# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 5- 29 80

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W il li e B. Bo y d, J r.

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el la nt

v.

Caro lyn W . Col vi n, Act in g C om m is si on er o f So ci al Secu rit y

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll ee

__ __ __ __ __ __
App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Eas te rn Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Marc h 1 7, 2 01 6
Fil ed : Au gu st 5, 2 01 6

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Befo re WOL LMAN, ARNOLD, and SHEPHERD, Circ ui t J ud ge s.

__ __ __ __ __ __
SHEPHERD, Cir cu it Ju dg e.

W il li e Bo y d, Jr

. ap pe al s th e di st ric t co u r t ’s de ci si on up ho ld in g th e 1

Co m m is si on er’s de ni al of su pp le m en ta l se cu rit y in co m e (SSI ) an d di sa bi li ty

The Hon or ab le Jo e J. Vo lp e, Uni te d S ta te s Mag is tra te Ju dg e fo r th e East ern 1

Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s, to who m th e cas e was refe rred fo r fin al di sp os it io n by co ns en t of th e p art ie s p ur su an t t o 2 8 U.S.C. § 63 6( c).in su ran ce be ne fit s (DIB). Upo n de no vo rev ie w of th e di st ric t co ur t’s de ci si on

up ho ld in g th e Adm in is tra ti ve Law Ju dg e’s de ni al of bene fi ts

, se e And ers on v. Ast ru e,

69 6 F .3d 79 0, 7 93 (8t h C ir. 2 01 2) , we affi rm

.

I.

Bo y d fil ed hi s ap pl ic at io ns fo r S SI an d DIB be ne fit s on Octo be r 31

, 20 11

al le gi ng di sa bi li ty fro m Aug us t 11

, 20 11 du e to d i ab et es m el li tu s, he art pr ob le m s,

fat ig ue , an d ch es t, ba ck an d le g pa in

. Afte r hi s ap pl ic at io ns were de ni ed in it ia ll y an d

aft er r e c o n s i de rat io n, he rece iv ed a he ari ng be fo re an Adm in is tra ti ve Law Ju dg e (ALJ) on May 2 8, 20 13

. Bo y d was rep res en te d b y co un se l at th e he ari ng

. On Ju ly

24 , 2 01 3 th e ALJ is su ed a writ te n d e c i s i o n fin di ng th at Bo y d was no t di sa bl ed an d

de nyin g h is ap pl ic at io ns fo r SSI an d DIB be ne fit s. The App eal s co un se l de ni ed

Bo y d’s req ue st fo r rev ie w, th us th e ALJ’s de ci si on st an ds as th e fin al de ci si on of th e

Co m m is si on er. See Dav id so n v. Ast ru e, 50 1 F.3 d 98 7, 98 9 (8 th Ci r. 20 0 7 )

. B oyd

so ug ht jud ic ia l rev ie w, an d th e di st ric t co ur t affi rm ed th e Co m m is si on er’s de ci si on

.

The rel ev an t m ed ic al reco rd rev eal s th at in Apri l 2 00 7, Bo y d s ou gh t m ed ic al

a t t e nt io n fo r an gi na eq ui va le nt sym pt om s. A hi st or y of hypert en si on , Ty pe I I

di ab et es m el li tu s, an d he art m ur m ur was no te d. A hi st or y ta ke n by Nor m an Pl ed ge r, M.D., refl ect ed th at Bo y d ha d rec e nt ly st op pe d sm ok in g bu t co nt in ue d to sm ok e

m ari juan a “ al m os t on a da il y ba si s.” He no te d th at Bo y d wor ke d a s a tru ck dr iv er.

He was tre at ed wit h as pi rin an d pr es cri be d su bl in gu al ni tro gl y ceri n; a st res s te st an d

ech oc ard io gr am were or de red

. Bo y d was en co ur ag ed to st op sm ok in g an d av oi d dr ug

an d al co ho l us e

. H e w as to ret ur n fo r fo ll owu p in si x week s. A card ia c

cat he rit iz at io n, pe rfo rm ed on Apr il 20

, 20 07

, sh owe d no n- is ch em ic card io m y op at hy.

