Source: http://co.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180731_0000892.DCO.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 05:00:38+00:00

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This matter is before the Court on review of the Social Security Commissioner's decision denying Plaintiff Akeem Abdullah Makeen's application for disability insurance benefits. Jurisdiction is proper pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
Mr. Makeen argues that the administrative law judge's (“ALJ”) determination that he is capable of performing work that exists in significant numbers is erroneous. (Doc. # 12.) Because the ALJ's analysis was supported by substantial evidence and because the ALJ used the correct legal standards, the Court rejects Mr. Makeen's arguments and affirms the decision of the Commissioner.
[T]he claimant has the residual functional capacity to perform medium work as defined in 20 CFR 404.1567 except maximum lifting of forty (40) pounds, frequently lifting twenty-five (25) pounds, but unlimited sit, stand, and walk. Avoid unprotected heights, ladders, ropes, scaffolds, and hazardous machinery. Can understand, remember, and carry out simple routine, repetitive tasks that can be learned in 30 days or less with occasional interaction with coworkers, supervisors, and the public.
(Id. at 32.) Finally, based on the vocational expert's testimony, the ALJ decided that Mr.
Mr. Makeen requested that the Appeals Council review the ALJ's decision on January 5, 2017. (Doc. # 9-4 at 153.) The Appeals Council denied Mr. Makeen's request for review on September 8, 2017, briefly stating that it “found no reason under [its] rules to review the [ALJ's] decision.” (Doc. # 9-2 at 1-7.) When the Appeals Council declined review, the ALJ's decision became the final decision of the Commissioner. 20 C.F.R. § 404.981; see Blea v. Barnhart, 466 F.3d 903, 908 (10th Cir. 2006).
When reviewing the Commissioner's decision, the Court is limited to determining “whether the findings are supported by substantial evidence and whether the Secretary applied the correct legal standards.” Pacheco v. Sullivan, 931 F.2d 695, 696 (10th Cir. 1991); see also 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (“The findings of the Commissioner of Social Security as to any fact, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive . . . .”). First, the Supreme Court has defined “substantial evidence” as “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Consol. Edison Co. of N.Y. v. NLRB, 305 U.S. 197, 217 (1938). “Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla, but less than a preponderance . . . .” Campbell v. Bowen, 822 F.2d 1518, 1521 (10th Cir. 1987).
In reviewing the record to make the substantial evidence determination, the Court “may not reweigh the evidence nor substitute [its] judgment for the Secretary's.” Glass v. Shalala, 43 F.3d 1392, 1395 (10th Cir. 1994). In addition, the Court “may not displace the agency's choice between two fairly conflicting views, even though the [C]ourt would justifiably have made a different choice had the matter been before it de novo.” Lax v. Astrue, 489 F.3d 1080, 1084 (10th Cir. 2007) (quotation marks and citation omitted). Also, the Court “defer[s] to the ALJ on matters involving the credibility of witnesses.” Glass v. Shalala, 43 F.3d 1392, 1395 (10th Cir. 1994). “A finding of ‘“no substantial evidence” will be only where there is a “conspicuous absence of credible choices” or “no contrary medical evidence.”'” Trimiar v. Sullivan, 966 F.2d 1326, 1329 (10th Cir. 1992) (quoting Hames v. Heckler, 707 F.2d 162, 164 (5th Cir. 1983)).
Second, in addition to the absence of substantial supporting evidence, “[f]ailure to apply the correct legal standard or to provide this court with a sufficient basis to determine that appropriate legal principles have been followed is grounds for reversal.” Byron v. Heckler, 742 F.2d 1232, 1235 (10th Cir. 1984); see also Thompson v. Sullivan, 987 F.2d 1482, 1487 (10th Cir. 1993). “There are specific rules of law that must be followed in deciding whether evidence is substantial in these disability cases.” Frey v. Bowen, 816 F.2d 508, 512 (10th Cir. 1987).
However, not every error in evaluating evidence or applying the correct legal standard warrants reversal or remand. “Courts may not reverse and remand for failure to comply with a regulation without first considering whether the error was harmless.” Bornette v. Barnhart, 466 F.Supp.2d 811, 816 (E.D. Tex. 2006); see also Allen v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1140, 1145 (10th Cir. 2004) (recognizing that the Tenth Circuit has “specifically applied [the principle of harmless error] in social security disability cases” and collecting cases). Harmless error exists where it is “inconceivable” that a different administrative conclusion would have been reached absent the error. Frank v. Barnhart, 326 F.3d 618, 622 (5th Cir. 2003).
An individual shall be determined to be under a disability only if his physical or mental impairment or impairments 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 substantial work which exists in the national economy. . . .
The Commissioner has established a five-step sequential evaluation process to determine whether a claimant is disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)(4). The steps of the evaluation are whether: (1) the claimant is currently working; (2) the claimant has a severe impairment; (3) the claimant's impairment meets an impairment listed in Appendix 1 of the relevant regulation; (4) the impairment precludes the claimant from doing her past relevant work; and (5) the impairment precludes the claimant from doing any work. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1512(g), 404.1560(c); Pisciotta v. Astrue, 500 F.3d 1074, 1076 (10th Cir. 2007). A finding that a claimant is or is not disabled at any point in the five-step evaluation process is conclusive and terminates the analysis. Casias v. Sec'y of Health & Human Serv., 933 F.2d 799, 801 (10th Cir. 1991).
Mr. Makeen argues that the ALJ erred in three ways: (1) “[t]he ALJ failed to properly weigh the medical opinion evidence and failed to properly determine Mr. Makeen's physical residual functional capacity;” (2) “[t]he ALJ failed to properly evaluate Mr. Makeen's testimony;” and (3) “[t]he ALJ relied on a flawed hypothetical question to the vocational expert.” (Doc. # 12 at 12-20.) The Court rejects each argument in turn.

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