1

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

Eastern District of Arkansas.

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

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No. 02-3512

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Ben Hensley, *

*

Appellant, *

* Appeal from the United States

v. * District Court for the

* Eastern District of Arkansas.

Jo Anne B. Barnhart, Commissioner, *

Social Security Administration, *

*

Appellee. *

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Submitted: March 14, 2003

Filed: December 9, 2003

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Before BOWMAN, RILEY, and MELLOY, Circuit Judges.

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BOWMAN, Circuit Judge.

Ben Hensley appeals the decision of the District Court1

 affirming the denial of

his application for social security disability benefits. On appeal, Hensley urges that

the ALJ erred when it concluded that he could physically perform the full range of

sedentary work, when it discounted the opinions of his treating physician, and when

it determined that he was not illiterate. We affirm. 
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Hensley, who is now forty-two years old, worked off and on as an unskilled

laborer in various occupations before he injured his back in a work accident in 1993.

The accident, which resulted in a compression fracture of his L4 vertebra and a

possibly-herniated disc between the L4 and L5 vertebrae, left Hensley with chronic

lower back pain and a lumbar disk bulge. Following the accident, Hensley was

unable to return to work or undertake many daily life activities, though he has cared

for his younger, disabled sister and, more recently, assisted with the care of his own

young children. Hensley sought disability benefits for his back injuries, for persistent

dizzy spells, and for depression.

Although we review a district court's decision upholding the denial of social

security benefits de novo, Lauer v. Apfel, 245 F.3d 700, 702 (8th Cir. 2001), our

review of the Social Security Commissioner's final decision is deferential; we review

that decision only to ensure that it is supported by "substantial evidence in the record

as a whole," Estes v. Barnhart, 275 F.3d 722, 724 (8th Cir. 2002). We also review the

record mindful of the ALJ's "duty to develop the record fully and fairly" during the

claimant's hearings, which are non-adversarial. Boyd v. Sullivan, 960 F.2d 733, 736

(8th Cir. 1992) (quoting Warner v. Heckler, 722 F.2d 428, 431 (8th Cir. 1983)). We

agree that this is a close case, one that has previously been remanded by a district

court for further administrative proceedings. Still, our task is simply to review the

record for legal error and to ensure that the factual findings are supported by

substantial evidence. We may not reverse merely because the evidence is capable of

supporting the opposite conclusion. Shannon v. Chater, 54 F.3d 484, 486 (8th Cir.

1995).

Social Security disability determinations are made using the familiar five-part

inquiry. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520 & 416.920 (2003). In this case, the parties

largely agree about the outcome of the first four steps: that Hensley has not engaged

in substantial gainful activity since he was injured; that his injury and other

conditions amount to a severe impairment; that these impairments are not of listing-
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level severity; and that his impairments prevent him from doing his past relevant

work. Because both parties agree that Hensley can no longer work as an unskilled

laborer, the crux of this case concerns Hensley's ability to engage in substantial

gainful activity; i.e., whether Hensley is able to perform other work in the national

economy in view of his age, education, and experience. See id. § 404.1520(f). 

In a situation like Hensley's, where the claimant's impairments prevent him

from performing his past relevant work, the claim must be considered in light of

several vocational factors (age, education, and work experience) and the individual's

residual functional capacity. Id. The result of this inquiry determines whether the

individual is disabled or can still engage in "substantial gainful activity." See id.; 20

C.F.R. § 404, Pt. 404, Subpt. P., App. 2, § 200.00 (2003). Once the ALJ has made

these findings, the claimant's case may be evaluated within the Grid Rules and

"[w]here the findings of fact made with respect to a particular individual's vocational

factors and residual functional capacity coincide with all of the criteria of a particular

rule, the rule directs a conclusion as to whether the individual is or is not disabled."

20 C.F.R. § 404, Pt. 404, Subpt. P., App. 2, § 200.00(a).

In this case, the ALJ determined, and the Commissioner agreed, that Hensley

retained the residual functional capacity to perform the full range of sedentary work

and, considering his age, education, and work experience, that Hensley was not

legally disabled. Social Security Administration Decision at 11–12 (July 28, 2000).

