Source: https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/arizona/azdce/2:2016cv02728/994425/18
Timestamp: 2018-01-22 02:45:00
Document Index: 179527675

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 405', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 404', 'art, 379', 'art, 379', 'art, 367']

ORDER that the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is REVERSED and the case REMANDED for an award of benefits for Quiroz v. Colvin :: Justia Dockets & Filings
Justia Dockets & Filings Ninth Circuit Arizona Arizona District Court Quiroz v. Colvin Filing 18
ORDER that the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is REVERSED and the case REMANDED for an award of benefits. The Clerk shall enter judgment and terminate the case. Signed by Judge Douglas L Rayes on 9/25/17. (LSP)
1 WO 2 3 4 5 6 7 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 9 10 No. CV-16-02728-PHX-DLR Dawn N. Quiroz, Plaintiff, 11 12 v. 13 ORDER Commissioner of Social Security Administration, 14 15 Defendant. 16 17 Plaintiff applied for disability insurance benefits in October 2011, claiming 18 disability since March 3, 2011. (A.R. 17.) The claim was denied initially on June 14, 19 2012, and upon reconsideration on January 14, 2013. (Id.) Plaintiff then requested a 20 hearing. (Id.) On September 25, 2014, Plaintiff and a vocational expert (VE) testified at 21 a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). (Id. at 42-65.) The ALJ issued a 22 written decision three months later, finding Plaintiff not disabled within the meaning of 23 the Social Security Act. (Id. at 17-33.) This became Defendant’s final decision when the 24 Appeals Council denied review. (Id. at 1-3.) 25 Plaintiff then commenced this action for judicial review pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 26 § 405(g). (Doc. 1.) After receipt of the administrative record (Doc. 14), the parties fully 27 briefed the issues for review (Docs. 15-17). For reasons stated below, the Court finds 28 that Defendant’s decision must be reversed and the case remanded for an award of 1 benefits. 2 STANDARD OF REVIEW 3 It is not the district court’s role to review the ALJ’s decision de novo or otherwise 4 determine whether the claimant is disabled. Rather, the court is limited to reviewing the 5 ALJ’s decision to determine whether it “contains legal error or is not supported by 6 substantial evidence.” Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 630 (9th Cir. 2007). Substantial 7 evidence is more than a scintilla but less than a preponderance, and “such relevant 8 evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. 9 “Where evidence is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, the ALJ’s 10 decision should be upheld.” Id. The court, however, “must consider the entire record as 11 a whole and may not affirm simply by isolating a ‘specific quantum of supporting 12 evidence.’” Id. Nor may the court “affirm the ALJ on a ground upon which he did not 13 rely.” Id. 14 In determining whether the ALJ committed legal error, the district court is bound 15 to apply the legal standards imposed by the law of this Circuit. This includes the 16 requirement that, absent evidence of malingering, “the ALJ can reject the claimant’s 17 testimony about the severity of her symptoms only by offering specific, clear and 18 convincing reasons for doing so.” Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1281 (9th Cir. 1996). 19 Similarly, unless contradicted by another physician, if “the ALJ wishes to disregard the 20 opinion of the treating physician, he or she must make findings setting forth specific, 21 legitimate reasons for doing so that are based on substantial evidence in the record.” 22 Murray v. Heckler, 722 F.2d 499, 502 (9th Cir. 1983). 23 DISCUSSION 24 To determine whether a claimant is disabled for purposes of the Social Security 25 Act, the ALJ follows a five-step process. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a). At the first step, the 26 ALJ determines whether the claimant is engaging in substantial gainful activity. 