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or di sabi l i ty i nsurance benef i t s, 42 U . S . C . § 4 05 (g), and sup pl em ent al s e c u r i ty i n c o m e , 4 2 U . S . C . § 1 3 8 3 ( c ) ( 3 ) . We A F F I R M. I . B AC KG RO UN D A l vi n E c ke rtf

i l e d appl i c a t i ons f

ordi s abi l i ty i ns ur a nc e be ne f i t s a nd s uppl e m e nt a l s e c ur i ty i nc om e . H i s appl i c a t i ons w e r e de ni e d i ni t i a l l y a nd upon re consi dera t i on . E ckertre qu es t ed and w as grant ed a hear i ng before an A d m in is tr a tiv e L a w J u d g e ( “A L J ” ) . D ur i ng the he a r i ng, E c ke rtt e s t i f i e d tha the w a s f

orty - f i ve y e a r s ol d, ha d a n in th - g r a d e e d u c a tio n , c o u ld r e a d , w r ite , a n d s p e a kE n g lis h , a n d w a s q u a lif ie d to dri ve a e i gh t ee n-w heel truck. H e pre vi ou sl y w orked as at i re vu l cani ze r ( t i re re pai r) and a tra ct or-tra i l erdri ver. H e w as i nj ured tw i ce w hi l e he w as w orki ng as ad r iv e r , o n c e in A u g u s t 1 9 9 0 , a n d o n c e in J a n u a ry o rF e b ru a ry 1 9 9 0 . A d m in is tr a tiv e R e c o r d ( “A R ” ) a t 6 0 . E c ke rtt e s t i f

i e d tha the w a s ha vi ng l ow e rba c k pa i n tha tw a s s t abbi ng a nd burni ng, a nd a c he s i n hi s kne e s a nd t oe s . I d. a t82. S t oopi ng, be ndi ng a nd cr aw l i ng caused hi m pai n. Id. at84 . H e c ou l d si tfor abo uton e hou r bef ore a l t e rna t i ng pos i t i ons , s t a nd f oraboutf

i f t e e n m i nut e s , w a l k abl oc k a nd aha l f , a nd l i f tt e n pounds . I d. a t83- 84. D ur i ng atypi c a l da y , he s pe ntm os tof hi s t i m e l y i ng on the couch, he di d n otdo any c oo ki ng or ho usehol d cho re s, and o nl y drove on ce3

aw e e k w he n ne c e s s a ry . T he f a rthe s the ha d dr i ve n i n the s i x y e a r s pr i ort o the h e a r in g w a s 1 5 5 m ile s o n e w a y to T a m p a , w h ic h h e h a d d o n e ab o u t e ig h t tim e s . I d . a t 8 1 . E xceptfor tw o v i si t s t o the em er gency r oo m , he had n otsoug htm edi ca l tr e a tm e n t s in c e A u g u s t 1 9 9 4 , b e c au s e h e d id n o t h a v e th e m o n e y to s e e ad o c to r . I n the thr e e y e a r s pr i ort o the he a r i ng, he di d nott a ke a ny pr e s c r i pt i on m e di c a t i on f o rh is b a c kp a in , b u t h e d id ta k e T y le n o l. T he m e di c a l e vi de nc e s how e d tha t , pr i ort o J a nua ry 1990, E c ke rtw a s be i ng tre at ed by D r. D ani el P i a, a c hi ropract or, concerni ng a bac k i nj ury i n 1 98 7. D r. P i adi a gnos e d E c ke rtw i th s e ve r e l um bos a c r a l ( l ow ba c k) s pr a i n, w i th r e s ul t a nt b ila te r a l s c ia tic n e u r itis ( in f la m a tio n o f

th e h ip ) a n d n e u r a lg ia( s e v e r e n e rv e p a in ) . I d. a t176- 77. E c ke rts a w D r . P i ai n O c t obe r1991, r e l a t i ve t o a n a c c i de nton 4 M ar ch 19 90 , and D r. P i a f ou nd thatE ckerthad reac hed m axi m um m edi ca l im p r o v e m e n t in c o n n e c tio n w ith th e a c c id e n t. D uri ng M ar ch 19 92 , E ckert , com pl ai ni ng of back pai n, w as eval uat ed by D r. G eorge C apani on i , an ortho paedi st . T he ph ys i ca l exam i nat i on re veal ed that E c k e rt w a s in n o o b v io u s d is tr e s s , h a d m in im a l te n d e rn e s s to d e e p p a lp a tio n o f h is back, m i ni m al paravert ebra l m uscl e s pasm , and l i m i t ed ra ng e of m ot i on . Id. at 165. D r . C om pa ni oni r e vi e w e d X - r a y s f r om 1990 w hi c h s how e d no s i gni f i c a nt4

abnorm a l i t i e s . I d. a t166. H e r e vi e w e d aM R I f r om M a y 1990, a nd f

