Source: http://ar.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20140811_0000923.WAR.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-04-26 13:50:05
Document Index: 547618929

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 405', '§ 423', '§ 405', '§ 423', '§ 423', 'art, 433', '§ 404', '§ 404']

| Phomsopha v. Astrue
Phomsopha v. Astrue
SHELL PHOMSOPHA, Plaintiff,v.MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner Social Security Administration, Defendant.
Plaintiff, Shell Phomsopha, formerly Heather Poole, brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), seeking judicial review of a decision of the Commissioner of Social Security Administration (Commissioner) denying her claim for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits ("DIB") under Title II of the Social Security Act (hereinafter "the Act"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A). In this judicial review, the court must determine whether there is substantial evidence in the administrative record to support the Commissioner's decision. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
The plaintiff filed her application for DIB on February 22, 2010, alleging an onset date of September 1, 2001, due to a colon condition, pain, high blood pressure (HBP), depression, and lumbar back pain. Tr. 69. Plaintiff's claim was denied initially and upon reconsideration. Tr. 13. An administrative hearing was then held on December 20, 2012. Tr. 433-455. Plaintiff was present and represented by counsel. At the time of the administrative hearing, plaintiff was 47 years of age and possessed an eleventh grade education. Tr. 436.
On February 28, 2013, the Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") concluded that Plaintiff last met the insured status requirements of the Social Security Act on June 30, 2002. Tr. 15. Through her date last insured, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had the following medically determinable impairments: hypertension and gastrointestinal disorder (cholecystitis with remote cholecystectomy followed by a revision surgery to repair a bile duct leak in 2001). However, the ALJ determined that neither impairment was severe, whether considered singularly or in combination. Tr. 15. Therefore, he was of the opinion that Plaintiff was not disabled at any time from September 1, 2001, through June 30, 2002. Tr. 18.
The Appeals Council denied Plaintiff's request for review on August 10, 2013. Tr. 3-5. She subsequently filed this action. ECF No. 1. This case is before the undersigned by consent of the parties. Both parties have filed appeal briefs, and the case is now ready for decision. ECF No. 11, 18.
It is well-established that a claimant for Social Security disability benefits has the burden of proving his disability by establishing a physical or mental disability that has lasted at least one year and that prevents him from engaging in any substantial gainful activity. Pearsall v. Massanari, 274 F.3d 1211, 1217 (8th Cir.2001); see also 42 U.S.C. § § 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A). The Act defines "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 disability, not simply his impairment, has lasted for at least twelve consecutive months.
Of particular concern to the undersigned is the ALJ's determination that Plaintiff did not suffer from a severe impairment prior to her date last insured. A "severe impairment is defined as one which significantly limits [the claimant's] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.'" Pelkey v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 575, 577 (8th Cir. 2006) (quoting 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520©). The impairment must result from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which can be shown by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. A physical or mental impairment must be established by medical evidence consisting of signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings, not only by [the claimant's] statement of symptoms. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1508.
The record reveals that Plaintiff was hospitalized July 11-17, 2001, at 37 weeks gestation, with severe flank pain and right upper quadrant pain and findings consistent with acute cholecystitis. Plaintiff had gallstones, but antibiotics were not sufficient to resolve her acute cholecystitis. ...