Source: http://openjurist.org/405/f3d/1208/moore-v-b-barnhart
Timestamp: 2014-12-18 09:44:00
Document Index: 620073316

Matched Legal Cases: ['art\n405', 'art 405', '§ 405', '§ 404', '§ 416', '§ 423']

405 F3d 1208 Moore v. B Barnhart | OpenJurist
405 F. 3d 1208 - Moore v. B Barnhart	Home405 f3d 1208 moore v. b barnhart
405 F3d 1208 Moore v. B Barnhart 405 F.3d 1208
Christi L. MOORE, Plaintiff-Appellant,v.Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 04-13176.
Robin N. Bargeron, Macon, GA, Chantal J. Harrington, Bohr & Harrington, LLC, Jacksonville, FL, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
Stephen Thompson, Reginald V. Speegle, Dennis R. Williams, Mary Ann Sloan, Douglas Wilson, Office of Gen. Counsel, SSA, Atlanta, GA, Hugh Randolph Aderhold, Jr., Macon, GA, for Defendant-Appellee.
Christi L. Moore appeals the district court's order affirming the Commissioner of Social Security's ("Commissioner") denial of her application for Disability Insurance Benefit ("DIB") and Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") payments based on a determination that she retained sufficient residual functional capacity to perform her past relevant work. Specifically, Moore takes issue with: (i) the ALJ's failure to credit testimony from her treating physicians; (ii) the ALJ's reference to an absence of objective medical evidence; (iii) the ALJ's ultimate determination that she remained able to perform the full range of light work; and (iv) the ALJ's failure to comply with regulations on the methodology for evaluating mental impairments. We find the ALJ's failure to properly evaluate Moore's psychological impairments requires remand.
In February 1994, Moore applied for DIB, claiming disability from fibromyalgia, separation of the right shoulder, a varus deformity of the knee and leg1, asthma, depression, cervical disc disease, and headaches. After hearings before an administrative law judge ("ALJ"), her DIB application was denied in August 1996. The district court affirmed, but on appeal before this court the Social Security Administration ("SSA") requested a "sentence four" remand pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g)2 to allow further consideration of Moore's fibromyalgia. Moore subsequently filed her claim for SSI payments in April 1998. After additional hearings and the presentation of additional evidence, the ALJ recommended that both claims be denied. Though the ALJ accepted that Moore both had not engaged in substantial gainful activity and had impairments qualifying as severe, he determined that Moore's disabilities did not meet or equal any of those resulting in a presumption of disability. See Appendix 1, 20 C.F.R. § 404 (2005). The ALJ ultimately found that while Moore was restricted from some jobs, her impairments did not preclude performance of all of her past relevant work, including light exertion positions as an office clerk, sales clerk, food production worker, or waitress. That determination was largely grounded in what the ALJ perceived as an inconsistency between Moore's accounts of her daily activities and her claims of work impairment. The ALJ also made adverse credibility determinations as to Moore's claim that she has not kept up with her prescription drug and treatment regimen due to financial constraints, in light of Moore's ability to purchase cigarettes, cocaine, and marijuana. The ALJ further found Moore's case weakened by her smoking habit, where medical professionals have repeatedly stated that it exacerbated her asthma and respiratory problems.
After the appeals council denied Moore's request for review, the Commissioner adopted the ALJ's findings as final. Moore appealed to the district court, which in turn adopted the magistrate's recommendation to affirm the Commissioner's decision. Moore timely appeals.
In Social Security appeals, we review de novo the legal principles upon which the Commissioner's decision is based. Chester v. Bowen, 792 F.2d 129, 131 (11th Cir.1986). However, we review the resulting decision only to determine whether it is supported by substantial evidence. Crawford v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 363 F.3d 1155, 1158-59 (11th Cir.2004). Substantial evidence is less than a preponderance, but rather such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Id. This limited review precludes deciding the facts anew, making credibility determinations, or re-weighing the evidence. Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th Cir.1983).
An individual claiming Social Security disability benefits must prove that she is disabled. Jones v. Apfel, 190 F.3d 1224, 1228 (11th Cir.1999). For SSI claims, a claimant becomes eligible in the first month where she is both disabled and has an SSI application on file. 20 C.F.R. § 416.202-03 (2005). For DIB claims, a claimant is eligible for benefits where she demonstrates disability on or before the last date for which she were insured. 42 U.S.C. § 423(a)(1)(A) (2005). Because Moore's last insured date was December 31, 1997, her DIB appeal