ound a d eg en erat i v e d i sc p resen tatL 4 / 5 an d 5 / 5 , an d a b u l g i n g d i sc at4 / 5 . Id . H e al so r e vi e w e d am y e l ogr a m , c onc l ude d tha tthe r e w a s no s i gni f i c a ntpr e s s ur e on E c k e rt’s s p in a l c o r d , a n d f o u n d th a t E c k e rt h a d o n ly m ild d e g e n e r a tiv e c h a n g e s . I d. H e e xpr e s s e d s urpr i s e tha tE c ke rtha d onl y be e n abl e t o w ork thr e e m onths b e tw e e n 1 9 9 0 a n d 1 9 9 2 b e c au s e h e c o n c lu d e d th a t h e s h o u ld h a v e b e e n ab le to r e tu rn to w o rks ta tu s . I d . I n Ap r i l 1 9 9 2 , Dr . P i ap e r f o rm e d ad i s ab i l i ty e v a l u a t i o n o n E c k e rt . He f ound tha t , w he n e nga ge d i n w ork a c t i vi t i e s , E c ke rtc oul d s t and, s i t , a nd w a l k f or no m ore than fi ft ee n m i nu t es , l i ftno m ore than t en po un ds, pu sh or pu l l no m ore tha n tw e nty - f

i ve pounds , a nd c oul d notbe nd, s t oop, s qua t , turn, tw i s t , kne e l , r e a c h, g r a s p o rm a n i p u l a t e s m a l l o b j e c t s , o rc l i m b m o r e th a n f i v e s t a i r s . I d . a t1 6 7 . He det erm i ned thatE ckerthad a “ perm anentw ho l e per son i m pai rm entof 35 % , base d on A M A gui de l i ne s ” a nd c onc l ude d f ound tha tE c ke rtw a s i m pa i r e d i n pe r f orm i ng a n y typ e o f

w o rkth a t w a s n o t s e d e n ta ry o rs e m i- s e d e n ta ry . I d . In O cto b ero f 1 9 9 2 , D r. Jo h n A . A rlin g to n p er fo rm ed an M R I o f E ck er t’ s lu m b a rs p in e , w h ic h s h o w e d m o d e r a te s te n o s is ( n a rr o w in g ) a t L 4 - 5 a n d m ild to m od er at e s t enosi s a tL 3-4, se cond ary t o a com bi nat i on of bu l gi ng annu l us (out er la y e ro f th e s p in a l d is k ) , b ila te r a l lig a m e n to u s , a n d f a c e t h yp e rtr o p h y ( in c r e a s e in5

si ze of fa ce tj oi nt s) . Id. at19 6. A l so i n O ct ob er19 92 , E ckertw as tre at ed by D r. G e ne A . B a l i s , ane ur os ur ge on. D r . B a l i s f ound tha tE c ke rtha d norm a l s tr e ngth, s y mme tr i c r e f

l e x e s , a n d n o rma l s e n s a t i o n . I d . a t2 1 1 . H e r e v i e w e d Ec k e rt ’ s CT f r o m 1 9 8 7 a n d M R I f

r o m 1 9 9 0 a n d c o n c lu d e d th a t th e M R I s h o w e d s p in a l s te n o s is a tL 4 - 5 , m i l d t o m o d e r a t e s t e n o s i s a tL 3 - 4 , a n d ab u l g e a tL 4 - 5 . I d . a t2 1 1 - 1 3 . He f e l ttha tE c ke rtc oul d r e turn t o e m pl oy m e nta t“ l i ghtduty , ” w i th no he a vy l i f t i ng, s tr a in in g , s to o p in g , b e n d in g , o rc r a w lin g . I d . a t 2 1 1 . O n 1 3 N ov em ber 199 2, E ckert , com pl ai ni ng of back pai n, saw D r. M ary A nn U r a now s ki , ac hi r opr a c t or , on a n e m e r ge nc y ba s i s . I d. a t72, 197. S he f ound th a t h e w a s s o r e a n d te n d e ra t L 5 - S 1 . I d . a t 1 9 7 . S h e d ia g n o s e d E c k e rt w ith a c u te l um ba rs pr a i n s e c onda ry t o l um ba rs pi na l s t e nos i s . I d. O n 21 D e c e m be r1992, E c ke rtw e ntt o the e m e r ge nc y r oom c om pl a i ni ng of l ow ba c k pa i n. I d. a t198. T he phy s i c a l e xa m i na t i on s how e d no s pe c i f i c poi ntt e nde rne s s i n hi s ba c k, m i nor de ge ne r a t i ve s pur s ( bony ove r gr ow th) i n the l um ba rs pi ne , no s i gni f i c a nt in te r s p a c e n a rr o w in g , n o f r a c tu r e , a n d th e x - r a y o f th e lu m b a rs p in e w a s n e g a tiv e . I d . a t 2 0 4 , 2 0 6 . T h e d ia g n o s is w a s lo w b a c ks tr a in a n d h is to ry o f b a c kd is o r d e r . I d . a t 2 0 5 . I n J a n u a ry 1 9 9 3 , D r . B a lis , an e u r o s u r g e o n , e x a m in e d E c k e rt a n d f o u n d h im t o ha ve norm a l s tr e ngth, s y m m e tr i c r e f l e xe s , a nd norm a l s e ns a t i on di s t a l l y i n the6

