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

For the Eig hth Circu it

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _

No. 1 4- 32 40

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Tracy Mil am

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, So ci al Secu rit y Adm in is tra ti on

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 - Li tt le Ro ck

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Apri l 1 3, 2 01 5
Fil ed : J ul y

24 , 20 15

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re BYE, BEAM, an d S MITH, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

SMI TH, Circ ui t J ud ge

.Tracy Mi la m ap pe al s th e di st ric t co ur t's affi rm an ce of an Adm in is tra ti ve Law 1

Ju dg e's (ALJ) de ni al of Mi la m 's ap pl ic at io n fo r so ci a l s e c u r i ty di sa bi li ty in su ran ce
be ne fit s. We affi rm

.

I. Bac kg ro un d

Mi la m ap pl ie d fo r di sa bi li ty in su ran ce be ne fit s on Ju ly 12

, 20 11

. Sh e id en ti fie d

he r di sa bi li ty on se t da te as Aug us t 31

, 20 09 —t he sa m e da y he r em pl oyer la id he r of

f.

Pri or to th e la y of

f, Mi la m ha d wor ke d fo r 20 y ears , m os t r e cen tl y as a

se cret ary/ad m in is tra ti ve as si st an t. Mi la m al le ge s th at sh e is no w to ta ll y di sa bl ed

be cau se of b ack pa in , kn ee p ai n, h ip pa in , and os te op or os is

.

A. Mil am's Med ic al

His to ry
On A u g u s t 6, 20 07

, Mi la m vi si te d Dr. Bren t Sp rin kl e, D.O., co m pl ai ni ng of
"[c ]ervi cal pa in

, so m e lo w ba ck pa in

, [an d] in te rm it te nt ti ng li ng ." Dr. Sp rin kl e te st ed

bo th he r up pe r an d lo wer ex tre m it ie s an d fo un d no si gn ifi can t li m it at io n in ran ge of

m ot io n, no ev id en ce of in st ab il it y , no gr os s m is al ig nm en ts

, an d no st ren gt h de fic it s.

He al so te st ed he r ne ck an d up pe r sp in e an d f ou nd no st ren gt h de fic it s an d no
si gn ifi can t li m it at io ns on fle xi on , ex te ns io n, ro ta ti on , or si de -b en di ng

. His

ex am in at io n o f he r lu m

ba r sp in e, ho wev er, rev eal ed de crea se d m ot io n and th or aci c

sc ol io si s. Dr. Sp rin kl e ul ti m at el y di ag no se d "[i ]dio pa th ic sc ol io si s st at us po st fu si on
in th e 1 97 0s ." 2

Dr. Sp rin kl e th en or de red an MRI of Mi la m 's cerv ic al sp in e. The MRI rev eal ed

a "s tra ig ht en in g of th e cerv ic al sp in e wit ho ut su bl ax at io n" an d th at Mi la m 's "ce rv ic al

The Hon or ab le Je ro m e Kearn ey , U n i t e d St at es Mag is tra te Ju dg e fo r th e 1

East ern Dis tri c t of Ark an sa s, to who m th e pa rti es co ns en te d to refe r th e cas e un de r 28 U.S.C. § 6 36 (c).

A Harr i n g t o n r od was im pl an te d al on g Mi la m 's sp in e in 19 76 to tre at he r 2

sc ol io si s.

-2

-co rd [was ] no rm al in si gn al th ro ug ho ut ." The MRI in di cat ed th at "[m ]ild

di sc /o st eo ph y te co m

pl ex [es ]" were caus in g "m in im al " or "m il d" can al na rro win g at

th e C 3

- C 4

, C4 -C5

, an d C6 -C7 di sc s. The MRI li ke wis e in di cat ed th at "[b ]road

di sc /o st eo ph y te co m

pl ex [es were] cau s[ in g] m il d to m od erat e can al na rro win g, and

ap pe ar[e d] to co nt act th e an te rio r co rd

. . . . Mi ld in de nt at io n of th e an te rio r co rd [was ]

no te d wi th ou t s ig na l ab no rm al it y ."

Mi la m ret ur ne d to Dr. Sp rin kl e on Aug us t 16

, 20 07

. He di ag n o se d cerv ic al

de ge ne rat iv e di sc di se as e. He op in ed th at Mi la m 's "p ai n is m or e m us cl e sp as m rel at ed

si nc e ab ou t two m in ut es po st tri gg er po in t i n je c t io n he r pa in was co ns id erab ly

red uc ed ."

Mi la m vi si te d Dr. Sp rin kl e ag a i n o n Sep te m be r 14

, 20 07

. Dr. Sp rin kl e
ad m in is te red a tri gg er po in t in jecti on , pr es cri b e d Za na fle x (a m us cl e rel ax an t) an d

Ult ram ER (a pai n reli ev er), an d re co m m en de d a ret ur n vi si t in th ree to fo ur week s.

W he n Mi la m ret ur ne d to Dr. Sp rin kl e on Octo be r 12

, 20 07

, Dr. Sp rin kl e no te d

th at th e tri gg er po in t in

jecti on "s eem [ed ] to ha ve m ad e a hu ge di ff eren ce" an d th at

Mi la m was " no t t ak in g t he Zana fle x." He th en cle ared he r to ret ur n t o wo rk

.

Mi la m di d n ot see k t reat m en t fr om Dr. Spr in kl e ag ai n fo r he r ba ck pa in un ti l

Ju n e 3

, 2 01 1— ne arl y fo ur y ears la te r, an d ne arl y two y ears aft er sh e cl ai m s sh e
be cam e di sa bl ed

. Dur in g th is vi si t, Mi la m in fo rm ed Dr. Sp rin kl e th at sh e "wan t[e d]

to pu rs ue di sa bi li ty." Dr. Sp rin kl e's ex am rev eal ed no st ren gt h de fic it s, no in st ab il it y ,

an d no si gn ifi can t l o s s o f ran ge of m ot io n ex cep t fo r a cert ai n "d ecre as ed ran ge of

m ot io n" in he r lu m

ba r sp in e. He al so no te d "[d ]iffu se m y of as ci al tri gg er po in ts " an d