In Octo be r 20 07

, a co ns ul ta ti ve ex am in at io n by J o el Co bb

, M.D., sh owe d

di ab et es , pa res th es ia i n Bo y d’s ha nd s an d feet

, card io m y op at hy, hypert en si on , an d

ch es t pa in

. Bo y d was fo un d to ha ve a de crea se d ran ge of m ot io n in hi s cerv ic al sp in e,

-2

-lu m

ba r sp in e, sh ou ld ers , el bo ws, wris ts

, ha nd s, hi ps , kn ees , an d an kl es

. Pare st he si a

was pr es en t in Bo y d’s fin ge rti ps

. He sh owe d no joi nt ab no rm al it ie s, m us cl e sp as m s,

m us cl e weak ne ss , or m

us cl e at ro ph y , an d he ex hi bi te d no rm al de ep te nd on refl ex es ,
ga it

, an d co or di na ti on

. Dr. Co bb as se ss ed m il d li m it at io n wit h li fti ng , carr y in g, an d

sq ua tt in g rep eat ed ly. In Mar ch 20 10

, Dr. Co bb ag ai n ev al ua te d Bo y d an d di ag no se d
Ty pe II di ab et es m el li tu s, hypert en ti on , di ab et ic pe rip he ral ne ur op at hy, an d ch ro ni c

fat ig ue

. He li m it ed Bo y d to “ [m ]ode rat e li fti ng , carr y in g whi ch li ke ly wou ld im pr ov e
wit h b et te r m an ag em en t o f bl oo d s ug ars .”

On Decem

be r 21 , 2 01 0, Ja nu ary 5 , 2 01 1, an d Apr il 4, 20 11 , Li nd a Cab in e, a

nu rs e pr act it io ne r, sa w Bo y d fo r di ab et es , erec ti le dysfu nc ti on , an d hypert en si on

. In

Decem be r 20 10 an d Ja nu ary 20 11

, sh e no te d th at Bo y d was st il l sm ok in g. O n a l l

th ree ex am in at io ns sh e reco rd ed th at Bo y d ap pe ared well an d wa s i n no acu te

di st res s. In Nov em

be r 20 11

, Bo y d sa w nu rs e pr act it io ne r K a t h y Woo ds fo r a

m ed ic at io n ch eck -u p. It was no te d th at Bo y d ha d no t vi si te d th e cl in ic in si x m on th s

an d th at he was po si ti ve fo r twi ce pe r week ch es t pa in

, m us cl e cram

ps , an d pa in bu t

ne ga ti ve fo r fat ig ue an d ex hi bi te d no cl ub bi ng , c ya n o s is

, or ed em a. Nur se Kell y

as se ss ed di ab et es m el li tu s.

Ch ry st al Jo hn so n, M.D., pe rfo rm ed a co ns ul ta ti ve ex am in at io n on Ja nu ary 26

, 20 12

. Dr. Jo hn so n no te d th at Bo y d co m pl ai ne d of di ab et es m el li tu s, ch ro ni c pa in in

hi s l e g s a nd ba ck

, di ffi cu lt y sl eep in g, he ad ach es , po or vi si on , pe rip he ral va sc ul ar
di se as e, an in ab il it y to walk m or e th an fiv e to te n feet

, m od erat e to se ve re pa in in th e

m id dl e of hi s ba ck to hi s to es , an d sh arp ch es t pa in th at oc cu rred twi ce a week

. Bo y d

ha d d ecre as ed ran ge of m ot io n i n h is lef t s ho ul de r, rig ht kn ee, an d b ot h a nk le s. He

sh owe d te nd ern es s to pa lp it at io n of hi s sh ou ld ers , wris ts

, hi ps , an d an kl es

. Dr.

