NOT FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

JAMES ROUSE,

Civil Action No. 11-4282 (JLL)

Plaintiff,

v. OPINION

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

Defendant.

LINARES, District Judge.

This matter comes before the Court upon the appeal of James Rouse (“Plaintiff’) from

the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (the “Commissioner”) upholding

Plaintiffs Disability Cessation, and the final decision of the Commissioner, denying Plaintiffs

application for Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) and Disability Insurance Benefits (“DIB”)

under the Social Security Act (the “Act”). The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to

42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and 1383(c)(3), and resolves this matter on the parties’ briefs pursuant to

Local Civil Rule 9.1(f). After reviewing the submissions of both parties, for the following

reasons, the final decisions of the Commissioner are affirmed.

I. BACKGROUND 1

A. Procedural History

On April 24, 1996, Plaintiff filed applications for DIB and SSI, alleging a disability

beginning June 1, 1995 (the “1996 Applications”). On July 29, 1999, Administrative Law Judge

The facts set-forth in this Opinion are taken from the parties’ statements in their respective moving papers and the

transcript of the record.

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Ralph Muehlig issued a decision finding Plaintiff disabled. On August 30, 2006, Plaintiff

received a Notice of Disability Cessation, informing him that the Social Security Administration

(the “Agency”) found that he was no longer disabled as ofJuly 2005. In this Notice, Plaintiff was

informed that he had not cooperated with the Agency’s continuing disability review because he

failed to answer four separate letters sent to him. On November 19, 2006, Plaintiff filed a

Request for Reconsideration of his Disability Cessation. On November 16, 2007, the Agency

affirmed the Disability Cessation. On March 18, 2008, Plaintiff filed a request for a hearing.

Plaintitfs hearing was scheduled for October 1, 2008. Plaintiff failed to appear at this

hearing, and on October 1, 2008, Administrative Law Judge Donna Krappa (the “AU”) issued a

Notice to Show Cause for Failure to Appear. On November 10, 2008, the AU dismissed

Plaintiffs request for a hearing for failure to show good cause as to why he did not appear at the

October 1, 2008 hearing. Plaintiff filed a Request for Review of this decision on February 13,

2009. On September 2, 2009, the Appeals Council remanded the matter for further proceedings,

finding that good cause existed for Plaintiffs failure to attend the October 1, 2008 hearing.

On April 21, 2009, Plaintiff filed applications for DIB and SSI (the “2009 Applications”),

alleging a disability beginning December 1, 2007. Plaintiffs’ claims were denied initially on

August 26, 2009, and upon reconsideration on October 14, 2009. Plaintiff filed a request for a

hearing on October 29, 2009. A hearing was scheduled for January 4, 2010, but Plaintiff failed to

appear. Another hearing was scheduled and held on March 24, 2010 before the AU, where she

addressed both the 2009 Applications and the Cessation of Benefits from the 1996 Applications.

At this hearing, testimony was taken from Vocational Expert (“VE”), Pat Green, and Medical

Expert (“ME”), Dr. Martin Fechner.

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On June 7, 2010, the AU issued a decision finding that Plaintiff was not disabled under

the Act from December 1, 2007 through the date of the decision. The AU also issued a separate

decision on June 7, 2010, affirming the Cessation of Benefits from the 1996 Applications. The

Appeals Council subsequently denied Plaintiff’s request for review of these decisions. Plaintiff

then commenced the instant action.

B. Factual History

1. Plaintiff’s Testimony

At the time of his hearing, Plaintiff was fifty-two years old and married with ten children.

He does not have a driver’s license, as he lost it due to a drurik driving incident. He last worked

as a packing mechanic in 1994, and claims that he can no longer work because his memory is

gone and he passes out. Plaintiff can walk three to four blocks before needing to stop because his

leg gives out and he gets dizzy. He can stand for twenty minutes at a time before both his right

and left sides become numb. He can sit for one hour at a time and can lift up to ten pounds.

During the day, Plaintiff will listen to the radio, say prayers, shower, clean his room, and

take out the trash. He is able to dress himself “slowly but surely.” He attends church three times

a week for about three hours at a time. He frequently stands up and down during the service

because he cannot sit still. To relieve his pain, he takes Motrin and hooks himself to a TENS

unit. He has difficulty sleeping at night because he will worry about his financial situation and

because he will think he is having a stroke due to leg cramps he experiences.