"b il at eral lu m

ba r pa ras pi na l tri gg er po in ts ." An x- ray sh owe d th at "p rev io us sp in al

ha rd ware fo r th or aci c sc ol io si s

. . . ap pe ar[e d] to be in go od po si ti on " an d th at "s om e

m il d de ge ne rat iv e is ab ov e an d be lo w he r ha rd ware." Mi la m was "co nc ern ed th at he r

pa in [h ad ] pr og res se d," an d D r

. S p r in kl e no te d "s om e pr og res si on of de ge ne rat iv e

-3

-ch an ge s

. . . ab ov e an d be lo w th e le ve l of he r ha rd ware in fu si on ." Dr. Sp rin kl e op in ed

th at Mi la m co ul d no t "t ol erat e se de nt ary wor k th at req ui res pr ol on ge d s i t t i n g ." Dr.
Sp rin kl e n ot ed du rin g t he same vis it , ho wev er, t ha t Mi la m "h as a m od erat e act iv it y
le ve l. Exe rci se in cl ud es walk in g an d weig ht s. Exe rci se s 3– 4 ti m es a week

. Exe rci se s

0– 5 ho ur s pe r week ." He reco m m en de d th at sh e co nt i n u e t h e "h om e ex erci se

pr og ram " an d re tu rn for tre at m en t " as ne ed ed ."

Abo ut th is ti m e, Mi la m b e g a n ke ep in g a "Pa in an d Fu nc ti on Jo ur na l." Sh e

co nt in ue d m ak in g pe rio di c en tri es un ti l Sep te m be r 26

, 20 12

. Mi la m 's pe rio di c en tri es

ge ne ral ly no te d th at sh e ex pe rie nc ed pa in

, he ad ach es , st iff ne ss , sh or tn es s of br eat h,

an d fev ers

. Sh e us ua ll y r a t e d h er pa in on a zero -to -te n sc al e. Sh e rat ed he r pa in

so m ewh ere be twee n zero an d si x o n t h e s i gn ifi can t m ajor it y of da y s in whi ch sh e

re c o r d e d a n y pa in ; in co nt ras t, sh e rat ed he r pa in as a ni ne or te n on ly th ree ti m es
th ro ug ho ut th e ap pr ox im at el y 16 -m on th pe rio d.

On Ju ne 17

, 20 11

, Mi la m vi si te d Dr. Dav id Sh en ke r, M.D., at a wom en 's cl in ic

to ob ta in an an nu al ex am in at io n. Sh e de ni ed

, am on g ot he r th in gs , an y ti ng li ng ,

nu m bn es s, m us cu la r weak ne ss , join t p ai n, jo in t s well in g, o r di ffi cu lt y sl eep in g.

Dr. St ev en St ro de

, M.D., co m pl et ed a Ph y si cal Res id ua l Fu nc ti on al Cap aci ty

Ass es sm en t of Mi la m on Sep te m be r 10

, 20 11

. He co nc lu de d th at Mi la m co ul d st an d

or walk fo r ap pr ox im at el y si x ho ur s in an ei gh t-h ou r wor kd ay

. He al so co nc lu de d th at

sh e co ul d si t fo r ap pr ox im at el y si x ho ur s in an ei gh t-h ou r wor kd ay ; freq ue nt ly li ft or

carr y up to te n po un ds ; oc cas io na ll y li ft or carr y up to 20 po un ds ; freq ue nt ly cl im b

st a i r s o r r am

ps ; an d oc cas io na ll y cl im b la dd ers , ba la nc e, st oo p, kn eel

, cro uc h, or
crawl

. He n o t e d t h a t Mi la m "[c ]ook s, cl ean s, do es la un dr y , walk s, dr iv es , go es ou t

al on e , a n d s h o p s in st or es ." A c as e an al y si s pe rfo rm ed by Dr. Je rry Tho m as , M .D.,

on Nov e mb e r 1 5

, 20 11

, reac he d th e sa m e co nc lu si on s wit h res pe ct to Mi la m 's

li m it at io ns

.

-4

-On Nov em be r 9, 20 11 , Dr . B ru ce R a n d o l p h , M .D., p erfo rm ed a co ns ul ta ti ve

ge ne ral ph y si cal ex am in at io n of Mi la m

. He di ag no se d Mi la m wit h sc ol io si s, ch ro ni c
ba ck pa in

, a n d a r t h r i t i s

. He al so no te d th at sh e ha d no rm al ran ge of m ot io n in he r
sh ou ld ers , hi ps , kn ees , an d sp in e an d ha d on ly "m od erat e li m it a t i o n in st an di ng , walk in g, cl im

bi ng , sq ua tt in g, l ift in g a nd carr y in g."

On March 26

, 20 12

, Dr. Sp rin kl e sa w Mil am an d reco rd ed th at sh e co ul d no t

"t ol erat e ha rd ly an y be nd in g[ ,] li fti ng [,] twi st in g[ ,] or walk in g[ ,] or st an di ng to a
si gn ifi can t de gr ee." He no te d no si gn ifi can t ch an ge s in ran ge of m ot io n, st ab il it y , or

st ren gt h. He reco m

m en de d th at sh e ta k e or co nt in ue ta ki ng Sk el ax in (a m us cl e
rel ax an t) an d NSAIDs (n on -s te rio da l an ti -in fla m m at or y dr ug s)

, de ferr ed he r
in jecti on s, an d a dv is ed he r to ret ur n fo r tr eat m en t as ne ed ed

.

Thre e mo n t h s l a te r, on Ju ne 28

, 20 12

, Mi la m ret ur ne d to Dr. Sp rin kl e fo r
fu rth er as se ss m en t. Dr. Sp rin kl e no te d th at Mi la m was feel in g pa in an d th at "[t ]here

are no rel ie vi ng fact or s." He al so no te d th at Mi la m was pu rs ui ng "d is ab il it y be cau se
of he r in ab il it y to to le rat e p r i m ari ly pr ol on ge d si tt in g or st an di ng or be nd in g or
twi st in g an d he av y li fti ng as a res u l t o f h e r di ffu se cerv ic al th or aci c an d lu m ba r
de ge ne rat iv e d i s e a s e an d sc ol io si s an d Harri ng to n ro d pl acement." Late r th at sa m e
da y , ho wev er, he wro te a le tt er "To W ho m It May Co nc ern " st at in g th at Mi la m "m ay

ret ur n to wor k," pr ov id ed sh e di d no t be nd

, twi st

, li ft m or e th an te n po un ds

, or st an d

or si t fo r pr ol on ge d p eri od s o f ti m e.

