Source: http://ca.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20100112_0000102.CCA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-03-29 19:20:42
Document Index: 517469013

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 423', '§ 405', '§ 423', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 404', 'art, 454']

| Pham v. Astrue
TICH PHAM, AKA TICH THI PHAM, PLAINTIFF,v.MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, DEFENDANT.
Plaintiff Tich Pham, aka Tich Thi Pham, filed a complaint on October 22, 2008, seeking review of the Commissioner's decision denying her application for disability benefits. On March 27, 2009, the Commissioner answered the complaint, and the parties filed a joint stipulation on May 6, 2009.
On December 3, 2004 (protective filing date), plaintiff filed an application for disability benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act ("Act"), 42 U.S.C. § 423, claiming an inability to work since April 20, 2003, due to "severe radiating pain in left arm, surgery [on her] left arm, pain in [her] right arm, and depression[.]" Certified Administrative Record ("A.R.") 23, 76, 79-80. The plaintiff's application was initially denied on March 22, 2005, and, following reconsideration, was denied again on June 2, 2005. A.R. 59-71. The plaintiff then requested an administrative hearing, which was held before Administrative Law Judge F. Keith Varni (the "ALJ") on November 30, 2006, and on March 26, 2007. A.R. 72-73, 398-428. On April 10, 2007, the ALJ issued a decision finding plaintiff is not disabled. A.R. 21-30. The plaintiff appealed this decision to the Appeals Council, which denied review on September 9, 2008. A.R. 4-16.
The Court, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), has the authority to review the Commissioner's decision denying plaintiff disability benefits to determine if substantial evidence supports the Commissioner's findings and whether the proper legal standards were used in reaching the decision. Vasquez v. Astrue, 572 F.3d 586, 591 (9th Cir. 2009); Vernoff v. Astrue, 568 F.3d 1102, 1105 (9th Cir. 2009). The claimant is "disabled" for the purpose of receiving benefits under the Act if she is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to an impairment which has lasted, or is expected to last, for a continuous period of at least twelve months. 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1505(a). "The claimant bears the burden of establishing a prima facie case of disability." Roberts v. Shalala, 66 F.3d 179, 182 (9th Cir. 1995), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1122 (1996); Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1289 (9th Cir. 1996).
The Commissioner has promulgated regulations establishing a five-step sequential evaluation process for the ALJ to follow in a disability case. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520. In the First Step, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant is currently engaged in substantial gainful activity. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(b). If not, in the Second Step, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments significantly limiting her from performing basic work activities. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). If so, in the Third Step, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has an impairment or combination of impairments that meets or equals the requirements of the Listing of Impairments ("Listing"), 20 C.F.R. § 404, Subpart P, App. 1. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(d). If not, in the Fourth Step, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has sufficient residual functional capacity despite the impairment or various limitations to perform her past work. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(f). If not, in Step Five, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to show the claimant can perform other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy.*fn1 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(g).
Applying the five-step sequential evaluation process, the ALJ found plaintiff has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since April 20, 2003, the alleged onset of disability. (Step One). The ALJ then found plaintiff "has the following severe combination of impairments: right carpal tunnel syndrome, residuals of left cubital tunnel release with anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve, early left frozen shoulder syndrome, and depressive disorder not otherwise specified"; however, plaintiff does not have a severe mental impairment, (Step Two), and she does not have an impairment or combination of impairments that meets or equals a Listing. (Step Three). The ALJ next determined plaintiff cannot perform her past relevant work as a supermarket cashier. (Step Four). Finally, the ALJ concluded plaintiff can perform a significant number of jobs in the national economy; therefore, she is not disabled. (Step Five).
A claimant's residual functional capacity ("RFC") is what she can still do despite her physical, mental, non-exertional, and other limitations. Mayes v. Massanari, 276 F.3d 453, 460 (9th Cir. 2001); see also Valentine v. Comm'r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 574 F.3d 685, 689 (9th Cir. 2009) (RFC is "a summary of what the claimant is capable of doing (for example, how much weight he can lift)."). Here, the ALJ found plaintiff retains the physical RFC to: occasionally lift and/or carry up to 20 pounds, push and/or pull with her upper extremities, and handle, finger and feel; frequently lift and/or carry up to 10 pounds, balance, kneel, crouch and stoop; never climb or crawl; there is no restriction in sitting, standing, walking, reaching, seeing, hearing, or speaking, and no environmental limitations other than plaintiff should not be exposed to vibrations. A.R. 26, 387-90.*fn2 As for plaintiff's mental RFC, the ALJ found plaintiff was: slightly-to-moderately limited in her ability to understand and remember detailed instructions and interact appropriately with the public, supervisors, and co-workers; slightly limited in her ability to carry out detailed instructions and make judgments on simple work-related decisions; mildly impaired in her ability to comply with job rules such as safety and attendance due to some possible mild problems with concentration and memory; and not limited in her ability to understand, remember or complete simple instructions, respond to changes in the normal workplace setting, maintain persistence and pace in a normal workplace setting, and respond appropriately to work pressures in a usual work setting. A.R. 26, 374-78.
The plaintiff contends the ALJ's findings are not supported by substantial evidence because, among other reasons, the ALJ did not consider the opinions of examining physicians Keola G. Chun, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon, and Louis Fontana, M.D., a psychiatrist. The plaintiff is correct.
"[T]he ALJ may only reject . . . [an] examining physician's uncontradicted medical opinion based on 'clear and convincing reasons[,]'" Carmickle v. Comm'r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 533 F.3d 1155, 1164 (9th Cir. 2008) (citation omitted); Widmark v. Barnhart, 454 F.3d 1063, 1066 (9th Cir. 2006), and "[e]ven if contradicted by another doctor, the opinion of an examining doctor can be rejected only for specific and legitimate reasons that are supported by substantial evidence in the record." Regennitter v. Comm'r of the Soc. Sec. Admin., 166 F.3d 1294, 1298-99 (9th Cir. 1999); Ryan v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 528 F.3d 1194, 1198 (9th Cir. 2008). Here, the ALJ did not discuss the opinions of Drs. Chun and Fontana, and did not provide any reasons for rejecting their opinions, as he did inferentially by making findings that conflict with them.
On June 16, 2004, Dr. Chun conducted a qualified medical examination of plaintiff, diagnosed her as having left ulnar nerve transposition and neurolysis*fn3 performed August 21, 2003, persistent left hand pain, and right carpal tunnel syndrome, and opined plaintiff is precluded from forceful strength activities and repetitive manipulation with her left hand and from performing fine manipulation, repetitive keying activities and repetitive motion of the wrist with her ...