FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC U IT April 3, 2008 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 07- 13022 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D . C. D o c k e tN o . 0 6 - 0 4 6 5 9 - CV - I PJ S H E R R Y S M I T H , P la in tif f - A p p e lla n t, v ersu s S O C I A L S E C U R I T Y A D M I N I S T R A T I O N , C o m m is s io n e r , M ic h a e l J . A s tru e , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lle e .

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f o rth e N o r th e rn D i s tr i c to f A l ab a ma

_________________________ ( A p r i l3, 2008) B efo re B IR C H , C A RN E S an d B A R K E T T , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: S h er ry S m ith ap p ea ls th e d istrict co u rt’s o rd eraf firm in g th e C o m m issio n er ’s2

d e n i a l o f h e rap p l i c a t i o n f

o rd i s ab i l i ty i n s u r a n c e b e n e f i t s , p u r s u a n tt o 4 2 U . S. C. § 4 0 5 ( g ) . O n app ea l , S m i th fi rs tar gu es thatthe V ocat i on al E xp ert ’ s ( “ V E ”) t es t i m on y di d n otconst i tut e s ub st ant i al evi dence because the A dm i ni stra t i ve L aw J u d g e ’s ( “A L J ” ) h yp o th e tic a l q u e s tio n to th e V E a s s u m e d th a t S m ith c o u ld perf orm se dent ary w ork and di d n otac coun tfor a ny l evel of pai n o r herother l i m i t a t i ons . S m i th a l s o c ont e nds tha tthe A L J i m pr ope r l y di s r e ga r de d the opi ni on o f D r . J o s e O b le n a , ac o n s u ltin g p h y s ic ia n , w h o r e p o r te d th a t h e rc o n s ta n t p a in w o u ld d im in is h h e rc ap a c ity to w o rk , a n d th a t th e A L Jim p r o p e r ly s u b s titu te d h is ow n opi ni on i n pl a c e of D r . O bl e na ’ s opi ni on. S e c ond, S m i th m a i nt a i ns tha tthe A p p e a ls C o u n c il ( “A C ” ) f a ile d to c o n s id e rth e n e w e v id e n c e s h e s u b m itte d to it because, i f i thad con si dere d the new evi dence, i tw ou l d h ave grant ed re vi ew b e c au s e th e e v id e n c e w o u ld lik e ly c h a n g e th e A L J ’s d e c is io n . T h ir d , S m ith a r g u e s th a t th e d is tr ic t c o u r t e rr e d b y r e q u ir in g h e rto s h o w g o o d c au s e to s u b m it ne w e vi de nc e t o the A C . F our th, S m i th a r gue s tha t , be c aus e the ne w e vi de nc e s he subm i tt ed show ed she w as el i gi bl e f or benefi t s und erce rt ai n l i st i ng s, the di stri ct c o u r t e rr e d b y f

a ilin g to c o n s id e rth e n e w e v id e n c e , b y n o t r e m a n d in g th e c a s e to the A C , a nd by f

a i l i ng t o c ons i de rthe ne w e vi de nc e i n de t e rm i ni ng w he the rthe A L J ’ s d e c i s i o n w a s b a s e d o n s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e . A f t e rr e v i e w , w e A F F I R M.3 I . B AC KG RO UN D S m i th ap p l i ed fo r a p eri o d o f d i sab i l i ty an d d i sab i l i ty i n su ran ce b en efi t s, a l l e gi ng adi s abi l i ty ons e tda t e of 17 J ul y 2001. H e rappl i c a t i on w a s de ni e d, a nd sh e req u est ed fu rth er ad m i n i strat i v e rev i ew . A h eari n g w as h el db efo re an A L J, w h o d e n ie d b e n e f

its to S m ith . S m ith f

ile d ar e q u e s t f

o rr e v ie w w ith th e A p p e a ls C o u n cil (“A C ”) an d su b m itted ad d it io n al ev id en ce . T h e A C d en ied S m ith ’s re qu es tfor r evi ew . S m i th then fi l ed sui ti n the di stri ctcourt , and the courtaf fi rm ed the A L J ’ s de c i s i on. S m i th a l s o f i l e d am ot i on t o r e m a nd on 5 S e pt e m be r2007, w hi ch w e hel d i n abeya nce t o al l ow her t o fi l e aR ul e 60(b) m ot i on , w hi ch w as de ni e d on 14 N ove m be r2007. W e de ni e d S m i th’ s m ot i on t o r e m a nd on 3 D e c e m b e r2 0 0 7 . A tthe heari ng before the A L J, S m i th t es t i fi ed thatshe w as 43 ye ar s ol d, had com pl et ed hi gh sc ho ol , and h ad re ce i ved a cl erk-typi stce rt i fi ca t e f rom a t ec hn i ca l col l ege. S he cl ai m ed t o b e unabl e t o w ork b ec ause she c ou l d n otsi t , st and, or l i ft thi ng s, and she needed t o l ayi n b ed du ri ng the day. T hese l i m i t at i on s r es ul t ed fr om a bac k i nj ury a nd back surgeryre l at ed t o thati nj ury. S he com pl ai ned thather ba c k pa i n a nd l e g pr obl e m s di d noti m pr ove a f t e rhe rs ur ge ry , tha the rr a nge of m o t i o n w as l i m i t ed , an d th atb en d i n g o v er i n creased h er p ai n . S h e al so c om pl a i ne d of

pa i n s pa s m s i n he rba c k a nd f oot , burni ng i n he rl e f

tl e g, a nd4

num bne s s i n he rl e f

tf oot . S he s t a t e d s he ha d c ons t a ntpa i n, a nd i nt e rm i tt e nt s tab b in g p a in , b u t th a t atr a n s c u ta n e o u s e le c tr ic a l n e rv e s tim u la to r( “T E N S ” ) u n it he l pe d s om e . S he s t a t e d tha ton agood da y he rpa i n w oul d be af ourorf i ve outof te n , a n d o n ab a d d a y , w h ic h w e r e ab o u t f o u ro u t o f

e v e ry s e v e n d a y s , h e rp a in w ou l d b e ni ne and a hal f t o t en ou tof t en. In addi t i on , she des cr i bed a brok en a n k le a n d k n e e p a in . S m ith a ls o te s tif ie d th a t s h e w a s d e p r e s s e d a n d th a t s h e d id n o t w a n t to g e t o u t o f

b e d , h a d af

e a ro f f a c in g p e o p le , a n d e x p e r ie n c e d p a n ic att ack s. S h e h ad p ro b l em s w i th i n so m n i a an d sl ep tan av erag e o f fo u r h o u rs a ni gh t , a probl em thatshe a ttri bu t ed t o h erback pai n and depres si on , bu tshe s t at ed thatT ra zodo ne hel ped h er . S he cl ai m ed thather pai n and depres si on had w orse ned s i nc e J a nua ry 2004. R egar di ng her l i m i t at i on s, S m i th t es t i fi ed thatshe c ou l d w al k u p o ne ai sl e a t the gr oc e ry s t or e be f

or e ne e di ng t o s t op a nd s i tdow n a nd c oul d onl y s t a nd f or three m i nu t es before experi enci ng se vere pai n. S he coul d o nl y s i tfor abo utt en m i nut e s be f

or e ha vi ng t o s hi f

ta r ound. S he c oul d onl y l i f tac a n of s oda , a nd l i f

t i ng a gal l on of m i l k i nd uced pai n. S he coul d w as h u p t o three di shes ata t i m e bef ore needi ng t o si tdo w n, and she coul d fol d cl othes buthad t o m ov e a roun d aft er f ol di ng thr e e orf

ouri t e m s . S he ne e de d t o l a y dow n dur i ng the da y f ora n a ve r a ge of 20 m i nu t es of re st , 8 t i m es a day . S he w as abl e t o d ri ve a l i tt l e bi t . T he si de-5

ef fe ct s of herm edi ca t i on s had a s i gn i fi ca ntnegat i ve i m pacton her dai l y l i fe . H er typi ca l day i nv ol ved t aki ng pai n m edi ca t i on , do i ng stre t ches i n b ed, do i ng chores l i ke f ol di ng t ow e l s a nd w a s hi ng ac oupl e of di s he s , s i tt i ng dow n, a nd w a t c hi ng s o m e te le v is io n . T he m edi ca l re cords bef ore the A L J s ho w ed thatS m i th i nj ured her back w h e n lif tin g o x y g e n ta n k s in J u ly 2 0 0 1 . T h is in ju ry r e s u lte d in p a in in h e rle f t h ip a nd c a l f e xt e ndi ng i nt o he rf

oot . S he w a s s e e n by D r . C . H . M c C r i m m on of A nni s t on O r thopa e di c A s s oc i a t e s , P . A . f orhe rpa i n. A Jul y 2001 M R I s how e d s he had an “ [a ] sy m m etri c L 4-5 l ef tl at er al di sc protrusi on ext endi ng i nt o caudal l ef t L 4- 5 ne ur a l f

or a m e n[ , ] ” “ [ d] e s i c c a t i on of the L 5- S 1 di s c w i thoute vi de nc e of spon dyl osi s[ , ] ” and “ L 4-5 and L 5-S 1 fac etost eoarthri t i c c hang es . ” R 2 at38 1. D r. M c C r im m o n r e f

e rr e d h e rto an e u r o s u r g e o n b e c au s e o f h e rc o n tin u e d c o m p la in ts o f p a in . D r. C h ar les C lark o f N eu ro su rg ical A ss o ciates , P .C ., b ec am e S m ith ’s tre at i ng neurol og i sti n O ct ob er20 01 . O n 2 8 N ov em ber 200 1, D r. C l ark p er form ed al um ba rdi s ke c t om y ( s ur gi c a l r e m ova l of a n i nt e rve r t e br a l di s k i n the pa r tof the spi ne betw ee n the ri bs and p el vi s) for aherni at ed L 4-5 l um bar di sc . A ft era fol l ow -up exam i nat i on on 20 D ec em ber 200 1, D r. C l ark con cl ud ed thatshe w as d o in g r e a s o n ab ly w e ll a n d r e c o m m e n d e d e x e r c is e s a n d ar e tu rn to lig h t d u ty in6

