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Timestamp: 2016-10-23 00:02:10
Document Index: 356798750

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 404', 'art, 400', 'art, 359', '§ 404', '§ 202', '§ 416']

| Darlene Dunn v. Michael J. Astrue
Darlene Dunn v. Michael J. Astrue
DARLENE DUNN,PLAINTIFF,v.MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, DEFENDANT.
Plaintiff Darlene Dunn ("Plaintiff") seeks judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security ("Commissioner" or "Defendant") denying her application for disability insurance benefits pursuant to Title II of the Social Security Act. The matter is currently before the Court on the parties' briefs, which were submitted, without oral argument, to the Magistrate Judge Gary S. Austin for findings and recommendations to the District Court.*fn1
Plaintiff filed an application for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits on August 31, 2006, alleging disability beginning March 2, 2003. AR11. Plaintiff's applications were denied initially and on reconsideration. AR 61,64. Subsequently, Plaintiff requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"). AR 76. ALJ William Thompson held a hearing on May 10, 2005, and issued an order denying benefits on June 23, 2005. AR. 41-53. Plaintiff did not appeal this decision so the decision became final on that day.*fn3
Plaintiffapplied for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits a second time on October 6, 2006, alleging disability beginning March 3, 2003. AR 11. Plaintiff's applications were denied initially and on reconsideration. AR 54-55. Plaintiff requested a hearing before an ALJ. AR 76. ALJ Howard Treblin held a hearing on March 28, 2008, and issued a decision denying benefits on June 27, 2008. AR 8-21. The Appeals Council issued a decision affirming the ALJ's order on April 13, 2010. AR 1-3.
ALJ Treblin held a hearing in Stockton, California, on June 25, 2008. Plaintiff personally appeared and was assisted by attorney Jeffrey Milam. AR 22-40.
Plaintiff was fifty-three years old at the time of the hearing. AR 25. She is married and lives with her husband and her thirty-three year old son. AR 25, 33. Her husband is working and supports the family. AR 34. Plaintiff completed the eleventh grade but does not have a GED.
AR 26. She is however, able to read, write, and do simple math. AR 26. Plaintiff has a driver's license but she cannot drive long distances without experiencing pain. AR 25-26.
Plaintiff worked as department manager at K-Mart from 1991 until January 2003. AR 26-28. She was terminated in 2003 due to disputes over merchandise and pricing. AR 26-27. She has not worked since her termination. AR 26-27.
Plaintiff's physical problems began in 2003 after she fell off a ladder and broke her fibula and tore her Anterior Cruciate Ligament ("ACL"). AR 27-28. Her doctors recommended that she have surgery but she did not do so because she was afraid of the procedure. AR 28-29. She also has pain in her back and she wears a brace when she doing heavy work in the garden or feeding her animals. AR 30.
Plaintiff smokes approximately one pack of cigarettes per day which causes her to have shortness of breath. AR 28. She also suffers from anxiety several times a month but she usually calms down after taking her "nerve pill." AR 29. She has high blood pressure and a stomach ulcer, however, she is able to manage her stomach pain by taking Hydocodone four times a day. AR 30-31. Despite taking the medication, Plaintiff reports that her pain is an eight out of ten on most days. AR 31. As a result of the pain, she lies down approximately four to five times per day for twenty to thirty minutes at a time. AR 31-32. Plaintiff has not had epidural injections because she is afraid that she will become paralyzed. AR 38.
Plaintiff's primary care doctor is Veronica David. AR 32. Plaintiff sees her doctor as needed which usually is once every six months. AR 32. Plaintiff is only able to lift between five and ten pounds and she is not able to lift anything over her head. AR 32-33. She is able to sit in a chair with her back straight for no more than three to five minutes and she has difficulty bending over. AR 33. Plaintiff also has difficulty concentrating, getting along with others, and sleeping at night AR 33-34.