l ow erextre m i t i es . Id. at21 0. H e r ec om m ended thatE ckertse ek vo ca t i on al re habi l i t at i on . H e a l so no t ed thatthe chances of si gn i fi canti m prov em entw er e “v e ry th in ” b e c au s e E c k e rt h a d a lr e a d y h a d alo n g c o u r s e o f c o n s e rv a tiv e th e r ap y . I d . O n 1 0 A u g u s t 1 9 9 4 , E c k e rt w e n t to th e e m e r g e n c y r o o m c o m p la in in g o f af a ll and b ac k p ai n. Id. at22 3-24 . H e w as di agno se d w i th l um bar s tra i n and tre at ed w ith a n in

je c tio n th a t d e c r e a s e d th e p a in . I d . a t 2 2 3 , 2 2 5 . R o b e rt W h itf

o r d , alic e n s e d m e n ta l- h e a lth c o u n s e lo r , tr e a te d E c k e rt in ps y c hothe r apy f

r om J ul y 1989 unt i l N ove m be r1993, a f t e rE c ke rtw a s or de r e d by th e c o u rt to s e e ktr e a tm e n t b e c au s e h e h a d m o le s te d h is d au g h te r . I d . a t 7 3 , 2 6 2 . T hi s tr e a tm e ntw a s unr e l a t e d t o the s ubj e c tdi s abi l i ty c l a i m . M r . W hi t f or d f ound tha t , dur i ng the e nt i r e pe r i od of tr e a tm e nt , E c ke rtw a s m ode r a t e l y a nxi ous a nd depres se d, and thathi s c on di t i on w as di re ct l y r el at ed t o h i s r eport ed chroni c bac k pr obl e m s . I d. a t262. I n D e c e m be r1995, E c ke rt , c om pl a i ni ng of l ow ba c k pa i n, burni ng, nu m bn es s of the groi n, ac hi ng kn ee s and nu m bn es s and t i ng l i ng of hi s t oes, saw D r. U rano w ski . Id. at24 5. C on t ai ned i n h erre cords w er e aph ys i ca l capaci t i es eval uat i on and a m edi ca l i m pai rm enteval uat i on fi nd i ng thatE ckerthad spi nal s te n o s is a g g r a v a te d b y b e n d in g , lif tin g , p r o lo n g e d s ta n d in g , a n d w a lk in g , a n d th a t, i n a n e i ght - hourda y , E c ke rtw a s abl e t o s i tf orone hour , s t a nd thi rty m i nut e s , not7

w al katal l , an d l i ftfi v e p o u n d s co n t i n u o u sl y, t en p o u n d s o ccasi o n al l y, an d tw en ty pounds oc c a s i ona l l y . E c ke rtw a s f ound t o be abl e t o pe r f

orm s i m pl e gr a s pi ng, r e a c h in g , p u s h in g , p u llin g , a n d f in e m a n ip u la tin g , b u t h e s h o u ld n e v e rb e n d , s q u a t, kne e l , c r a w l , orw ork i n a r e a s w he r e the r e w e r e unpr ot e c t e d he i ght s , m ovi ng m a c h i n e ry , n o i s e a n d v i b r a t i o n , a n d e x tr e m e t e m p e r a tu r e s . I d . a t2 3 6 - 3 8 . He foun d thatE ckertw as abl e t o p er form “ se dent ary w ork, ” def i ned as w ork that req u i res l i ft i n g a m ax i m u m o f t en p o u n d s, o ccasi o n al l y carryi n g fi l es, l ed g ers, s m a l l t ool s , a nd s i m i l a robj e c t s , a nd w a l ki ng a nd s t a ndi ng oc c a s i ona l l y . I d. a t238. I n A p r il 1 9 9 6 , D r . J a m e s F e s le r , ap s y c h o lo g is t, d ia g n o s e d E c k e rt w ith d y s th y m i a( typ e o f

d e p r e s s i o n ) c o m p o u n d e d b y c h r o n i c p a i n . I d . a t2 7 9 - 8 0 . He de s c r i be d the dy s thy m i aa s “ of am i l d na tur e ” a nd f

ound tha t , c om bi ne d w i th the pai n and depres si on , i thad res ul t ed i n soci al w i thd raw al and w ou l d g i ve E ckert s om e di f f i c ul ty m a i nt a i ni ng c onc e ntr a t i on ove ra n e xt e nde d pe r i od of t i m e or p e r s is tin g in ta s k s . I d . a t 2 8 2 - 8 3 . A voc a t i ona l e xpe rt( “ V E ” ) t e s t i f i e d dur i ng the he a r i ng tha t , ba s e d on E c k e rt’s p r e v io u s jo b s , h e m ig h t h a v e g a rn e r e d c e rta in s k ills th a t a r e tr a n s f e r ab le to le s s d e m a n d in g typ e s o f w o rk , s u c h a s m a in ta in in g ad r iv e rlo g in a c c o r d a n c e w ith r e g u la tio n s , m a c h in e a n d h a n d - to o l u s a g e , a n d lo w e rle v e l b o o k k e e p in g . I d . a t 9 3 . T h e A L J g a v e th e V E as e r ie s o f th r e e h yp o th e tic a ls a n d th e n a s k e d th e V E to s ta te8

i f s uch an i nd i vi du alcoul d p er form E ckert ’ s pas tre l evantw ork, and, i f not , w hat type of w ork he c oul d pe r f