s e ve r a l w e e ks w i th a20- pound w e i ghtl i f t i ng r e s tr i c t i on. O n 15 J a nua ry 2002, S m ith h a d r e tu rn e d to d e s kw o rka n d w a s d o in g e x tr e m e ly w e ll w ith n o c o m p la in ts and she w as t ol er at i ng ph ys i ca l therapy. D r. C l ark fou nd thatshe had occas i on al p a r e s th e s ia s ( as e n s a tio n o f p r ic k in g , tin g lin g , o rc r e e p in g o n th e s k in u s u a lly a s s o c ia te d w ith in

ju ry o rirr ita tio n o f

as e n s o ryn e rv e o rn e rv e r o o t) in h e rle f t f o o t, b u t th a t it w a s im p r o v in g . H e a n tic ip a te d m a x im u m m e d ic a l im p r o v e m e n t w ith in f ourm onths a nd i ndi c a t e d tha tS m i th c oul d r e turn t o w ork pr ovi de d s he di d not en g ag e i n ex cessi v e b en d i n g , st o o p i n g , o r l i ft i n g o f o v er 2 5 p o u n d s. S m ith b e g a n p h y s ic a l th e r ap y in J a n u a ry 2 0 0 2 . T h e p r o g r e s s n o te s in d ic a te th a ts h e h a d g o o d a n d b a d d a y s , c o n t i n u e d p a i n , a n d s o m e d i f f i c u l ty s l e e p i n g . An A pri l 20 02 , di sc harge s um m ary i nd i ca t ed thatshe part i al l y a chi eved her i ni t i al g o a ls , h a d as ig n if

ic a n t in c r e a s e in s tr e n g th a n d r a n g e o f m o tio n , b u t c o n tin u e d to com pl ai n o f hi gh l evel s of pai n. A 30 A pri l 20 02 re po rtfr om D r. C l ark i nd i ca t ed tha tS m i th c om pl a i ne d of pe r s i s t e ntl ow e rba c k pa i n e xt e ndi ng i nt o he rl e f thi p a nd l e g, w hi c h ha d be e n pr e s e ntf ors i x w e e ks . S he ha d good s tr e ngth i n both l e gs , but experi ence d som e l ef

thi p p ai n w hen rai si ng her l eg. A n M R I i n M ay20 02 show ed

“ no e vi de nc e of

di s c he rni a t i on, c e ntr a l c a na l orne ur a l f or a m i na l s t e nos i s ” a tL 3- 4,

“ [ d] e ge ne r a t i ve c ha nge s a tL 5- S 1 w i th a n a nnul a rt e a ri n the pos t e r i orm i dl i ne of the di sc spac e a nd a m i l d ass oci at ed annu l arbu l ge” a nd enhanci ng sc art i ss ue at7

L 4- 5, butno e vi de nc e of r e c urr e ntorr e s i dua l di s c he rni a t i on. I d. a t122. A s of 24 June 20 02 , D r. C l ark st at ed thatS m i th cou l d n otre turn t o w ork. O n 3 0 O ct ob er 2002, D r . C l a rk i ndi c a t e d tha tS m i th ha d notr e turne d t o w ork, tha te pi dur a l bl oc ks and p hysi ca l therapy di d n otprov i de l as t i ng re l i ef , and thathe coul d o ff

erher n o th in g e ls e f

r o m as u r g ic a l s ta n dp o in t. B etw ee n Jun e a nd O ct ob er20 02 , S m i th rec ei ved tre atm entatQ ual i ty of L i fe H e a l th S e rvi c e s , I nc . ( “ Q ua l i ty of L i f e ” ) f orava r i e ty of

pr obl e m s i nc l udi ng chroni c l ow back pai n, hypo thyroi di sm (def i ci entac t i vi ty of the thyroi d g l and), al l er gi es , l um bar di sc di se as e, and h i gh bl oo d p re ss ure. O n h erm edi ca l hi st ory form , S m i th i nd i ca t ed thatshe c ou l d d re ss hers el f, m ake her ow n m ea l s, and d o h er ow n s hoppi ng. S m i th ha d ac ons ul t i ve e xa m i na t i on w i th D r . J os e O bl e naon 3 D ec em ber 200 2. S he re po rt ed const anthi p and l eg pai n, w hi ch w as w orse on her l ef tsi de, and w hi ch she r at ed ata s i x o utof t en on the pai n sca l e. S he further i n d i cat ed th atsh e co u l d n o tsi to r st an d fo r a l o n g t i m e, b u tth ath er m ed i cat i o n s, F l e xe r i l a nd L or t ab, ha d e a s e d he rpa i n al i tt l e . S he w a s i n no a c ut e di s tr e s s a nd the stre ng th o f herm aj or m uscl e group s w as fi ve ou tof fi ve w i th n o atroph y. D r. O bl e nac om m e nt e d tha tS m i th “ w i l l ha ve di f f i c ul ty f i ndi ng a nd ke e pi ng aj ob due to h e rc o n s ta n t p a in .” I d . a t 2 4 2 . O n 9 Janu ary 200 3, a D D S ph ys i ci an performed a ph ys i ca l re si du al8

f unc t i ona l c apa c i ty ( “ R F C ” ) a s s e s s m e ntof S m i th. T he a s s e s s m e ntf ound tha ts he c oul d oc c a s i ona l l y l i f

torc a rry 20 pounds a nd c oul d f r e que nt l y l i f

torc a rry 10 pounds . T he a s s e s s m e nti ndi c a t e d tha ts he c oul d s t a nd, w a l k, ors i tf or ap p r o x im a te ly s ix h o u r s in a n e ig h t- h o u rw o rk d a y , a n d s h e c o u ld p u s h o rp u ll w ith unl i m i t e d f

r e que nc y . T he r e por tf

ur the ri ndi c a t e d tha ts he c oul d ba l a nc e , s t oop, kn ee l , cr ou ch, and craw l occa si on al l y. T he re po rtprov i ded thatS m i th report ed se vere pai n i n h erback, bu tconcl ud ed that“ cl ai m ant [’ ] s s ym pt om s are deem ed pa r t i a l l y c r e di bl e . ” I d. a t252. D r. V ance M oo re and the O xford F am i l y P ra ct i ce prov i ded S m i th’ s pri m ary ca re fr om 19 81 t o A pri l 20 03 . T hei r r ec ords pri m ar i l y c on t ai n l ab re sul t s and x-ra y r e q u e s ts a n d r e s u lts . H e rlis te d d ia g n o s e s a s o f A p r il 2 0 0 3 in c lu d e d p h a ry n g itis (i nfl am m at i on of the partof the di gest i ve and res pi ra t ory tra ct s s i tuat ed betw ee n th e c a v ity o f

th e m o u th a n d th e e s o p h a g u s ) , h is to ry o f a lle r g ic rh in itis ( in f la m m a tio n o f

th e m u c o u s m e m b r a n e o f th e n o s e ) , s in u s itis , a n d a r th r itis w ith arthral gi as (pai n i n o ne or m ore j oi nt s) . S m i th rec ei ved tre atm entatthe C al ho un -C l eburne M ent al H ea l th B oard, Inc. (“ C al ho un -C l eburne”), for depres si ve fe atures and m oo d d i sorder s r el at i ng t o h er back i nj ury f

rom A pri l 20 03 t o S ept em ber 200 3. In A pri l 20 03 , she r eport ed that Z o lo f t a f f o r d e d h e rs o m e r e lie f

. B y M a y 2 0 0 3 , S m ith h a d m a d e p r o g r e s s in a ll9

a r e a s e x c e p t in s o m n ia . U p o n h e rd is c h a r g e in S e p te m b e r2 0 0 3 , s h e h a d as tab le m o o d , s h e h a d n o te a r f

u ln e s s , s h e to o kp le a s u r e in v a r io u s a c tiv itie s , h e rin s o m n ia w a s m o r e r e la te d to h e rp a in th a n h e rm o o d , a n d h e ro v e r a ll p r o g r e s s w a s g o o d . O n 2 1 January20 04 , S m i th w as exam i ned b y L auraK ez ar , M . D . , a physi ca l m edi ci ne and rehabi l i t at i on spec i al i st . S m i th report ed thather m edi ca t i on prov i ded so m e rel i ef, b u tsh e ex p eri en ced co n st an tl o w b ack p ai n w i th p ai n rad i at i n g acro ss he rhi ps a nd i nt e rm i tt e nt l ydow n he rl e g. S he a l s o r e por t e d a n a nkl e f r a c tur e f or w h ic h s h e w a s r e c e iv in g c o n s e rv a tiv e tr e a tm e n t. D r . K e z a ro b s e rv e d th a t S m ith appe a r e d unc om f

or t abl e , he ra f

f e c tw a s c ons tr i c t e d, a nd he rm ood w a s de pr e s s e d, bu tthatshe w as al ert , ori ent ed, chee rf ul att i m es , had g oo d eye cont ac t , and w as neat l y groom ed. S m i th h ad a guarded range of m ot i on and t enderness t o d ee p pal pat i on i n h erl ow erl um bar r egi on , the sa cr oi l i ac j oi nt s, and throu gh ou ther p a r a v e r te b r a l m u s c le s a n d in th e b u tto c km u s c le s , w ith s c a tte r e d tr ig g e rp o in ts . S m i th w a s abl e t o dr i ve s hor tdi s t a nc e s a nd a t e ar e gul a rdi e t . T he m ot or exam i nat i on show ed no rm al t on e a nd general l y norm al se nsat i on t o l i gh tt ou ch pi npr i c k. D r . K e z a ropi ne d tha tS m i th s uf f e r e d f r om ( 1) c hr oni c l ow ba c k pa i n, l ef tl ow erextre m i ty r adi cul op athy (a ny patho l og i ca l cond i t i on of the nerve root s) , fa i l ed back sy nd rom e w i th n oci ce pt i ve and n europathi c pai n com po nent s “ w hi ch shou l d b e a m enabl e t o tre atm ent ; ” ( 2) a r ec entankl e f ra cture; (3) prol on ged sl ee p10