Despite these limitations, Plaintiff is able to take a shower, do the dishes and laundry, as well as feed her animals including a pig, chickens, and horses. AR 35. She also gardens, grocery shops, and helps with her grandchildren daily. AR 35. However, she is no longer able to do other activities that she used to do such as going tubing in the lake, going four wheeling with her husband, or horseback riding. AR 36.
The entire medical record was reviewed by the Court (AR 127-233), however, only those medical records relevant to the issues on appeal will be addressed below as needed in this opinion.
Documents from Sutter Gould Medical Foundation
In March 2003, Plaintiff fell off a ladder, landed on her right hip, and experienced severe pain in the right thigh and knee area. TR 14, 135. She was examined by Thomas Kraft, Physician's Assistant ("PA"), in the Department of Orthopedics on March 14, 2003 for severe pain and intermittent swelling from her right mid-thigh down to the foot. AR 134-136. According to MRIs and x-rays taken within a month of her fall, Plaintiff sustained a fractured calf bone near the knee (proximal fibular fracture), a suspected torn knee ligament (ACL), and a bruised ankle. TR 14, 128. A lumbar spine MRI dated April 15, 2003 showed "some mild disc bulging at L1-2, L3-4 without disk protrusion." and a hip and pelvis MRI ruled out injuries in those areas. TR 14, 128. Plaintiff was diagnosed with suspected complex regional pain syndrome ("RSD") of the lower leg, and referred to the pain management clinic. TR 14, 129.
On May 15, 2003, Plaintiff was examined again by PA Kraft. AR 128. It was noted that Plaintiff's walk was antalgic. She held her knee at about 35 degrees of flexion when she walked and limped quite profoundly. There was some cyanosis (bluish coloring due to lack of oxygen) of the right leg and palpation revealed that the right leg was cooler than the left leg from the knee down to the toes. AR 128.
On August 13, 2003, Radiologist Cesar Tumakay, D.O. reported that an MRI scan of Plaintiff's right knee indicated a "chronic tear of a pascicle ACL in which the torn fragment has now [sic] parasitization of blood supply from the posterior cruciate ligament." AR 140.
On March 30, 2004, Plaintiff returned to PA Kraft for examination. AR 206. At that time is was noted that in January 2004, Plaintiff had fallen in her kitchen while carrying a bag of groceries and she developed right sided sciatica. AR 206. Plaintiff reported she was doing some work around the ranch with her horses but that she had to rest because of chronic back pain and pain radiating into her right leg. An examination revealed that her reflexes were 2/4 KJ and AJ bilaterally. She had 4/5 weakness of the right "EHL" but otherwise her strength in both lower extremities was normal. AR 206-207. Plaintiff's leg raise test was positive for back pain but not for leg pain. Full range of motion of the right hip without tenderness was noted. AR 206-207; 209-210. PA Kraft also indicated that an MRI and x-rays revealed there was no bony lesions, fractures or spinal stenosis. AR 207. There was some dessication of the L3-4 and the L4-5 lumbar disc and also a milder dessication of the T12-L1 disc as well. However, no herniated discs were noted. AR 207, 209. Plaintiff was diagnosed with contusion of the lumbar spine, complex regional pain syndrome in the lower right extremity and a sprain of the cruciate ligament of the right knee. AR 207. Plaintiff was referred to Dr. Gesson for pain management. AR 207.
On April 13, 2004, Plaintiff saw Dr. Gesson, a pain specialist who noted Plaintiff had fears of injections and epidurals. He prescribed Paxil in an attempt to alleviate her anxiety and reported that in the future Plaintiff could be sedated during any pain injection procedures. Dr. Gesson was waiting to hear whether Plaintiff was interested in receiving pain management therapy. AR 205.
In May 2004, Plaintiff began seeing Dr. Satvinder Sachdeva, M.D.,who diagnosed her with low back pain syndrome. He recommended physical therapy. TR 197, 199. Plaintiff reported that she does not like to take medications. AR 199. Although Plaintiff had seen Dr. Gesson, she told Dr. Satvinder that she was not interested in receiving epidural injections. AR 199.