orm . I n the f

i r s thypothe t i c a l , the w orke rw a s unde ra ge fi fty, had edu ca t i on and p as tre l evantw ork exp er i ence l i ke E ckert ’ s, and, du ri ng an ei g h t -h o u r d ay, h e co u l d si tfo r si x h o u rs o ff an d o n , st an d o r w al kfo r tw o h o u rs, l i ftt en po un ds occa si on al l y and fi ve po un ds fr equent l y, and cou l d d o o cc as i on al be ndi ng f

orup t o one - thi r d of

the w orkda y . T he V E s t a t e d tha ts uc h ape r s on coul d n otperf

orm any of hi s pre vi ou s r el evantw ork, bu tcoul d p er form se dent ary po si t i on s. Id. at94 . T he j ob s a vai l abl e t o thi s type of per son w ou l d b e a survei l l ance sy st em m on i t or, a c ar di ng m ac hi ne op er at or, an i nk pri nt er , a s tuffe r, a n d ale a f

tie r . I d . a t 9 4 - 9 6 . I n th e s e c o n d h yp o th e tic a l, th e in f o rm a tio n w a s th e s a m e a s in th e f ir s t, e x c e p t th e w o rk e rc o u ld lif t tw e n ty p o u n d s o c c a s io n a lly a n d te n p o u n d s f r e q u e n tly . T hi s pe r s on c oul d notr e turn t o hi s pa s tr e l e va ntw ork, butc oul d, i n a ddi t i on t o the j o b s l i st ed i n th e fi rsth yp o th et i cal , p erfo rm th e w o rko f a ch eck er, a p h o t o co p ym a c hi ne ope r a t or , a nd ac a rve ri n the f ood- s e rvi c e i ndus try . I d. a t96- 97. F orthe th ir d h yp o th e tic a l, th e in f o rm a tio n w a s th e s a m e a s th e f ir s t, b u t th e w o rk e rc o u ld s it f o ro n ly f o u rh o u r s a n d s ta n d a n d w a lkf o rf o u rh o u r s d u r in g a n e ig h t- h o u rd a y . T hi s per son cou l d n otdo thei r pas tre l evantw ork b utcoul d w ork as asurvei l l ance s y s te m m o n ito r , le a f

tie r , s tu f f e r , a n d in kp r in te r . I d . a t 9 8 .9

E c ke rt ’ s c ouns e l pr opos e d ahypothe t i c a l tha ti n a ddi t i on t o the f i r s ta nd thi r d hypothe t i c a l s pr opos e d by the A L J , the w orke rw a s i nc apabl e of be ndi ng, st oo pi ng , squatt i ng , cr aw l i ng , and k neel i ng . T he V E st at ed thatthi s a dd i t i on al i nform at i on w ou l d n otchange hi s pre vi ou s answ er s. E ckert ’ s c ou nsel then p ro p o sed a h yp o th et i cal th ati n ad d i t i o n t o th e i n fo rm at i o n i n th e A L J’ s fi rst hypo thet i ca l , the w orker coul d n everengage i n w ork i nv ol vi ng m ov i ng m ac hi nery ornoi s e s a nd vi br a t i on. T he V E s t a t e d tha tthe onl y j obs a va i l abl e t o thi s pe r s on w o u ld b e in kp r in te ra n d s u rv e illa n c e s y s te m m o n ito r . I d . a t 1 0 0 . T h e A L J d e te rm in e d th a t E c k e rt w a s n o t e n title d to S o c ia l S e c u r ity d is ab ility in s u r a n c e b e n e f

its o rs u p p le m e n ta l s e c u r ity in c o m e . I d . a t 4 1 . T h e A p p e a ls C ouns e l de ni e d r e vi e w . U pon j udi c i a l r e vi e w , the di s tr i c tc ourtva c a t e d a nd r e m a n d e d th e c a s e o n th e C o m m is s io n e r ’s r e q u e s t in o r d e rto u p d a te th e r e c o r d . A su p p l em en t al h eari n g w as h el d o n 1 2 F eb ru ary 2 0 0 2 . E ck ert , th en fi ftyone y e a r s ol d, t e s t i f

i e d s ubs t a nt i a l l y a s he ha d a tthe f i r s the a r i ng, a nd, i n a ddi t i on, t es t i fi ed thatdu ri ng the t i m e a ft erhi s tw o 1 99 0 acc i dent s, he w as havi ng m ent al p r o b le m s a n d w a s d e p r e s s e d . I d . a t 4 1 4 . F r o m th e tim e h e s to p p e d w o rk in g in 1 9 9 0 , u n til M a r c h 1 9 9 4 , th e f a rth e s t th a t h e c o u ld w a lkw a s 5 0 0 f e e t, h e c o u ld s t a nd f orf i f t e e n m i nut e s , s i tf

ortw e nty m i nut e s w i thoutc ha ngi ng pos i t i ons , a nd l i f tonl y t e n pounds . I d. a t426- 27. A tthe t i m e of the s uppl e m e nt a l he a r i ng, he10