Fi na ll y , on Octo be r 30

, 20 12

, Dr. Sp rin kl e co m pl et ed a Fu nc ti on al Cap ab il it ie s

Ass es sm en t in whi ch he op in ed th at Mi la m co ul d freq ue nt ly li ft le ss th an te n po un ds

,

oc cas io na ll y li ft te n po un ds

, st an d or wa l k fo r le ss th an two ho ur s in an ei gh t-h ou r

wor kd ay , and si t fo r le ss th an two ho ur s i n a n e ig ht -h ou r wor kd ay

.

-5

-B. ALJ Hea ri ng an d Dec is io n

At Mi la m 's req ue st

, an ALJ co nd uc te d a he ari ng reg ard in g Mi la m 's ap pl ic at io n

on Octo be r 26

, 20 12

. W it h res pe ct to he r pr io r em pl oym en t, Mi la m te st ifi ed th at he r

em pl oyer la id he r of

f as pa rt of a red uc ti on in wor k fo rce. The ALJ no te d o n th e

reco rd hi s ge ne ral su sp ic io ns ab ou t cl ai m an ts who are "l ai d of f—t he y wor k un ti l th e
la st da y an d th en al l of a su dd en th ey 're di sa bl ed ." He al so ob se rv e d t h a t

, aft er
Mi la m 's la y of

f an d al le ge d di sa bi li ty on se t da te

, sh e so ug ht an d rece iv ed

un em pl oym en t b en efi ts an d e ve n l oo ke d fo r a n ew job

.

Mi la m te st ifi ed a t t he he ari ng th at sh e can dr iv e fo r on ly 2 0 m in ut es wit ho ut

ba ck an d hi p pai n, can si t for on ly 30 m in ut es co nt in uo us ly befo re n eed in g to st an d

du e to pa in

, can li ft up to fiv e to te n po un ds

, ha s li m it ed ab il it y to be nd he r ba ck

, an d

ha s di ffi cu lt ie s ro ta ti ng an d sq ua tt in g. Sh e te st ifi ed th at sh e is in pa in "2 4/ 7 on a go od

da y " an d sl eep s an av erag e of fo ur to fiv e ho ur s pe r ni gh t. Sh e su bm it te d le tt ers fro m
th ree fo rm er co wor ke rs st at in g, am on g ot he r th in gs , th at Mi la m was ab se nt fro m wor k

up to fiv e d ay s p er m on th

.

Mi la m al so te st ifi ed ab ou t he r da il y act iv it ie s. Sh e co nf irmed th at sh e co ok s fo r

up to 20 m in ut es ev ery da y , do es la un dr y , sh owe rs on he r ow n , a n d s h op s fo r

gr oc eri es

. Sh e oc cas io na ll y us es a walk er or a can e th at he r m ot he r ga ve he r, al th ou gh

no ph y si ci an ev er p res cri be d t ha t s he us e th em

.

The ALJ th en po se d two hypo th et ic al sc en ari os to th e vo cat io na l ex pe rt (VE)

pr es en t at the he ari ng

. The fir st hypo th et ic al co ns is te d of a pe rs on si m il ar to Mil am
in te rm s of ag e an d wor k ex pe rie nc e who ha d m il d to m od erat e pa in ; c o u l d s i t fo r

on ly fo ur to si x h o u r s i n a n ei gh t-h ou r wor kd ay ; co ul d st an d fo r on ly two to th ree
ho ur s in an ei gh t-h ou r wor kd ay ; co ul d si t or st an d co nt in uo us ly fo r on ly 30 m in ut es

at a ti m e; co ul d oc cas io na ll y cl im b, st oo p, cro uc h, kn eel

, an d crawl ; an d wou ld ha ve

to m is s on e or two wor kd ay s ev ery m on th

. The se co nd hypo th et ic al co ns is te d of a

-6

-si m il ar pe rs on who ha d to m is s th ree to fiv e wor kd ay s pe r m on th du e to m od erat e to

se ve re p ai n.

The VE te st ifi ed th at th e pe rs on in th e fir st hypo th et ic al co ul d pe rfo rm Mi la m 's

pa s t w o r k a s a se cret ary/ad m in is tra ti ve as si st an t bu t th at th e pe rs on in th e se co nd
hypo th et ic al co ul d no t fin d em pl oym en t du e to ex ces si ve ab se nt eei sm

. Acco rd in g to

th e VE, "g en eral ly whe n y o u mi s s t w o d ay s or 10 pe rcen t on a co ns is te nt ba si s

e mp l o yers wou ld no t to le rat e it ; ho wev er, on [e] da y a m on th

. . . fo r a lo ng

- t e r m

em pl oyee—emplo y ers wou ld to le rat e th at

, y ou r ho no r." Mi la m th en te st ifi ed th at sh e

m is se d, o n a ve rag e, th ree t o fi ve work da y s ev ery m on th

.

The ALJ ul ti m at el y fo un d th at Mi la m was no t di sa bl ed a n d i s su ed a writ te n
de ci si on de nyin g Mi la m 's cl ai m

. The ALJ fo un d th at Mi la m co ul d pe rfo rm se de nt ary

wor k wi th th e fo ll owi ng res tri ct io ns :

[Sh e can ] si t no m or e th an 4– 6 ho ur s an d st an d no m or e th an 2– 3 ho ur s in an ei gh t-h ou r wor kd ay

. The cl ai m an t can st an d or si t fo r up to th irt y

m in ut es at a ti m e an d th en req ui res th e op ti on to si t or st an d at wil l. Sh e

can oc cas io na ll y

cli m b, s to op , cro uc h, kn eel an d crawl

. The cl ai m an t's

sym pt om s, inc lu di ng pa in

, wil l caus e he r to m is s 1– 2 days of wor k per

m on th

.

C. Pro ced ur al His to ry
Mi la m ap pe al ed th e ALJ's de ci si on to t h e S o ci al Secu rit y Adm in is tra ti on 's
App eal s Co un ci l. Th e A p p eal s Co un ci l de ni ed he r req ue st fo r rev ie w, fin di ng no
"b as is for ch an gi ng th e [ALJ]'s d eci si on ."

Mi la m su bs eq ue nt ly so ug ht rev ie w of th e ALJ's de ni al of be ne fit s in th e di st ric t

co ur t. The di st ric t cou rt affi rm ed

, ho wev er, find in g th at su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce on th e

reco rd as a who le su pp or ts th e ALJ's de ci si on

.

