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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COCRT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON 

RONALD LEE LEWIN, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, 

Acting Commissioner of Social 

Security, 

Defendant. 

COFFIN, Magistrate Judge: 

Case No. 6:15-cv-00474-TC 

OPINION AND ORDER 

Plaintiff Ronald Lewin seeks judicial review of the Commissioner's decision denying his 

application for disability insurance benefits (DIB) and supplemental security income (SSI) under 

Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. This Court has jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. §§ 

405(g) and 1383(c)(3). All parties have consented to allow a Magistrate Judge to enter final 

orders and judgments in this case in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 73 and 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). 

Because the Commissioner's decision is based on proper legal standards and supported by 

substantial evidence, the Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED. 

1 - OPINION AND ORDER 

Case 6:15-cv-00474-TC Document 30 Filed 06/06/16 Page 1 of 12
BACKGROUND 

Plaintiff protectively filed an application for DIB and SSI on April 2, 2012, alleging 

disability beginning February 1, 2011. Tr. 36. Plaintiff was insured under Title II through 

December 31, 2013. Tr. 11. Following a denial of benefits, plaintiff requested a hearing before 

an administrative law judge (ALJ). On January 3, 2014, an ALJ determined plaintiff was not 

disabled. Tr. 11-24. Plaintiff appealed that decision to the Appeals Council and submitted as 

new evidence, a psychological evaluation by Judith Eckstein, Ph.D.. Tr. 5-6. After considering 

the new evidence and making it part of the record, the Appeals Council affirmed the ALJ' s 

decision on January 20, 2015. Tr. 1-7. This appeal followed. 

STANDARD OF REVIEW 

The reviewing court shall affirm the Commissioner's decision if the decision is based on 

proper legal standards and the legal findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record. 

42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Batson v. Comm 'r Soc. Sec. Admin., 359 F .3d 1190, 1193 (9th Cir. 2004). 

Substantial evidence is "more than a mere scintilla. It means such relevant evidence as a 

reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Richardson v. Perales, 402 

U.S. 389, 401 (1971) (citation and internal quotations omitted). In reviewing the 

Commissioner's alleged errors, this court must weigh "both the evidence that supports and 

detracts from the [Commissioner's] conclusions." Martinez v. Heckler, 807 F.2d 771, 772 (9th 

Cir. 1986). Variable interpretations of the evidence are insignificant if. the Commissioner's 

interpretation is rational. Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F .3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2005). 

When the evidence before the ALJ is subject to more than one rational interpretation, we 

must defer to the ALJ's conclusion. Batson, 359 F.3d at 1198 (citing Andrews v. Shala/a, 53 

F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 1995)). A reviewing court, however, "cannot affirm the 

2 - OPINION AND ORDER 

Case 6:15-cv-00474-TC Document 30 Filed 06/06/16 Page 2 of 12
Commissioner's decision on a ground that the Administration did not invoke in making its 

decision." Stout v. Comm'r Soc. Sec. Admin., 454 F.3d 1050, 1054 (9th Cir. 2006) (citation 

omitted). Finally, a court may not reverse an ALJ's decision on account of an error that is 

harmless. Id. at 1055-56. "[T]he burden of showing that an error is harmful normally falls upon 

the party attacking the agency's determination." Shinseki v. Sanders, 556 U.S. 396, 409 (2009). 

DISCUSSION 

Plaintiffs appeal focuses only on his mental impairments because, he argues, "those are 

the impairments that are most disabling and ... were not properly developed at the hearing 

level." Pl.'s Br. 4. Specifically, plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred by failing to develop the 

record by not seeking a psychological examination after one was recommended by consultative 

examiner, Anthony Glassman, M.D., in July 2012, and by relying on a residual functional 

capacity (RFC) that was not supported by substantial evidence. Pl.'s Br. 12-13. Plaintiff asserts 

that because the ALJ failed to develop the record, he did so by obtaining a psychological 

examination from Dr. Eckstein and submitting it to the Appeals Council as new evidence after 

the ALJ issued her unfavorable decision. PL 's Reply Br. 5. Plaintiff argues this court should 

remand the case for further proceedings and direct the ALJ to assess Dr. Eckstein' s opinion and 

reassess his credibility, as well as the RFC, in light of the new opinion evidence. Id. 