coul d w al k 2 50 -300 fe et , and h e use d a ca ne. Id. at42 7. W hen h e drove t o T am pa, he ha d t o s t op e ve ry thi rty m i nut e s of the 360- m i l e tr i p. I d. a t429- 30. T h e m e d ic a l e v id e n c e a d m itte d a t th e s u p p le m e n ta l h e a r in g s h o w e d th a t, fr om 20 O ct ob er19 98 t o 2 2 F ebruary20 00 , E ckertw as re gu l ar l y tre at ed by D r. P h ilip S p r in g e ra t ap s y c h ia try a n d p a in - m a n a g e m e n t c e n te r . I d . a t 4 9 6 - 5 5 5 . E c ke rts a w D r . S pr i nge ron a ve r a ge onc e ortw i c e am onth dur i ng thi s pe r i od. T he m a jo r ity o f D r . S p r in g e r ’s e v a lu a tio n s c o n ta in e d th e a s s e s s m e n t th a t E c k e rt’s p a in w a s s till as ig n if

ic a n t p r o b le m , b u t th a t h e h a d r e a c h e d p a rtia l c o n tr o l w ith th e a id o f m e d ic a tio n , a n d th a t h e w a s n o t in n e e d o f m o r e in te n s e p s y c h ia tr ic in te rv e n tio n . T he on l y a ss es sm ent s t o d evi at e w er e i n N ov em ber 199 8 and A pri l 19 99 , w hen D r. S pr i nge rnot e d tha tE c ke rtw a s i n ne e d of ps y c hi a tr i c tr e a tm e nttha tc oul d be p e r f o rm e d o n a n o u tp a tie n t b a s is . I d . a t 5 4 6 , 5 4 8 , 5 5 0 . O n 1 7 O c to b e r2 0 0 0 , C a n d a c e V a le n s te in , ac lin ic a l p s y c h o lo g is t, adm i ni st er ed the P er sonal i ty A ss es sm entInvent ory t o E ckert . T he re sul t s s ho w ed tha tE c ke rtha d s i gni f

i c a ntthi nki ng a nd c onc e ntr a t i on pr obl e m s a c c om pa ni e d by “p r o m in e n t d is tr e s s a n d d y s p h o r ia ” ( a n x ie ty ) , a n d th a t h e w a s a ls o “c lin ic a lly depres se d, di sc ou ra ged, and w i thd raw n. ” I d. at55 7. H erre cords r evea l that E c k e rt r e p o rte ds m o k in g a n a v e r a g e o f tw o p a c k s o f

c ig a r e tte s ad a y . A V E t es t i fi ed and the A L J propo se d the hypo thet i ca l thatan i nd i vi du al w as11

f o rty - th r e e y e a r s o ld , w ith e d u c a tio n a n d p a s t r e le v a n t w o rke x p e r ie n c e s im ila rto E c k e rt’s , c o u ld s it f

o rs ix h o u r s a n d s ta n d a n d w a lkf o rtw o h o u r s d u r in g a n e ig h th o u rd a y , c o u ld lif

t tw e n ty p o u n d s o n o c c a s io n a n d te n p o u n d s m o r e f r e q u e n tly a nd c oul d do oc c a s i ona l be ndi ng, s t oopi ng, a nd s qua tt i ng, butno c r a w l i ng or cl i m bi ng , and sho ul d n otw ork i n d angerous, un prot ec t ed hei gh t s. T he V E st at ed tha tthi s pe r s on c oul d notr e turn t o hi s pa s tr e l e va ntw ork butc oul d w ork a s e de nt a ry j ob s uc h a s aga rm e nti ns pe c t or , ac a r di ng m a c hi ne ope r a t or , s tr i ngi ng m a c h in e te n d e r , s u rv e illa n c e s y s te m s m o n ito r , a n d d is p a tc h e r . I d . a t 4 6 7 - 4 6 8 . I n the s e c ond hypothe t i c a l , the i nf orm a t i on r e m a i ne d the s a m e , e xc e ptthe w o rk e rc o u ld s ta n d , w a lk , a n d s it f o ro n ly f o u rh o u r s ad a y , m u s t b e a llo w e d to a lte rn a te th e irp o s itio n e v e ry f if te e n to th irty m in u te s , a n d c o u ld h a v e o n ly oc c a s i ona l c ont a c tw i th m e m be r s of the ge ne r a l publ i c , c ow orke r s , a nd supervi sors . T he V E st at ed thatthi s per son cou l d p er form al l of the j ob s he had l i st ed un der the fi rs thypo thet i ca l , exce ptfor di spat cher . Id. at47 0. F or the thi rd hypothe t i c a l , a l l of

the i nf orm a t i on i n the s e c ond s t a y e d the s a m e , e xc e ptthe pers on coul d st and and w al k si x h ou rs and si tfor tw o h ou rs a day . T he V E st at ed tha thi s r e s pons e t o the s e c ond hypothe t i c a l w oul d s t i l l appl y , a nd he w oul d a dd box- s e a l e ri ns pe c t ora nd pape r - c om b- m a c hi ne t e nde rt o the l i s tof j obs tha tthe pe r s on c oul d pe r f

orm . I d. a t471.12

E c ke rt ’ s a tt orne y pr opos e d the hypothe t i c a l tha ti n a l l of the thr e e pr e vi ous s itu a tio n s d is c u s s e d , th e p e r s o n a ls o h a dn o r e a l ab ility to p e r f o rm a c tiv itie s w ith in as c h e d u le , m a in ta in r e g u la ra tte n d a n c e , o rb e p u n c tu a l. T h e V E s ta te d th a t th is p e r s o n w o u ld n o t b e ab le to p e r f o rm a n y o f

