Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-04-01958/USCOURTS-ca8-04-01958-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Jo Anne B. Barnhart
Appellee
Janice L. Huddle
Appellant

Document Text:

1

The Honorable H. David Young, United States Magistrate Judge for the

Eastern District of Arkansas, to whom the case was referred for final disposition by

consent of the parties pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). 

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 04-1958

___________

Janice L. Huddle, *

*

Appellant, *

* Appeal from the United States

v. * District Court for the

* Eastern District of Arkansas

Jo Anne B. Barnhart, Commissioner, *

Social Security Administration, * [UNPUBLISHED]

*

Appellee. *

___________

Submitted: July 15, 2005

Filed: August 2, 2005

___________

Before BYE, McMILLIAN, and RILEY, Circuit Judges.

___________

PER CURIAM.

Janice L. Huddle appeals from the final judgment entered in the District Court1

for the Eastern District of Arkansas affirming the denial of disability insurance

benefits (DIB). For reversal, Huddle argues (1) the administrative law judge (ALJ)

failed to consider revisions to relevant administrative regulations; (2) the ALJ failed

to advise her of her right to counsel; (3) the ALJ failed to give proper weight to her

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treating physicians’ opinions; (4) she met the listings for spinal disorders and

affective disorders; and (5) the record does not support the ALJ’s finding that she

could perform unskilled work. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm the

judgment of the district court.

Huddle forfeited her first claim by not raising it in the district court, see Craig

v. Apfel, 212 F.3d 433, 437 (8th Cir. 2000); but in any event, we note the ALJ

considered the regulations that were in effect at the time of his ruling. Huddle’s

second claim is meritless, because she was advised of her right to counsel when her

DIB application was initially denied and again when she received notice of her

hearing. See Wingert v. Bowen, 894 F.2d 296, 298 (8th Cir. 1990) (notice of hearing

properly advised claimant of right to counsel). 

We reject Huddle’s remaining claims, because substantial evidence in the

record supports the ALJ’s findings. See Neal v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 685, 688 (8th Cir.

2005) (standard of review). The ALJ properly weighed Dr. Denise Hollabaugh’s and

Dr. Terry Hunt’s opinions, as the former was not supported by any data and was

conclusory, and the latter was rendered before Huddle sought mental health treatment.

See Shontos v. Barnhart, 328 F.3d 418, 426 (8th Cir. 2003) (treating physician’s

opinion is entitled to controlling weight if it is supported by acceptable clinical and

diagnostic data, and is consistent with other substantial evidence in record);

Holmstrom v. Massanari, 270 F.3d 715, 720-21 (8th Cir. 2001) (ALJ properly

declined to give weight to treating physician’s opinion where it consisted only of

vague, conclusory statements). The ALJ properly found that (1) Huddle’s spinal

impairment did not equal Listing 1.05(C), because no physician had noted significant

motor loss, muscle weakness, or sensory and reflex loss, see 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt.

P, App. 1, § 1.05C (2000); and (2) Huddle’s mental impairment did not equal Listing

12.04, because she had only a slight restriction in her daily activities, moderate

difficulty maintaining social functioning, moderate difficulty maintaining

concentration, persistence, and pace, and moderate episodes of decompensation when

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not on her medication, see 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, App. 1 § 12.04(B) (2000).

Finally, the ALJ properly considered the medical evidence and found that Huddle

could perform unskilled, medium work in spite of her physical and mental

impairments. 

Accordingly, we affirm. 

______________________________

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