I. ALJ' s Development of the Record and Assessment of Plaintiff's Credibility 

Plaintiff argues that because Dr. Glassman recommended a psychological evaluation to 

"fully ascertain his employability" due to his "somewhat tangentiar' conversation and thought 

process, the ALJ' s failure to order an evaluation was a breach of her duty to develop the record. 

Id. at 6 (quoting Tr. 368). 

Ill 

3 - OPINION AND ORDER 

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1 

The ALJ found that plaintiff has only "moderate" difficulties with concentration, 

persistence, and pace and in so finding, noted that plaintiff "frequently presents with tangential 

thoughts and pressured speech; however, these symptoms improved when he took medication for 

them." Tr. 15. The ALJ also found plaintiffs subjective symptom testimony "not entirely 

credible," in part, because he "sometimes endorsed problems with concentration, but denied such 

problems at other times." Tr. 21. The ALJ specifically noted that in October 2012, plaintiff met 

with his mental health treatment provider Nathaniel Holt, PMHNP, and "denied any problems 

with . . . attention, concentration, [or] memory" and also "declined any psychotropic 

intervention." Tr. 18. The ALJ also noted that in October 2013, plaintiff admittedly stopped 

taking an antidepressant that he "tolerated well and found helpful" due to side effects that Nurse 

Holt "did not identify ... as accepted or normal issues with that medication" and then "declined 

to take another antidepressant, even though he felt they had been helpful in the past." Tr. 19. 

Finally, the ALJ discussed plaintiffs medical records from March and April 2013 and 

noted that plaintiff reported difficulties with depression and concentration, but stated that the 

symptoms he was experiencing had been present for only two weeks at that time. Id. The ALJ 

added that objectively, Nurse Holt found that plaintiffs "full affective range was inconsistent 

with his reported depression," his "previously reported areas of abnormality were now within 

normal limits, such as . . . speech rate/rhythm," and after performing a mental health status 

examination, opined that plaintiff "continued to fail to show significant areas of concern." Id. 

An ALJ in social security cases has a duty to fully and fairly develop the record to assure 

that the claimant's interests are considered. Tonapetyan v. Halter, 242 F.3d 1144, 1150 (9th Cir. 

2001). However, the claimant bears the burden of proving the existence or extent of an 

impairment, such that the ALJ's limited "duty to further develop the record is triggered only 

4 - OPINION AND ORDER 

Case 6:15-cv-00474-TC Document 30 Filed 06/06/16 Page 4 of 12
when there is ambiguous evidence or when the record is inadequate to allow for proper 

evaluation of the evidence." Mayes v. Massanari, 276 F.3d 453, 460 (9th Cir. 2001). See also 

Howard v. Barnhart, 341 F.3d 1006, 1012 (9th Cir. 2003) (in interpreting the evidence and 

developing the record, the ALJ does not need to discuss every piece of evidence). "No authority 

suggests that the regulations require the ALJ to continue developing the record until disability is 

established; the regulations require only that the ALJ assist the claimant in developing a 

complete record." Hampton v. Astrue, 2009 WL 2351703 at * 11 (D. Or. July 27, 2009) (citing 

Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S., 137, 146 (1987)). Impairments that can be controlled effectively 

with medication or treatment are not disabling for purposes of determining eligibility for 

benefits. Warre v. Comm 'r Soc. Sec. Admin., 439 F.3d 1001, 1006 (9th Cir. 2006). 

When a claimant has medically documented impairments that could reasonably be 

expected to produce some degree of the symptoms complained of, and the record contains no 

affirmative evidence of malingering, "the ALJ can reject the claimant's testimony about the 

severity of ... symptoms only by offering specific, clear and convincing reasons for doing so." 

Smolen v. Chafer, 80 F.3d 1273, 1281 (9th Cir. 1996) (internal citation omitted). The reasons 

proffered must be "sufficiently specific to permit the reviewing court to conclude that the ALJ 

did not arbitrarily discredit the claimant's testimony." Orteza v. Shala/a, 50 F.3d 748, 750 (9th 

Cir. 1995) (internal citation omitted). 