th e jo b s th a t h e h a d p r e v io u s ly lis te d . I d. 472- 74. A ft erre vi ew i ng the m edi ca l evi dence, the A L J f ou nd thatE ckerthad sever e im p a irm e n ts o f

lo w b a c kp a in , d e g e n e r a tiv e d is c d is e a s e , a n d m ild d y s th y m ic di s or de r , buttha tthe i m pa i rm e nt s di d notm e e tthe c r i t e r i aof a ny of the i m p ai rm en t s l i st ed i n th e l i st i n g s o f i m p ai rm en t s. Id . at3 2 9 . T h e A L J g av e l ess w e i ghtt o the f

i ndi ngs of

the c hi r opr a c t or , D r . U r a now s ki , a nd m or e w e i ghtt o the f i ndi ngs of

the ne ur os ur ge on, D r . B a l i s , a nd the orthope di s t , D r . C om pa ni oni , w ho foun d thatE ckertcoul d g o b ac k t o g ai nful em pl oym ent . Id. at32 0. M r. W hi t ford’ s opi ni on w as gi ven n o cre di tbecause E ckertsaw hi m un der acourt o r d e ru n r e la te d to h is d is ab ility . T he A L J a l so di sc re di t ed D r. F es l er ’ s opi ni on thatE ckerthad a l i st i ng -l evel d is o r d e rb e c au s e E c k e rt te s tif ie d a t th e h e a r in g th a t h e d id n o t b e lie v e h e n e e d e d to se e apsyc hi atri stor other m ent al heal th p rofe ss i on al , ye the t ol d D r. F es l erhe had been chroni ca l l y depre ss ed af t erhi s bac k i nj ury. T he A L J di sc re di t ed D r. S pr i nge r ’ s opi ni ons be c aus e hi s pr ogr e s s not e s w e r e i nt e rna l l y i nc ons i s t e nt13

reg ard i n g E ck ert ’ s m en t al h eal th , an d b ecau se D r. S p ri n g er w as n o ta p sych i atri st o rq u a l i f i e d t o g i v e a n o p i n i o n o n Ec k e rt ’ s me n t a l s t a tu s . I d . a t3 2 1 - 2 2 . Th e ALJ di sc re di t ed D r. V al enst ei n’ s r eportw i th res pectt o E ckert ’ s abi l i ty t o p er form c e rt a i n w ork a c t i vi t i e s be c aus e he rr e portw a s i nc ons i s t e ntw i th the t ot a l i ty of the m e di c a l e vi de nc e a nd be c aus e c e rt a i n s t a t e m e nt s i n he rr e portw e r e i nc ons i s t e nt w ith h e ro th e rf

in d in g s . I d . a t 3 2 5 . T he A L J c on cl ud ed thatE ckertw as un abl e t o p er form hi s pas tre l evantw ork buttha the r e t a i ne d the r e s i dua l f unc t i ona l c apa c i ty t o e nga ge i n s e de nt a ry a nd lig h t w o rka c tiv itie s . I d . a t 3 2 4 . T h e A L Jf o u n d th a t E c k e rt w a s a“p e r s o n c lo s e ly approachi ng advanced age” w i th a l i m i t ed educat i on and sem i -s ki l l ed w ork e xpe r i e nc e , a nd tha t , a l though “ he i s unabl e t o pe r f orm the f ul l r a nge of

l i ghta nd s e d e n ta ry w o rk , h e is c ap ab le o f m a k in g a n a d

ju s tm e n t to w o rkw h ic h e x is ts in si gn i fi cantnu m bers i n the nat i on al ec on om y, ” s uch as “ survei l l ance sy st em m oni t or , c a r di ng m a c hi ne ope r a t or , i nk pr i nt e r , s tuf f e r , a nd l e a f

t i e r . ” I d. a t329, 3 3 0 . T h e A L J f

o u n d th a t E c k e rt’s s ta te m e n ts r e g a r d in g th e im p a c t o f h is i m pa i rm e nt s on hi s abi l i ty t o w ork w e r e note nt i r e l y c r e di bl e a nd w e r e i nc ons i s t e nt w i th the obj ec t i ve m edi ca l evi dence. Id. at32 7, 32 9. T he A L J gave w ei gh tt o D r. B a lis a n d D r . C o m p a n io n i’s o p in io n s th a t E c k e rt c o u ld r e tu rn to w o rkd e s p ite h is14

p h y s i c a l l i mi t a t i o n s . Th e A LJ c o n c l u d e d th a tEc k e rtw a s n o td i s ab l e d a ta n y t i me pr i ort o the e xpi r a t i on of hi s i ns ur e d s t a tus orthe A L J ’ s de c i s i on. I d. a t330. T he A p p e a ls C o u n s e l d e n ie d r e v ie w . T h e d is tr ic t c o u rt a f f irm e d th e A L J ’s d e c is io n . I I . DI S CUS S I ON E c ke rta r gue s on appe a l tha tthe A L J ’ s f i ndi ngs on hi s c r e di bi l i ty r e ga r di ng the e xt e ntof