Jo hn so n al so no te d th at Bo y d ha d de crea se d r e f l e x e s in hi s bi cep s, tri cep s, pa te ll a,

an d Ach il le s te nd on

. Bo y d co ul d ta nd em walk sl owl y , b ut he was no t ab le to walk

on hi s he el s or to es or sq ua t an d ari se fro m a sq ua tt in g po si ti on

. Bi la te ral d or sa li s

pe di s pu ls e were ab se nt

, an d he ha d tra ce ed em a in th e le ft lo wer ex tre m it y an d st as is

-3

-de rm at it is in bo th lo wer ex tre m it ie s. Dr. Jo hn so n di ag no se d: he art di se as e, le g pa in

wit h va sc ul ar di se as e, ch es t pa in

, art hr al gi as , di ab e t e s mel li tu s, an d hypert en si on

. Sh e no te d th at Bo y d ha d se ve re li m it at io n in hi s ab il it y to walk

, st an d, si t, li ft, carr y , ha nd le , fin ge r, se e, sp eak , and he ar.

A s t a te ag en cy do ct or , Larry Sau er, M.D., co m pl et ed a rev ie w of B o yd ’s

m ed ic al reco rd s in Feb ru ary 20 12

, al th ou gh he di d no t ex am in e Bo y d. Dr. S au er

rep or te d th at Bo y d ha d no po st ur al or m an ipu la tiv e lim it at io ns an d co ul d oc cas io na ll y

li ft an d carr y te n po un ds

, freq ue nt ly li ft an d carr y le ss th an te n po un ds

, si t si x ho ur s,

an d s ta nd /wal k t wo h ou rs du rin g a n e ig ht ho ur work da y

.

In Apr il 20 12

, Bo y d was tre at ed fo r ch es t pa in in th e em erg en cy ro o m at

Ba pt is t Heal th Med ic al Cen te r, Nor th Lit tl e Ro ck

, Ark an sa s. A card ia c

cat he te riz at io n was pe rfo rm ed whi ch r e v e a le d no n- is ch em ic card io m y op at hy an d

m in im al co ro na ry art ery di se as e. He was tre at ed wit h m ed ic at io n an d in st ru ct ed th at

he sh ou ld no t li ft, dr iv e, or en ga ge in st ren uo us ex erci se fo r two da y s an d fo ll ow- up

in two m on th s.

A he ari ng be fo re an ALJ was co nd uc te d on M a y 2 8

, 2 01 3. Bo y d ap pe ared

rep res en te d by co un se l an d te st ifi ed

. Bo y d te st ifi ed th at he was 44 y ears of ag e as of

th e da te of th e he ari ng an d ha s a ge ne ral eq ui va le nc y de gr ee. He la st wor ke d in May

20 11 as a wareh ou se wor ke r an d dr iv er. He was in c a r c e r a t e d fo r 22 m on th s fo r

po ss es si on of co c a i n e a n d was rel eas ed on Aug us t 24 , 2 00 9. He was su bs eq ue nt ly

arre st ed fo r po ss es si on of m ari juan a. He was on pa ro le as of th e da te of th e he ari ng

. Bo yd t e s ti fie d th at he is pr ev en te d fro m wor ki ng by di ab et es ; hi gh bl oo d pr es su re;

an d pa in in hi s arm s, le ft sh ou ld er, feet

, an d le gs

. He st at ed th at he ex pe rie nc es ch es t

pa in twi ce a da y an d co ns ta nt pa in in hi s le g s , f e e t

, a n k l es , an d ha nd s. He fu rth er

st at ed th at hi s feet an d ha nd s swe ll an d he can no t pe rfo rm a job th at req ui res hi m to

an swe r th e ph on e or us e a ke y bo ard du e to co ns ta nt pa in

. He us es th e res tro om two

ti m es an ho ur an d ur in at es on hi m se lf at le a s t on ce pe r da y be cau se he is un ab le to

-4

-m ak e it to th e res tro om

. Bo y d te st ifi ed th at he sp en ds m os t of e a c h d a y s i t t in g or

lying do wn du e to pa in an d swe ll in g in hi s feet an d l e g s , an d he is un ab le to dr iv e.