-7

-II. Dis cu ss io n

O n a p p e a l

, Mi la m arg ue s th at su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce in th e reco rd as a who le

do es no t su pp or t th e ALJ's de ci si on be cau se th e ALJ (1 ) im pr op erl y di sc red it ed Dr.
Sp rin kl e's op in io n; (2 ) im

pr op erl y di sc red it ed Mi la m 's su bjec ti ve co m pl ai nt s; an d (3 )

im pr op erl y rel ie d on VE te st im on y th at

, acco rd in g to Mi la m , do es no t su pp o r t th e

ALJ's de ci si on

.

W e rev ie w de no vo th e di st ric t co ur t's de ci si on up ho ld in g th e ALJ's de ni al of

so ci al se cu rit y be ne fi t s. Pelk ey v. Bar nh ar t , 4 33 F.3 d 57 5, 57 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 06 ). W e
wil l affi rm th e de ni al if su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce in th e reco rd as a who le su pp o r t s t he

ALJ's de ci si on

. Jo n e 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 "l es s 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

fi n d it ad eq ua te to su pp or t th e co nc lu si on ." Id

. (al te rat io n in or ig in al ) (q uo ta ti on

om it te d)

. "We m

us t co ns id er ev id en ce th at bo th su pp or ts an d de tra ct s fro m th e ALJ's

de ci si on , bu t we wil l no t rev ers e an ad m in is tra ti ve de ci si on si m pl y be cau se so m e

ev id en ce m ay su pp or t th e op po si te co nc lu si on ." Perk in s v. Ast ru e , 64 8 F.3 d 89 2, 89 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ) (q uo ta ti on s an d ci ta ti on s om it te d)

. In de ed

, we m us t affi rm th e de ni al

of be ne fit s if "i t is po ss ib le to dr aw two in co ns is te nt po si ti on s fro m th e ev id en ce an d

on e of th os e po si ti o ns rep res en ts th e ALJ's fin di ng s." Id

. (q uo ta ti on s an d ci ta ti on s

om it te d)

.

A. Dr. S pr in kl e's Opi ni on
Gen eral ly, "[a ] tre at in g ph y si ci an 's op in io n is gi ve n co nt ro ll in g weig ht if it is

well -s up po rte d by m ed ic al ly acce pt ab le cl in ic al an d la bo rat or y di ag no st ic te ch ni qu es

an d is no t in co ns is te nt wit h th e ot he r su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce." Hou se v. Ast ru e , 50 0 F.3 d

74 1, 74 4 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ) (q uo ta ti on an d ci ta ti on om it te d)

. "A tre at in g ph y si ci an 's own
in co ns is te nc y m ay [] un de rm in e hi s op in io n an d di m in is h or el im in at e t h e w e i g ht
gi ve n hi s op in io ns ." Ha c ker v. Bar nh ar t
, 45 9 F.3 d 93 4, 93 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 06 ) (ci ti ng

Pro sc h v. Apf

el

, 20 1 F.3 d 10 10

, 10 13 (8 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 0 )). In th is cas e, Dr. Sp rin kl e's

-8

-o p i n io n th at Mi la m is un ab le to wor k is no t on ly "i nc on si st en t wit h th e ot he r

su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce," it is als o i nc on si st en t wi th hi s o wn t reat m en t an d n ot es

.

Fi rs t, Dr. Sp rin kl e's op in io n th at Mi la m "m ay ret ur n to wor k" wit h cert ai n

res tri ct io ns do es no t co m

po rt wit h hi s op in io n th at Mi la m co ul d ne it he r st an d no r si t

fo r a to t a l o f e v e n t wo ho ur s pe r wor kd ay

. His op in io n th at Mi la m "m ay ret ur n to

wor k" do es co m

po rt, ho wev er, wit h th e op in io ns of th re e ot he r p h ys i ci an s who

in de pe nd en tl y ev al ua te d Mi la m 's im pa irments in la te 20 11 an d c o n c l ud ed th at sh e
ha d on ly m od erat e li m it at io ns

. Dr. St ro de

, fo r in st an ce, co nc lu de d th at Mi la m co ul d

st an d or walk fo r ap pr ox im at el y si x ho ur s pe r ei gh t-h ou r wor kd ay an d co ul d li ke wis e
si t fo r ap pr ox im at el y si x ho ur s pe r ei gh t-h ou r wor kd ay

. Dr. Tho m as ag reed wit h th is

as se ss m en t. Si m il arl y , Dr. Ran do lp h no te d th at Mi la m ha d on ly "m od erat e li m it at io n
in st an di ng , walk in g, cl im bi ng , sq ua tt in g, li fti ng an d carr y in g." The se m ed ic al

op in io ns cas t si gn ifi can t do ub t on Dr. Sp rin kl e's op in io ns , pa rti cu la rly whe n

co ns id ered in li gh t of Dr. Sp rin kl e's own be li ef th at Mi la m "m ay ret ur n to wor k." Id .;

Ju sz cz yk v. Ast ru e , 54 2 F.3 d 62 6, 63 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ) (h ol di ng th at th e ALJ pr op erl y
di sc ou nt ed a tre at in g ph y si ci an 's op in io n whe n it was in co ns is te nt wit h hi s own

tre at m en t n ot es , as wel l as ot he r m ed ic al op in io ns ).

Mo reo ve r, Mi la m 's reg ul ar ph y si cal act iv it ie s fu rth er un de rm in e Dr. Sp rin kl e's

op in io n th at Mi la m co ul d nei th er sta nd no r si t fo r a to ta l of two ho ur s per work da y

. In de ed

, as Dr. Sp rin kl e no te d on Ju ne 3, 20 11

, Mi la m "h as a m od erat e act iv it y le ve l,"

he r "[e ]xerci se in cl ud es walk in g an d weig ht s," an d sh e "[e ]xerci se s 3- 4 ti m es a week "

fo r up to "5 ho ur s pe r week ." Dr. Sp rin kl e al so reco m m en de d sh e co nt in ue th e "h om e

ex erci se pr og ram ." In ad di ti on to Mi la m 's ex erci se reg im en , Mi la m reg ul arl y cl ean s
he r ho m e, co ok s fo r he r fam il y , cares for he r pe ts

, pa y s bi ll s, do es lau nd ry , dri ve s a

car, sh op s fo r gr oc eri es an d cl ot hi ng , at te nd s c h u r c h

, v i si ts fam il y , pl ay s co m pu te r

ga m es , w a t c h e s te le vi si on , an d so fo rth

. Mi la m ev en rep res en te d in he r Fu nc ti on Rep or t th at sh e cl ean s, co ok s, an d do es la un dr y fo r ap pr ox im at el y "4 ho ur s" pe r da y

. To be su re, a cl ai m an t's ab il it y to en ga ge in "p e r s o na l act iv it ie s su ch as co ok in g,

-9

-cl ean in g, an d h o b b ie s" do es no t pr ecl ud e a fin di ng th at th e cl ai m an t is di sa bl ed

.

