Source: http://ny.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180403_0000351.WNY.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 18:40:12+00:00

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DAVID G. LARIMER UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
Plaintiff appeals from a denial of disability benefits by the Commissioner of Social Security (“the Commissioner”). The action is one brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §405(g) to review the Commissioner's final determination.
On March 21, 2013, plaintiff, then 29 years old, filed an application for supplemental security income, alleging an inability to work since September 1, 2007. (Dkt. #8 at 16, 139). His application was initially denied. Plaintiff requested a hearing, which was held February 27, 2015 before Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) Brian Kane. The ALJ issued an unfavorable decision on March 26, 2015, concluding that plaintiff was not disabled under the Social Security Act. That decision became the final decision of the Commissioner when the Appeals Council denied review on October 13, 2016 (Dkt. #8 at 1-3). Plaintiff now appeals.
The plaintiff has moved, and the Commissioner has cross moved, for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 12(c). For the reasons set forth below, the Commissioner's cross motion (Dkt. #12) is granted, plaintiff's motion (Dkt. #10) is denied, and the complaint is dismissed.
An ALJ proceeds though a well-established five-step evaluation in determining whether a claimant is disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act, familiarity with which is presumed. See Bowen v. City of New York, 476 U.S. 467, 470-71 (1986). The Commissioner's decision that plaintiff is not disabled must be affirmed if it is supported by substantial evidence, and if the ALJ has applied the correct legal standards. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Machadio v. Apfel, 276 F.3d 103, 108 (2d Cir.2002).
Here, the ALJ determined that the plaintiff was capable of performing light work, with the following limitations: the plaintiff has the ability to lift and/or carry up to ten pounds, and can sit for up to six hours, stand for up to four hours, and walk for up to four hours in an eight-hour workday. Plaintiff has no use of his upper right extremity for reaching in any direction, and can only occasionally finger and handle with his right upper extremity. (Dkt. #8 at 20). When presented with this RFC, vocational expert Julie A. Andrews testified that plaintiff could perform the positions of housekeeper/cleaner and counter clerk. (Dkt. #8 at 23).
Plaintiff's treatment records reflect a history of complaints of pain in the right shoulder, arm and hand, following a gunshot wound and a motor vehicle accident, with sporadic references to complaints of depression, back pain, and asthma. The ALJ's finding concerning plaintiff's RFC is consistent with the medical evidence of record.
Initially, plaintiff contends that the ALJ failed to sufficiently support his decision not to give controlling weight to the opinion of treating physician Dr. Erin Imler. (Dkt. #8 at 214). Dr. Imler's opinion, rendered September 17, 2012, noted that plaintiff had requested an examination of his right shoulder to support his pending disability case. After examining plaintiff, Dr. Imler opined that plaintiff was unable to work at “the present time” due to right shoulder pain and weakness and tremor of the right arm, and that he would remain so for six months. Dr. Imler stated that plaintiff could walk, stand and sit for up to four hours, and push, pull, bend, lift and carry for up to two hours, in an eight-hour workday. (Dkt. #8 at 217).
A treating physician's opinion is entitled to controlling weight if it is well-supported by medical findings, and is not inconsistent with other substantial evidence. See Rosa v. Callahan, 168 F.3d 72, 78 (2d Cir. 1999). If an ALJ opts not to afford controlling weight to the opinion of a treating physician, the ALJ must consider: (1) the examining relationship; (2) the extent of the treatment relationship; (3) medical support for the opinion: (4) consistency; and (5) the physician's specialization, along with any other relevant factors. 29 C.F.R. §404.1527(d)(2). An ALJ's failure to apply these factors and provide reasons for the weight given to the treating physician's report is reversible error. See Snell v. Apfel, 177 F.3d 128, 134 (2d Cir. 1999).
I find that the ALJ appropriately considered the relevant factors in assessing Dr. Imler's opinion, and that his decision to give it only “some” weight was proper. Initially, the opinion refers to no more than temporary limitations, expected to last for six months, which are insufficient to meet the twelve-month durational prerequisite for a disability claim. (Dkt. #8 at 215). See generally Barnhart v. Walton, 535 U.S. 212, 219 (2002) (a claimant's functional limitations - and not merely his diagnosis - must meet the 12-month durational requirement in order to establish disability). Although Dr. Imler assessed sitting, standing and walking limitations, those limitations are entirely unsupported: they have no obvious relationship to plaintiff's diagnoses (right arm and shoulder pain and weakness, asthma and depression), and are contradicted by Dr. Imler's contemporaneous objective findings that plaintiff's gait and ability to walk and squat were completely “normal.” (Dkt. #8 at 216).
Furthermore, although the ALJ appears to have given Dr. Imler the benefit of the doubt in determining her relationship to plaintiff, there is no evidence of any extensive treating relationship between them. To the contrary, the record indicates that Dr. Imler examined plaintiff only one time, and she describes that examination as an “incomplete [workup]” (Dkt. #8 at 146, 215). See also Dkt. #8 at 214 (declining to identify date plaintiff became a patient, when plaintiff was examined, or how many times). Finally, to the extent that Dr. Imler opined that plaintiff's shoulder pain would render him temporarily unable to work, the ALJ appropriately rejected that opinion because the question of ultimate disability is reserved solely for the Commissioner. See Halloran v. Barnhart, 362 F.3d 29, 32 (2d Cir. 2004).
The RFC determined by the ALJ is also consistent with plaintiff's longitudinal medical history, which does not testify to any severe limitations except with respect to plaintiff's right arm and shoulder. Objective testing results, such as X-rays of plaintiff's chest and lumbar spine performed on or around February 13, 2014, were normal. (Dkt. #8 at 259-63, 265). Plaintiff's self-report that as of March 21, 2013, he was working full-time as a cleaner (Dkt. #8 at 143-44, 149-50), as well as his self-reported daily activities, including cooking, cleaning and laundry (Dkt. #8 at 59, 219), were also inconsistent with the extent of the limitations identified by Dr. Imler. I therefore find that the ALJ's decision not to grant controlling weight to the opinion of Dr. Imler was adequately explained and properly supported.

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