IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON 

EUGENE DIVISION 

WENDY L. MOWDY, ) 

) 

Plaintiff, ) 

) 

~ ) 

) 

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting Commissioner of) 

Social Security, ) 

) 

Defendant. ) 

JONES, J., 

6:15-cv-1871-JO 

OPINION AND ORDER 

Plaintiff Wendy Mowdy appeals the Commissioner's decision to deny her application for 

supplemental security income under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. The court has jurisdiction 

under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). I AFFIRM the Commissioner's decision. 

PRIOR PROCEEDINGS 

Mowdy alleged disability beginning in April 2003 due to degenerative disc disease of the 

lumbar region of the spine, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy, right medial 

epicondylitis, asthma, obesity, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, 

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and personality disorder. Admin. R. 13. The ALJ applied the 

sequential disability determination process set forth in the regulations and described in Bowen v. 

Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 140 (1987). The ALJ found thatMowdy's impairments adversely affected 

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her ability to perform basic work activities. Admin. R. 13-14. He found that, despite her 

impailments, Mowdy retained the residual functional capacity (RFC) to perform a range of light 

work involving limited reaching, crawling, and climbing, provided she had the option to change 

between sitting and standing. The ALJ found Mowdy' s mental impairments limited her to unskilled 

work involving only simple job-related decisions, only occasional interactions with others, and few 

workplace changes. In addition, the ALJ found Mowdy could not perfo1m fast paced, production 

type work. Admin. R. 16. 

The vocational expert (VE) testified that a person having Mowdy' s RFC and vocational 

factors would be able to perform light unskilled occupations such as photocopy machine operator, 

hand packager, and electronics worker, which represent over 200,000 jobs in the national economy. 

Admin. R. 23, 64. The ALJ concluded that Mowdy was not disabled within the meaning of the 

Social Security Act. Adm in. R. 23. 

STANDARD OF REVIEW 

The district court must affom the Commissioner's decision if it is based on proper legal 

standards and the findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole. 

Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1038 (9th Cir. 2008). Substantial evidence is relevant 

evidence that a reasonable person might accept as adequate to supp01t a conclusion. Richardson v. 

Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971). Substantial evidence may be less than a preponderance of the 

evidence. Robbins v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 466 F.3d 880, 882 (9th Cir. 2006). Under this standard, the 

court must consider the record as a whole, and uphold the Commissioner's factual findings that are 

supported by inferences reasonably drawn from the evidence even if another interpretation is also 

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rational. Robbins, 466 F.3d at 882; Batson v. Comm 'r a/Soc. Sec. Adm in., 359 F.3d 1190, 1193 (9th 

Cir. 2004); Andrews v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 1039 --40 (9th Cir. 1995). 

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR 

The claimant bears the burden of showing that the ALJ erred and that any error was harmful. 

lvfcLeod v. Astrue, 640 F.3d 881, 886-87 (9th Cir. 2011). Mowdy contends the ALJ failed to give 

sufficient weight to the opinion of Wayne Taubenfeld, Ph.D., and failed to credit the lay witness 

statements submitted by her friends. Mowdy argues that these errors led the ALJ to assess her RFC 

in a manner that did not accurately reflect all of her functional limitations and to elicit testimony 

from the vocational expert based on faulty hypothetical assumptions. 

DISCUSSION 

I. Dr. Taubenfeld's Opinion 

In November 2011, Dr. Taubenfeld evaluated Mowdy with a clinical interview, standardized 

tests ofintelligence, achievement, and memory, and inventories of subjective depression and anxiety 

symptoms. Admin. R. 304. Mowdy's test scores were in the low average range for intellectual 

functioning and academic achievement. She scored in the average range for memo1y functioning. 

On tests of attention, Mowdy scored in the average range with a "good ability at tasks that require 

a great deal of attention." Admin. R. 311. On a multiaxial inventmy of emotional functioning, 

Mowdy answered in a manner that suggested a personality disorder with negativistic traits, major 

depression, and a generalized anxiety disorder. Admin. R. 312. On the Beck inventories, Mowdy's 

responses suggested mild depression and moderate anxiety. Admin. R. 314. 