hi s pa i n w e r e nots upport e d bys ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e . S pe c i f i c a l l y , he a r gue s tha tthe obj e c t i ve m e di c a l e vi de nc e c orr obor a t e s hi s t e s t i m ony c onc e rni ng hi s s ever e and debi l i t at i ng pai n d uri ng the re l evantperi od and thatthe A L J f ai l ed t o i ncorpo ra t e i n h i s dec i si on the fi nd i ng s of the neurosurgeon , D r. B al i s, that E c ke rtha d m i l d t o m ode r a t e s t e nos i s a nd abul ge a tL 4- 5, f a i l e d t o i nc orpor a t e the f i ndi ngs of

the m e nt a l he a th c ouns e l or , M r . W hi t f or d, tha the i s notthe type of pers on predi sposed t o l i e or c om pl ai n u nl es s there i s s om ethi ng w rong , and fai l ed t o i nc orpor a t e the f

i ndi ngs of

c l i ni c a l ps y c hol ogi s tD r . V a l e ns t e i n tha the di d not a tt e m ptt o pr e s e nta n unr e a l i s t i c i m pr e s s i on of hi m s e l f . F i na l l y , he a r gue s tha tthe A L J m i sc hara ct er i ze d h i s t es t i m on y by l ea vi ng ou tthe fa ctthat , al tho ug h h e has be e n abl e t o dr i ve 180 m i l e s t o T a m pa , he ha s t o s t op e ve ry thi rty m i nut e s , a nd the tr ip ta k e s h im f

iv e to s ix h o u r s . W e r e vi e w the C om m i s s i one r ’ s de c i s i on t o de t e rm i ne i f i ti s s upport e d by s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e a nd w he the rthe c orr e c tl e ga l s t a nda r ds w e r e appl i e d. E l l i s on15

v. B arnh art , 35 5 F . 3d 12 72 , 12 75 (11th C i r. 20 03 ) ( per c uri am ). “ ‘ S ub st ant i al e v id e n c e is m o r e th a n as c in tillaa n d is s u c h r e le v a n t e v id e n c e a s ar e a s o n ab le pers on w ou l d acc eptas adequat e t o sup po rta c on cl usi on . ’ ” I d. (c i t at i on om i tt ed). W hen eval uat i ng a c l ai m ant ’ s s ubj ec t i ve com pl ai nt s of pai n, “ [t ] he pai n st andard r e qui r e s ( 1) e vi de nc e of a n unde r l y i ng m e di c a l c ondi t i on a nd e i the r( 2) obj e c t i ve m edi ca l evi dence thatconfi rm s the se veri ty of the al l eged pai n ari si ng fr om that c ondi t i on or( 3) tha tthe obj e c t i ve l y de t e rm i ne d m e di c a l c ondi t i on i s of s uc h a s e v e r ity th a t it c a n b e r e a s o n ab ly e x p e c te d to g iv e r is e to th e a lle g e d p a in .” F o o te v . C h a te r , 6 7 F .3 d 1 5 5 3 , 1 5 6 0 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 5 ) ( p e rc u r ia m ) . C r e d ib ility det erm i nat i on s are for the A L J. H ud son v . H ec kl er , 75 5 F . 2d 78 1, 78 4 (11 th C i r. 1985) ( pe rc ur i a m ) . I f

a n A L J r e

j e c t s ac l a i m a nt ’ s t e s t i m ony r e ga r di ng pa i n, he m u s t a rtic u la te s p e c if

ic r e a s o n s . A lle n v . S u lliv a n , 8 8 0 F .2 d 1 2 0 0 , 1 2 0 2 - 0 3 ( 1 1 th C i r. 19 89 ) ( per c uri am ). I n th i s c a s e , th e r e wa s e v i d e n c e o f a n u n d e r l y i n g m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n . As f ound by the A L J , the m e di c a l e vi de nc e s how e d tha tE c ke rtha d l ow ba c k pa i n a nd d e g e n e r a tiv e d is c d is e a s e a t L 3 - L 5 . S e v e r a l o f th e tr e a tin g p h y s ic ia n s c o n c lu d e d in thei r r eport s thatE ckerthad st enosi s or degenera t i on i n h i s s pi ne and thatE ckert c o m p la in e d o f

b a c kp a in . T h e A L J f

o u n d , h o w e v e r , th a t th e o b je c tiv e e v id e n c e d id nots upportE c ke rt ’ s a l l e ga t i ons a s t o the e xt e ntthe pa i n pr e ve nt e d hi m f r om16

w o rk in g . E c k e rt te s tif

ie d th a t d u r in g th e r e le v a n t tim e p e r io d h e c o u ld o n ly w a lk 500 f e e t , s t a nd f

