ALJ’s assessment to be supported by the assessment of an 

examining or treating physician.” Jones v. Colvin, 2015 WL 5737156, *24 (S.D. Ala. Sept. 

30, 2015) (collecting cases). Here, as previously indicated, the responsibility for making 

the residual functional capacity determination rests with the ALJ, see, e.g., 20 C.F.R. § 

404.1546(c) (“If your case is at the administrative law judge hearing level . . ., the 

administrative law judge . . . is responsible for assessing your residual functional 

capacity.”), and the ALJ’s RFC assessment in this case for less than the full range of 

sedentary work is supported by substantial evidence in the record, including not only 

Dr. Mani’s RFC assessment (see Tr. 257)6 but, as well, the treatment notes of Drs. Maltese 

and O’Gorman and all evidence related to plaintiff’s DVT (see Tr. 204-234, 238-251 & 

 5 That Dr. Maltese’s opinions were not meant to be “permanent” in nature is clear 

based upon earlier records from mid-October 2012 that “encouraged” Pettaway to “be more 

active[]” and to “begin lifting [] greater than 15 pounds.” (Tr. 287.)

6 The undersigned agrees with the ALJ that Dr. Mani’s “general” RFC opinion for 

a reduced range of sedentary work is consistent with and supported by the medical evidence of 

record (Tr. 28); however, as the ALJ made clear, she added further (and significant) limitations 

to Dr. Mani’s RFC determination (id.). Thus, the ALJ’s RFC determination (Tr. 25) is truly her 

own and not a mere parroting of Dr. Mani’s RFC findings.

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263-293) and all other relevant medical evidence in the record (see Tr. 315-342 & 344).

Thus, no error was committed by the ALJ in this regard. 

In addition, to the extent any further comment is necessary, this Court 

specifically finds that the ALJ in this case did not err in failing to assign controlling 

weight to Dr. Maltese’s January 2013 statements because, as aforesaid, those statements 

relate to a dispositive issue reserved to the Commissioner, see Kelly, supra, 401 

Fed.Appx. at 407(“A doctor’s opinion on a dispositive issue reserved for the 

Commissioner, such as whether the claimant is ‘disabled’ or ‘unable to work,’ is not 

considered a medical opinion and is not given any special significance, even if offered 

by a treating source[.]”). Moreover, Dr. Maltese’s statements were decidedly 

“temporary” and because Pettaway’s condition significantly improved and “removed” 

the “but for” causes of her temporary disability (that is, her operation(s) and the followup Coumadin therapy) in a little over six months, there was simply no opinion from 

Dr. Maltese “left” for which the ALJ was required to afford considerable weight. And 

because, as aforesaid, the evidence of record in this case supports the ALJ’s RFC 

determination for a reduced range of sedentary work, the ALJ committed no error in 

according great weight to the “general” RFC finding of Dr. Mani that plaintiff was 

capable of performing a range of sedentary work. 

In light of the foregoing, and because the plaintiff makes no argument that the 

ALJ failed to identify other work existing in significant numbers in the national 

economy that the claimant is capable of performing based upon the aforementioned 

RFC assessment, the Commissioner’s fifth-step determination is due to be affirmed. See, 

e.g., Owens v. Commissioner of Social Sec., 508 Fed.Appx. 881, 883 (11th Cir. Jan. 28, 2013) 

(“The final step asks whether there are significant numbers of jobs in the national 

economy that the claimant can perform, given h[er] RFC, age, education, and work 

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experience. The Commissioner bears the burden at step five to show the existence of 

such jobs . . . [and one] avenue[] by which the ALJ may determine [that] a claimant has 

the ability to adjust to other work in the national economy . . . [is] by the use of a 

VE[.]”(internal citations omitted)); Land v. Commissioner of Social Sec., 494 Fed.Appx. 47, 

50 (11th Cir. Oct. 26, 2012) (“At step five . . . ‘the burden shifts to the Commissioner to 

show the existence of other jobs in the national economy which, given the claimant’s 

impairments, the claimant can perform.’ The ALJ may rely solely on the testimony of a 

VE to meet this burden.” (internal citations omitted)).

CONCLUSION

In light of the foregoing, it is ORDERED that the decision of the Commissioner 

of Social Security denying plaintiff benefits be affirmed.

DONE and ORDERED this the 5th day of January, 2017.

s/WILLIAM E. CASSADY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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