On August 6, 2004, Plaintiff was seen by Nancy Gills, P.A. who noted that Plaintiff's reported pain in her back was a 9/10. AR 194. Upon examination, Plaintiff's gait was antalgic, however, her range of motion was normal in her knee and back. Plaintiff was tender over the sacro-sciatic notch in her hip and she had some decreased right hip flexion. She had normal hip extension, however, abduction produced right saccral pain. AR 195. Plaintiff was prescribed Gabapentin and then told to report for a follow-up in two weeks. AR 195. An x-ray performed on that same day was unremarkable. AR 196.
In September 2004, Plaintiff returned to see Dr. Sachdeva again who noted that in spite of "endlessly complaining of pain in her low back and leg," Plaintiff was reluctant to take prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) due to an alleged history of bleeding ulcer. AR 192. Plaintiff indicated that she did not want to see Dr. Gesson either. AR 192. Plaintiff saw Dr. Sachdeva again on November 29, 2004 for low back pain. AR 189-190.
Plaintiff was examined on August 8 and 10, 2006, by Drs. Veronica David and Ton Ngo after Plaintiff was in a car accident and complained of neck, back, and left shoulder pain. Plaintiff was diagnosed with a back sprain. AR 176. A cervical spine x-ray series performed on August 8, 2006, revealed mild bilateral luschka joint spurring seen at the C4-C5 but otherwise the findings were unremarkable. AR 180. T-spine x-rays performed on that same day revealed minimal spondylosis in the lower T-spine segments with no acute injury noted. AR 181. Lumbar spine x-rays revealed that there had been no changes since the prior x-rays in 2004. AR 182. Mild spondylosis was noted throughout the entire lumbar spine. AR 182. Mild scoliosis was also diagnosed. AR 182.
Consultative Examining Physician Tri Minh Pham
Dr. Tri Minh Pham, M.D., performed a consultive examination at the request of the Social Security Administration on December 22, 2006. AR 147. Dr. Pham noted that Plaintiff was not in any acute distress, exhibited no tenderness in the back, had a normal range of motion in her back, had normal (5/5) muscle strength in her arms and legs, and a normal gait. AR 15, 147-148. Dr. Pham also noted that Plaintiff could raise both legs to 95 degrees. Based on his examination and an interview with Plaintiff, Dr. Pham observed that Plaintiff's back and right leg pain had improved with no limitation of range of motion. He opined that Plaintiff was unrestricted in her abilities to walk, stand, sit, carry, lift, and handle objects. AR 148.
Consultative Non-Examining Physician James V. Glaser On January 12, 2007, state agency physician, James V. Glaser, M.D., reviewed the medical reports and opined Plaintiff had the residual functional capacity for light work, but opined that she should never climb ladders, ropes, and scaffolds, and she should only occasionally climb ramps and stairs, kneel, crouch, and crawl. TR 151-154.
Treating Physician Dr. Veronica David
Plaintiff began seeing Dr David regularly in January 2005. Dr. David noted that plaintiff was complaining of chronic back pain but that the 2004 MRI performed was "essentially normal." She did however note that there was sone mild dessicative DDD at L3-4 and L4-5 with associated mild annular bulging. AR 186. On March 31, 2005, Plaintiff was seen again for a follow-up appointment. It was noted that a recent MRI of Plaintiff's lumbar spine noted no significant change from the one performed in March 2004. AR 184.
Dr. David saw Plaintiff again on March 30, 2007, for complaints of low back and shoulder pain. AR 167. Plaintiff was taking Lortab, Hydrochlorothiazide, Aciphex, and Albuterol. AR 168. It was noted that Plaintiff had missed at least three appointments in the past six months and she was warned that if she missed future appointments she would be terminated from Dr. David's practice. AR 168. Plaintiff was diagnosed with low back pain; anxiety state not otherwise specified; hypertension; and tobacco use disorder. AR 168, 177.