Dr. Taubenfeld opined that Mowdy's emotional and social functioning presented greater 

barriers to employment than her level of intellectual functioning. Admin. R. 315. Dr. Taubenfeld 

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said that people with the personality type suggested by Mowdy's responses generally are not suited 

for fast paced work with time pressure and have limited social ability to interact appropriately with 

coworkers, supervisors and members of the public. Dr. Taubenfeld said people with negativistic 

traits are not good team players and would benefit from flexible scheduling to accommodate a 

tendency to be late. Admin. R. 317, 

The ALJ gave Dr. Taubenfeld's opinion significant weight and incorporated much of it into 

his RFC assessment by precluding fast paced work, limiting work that requires frequent interactions 

with others, and including only unskilled work involving simple decision making and few workplace 

changes. Admin. R. 16, 21. Thus, the ALJ' s RFC assessment reasonably accounted for most of the 

limitations in Dr. Taubenfeld's opinion. The ALJ acknowledged that Mowdy might not be able to 

work well on a team, but discounted the opinion to the extent it suggested she could not, at least on 

an occasional basis, engage in appropriate interactions at work. The ALJ also discounted Dr. 

Taubenfeld's opinion to the extent it suggested that Mowdy would not be able to get to work on time 

within no1mal tolerances. 

An ALJ may discount an examining physician's opinion ifthe ALJ offers a clear, specific 

and legitimate explanation based on findings supported by substantial evidence in the record as a 

whole. Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1111 (9th Cir. 2012); Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 

1216 (9th Cir. 2005); Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 956-57 (9th Cir. 2002). 

Here the ALJ gave lesser weight to some of Dr. Taubenfeld's conclusions which were too 

general and nonspecific to be useful in formulating voc·ational limitations. Admin. R. 21. For 

example, Dr. Taubenfeld's opinion did not specify how the suggested tendency to be late would 

manifest itself in terms of frequency and degree oflateness. In addition, Dr. Taubenfeld's opinion 

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Case 6:15-cv-01871-JO Document 13 Filed 01/04/17 Page 4 of 9
does not indicate the likelihood that a person with Mowdy' s scoring pattem would demonstrate a 

tendency to be late. With such a vaguely defined limitation, Dr. Taubenfeld' s opinion does not show 

how Mowdy' s test scores suggesting negativistic personality traits translated into a specific 

functional limitation that would preclude her from perf01ming a specific work-related activity. The 

ALJ reasonably concluded that the nonspecific conclusion failed to establish a functional limitation 

that could be included in Mowdy's RFC. Other examples of vagueness in Dr. Taubenfeld's opinion 

suggest uncertainty on his pmi, including his opinion that Mowdy "may have difficulties getting 

along" with people and "might react to supervision that is rigid and hostile." Admin. R. 317. The 

ALJ properly relied on other evidence regarding Mowdy's ability to comply with a schedule and 

interact with others and gave diminished weight to Dr. Taubenfeld's uncertain, nonspecific 

limitations. 

The ALJ found Dr. Taubenfeld's opinion ofMowdy's social limitations inconsistent with 

other evidence in the record. For example, an investigation by the Cooperative Disability 

Investigations Unit found ample evidence that Mowdy was very social in her apmiment complex and 

her living arrangements, contrmy to Dr. Taubenfeld's conclusion that she would have difficulty · 

interacting appropriately with others. Admin. R. 346-349. The ALJ properly relied on this, 

Mowdy' s reported daily activities, and her work history to conclude that she was not as limited in 

her social functioning as Dr. Taubenfeld suggested. Admin. R. 22. 

In addition, the ALJ gave great weight to the opinions of Robe1i Herny, Ph.D. and Paul 

Rethinger, Ph.D., who are agency disability expe1is. Adm in. R. 21. They reviewed the entire record, 

including Dr. Taubenfeld's report, and offered expe1i opinions regarding Mowdy's mental 

impairments and functional limitations. In July 2012, Dr. Henry found Mowdy' s ability to conform 

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to a schedule within normal tolerances not significantly limited. Admin. R. 78. He found the record 

supported an RFC limited to simple routine tasks, but found no support for social limitations. 

Admin. R. 74. In December 2012, Dr. Rethinger reviewed the entire record again and found 

evidence of mild difficulties in maintaining social functioning and moderate difficulties maintaining 

concentration, persistence or pace. AdII]in. R. 89. In tenns ofMowdy's functional capacity, Dr. 

Rethinger found neither her ability to confotm to a n01mal work schedule nor her ability to engage 

appropriately in social interactions significantly limited. Admin. R. 90-91. 

An ALJ may not rely solely on the opinion of a non-examining physician to reject an 

examining or treating physician's opinion. The opinions of non-examining sources may constitute 

substantial evidence, however, when consistent with the record as a whole. Tonapetyan, 242 F. 3d 

at 1149. An ALJ may give greater weight to the opinions of non-examining physician when the 

examining physician's opinion relies largely on the subjective complaints of the plaintiff. 

Tonapetyan, 242 F. 3d at 1149. Here, Dr. Taubenfeld appeared to rely on Mowdy's subjective 

reporting, while the opinions of Dr. Henry and Dr. Rethinger were more consistent with the record 

as a whole. I find no enor in the ALJ's evaluation of Dr. Taubenfeld's opinion. 