H e fu rth er st at ed th at he ha s tro ub le sl eep in g th ree ti m es a week an d so met i mes

ov ers le ep s. Bo y d’s wife te st ifi ed th at it is he r un de rs ta nd in g th at Bo y d sp en ds m os t

of hi s da y si tt in g an d lying aro un d, co m pl ai ni ng ab ou t pa in

. Sh e st at ed th at Bo y d ha s
di ffi cu l t y w a l k in g an d st an di ng du e to swe ll in g in hi s feet

, an d he is un ab le to do

ho us ewo rk

.

A vo cat io na l e x p e r t ( “VE”) te st ifi ed an d no te d th at Bo y d ha s rel ev an t pa st

wor k as a de li ve ry tru ck dr iv er an d fro nt -en d lo ad er op erat or whi ch is m ed iu m , se m isk il le d work

. The ALJ pos ed a hypo th et ic al qu es ti on to th e VE whi ch in cl ud ed th e

res id ua l fu nc ti on al cap aci ty (“ R F C ” ) of th e fu ll ran ge of se de nt ary wor k wit h th e
ab il it y to oc cas io na ll y cl im b, ba la nc e, st oo p, be nd

, cro uc h, kn eel

, an d crawl

. The VE

te st ifi ed th at an in di vi du al wit h Bo y d’s ag e, ed uc at io n, wor k ex pe ri e n c e , a n d

sp eci fie d RFC co ul d no t pe rfo rm Bo y d’s pa st rel ev an t wor k bu t co ul d pe rfo rm ot he r job s in th e reg io na l an d na ti on al eco no m y su ch as un sk il le d se de nt ary as se m bl y an d

in sp ect in g job s. Acco rd in g to th e VE, a pe rs on wit h Bo y d’s ag e, ed uc at io n, wor k

ex pe rie nc e, an d RFC can pe rfo rm al l of th e un sk il le d, se de nt ary job s in th e as se m bl y

an d in sp ect in g la rg er job cat eg or ie s, fo r ex am pl e, fis hi ng reel as se m

bl e r a n d t ab le

wor ke r. The VE te st ifi ed th at th ere are 15 0,0 00 to 15 5, 0 0 0 u n s k i l le d se de nt ary

as se m bl y job s an d m or e th an 20 0,0 00 un sk il le d, se de nt ary in sp ect in g jo b s i n th e

na ti on al eco no m

y

.

In hi s writ te n he ari ng de ci si on de nyin g B oyd’s cl ai m s, th e ALJ fo ll owe d th e

re q u ire d fiv e-s te p se qu en ti al ev al ua ti on pr oc es s an d de te rm in ed : (1 ) Bo y d ha d no t

en ga ge d in su bs ta nt ia l ga in fu l act iv i t y si nc e May 11

, 20 11 ; (2 ) Bo y d ha d th e

fo ll owi ng se ve re im

pa irments : le ft sh ou ld er p ai n, le ft le g pa in

, he art di se as e, an d

di ab et es m el li tu s; (3 ) he di d no t ha ve an im pa irment or co m

bi na ti on of im

pa irments

th at m eet or e qu al an im

pa irment l is te d i n 20 C.F.R. Part 40 4, Su bp art P, App en di x 1; (4 ) Bo y d co ul d no t pe rfo rm h i s la st rel ev an t wor k whi ch req ui red a m ed iu m an d