The ALJ's decision was based in part on its determination that at least some of

Hensley's subjective complaints regarding pain and persistent dizziness were not

supported by the relevant medical evidence. In addition, the ALJ determined that

Hensley possessed at least a limited education and was not illiterate. On appeal,

Hensley urges that the ALJ erred when it concluded that he could physically perform

the full range of sedentary work, when it discounted the opinions of his treating

physician, and when it concluded that he was not illiterate. 
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The ALJ's determination that Hensley is able to perform the full range of

sedentary work is supported by substantial evidence. Although Hensley points to the

opinion of his treating physicians, Drs. Hackbarth and Maglothin, as evidence that he

is disabled, the ALJ discounted that evidence for two main reasons. First, the

opinions of Hensley's treating physicians tended to conflict with that given by Dr.

Rica, who is a specialist and whose opinion is generally entitled to more weight. 20

C.F.R. § 404.1527(d)(5); Hinchey v. Shalala, 29 F.3d 428, 432 (8th Cir. 1994).

Second, Dr. Rica's observations—that Hensley's mobility was less limited than

claimed—tended to agree with Hensley's own statements in which he admitted that

he cared for his disabled sister and his own two children. Dr. Rica's conclusions also

accorded with the fact that few if any functional limitations were placed on Hensley

by his other doctors. See Smith v. Shalala, 987 F.2d 1371, 1374–75 (8th Cir. 1993).

The ALJ also provided multiple valid reasons for not crediting Hensley's own

subjective complaints of disabling pain. In these circumstances, we cannot say that

the decision to discount Drs. Hackbarth and Maglothin's opinions and the claimant's

own complaints was not supported by substantial evidence. Hensley also urges that

the ALJ should have credited the "To Whom it May Concern" letter written by

Beverly Mitchell, a Registered Nurse Practitioner, which opined that Hensley was

presently unable to work. Admin. Trans. at 166 ("We feel Mr. Hensley is unable to

work at this time and would appreciate any help you can give him with food

stamps."). However, Mitchell's letter was written expressly for the purpose of

securing food-stamp benefits for Hensley and, as a RNP, her opinion is not an

acceptable source of medical evidence of impairment for social security disability

determination purposes. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1513(a) (listing acceptable sources of

medical evidence to establish impairments). 

As for Hensley's claims of persistent dizziness and blackout spells, the ALJ's

determination that he was not disabled based upon this condition is well supported

in the record. First, the CT-scan ordered by his physician was normal. Second,

although his physician noted a change in blood pressure when Hensley changed
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position (which could cause the condition), Hensley was only advised to drink plenty

of fluids during hot weather. Finally, no functional restrictions were placed on

Hensley's activities, a fact that we have previously noted is inconsistent with a claim

of disability. Melton v. Apfel, 181 F.3d 939, 941 (8th Cir. 1999); Smith, 987 F.2d at

1374–75.

Hensley also contends that he is disabled because he suffers from depression.

However, Hensley did not allege that he was disabled based on depression in his

second application for benefits and did not raise the point in his hearing. Further, he

has not sought, or been referred for, professional mental health treatment. The mere

fact that Hensley has been prescribed antidepressants on at least one occasion is not

enough to require the ALJ to inquire further into the condition by ordering a

psychological evaluation. Matthews v. Bowen, 879 F.2d 422, 424–25 (8th Cir.

1989). 

Finally, Hensley argues that the ALJ's determination that he was literate is not

supported by substantial evidence. Although there may not be substantial evidence

in the record as a whole to support the ALJ's finding that Hensley has at least an

eighth-grade education and is literate, any resulting error is harmless in this case.

Whether this case is considered under rule 201.23 ("Illiterate") or rule 201.24 (limited

education), Hensley would not be found disabled under the Grid Rules. See 20

C.F.R. pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 2, Tbl. 1, Rules 201.23–201.24. Where the

government proves an individual's vocational factors and residual functional capacity

match those of a particular Grid Rule, the Grid Rule promulgated by the Secretary

fully accounts for the effect an individual's education (or lack thereof) has on his or

her ability to perform work in the national economy; consequently, this ends our

inquiry. See id. at § 200.00(a); Heckler v. Campbell, 461 U.S. 458, 461–62 (1983).

For the foregoing reasons, the decision of the District Court is affirmed.

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