Source: http://ny.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20120123_0000041.NNY.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-12-10 18:51:29
Document Index: 374704540

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 405', 'art, 362', '§ 404', '§\n404', '§ 404', '§ 404']

| Robert Selian v. Michael Astrue
Robert Selian v. Michael Astrue
ROBERT SELIAN, PLAINTIFF,v.MICHAEL ASTRUE, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, DEFENDANT.
Plaintiff Robert Selian challenges the Commissioner of Social Security's denial of disability insurance benefits (DIB), seeking judicial review under 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3). (See Compl., Dkt. No. 1.) After reviewing the administrative record and carefully considering the arguments, the court affirms the Commissioner's decision and dismisses Selian's complaint.
On February 8, 2007, Selian filed an application for DIB under the Social Security Act ("Act"), alleging disability since June 30, 2001. (Tr.*fn1 at 10.) After his application was denied, Selian requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), which was held on April 29, 2009. (Id.) On July 23, 2009, the ALJ issued a decision denying the requested benefits, which became the Commissioner's final decision upon the Social Security Administration Appeals Council's denial of review. (Id. at 1-4, 10-21.)
Selian commenced the present action by filing a complaint on November 19, 2010, seeking review of the Commissioner's determination.*fn2
(Compl., Dkt. No. 1.) The Commissioner filed an answer and a certified copy of the administrative transcript. (Dkt. Nos. 9, 10.) Each party, seeking judgment on the pleadings, filed a brief. (Dkt. Nos. 15, 16.)
Selian contends the Commissioner's decision is not supported by substantial evidence. Specifically, Selian claims the ALJ: (1) did not properly assess the medical evidence; and (2) failed to appropriately determine his Residual Function Capacity ("RFC").*fn3 (See Dkt. No. 15 at 1, 9-16.) The Commissioner counters that substantial evidence supports the ALJ's decision.(See generally Dkt. No. 16.)
The evidence in this case is undisputed and the court adopts the parties' factual recitations. (See Dkt. No. 15 at 1-9; Dkt. No. 16 at 1-10.)
A. Medical Evidence Assessment
Selian claims the ALJ did not "properly assess" the opinions of Drs. Naughton, Corey and Noia, as well as Selian's "psychiatric providers." (See Dkt. No. 15 at 9-16.) The court disagrees.
Simply put, Selian's arguments with respect to Drs. Naughton and Noia are meritless. First, Selian alleges the ALJ failed "to explain why it was that she refused to include the limitations in [Dr. Naughton's] report." (Dkt. No. 15 at 10.) However, as the Commissioner aptly notes, the ALJ's decision, albeit not verbatim, adopted the limitations recommended by Dr. Naughton. (Compare Tr. at 16, with Tr. at 282.) Likewise, Selian's assertion that the ALJ "failed to include the findings by Dr. Noia or any of the limitations of Dr. Noia" contradicts the record. (Dkt. No. 15 at 12.) The ALJ's decision-which states that Selian "retained the ability (on a sustained basis) to understand, carry out, and remember simple instructions; to respond appropriately to supervision, co-workers, and usual work situations; and to deal with changes in a routine work setting"-is essentially identical to Dr. Noia's Medical Source Statement.*fn4 (Compare Tr. at 16, with Tr. at 278.) Furthermore, the ALJ explicitly stated "that the opinions of Dr. Noia and Dr. Naughten are entitled to the greatest weight" as "the restrictions identified by [them] are consistent with [Selian's] clinical findings and diagnostic studies." (Tr. at 18-19.)
Finally, Selian's argument regarding the opinions of Dr. Corey and the remaining medical sources is unpersuasive. (See Dkt. No. 15 at 10-14.) Normally the commissioner is required to give controlling weight to a treating physician's medical opinions if they are supported by acceptable diagnostic techniques and are not inconsistent with other substantial evidence*fn5 in the record. See, e.g., Halloran v. Barnhart, 362 F.3d 28, 32 (2d Cir. 2004).
However, the "ultimate finding of whether a claimant is disabled and cannot work . . . [is] reserved to the Commissioner." Snell v. Apfel, 177 F.3d 128, 133 (2d Cir. 1999) (quotation marks and citation omitted). "That means that the Social Security Administration considers the data that physicians provide but draws its own conclusions as to whether those data indicate disability." Id. As such, a treating physician's disability assessment is not determinative. See id.; see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(e).
Here, the ALJ found that Dr. Corey's report, which describes Selian's
condition as "largely subjective in nature," was "inconsistent with
diagnostic studies, clinical findings and the reports of other
physicians participating in [Selian's] health care."*fn6
(See, e.g., Tr. at 18-19, 350); see also 20 C.F.R. §
404.1527(d)(4) (stating "the more consistent an opinion is with the
record as a whole, the more weight" it will be given). Moreover, with
respect to the opinions of the remaining medical sources Selian cites
in his brief,
including Virginia Bronson, the ALJ's decision is clear. (See Dkt. No.
15 at 12-14, Tr. at 16-19.) These opinions, some of which address
periods outside the relevant timeframe, were accorded appropriate
weight based on their consistency with the record as a whole. (See,
e.g., Tr. at 16-19); see also Petrie v. Astrue, No. 08-cv-1289, 2009
WL 6084277, at *7 (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 10, 2009) (Bianchini, M.J.) ("[T]he
focus on inquiry must be on the actual period of disability at
In sum, the court discerns no error in the ALJ's assessment of the medical evidence in the record, and concludes the ALJ's decision is supported by substantial evidence.
Selian next claims the "ALJ's psychiatric RFC conflicted with her own factual findings." (Dkt. No. 15 at 14.) As construed by the Commissioner, this appears to be a challenge to the ALJ's mental RFC assessment. (See id; Dkt. No. 16 at 20-22.) Notwithstanding Selian's failure to cite legal authority or any portion of the transcript except the ALJ's decision to support his argument, the court nonetheless reviews the ALJ's mental RFC assessment to ensure it is supported by substantial evidence.
A claimant's RFC "is the most [he] can still do despite [his] limitations." 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(1). In assessing a claimant's RFC, an ALJ must consider "all of the relevant medical and other evidence," including a claimant's subjective complaints of pain. Id. § 404.1545(a)(3). An ALJ's RFC determination must be supported by substantial evidence in the record. See 42 U.S.C. 405(g). If it is, that determination is conclusive and must be affirmed upon judicial review. See id.; Perez v. Chater, 77 F.3d 41, 46 (2d Cir. 1996).
Here, the ALJ's decision examined the relevant factors in reaching an RFC determination-principally relying on the opinion of Dr. Noia. (Tr. at 16-17, 275-78.) Despite Selian's conclusory allegation to the contrary, (see Dkt. No. 15 at 14), the record as a whole demonstrates the ALJ's RFC assessment is supported by substantial evidence and is thus conclusive. See Alston, 904 F.2d at 126; Perez, 77 F.3d at 46.
WHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ORDERED that the decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED and Selian's complaint is DISMISSED; and it is further