An "unexplained, or inadequately explained, failure to seek treatment may be the basis 

for an adverse credibility finding unless one of a number of good reasons for not doing so 

applies." Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 638 (9th Cir. 2007) (internal citation omitted). The ALJ 

may also employ ordinary techniques of credibility evaluation, such as the claimant's reputation 

for lying and prior inconsistent statements concerning the alleged symptoms. Smolen, 80 F .3d at 

5 - OPINION AND ORDER 

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1284. If the "ALJ's credibility finding is supported by substantial evidence in the record, [the 

court] may not engage in second-guessing." Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 959 (9th Cir. 

2002) (internal citation omitted). 

Here, the ALJ squarely addressed plaintiffs tangential thought process and speech and 

found that he has only moderate limitations because his symptoms are controlled effectively with 

medication. Warre, 439 F.3d at 1006. The ALJ noted, however, that plaintiff rejected the use of 

psychotropic medications twice despite acknowledging they had been useful at ameliorating his 

symptoms and that he also stopped taking prescribed medication for reasons his mental health 

treatment provider did not acknowledge as normal or accepted issues associated with that 

medication. Orn, 495 F.3d at 638. The ALJ also noted inconsistencies in plaintiffs symptom 

testimony relating to his depression and concentration issues and noted reports from Nurse Holt 

stating that plaintiffs speech rate/rhythm were within normal limits and that his reported 

depression did not match his affective range. Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1284. Finally, the ALJ noted 

that in April 2013 Nurse Holt performed a mental health examination and found that plaintiff 

continued to fail to show significant areas of concern. 

In sum, by discussing inconsistencies in plaintiffs symptom statements, the ALJ 

provided clear and convincing reasons, supported by substantial evidence, for rejecting 

plaintiffs subjective symptom statements. As a result, this court need not discuss all of the 

reasons provided by the ALJ for rejecting plaintiffs symptom statements because at least one 

legally sufficient reason exists. Carmickle v. Comm 'r Soc. Sec. Admin., 533 F .3d 1155, 1162-63 

(9th Cir. 2008). The ALJ's credibility finding is, therefore, affirmed. Moreover, this court finds 

that the record was not ambiguous or inadequate and that the ALJ reasonably concluded that 

plaintiffs tangential thought process caused only moderate difficulties with concentration, 

6 - OPINION AND ORDER 

Case 6:15-cv-00474-TC Document 30 Filed 06/06/16 Page 6 of 12
persistence, and pace because his symptoms were controllable with medication, which plaintiff 

refused to take on two separate occasions and eventually discontinued the use of for reasons his 

mental health treatment provider did not recognize as normal or acceptable. As such, this court 

finds that the ALJ did not error by not further developing the record. "fl.Jayes, 276 F.3d at 460. 

II. Adequacy of the RFC 

Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred by leaving his "inability to stay on task or focus due to his 

tangential thought process" out of the RFC, "despite the fact that the ALJ noted that three 

different providers found [him] to be tangential." Pl.'s Br. 12-13. 

The ALJ found that plaintiff had the RFC to perform "light work" with the additional 

mental limitations that he can "understand, remember, and carry out simple and detailed 

instructions, but not complex instructions, that are learnable in 30 days or less. He is able to 

engage in occasional contact with coworkers. He can tolerate no more than occasional, brief, 

casual interactions with the public." Tr. 16. In so finding, the ALJ gave "great weight" to the 

opinions of reviewing doctors Leslie Arnold, M.D., and Sharon Eder, M.D., who also concluded 

that plaintiff had only moderate difficulties in social functioning, concentration, persistence, or 

pace because, the ALJ noted, their opinions were "consistent with the substantial evidence of 

record." Tr. 18, 21-22. Moreover, the ALJ discussed much of the same evidence that Drs. 

Arnold and Eder discussed when reaching their conclusions, such as plaintiffs 30/30 score on a 

mini-mental status examination (MMSE) performed Dr. Glassman, who consequently concluded 

that objectively, plaintiff displayed no cognitive deficits. 'k. 17, 81. 