Kel le y v. Ca ll ah an , 13 3 F.3 d 58 3, 58 9 (8 th Ci r. 19 98 ) (ci ta ti on om it te d)

. In th is cas e,
ho wev er, Mi la m 's reg ul ar act iv it ie s su pp or t th e ALJ's di sc ou nt in g of Dr. Spr in kl e's

op in io n "g iv en bo th th e ex te nt of [Mi la m 's] da il y act iv it ie s an d th e in de pe nd en t

m ed ic al ev id en ce th at sh e was no t to ta ll y di sa bl ed ." Pon de r v. Co lv in

, 77 0 F.3 d 11 90

, 11 96 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ) (ci ta ti on s o mi t t ed ); se e al so W ag ne r v. Ast ru e , 49 9 F.3 d 84 2,

85 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ) (u ph ol di ng a de ni al of di sa bi li ty be ne fit s in pa rt be cau se th e

c l a i m an t "en ga ge d in ex te ns iv e da il y act iv it ie s, su ch as fix in g m eal s, do in g
ho us ewo rk , sh op pi ng for gro ceri es , and vi si ti ng fri en ds ").

In su m , gi ve n Dr. Sp rin kl e' s o p in io n th at Mi la m co ul d ret ur n to wor k; th e

op in io ns of Dr. St ro de

, Dr. Tho m as , an d Dr. Ran do lp h; an d Mi la m 's reg ul ar ph y si cal

act iv it ie s, we co nc lu de th at su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce in th e reco rd as a who le su pp or ts th e

ALJ's de ci si on to di sc red it Dr. Spr in kl e's op in io n.

B. Mil am's Su bj ect iv e Co mpl ai nt s
"Where ob

jecti ve e v i d e n c e do es no t fu ll y su pp or t th e de gr ee of se ve rit y in a
cl ai m an t's su bjec ti ve co m pl ai nt s of pa in

, th e ALJ m us t co ns id er al l ev id en ce rel ev an t

to th os e co m

pl ai nt s." Hol mst ro m v. Mas sa na r i

, 27 0 F.3 d 71 5, 72 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 01 )
(ci ti ng Pol as ki v. Heckl er , 73 9 F.2 d 13 20

, 13 22 (8 th Ci r

. 19 84 )). Thi s in cl ud es

ev id en ce pe rta in in g to "t he cl ai m an t's da il y act iv it ie s" ; "t he du rat io n, freq ue nc y an d

in te ns it y of th e pa in "; "p reci pi ta ti ng an d ag gr av at in g fact or s" ; "d os ag e, effe ct iv en es s

an d si de effe ct s of m ed ic at io n" ; an d "fu nc ti on al res tri ct io ns ." Pol as ki

, 73 9 F.2 d at

1 32 2. Of co ur se , "[t ]he ALJ ne ed no t ex pl ic it ly di sc us s each Pol as ki fact or

. I t i s

su ffi ci en t if he ack no wled ge s an d c o n s i d ers th os e fact or s be fo re di sc ou nt in g a
cl ai m an t's su bjec ti ve co m pl ai nt s." St ro ng

so n v. Bar nh ar t
, 36 1 F.3 d 10 66

, 10 72 (8 th

Ci r. 20 04 ) (in te rn al ci ta ti on s om it te d)

. "Th e ALJ m ay di sc ou nt co m pl ai nt s of pa in if

th ey are in co ns is te nt wit h th e ev id en ce as a who le

. If th e ALJ di sc red it s a cl ai m an t's

cred ib il it y

an d g iv es a go od reas on for do in g s o, we wi ll de fer t o i ts jud gm en t ev en

-1 0-if ev ery fact or is no t di sc us se d in de pt h." Perk in s , 6 4 8 F.3 d at 90 0 (q uo ta ti on s an d

ci ta ti on s o m it te d)

.

The ALJ id en ti fie d m

ul ti pl e va li d reas on s fo r di sc red it in g Mi la m 's su bjec ti ve

co m pl ai nt s of p ai n, i nc lu di ng Mi la m 's app li cat io n for and rece ip t of une m pl oym en t

be ne fit s aft er sh e al le ge dl y be cam e di sa bl ed

. In se ek in g an d ob ta i n i n g su ch

un em pl oym en t be ne fit s, Mi l a m ev in ced a wil li ng ne ss an d ab il it y to wor k, whi ch

co nt rad ic ts he r cl ai m of di sa bl in g pa in

. Jer ni g a n v

. S u ll iv an , 94 8 F.2 d 10 70

, 10 74
(8 th Ci r. 19 91 ) ("A cl ai m an t m ay ad m it an ab il it y t o wor k by ap pl y in g fo r

un em pl oym en t co m

pe ns at io n be ne fit s be cau se su ch an ap pl ic an t m us t ho ld [h er]sel f

ou t as avai la bl e, wil li ng an d ab le to wor k." (ci ta ti on om it te d) ). Mi la m 's sear ch fo r a

ne w jo b aft er he r la y of

f fu rth er ev in ces bo th a wil li ng ne ss an d ab il it y to wor k aft er
sh e al le ge dl y

be cam e d is ab le d.

The ALJ al so no te d M il am 's rel at iv el y co ns erv at iv e tre at m en t hi st or y , whi ch

rel ie d on "a co ns erv at iv e co ur se of tre at m en t, in cl ud in g ex erci se s,

. . . an d

m ed ic at io n." Bla ck v. Apf el

, 14 3 F.3 d 38 3, 38 6 (8 th Ci r. 19 98 ) (fo ot no te om it te d)
(ci ta ti on om it te d) . Mo reo ve r, Mi la m di d no t se ek m ed ic al tre at m en t fo r he r al le ge d

pa in fo r lo ng pe rio ds of ti m e. In th e ne arl y fo ur yea rs be twee n Sep te m be r 20 07 an d

Ju ne 20 11

, fo r in st an ce, Mi la m di d no t se ek an y m ed ic al tre at m en t fro m Dr. Sp rin kl e
fo r he r ba ck pa in —n ot wit hs ta nd in g h er as se rti on th at sh e act ua ll y be cam e di sa bl ed

in Aug us t 20 09

. Se e Gwa th n e y v

. C ha te r , 10 4 F.3 d 10 43

, 10 45 (8 th Ci r. 19 97 )
(h o l d i n g th at a cl ai m an t's "fa il ur e to se ek m ed ic al as si st an ce fo r he r al le ge d

. . . im pa irmen t s co nt rad ic ts he r su bjec ti ve co m pl ai nt s of di sa bl in g co nd it io ns an d

su pp or ts th e ALJ's de ci si on to de ny ben efi ts " (ci ta ti on s o m it te d) ).