-5

-he av y ex ert io na l le ve l; an d (5 ) he ret ai ne d th e RFC to pe rfo rm wor k at th e se de nt ary

le ve l of ex ert io n wit h th e li m it at io n th at su ch wor k m us t in vo lv e on ly oc cas io na l

cl im bi ng , ba la nc in g, st oo pi ng , b e nd in g, cro uc hi ng , kn eel in g, an d crawl in g. Bas ed

up on th e te st im on y of th e VE, th e ALJ de te rm in e d t ha t Bo y d co ul d pe rfo rm a
si gn ifi can t n um

be r of job s exi st in g i n t he na ti on al eco no m y . Accor di ng ly, th e ALJ

fo un d B oyd n ot di sa bl ed an d n ot en ti tl ed to be ne fit s.

In th is ap pe al

, Bo y d co nt en ds th at th e ALJ’s RFC as se ss m en t at st ep fo ur of th e

se qu en ti al ev al ua ti on pr oc es s is no t su pp or te d by su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce in th at th e ALJ

fai le d to in cl ud e in hi s R FC d et erm in at io n li m it at io n of the ab il it y to li ft, carry, an d

reac h rel at ed to hi s le ft sh ou ld er pa in

, li m it at io n wit h res pe ct to Bo y d’s ab il it y to

ha nd le an d fin ge r, an d li m it at io n rel at ed to de crea se d refl ex es in hi s bi cep s an d

tri cep s. He fu rth er as se rts th at th e vo cat io na l ex pe rt’s te st im on y do es no t su pp or t th e

co nc lu si on of th e ALJ, at st ep fiv e, th at th ere are a si gn ifi can t nu m be r of job s

av ai la bl e to Bo y d i n t he na ti on al eco no m y gi ve n h is RFC.

II.

W e wil l affi rm th e Co m

m is si on er’s de ci si on de nyin g SSI and DIB be ne fit s if

it is su pp or te d by su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce on th e reco rd as a who le

. See Jo ne s v. Ast ru e,

61 9 F.3 d 96 3, 96 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ). Su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce is “ le ss th an a pr ep on de ran ce
bu t

. . . en ou gh th at a reas on ab le m in d wou ld fin d i t ad eq ua te to su pp or t th e

co nc lu si o n

. ” Id

. (q uo ta ti on om it te d)

. W e “ co ns id er th e ev id en ce th at su pp or ts th e

Co m m is si on er’s de ci si on as well as th e ev id en ce th at de tra ct s fro m it .” Id

. (q uo ta ti on

om it te d)

. “ If, aft er rev ie win g th e en ti re reco rd

, it is po ss ib le to dr aw two in co ns is te nt

po si ti on s, an d th e Co m

m is si on er ha s ad op te d on e of th os e po si ti on s, we m us t affi rm .”
Cy pr es s v . Col vi n, 8 07 F.3d 94 8, 9 50 (8t h C ir. 2 01 5)

.

“ Pri or to st ep fo ur , th e A LJ mu s t as se ss th e cl ai m an t’s [RFC ], whi ch is th e

m os t a cl ai m an t can do de sp it e hi s li m it at io ns .” Mo or e v. Ast ru e

, 57 2 F.3 d 52 0, 52 3

-6

-(8 th Ci r. 20 09 ) (ci ti ng 20 C.F.R. § 40 4.1 54 5( a )(1 )). “ RFC is an ad m in is tra ti ve

as se ss m en t of th e ex te nt to whi ch an in di v i d ua l’s m ed ic al ly de te rm in ab le

im pa irment( s)

, in cl ud in g an y rel at ed sym pt om s, su ch as pa in

, m ay cau se ph y si cal or

m en ta l li m it at io ns or res tri ct io ns th at m ay affe ct hi s or he r cap aci ty to do wor k- rel at ed
ph y si cal an d m en ta l act iv it ie s.” So ci al Secu rit y Ru li ng 96 –8 p, 19 96 W L 37 41 84 at

*2

. “ [A] cl ai m an t’s RFC [ is ] ba se d on al l rel ev an t ev id en ce, in cl ud in g th e m ed ic al

reco rd s, ob se rv a t io ns of tre at in g ph y si ci an s an d ot he rs , an d an in di vi du al ’s own
de sc rip ti on of hi s li m it at i o ns .” Mo or e

, 57 2 F.3 d at 52 3 (q uo ta ti on an d ci ta ti on

om it te d)

. Acco rd in gl y , it is th e res p o n s i b i li ty of th e ALJ, no t a ph y si ci an , to

de te rm in e a cl ai m an t’s RF C.