II. Lay Witness Statements 

Mowdy next contends the ALJ improperly evaluated two lay witness statements. In one 

undated statement, signed by Mowdy's brother-in-law David Archer, Mr. Archer said Mowdy 

sporadically had "violent outbreaks" without apparent reason. He said that during these episodes, 

which would happen "constantly out of the blue," Mowdy would throw objects and threaten people. 

Admin. R. 241. In the other lay witness statement, Mowdy' s boyfriend James Hanis said that 

Mowdy had difficulty comprehending and retaining reading material and had an extremely bad 

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temper with bouts of violent behavior. Admin. R. 242. The ALJ considered these statements and 

gave them some weight in his decision, but found that the record did not support the level of 

impahment they suggested. Admin. R. 21-22. 

An ALJ must consider the statements of a lay witness, but may discount them for reasons 

germane to the witness. Valentine v. Comm 'r of Soc. Sec. Adm in., 574 F.3d 685, 694 (9th Cir. 2009). 

The ALJ' s reasons must be supported by substantial evidence, but may appear anywhere in the 

decision without being tied directly to the evaluation of the lay witness statement. Lewis v. Apfel, 

236 F.3d 503, 512 (9th Cir. 2001). 

Here, the ALJ identified evidence that contradicted the lay witness statements. For example, 

Mr. Hanis's statement that Mowdy could not comprehend or retain reading material was 

contradicted by Dr. Taubenfeld's objective testing which showed her intellectual functioning in the 

low average range and her memoty a relative strength. Admin. R. 21. Other medical reports showed 

that Mowdy "was friendly and cooperative during the interview;" "her thought process was logical 

and goal-directed", and that she was alert and able to fully concentrate. Admin. R. 431. The CDIU 

rep01t included statements from Mowdy's neighbors who said she was friendly and social, with a 

tendency to use inappropriate language in casual social settings, but no mention of violent outbursts. 

Admin. R. 34 7. This evidence directly contradicts the lay witness statement that she experienced 

constant uncontrollable outbursts and rationally supports the ALJ' s conclusion that the lay witnesses 

overstated the level of Mowdy' s impairment. 

The lay witness statements adopted limitations Mowdy described in her own subjective 

complaints. Accordingly, the lay witness statements are susceptible to the same reasoning the ALJ 

provided in discounting Mowdy's credibility. See 1\Iolina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1117-18 (9th 

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Case 6:15-cv-01871-JO Document 13 Filed 01/04/17 Page 7 of 9
Cir. 2012) (ALJ's well-supported reasons for rejecting the claimant's testimony apply equally well 

to lay witness testimony describing the same limitations). The ALJ discounted Mowdy' s credibility 

for well supported reasons, including that she made numerous contradict01y statements about her 

symptoms, the medical evidence did not support the debilitating symptoms she claimed, her 

treatment record did not show significant treatment for mental health or behavioral issues, the reports 

of neighbors did not support her claimed symptoms, and she and her boyfriend filed 

contemporaneous disability applications based on the same medical conditions. Admin. R. 17-19. 

Notably, Mowdy does not challenge the adverse credibility determination and the ALJ's reasoning 

provides an adequate basis for discounting the lay witness statements. Valentine, 574 F.3d at 694; 

Lewis, 236 F.3d at 512. 

III. Remaining Contentions 

Mowdy contends the ALJ elicited testimony from the VE based on hypothetical assumptions 

that did not accurately reflect her functional limitations. The ALJ elicited the VE's testimony with 

hypothetical assumptions that accurately reflected his assessment ofMowdy's RFC. Admin. R. 23, 

62-64. The ALJ was not required to include the additional hypothetical limitations suggested by 

Mowdy's counsel which the ALJ found unsuppotted by the record. Osenbrock v. Apfel, 240 F.3d 

1157, 1163-65 (9th Cir. 2001). The VE testified that jobs exist in the national economy that a person 

with Mowdy's RFC could perfo1m. Admin. R. 64. Because I find no e11'or in the ALJ's RFC 

assessment, the hypothetical limitations posed to the VE were also free of error, and the VE' s 

testimony satisfied the Commissioner's burden to show there are jobs that Mowdy can perfotm. 

Andrews v. Shala/a, 53 F.3d at 1043. 

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CONCLUSION 

Based on the foregoing, Mowdy' s claims of enor cannot be sustained and the 

Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED. 

DATED this "If day of January, 2017. 

u = Rob;1E~ts~nior Judge 

Unite States District Court 

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