Mi la m 's reg ul ar ph y si cal act iv it ie s, as di sc us se d ab ov e, fu rth er un de rm in e he r

as se rti on th at sh e is un ab le to pe rfo rm ev en se d e n ta ry wor k. Of co ur se , " th e ab il it y

to do act iv it ie s su ch as li gh t ho us ewo rk an d vi si ti ng wit h fri en ds " al on e are
in su ffi ci en t reas on to di sc red it Mi la m 's su bjec ti ve co m pl ai nt s. B aum

gart en v. Ch at er ,

-1 1-75 F.3 d 36 6, 36 9 (8 th Ci r. 19 96 ) (q uo ta ti on an d ci ta ti on s om it te d)

. Bu t th e ex te nt of

Mi la m 's reg ul ar ph y si cal act iv it ie s, pa rti cu la rly whe n co ns id ered in co nju nc ti on wit h

th e m ed ic al reco rd in th is cas e, fu rth er su pp or ts th e ALJ's de ci si on

. Se e, e.g
., Edw ar ds

v. Bar nh ar t
, 31 4 F.3 d 96 4, 96 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 03 ) (fi nd in g th at th e cl ai m an t's ab il it y to

sh op , dr iv e sh or t di st an ces , at te nd ch u r c h, an d vi si t rel at iv es was in co ns is te nt wit h

he r as se rti on of di sa bl in g pa in ); La wr en ce v. Ch at er , 10 7 F

. 3 d 67 4, 67 6 (8 th Ci r.

19 97 ) (fi nd in g th at th e cl ai m an t's ab il it y to "d res s an d bat he he rs el f," and "d o so m e
ho us ewo rk

, co ok in g, an d sh op pi ng " co nt rad ic te d he r "t es ti m on y reg ard in g th e

se ve rit y of h er p ai n a nd di sa bi li ty").

The ALJ al so co ns id ered

, am on g ot he r th in gs , Mi la m 's wor k hi st or y

. Mi la m is

co rrec t th at he r "l en gt hy wor k hi st or y su pp or ts he r su bjec ti ve co m pl ai nt s of di sa bl in g

pa in ." Bla ck

, 14 3 F.3d at 38 7. " [O]ffset ti ng th is wor k hi st or y [, ho wev er,] is th e fact

th at [Mi la m ] was la id o f f f r o m h e r po si ti on , rat he r th an fo rced ou t du e to he r

co nd it io n." Id

. (ci ta ti on om it te d)

.

In li gh t of th e fo reg oi ng co ns id erat io ns an d th e reco rd as a who le in th is cas e,

we fin d th at su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce su pp or ts the A L J' s ad ve rs e cr ed ibi lit

y de term in at io n.

C. VE's Tes ti mon

y
The ALJ fo un d Mi la m was no t di sa bl ed in pa rt be cau se th e VE te st ifi ed Mi la m

co ul d pe rfo rm he r pr io r wor k as a se cret ary/ad m in is tra ti ve as si s t a nt

. As di sc us se d

ab ov e, th e VE's te st im on y was ba s e d o n a hypo th et ic al sc en ari o in whi ch a pe rs on
si m il ar to Mi la m m is se d on e or two wor kd ay s pe r m on th

. Mi la m ta ke s is su e wit h th is
hypo th et ic al in pa rt bec au se sh e co nt en ds he r im pa irments req ui re her to m is s up to

fiv e wor kd ay s pe r m on th

. The ALJ sp eci fic al ly fo un d, ho wev er, th a t t h e o bjec ti ve

m ed ic al ev id en ce di d no t su pp or t a ne ed to m is s m or e th an on e or two wor kd ay s pe r

m on th

. W e fin d no erro r in th e ALJ's hypo th et ic al

. Se e Cr uz e v. Ch at er , 85 F.3 d 13 20

, 13 23 (8 th Ci r. 1 99 6) ("Th e ALJ's hypo th et ic al qu es ti on ne ed in cl ud e on ly th os e
im pa irments th at th e ALJ fin ds are su bs ta nt ia ll y su pp or te d by th e reco rd as a who le ."

-1 2-(q uo ta ti on s an d ci ta ti on s om it t e d ) )

. A nd we fu rth er fin d th at th e VE's te st im on y

co ns ti tu te s su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce su pp or ti ng th e ALJ's de te rm in at io n th at Mi la m co ul d

pe rfo rm he r pa st wor k. Id

. ("Tes ti m on y fro m a VE ba se d o n a p r o pe rly ph ras ed
hypo th et ic al qu es ti on co ns ti tu te s s ub st an ti al ev id en ce." (ci ta ti on s o m it te d) ).

Mi la m al so se em in gl y arg ue s th at th e VE's te st im on y sh ou ld be in te rp ret ed to

m ean th at an em

pl oyer wou ld ne ve r to le rat e two ab se nc es in an y gi ve n m on th

. We

di sa gr ee. The VE m ad e cl ear th at sh e was te st ifyin g ab ou t ab se nt eei sm "o n a

co ns is te nt ba si s." The ALJ's hypo th et ic al to th e VE as su m ed on ly th at Mi la m wou ld

m is s up to two wor kd ay s pe r m on th —n ot t ha t Mi la m wou ld co ns is te nt ly m is s two

wor kd ay s pe r m on th

, or ev en th at Mi la m wou ld us ua ll y m is s tw o wor kd ay s pe r

m on th

.

III. Co nc lu si on

In su m , th e ALJ's de ci si on 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 . W e aff

irm.

BYE, Cir cu it Ju dg e, di ss en ti ng

.

I di sa gr ee wit h th e m ajor it y 's ch a r a c t e riz at io n of th e ev id en ce reg ard in g
Mi la m 's co ns is te nt ab se nt eei sm an d th e ALJ's

, at be st

, un cl ear res ol ut io n of th e is su e.

I b e l i e v e th e cas e sh ou ld be rem an de d to th e ALJ fo r fu rth er de ve lo pm en t on th e
is su e.