The RFC is the maximum a claimant can do despite his limitations. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 

404.1545, 416.945. In determining the RFC, the ALJ must consider limitations imposed by all 

of a claimant's impairments, even those that are not severe, and evaluate "all of the relevant 

7 - OPINION AND ORDER 

Case 6:15-cv-00474-TC Document 30 Filed 06/06/16 Page 7 of 12
medical and other evidence," including the claimant's testimony. SSR 96-8p, available at 1996 

WL 374184. The ALJ is responsible for resolving conflicts in the medical testimony and 

translating the claimant's impairments into concrete functional limitations in the RFC. StubbsDanielson v. Astrue, 539 F.3d 1169, 1174 (9th Cir. 2008). Only limitations supported by 

substantial evidence must be incorporated into the RFC and, by extension, the dispositive 

hypothetical question posed to the vocational expert (VE). Osenbrock v. Apfel, 240 F.3d 1157, 

1163-65 (9th Cir. 2001). 

Here, as discussed above, the ALJ reasonably concluded that plaintiffs tangential 

thought process caused only moderate difficulties with concentration, persistence, and pace and 

she also reasonably found plaintiffs symptom testimony not credible. Moreover, the ALJ's RFC 

findings are consistent with the findings of reviewing Doctors Arnold and Eder, whose opinions 

the ALJ gave great weight to. Accordingly, plaintiffs argument, which is contingent upon a 

finding of harmful error in regard to the aforementioned issues, is without merit. Bayliss, 427 

F.3d at 1217-18; Stubbs-Danielson, 539 F.3d at 1175-76. The ALJ's RFC is upheld. 

III. Post-decision Evidence 

At the request of plaintiffs attorney, Dr. Eckstein completed an examination of plaintiff 

on March 25, 2014, and noted that plaintiff "feels his concentration is fairly good" and 

objectively found that when "given a series of cognitive tasks to perform[,] his information fund 

was strong in response to factual types of questions." Tr. 521. Dr. Eckstein also found that 

plaintiff has "good abstract reasoning ability," he "appears to be functioning adequately from a 

cognitive standpoint although he may be expected to have brief lapses in concentration," "his 

speech was within normal parameters, [h ]is thought process was logical and coherent[,] and he 

was oriented in all spheres." Tr. 520-21. 

8 - OPINION AND ORDER 

Case 6:15-cv-00474-TC Document 30 Filed 06/06/16 Page 8 of 12
Dr. Eckstein also completed a check-the-box mental RFC (MRFC) report at the request 

of plaintiffs attorney on April 18, 2014. The MRFC report contained twenty questions relating 

to plaintiffs ability to perform certain work related tasks and asked whether any of plaintiffs 

specific impairments would preclude him from performing any aspect of a job for 0%, 5%, 10%, 

or 15% or more of a 7.5 hour work day. Tr. 515-27. Of the twenty categories of limitations Dr. 

Eckstein assessed, she checked seven boxes indicating that plaintiffs impairments would 

preclude performance of work tasks 0% of the time, seven boxes indicating impairments that 

would preclude performance 5% of the time, six boxes indicating impairments that would 

preclude performance 10% of the time, and no boxes indicating that plaintiffs impairments 

would preclude performance 15% or more of the time. Tr. 524-26. Dr. Eckstein concluded that 

the overall effect of plaintiffs impairments would be an inability to work 60% of a regular work 

week. Tr. 527. 

On May 28, 2014, plaintiffs attorney wrote Dr. Eckstein to request that she reconsider 

her findings on four of the twenty questions on the MRFC relating to plaintiffs ability to: (1) 

"maintain attention and concentration for extended periods"; (2) "perform activities within a 

schedule, maintain regular attendance, and be punctual within customary tolerances"; (3) 

"complete a normal workday and workweek without any interruptions from psychologically 

based symptoms and perform at a consistent pace without an unreasonable number and length of 

rest periods"; and (4) "accept instructions and respond appropriately to criticism from 

supervisors." Tr. 525-26. Plaintiffs attorney explained that by opining that plaintiff was 

"limited only 5% or 10% of the time in the articulated categories, the agency may consider that 

to be inconsistent with your finding that he would be unable to perform in a work setting 60% of 

the time." Tr. 530. Plaintiffs attorney noted that "the 'percentage categories' are identified and 

9 - OPINION AND ORDER 

Case 6:15-cv-00474-TC Document 30 Filed 06/06/16 Page 9 of 12
described on page 1 of the [MRFC] report you completed dated April 18, 2014," but he provided 

Dr. Eckstein with no further clarification of the limitation percentage categories and with no 

additional medical evidence. Tr. 530-31. Finally, plaintiffs attorney requested that Dr. Eckstein 

comment on "the malingering issue," in the new MRFC. Tr. 531. 