20 27 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(i). If so, the claimant is not disabled and the inquiry ends. Id. 28 At step two, the ALJ determines whether the claimant has a “severe” medically -2- 1 determinable physical or mental impairment. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). If not, the claimant is 2 not disabled and the inquiry ends. Id. At step three, the ALJ considers whether the 3 claimant’s impairment or combination of impairments meets or medically equals an 4 impairment listed in Appendix 1 to Subpart P of 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iii). 5 If so, the claimant is automatically found to be disabled. Id. If not, the ALJ proceeds to 6 step four. At step four, the ALJ assesses the claimant’s residual functional capacity 7 (RFC) and determines whether the claimant is still capable of performing past relevant 8 work. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iv). If so, the claimant is not disabled and the inquiry ends. Id. 9 If not, the ALJ proceeds to the fifth and final step, where he determines whether the 10 claimant can perform any other work based on the claimant’s RFC, age, education, and 11 work experience. § 404.1520(a)(4)(v). If so, the claimant is not disabled. Id. If not, the 12 claimant is disabled. Id. 13 At step one, the ALJ found that Plaintiff meets the insured status requirements of 14 the Social Security Act through December 31, 2016, and that she has not engaged in 15 substantial gainful activity since March 3, 2011. (A.R. 19.) At step two, the ALJ found 16 that Plaintiff has the following severe impairments: myalgia, degenerative disc disease of 17 the lumbar spine with mild dextroscoliosis, obesity, depressive disorder, and history of 18 bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and asthma. (Id.) At step three, the ALJ determined that 19 Plaintiff’s impairments do not meet or equal the severity of one of the listed impairments 20 in Appendix 1 to Subpart P of 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404. (Id. at 22-23.) At step four, the ALJ 21 found that Plaintiff: 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 has the [RFC] to perform light work … except [she] can stand [and] walk six hours in an eight-hour day; [she] can sit six hours in an eight-hour day; [she] should never climb ropes, ladders, or scaffolds, [she] can occasionally climb ramps and stairs, kneel, crouch, and crawl; [she] cannot perform repetitious keyboarding or use of hand tools requiring torqueing; [she] must avoid concentrated exposure to fumes, odors, dust, gases, and unprotected heights; and [she] can understand, remember, and carry out at least simple instructions and non-detailed tasks. (Id. at 23-24.) The ALJ also found that Plaintiff is unable to perform any of her past -3- 1 relevant work. (Id. at 31.) At step five, however, after considering Plaintiff’s age, 2 education, work experience, and RFC, the ALJ concluded that there are jobs that exist in 3 significant numbers in the national economy that Plaintiff can perform. (Id. at 32.) 4 On appeal, Plaintiff challenges the RFC and step five determinations, arguing that 5 the ALJ improperly weighed medical opinions and erred in rejecting her symptom 6 testimony. Defendant counters that the ALJ properly resolved conflicts in the medical 7 opinions based on substantial evidence, and provided sufficient reasons for finding 8 Plaintiff not credible. The parties disagree as to whether any remand should be for an 9 award of benefits or further proceedings. 10 The Court agrees with Plaintiff that the ALJ erred in discrediting her testimony 11 and improperly weighing the medical opinions. 12 harmless, the ALJ’s decision must be reversed and remanded for an award of benefits. 13 I. The ALJ Erred in Evaluating Plaintiff’s Credibility Because this legal error was not 14 Plaintiff provided written reports and testified at the hearing about her pain, 15 fatigue, and other symptoms caused by her impairments and how they severely limit her 16 daily activities. (Id. at 49-60, 186-207, 229-36, 239-50.) The ALJ found the testimony 17 regarding the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of the symptoms not entirely 18 credible. (Id. at 25.) This adverse credibility finding is legally erroneous and not 19 supported by substantial evidence. 