di s turba nc e , de pr e s s e d m ood, f i na nc i a l s tr e s s , a nd l i t i ga t i on; ( 4) hype r t e ns i on; a nd (5) hyper chol es t er ol em i a. D r. K ez aras si gn ed a t en perce nti m pai rm entt o S m i th as aw hol e . I d. a t396. D r . K e z a rin d ic a te d in h e r“P la n ” th a t U ltr a m w a s r e a s o n ab le f o rp a in m a na ge m e nt , F l e xe r i l ha d be ne f i tt e d S m i th i n the pa s tf ora c ut e m us c l e s pa s m s a nd w o u ldb e r es tarted , an d D es yr el w o u ldh av e a p o siti v e im p ac t o n S m ith ’s pe r c e pt i on of

pa i n a nd pot e nt i a l l y c oul d he l p he rs l e e p. S he s t a t e d tha ts he bel i eved S m i th h ad re ac hed M axi m um M edi ca l Im prov em entand thather c o n d itio n w a s s ta tic a n d w e ll- s tab iliz e d . W ith r e s p e c t to S m ith w o rk in g a t a se dent ary l evel , D r. K ez arst at ed “ I c ert ai nl y thi nk thi s i s r ea sonabl e. I do n otse e th a t [ D r . C la rk ] g a v e h e rs p e c if ic w o rkr e s tr ic tio n s .” I d . a t 3 9 7 . S h e a d v is e d S m ith t o c ont a c tV oc a t i ona l R e habi l i t a t i on S e rvi c e s f orj ob r e tr a i ni ng ore duc a t i on a nd r e f e rr e d S m i th t o ac hr oni c pa i n m a na ge m e ntphy s i c i a n. S m i th s a w D r . D a vi d W . C os gr ove , apa i n m a na ge m e nts pe c i a l i s t , be gi nni ng i n S e pt e m be r2004. H e rl e gs s how e d no unus ua l a tr ophy , i m pi nge m e nt , or ps e udom ot orc ha nge , a nd s he ha d good i nt e rna l a nd e xt e rna l r ot a t i on a tthe hi ps w i th n o cre pi tus i n the kn ee s. L at er al bend i ng of S m i th’ s bac k p rodu ce d l ocal i ze d back pai n b utno ra di cul ar(i nv ol vi ng a nerve root ) c om pl ai nt s, and rot at i on al m o v e m e n t w a s n o rm a l. D r . C o s g r o v e a s s e s s e d S m ith a s h a v in g c h r o n ic11

p a in , f a ile d b a c ks u r g e ry s y n d r o m e , r a d ic u lo p a th y in h e rlo w e rle f t le g , m ild tr e a t e d d e p r e s s i o n , h yp e r t e n s i o n , h yp e r th y r o i d i s m , a n d s e a s o n a l rh i n i t i s . He s ugge s t e d c ont i nui ng w i th the m e di c a t i ons gi ve n the be ne f i tthe y pr ovi de d i n the p a s t. In a 4 O ct ob er20 04 , fol l ow up no t e, D r. C osgrov e r eport ed thatS m i th w as al ert , ori ent ed, pl ea sant , and app ea re d t o b e i n n o app ar entdi stre ss . S m i th report ed thather pai n w as a f

ou r or f i ve ou tof t en, she der i ved si gn i fi ca ntbenefi tfr om her m e di c a t i ons , a nd s he r e c e i ve d good be ne f i tf r om he rT E N S uni t . D r . C os gr ove no t ed thatS m i th exh i bi t ed no exce ss i ve pai n b ehavi ors. S he po i nt ed ou ta t ender s p o t o n h e rr ig h t f

o o t, b u t D r . C o s g r o v e f

o u n d n o p a lp ab le o rv is ib le ab n o rm a lity . D r . C os gr ove r e c om m e nde d c ont i nui ng S m i th’ s m e di c a t i ons unc ha nge d a nd a f o llo w - u p in th r e e m o n th s . A tthe 7 M ar ch 20 05 hear i ng , the A L J posed a hypothet i ca l t o a V ocat i on al E xp ert , as ki ng the V E t o con si der: a yo u n g er i n d i v i d u al w h o h as a h i g h sch o o l ed u cat i o n p l u s [] atl east 15 m onths of

t e c hni c a l c ol l e ge , w ho ha s the r e s tr i c t i ons of , f or o c c a s io n a l b e n d in g , s to o p in g , s q u a ttin g , c lim b in g , n o p u s h - p u ll m ove m e nti nvol vi ng the l e f tl ow e re xtr e m i t i e s , no dr i vi ng, no un prot ec t ed hei gh t . S he shou l d w ork i n a t em pera ture c on trol l ed e nvi r onm e nta nd gi ve n a n opt i on t o s i tors t a nd a tw i l l . A nd f or p u rp o s e s o f

o u rs c e n a r io , s h e h a s am ild to m o d e r a te le v e l o f p a in a n d /o rd e p r e s s io n .12

Id. at77 0. T he V E t es t i fi ed thatS m i th w ou l d n otbe abl e t o return t o h erpastw ork a c t i vi ty . U pon be i ng a s ke d i f the r e w e r e s e de nt a ry w ork oppor tuni t i e s f ors om e one a s de s c r i be d, the V E t e s t i f i e d tha tappr oxi m a t e l y 1, 500 c a s hi e rj obs , 3, 000 t o 4, 000 c l e r i c a l j obs , 2, 000 aut om a t i c m a c hi ne t e nde r s , a nd 1, 000 t o 1, 500 s e c ur i ty m oni t or j obs e xi s t e d i n the nor th c e ntr a l A l aba m aa r e aa l one . T he A L J r e turne d t o the ori gi nal hypo thet i ca l and add ed the l i m i t at i on of havi ng t o l i e dow n fou r t i m es du ri ng w ork h ou rs for 30 m i nu t es ea ch t i m e. T he V E re spon ded thatno w ork w oul d be a va i l abl e a te i the rthe l i ghtors e de nt a ry l e ve l . T he A L J the n r e m ove d the re stri ct i on of needi ng t o l i e dow n and added the re stri ct i on of a m od er at el y s ever e t o s e ve r e pa i n l e ve l , a nd a l t e rna t i ve l y , m ode r a t e l y s e ve r e t o s e ve r e l e ve l s of de pr e s s i on, a nd the V E r e s ponde d tha ts he w oul d notbe abl e t o w ork a ta l l . T he A L J then chang ed t o h ypothet i ca l t o i ncl ud e m edi ca t i on si de-e ff ec t s thati m po se d m ode r a t e l y s e ve r e t o s e ve r e l i m i t a t i ons , a nd the V E s t a t e d tha tno w ork c oul d be d o n e . T h e A L J d e n ie d b e n e f

its o n 8 D e c e m b e r2 0 0 5 . T h e A L J f o u n d th a t S m ith w as no tcurr ent l y e ng aged i n sub st ant i al gai nful ac t i vi ty. H e f ou nd thatshe had se vere i m pai rm ent s, w hi ch w er e f ai l ed back surgerysy nd rom e, l ef tl ow er e xtr e m i ty r a di c ul opa thy , m i l d de pr e s s i on, hype rt e ns i on, a nd hypothy r oi di s m . T he A L J f o u n d th a t n o n e o f

h e rim p a irm e n ts m e t th e c r ite r iao f th e d is ab ility lis tin g s in13

20 C . F . R . § 404, appe ndi x 1, s ubpa r tP , a nd s pe c i f i c a l l y di d notm e e tthe c r i t e r i aof lis tin g § 1 .0 4 ( d is o r d e r s o f th e s p in e ) , b e c au s e th e r e w a s n o e v id e n c e th a t S m ith ha d ac om pr om i s e of

ane rve r ootof

the s pi na l c or d w i th e vi de nc e of ne rve r oot c o m p r e s s io n . T h e A L J th e n c a lc u la te d h e rR F C to d e te rm in e w h e th e rs h e c o u ld perf orm her pas tre l evantw ork, and i n so d oi ng , he consi dere d v ar i ou s f ac t ors i ncl ud i ng S m i th’ s dai l y a ct i vi t i es , prec i pi t at i ng and agg ra vat i ng fa ct ors, the si dee f f e c t s of he rm e di c a t i on, othe rtr e a tm e nt s , a nd S m i th’ s s ubj e c t i ve c om pl a i nt s of p a in . R e g a r d in g th e m e d ic a l e v id e n c e o f h e rp a in , th e A L J f

o u n d th a t, in e a r ly 20 02 , D r. C l ark fou nd no cl ea r e vi dence of di sk herni at i on and d i d n otre po rtthat she had di sabl i ng pai n o r l i m i t at i on s due t o h erback i m pai rm ent . T he A L J not ed tha tD r . K e z a r , ar e habi l i t a t i on s pe c i a l i s t , s t a t e d, i n the J a nua ry 2004 e va l ua t i on, thati tw as re as on abl e f

