Source: http://ca.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20100816_0003751.CCA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-10-28 12:33:02
Document Index: 119093839

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 404', '§ 416']

| Bryant v. Astrue
QUIANA BRYANT, AS GUARDIAN AD LITEM FOR M.V.W., A MINOR, PLAINTIFF,v.MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, DEFENDANT.
Quiana Bryant ("plaintiff"), on behalf of her minor son M.V.W.,*fn1 filed this action on August 19, 2009, seeking review of the Commissioner's denial of M.V.W.'s application for Supplemental Security Income payments. The parties filed Consents to proceed before the undersigned Magistrate Judge on October 7, 2009, and October 8, 2009. Pursuant to the Court's Order, the parties filed a Joint Stipulation on April 28, 2010, that addresses their positions concerning the disputed issues in the case. The Court has taken the Joint Stipulation under submission without oral argument.
On August 26, 2005, plaintiff filed an application seeking Supplemental Security Income payments for her minor son, M.V.W., alleging that he has been disabled since August 19, 2005, due to juvenile diabetes and related complications including urination problems, hunger, sweating, headaches, shaking, anxiety, and nosebleeds. [Administrative Record ("AR") at 140-47.] After the application was denied initially and upon reconsideration, plaintiff requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"). [AR at 73-82, 86.] A hearing was held on November 15, 2007, at which plaintiff and M.V.W. appeared with counsel and testified. [AR at 22-70.] A medical expert also testified. [AR at 44-47, 49-56, 58-69.] On February 14, 2008, the ALJ determined that M.V.W. was not disabled. [AR at 9-21.] When the Appeals Council denied plaintiff's request for review of the hearing decision on April 28, 2009, the ALJ's decision became the final decision of the Commissioner. [AR at 1-3.] This action followed.
The regulations promulgated by the Social Security Administration establish a three-step sequential evaluation process for child disability cases. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.924. At step one, the relevant inquiry is whether the child is engaged in substantial gainful activity. If so, there is no disability, and the claim is denied. 20 C.F.R. § 416.924(b). If the child is not engaged in substantial gainful activity, the fact finder then determines whether the child has a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments that is severe. If the impairment is a "slight abnormality or a combination of slight abnormalities that causes no more than minimal functional limitations," the Commissioner will find that the impairment is not severe and will deny the child's claim. 20 C.F.R. § 416.924(c). If the claimant has a severe impairment, the third and final step assesses whether the impairment meets or medically or functionally equals in severity an impairment in the Listings. If the impairment meets or equals a listed impairment, the child will be found disabled, assuming that the twelve-month duration requirement is also met. 20 C.F.R. § 416.924(d).
In this case, at step one, the ALJ found that M.V.W. has not engaged in substantial gainful activity at any relevant time. [AR at 12.] At step two, the ALJ concluded that M.V.W. has the severe impairment of "diabetes mellitus, insulin dependent." [Id.] At step three, the ALJ determined that M.V.W.'s impairment does not meet or equal any impairment in the Listings. [AR at 12, 20.] Specifically, in assessing M.V.W.'s functional limitations in each of the six domains described above, the ALJ stated that M.V.W. has the following: no limitation in acquiring and using information; no limitation in attending and completing tasks; less than marked limitation in interacting and relating with others; no limitation in moving about and manipulating objects; no limitation in caring for himself; and less than marked limitation in health and physical well-being. [AR at 15-20.] Therefore, the ALJ concluded that M.V.W. is not disabled. [AR at 9, 20-21.]
Plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred by failing to properly consider: (1) the totality of the relevant medical evidence, and (2) the testimony and subjective statements of plaintiff and the subjective statements of Mr. Greg Shahin, M.V.W.'s first grade teacher. [Joint Stipulation ("JS") at 3-6, 10-14.] As set forth below, the Court agrees with plaintiff, in part, and remands the matter for further proceedings.
Plaintiff contends that the ALJ failed to properly consider her testimony and subjective statements in the forms she completed regarding M.V.W.'s "impairments and resulting limitations." [JS at 10-12, citing AR at 29-49, 56-59, 141, 144, 146, 148-56, 159, 162, 166, 168-69.] Plaintiff further contends that the ALJ failed to properly consider the subjective statements of M.V.W.'s first grade teacher, Mr. Shahin, in the questionnaire he completed regarding M.V.W.'s functioning. [JS at 13-14.] As set forth below, the Court finds that the ALJ failed to provide any specific reasons germane to plaintiff for discrediting her testimony and subjective statements. Therefore, remand is warranted for the ALJ to properly assess plaintiff's credibility.