20 In evaluating the credibility of a claimant’s testimony regarding subjective pain or 21 other symptoms, the ALJ must engage in a two-step analysis. First, the ALJ determines 22 whether the claimant presented objective medical evidence of an impairment that 23 reasonably could be expected to produce some degree of the symptoms alleged. Second, 24 if the claimant makes this showing and there is no evidence of malingering, “the ALJ 25 can reject the claimant’s testimony about the severity of her symptoms only by offering 26 specific, clear and convincing reasons for doing so.” Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1281. 27 Here, the ALJ expressly found that Plaintiff’s medically determinable impairments 28 could reasonably be expected to cause the alleged symptoms. (A.R. 25.) Because the -4- 1 ALJ made no finding of malingering, he was required to give clear and convincing 2 reasons for his adverse credibility finding. “This is not an easy requirement to meet: The 3 clear and convincing standard is the most demanding required in Social Security cases.” 4 Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1015 (9th Cir. 2014) (quotation and citation omitted); 5 see also Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1284 (“The ALJ must state specifically which symptom 6 testimony is not credible and what facts in the record lead to that conclusion.”). The 7 reasons provided by the ALJ are neither convincing nor supported by substantial 8 evidence. 9 The ALJ found, “[o]verall, the claimant’s allegations regarding the severity of her 10 physical symptoms and limitations are not supported by the record.” (A.R. 27.) To the 11 extent that this statement was intended to be a reason for discrediting Plaintiff’s symptom 12 testimony, rather than a summary of the ALJ’s conclusion, it is inadequate. Though a 13 plaintiff who alleges disability based on subjective symptoms, like pain or fatigue, “must 14 produce objective medical evidence of an underlying impairment which could reasonably 15 be expected to produce the pain or other symptoms alleged,” she “need not produce 16 objective medical evidence of the pain or fatigue itself, or the severity thereof.” Smolen, 17 80 F.3d at 1281-82 (internal quotation and citation omitted). Stated differently, the ALJ 18 “may not reject subjective symptom testimony . . . simply because there is no showing 19 that the impairment can reasonably produce the degree of symptom alleged.”1 Id. 20 The ALJ’s other stated reasons for discrediting Plaintiff’s symptom testimony 21 include: (1) physical examinations never showed Plaintiff in acute distress; (2) results of 22 Plaintiff’s physical examinations differed amongst providers; (3) Plaintiff responded 23 favorably to treatment; (4) Plaintiff failed to comply with prescribed treatments; and (5) 24 Plaintiff’s alleged daily activities were inconsistent. (A.R. 27-28.) The Court addresses 25 each in turn. 26 1 27 28 Defendant cites Rollins v. Massinari, 261 F.3d 853, 857 (9th Cir. 2001), for the proposition that the ALJ may consider lack of medical evidence so long as it is not the sole basis for discounting the claimant’s testimony. (Doc. 16 at 10.) As further explained, however, the other reasons the ALJ gave are neither convincing nor supported by substantial evidence. -5- 1 A. Lack of Evidence of Acute Distress in Physical Examinations 2 The ALJ first claimed that “[p]hysical examinations show that the claimant was 3 never in any acute distress, even when experiencing a fibromyalgia flare-up.” (Id. at 27.) 4 The ALJ failed, however, to highlight any part of Plaintiff’s testimony that is discredited 5 or contradicted by the lack of acute distress in the medical records. 