The Voc at io na l Exp ert ("VE" ) te s t i fie d th at "i n te rm s of an ab se nt eei sm , . . .
g e n e r al ly wh en y ou m is s two da y s or 10 pe rcen t on a co ns is te nt ba si s[ ,] em pl o ye r s

wou ld no t to le rat e it ; ho wev er, on[ e] da y a m on th fo r [Mi la m 's po si ti on ] fo r a lo ng

-

-1 3-te rm em

pl oyee—emplo y ers wou ld to le rat e th at ." Mi la m im m ed ia te ly sp ok e up an d 3

s a id sh e "m is se d an av erag e of th ree to fiv e da y s a m on th " du rin g he r pr ev io u s

em pl oym en t. The ALJ sa id he wou ld "l eav e th e reco rd op en fo r th e ab se nt ee reco rd s"

to de te rm in e ho w m an y da y s sh e m is se d on av erag e an d th en ba se d on he r

em pl oym en t reco rd s wou ld m ak e a cred ib il it y de te rm in at io n as to ho w m an y da y s sh e

act ua ll y m is se d. W he n Mi la m was un ab le to acq ui re he r pr io r wor k reco rd s wit ho ut

a su bp eo na an d req ue st ed a su bp eo na , th e ALJ ch an ge d hi s m in d an d co nc lu de d th at

th e is su e was "n ot m at eri al to th e res ol ut io n of he r cl ai m " be cau se ev en if sh e m is se d

t h r e e to fiv e da y s pe r m on th

, he di d no t be li ev e ba se d on th e ob jecti ve med i c a l

ev id en ce th at sh e ha d im

pa irments th at wou ld cau se he r to m is s wor k at th is rat e. He

be li ev ed

, ba se d on he r im pa irments an d pa in

, sh e wou ld m is s "1 -2 da y s of wor k pe r

m on th ." The di st ric t co ur t reco gn iz ed th at th e ALJ erre d in fin di ng Mi la m co ul d st il l

fi n d w o r k b y h av in g to co ns is te nt ly m is s on e to two da y s pe r m on th bu t fo un d th e

erro r ha rm le ss be cau se he r pr io r em pl oyer acco m

m od at ed he r ne ed for ab se nc es

.

Fi rs t, I th in k th e ALJ err ed in fin di ng im m at eri al th e is su e of ho w m an y da y s
Mi la m m is se d pe r m on th

. If Mi la m wou ld be ex pe ct ed to m is s th ree to fiv e da y s pe r

m on th be cau se of he r pa in fro m he r im pa irments

, it is un di s p u t e d sh e wou ld be

un em pl oyabl e. In ad di ti on to Mi la m 's own rep or ts of pa in an d ne ed to m is s th ree to

f i v e da y s of wor k pe r m on th du rin g he r pr io r em pl oym en t, th ree of he r fo rm er co

wor ke rs su bm it te d le tt ers ex pl ai ni ng ho w m uc h pa in Mi la m was co ns is te nt ly in whi le

at wor k an d ho w m

uc h ti m e sh e co ns is te nt ly m is se d. Her m an ag er fro m 19 88 to 19 98

ex pl ai ne d th at M i l a m "co ns is te nt ly was fo rced to m is s wor k an d [was ] m an y ti m es

Thi s te st im on y is co ns is te nt wit h te st im o n y f ro m vo cat io na l ex pe rts in pa st 3

cas es

. See, e.g., Hack er v. Barn ha rt, 45 9 F.3d 93 4, 94 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 06 ) (Hean ey , J.,
di ss en ti ng ) (n ot in g te st im on y fro m th e vo cat io na l ex pe rt th at "i f Hack er m is se d m or e th an two da y s of wor k pe r m on th

, he r ab se nt eei sm wou ld ren de r he r un em pl oyabl e") ; Dou gl as v. Bo wen , 83 6 F.2 d 39 2, 39 6 (8 th Ci r. 19 87 ) (n ot in g te st im on y fro m

vo cat io na l ex pe rt th at cl ai m an t wou ld be un e m pl oyabl e if he "h ad an ab se nt ee rat e in ex ces s o f on e or

two da y s a m on th " (empha si s ad de d) ).

-1 4-i n a g reat de al of pa in whi le at wor k." Sh e es ti m at ed th at "[o ]n av erag e, [Mi la m]

m is se d 1 to 2 da y s pe r m on th du e to ba ck pa in ." Sh e be li ev e d M i l a m "wo ul d ha ve

m is se d m or e, bu t m an y ti m es , th ou gh su ffer in g[ ,] sh e wou ld fo rce he rs el f to co m e to

wor k jus t to m ai nt ai n he r job ." A di ffer en t m an ag er pr ov id ed th at du rin g th e si x y ears
th ey wor ke d to ge th er, Mi la m "was ab se nt fro m wor k 3 to 5 da y s a m on th du e to

se ve re ba ck pa in ." Dur in g th is ti m e, he r em pl oyer al so "m ad e sp eci al pr ov is io ns fo r
he r in he r wor k area in an at te m pt to al le vi at e so m e of he r ba ck pa in an d di sc om fo rt."

Her ot he r co -wo rk er al so ex pl ai ne d th at du rin g 20 03 to 20 10

, sh e ob se rv ed Mi la m in

"s ev ere ba ck pa in at wor k," no t be in g ab le to st an d up st rai gh t, an d so m et im es in te ars
be cau se of th e pa in

. Sh e st at ed th at Mi la m wou ld be as ke d to go ho m e be cau se of th e

pa in an av erag e of fiv e wor ki ng da y s pe r m on th

, so m et im es in th ree co ns ecu ti ve da y s.
Sh e al so no te d th at he r em pl oyer at te m

pt ed to m ak e he r "wo rk sp ace as co m fo rta bl e

as po ss ib le fo r he r," in cl ud in g pr ov id in g he r wit h a "s pe ci al de sk th at sh e co ul d m ov e
he r m on it or up an d d own " an d a "s pe ci al ch ai r."