1. Plaintiff's Testimony and Subjective Statements
At the hearing, plaintiff testified that M.V.W. missed school a total of 15 days during the 2006-2007 school year due to his "highly elevated blood sugar levels." [AR at 29, 34.] Plaintiff stated that as a result of M.V.W.'s blood sugar elevation, he sometimes experienced vision problems and consequently ran into objects. [AR at 32-34.] Plaintiff noted that at other times, M.V.W. could not attend school because when he would go to school, he had to use the bathroom approximately every ten to fifteen minutes. [AR at 35.] Plaintiff said that if M.V.W. was not complaining about his vision, he was complaining about "really bad" headaches in which he would be "holding his head and standing [in] the same spot... not moving or anything." [Id.] Plaintiff also stated that M.V.W. repeated the first grade because of his diabetic condition and that his headaches were more frequent at the time of the hearing than in August 2005. [AR at 35-36.] Plaintiff also noted that M.V.W. must sometimes miss school to attend his appointments scheduled once every three months at a diabetes clinic. [AR at 38-39.] Plaintiff confirmed that M.V.W. was hospitalized overnight three times since August 2005, at least one of those times for diabetic ketoacidosis. [AR at 39-40, 42-43.] From March to November 2006, M.V.W. experienced episodes of low blood sugar approximately ten times. [AR at 47-49.] Plaintiff also stated that M.V.W. takes insulin four or more times each day [AR at 44], and currently has ketones in his urine, a condition that plaintiff said occurs when a diabetic's blood sugar level is high. [AR at 56.] Plaintiff noted that M.V.W. experiences stomach pains related to having ketones. [Id.]
In addition to her testimony, plaintiff completed several written reports regarding M.V.W.'s condition. In the initial Disability Report for M.V.W. [AR at 140-47], plaintiff stated that M.V.W. has a disabling form of juvenile diabetes and complications that cause pain and other symptoms. [AR at 141.] Plaintiff noted that M.V.W. takes insulin three or four times a day "or as needed" for his condition; has a "hard time making it to the restroom;" gets nosebleeds; has a special diet; and experiences hunger, sweating, shaking, anxiety, and headaches. [AR at 146.] In a Function Report for M.V.W. dated September 1, 2005 [AR at 148-57], plaintiff stated that M.V.W.'s ability to communicate is limited in some areas [AR at 151, 154], he needs help with many things after being sick [AR at 155], he sometimes will not complete his homework [AR at 156], and he has "a hard time with homework because of illness and other headache[s]." [Id.] In another Disability Report [AR at 158-64], plaintiff stated that since last completing a disability report, M.V.W. had no changes in his condition or any new limitations, illnesses, or injuries. [AR at 159.] Plaintiff noted in the report that M.V.W.'s condition sometimes causes vision problems and feelings of being "sick to the stomach." [AR at 162.] In yet another Disability Report [AR at 165-70], plaintiff stated that beginning on approximately March 1, 2006, M.V.W. "started to complain about his eyes" and "see[s] specks and red dots" and that he began to use "the restroom while he is [a]sleep with no control over urine or know[ledge of] when it is time." [AR at 166.] Plaintiff also noted that M.V.W.'s vision problems were worsening every week. [AR at 168.]
The testimony of lay witnesses, including family members, about their own observations regarding a claimant's impairments constitutes competent evidence that must be considered by the Commissioner in the disability evaluation. Robbins v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 466 F.3d 880, 885 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing Lewis v. Apfel, 236 F.3d 503, 511 (9th Cir. 2001)). "'In disability cases where the child is unable to adequately describe her symptoms, the Commissioner accepts the testimony of a person most familiar with the child's condition, such as a parent.'" Smith ex rel. Enge v. Massanari, 139 F. Supp. 2d 1128, 1134 (C.D. Cal. 2001) (quoting Brown v. Callahan, 120 F.3d 1133, 1135 (10th Cir. 1997)) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 416.928(a)). In such circumstances, the testimony of a parent is a particularly valuable source of information because a parent usually sees the child every day. 20 C.F.R. § 416.924a(a)(2)(i). Such lay testimony cannot be discounted unless the ALJ provides specific reasons that are germane to that witness for doing so. Bruce v. Astrue, 557 F.3d 1113, 1115 (9th Cir. 2009) (quoting Nguyen v. Chater, 100 F.3d 1462, 1467 (9th Cir. 1996)); see Smith ex rel. Enge, 139 F. Supp.2d at 1134; Merrill ex rel. Merrill v. Apfel, 224 F.3d 1083, 1085-86 (9th Cir. 2000) (applying same standard to mother of child applicant for Supplemental Security Income payments). Failure to consider lay testimony will be considered harmless error only if the reviewing court "can confidently conclude that no reasonable ALJ, when fully crediting the testimony, could have reached a different disability determination." Stout v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 454 F.3d 1050, 1056 (9th Cir. 2006).
