Source: http://ar.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20140707_0000795.WAR.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-07-28 06:52:50
Document Index: 184167886

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 205', '§ 405', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 423', '§ 423', '§ 423']

| Buttrum v. Colvin
Buttrum v. Colvin
JULIE FRANCES BUTTRUM, Plaintiff,v.CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Defendant.
Julie Frances Buttrum ("Plaintiff") brings this action pursuant to § 205(g) of Title II of the Social Security Act ("The Act"), 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (2010), seeking judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration ("SSA") denying her application for Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") and a period of disability under Title XVI of the Act. The parties have consented to the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge to conduct any and all proceedings in this case, including conducting the trial, ordering the entry of a final judgment, and conducting all post-judgment proceedings. ECF No. 9.[1] Pursuant to this authority, the Court issues this memorandum opinion and orders the entry of a final judgment in this matter.
Plaintiff protectively filed an application for SSI on November 30, 2009. (Tr. 10, 105-109). Plaintiff alleged she was disabled due to breathing problems, back pain and headaches. (Tr. 123). Plaintiff alleged an onset date of July 1, 2001. (Tr. 123). This application was denied initially and again upon reconsideration. (Tr. 10, 50-57). Thereafter, Plaintiff requested an administrative hearing on his application and this hearing request was granted. (Tr. 59-60).
Plaintiff's administrative hearing was held on February 21, 2012. (Tr. 26-44). Plaintiff was present and was represented by counsel, Randolf Baltz, at this hearing. Id. At the time of this hearing, Plaintiff was fifty-three (53) years old, which is defined as a "person closely approaching advanced age" under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1563(d), and had a high school education. (Tr. 28).
On April 11, 2012, the ALJ entered an unfavorable decision denying Plaintiff's application for SSI. (Tr. 10-20). In this decision, the ALJ determined Plaintiff had not engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity ("SGA") since November 30, 2009. (Tr. 12, Finding 1). The ALJ also determined Plaintiff had the severe impairments of depression, anxiety, asthma, and back pain. (Tr. 12, Finding 2). The ALJ then determined Plaintiff's impairments did not meet or medically equal the requirements of any of the Listing of Impairments in Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Regulations No. 4 ("Listings"). (Tr. 13, Finding 3).
In this decision, the ALJ evaluated Plaintiff's subjective complaints and determined her RFC. (Tr. 15-19). First, the ALJ indicated he evaluated Plaintiff's subjective complaints and found her claimed limitations were not entirely credible. Id. Second, the ALJ determined Plaintiff retained the RFC for light work but should avoid excessive chemical exposure, noise, humidity, dust, fumes, temperature extremes, vibrations, gases or other pulmonary irritants; limited to jobs where interpersonal contact is incidental to the work performed, the complexity of tasks is learned and performed by rote with few variables and little judgment required, and supervision is simple, direct, and concrete. (Tr. 15, Finding 4).
The ALJ then evaluated Plaintiff's Past Relevant Work ("PRW"). (Tr. 19, Finding 5). The ALJ found Plaintiff had no PRW. Id. The ALJ, however, also determined there was other work existing in significant numbers in the national economy Plaintiff could perform. (Tr. 19, Finding 9). The ALJ based his determination upon the testimony of the VE. Id. Specifically, the VE testified that given all Plaintiff's vocational factors, a hypothetical individual would be able to perform the requirements of a representative occupation such as cashier II with approximately 31, 000 such jobs in Arkansas and 3, 000, 000 such jobs in the nation. Id. Based upon this finding, the ALJ determined Plaintiff had not been under a disability as defined by the Act since November 30, 2009. (Tr. 20, Finding 10).
Thereafter, Plaintiff requested the Appeals Council review the ALJ's unfavorable decision. (Tr. 6). See 20 C.F.R. § 404.968. The Appeals Council declined to review this unfavorable decision. (Tr. 1-3). On June 13, 2013, Plaintiff filed the present appeal. ECF No. 1. The Parties consented to the jurisdiction of this Court on September 10, 2013. ECF No. 9. Both Parties have filed appeal briefs. ECF Nos. 17, 18. This case is now ready for decision.
It is well established that a claimant for Social Security disability benefits has the burden of proving his or her disability by establishing a physical or mental disability that lasted at least one year and that prevents him or her from engaging in any substantial gainful activity. See Cox v. Apfel, 160 F.3d 1203, 1206 (8th Cir. 1998); 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A). The Act defines a "physical or mental impairment" as "an impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which are demonstrable by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques." 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(3), 1382(3)(c). A plaintiff must show that his or her disability, not simply his or her impairment, has lasted for at least twelve consecutive months. See 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A).