Dr. Veronica David, M.D., gave Plaintiff a complete physical examination on April 27, 2007. Dr. David described Plaintiff as "[w]ell developed, well nourished 52 year old, female, alert, oriented, in no apparent distress." AR 162. During the examination, Dr. David noted that Plaintiff complained of constant sharp pain in her foot that radiates to her leg twice a week as well as back pain. AR161-162. However, Plaintiff declined physical therapy. AR 162. X-rays taken at the time of the examination revealed a small calcaneal plantar spur and a small osteophyte attachment of the Achilles tendon. AR 164. The ankle mortise and ankle joint were within normal limits and there was no fracture or dislocation. AR 164. It was also noted that the fifth metatorsal fracture was healed. AR 164. Mild hallus valgus deformity and early degenerative changes at the first metatarsal joint were diagnosed. AR 164-165.
Dr. David examined Plaintiff again in June 2007 for right leg pain.AR 231. Upon physical examination, Plaintiff's right hip, knee, and ankle revealed "excellentrange of motion," and her knee ligaments were stable. TR 232. Tenderness anteriorly and laterally was noted..AR 232. X-rays of her right tibia, ankle, and foot were normal. AR 232. Plaintiff was advised that treatment for her back pain would include epidural steroid injection or surgery, however, Plaintiff refused to participate in both of these treatments. AR 232.
In January 2008, Dr. David again described Plaintiff as "well developed, well nourished, . . [and] in no apparent distress." AR 223. Though Plaintiff continued to complain of persistent back pain, she again declined to have physical therapy. AR 222. Plaintiff was taking Lortab as needed for pain management. AR 222.
In March 2008, Dr. David completed a questionnaire in which she opined that, based on a 2003 MRI, Plaintiff was only able to sit, stand and walk for three to five minutes at a time, and that she must elevate her legs thirty minutes a day at least three to four times per day. TR 233.
Using the Social Security Administration's five-step sequential evaluation process, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff did not meet the disability standard. AR 21. More particularly, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity from her alleged onset date of March 3, 2003, through the date of insured of September 30, 2007. AR 14. Further, the ALJ identified a right knee injury with resultant complex regional pain syndrome and back impairments. AR 14. Nonetheless, the ALJ determined the severity of Plaintiff's impairments did not meet or exceed any of the listed impairments. AR 16.
Based on his review of the entire record, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff has the residual functional capacity ("RFC") to perform light work except that she can "climb ramps and stairs, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl occasionally, but she should never climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds." AR 17. The ALJ also determined that Plaintiff should avoid concentrated exposure to workplace hazards such as moving machinery and unprotected heights. AR 17. Next, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff could not perform her past work. AR 19. However, using the Medical-Vocational Rules 202.21 and 202.22, Appendix 2, Subpart P, Regulation 4 ("the grids"), the ALJ determined Plaintiff was not disabled as defined by the Social Security Act. AR 21.
In an effort to achieve uniformity of decisions, the Commissioner has promulgated regulations which contain, inter alia, a five-step sequential disability evaluation process. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520 (a)-(f), 416.920 (a)-(f). Here, Plaintiff argues that the ALJ 1) improperly rejected Plaintiff's treating physician opinion, 2) incorrectly made an adverse credibility determination, and 3) failed to meet his burden at step five. In opposition, Defendant argues that the ALJ: 1) properly evaluated the physicians' opinions and the medical record, 2) correctly rejected Plaintiff's testimony, and 3) met his burden at step five by properly applying the grids.
A. Physician Opinion Evidence
Plaintiff argues thatthe ALJ improperly rejected Plaintiff's treating physician opinion and instead erroneously relied upon the opinion of a non-examining state agency medical consultant. Defendant contends that the ALJ's consideration of the medical opinion evidence was proper.