In this case, the ALJ failed to provide a specific reason germane to plaintiff for discrediting her testimony and subjective statements in the forms she completed. "While an ALJ may certainly find testimony not credible and disregard it..., [courts] cannot affirm such a determination unless it is supported by specific findings and reasoning." Robbins, 466 F.3d at 884-85. Here, the ALJ in his credibility determination with regard to plaintiff's testimony and written statements failed to provide any analysis, instead merely summarizing certain medical evidence. [See AR at 14-15.] Specifically, after summarizing some of plaintiff's testimony and subjective statements, the ALJ found that M.V.W.'s "medically determinable impairment could reasonably be expected to produce the alleged symptoms, but that the statements concerning the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of [M.V.W.'s] symptoms are not entirely credible." [AR at 14.]
The ALJ did not provide a legitimate reason germane to plaintiff for discounting her credibility. To the extent the ALJ implicitly rejected plaintiff's testimony and written statements as being unsupported by the medical evidence, an ALJ cannot rely solely on an absence of supporting medical evidence to reject lay witness testimony. See Bruce, 557 F.3d at 1116 ("Nor under our law could the ALJ discredit [a claimant's wife's] lay testimony as not supported by medical evidence in the record.") (citing Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1289 (9th Cir. 1996)); see also Smith ex rel. Enge, 139 F. Supp. at 1134 (the ALJ erred in implicitly rejecting the testimony of the mother of a minor claimant regarding the extent and limiting effects of her daughter's asthma symptoms). In any event, the medical expert testimony supported much of plaintiff's testimony and written statements concerning the existence of plaintiff's symptoms.*fn2 The ALJ gave no other valid reason for discrediting plaintiff's testimony and subjective statements. Remand is warranted for the ALJ to properly assess plaintiff's testimony, subjective statements in the forms, and credibility.
2. Mr. Shahin's Subjective Statements
On April 3, 2006, Mr. Shahin completed a Teacher Questionnaire from the Social Security Administration, stating that he knew M.V.W. from the 2005-2006 school year and saw him on a daily basis. [AR at 196-203.] Mr. Shahin reported "an unusual degree of absenteeism" by M.V.W. due to his "poor health." [AR at 196.] Mr. Shahin also noted that while M.V.W.'s actual grade level was first grade, M.V.W.'s reading and written language levels were at kindergarten instruction levels. [Id.] Mr. Shahin also assessed the functional limitations caused by M.V.W.'s impairment in each of the six domains. [AR at 197-202.] First, Mr. Shahin reported that M.V.W. had problems acquiring and using information, in that M.V.W. "is not independent in reading and writing," "does best when working individually with an adult," and "is getting extra help daily... but progress is very slow." [AR at 197.] Second, Mr. Shahin stated that M.V.W. had problems attending and completing tasks, in that M.V.W. must work separately from the other students because he talks and disturbs them. [AR at 198.] Mr. Shahin also observed that M.V.W. at times "appears very sleepy and lays his head down on his desk." [Id.] Third, Mr. Shahin stated that M.V.W. had problems interacting and relating with others. [AR at 199.] Mr. Shahin reported having to "implement behavior modification strategies" for M.V.W. by placing M.V.W. at "a desk by himself due to talking." [Id.] Mr. Shahin also noted that when M.V.W. "gets frustrated or angry[,] he shuts down[,]... usually goes under a table[,] and will not tell me what is bothering him." [Id.] Fourth, Mr. Shahin stated that M.V.W. had no problems moving about and manipulating objects. [AR at 200.] Fifth, Mr. Shahin indicated that M.V.W. had several problems caring for himself, as he "is frustrated because he is behind the other children" and "does not handle his frustration appropriately at times by withdrawing and giving up." [AR at 201.] Lastly, Mr. Shahin stated that M.V.W. suffers from hyperglycemia, which caused him to miss "a lot of school[,]" and that "[h]e has fallen behind in school as a result." [AR at 202.] However, Mr. Shahin stated that M.V.W.'s "health seems to be more stable now and [his] attendance is better." [Id.] Mr. Shahin also noted that M.V.W. takes medication regularly, which improves his alertness. [Id.]