On May 29, 2014, Dr. Eckstein completed a new MRFC whereby she changed her 

opinion of plaintiffs impairments in the four categories identified by plaintiffs attorney, but left 

the other sixteen categories undisturbed. Tr. 532-35. Dr. Eckstein opined that three of the four 

identified categories now resulted in a maximum, 15% or greater impairment, and the fourth 

category now resulted in an increased limitation rating from 5% to 10%. Id. Dr. Eckstein further 

opined that plaintiffs overall inability to work increased from 60% to 65% and she noted that 

she did "not find plaintiff to be malingering and ask[ed] that that diagnosis be ruled out." Id. 

"When the Appeals Council considers new evidence in denying a claimant's request for 

review, the reviewing court considers both the ALJ's decision and the additional evidence 

submitted to the Council." Lingenfelter v. Astrue, 504 F .3d 1028, 1030 n. 2 (9th Cir. 2007). The 

court then considers whether the post-decision evidence undermines or further supports the 

ALJ's decision. Brewes v. Comm'r Soc. Sec. Admin., 682 F.3d 1157, 1163 (9th Cir. 2012). 

When a doctor "become[s] an advocate and assist[s] in presenting a meaningful petition for 

Social Security benefits," this provides a "specific, legitimate reasons for disregarding the 

[doctor's] conclusions." Matney v. Sullivan, 981F.2d1016, 1020 (9th Cir. 1992). A physician's 

opinion may also be rejected if it conflicts with the physician's other findings. Tommasetti v. 

Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 2008). 

Here, Dr. Eckstein claims that she modified her opinion of plaintiffs limitations because 

she received further clarification of the four limitation percentage categories. The record, 

10 - OPINION AND ORDER 

Case 6:15-cv-00474-TC Document 30 Filed 06/06/16 Page 10 of 12
however, does not support this assertion. The record reveals that plaintiff's attorney merely 

noted the location of the definitions of the limitation categories on the MRFC questionnaire, but 

provided no further clarification of the definitions and also provided no further medical evidence 

to support Dr. Eckstein's revised findings. Moreover, Dr. Eckstein changed only the four 

limitations that plaintiffs attorney requested and left the other sixteen findings undisturbed. 

Accordingly, because Dr. Eckstein's second MRFC was not supported by new evidence and was 

made with no further clarification of the limitation categories, and because she modified only the 

four limitations that plaintiffs attorney requested so that the agency would not consider her 

individual findings inconsistent with her overall conclusion, this court finds that Dr. Eckstein 

stepped out of her role as a medical provider and became an advocate for plaintiff in presenting a 

meaningful petition for Social Security benefits. 

Moreover, this court finds that Dr. Eckstein's evaluation notes, which revealed 

objectively normal findings, are inconsistent with the overall level of impairments she endorsed 

in the second MRFC. Specifically, Dr. Eckstein's evaluation notes reveal that plaintiff 

performed well on cognitive tests, functioned adequately from a cognitive standpoint but that he 

may have brief lapses in concentration, has a logical and coherent thought process, and was 

oriented in all spheres. Dr. Eckstein's second MRFC, however, states that plaintiff will be 

unable to work 65% of the time due to his mental impairments. 

As such, because Dr. Eckstein stepped out of her role as a medical provider and became 

an advocate for plaintiff, Matney, 981 F.2d at 1020, and because the findings in her MRFC were 

inconsistent with the findings in her evaluation, Tommasetti, 533 F.3d at 1041, this court rejects 

Dr. Eckstein's MRFC and finds that it does not undermine the ALJ's decision. Brewes, 682 F.3d 

at 1163. Accordingly, the Commissioner's decision is affirmed. 

11 - OPINION AND ORDER 

Case 6:15-cv-00474-TC Document 30 Filed 06/06/16 Page 11 of 12
CONCLUSION 

Because the Commissioner's decision is based on proper legal standards and supported 

by substantial evidence, the Commissioner's final decision is AFFIRMED and this case is 

DISMISSED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

1 

DATED this Je day of June 2016. 

12 - OPINION AND ORDER 

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