6 possible, and courts have found, that a person can suffer disabling chronic pain that never 7 manifests as acute. See Dorsett v. Colvin, No. 16-cv-1101-PHX-DGC, 2017 WL 840694, 8 at *17 (D. Ariz. March 3, 2017); Petty v. Astrue, 550 F. Supp. 2d 1089, 1099 (D. Ariz. 9 2008) (observing that “a condition can be stable but disabling”). Absent a more thorough 10 explanation, the lack of evidence of acute distress is not a clear and convincing reason for 11 discounting the credibility of the Plaintiff’s symptom testimony. See Robbins v. Soc. Sec. 12 Admin., 466 F.3d 880, 884 (9th Cir. 2006) (“[E]ven if the ALJ had given facially 13 legitimate reasons for his partial adverse credibility finding, the complete lack of 14 meaningful explanation gives this court nothing with which to assess its legitimacy.”). It is certainly 15 This reason is also not supported by substantial evidence. The record is filled with 16 reports of Plaintiff’s acute distress. (See, e.g., id. at 331, 342, 355, 365, 389, 1229, 1239, 17 1246 (describing pain as “burning,” “throbbing,” “severe,” “very painful,” and a 18 “10/10”).)2 In short, an examination of the entire record “shows that the ALJ has erred in 19 characterizing statements and documents contained therein to reach the conclusion that 20 [Plaintiff] exaggerated her symptoms.” Reddick v. Chater, 157 F.3d 715, 722 (9th Cir. 21 1998); see Orn, 495 F.3d at 639. 22 B. Variance in Physical Examinations 23 The ALJ next referenced discrepancies in the results of Plaintiff’s physical 24 examinations, noting that “[m]ost providers . . . vary regarding the claimant’s gait, 25 straight leg raise testing, and sensation.” (A.R. 27.) Specifically, “emergency room 26 notes, notes from the claimant’s urologist, and notes from [Plaintiff’s] primary care 27 2 28 Fibromyalgia is a disease that generally eludes objective evidence, and in order to diagnose it doctors must rely heavily on subjective testimony. Benecke v. Barnhart, 379 F.3d 587, 590, 594 (9th Cir. 2004). -6- 1 provider show that the claimant had a normal gait.” (Id.) Based on the variations, the 2 ALJ opines, “[o]ne would think that if her problems were as severe and limiting as she 3 alleges, then they would be readily observed and noted by all of her treating providers.” 4 (Id.) 5 Variations in Plaintiff’s examinations are not a clear and convincing reason for 6 rejecting Plaintiff’s subjective symptom testimony. Plaintiff suffered from, among other 7 conditions, fibromyalgia,3 “a rheumatic disease that causes inflammation of the fibrous 8 connective tissue components of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other tissue.” Benecke 9 v. Barnhart, 379 F.3d 587, 589 (9th Cir. 2004). Common symptoms include chronic 10 pain throughout the body, multiple tender, points, fatigue, and stiffness. 11 Fibromyalgia patients, however, manifest normal muscle strength and neurological 12 reactions and have a full range of motion. See, e.g., Preston v. Sec. of Health and Human 13 Servs., 854 F.2d 815, 820 (6th Cir. 1988); Kline v. Colvin, 140 F. Supp. 3d 912, 921 (D. 14 Ariz. 2015). Moreover, the nature of fibromyalgia is such that people suffering from the 15 condition often experience “flares” or “flare-ups,” where the symptoms temporarily 16 increase in number and intensity. 17 Qualitative Analysis, 17 Pain Medicine 2016, 463-68 (Those with fibromyalgia, “undergo 18 periods of exacerbation or worsening, often colloquially referred to as “flares” by patients 19 and their health care providers”). This change in the severity of Plaintiff’s pain and 20 stiffness is consistent with fluctuations in her treating providers’ observations. Given 21 Plaintiff’s fibromyalgia, the results of her physical examinations are not inconsistent with 22 her condition. Id. Ann Vincent, et al., Fibromyalgia Flares: A 23 C. Favorable Responses to Treatment 24 The ALJ discredited Plaintiff’s symptom testimony because “claimant has 25 reported pain relief with treatment.” (A.R. 27.) “Impairments that can be controlled 26 3 27 28 Plaintiff was diagnosed with fibromyalgia by Dr. Silverman. (A.R. at 411, 1455.) At step two, the ALJ did not find Plaintiff’s fibromyalgia to be severe. However, “[i]n determining a claimant's residual functional capacity, the ALJ must consider all of a claimant's determinable impairments, including those that are not severe.” Ghanim v. Colvin, 763 F.3d 1154, 1166 (9th Cir. 2014). -7- 1 effectively with medication are not disabling for the purpose of determining eligibility for 2 SSI benefits.” Warre v. Comm’r, 439 F.3d 1001, 1006 (9th Cir. 2006). Occasional and 3 sporadic symptom-free periods, however, are not inconsistent with disability. Reddick, 4 157 F.3d at 724. In making their determinations, ALJs “must review the whole record; 5 they cannot cherry-pick evidence to support their findings.” Bostwick v. Colvin, No. 13- 6 cv-1936-LAB, 2015 WL 12532350, at *2 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 30, 2015); see Garrison, 759 7 F.3d at 1017 & n.23 (“The ALJ was not permitted to ‘cherry-pick’ from those mixed 8 results to support a denial of benefits.”). 