2. Medical Evidence

On August 3, 2009, psychologist Dr. Kim Arrington conducted a consultative evaluation

of Plaintiff. Dr. Arrington noted that Plaintiff appeared his stated age and was dressed

appropriately, but that his hygiene and grooming were poor. Dr. Arrington found that Plaintiff’s

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speech was fluent, his expressive and receptive language skills were adequate, and his thought

processes were coherent and goal directed with no evidence of hallucinations, delusions, or

paranoia. She stated that his affect was agitated and anxious, his mood was dysthymic, his

sensorium was clear, and he was oriented to time, place, and person. Dr. Arrington found that

Plaintiff’s recent and remote memory skills were impaired, and that his attention and

concentration were mildly impaired. Dr. Arrington opined that Plaintiff was able to follow and

understand simple directions and instructions, perform many simple tasks with help, and

maintain a regular schedule. However, she also found that he would have difficulty learning new

tasks and performing complex tasks independently. Dr. Arrington diagnosed Plaintiff with an

adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and she ruled out a cyclothymic disorder, bipolar

disorder, and alcohol abuse.

Plaintiff was examined by Social Security examiner Dr. Marvin Soalt, on August 12,

2009. Plaintiff complained to Dr. Soalt that he had loss of power of his right extremities

(especially his hand), soreness of his right foot, and back pain. Plaintiff also complained that his

mouth pulled to the right. Dr. Soalt noted that Plaintiff had a full range of motion in the cervical

spine and a limited range of motion in all directions in the lumbar spine, with pain upon

palpitation of the right lower back area and the right toe. Dr. Soalt found that Plaintiff’s motor

power was generally 5/5, with the exception of his right hip fiexion, which was 3/5. Dr. Soult

diagnosed Plaintiff with cervical discogenic disease with right upper extremity weakness by

complaint and lumbar discogenic disease with right lower extremity weakness by complaint.

Plaintiff has made a number of trips to the emergency. In 2006, he made a trip due to a

sprain and strain to his lower back after falling out of a chair. In 2009, he made two separate trips

for i) a superficial laceration on his right forearm after a fight with his stepson, and ii) acute

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bronchitis. A third trip in was made in 2009 for complaints of chest pain, a toothache, neck pain,

and depression due to being denied SIB. During this fourth trip, Plaintiff was diagnosed with

cocaine intoxication. It was also noted that he appeared to be manipulating the system for DIB,

as he stated that his attorney told him to seek psychiatric help in the emergency room in order to

assist his disability claim.

3. ME Testimony

Dr. Fechner testified that although Plaintiff’s evidence notes a history of hypertension,

the condition is fairly well-controlled. Dr. Fechner also noted that the record contains a positive

drug screen in October 2009. After discussing Plaintiff’s physical condition, Dr. Fechner

concluded that Plaintiff is capable of work at the medium level as defined in the Regulations.

4. VE Testimony

The AU asked Ms. Green to consider a hypothetical person with Plaintiff’s age,

education, work, history, and physical limitations. Ms. Green testified that several jobs exist in

the national economy which such an individual could perform, such as industrial cleaner,

produce packer, and fleece tier.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

A reviewing court will uphold the Commissioner’s factual decisions ifthey are supported

by “substantial evidence.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), 1383(c)(3); Sykes v. Apfel, 228 F.3d 259, 262

(3d Cir. 2000). Substantial evidence is “more than a mere scintilla . . . but may be less than a

preponderance.” Woody v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs, 859 F.2d 1156, 1159 (3d Cir.

1988). It “does not mean a large or considerable amount of evidence, but rather such relevant

evidence which, considering the record as a whole, a reasonable person might accept as adequate

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to support a conclusion.” Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S. 552, 565 (1988) (citation omitted).

Not all evidence is considered “substantial.” For instance,

[a] single piece of evidence will not satisfy the substantiality test if

the [Commissioner] ignores, or fails to resolve, a conflict created

by countervailing evidence. Nor is evidence substantial if it is

overwhelmed by other evidence—particularly certain types of

evidence (e.g. that offered by treating physicians)—or if it really

constitutes not evidence but mere conclusion.

Wallace v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 722 F.2d 1150, 1153 (3d Cir. 1983) (quoting Kent

v. Schweiker, 710 F.2d 110, 114 (3d Cir. 1983)). The AU must make specific findings of fact to

support his ultimate conclusions. Stewart v. Secretary of HEW, 714 F.2d 287, 290 (3d Cir.