or S m i th t o p er form a s edent ary l evel j ob , and thatD r. K e z a rr e c om m e nde d tha tS m i th s e e voc a t i ona l r e habi l i t a t i on s e rvi c e s f orj ob r e tr a i ni ng ore duc a t i on. B a s e d on thi s , the A L J f ound tha tD r . K e z a rdi d not b e lie v e th a t S m ith h a d d is ab lin g p a in o rlim ita tio n s d u e to h e rb a c kp r o b le m s . N e xt , the A L J c ons i de r e d tha tD r . C os gr ove , a s S m i th’ s pa i n m a na ge m e nt s p e c ia lis t, r e p o r te d th a t h e rp a in le v e l in O c to b e r2 0 0 4 w a s n o m o r e th a n f o u rto fi ve ou tof t en, w hi ch di d n otri se t o the l evel of di sabl i ng pai n. T he A L J not ed14

thatD r. C osgrov e di d n oti nd i ca t e thatshe had di sabl i ng pai n, and h e r eport ed that s h e r e c e iv e d s ig n if

ic a n t b e n e f

its f r o m h e rm e d ic a tio n a n d h e rT E N S u n it a n d d id notappe a rt o be i n di s tr e s s . T he A L J c onc l ude d tha tof S m i th’ s tr e a t i ng ph ys i ci ans, the spec i al i st s w ho tre at ed her back, the ph ys i ci ans a tQ ual i ty of L i fe , an d D r. M o o re, n o o n e ev er rep o rt ed th atS m i th h ad d i sab l i n g p ai n o r l i m i t at i o n s. R egar di ng her s ubj ec t i ve com pl ai nt s of pai n, the A L J f ou nd i ncon si st enci es betw ee n h ert es t i m on y and the m edi ca l re cords. T he A L J not ed thatS m i th t es t i fi ed atthe heari ng thather pai n w as ni ne t o t en ou tof t en four days a w ee k, w hi ch w as i nc ons i s t e ntw i th D r . C os gr ove ’ s O c t obe r2004 r e por ttha the rpa i n w a s f ourt o f i ve o u t o f te n . D r . C o s g r o v e f

u r th e rin d ic a te d th a t S m ith r e c e iv e d s ig n if ic a n t b e n e f

it fr om her m edi ca t i on s, and h e di d n oti nd i ca t e thatshe e xp er i ence d m ore s ever e p a i n . Th e A LJ a l s o f

o u n d th a tSmi th ’ s t e s t i mo n y th a ts h e h a d s i g n i f i c a n tp r o b l e ms w i th the si de-e ff

ec t s of herm edi ca t i on s w as i ncon si st entw i th the tre at i ng m edi ca l re cords because D r. C osgrov e, as the ph ys i ci an w ho tre at ed her pai n, never i nd i ca t ed thatS m i th report ed si de-e ff ec t s f rom her m edi ca t i on s. T he A L J then foun d thatS m i th’ s t es t i m on y r egar di ng her physi ca l l i m i t at i on s w er e uns ubs t a nt i a t e d by the m e di c a l r e c or ds . T he A L J not e d tha tnone of he rtr e a t i ng p h y s ic ia n s e v e rr e p o r te d p h y s ic a l r e s tr ic tio n s a s s e v e r e a s w h a t S m ith c la im e d in her t es t i m on y, and D r. K ez arst at ed thatS m i th cou l d p er form se dent ary w ork, even15

w ith o u t af

u lly h e a le d a n k le . F u r th e rm o r e , th e A L J f o u n d th a t th r e e s e p a r a te do ct ors r ec om m ended thatS m i th exerci se , i nd i ca t i ng thatshe w as no tas l i m i t ed as she a l l eged. T he A L J f

ou nd no evi dence of di sabl i ng l i m i t at i on s r el at i ng t o h er hypothy r oi di s m orhype r t e ns i on, a nd s he ha d notbe e n di a gnos e d w i th a r thr i t i s of the kne e s . T he A L J s pe c i f i c a l l y a ddr e s s e d D r . O bl e na ’ s D e c e m be r2002 r e por ta nd c onc l ude d tha ti tw a s ba s e d on S m i th’ s s ubj e c t i ve c om pl a i nt s , w hi c h w e r e not s u p p o r t e d b y th e o th e rme d i c a l r e c o r d s . Th e A LJ f o u n d th a t , o th e rth a n s o me de c r e a s e d r a nge of

m ot i on i n he rl um ba rs pi ne , S m i th’ s e xa m i na t i on by D r . O bl e na w a s w ith in n o rm a l lim its . T he A L J the n c onc l ude d tha tS m i th’ s t e s t i m ony r e ga r di ng he rde pr e s s i on and anx i ety w as un supp ort ed by the m edi ca l re cords. H e not ed thatshe w as di a gnos e d w i th de pr e s s i on a nd a nxi e ty a tQ ua l i ty of L i f e i n F e brua ry 2003, a nd th a t in M a y 2 0 0 3 , Q u a lity o f L if e r e p o r te d th a t s h e h a d ag o o d r e s p o n s e to Z o lo f t. A l tho ug h D r. K ez arno t ed thatS m i th’ s m oo d w as depres se d i n January20 04 , D r. K ez ardi d n otdi agno se S m i th w i th d epre ss i on or any other m ent al i m pai rm ent . In S ept em ber 200 4, D r. C osgrov e not ed thatS m i th h ad m i l d d epre ss i on , w hi ch w as tre at ed. T he A L J f

ou nd thatno tre at i ng or exam i ni ng ph ys i ci an ever r eport ed that S m i th h ad di sabl i ng depres si on or any di sabl i ng l i m i t at i on s r el at i ng t o m ent al i m p ai rm en t s.16

T h e A L J c o n c lu d e d th a t S m ith h a d th e “r e s id u a l f u n c tio n a l c ap a c ity to pe r f orm s e de nt a ry w ork w hi c h a l l ow s f orno m or e tha n oc c a s i ona l be ndi ng, st oo pi ng , squatt i ng , or cl i m bi ng ; no pu shi ng or pu l l i ng m ov em ent s of the l ef tl ow er extre m i ty; no dri vi ng ; no w ork atun prot ec t ed hei gh t s; a t em pera ture c on trol l ed e nvi r onm e nta nd as i t/ s t a nd opt i on, ” a nd tha t“ [ a ] ny t e s t i m ony ora l l e ga t i ons o th er w ise a re n o t cre d ib le.” Id . at 3 4 . T h e A L J th en fo u n d , b as ed o n th e V E ’s t es t i m on y, thatS m i th w as capabl e of per form i ng a s i gn i fi ca ntnu m ber of s edent ary j o b s g i v en h er ag e, ed u cat i o n , w o rkex p eri en ce, an d resi d u al fu n ct i o n al cap aci ty, a nd the r e f

or e , s he w a s notdi s abl e d. O n 17 A pr i l 2006, a f

t e rthe A L J ’ s de c i s i on, D r . D a ni e l P r i nc e pe r f orm e d a c o n s u ltiv e e x a m in a tio n o f S m ith . D r . P r in c e c o n c lu d e d th a t S m ith w a s c o m p le te ly i m pai re d, and she appeare d t o b e achroni c pai n p at i entw i th fi brom ya l gi a ( a c hr oni c di s or de rc ha r a c t e r i z e d by w i de s pr e a d pa i n, t e nde rne s s , a nd s t i f f ne s s of m u s c le s a n d a s s o c ia te d c o n n e c tiv e tis s u e s tru c tu r e s ) a n d m u ltip le p r o b le m s w ith m ent al and n ervo us di sorder s. A l so af t erthe A L J’ s dec i si on , on 20 June 20 06 , D r. D a v id W ils o n p e r f

o rm e d ap s y c h o lo g ic a l e v a lu a tio n in w h ic h h e d ia g n o s e d S m ith w ith , a m o n g o th e rth in g s , m a jo r , s e v e r e d e p r e s s io n w ith p o s s ib le p s y c h o tic fe atures and a G l ob al A ss es sm entof F un ct i on i ng (“ G A F ”) of 45 , w hi ch i nd i ca t ed s e r i ous m e nt a l s y m pt om s ori m pa i rm e nt s . D r . W i l s on opi ne d tha the rl e ve l of17

i m pa i rm e nt“ w oul d pr e ve nthe rf r om f unc t i oni ng i n a ny type of w ork s e tt i ng. ” I d. a t 4 1 6 . S m i th app ea l ed t o the A C and sub m i tt ed addi t i on al evi dence, m ostof w hi ch dupl i c a t e d e vi de nc e a l r e a dy be f or e the A L J . A 21 D e c e m be r2005 r e por tf r om Q u a lity o f

L if e , w h ic h w a s p r e p a r e d a f te rth e A L J ’s d e c is io n , s h o w e d th a t S m ith r e p o r te d h e rb a c kp a in w a s w o r s e , h e rd e p r e s s io n w a s w o r s e , a n d h e rp a in s c a le s c o r e wa s a n e i g h to u to f t e n . T h e AC d e n i e d S m i th ’ s r e q u e s tf o rr e v i e w. T h e AC

“ consi dere d the re as on s [ S m i th] di sa gree [d] w i th the deci si on and the addi t i on al e vi de nc e l i s t e d on the e nc l os e d O r de rof A ppe a l s C ounc i l , ” a nd f ound tha tthe addi t i on al evi dence di d n otprov i de a r ea son t o chang e the A L J’ s dec i si on . Id. at 7 - 8 . T h e d is tr ic t c o u r t a f f irm e d th e C o m m is s io n e r ’s d e c is io n . I n m a k in g its de c i s i on, the di s tr i c tc our tc ons i de r e d S m i th’ s a r gum e nttha tthe A C s houl d ha ve g r a n te d r e v ie w o rr e m a n d e d h e rc a s e b a s e d o n th e n e w e v id e n c e s h e s u b m itte d . T he di stri ctcourtci t ed ca se l aw for the prop osi t i on thatgo od cause i s r equi re d w hen a cl ai m antfa i l s t o sub m i tevi dence atthe adm i ni stra t i ve l evel . T he di stri ct c our tthe n c ons i de r e d the ne w e vi de nc e tha tS m i th s ubm i tt e d t o the A C , a nd c onc l ude d tha t“ the m a

j or i ty of the e vi de nc e s o s ubm i tt e d i s e i the rdupl i c a t i ve of re cords a l re ady s ub m i tt ed, or do es no tre l at e t o the re l evantt i m e per i od . ” R 1-12 at18