The opinion of a nonexamining physician cannot, by itself, constitute substantial evidence that justifies the rejection of the opinion of either an examining physician or a treating physician. Pitzer, 908 F.2d at 506 n. 4; Gallant, 753 F.2d at 1456. In some cases, however, the ALJ can reject the opinion of a treating or examining physician, based in part on the testimony of a nonexamining medical advisor. E.g., Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 751-55 (9th Cir.1989); Andrews, 53 F.3d at 1043; Roberts v. Shalala, 66 F.3d 179 (9th Cir.1995). For example, in Magallanes, the Ninth Circuit explained that in rejecting the opinion of a treating physician, "the ALJ did not rely on [the nonexamining physician's] testimony alone to reject the opinions of Magallanes's treating physicians . . .." Magallanes, 881 F.2d at 752. Rather, there was an abundance of evidence that supported the ALJ's decision: the ALJ also relied on laboratory test results, on contrary reports from examining physicians, and on testimony from the claimant that conflicted with her treating physician's opinion. Id. at 751-52. The opinions of nonexamining physicians are substantial evidence where they are supported by clinical findings and objective tests. See Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d at 751.
Here, the ALJ had three acceptable medical opinions to consider: (1) Dr. David, Plaintiff's treating physician, 2) Dr. Tri Pham, a state consultative examining physician, and 3) Dr. Glaser, a state agency non-examining physician. Therefore, the ALJ must provide specific and legitimate reasons for rejecting Plaintiff's treating physician's opinion. With regard to the physician evidence the ALJ stated as follows
As for the opinion evidence the undersigned gives substantial weight to the assessments of the State Agency medical consultant to the effect the claimant can perform light work (B3F). The assessments are wholly consistent with the weight of the evidence in the record and rendered by physicians who are experts in the evaluation of medical issues in disability claims under the Social Security Act. Although the State Agency consultive examiner determined that the claimant had no vocationally relevant limitations and the conclusion is well-supported by the findings on examination, the undersigned gives the claimant every benefit of the doubt and concludes that she is limited to light work, primarily as a result of her subjective complaints.
The undersigned give[s] little weight to the March 26, 2008 assessment of the claimant's treating physician to the effect that the claimant is unable to perform even sedentary work (B10). The findings on examination during office visits are not consistent with what one would expect if the claimant were truly disabled, as the doctor has reported. Further, the doctor apparently relied quite heavily on the subjective report of symptoms and limitations provided by the claimant, and seemed to uncritically accept as true most, if not all, of what the claimant reported despite her consistent refusal to pursue other treatment modalities. Yet, as explained elsewhere in this decision, there exists good reasons for questioning the reliability of claimant's subjective complaints.
Plaintiff argues that Dr. David's opinion was not based on Plaintiff's subjective complaints but instead on objective evidence in the record. Specifically, Dr. David references an MRI completed in April 2003 which revealed mild disc bulging at L1-L2, L3-L4 and L4-L5 in support of her findings. AR 233. Moreover, Plaintiff argues that the medical documentation supports the conclusion that Plaintiff suffered from several significant impairments and that the ALJ failed to consider all of her impairments including her anxiety and her pain condition. The Court disagrees.
The ALJ addressed all the relevant portions of the medical record in his opinion. AR 14-16. Although Plaintiff argues that Dr. David relied on the medical record because she cites to a 2003 MRI in the report, there is a legitimate basis for the ALJ's conclusions. For example, Dr. David relies on the 2003 MRI to conclude Plaintiff has significant limitations. However, during an earlier office visit, Dr. David noted that Plaintiff's MRI performed in 2004, which revealed mild dessicative degenerative disc disease, was essentially normal.*fn4 Compare AR 186 and 233. Moreover, the ALJ clearly recognizes that Plaintiff suffers from several impairments, however he also notes that the impairments are mild and that most recent treatment records indicate that despite complaints of chronic pain, Plaintiff has refused any treatment including surgery, epidurals, and physical therapy. AR 15. This finding is supported by the medical record and Plaintiff's own testimony. AR 28-29, 38, 162, 180-182, 192, 199, 222, 232, 205, 207.