9 responses in treatment, the ALJ cherry-picked favorable evidence from a lengthy medical 10 Here, in finding Plaintiff had favorable record filled with contrary evidence. 11 The ALJ cited to five records to support his conclusion: (1) treatment records 12 from Dr. Gary Silverman; (2) outpatient hospital records from Phoenix Indian Medical 13 Center; (3) treatment records from Comprehensive Pain Management; (4) psychology 14 evaluation by Dr. Brent Geary; and (5) treatment records from Fiel Family & Sports 15 Medicine. 16 August 2011, Plaintiff requested and found helpful a Lidoderm Patch (Id. at 327); 17 December 2011, Plaintiff reported pain relief with her medication (Id. at 337); February 18 2012, Plaintiff again reported pain relief after joint injection (Id. at 1255); January 2013, 19 Plaintiff reported only experiencing pain 50% of the time (Id.); and, at times, Dr. 20 Silverman described Plaintiff’s fibromyalgia as “stable” (Id. at 27-28). 21 (A.R. 29-30.) From these records, the ALJ highlighted select portions: Dr. Silverman’s notes overwhelmingly show, however, that any relief Plaintiff 22 experienced from treatment was temporary. 23 Plaintiff still has similar levels of pain, despite believing Nucytna prescription is helping), 24 1247 (reporting injection from prior visit provided “significant relief,” but Plaintiff has 25 had 10 flare-ups since that visit and is not doing well today), 331-37 (February 2012 26 assessment with a pain score ranging from 7 to 10 while on medication, 10 representing a 27 person’s highest pain level), 1043-48 (July 2012 assessment in which symptoms 28 worsened and Plaintiff reported it “hurts all over” while still on medication).) -8- (See, e.g., id. at 1254-55 (noting that 1 The same is true for Plaintiff’s other providers. For instance, although the ALJ 2 notes that Plaintiff’s records from Phoenix Indian Medical Center describe Plaintiff as 3 “stable,” those same records also indicate that Plaintiff was “having a flare of 4 fibromyalgia” once a day and increased symptoms with pain at nine out of ten. (Id. at 5 511, 531.) 6 February 2012 she received relief from an injection, yet by her next appointment in April 7 2012 she reported constant pain and multiple flare ups. (Id. at 482, 1053.) Plaintiff told a 8 consultative psychologist that she her medications provided her increased energy in June 9 2012, yet as early as July 2012 she was reporting that the same medicine caused her 10 Plaintiff’s records from Comprehensive Pain Management show that in severe nausea and her symptoms had “gotten worse.” (Id. at 675-81, 1043.) 11 Through a selective reading of the notes, the ALJ concluded Plaintiff improved 12 while on medication. The ALJ erred by cherry-picking select instances of improvement 13 over a period of several years rather than considering the medical record as a whole. See 14 Garrison, 759 F.3d at 1017 (finding that ALJ erred for rejecting claimant’s testimony 15 merely because symptoms fluctuated in the course of treatment). 16 D. Compliance with Recommended Treatment 17 The ALJ next found that “the claimant has also had questionable compliance with 18 recommended treatment.” (A.R. 28.) “An individual’s statements may be less credible if 19 . . . the medical reports or records show that the individual is not following the treatment 20 as prescribed and there are no good reasons for this failure.” SSR 96-7p, 1996 WL 21 374186, at *7 (July 2, 1996) (emphasis added). The ALJ called attention to three 22 instances of apparent noncompliance: (1) request by a pain specialist that Plaintiff be 23 more compliant; (2) Plaintiff’s inconsistent statement as to whether she filled her 24 prescription for pain medication; and (3) Plaintiff failing to participate in aquatic and 25 physical therapy per the recommendation of her pain specialist. (A.R. 27-28.) The ALJ 26 failed, however, to ask Plaintiff why she was noncompliant. (Id. at 42-65.) The ALJ has 27 an independent “duty to fully and fairly develop the record and to assure that the 28 claimant’s interests are considered.” Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1288. Here, by not asking -9- 1 Plaintiff about the isolated instances of noncompliance with recommended treatment, the 2 ALJ failed to fully and fairly develop the record. (A.R. 42-65.) Further, without such 3 information, the ALJ necessarily could not determine whether any “good reasons” existed 4 for Plaintiff’s noncompliance.4 5 E. Daily Activities 6 The ALJ found that “the claimant has admitted that she is able to do more than she 7 alleges.” (Id. at 28.) ALJs may consider daily activities as a basis for adverse credibility 8 determinations. Ordinarily, this can be done in two ways—the plaintiff’s activities either 9 meet the threshold for transferable work skills or contradict her other testimony. See 10 Orn, 495 F.3d at 639. Here, the ALJ did not conclude Plaintiff’s daily activities are 11 transferable to the workplace. Instead, the ALJ concluded that Plaintiff must be “able to 12 do more than she alleges” because her reported difficulty with daily activities varied 13 between 2011 and 2014. (A.R. 28.) For example, throughout 2011 and the first half of 14 2012, Plaintiff told her rheumatologist that she was able to get in and out of bed and her 15 car, lift a full glass to her mouth, walk on flat ground, and turn taps on and off without 16 difficulty. (Id.) In October of 2012, however, Plaintiff reported that she had some 17 difficulty performing many of these same tasks. (Id.) Then, in 2014, Plaintiff stated that 18 she busied herself at home doing chores, like washing dishes. (Id.) 19 The ALJ’s reason is not clear, as it fails to expound whether the ALJ discredited 20 Plaintiff’s credibility because her hearing testimony contradicted her prior reports to 21 medical providers as to her daily activities, or because Plaintiff’s ability to do certain 22 tasks at different points throughout her disability varied. 23 The reason is also not supported by substantial evidence. The ALJ offered no 24 examples where Plaintiff’s testimony contradicted what she had reported to her medical 25 providers. Nor did the ALJ offer examples where Plaintiff reported different daily 26 27 28 4 Notably, the medical records suggest there might have been a good reason for some of Plaintiff’s apparent noncompliance. Namely, Plaintiff’s medications caused severe nausea. (Id. at 348, 360, 363, 636, 768, 1043, 1053); see also SSR 96-7p at *7 (noting that side effects from medication may provide a good reason for not taking them). - 10 - 1 activities to her treatment providers at or near the same time period. To the contrary, 2 Plaintiff’s testimony regarding her daily activities in 2014 was consistent with what she 3 had told other providers that year. (See e.g., id. at 54, 1509 (reported to doctor that she 4 did dishes at home, testified that “I try to do the dishes. I’ll get in there and do a couple 5 and I’ll start feeling ill and then I’ll either go sit down or I’ll go lay down.”).) 6 The record shows that the limitations Plaintiff’s condition placed on her daily 7 activities fluctuated throughout her disability. These marginal fluctuations, however, are 8 not substantial evidence. As noted above, Plaintiff suffered from, among other 9 conditions, fibromyalgia. Because the level of pain for people with the condition 10 fluctuates during “flare-ups,” corresponding changes in Plaintiff’s ability to conduct 11 certain daily activities is not inconsistent with the nature of her ailment. 12 aforementioned reasons, the ALJ failed to provide clear and convincing reasons 13 supported by substantial evidence for finding Plaintiff’s testimony less credible. 14 II. The ALJ Erred in Weighing Medical Source Evidence For the 15 Plaintiff next contends that the ALJ improperly discounted the opinion of Dr. 16 Silverman, her treating physician. (Doc. 15 at 9.) In weighing medical source opinions, 17 the Ninth Circuit distinguishes among three types of physicians: (1) treating physicians, 18 who actually treat the claimant; (2) examining physicians, who examine but do not treat 19 the claimant; and (3) non-examining physicians, who neither treat nor examine the 20 claimant. Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir. 1995). Generally, more weight 21 should be given to the opinion of a treating physician than to the opinions of non-treating 22 physicians. Id. However, a treating physician’s opinion is entitled to controlling weight 23 only if the opinion is well-supported by medically acceptable diagnostic techniques and is 24 not inconsistent with other substantial evidence in the case record. 25 404.1527(d)(2), 416.927(c)(2). Where a treating physician’s opinion is contradicted, it 26 may not be rejected without “specific and legitimate reasons” supported by substantial 27 evidence in the record. Lester, 81 F.3d at 830. 28 20 C.F.R. §§ Dr. Silverman opined that Plaintiff could “carry less than ten pounds - 11 - 1 occasionally,” “stand and/or walk for less than two hours in an eight-hour workday,” “sit 2 for less than six hours in an eight-hour workday,” and “must alternate between sitting and 3 standing every 15-30 minutes.” 4 contradicted by State agency medical consultants, who determined based on the medical 5 record that Plaintiff could both “stand and/or walk” and “sit” for more than six hours a 6 day on a sustained basis. (Id. at 67-79, 81-107.) (A.R. 1455-60.) Dr. Silverman’s opinion was 7 The ALJ discounted Dr. Silverman’s opinions because they were based on 8 Plaintiff’s subjective reports as opposed to objective findings, and were inconsistent with 9 Plaintiff’s reported daily activities. (Id. at 30.) These reasons are neither legitimate nor 10 supported by substantial evidence in the record. 11 In support of the first reason, the ALJ identified three of Dr. Silverman’s treatment 12 notes that he believed conflicted with Dr. Silverman’s final opinions: (1) claimant was 13 never in acute distress; (2) claimant did not have sufficient tender points; and (3) claimant 14 had normal gait, stance, and motor strength. (Id.) As discussed at length above, without 15 an explanation from the ALJ as to why a lack of acute distress prevents a physician from 16 finding that a person with chronic pain is disabled, the lack of acute distress is not a 17 specific and legitimate reason. See Robbins, 466 F.3d at 884. Moreover, as previously 18 explained, the record is filled with evidence that Plaintiff was in acute distress. The 19 ALJ’s finding mischaracterizes the record and is not supported by substantial evidence. 20 The ALJ also erred in finding that the absence of sufficient tender points provides 21 a legitimate reason for discrediting Dr. Silverman’s opinions. Although tender point 22 examinations are relevant in diagnosing fibromyalgia, the diagnostic criteria set out by 23 the American College of Rheumatology do not require a minimum number of tender 24 points for a diagnosis of the disease. Rounds v. Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 807 F.3d 996, 25 1005 n.10 (9th Cir. 2015).5 26 determining the severity of the symptoms of the disease, and therefore are an insufficient Tender points are not, however, used as a metric for 27 5 28 The 2010 diagnostic criteria were published in Frederick Wolfe, et al., The American College of Rheumatology Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia and Measurement of Symptom Severity, 62 Arthritis Care & Research 600 (May 2010). - 12 - 1 basis for discrediting Dr. Silverman’s opinion. 2 The ALJ also asserted that Dr. Silverman’s treatment notes show that Plaintiff had 3 “a normal gait and stance, had muscle tone and bulk, and had normal motor strength.” 4 (A.R. 30.) The Social Security Ruling regarding evaluations of fibromyalgia, however, 5 makes no mention of a person’s gait, stance, muscle tone, muscle bulk, or motor strength. 6 SSR 12-2P, 2012 WL 3104869 (July 25, 2012). 7 considering that “fibromyalgia patients manifest normal muscle strength and neurological 8 reactions and have a full range of motion.” Preston, 854 F.2d at 820; See also Kline, 140 9 F. Supp. 3d at 921. This should come as no surprise 10 As a secondary rationale for discounting Dr. Silverman’s opinion, the ALJ found 11 that “the opinions are inconsistent with the claimant’s reports regarding her activities.” 