1983).

The “substantial evidence standard is a deferential standard of review.” Jones v.

Bamhart, 364 F.3d 501, 503 (3d Cir. 2004). As such, it does not matter if this Court “acting de

novo might have reached a different conclusion” than the Commissioner. Monsour Med. Ctr. V.

Heckler, 806 F.2d 1185, 1190-91 (3d Cir. 1986) (quoting Hunter Douglas, Inc. NLRB, 804 F.2d

808. 812 (3d Cir. 1986)). “The district court. . . is [not] empowered to weigh the evidence or

substitute its conclusions for those of the fact-finder.” Williams v. Sullivan, 970 F.2d 1178,

1182 (3d Cir. 1992) (citing Early v. Heckler, 743 F.2d 1002, 1007 (3d Cir. 1984)). A Court must

nevertheless “review the evidence in its totality.” Schonewolf v. Callahan, 972 F. Supp. 277,

284 (D.N.J. 1997) (citing Daring v. Heckler, 727 F.2d 64, 70 (3d Cir. 1984). In doing so, the

Court “must ‘take into account whatever in the record fairly detracts from its weight.”

(quoting Willibanks v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 847 F.2d 301, 303 (6th Cir. 1988)).

To properly review the findings of the AU, the court needs access to the AU’s

reasoning. Accordingly,

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Unless the [Commissioner] has analyzed all evidence and has

sufficiently explained the weight he has given to obviously

probative exhibits, to say that his decision is supported by

substantial evidence approaches an abdication of the court’s duty

to scrutinize the record as a whole to determine whether the

conclusions reached are rational.

Gober v. Matthews, 574 F.2d 772, 776 (3d Cir. 1978) (quoting Arnold v. Sec’y of Health, Educ.

& Welfare, 567 F.2d 258, 259 (4th Cir. 1977)). A court must further assess whether the AU,

when confronted with conflicting evidence, “adequately explain[ed] in the record his reasons for

rejecting or discrediting competent evidence.” Ogden v. Bowen, 677 F. Supp. 273, 278 (M.D.

Pa. 1987) (citing Brewster v. Heckler, 786 F.2d 581 (3d Cir. 1986)). If the AU fails to properly

indicate why evidence was rejected, the court is not permitted to determine whether the evidence

was discredited or simply ignored. See Burnett v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec, 220 F.3d 112, 121 (3d

Cir. 2000) (citing Cotter v. Hanis, 642 F.2d 700, 705 (3d Cir. 1981)).

III. APPLICABLE LAW

A. The Five-Step Process for Evaluating Whether a Claimant Has a Disability

A claimant’s eligibility for benefits is governed by 42 U.S.C. § 1382. Pursuant to the Act,

a claimant is eligible for benefits if he meets the income and resource limitations of 42 U.S.C. §

13 82a and 13 82b, and demonstrates that he is disabled based on an “inability to engage in any

substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental

impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to

last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months.” 42 U.S.C. §1382c(a)(3)(A). A

person is disabled only if his physical or mental impairment(s) are “of such severity that he is not

only unable to do his previous work, but cannot, considering his age, education, and work

experience, engage in any other kind of work which exists in the national economy.” 42 U.S.C.

§ 1 382c(a)(3)(B).

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To determine whether the claimant is disabled, the Commissioner performs a five-step

sequential evaluation. 20 C.F.R. §416.920. The claimant bears the burden of establishing the

first two requirements, namely that he (1) has not engaged in “substantial gainful activity” and

(2) is afflicted with a “severe impairment” or “combination of impairments.” 20 C.F.R.

§404.1 520(a)-(c). If a claimant fails to demonstrate either of these two requirements, DIBs are

denied and the inquiry ends. Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 146 n.5 (1987). If the claimant

successfully proves the first two requirements, the inquiry proceeds to step three which requires

the claimant to demonstrate that his impairment meets or medically equals one of the

impairments listed in 20 C.F.R. Part 404 Appendix I (the “Listings”). If the claimant

demonstrates that his impairment meets or equals one of the listed impairments, he is presumed

to be disabled and therefore, automatically entitled to DIBs. Id. If he cannot make the required

demonstration, further examination is required.