As M.V.W.'s former teacher, Mr. Shahin qualifies as an "other source" under the Social Security Administration's regulations. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1513(d)(2), 416.913(d)(2). Although an ALJ may give more weight to an opinion of an "acceptable medical source" over an "other source" (see 20 C.F.R. § 416.927; Gomez v. Chater, 74 F.3d 967, 970-71 (9th Cir. 1996)), the ALJ may not completely disregard an opinion from an "other source" merely because it is not an "acceptable medical source." See Social Security Ruling*fn3 06-03p ("[T]here is a requirement to consider all relevant evidence in an individual's case record"); see also Sprague v. Bowen, 812 F.2d 1226, 1232 (9th Cir. 1987) (noting that regulations require an ALJ to "consider observations" even "by non-medical sources"). As the Social Security Administration has recognized, "the case record should reflect the consideration of opinions from medical sources who are not 'acceptable medical sources' and from 'non-medical sources' who have seen the claimant in their professional capacity.... [T]he adjudicator generally should explain the weight given to opinions from these 'other sources[.]'" SSR 06-03p. "Although [the regulations] do not address explicitly how to evaluate evidence (including opinions) from 'other sources,' they do require consideration of such evidence when evaluating an 'acceptable medical source's' opinion." Id.
In this case, the ALJ properly considered and explained the weight given to the subjective statements of Mr. Shahin as an "other source" and as a lay witness. In the decision, the ALJ summarized some of Mr. Shahin's comments in the questionnaire and acknowledged giving "significant consideration" to the questionnaire. [AR at 15.] The ALJ apparently credited Mr. Shahin's statements that M.V.W. has higher absenteeism than other children and experiences difficulties with hyperglycemia, but that he is improving and his alertness improves after taking prescribed medication. [Id.; see AR at 202.] The ALJ ultimately gave "less weight to Mr. Shahin's conclusions regarding [M.V.W.'s] academic and social functioning" relevant to the six domains discussed above. [AR at 15.] First, the ALJ pointed to the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital Progress Notes dated August 10, 2007, indicating, among other things, M.V.W.'s academic progress. [See AR at 15, 274-77.] Specifically, the ALJ noted that M.V.W.'s progress notes state that while M.V.W. "was held back in school from being ill so frequently in the first grade," he "has since caught up and is taking advanced coursework in the [second] grade." [AR at 15, citing AR at 276.] M.V.W.'s progress notes also state that he "has never required testing for a learning disability or problems related to behavior issues." [AR at 276.] The ALJ also referred to the testimony of both plaintiff and M.V.W. regarding M.V.W.'s current grades to further show his academic progress since the date of the questionnaire. [AR at 15.] In the questionnaire, Mr. Shahin noted that M.V.W.'s "progress is very slow," he "is so far behind now in school," and he was at kindergarten reading and written language levels even though he was in first grade. [AR at 196-97, 202.] However, at the hearing, M.V.W. testified that he is currently in second grade, enjoys doing schoolwork, and is getting "A" grades. [AR at 28.] When asked about M.V.W.'s current grades, plaintiff stated that M.V.W. is "doing okay" and is getting "B" grades. [AR at 29.] The contrast between Mr. Shahin's statements in the questionnaire about M.V.W.'s very slow progress and the evidence cited by the ALJ demonstrating M.V.W.'s academic improvement is a specific and germane reason for giving Mr. Shahin's statements about M.V.W.'s academic and social problems less weight. See Carmickle v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 533 F.3d 1155, 1164 (9th Cir. 2008) (an ALJ's finding that a classmate's testimony about the claimant was inconsistent with evidence showing that the claimant successfully completed "continuous full-time coursework" is a "proper basis on which to reject [the] testimony" that is germane to the classmate).*fn4 Accordingly, remand is not warranted on this issue.
As a general rule, remand is warranted where additional administrative proceedings could remedy defects in the Commissioner's decision. See Harman v. Apfel, 211 F.3d 1172, 1179 (9th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1038 (2000); Kail v. Heckler, 722 F.2d 1496, 1497 (9th Cir. 1984). In this case, remand is appropriate for the ALJ to properly consider plaintiff's testimony, written statements, and credibility. The ALJ is instructed to take whatever further action is deemed appropriate and consistent with this decision.*fn5