12 (A.R. 30.) 13 September of 2014, various points in which Plaintiff reported being able dress herself, 14 prepare meals, and do chores. (Id.) Notably, the ALJ fails to point to any specific 15 records evidencing Plaintiff engaging in daily activities that contradict the limitations 16 opined by Dr. Silverman. Without evidence of daily activities that contradict with the 17 opinion rendered, the ALJ’s reason lacks the requisite specificity. See Zavalin v. Colvin, 18 778 F.3d 842, 848 (9th Cir. 2015) (rejecting ALJ reliance on the claimant’s activities 19 where there was no indication of the extent, manner, or complexity of those activities.) In support, the ALJ cited to medical records spanning from late 2010 to 20 Because the reasons offered by the ALJ are not specific and legitimate, nor 21 supported by substantial evidence, the ALJ erred in giving only “little weight” to Dr. 22 Silverman’s opinions. 23 SCOPE OF REMAND 24 Having decided to reverse Defendant’s decision, the Court has discretion to 25 remand the case for further development of the record, or to credit the improperly 26 rejected evidence as true and remand for an award benefits. See Reddick, 157 F.3d at 27 728. In deciding whether to remand for an award of benefits, the Court considers the 28 following three factors: (1) did the ALJ fail to provide legally sufficient reasons for - 13 - 1 rejecting evidence, (2) has the record has been fully developed and would further 2 proceedings serve no useful purpose, and (3) is it clear from the record that the ALJ 3 would be required to find the claimant disabled were such evidence credited? Triechler 4 v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 775 F.3d 1090, 1100-01 (9th Cir. 2014). All three conditions of 5 the credit-as-true-rule are met here. 6 First, as explained above, the ALJ failed to provide legally sufficient reasons for 7 rejecting Plaintiff’s symptom testimony and for discounting the opinions of Plaintiff’s 8 treating rheumatologist. Second, the Court finds no outstanding issues of fact to be 9 resolved through further proceedings. Although the ALJ failed to investigate whether 10 there was a valid explanation for Plaintiff’s noncompliance with recommended treatment, 11 even if the ALJ were to determine on remand that no “good reason” existed, in light of 12 the rest of the record, this alone would be insufficient to constitute substantial evidence. 13 The ALJ also failed to adequately explain why the lack of acute distress or the variance in 14 miscellaneous physical tests served as evidence that discredited Plaintiff’s testimony. 15 But remand for the purpose of allowing the ALJ to have a do-over in showing Plaintiff is 16 not credible is inappropriate. 17 Commissioner to decide the issue again would create an unfair ‘heads we win; tails, let’s 18 play again’ system of disability benefits adjudication.”); Moisa v. Barnhart, 367 F.3d 19 882, 887 (9th Cir. 2004) (“The Commissioner, having lost this appeal, should not have 20 another opportunity to show that Moisa is not credible any more than Moisa, had he lost, 21 should have an opportunity for remand and further proceedings to establish his 22 credibility.”). See Benecke, 379 F.3d at 595 (“Allowing the 23 Finally, if the symptom testimony and treating physician opinions were credited as 24 true, the ALJ would be required to find Plaintiff disabled. At the administrative hearing, 25 the VE testified that, based on Dr. Silverman’s opinions, Plaintiff would not be able to 26 retain employment. (A.R. 63-64.) Accordingly, the Court exercises its discretion to 27 remand for an award of benefits. 28 IT IS ORDERED that the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security - 14 - 1 is REVERSED and the case REMANDED for an award of benefits. The Clerk shall 2 enter judgment accordingly and terminate the case. 3 Dated this 25th day of September, 2017. 4 5 6 7 8 Douglas L. Rayes United States District Judge 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 - 15 -