The ALJ fo un d t ha t Bo y d h as th e RFC to pe rfo rm sed en ta ry

work as d efi ne d
by 20 C.F.R. §§ 40 4.1 56 7( a) and 41 6.9 67 (a) wit h ad di ti on al li m it at io ns

. Sed en ta ry

wor k:

in vo lv es li fti ng no m or e th an 10 po un ds at a ti me a n d oc cas io na ll y li fti n g o r c a rry in g art ic le s li ke do ck et fil es , le dg ers , an d sm al l to ol s. Alt ho ug h a se de nt ary job is de fin ed as on e whi ch in vo lv es si tt in g, a
cert ai n am ou nt of walk in g an d st a n d in g is of te n ne ces sa ry in carr y in g

ou t j ob du ti es

. Jo bs are sed en ta ry if walk in g an d st an di ng are req ui red

oc cas io na ll y

an d o th er s ed en ta ry

cri te ria are m et

.

20 C.F.R. § 40 4.1 56 7( a); 20 C.F.R. § 41 6.9 67 (a)

The ALJ ad de d th e ad di ti on al li m it at io n th at Bo y d can on ly oc ca sio na ll y cl im b,

ba la nc e, st oo p, be nd

, cro uc h, kn eel

, an d crawl

. In reac hi ng th is co nc lu si on , Bo y d

as se rts th at th e ALJ dis reg ard ed th e op in io ns of Dr. Co bb

, who

, acco rd in g to Bo y d,

fo un d li m it ed ran ge of m ot io n in Bo y d’s sh ou ld ers , el bo ws, wris ts

, an d ha nd s al on g
wit h pa res th es ia in Bo y d’s fin ge rti ps

. Howev er, Dr. Co bb ’s op in io ns were ren de red

aft er ex am in in g Bo y d in 20 07 an d 20 10

, well be fo re th e ti m e p e r i o d in qu es ti on

. Fu rth er, in 20 07

, Dr. Co bb ex pr es se d Bo y d’s li m it at io ns as m il d li m it at io n in li fti ng ,

-7

-carr y in g, an d rep eat ed ly sq ua tt in g, an d in 20 10 as m od erat e li m it at io n in li fti ng an d

carr y in g “ whi ch wou ld li ke ly im pr ov e wit h b et te r m an ag em en t o f bl oo d s ug ars .”

Seco nd , B oyd co nt en ds th at th e ALJ ga ve in su ffi ci en t weig ht to th e fin di ng s

of Dr. Jo hn so n who ex am in ed Bo y d at th e req ue st of th e Co m m is si on er on Feb ru ary

17

, 20 12

. Dr. Jo hn so n st at ed th at Bo y d ex pe rie nc ed “ se ve re” li m it at io ns in hi s ab il it y

to walk , st an d, s it , li ft, c arry, han dl e, fi ng er, s ee, h ear, o r sp eak . Howev er, t he ALJ

di sc ou nt ed th is op in io n ba se d up on la ck of su pp o r t i n th e ex am in at io n reco rd