20 -21. T he di stri ctcourtno t ed thatw hi l e the D r. P ri nce r ec ord m ayes t abl i sh that S m ith w a s d is ab le d a s o f 1 7 A p r il 2 0 0 6 , th is w a s n o t in th e r e le v a n t tim e p e r io d . T he di stri ctcourtfoun d n o b as i s t o rem and “ [b] ec ause the m edi ca l re cords w hi ch coul d est abl i sh di sabi l i ty a l l po st -dat e the A L J’ s dec i si on . ” I d. at21 . T here fore , th e d is tr ic t c o u r t a f

f irm e d th e C o m m is s io n e r ’s d e c is io n . T h is ap p e a l f o llo w e d . I I . DI S CUS S I ON 1. T he A L J’ s D ec i si on W as B as ed U po n S ub st ant i al E vi dence W e r evi ew a C om m i ss i on er ’ s dec i si on t o d et erm i ne w hether i ti s s up po rt ed b y s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e a n d w h e th e rth e p r o p e rle g a l s ta n d a r d s w e r e ap p lie d . C ra w ford v. C om m ’ r of S oc. S ec . , 36 3 F . 3d 11 55 , 11 58 (11th C i r. 20 04 ) ( per c ur i a m ) . “ S ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e i s m or e tha n as c i nt i l l aa nd i s s uc h r e l e va nt e v id e n c e a s ar e a s o n ab le p e r s o n w o u ld a c c e p t a s a d e q u a te to s u p p o r t a co n cl u si o n . ” Id . (q u o t at i o n o m i tt ed ). “ E v en i f th e ev i d en ce p rep o n d erat es ag ai n st the C om m i ss i on er ’ s f

i nd i ng s, w e m ustaf

fi rm i f the deci si on re ac hed i s s up po rt ed by s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e . ” I d. a t1158- 59 ( quot a t i on om i tt e d) . “ W e m a y notde c i de f a c t s a ne w , r e w e i gh the e vi de nc e , ors ubs t i tut e ourj udgm e ntf ortha tof the [C om m i ss i on er . ] ” D ye r v. B arnh art , 39 5 F . 3d 12 06 , 12 10 (11th C i r. 20 05 ) ( per curi am ) ( qu ot at i on om i tt ed). A . Su b

je c tiv e C o m

p la in ts o f P a in19

W he n ac l a i m anta tt e m pt s t o e s t abl i s h di s abi l i ty thr ough he row n t e s t i m ony c o n c e rn in g p a in o ro th e rs u b je c tiv e s y m p to m s , w e ap p ly ath r e e - p a r t “p a in s t a nda r d, ” w hi c h 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 ( 2 ) e ith e r( a ) o b

je c tiv e m e d ic a l e v id e n c e c o n f irm in g th e s e v e r ity o f

th e a lle g e d p a in st em m i ng fr om thatcond i t i on ; or (b) thatthe obj ec t i vel y det erm i ned m edi ca l c ondi t i on c a n r e a s onabl y be e xpe c t e d t o gi ve r i s e t o the c l a i m e d pa i n. W i l s on v. B arn h art , 2 8 4 F . 3 d 1 2 1 9 , 1 2 2 5 (1 1 th C i r. 2 0 0 2 ) (p er cu ri am ). T h e A L J m u st e xpl i c i t l y a nd a de qua t e l y a r t i c ul a t e hi s r e a s ons i f he di s c r e di t s s ubj e c t i ve t es t i m on y. Id. “ A cl ea rl y art i cul at ed cr edi bi l i ty f i nd i ng w i th sub st ant i al supp ort i ng evi dence i n the re cord w i l l no tbe di sturbed b y are vi ew i ng court . ” F oo t e v. C hat er , 67 F . 3d 15 53 , 15 62 (11th C i r. 19 95 ) ( per c uri am ). T he A L J f

ound tha tthe m e di c a l r e c or ds di d nots uppor tS m i th’ s s ubj e c t i ve cl ai m s of pai n. T he A L J bas ed hi s dec i si on up on m edi ca l re cords e st abl i shi ng that D r. C l ark rel ea se d S m i th t o l i gh tdu ty w ork i n ear l y 200 2 fol l ow i ng her back surgery i n 2 00 1, and thatD r. C l ark p er form ed addi t i on al t es t s f ol l ow i ng her c om pl a i nt s of

pa i n, but , a s of

30 O c t obe r2002, the t e s t s di d notr e ve a l a ny e v id e n c e o f

d is kh e rn ia tio n . F u r th e r , D r . C la rkn e v e rr e p o r te d th a t S m ith experi ence d d i sabl i ng pai n o r l i m i t at i on s. D r. K ez ar , a s peci al i sti n p hysi ca l m edi ci ne and rehabi l i t at i on , spec i fi ca l l y s t at ed i n January20 04 thati tw as20

re as on abl e f

or S m i th t o return t o sedent ary l evel w ork. F urther, D r. K ez ar r e c om m e nde d tha tS m i th s e e k voc a t i ona l r e habi l i t a t i on s e rvi c e s f orj ob r e tr a i ni ng ore duc a t i on, i m pl y i ng tha tD r . K e z a rdi d notthi nk S m i th w a s e xpe r i e nc i ng di sabl i ng pai n o r l i m i t at i on s r el at i ng t o h erback i m pai rm ent . D r. C osgrov e, S m i th’ s pai n m anagem entspec i al i st , re po rt ed i n O ct ob er20 04 thatS m i th w as experi enci ng m od er at e, no tdi sabl i ng , pai n, as she r eport ed pai n atno m ore than f ourorf i ve outof

t e n. D r . C os gr ove a l s o i ndi c a t e d tha tS m i th r e c e i ve d s i gni f i c a nt b e n e f its f r o m h e rm e d ic a tio n , h e rT E N S u n it, a n d s h e d id n o t ap p e a rto b e in di s tr e s s . D r . C os gr ove ne ve rr e por t e d tha tS m i th e xpe r i e nc e d di s abl i ng pa i n or lim ita tio n s r e la tin g to h e rb a c kim p a irm e n t. W e c onc l ude tha tthe A L J pr ope r l y f ound tha tS m i th’ s t e s t i m ony w a s not supp ort ed by the m edi ca l evi dence and w as i ncon si st entw i th D r. C osgrov e’ s r eport tha the rpa i n w a s onl y f ourt o f i ve outof

t e n. I n a ddi t i on, S m i th’ s tr e a t i ng ph ys i ci ans, the spec i al i st s w ho tre at ed her back i m pai rm ent , and the ph ys i ci ans a t Q ual i ty of L i fe , never r eport ed thatshe had di sabl i ng pai n o r l i m i t at i on s. S ee W i l son, 28 4 F . 3d at12 25 . T he re cord do es no tshow thatS m i th h ad a m edi ca l c o n d itio n th a t w a s s o s e v e r e th a t it c o u ld r e a s o n ab ly b e e x p e c te d to c au s e th e le v e ls o f p ain th at S m ith alleg ed . T h er ef o re , su b stan ti al ev id en ce su p p o rts th e A L J’s r e je c tio n o f

S m ith ’s s u b

je c tiv e c o m p la in ts o f

p a in , a n d th e A L J d id n o t e rrin21

concl ud i ng thatS m i th’ s pai n l evel w as m i l d t o m od er at e. B . P hys i c al

A s s e s s m e nt T he A L J c on cl ud ed thatS m i th h ad a r es i du al funct i on al capaci ty t o p er form s e de nt a ry w ork tha ta l l ow e d f or“ no m or e tha n oc c a s i ona l be ndi ng, s t oopi ng, squatt i ng , or cl i m bi ng ; no pu shi ng or pu l l i ng m ov em ent s of the l ef tl ow er extre m i ty; no dri vi ng ; no w ork atun prot ec t ed hei gh t s; a t em pera ture c on trol l ed e nvi r onm e nta nd as i t/ s t a nd opt i on. R 2 a t . 32. S e de nt a ry w ork i nvol ve s l i f t i ng no m or e tha n 10 pounds a tat i m e a nd oc c a s i ona l l y l i f

t i ng orc a rry i ng a r t i c l e s l i ke doc ke tf i l e s , l e dge r s , a nd sm al l t oo l s. A l tho ug h a se dent ary j ob i s def i ned as one w hi ch i nv ol ves s i tt i ng , a c ert ai n am ou ntof w al ki ng and st andi ng i s oft en ne c e s s a ry i n c a rry i ng outj ob dut i e s . J obs a r e s e de nt a ry i f w a l ki ng and st andi ng ar e r equi re d o cc as i on al l y a nd other s edent ary c ri t er i a a re m e t. 20 C . F . R . § 404. 1567( a ) ; 20 C . F . R . § 416. 967( a ) . S oc i a l S e c ur i ty R ul i ng 83- 10 e l abor a t e s on the de f

i ni t i on of s e de nt a ry by pr ovi di ng tha t“ ‘ [ o] c c a s i ona l l y ’ m e a ns oc c urr i ng f

r om ve ry l i tt l e up t o one - thi r d of the t i m e , a nd tha tpe r i ods of s t a ndi ng orw a l ki ng s houl d ge ne r a l l y t ot a l no m or e tha n about2 hour s of a n 8- hour w orkda y , a nd s i tt i ng s houl d ge ne r a l l y t ot a l appr oxi m a t e l y 6 hour s of a n 8- hour w o rk d a y . ” K e l l e y v . A p f e l , 1 8 5 F. 3 d 1 2 1 1 , 1 2 1 3 n . 2 ( 1 1 th Ci r . 1 9 9 9 ) ( p e rc u r i a m) (quo t at i on om i tt ed). S ub st ant i al evi dence s up po rt ed the A L J’ s det erm i nat i on of S m i th’ s physi ca l22