The fourth step of the analysis asks whether the claimant’s residual functional capacity

(“RFC”) permits him to resume his previous employment. 20 C.F.R. §416.920(e). If a claimant

is able to return to his previous employment, he is not disabled within the meaning of the Act

and is not entitled to DIBs. If the claimant is unable to return to his previous employment,

the analysis proceeds to step five. At this step, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to

demonstrate that the claimant can perform a job that exists in the national economy based on the

claimant’s RFC, age, education, and past work experience. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(g). If the

Commissioner cannot satisfy this burden, the claimant is entitled to DIBs. Yuckert, 482 U.S. at

146 n.5.

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B. The Requirement of Objective Evidence

Under the Act, disability must be established by objective medical evidence. “An

individual shall not be considered to be under a disability unless he furnishes such medical and

other evidence of the existence thereof as the Secretary may require.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(5)(A).

Notably, “[ajn individual’s statement as to pain or other symptoms shall not alone be conclusive

evidence of disability as defined in this section.” Id. Specifically, a finding that one is disabled

requires:

[M]edical signs and findings, established by medically acceptable

clinical or laboratory diagnostic techniques, which show the

existence of a medical impairment that results from anatomical,

physiological, or psychological abnormalities which could

reasonably be expected to produce the pain or other symptoms

alleged and which, when considered with all evidence required to

be furnished under this paragraph . . . would lead to a conclusion

that the individual is under a disability.

; 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(A). Credibility is a significant factor. When examining the

record: “The adjudicator must evaluate the intensity, persistence and limiting effects of the

[claimant’s] symptoms to determine the extent to which the symptoms limit the individual’s

ability to do basic work-related activities.” SSR 96-7p, 1996 WL 374186 (July 2, 1996). To do

this, the adjudicator must determine the credibility of the individual’s statements based on

consideration ofthe entire case record. Id. The requirement for a finding of credibility is found in

20 C.F.R. § 416.929(c)(4). A claimant’s symptoms, then, may be discredited “unless medical

signs or laboratory findings show that a medically determinable impairment(s) is present.” 20

C.F.R. § 416.929(b). SeealsoHartranftv. Apfel, 181 F.3d358, 362 (3dCir. 1999).

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IV. DISCUSSION

A. Whether the AU Erred in Affirming Plaintiff’s Appeal of his Disability Cessation

Plaintiff claims that the AU erred in dismissing his appeal of his Disability Cessation

because the AU did not consider Plaintiff’s mental disability when she decided that Plaintiff

failed to cooperate. The Commissioner has established a multi-step sequential evaluation process

for determining whether a person’s disability has ended. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1594(f). Steps one

and two are identical to the steps discussed above used to determine whether a claimant is

disabled, and ask i) if the claimant is engaging in substantial gainful activity, and ii) if the

claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1594(f)(l)-

(2). Step three asks whether the claimant has experienced a medical improvement. 20 C.F.R. §

404.1594(f)(3). If there has been a medical improvement, step four asks whether the

improvement is related to the claimant’s ability do work. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1 594(f)(4). However,

even if it is determined that there is no medical improvement, or that the improvement is not

related to the claimant’s ability to work, consideration is given to whether the case meets any of

the special exceptions to medical improvement. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1 594(f)(5). If a Group One

Exception applies, the Commissioner will continue to step six, and if a Group Two exception

applies, the claimant’s “disability will be found to have ended.” Id. Here, the AU found that a

Group Two explain applied, namely Plaintiff’s failure to cooperate in the review process without

good cause. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1594(e)(2).

The following factors are used to determine whether “good cause” exists for failure to

cooperate:

(I) What circumstances kept [the claimant] from making the

request on time;

(2) Whether our action misled [the claimant];

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(3) Whether [the claimant] did not understand the requirements of

the Act resulting from amendments to the Act, other legislation, or

court decisions; and

(4) Whether [the claimant] had any physical, mental, educational,

or linguistic limitations (including any lack of facility with the

English language) which prevented [the claimant] from filing a

timely request or from understanding or knowing about the need to

file a timely request for review.