. Fo r

ex am pl e, th e ALJ no te d th at Bo y d di d no t “ pr es en t wit h cl in ic al si gn s o f se ve re

res tri ct io ns in th e ab il it y to si t, st an d, walk

, li ft, or carr y .” Dr. Jo hn so n al so ob se rv ed

“ no joi nt or ga it ab no rm al it ie s, m us cl e sp as m s, m

us cl e weak ne ss , or m

us cl e at ro ph y .”
App el la nt App

. Vol

. 3, pg s 38 9- 99

. Fu rth er, up on ex am in at io n, al th ou gh Dr. Jo hn so n

n o t e d r e d uc ed ran ge of m ot io n in Bo y d’s le ft sh ou ld er, rig ht wris t, an d an kl es an d

te nd ern es s of th e wris ts to pa lp at io n, th es e fin di ng s are co un te red by th e no ta ti on th at

Bo y d ex hi bi te d no joi nt or ga it ab no rma l i t i e s , no m us cl e weak ne ss , no rm al gr ip

st ren gt h, as well as t he ab il it y to ho ld a pe n, writ e, an d pi ck up a co in

. An ab se nc e

of cl in ic al fin di ng s su pp or ts th e reject io n of a ph y si ci an ’s o p i n i o n as to ph y si cal

li m it at io ns

. Dav i d s o n , 50 1 F.3 d at 99 0- 92 (h ol di ng in co ns is te nc ie s be twee n ph y si ci an ’s tre at m en t no te s an d ph y si ci an ’s op in io n pr ov id e su pp or t fo r di sc red it in g

th e p hysic ia n’s o pi ni on s) ; Hac ke r v. B arn ha rt, 4 59 F.3d 93 4, 9 37 (8t h C ir. 2 00 6)

.

Thi rd

, Bo y d as se rts th at hi s de sc rip ti on of li m it ed act iv it ie s of da il y li vi ng

su pp or t Dr. Jo hn so n’s op in io n as t o Bo y d’s ph y si cal li m it at io ns an d th at th e ALJ

im pr op erl y di sc ou nt ed Bo y d’s te st im on y as to su ch act iv it ie s. Howev er, th e ALJ

ad eq ua te ly ex pl ai ne d th at he di sc ou nt ed Bo y d’s de sc rip ti on of li m it ed da il y act iv it ie s
be cau se it co ul d not be ad equa te ly ve rif ie d, was in co ns is te nt wit h th e “ rel at iv el y weak

m ed ic al ev id en ce,” an d was no t su pp or te d by co rres po nd in g sp eci fic res tri ct io ns on

act iv it ie s im

po se d by a tre at in g ph y si ci an

. W e co nc lu de th at th e ALJ’s de te rm in at io n

in th is reg ard is su pp or te d by su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce. See Greg g v. Barn ha rt, 35 4 F.3 d

71 0, 71 4 (8 th Ci r. 20 03 ) (co ur t no rm al ly de fers to ALJ’s cred ib il it y de te rm in at io n if

-8

-ALJ exp li ci tl y di sc red it s clai m an t’s tes ti m on y an d gi ve s go od reas on fo r do in g s o) ;

Po la sk i v. Heck le r, 73 9 F.2 d 13 20

, 13 22 (8 th Ci r. 19 84 ) (d is cu ss in g cred ib il it y
fact or s)

.

Fi na ll y , Bo y d co nt en ds th at th e ALJ erre d in acce pt in g th e te st im on y of th e VE

be cau se th e “ VE im

pr op erl y te st ifi ed as to th e nu m be r of jo b s a v ai la bl e to [Bo y d]

ba se d up on an en ti re gr ou p or cat eg or y of job s, rat he r th an gi vi ng t h e nu m be rs of

in di vi du al se de nt ary job s.” App el la nt ’s B r

. a t 27

. “ Onc e it is es ta bl is he d th at th e
cl ai m an t can no t ret ur n to he r pr ev io us oc cu pa ti on , th e Co m m is si on er be ars th e
bu rd en to sh ow th at a si gn ifi can t nu m be r of ap pr op ria te job s ex is t fo r th e cl ai m an t.”
Dip pl e v. Ast ru e, 60 1 F.3 d 83 3, 83 6 (8 th Cir . 20 10 ); se e 42 U.S.C. § 42 3( d) (2 )(A).