orf i f t e e n m i nut e s a nd s i tf

ortw e nty m i nut e s w i thoutc ha ngi ng pos i t i ons a nd l i f

tonl y t e n pounds . H e a l s o t e s t i f i e d tha tdur i ng atypi c a l da y he w a s notabl e t o do m uc h e xc e ptl i e on ac ouc h. T hi s t e s t i m ony w a s i nc ons i s t e nt w ith th e m e d ic a l e v id e n c e s h o w in g th a t h is s te n o s is w a s m ild o rm o d e r a te , h is p a in coul d b e part i al l y c on trol l ed w i th m edi ca t i on , and h e c ou l d p er form such ac t i vi t i es a s c a rry i ng obj e c t s tha tw e i ghe d l e s s tha n t e n pounds , s i m pl e gr a s pi ng, pus hi ng, or p u llin g , a n d c o u ld d o o c c a s io n a l w a lk in g a n d s ta n d in g w h ile a t w o rk . A ft ergi vi ng spec i fi c r ea sons for r ej ec t i ng the contra di ct ory m edi ca l ev i d en ce, th e A L J accep t ed th e o p i n i o n s o f th e treat i n g n eu ro su rg eo n , D r. B al i s, a n d th e tr e a tin g o rth o p e d is t, D r . C ap a n io n i, w h o b o th f o u n d th a t E c k e rt h a d o n ly m ild o rm o d e r a te d e g e n e r a tio n o f h is s p in e a n d s h o u ld b e ab le to r e tu rn to w o rk . S e e O l dha m v. S c hw e i ke r , 660 F . 2d 1078, 1084 ( F orm e r5th C i r . N ov. 1981) ( hol di ng tha t“ the A L J i s f r e e t o r e j e c tthe opi ni on of

a ny phy s i c i a n w he n the evi dence s up po rt s acontraryconcl usi on ”) . T hu s, the cr edi bl e m edi ca l evi dence, as f ound by the A L J , di d notc onf i rm the s e ve r i ty of

the a l l e ge d pa i n a nd the obj ec t i vel y det erm i ned m edi ca l cond i t i on w as no tof such a s ever i ty thati tcan r e a s o n ab ly b e e x p e c te d to g iv e r is e to th e a lle g e d p a in . I n c ontr a s tt o E c ke rt ’ s a s s e rt i ons , the A L J ’ s de c i s i on di d notom i tor17

m i sc hara ct er i ze the evi dence re gardi ng E ckert ’ s c re di bi l i ty. In fi nd i ng thatE ckert ha d the abi l i ty f

ors us t a i ne d c onc e ntr a t i on, the A L J not e d tha the t e s t i f i e d tha the wa s ab l e t o d r i v e ac a r1 8 0 mi l e s t o Ta mp a . Al th o u g h , a s Ec k e rte x p l a i n s , th e ALJ d id n o t d is c u s s th e f

a c t th a t E c k e rt a ls o te s tif ie d th a t it ta k e s h im s ix h o u r s to c om pl e t e the tr i p a nd tha the m us ts t op a te ve ry r e s ts t op, thi s t e s t i m ony doe s not r e f ut e the A L J ’ s f

i ndi ngs tha tE c ke rtc a n s us t a i n c onc e ntr a t i on, r e ga r dl e s s of how l on g h e c an dri ve cont i nu ou sl y. Iti s a l so i rr el evantw hether the A L J c on si dere d M r. W hi t ford’ s and D r. V al enst ei n’ s opi ni on s on w hether E ckertm i sr epre se nt ed h is m e d ic a l c o n d itio n , b e c au s e th e A L J is th e ju d g e o f ac la im a n t’s c r e d ib ility . T hese profes si on al s’ op i ni on s on E ckert ’ s truthful ness do no tsupp orta f i nd i ng that the obj e c t i ve m e di c a l e vi de nc e c onf i rm s ac ondi t i on tha tc aus e s de bi l i t a t i ng pa i n, and regardl es s, the A L J di d con si der a nd di sc re di tthe op i ni on s of both M r. W hi t f or d a nd D r . V a l e ns t e i n. T h e A L J fo u n d th atE ck ertsu ffers fro m l o w b ackp ai n an d d eg en erat i v e d i sc di s e a s e . T he A L J a l s o c orr e c t l y f ound, s upport e d by s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e , tha tthe obj e c t i ve m e di c a l e vi de nc e doe s notc onf i rm the s e ve r i ty of

the a l l e ge d pa i n a r i s i ng f r om E c ke rt ’ s c ondi t i on nor , i s the obj e c t i ve l y de t e rm i ne d m e di c a l c ondi t i on of such a s ever i ty thati tcan b e r ea sonabl y e xp ec t ed t o g i ve ri se t o the al l eged di s abl i ng pa i n. A ddi t i ona l l y , the A L J di d notom i tr e l e va ntm e di c a l e vi de nc e or18

m isch ar ac terize th e m ed ical ev id en ce as alleg ed b y E ck er t o n ap p ea l. T h e A L J’s de c i s i on, r e

j e c t i ng E c ke rt ’ s c r e di bi l i ty w i th r e s pe c tt o hi s s ubj e c t i ve c om pl a i nt s of pa i n, a nd f

i ndi ng tha tE c ke rt ’ s m e di c a l i m pa i rm e nt s di d notpr e ve nthi m f r om p e r f o rm in g s o m e typ e s o f

u n s k ille d w o rk , is s u p p o rte d b y s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e . I I I . CONCL US I ON E c k e rt h a s ap p e a le d th e d is tr ic t c o u rt’s a f f irm in g d e n ia l o f

h is ap p lic a tio n s f

o rd is ab ility in s u r a n c e b e n e f its a n d s u p p le m e n ta l s e c u r ity in c o m e . A s w e h av e ex p l ai n ed h erei n , th e A L J’ s d eci si o n co n cern i n g d en i al o f th ese b en ef it s is s u p p o rted b y s u b stan ti al ev id en ce . A cc o rd in g ly, th e d istrict co u rt’s affi rm i n g d en i al o f b en efi t s t o E ck erti s AF F I RME D.