l i m i t a t i ons . A s of

29 M a y 2002, D r . C l ark f ound no e vi de nc e of

r e c urr e ntor r e s i dua l di s c he rni a t i on. O n 3 D e c e m be r2002, D r . O bl e naf ound tha the rm a

j or m u s c le g r o u p s h a d ag r a d e d s tr e n g th o f f iv e o u t o f

f iv e w ith n o m u s c le a tr o p h y . S m i th’ s 9 J a nua ry 2003 phy s i c a l R F C i ndi c a t e d tha ts he c oul d oc c a s i ona l l y l i f ta nd c a rry 20 pounds , a nd c oul d f r e que nt l y l i f

torc a rry 10 pounds . T he a s s e s s m e nt st at ed th atsh e co u l d st an d , w al k , o r si tab o u tsi x h o u rs i n an ei g h t -h o u r w o rk d ay, and cou l d p ush o r pul l w i th u nl i m i t ed fr equency. T he re po rtfurther i nd i ca t ed that she c ou l d b al ance , st oo p, kn ee l , cr ou ch, and craw l occa si on al l y. T here fore , a c c or di ng t o the r e por t , S m i th w a s c apabl e of pe r f orm i ng s e de nt a ry w ork. S e e 20 C .F .R . § 4 0 4 .1 5 6 7 (a ); 2 0 C .F .R . § 4 1 6 .9 6 7 (a ). In ad d it io n , n o n e o f S m ith ’s tr e a t i ng phy s i c i ans e ve ri ndi c a t e d s he w a s a s l i m i t e d a s s he c l a i m e d t o be , a nd no m e d i c a l e v i d e n c e s u b s t a n t i a t e d S m i th ’ s c l a i m th a ts h e n e e d e d t o l i e d o wn p e r io d ic a lly th r o u g h o u t th e d a y . I n f a c t, D r . K e z a rr e p o r te d th a t s h e w a s c ap ab le o f s e d e n ta ry w o rkin J a n u a ry 2 0 0 4 , d e s p ite h e ra n k le f r a c tu r e . D r . C o s g r o v e , a p ai n m an ag em en tsp eci al i st , fo u n d th atS m i th ’ s l eg s sh o w ed n o u n u su al atro p h y, i m pi ng em ent , or pseudo m ot or change, and she had g oo d i nt ernal and ext ernal r o ta tio n a t th e h ip s w ith n o c r e p itu s a t th e k n e e s . T he r e c or d s uppor t s the f i ndi ng tha tS m i th w a s c apabl e of pe r f orm i ng se dent ary w ork, and n on e of S m i th’ s tre at i ng ph ys i ci ans e ver i nd i ca t ed she w as as23

lim ite d a s s h e c la im e d to b e . G iv e n th a t ar e a s o n ab le p e r s o n c o u ld f in d th is e v id e n c e s u p p o r ts th e A L J ’s a s s e s s m e n t o f h e rp h y s ic a l lim ita tio n s , th e A L J ’s d id n o t e rrin d e te rm in in g S m ith ’s p h y s ic a l lim ita tio n s , b e c au s e h is a s s e s s m e n t is s u p p o r te d b y s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e . S e e C r a w f o r d , 3 6 3 F .3 d a t 1 1 5 8 . C . Me ntal

A s s e s s m e nt T he A L J f

ou nd thatS m i th' s m edi ca l re cords di d n otsupp orta f i nd i ng that s h e s u f f e r e d f r o m d is ab lin g d e p r e s s io n o ra n x ie ty a s s h e te s tif ie d a t th e h e a r in g . T he r e c or d s how s tha ts he w a s di a gnos e d w i th m ood di s or de rw i th de pr e s s i ve f e a tur e s a tC a l houn- C l e burne i n A pr i l 2003, butr e por t e d ha vi ng s om e r e l i e f f r om Z ol oft . B y S ept em ber 200 3, her m oo d w as st abl e, her i nsom ni a w as re l at ed m ore to h e rp a in th a n h e rm o o d , s h e h a d n o te a r f u ln e s s , a n d s h e w a s f

in d in g p le a s u r e in vari ou s a ct i vi t i es . In Ja nu ary 200 4, D r. K ez arno t ed thatS m i th h ad a depres se d m oo d, bu tshe di agno se d n o o ther m ent al i m pai rm ent . D r. C osgrov e di agno se d S m i th w i th m i l d, tr e a t e d de pr e s s i on, butf ound tha t , a s of

4 O c t obe r2004, s he r e c e i ve d s i gni f

i c a ntbe ne f

i t s f r om he rm e di c a t i ons a nd appe a r e d t o be i n no appa r e ntdi s tr e s s . S m i th poi nt s t o no e vi de nc e i ndi c a t i ng s he s uf f e r e d di s abl i ng depres si on or anxi ety, and n o d ocum ent s bef ore the A L J i nd i ca t ed thatshe w as e xpe r i e nc i ng s e ve r e de pr e s s i on. T he r e f or e , s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e s uppor t e d the A L J ’s c o n c lu s io n th a t S m ith s u f f e r e d n o m o r e th a n m ild to m o d e r a te d e p r e s s io n .24

S e e i d. D . D r. O b len a ’s R ep o rt T he op i ni on s of e xam i ni ng or tre at i ng ph ys i ci ans genera l l y a re gi ven m ore w e ig h t th a n n o n - e x a m in in g o rn o n - tr e a tin g p h y s ic ia n s u n le s s “g o o dc au s e ” is s how n. S e e 20 C . F . R . § 404. 1527( d) ( 1) , ( 2) , ( 5) ; L e w i s v. C a l l a ha n, 125 F . 3d 1 4 3 6 , 1 4 4 0 (1 1 th C ir. 1 9 9 7 ). G o o d ca u se ex ists to d iscr ed ita p h ys ician ’s t e s t i m ony w he n aphy s i c i a n’ s opi ni on i s c ontr a ry t o the e vi de nc e c ont a i ne d i n the r e c or d. L e w i s , 125 F . 3d a t1440. A ddi t i ona l l y , the C om m i s s i one rm a y r e j e c ta ny m edi ca l op i ni on i f the evi dence s up po rt s acontra ryfi nd i ng . S ry ock v . H ec kl er , 7 6 4 F .2 d 8 3 4 , 8 3 5 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 8 5 ) ( p e rc u r ia m ) . G i ve n a l l the e vi de nc e t e ndi ng t o s how tha tS m i th w a s noti n di s abl i ng pa i n, subst ant i al evi dence j ust i fi ed the A L J’ s dec i si on no tt o acc ord m uch w ei gh tt o D r. O b le n a ’s D e c e m b e r2 0 0 2 r e p o r t, w h ic h s ta te d th a t S m ith w o u ld h a v e d if f ic u lty w orki ng du e t o h erconst antpai n. T he A L J f ou nd thatD r. O bl ena’ s opi ni on w as ap p a r e n tly b a s e d o n S m ith ’s s u b je c tiv e c o m p la in ts , w h ic h th e A L J ap p r o p r ia te ly foun d w er e notsubst ant i at ed by the re cord, and thatthe re m ai ni ng po rt i on s of D r. O bl ena’ s r eportw er e e ss ent i al l y w i thi n n orm al l i m i t s, because the re po rti nd i ca t ed thatS m i th w as i n n o acut e di stre ss , her pai n w as a s i x o utof t en bu tw as re du ce d by he rm e di c a t i ons , s he ha d no m us c l e a tr ophy , a nd the r e w a s no e vi de nc e ofThis Court need not address Smith’s allegation that the ALJpreviously has been found 1 to have substituted his own opinion for that of medical experts, because , in this case, the ALJ ’s decision is supported by

substantial evidence . 25 re curr entor re si du al di sc herni at i on . F urtherm ore, S m i th report ed t o b oth D r. K ez arand D r. C osgrov e thather m edi ca t i on i m prov ed her pai n, and D r. K ez ar spec i fi ca l l y i nd i ca t ed thati tw as re as on abl e f or S m i th t o p er form se dent ary w ork as o f J a n u a ry 2 0 0 4 . T h e A L J w a s e n title d to w e ig h th e e v id e n c e , a n d h is d e c is io n to di sr egar d D r. O bl ena’ s c on cl usi on w as supp ort ed by subst ant i al evi dence. 1 G r a ha m v. B ow e n, 790 F . 2d 1572, 1575 ( 11th C i r . 1986) E . T he A L J P os e d a P r ope rH

y pothe t i c al Po s e d

to th e VE W he n ac l a i m antc a nnotpe r f orm af ul l r a nge of

w ork a tagi ve n l e ve l of exert i on or has non -e xert i on al i m pai rm ent s thatsi gn i fi ca nt l y l i m i tbasi c w ork ski l l s, the prefe rr ed m etho d o f dem on stra t i ng thata c l ai m antca n p er form other jo b s is th r o u g h th e te s tim o n y o f aV E . J o n e s v . A p f

e l, 1 9 0 F .3 d 1 2 2 4 , 1 2 2 9 ( 1 1 th C i r . 1999) . “ [ T ] o c ons t i tut e s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e , the V E ’ s t e s t i m ony m us tbe b as ed o n a h yp o th etical p o se d b y a n A L J w h ich en co m p as se s a ll o f th e c laim an t’ s i m pai rm ent s. ” I d. T he A L J i s notre qu i re d t o i ncl ud e f i nd i ng s i n the hypo thet i ca l tha the f i nds a r e uns uppor t e d. C r a w f or d, 363 F . 3d a t1161. T he r e s ol ut i on of c o n f lic tin g e v id e n c e is th e f

u n c tio n o f

th e A L J . S e e G r a h a m , 7 9 0 F .2 d a t 1 5 7 5 . T he hypo thet i ca l po se d t o the V E w as consi st entw i th the m edi ca l evi dence26

and o ther e vi dence on the re cord thatthe A L J f ou nd t o b e c re di bl e. G i ven that subst ant i al evi dence s up po rt ed the A L J’ s f i nd i ng thatS m i th exp er i ence d n o m ore tha n m i l d t o m ode r a t e l e ve l s of pa i n a nd de pr e s s i on, a s de s c r i be d above , the hypo thet i ca l prop er l y i ncl ud ed these l i m i t at i on s. S ub st ant i al evi dence s up po rt ed th a tAL J ’ s c o n c l u s i o n th a tS m i th ’ s t e s t i m o n y c o n c e rn i n g ( 1 ) h e rn e e d t o l i e d o wn thr oughoutthe da y , ( 2) he rm ode r a t e l y s e ve r e t o s e ve r e pa i n orde pr e s s i on, a nd ( 3) the di s abl i ng s i de - e f f e c t s f r om he rm e di c a t i on, w a s notc r e di bl e i n l i ghtof the m e d ic a l r e c o r d s . C o n s e q u e n tly , th e h yp o th e tic a l r e lie d o n b y th e A L J p r o p e r ly d id noti nc l ude the s e l i m i t a t i ons . C r a w f or d, 363 F . 3d a t1161; s e e a l s o I ngr a m v. C om m ’ rof