“On e way in whi ch th e Co m m is si on er can m eet th e bu rd en of pr oo f ne ces sa ry t o
sh ow th at a cl ai m an t wh o s uf fers fro m no ne xe rti on al pa in is no t di sa bl ed un de r th e

So ci al Secu rit y Act is th ro ug h th e te st im on y of a v o c a t i o n a l ex pe rt.” Jo hn so n v.
Ch at er, 10 8 F.3 d 17 8, 18 0 (8 th Ci r. 19 97 ). In res p o n s e t o t he ALJ’s hypo th et ic al

qu es ti o n, whi ch as su m ed an in di vi du al who ha d Bo y d’s ag e, ed uc at io n, wor k

ex pe rie nc e, an d th e R F C t o p e rfo rm th e fu ll ran ge of se de nt ary wor k wit h th e
ad di ti on al li m it at io n of no m o r e t h an oc cas io na l cl im bi ng , ba la nc in g, st oo pi ng , be nd in g, cro uc h i n g, kn eel in g, an d crawl in g, th e VE st at ed th at su ch an in di vi du al

co ul d pe rfo rm un sk il le d, se de nt ary as se m bl y job s an d un sk il le d, se de nt ary in sp ect in g job s. He i de nt ifi ed fis hi ng reel ass em bl er an d t ab le work er as ex am pl es

. He st at ed

t h a t th ere are 50 0 job s av ai la bl e in th e st at e, 15 ,00 0 to 16 ,00 0 job s av ai la bl e in th e

reg io n an d 15 0,0 00 to 15 5,0 00 job s av ai la bl e in th e na ti on al eco no m y in th e as se m

bl y

cat eg or y , an d 15 ,00 0 to 16 ,00 0 job s av ai la bl e in th e reg io n an d 20 0,0 00 job s av ai la bl e

in th e na ti on al eco no m

y in th e in sp ect in g c at eg or y . Boyd arg ue s t ha t i t i s no t cl ear

th at all of t he se job s ar e av ai la bl e at th e se de nt ary le ve l o f RFC . W e d is ag ree.

The VE ack no wled ge d th at fis hi ng reel as se m bl er an d ta bl e wor k e r w e r e

m erel y ex am

pl es o f th e job de sc rip ti on s av ai la bl e in th e reg io n an d na ti on al ly.

Howev er, he cl earl y co nf irmed th at al l of th e job nu m be rs to whi ch he refe rred were

-9

-un sk il le d se de nt ary job s– job s whi ch co m

pl y wit h th e hypo th et ic al RFC pr ov id ed by

th e ALJ. W hi le th e ALJ’s writ te n de ci si on id en ti fie d fis hi ng reel as se m bl er an d ta bl e

wor ke r in sp ect or as en co m pa ss in g th e en ti ret y of th e job nu m be rs pr ov id ed by th e

V E, th is is of no co ns eq ue nc e as th e VE’ s te st im on y as pr es en te d co ns ti tu te s

s ub st an ti al ev id en ce to su pp or t th e ALJ’s fin di ng at st ep fiv e of th e se qu e n t i a l

ev al ua ti on pr oc es s. See Mar ti se v. Ast ru e, 64 1 F.3 d 90 9, 92 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ) (wh ere hypo th et ic al in cl ud es im pa irments ALJ fo un d cred ib le an d ex cl ud ed th os e he

di sc red it ed fo r le ga ll y su ffi ci en t reas on s, VE’s op in io n th at cl ai m an t cou ld pe rfo rm

wor k ex is ti ng in s i gn ifi can t nu m be rs in th e na ti on al eco no m y was su bs ta nt ia l

ev id en ce s up po rti ng ALJ’s de te rm in at io n)

.

III.

W e aff irm.

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