The ALJ di sr eg ard ed al l of th is ev id en ce an d fai le d to de ve lo p th e reco rd

f u r t he r, al l be cau se he di d no t be li ev e th e ob jecti ve m ed ic al ev id en ce be fo re h i m

wou ld su pp or t a co nc lu si on th at Mi la m sh ou ld m is s so m uc h t i m e fro m wor k. It is

un di sp ut ed

, an d th e ALJ fo un d, th at Mi la m su ffer ed fro m se ve ral ba ck -rel at ed se ve re
im pa irments . As de ta il ed in th e m ajor it y op in io n, i t is un di sp ut ed th at sh e su ffer ed

co nt in ui ng pa in an d rece iv ed tre at m en t fo r th e pa in

, in cl ud in g in jecti on s, fo r m an y

y ears as a res ul t of t h es e im pa irments

. Sh e ne ed no t be co m pl et el y se de nt ary or
of te n- ho sp it al iz ed to fin d sh e li ve d wit h ch ro ni c pa in

, m an ag in g it as be st sh e co ul d.

The re is no t su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce i n th e reco rd to su pp or t th e ALJ's co nc lu si on th at

Mi la m 's im

pa irments an d pa in wou ld cau se he r to m is s le ss th an two da y s pe r m on th

. See Dou gl as v. Bo wen , 83 6 F.2 d 39 2, 39 6 ( 8 t h Ci r. 19 87 ) ("An y co nc lu si on th at [cl ai m an t] co ul d wor k at a job wit ho ut ha vi ng m or e th an on e or two ab se nc es du e to [h er] va rio us i mp a i r m en ts is no t su pp or te d by su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce." ). Mi la m was

"n ot req ui red to do cu m en t he r ab se nc es [, s]he te st ifi ed th at sh e m is se d wor k be cau se
sh e was si ck an d th ere is no th in g in th e reco rd to su gg es t th at th is was no t th e cas e."

-1 5-K e l l e y v. Cal la ha n, 13 3 F.3 d 58 3, 58 8 (8 th Ci r. 19 98 ). Her em pl oyer no t on ly

"co nc ed ed th at he r ab se nc es were le gi ti m a te ," id

., bu t th ree se pa rat e co -wo rk ers

pr ov id ed pe rs on al te st im on y of ho w se ve re he r pa in was a n d h ow m an y da y s sh e

co ns is te nt ly m is se d ov er th e co ur se of m an y y ears

. In li gh t of t h e o v erwh el m in g

ev id en ce re ga rd in g he r pr io r ab se nt eei sm , t he ab se nc e of an y reas on to su gg es t s he

m is se d work for an y th in g o th er tha n her pa in

, an d th e un di sp ut ed m ed ic al ev id en ce
of se ve re im

pa irments an d pa in

, I be li ev e th e ALJ erre d. He sh ou ld ha ve , at th e ve ry
le as t, de ve lo pe d th e reco rd fu rth er, as he in it ia ll y st at ed he wou ld

. See, e.g ., God ou a

v. Co lv in

, 56 4 F. App 'x 87 6, 87 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ) ("[ I]t is ALJ's du ty to de ve lo p reco rd

fu ll y an d fa irl y

du rin g c la im an t's pro ceed in gs , whi ch are n on -ad ve rs ari al .").

Seco nd

, as th e di st ric t co ur t ack no wled ge d, pu tt in g th e is su e ab ov e as id e, th e

ALJ co nc lu de d Mi la m 's res id ua l fu nc ti on al cap aci ty wou ld cau se he r to m is s on e or

two da y s pe r m on th

, whi ch was in co ns is te nt wit h th e VE's te st im on y th at m is si ng two

da y s pe r m on th wou ld no t be to le rat ed by an y em pl oyer. In fact

, th e VE te st ifi ed th at

on ly a lo ng -te rm em

pl oyer wou ld to le rat e co ns is te nt ab se nc es of on e da y pe r m on th

. The ALJ di d no t e x p l a i n ho w Mi la m co ul d ga in em pl oym en t wit h a lo ng -te rm

em pl oyer, si nc e he r pr io r co m p a n y no lo ng er ex is te d. Eve n if th e ALJ co nc lu de d

Mi la m wou ld m is s le ss th an two da y s of wor k pe r m on th

, it is un cl ear whe th er Mi la m

was em pl oyabl e if sh e were to m is s m or e th an on e da y bu t le ss th an two da y s pe r

m on th co ns is te nt ly. Reg ard le ss of ho w we in te rp ret th e ALJ's st at em en t, I ag ree wit h

th e di st ric t co ur t th at "an erro r was m ad e." I di sa gr ee wit h th e di st ric t co ur t, ho wev er,
th at th e err or

was h arm le ss

.

The di st ric t co ur t b e li ev ed th at al th ou gh Mi la m co ul d no t se cu re fu tu re

em pl oym en t as ge ne ral ly fo un d in th e eco no m y ba se d on he r ab se nt eei sm , sh e co ul d

fin d w o r k " a s s h e act ua ll y pe rfo rm ed it in th e pa st " be cau se "h er fo rm er em pl oyer

m ad e acco m

m od at io ns th at al lo wed he r to ta ke of f mor e th an two da y s a m on th ." Bu t

th e qu es ti on of ho w sh e pe rfo rm ed he r wor k in th e pa st rel at es to he r job du ti es an d

fu nc ti on s— no t ho w ex ces si ve ly acco m m od at in g h e r p rio r em

pl oyer was

. See 20

-1 6-C.F.R. § 40 4.1 56 0( b ) ( " We wil l fir st co m pa re ou r as se ss m en t of y ou r res id ua l

f u n c t io na l cap aci ty wit h th e ph ys ic al an d men ta l de man ds of y ou r pa st rel ev an t

wor k." (em

ph as is ad de d) ); 20 C.F.R. § 40 4.1 52 0( f) (" If y ou can st il l d o t hi s ki nd of

wor k .

. . ." (em

ph as is ad de d) ). The fact th at he r pr io r em pl oyer wen t ou t of its way

to acco m m od at e Mi la m can no t be us ed to co nt rad ic t th e VE's un di sp ut ed te st im on y
th at no ot he r em

pl o ye r w o u l d to le rat e m or e th an on e ab se nc e pe r m on th on a

co ns is te nt ba si s. The ALJ's ap pa ren t fin di ng th at Mi la m wou ld m is s m or e th an on e
d a y pe r m on th co ns is te nt ly was ab ov e th e th res ho ld th e VE te st ifi ed wou ld b e

to le rat ed by an y em

pl oyer. In li gh t of th e un di sp ut ed te st im on y fro m t h e VE, I

b e l i e v e t h e ALJ erre d in fin di ng Mi la m co ul d fin d em pl oym en t if sh e were t o

co ns is te nt ly m is s m or e th an on e d ay pe r m on th for a ne w em

pl oyer.

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