20 C.F.R. § 404.911.

Plaintiffs contention that the AU did not consider his mental history to determine

whether good cause existed is untrue, as the AU expressly stated that she considered “any

possible physical, mental, educational and linguistic limitations” in deciding that Plaintiff failed

to show good cause. The AU simply did not find Plaintiffs testimony to be credible, and this

Court finds that substantial evidence supports this conclusion. Plaintiffs argument regarding

notice are problematic. As the AU stated, the letters regarding the appointments were mailed to

the same address where Plaintiff had received his checks, yet he had no problem receiving his

checks. Further, as opined by Dr. Arrington, Plaintiff is able to follow and understand simple

directions and instructions. It is curious that Plaintiff claims to not have received notice of the

appointments, yet began to communicate with the Agency and soon as he received a notice that

his benefits were being terminated. As the Commissioner points out, Plaintiff has displayed a

pattern of selective cooperation, whereby he has refused to cooperate until a final decision has

been made against him.

As such, this Court finds that there is substantial evidence in the record to support the

AU’s finding that no good cause existed for Plaintiffs failure to cooperate in the Disability

Cessation process.

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B. Whether the AU Erred in Finding that Plaintiff is Not Disabled

Plaintiff first argues that an IQ test that he took in 1999 showed that he was impaired, and

that Dr. Arrington’s 2009 report is consistent with that test. Plaintiff points to the fact that Dr.

Arrington found that Plaintiff was anxious and agitated, had problems with concentration,

struggled with multiplication and division, and had mood fluctuations. Plaintiff also relies on Dr.

Arrington’s finding that Plaintiff had a Global Assessment of Function of 55. However, Dr.

Arrington also made a number of positive comments about Plaintiff’s health. For example, Dr.

Arrington found that Plaintiff was able to follow and understand simple directions and

instructions, perform simple tasks with help, and maintain a regular schedule. Dr. Arrington also

stated that Plaintiff’s speech was fluent, his expressive and receptive language was adequate, and

his thought processes were coherent and goal directed. Further, with respect to Plaintiff’s

concentration, Dr. Arrington indicated that it was only mildly impaired.

In addition to Dr. Arrington’s report, the AU relied on Dr. Fechner’s testimony that

Plaintiff is capable of performing medium work. Similarly, state agency medical consultants,

Drs. Virgili and Herrera, opined that Plaintiff could essentially perform the simple demands of

unskilled medium work. Specifically, Dr. Herrera found that Plaintiff can remember instructions

and take direction from supervisors, and that he is capable of performing simple, routine, and

repetitive tasks. Finally, the AU properly considered Plaintiff’s testimony, finding that portions

of his testimony concerning the intensity and persistence of his symptoms was not credible. The

AU noted that Plaintiff stated that he was able to fully perform a number of daily activities and

that the medical evidence before her contradicted Plaintiff’s description of his symptoms. $çç

Hartranfi v. Apfel, 181 F.3d 358, 362 (3d Cir. 1999) (upholding the AU’s finding that the

plaintiff’s testimony was exaggerated because it was supported by substantial evidence in the

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record). The AU also considered the emergency room visit where Plaintiff admitted that his

attorney told him to seek psychiatric help to aid his DIB claim. In his Reply Brief, Plaintiff’s

attorney expresses anger that the Commissioner would suggest that it was improper for him to

recommend that Plaintiff seek psychiatric help. However, the problem lies not within the

attorney’s suggestion that Plaintiff seek help, but in the reasons expressed by Plaintiff in the

emergency room as to why his attorney suggested he seek such help.

Plaintiff’s second argument pertains to a September 1, 2011 Agency decision that finds

Plaintiff disabled as of November 10, 2010. However, this decision deals with applications

submitted by Plaintiff qfter the applications discussed in the AU’s opinion. Further, as the

Commissioner points out, the September 1, 2011 decision provided by Plaintiff states that

Plaintiff reported that he became unable to work on July 1, 2010. As such, this decision is not

relevant to the issues before this Court. See Jackson v. Astrue, 402 F. App’x 717, 718 (3d Cir.

2010) (“Standing alone, the fact that the Commissioner subsequently found claimant to be

disabled does not warrant remand or reversal in the absence of new and material evidence, which

claimant here has failed to provide.”).

Accordingly, this Court finds that the AU’s determination that Plaintiff is not disabled is

supported by substantial evidence. As such, the final decision of the Commissioner is affirmed.

V. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the decisions of the Commissioner are affirmed. An

appropriate order follows this Opinion.

.42 DATED: of April, 2014.

J SEA. LINARES

ISTRICT JUDGE

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