S oc . S e c . A dm i n. , 496 F . 3d 1253, 1270 ( 11th C i r . 2007) ( c onc l udi ng tha tthe A L J pr ope r l y om i tt e d ac l a i m a nt ’ s a l l e ge d f a t i gue , i ns om ni a , a nxi e ty , a nd depres si on because they w er e e i ther notsupp ort ed by the m edi ca l re cords or w er e al l evi at ed by m edi ca t i on ). A cc ordi ng l y, the hypo thet i ca l po se d t o the V E w as pr ope rbe c aus e i ti nc l ude d a l l of S m i th’ s i m pa i rm e nt s . S i nc e the A L J pos e d a prop erhypo thet i ca l , the V E ’ s t es t i m on y c on st i tut es subst ant i al evi dence that s u p p o r ts th e d e n ia l o f

b e n e f its . S e e J o n e s , 1 9 0 F .3 d a t 1 2 2 9 . 2. T he A C ’ s D ec i si on N ott o R evi ew S m i th a r gue s tha tthe A C f a i l e d t o c ons i de rthe ne w e vi de nc e tha ts he s ubm i tt e d t o i tbe c aus e , i f i tha d c ons i de r e d the ne w e vi de nc e , i tw oul d ha ve27

gr a nt e d r e vi e w be c aus e the e vi de nc e w oul d l i ke l y c ha nge the A L J ’ s de c i s i on a nd dem on stra t es thatshe i s physi ca l l y a nd m ent al l y di sabl ed. S m i th em ph as i ze s that the re po rt s of D r. W i l son and D r. P ri nce s ho w thatshe i s e l i gi bl e f or benefi t s und er l i st i ng § 1 2. 04 (depres si on ). S peci fi ca l l y, she not es that(1) D r. W i l son eval uat ed her a nd concl ud ed thatshe had m aj or depres si on -r ec urre ntand a G A F of 45 , w hi ch w oul d qua l i f

y he runde rl i s t i ng § 12. 04, a nd ( 2) D r . P r i nc e , ba s e d on hi s e va l ua t i on o n A p r il 1 7 , 2 0 0 6 , c o n c lu d e d th a t S m ith w a s d is ab le d a n d c o m p le te ly im p a ir e d . T h e C o m m is s io n e rr e s p o n d s th a t th e A C p r o p e r ly d e n ie d r e v ie w b e c au s e it c ons i de r e d he rne w e vi de nc e a nd pr ope r l y c onc l ude d tha tthe e vi de nc e di d not e s tab lis h ab a s is o n w h ic h to o v e r tu rn th e A L J ’s d e c is io n . I f ac l a i m a n ts u b m i t s n e w n o n c u m u l a t i v e a n d m a t e r i a l e v i d e n c e t o th e AC a f te rth e A L J ’s d e c is io n , th e A C s h a ll c o n s id e rs u c h e v id e n c e , b u t o n ly w h e r e it r e l a t e s t o th e p e r i o d o n o rb e f o r e th e d a t e o f

th e A LJ ’ s h e a r i n g d e c i s i o n . 2 0 C. F. R. § 4 0 4 . 9 7 0 (b ). “ M at eri al ” ev i d en ce i s ev i d en ce th ati s “ rel ev an tan d p ro b at i v e so thatthere i s are as on abl e possi bi l i ty thati tw ou l d chang e the adm i ni stra t i ve re sul t . ” M i l ano v . B ow en, 80 9 F . 2d 76 3, 76 6 (11 th C i r. 19 87 ) ( qu ot at i on om i tt ed). W hen evi dence i s s ub m i tt ed for the fi rs tt i m e t o the A C , thatnew evi dence becom es part of the a dm i ni s tr a t i ve r e c or d. K e e t on v. D e p’ tof H e a l th a nd H um a n S e rvs . , 21 F . 3d 1064, 1067 ( 11th C i r . 1994) . T he A C c ons i de r s the e nt i r e r e c or d, i nc l udi ng the28

n ew , m ater ial, an d ch ro n o lo g ically re lev an t ev id en ce , an d w il l rev iew th e A L J’s de c i s i on i f

the A L J ’ s “ a c t i on, f

i ndi ngs , orc onc l us i on i s c ontr a ry t o the w e i ghtof the evi dence curr ent l y of r ec ord. ” 20 C . F . R . § 4 04 . 97 0(b). W e r evi ew “ w hether the new evi dence re nd er s the deni al of benefi t s e rr on eous. ” I ng ra m , 49 6 F . 3d at 1 2 6 2 . “W h e n th e A p p e a ls C o u n c il r e f u s e s to c o n s id e rn e w e v id e n c e s u b m itte d to it a n d d e n ie s r e v ie w , th a t d e c is io n is a ls o s u b je c t to ju d ic ia l r e v ie w b e c au s e it a m ount s t o a n e rr orof

l aw . ” K e e t on, 21 F . 3d a t1066. I n thi s c a s e , the A C c ons i de r e d S m i th’ s ne w l y s ubm i tt e d e vi de nc e butf ound n o b a s is to r e v ie w th e A L J ’s d e c is io n . T h e A C s p e c if ic a lly s ta te d th a t it

“ consi dere d the re as on s [ S m i th] di sa gree [d] w i th the deci si on and the addi t i on al e vi de nc e l i s t e d on the e nc l os e d O r de rof A ppe a l s C ounc i l , ” thus i tdi d note rrby fa i l i ng t o con si der the new evi dence. R 2 at7; se e K ee t on , 21 F . 3d at10 66 . In a ddi t i on, the A C pr ope r l y de c l i ne d t o r e vi e w the A L J ’ s de c i s i on i n l i ghtof the e v id e n c e s u b m itte d b e c au s e th e e v id e n c e w a s e ith e rn o t n e w o rm a te r ia l. W ith re spec tt o h erph ys i ca l cond i t i on , the evi dence s ho w s thatS m i th fra ctured her l ef t a nkl e , a nd tha ts he w a s doi ng “ f a i r l y w e l l ” w i th “ r e s i dua l a c hi ng pa i n a nd sw el l i ng . ” R 2 at53 8-72 , 65 3-54 . R ec ords fr om 9 O ct ob er20 03 t o 6 Janu ary 20 05 , show thatS m i th w as bei ng tre at ed for s i nu s and ea r pre ss ure, hypo thyroi di sm , re fl ux , a broken ank l e, back pai n, and foo tpai n. T he ph ys i ca l29

th erap y d o cu m en t s sh o w th at , b y 1 0 M arch 2 0 0 4 , S m i th w as ab l e t o w al katl east 15 m i nut e s be f

or e e xpe r i e nc i ng pa i n, s he w a s abl e t o s t a nd f orm or e tha n 10 m i nu t es i n o ne si tt i ng , her a nk l e s tre ng th h ad i m prov ed, her gai tpatt ern w as s i gni f i c a nt l y be tt e r , a nd he rf

unc t i on w a s pr ogr e s s i ng w e l l . T r e a tm e ntnot e s f r om A pr i l 2005 s how tha tS m i th i ndi c a t e d tha ta l l of he rm e di c a t i ons w e r e he l pi ng, s he w a s e xe r c i s i ng, a nd s he f e l the rs tr e ngth ha d i nc r e a s e d. S he e xhi bi t e d no e xc e s s i ve pa i n be ha vi or s , a nd, a l though s he ha d as l i ght l y a nt a l gi c ga i t , s he ha d good m ob i l i ty overa l l . S he al so had b ee n w al ki ng ar ou nd the bl ock three t i m es a day usi ng ankl e w ei gh t s t o b ui l d h erl eg stre ng th, and h erl ow erextre m i t i es w er e n o rm a l f o rp o w e ra n d to n e . I n S e p te m b e r2 0 0 5 , S m ith r e p o r te d “g o o d b e n e f it” fr om her m edi ca t i on s, and she w as st i l l w al ki ng ar ou nd the bl ock abo utthree t i m es a dayand d oi ng stre t ches . Id. at43 3, 58 8. O ther r ec ords dat i ng fr om 15 M ar ch 20 05 t o 2 1 D ec em ber 200 5, i d. at42 4-29 , 58 0-86 , show thatshe w as do i ng w el l at af o llo w - u p in A p r il 2 0 0 5 , w h e n s h e r e p o r te d ap a in le v e l o f f iv e o u t o f

te n , a n d , in J u ly 2 0 0 5 , s h e d e n ie d p a in a n d w a s e x e r c is in g e v e ry d a y . N o n e o f th e s e r e p o r ts i nd i ca t ed thatS m i th w as experi enci ng se vere or di sabl i ng pai n o r physi ca l l i m i t at i on s, and they app ea r t o sho w thather m edi ca t i on s w er e hel pi ng and she w as i m prov i ng . T hu s, these re cords a re no tm at er i al , as they do n otcr ea t e a “r e a s o n ab le p o s s ib ility ” o f ad if f e r e n t r e s u lt. S e e M ila n o , 8 0 9 F .2 d a t 7 6 6 .30

W i th r e s pe c tt o S m i th’ s m e nt a l c ondi t i on, am e nt a l s t a tus e xa m f r om C a l houn- C l e burne da t e d 5 A ugus t2004, i ndi c a t e d at e nt a t i ve di a gnos i s of d e p r e s s io n . I n J u n e 2 0 0 5 , D r . C o s g r o v e r e p o r te d th a t S m ith h a d s o m e in s o m n ia and d epre ss i on bu ti nd i ca t ed thatT ra zodo ne w as hel pi ng her, and i n S ept em ber 2 0 0 5 h e d ia g n o s e d h e rw ith tr e a te d m ild d e p r e s s io n . N o n e o f th e s e r e p o r ts i nd i ca t ed thatshe w as suff er i ng fr om se vere or di sabl i ng depres si on , and there fore , d o n o t c o n f

lic t w ith th e A L J ’s d e c is io n . A m ong the othe rne w e vi de nc e S m i th s ubm i tt e d w a s ( 1) a20 J une 2006 r e por tf r om D r . W i l s on c onc l udi ng tha the ri m pa i rm e nt s w oul d pr e ve nthe rf r om w orki ng ; (2) a17 A pri l 20 06 re po rtfr om D r. P ri nce c on cl ud i ng thatshe w as com pl et el y i m pai re d; and (3) a 21 D ec em ber 200 5 Q ual i ty of L i fe re po rt , w hi ch i nd i ca t ed thatS m i th report ed her back pai n w as w orse , her depres si on w as w orse , a n d h e rp a in s c a le s c o r e w a s a n e ig h t o u t o f te n . W h ile th e s e th r e e r e p o r ts w o u ld s tr e ngthe n S m i th’ s c ont e nt i on tha tthe ne w e vi de nc e s how e d s he w a s di s abl e d, the s e r e por t s c a m e a f

t e rthe A L J ’ s de c i s i on and, the r e f or e , the A C doe s not c o n s i d e rth e m i n d e t e rmi n i n g w h e th e rt o r e v i e w th e A LJ ’ s d e c i s i o n . Se e 2 0 C. F. R. § 4 0 4 .9 7 0 ( b ) . T here fore , because non e of the re po rt s i n the re l evantt i m e per i od i nd i ca t ed th a t S m ith w a s e x p e r ie n c in g s e v e r e o rd is ab lin g p a in o rd e p r e s s io n , a n d th e r e p o r ts31

concl ud i ng thatshe w as experi enci ng se vere pai n and depres si on t oo k p l ac e a ft er th e A L J ’s d e c is io n , th e e v id e n c e d id n o t e s tab lis h alik e lih o o d th a t th e A L J w o u ld ha ve r e a c he d adi f

f e r e ntr e s ul t , a nd the A C di d note rrby c onc l udi ng tha tthe w e ig h t o f

th e e v id e n c e w a s n o t c o n tr a ry to th e A L J ’s d e c is io n . 3. T he D i s tr i c tC our t ’ s D e c i s i on N ott o R e m a nd W as C orre ct W e r e v ie w d e n o v o ad is tr ic t c o u rt’s d e te rm in a tio n o f w h e th e rn e w ly su b m itted ev id en ce n ec es sitates a re m an d to th e C o m m issio n er . V eg a v . C o m m ’r of S oc. S ec . , 26 5 F . 3d 12 14 , 12 18 (11th C i r. 20 01 ). W hen a cl ai m antsubm i t s new e vi de nc e t o the A C , the di s tr i c tc our tm us tc ons i de rthe e nt i r e r e c or d, i nc l udi ng the evi dence s ub m i tt ed t o the A C , t o d et erm i ne w hether the deni al of benefi t s w as erroneou s. Ingram , 49 6 F . 3d at12 62 . R em and i s app ropri at e w hen a di stri ctcourt fai l s t o co n si d er th e reco rd as a w h o l e, i n cl u d i n g ev i d en ce su b m i tt ed fo r th e fi rst tim e to th e A C , in d e te rm in in g w h e th e rth e C o m m is s io n e r ’s f in a l d e c is io n is s u p p o r te d b y s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e . I d . a t 1 2 6 6 - 6 7 . T h e n e w e v id e n c e m u s t r e la te b a c kt o th e t i me p e r i o d o n o rb e f o r e th e d a t e o f

th e A LJ ’ s d e c i s i o n . 2 0 C. F. R. § 4 04 . 97 0(b). “S e c tio n 4 0 5 ( g ) [ o f

th e S o c ia l S e c u r ity A c t] p e rm its ad is tr ic t c o u r t to re m and an app l i ca t i on for benefi t s t o the C om m i ss i on er. . . by tw o m etho ds, w hi ch ar e c o m m o n ly d en o m in ated ‘sen ten ce fo u r r em an d s’ an d ‘sen ten ce six re m an d s.’”32

I n g r a m , 4 9 6 F .3 d a t 1 2 6 1 . A s e n te n c e f o u rr e m a n d , a s o p p o s e d to as e n te n c e s ix r e m a n d , is ap p r o p r ia te w h e n “e v id e n c e p r o p e r ly p r e s e n te d to th e A p p e a ls C o u n c il has bee n con si dere d b y the C om m i ss i on erand i s partof the adm i ni stra t i ve re cord. ” Ingram , 49 6 F . 3d at12 69 . U nd era s ent ence four re m and, w hen a cl ai m anthas s u b m itte d e v id e n c e f

o rth e f ir s t tim e to th e A C , th e c la im a n t is n o t r e q u ir e d to s h o w g o o d c au s e . S e e M e lk o n y a n v . S u lliv a n , 5 0 1 U .S . 8 9 , 9 9 - 1 0 0 , 1 1 1 S .C t. 21 57 , 21 64 (199 1) (r ec og ni zi ng “ C on gres s’ expl i ci tdel i neat i on i n § 40 5(g)” betw ee n sent ence four and sent ence si x rem ands and n ot i ng thata c ou rtm ay r e m a n d u n d e rs e n te n c e s ix “o n ly if th e c la im a n t s h o w s g o o d c au s e f o rf a ilin g to pres entthe evi dence earl i er ”) ; se e a l so Ingram , 49 6 F . 3d at12 58 (r ec og ni zi ng that w e h a v e p r e v io u s ly “m is ta k e n ly s ta te d th a t e v id e n c e f ir s t p r e s e n te d to th e A p p e a ls C ounc i l c oul d be c ons i de r e d by the c our tonl y i f the appl i c a ntha d good c aus e f or no tpres ent i ng i tea rl i ert o the adm i ni stra t i ve l aw j ud ge. ”) . B ec ause S m i th sub m i tt ed new evi dence for the fi rs tt i m e t o the A C , w hi ch th e A C c o n s id e r e d , it b e c a m e p a r t o f th e a d m in is tr a tiv e r e c o r d a n d th e o n ly b a s is f o rr e m a n d in g h e rc a s e w o u ld b e as e n te n c e f o u rr e m a n d , n o t as e n te n c e s ix re m and. B ec ause thi s i s ase nt ence four re m and si tuat i on , S m i th w as no tre qu i re d t o s how good c aus e . H e r e , the di s tr i c tc our tdi d notr e qui r e S m i th t o s how good c au s e a n d d i d i n f

a c tc o n s i d e rth e a d d i t i o n a l e v i d e n c e Smi th s u b mi tt e d t o th e A C,33

a s I n g r a m r e q u ir e s . B e c au s e th e d is tr ic t c o u r t c o n s id e r e d th e e v id e n c e S m ith subm i tt ed for the fi rs tt i m e t o the A C , a r em and for fai l i ng t o con si der the evi dence unde rI ngr a m i s unne c e s s a ry . S e e I ngr a m , 496 F . 3d a t1266- 67. A ddi t i ona l l y , the evi dence thatS m i th sub m i tt ed af t erthe A L J’ s dec i si on , w hi ch the di stri ctcourt pr ope r l y c ons i de r e d, w a s e i the rc um ul a t i ve ori m m a t e r i a l , a nd the r e f or e , the di s tr i c tc our tdi d note rri n f i ndi ng tha tthe e vi de nc e di d note s t abl i s h aba s i s f or re m andi ng the ca se . I I I . CONCL US I ON S h er ry S m ith ap p ea ls th e d istrict co u rt’s o rd eraf firm in g th e C o m m issio n er ’s d e n i a l o f h e rap p l i c a t i o n f

o rd i s ab i l i ty i n s u r a n c e b e n e f i t s , p u r s u a n tt o 4 2 U . S. C. § 4 0 5 ( g ) . U pon r e vi e w of the a dm i ni s tr a t i ve a nd di s tr i c tc our tr e c or ds a nd the pa r t i e s ’ br i e f

s , w e f i nd no e rr or . T he A L J pos e d apr ope rhypothe t i c a l pos e d t o the V ocat i on al E xp ert , the A pp ea l s C ou nci l prop er l y dec l i ned t o revi ew the addi t i on al e vi de nc e S m i th s ubm i tt e d t o i ton appe a l of the A L J ’ s a dve r s e de c i s i on, a nd the di stri ctcourtcorr ec t l y f ou nd thatthe A L J’ s dec i si on i s s up po rt ed by subst ant i al ev id en ce an d fo ll o w ed th e p ro p erleg al stan d ar d s. A cc o rd in g ly, th e d istrict co u rt’s o rd er i s AF F I RME D.