Similarly, the Court rejects Plaintiff's arguments that the ALJ did not consider Plaintiff's anxiety and RSD. To the contrary, the ALJ thoroughly evaluated Plaintiff's anxiety condition but determined this condition did not cause more than a minimal limitation in Plaintiff's ability to perform basic work activities and is nonsevere. AR 15-16. Part of this analysis was an evaluation of Plaintiff's own testimony where she indicates that she suffers from anxiety several times a month but she usually calms down after taking a "nerve pill." AR 16, 29. Moreover, the ALJ noted that he would give Plaintiff the benefit of the doubt and restrict her to light work based on her subjective complaints. AR 19, 147-148, 151-154. Thus, it is clear that the ALJ considered Plaintiff's anxiety and pain condition despite his finding that she was not credible. Finally, as discussed below, the ALJ's credibility is also based on substantial evidence and serves as a legitimate and specific reason to reject Dr. David's opinion.
Plaintiff argues that the ALJ failed to provide clear and convincing reasons for rejecting her testimony. Defendant argues that the ALJ's credibility finding is supported by substantial evidence.
A two step analysis applies at the administrative level when considering a claimant's subjective symptom testimony. Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1281 (9th Cir. 1996). First, the claimant must produce objective medical evidence of an impairment that could reasonably be expected to produce some degree of the symptom or pain alleged. Id. at 1281-1282. If the claimant satisfies the first step and there is no evidence of malingering, the ALJ may reject the claimant's testimony regarding the severity of his symptoms only if he makes specific findings that include clear and convincing reasons for doing so. Id. at 1281. The ALJ must "state which testimony is not credible and what evidence suggests the complaints are not credible." Mersman v. Halter, 161 F.Supp.2d 1078, 1086 (N.D. Cal. 2001), quotations & citations omitted ("The lack of specific, clear, and convincing reasons why Plaintiff's testimony is not credible renders it impossible for [the] Court to determine whether the ALJ's conclusion is supported by substantial evidence"); Social Security Ruling ("SSR") 96-7p (ALJ's decision "must be sufficiently specific to make clear to the individual and to any subsequent reviewers the weight the adjudicator gave to the individual's statements and reasons for that weight").
The first step in assessing Plaintiff's subjective complaints is to determine whether Plaintiff's condition could reasonably be expected to produce the pain or other symptoms alleged. Lingenfelter v. Astrue, 504 F.3d 1028, 1036 (9th Cir. 2007). Here, the ALJ identified a right knee injury with resultant complex regional pain syndrome and back impairments as severe impairments. AR 14. He further found that:
After considering the evidence of record, the undersigned finds that the [Plaintiff's] medically-determinable impairments can reasonably be expected to produce the alleged symptoms, but the [Plaintiff's]statements about the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of those symptoms are not credible to the extent they are inconsistent with my assessment of his residual functional capacity, for the reasons explained below.
AR 18. This finding satisfied step one of the credibility analysis. Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1281-1282.
Here, the ALJ made several specific credibility findings: ... although the claimant has received treatment for the allegedly disabling impairments, that treatment has been routine and conservative in nature. The claimant has declined any treatment modalities other than the use of narcotic pain medication. She was offered epidural steroid injections and surgical consultations but either cancelled the appointments or declined the referral. Radiographic findings are relatively benign with only minimal findings and physical examinations reveal full range of motion. It is notable that the claimant cancelled or failed to show up for so many doctor appointments that she was warned on at least two occasions that further failures to appear would result in discharge from the practice. The claimant was prescribed and has taken hydrcodone for her pain complaints, which weighs in the claimant's favor, but the medical records reveal that the medications have been relatively effective in controlling the claimant's symptoms. In light of the foregoing, the claimant's description of the severity of her pain and limitations has been so extreme as to appear implausible. Further, the claimant has described daily activities which are not limited to the extent one would expect given the complaints of totally disabling symptoms and limitations. Although she may no longer be able to ski or sled, her daily activities as reported are at odds with reports of totally disabling pain or illness. All these activities require a combination of standing, walking, sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling consistent with the ability to perform work at some level of exertion.
Finally, there is evidence that the claimant stopped working for reasons not related to the allegedly disabling impairments. The undersigned after evaluating these reports. considers them an inconsistency bearing on credibility. These reports do not support the claimant's complaints of a disabling level of pain or illness and indicate that, at the least, she is exaggerating her limitations.
AR 18-19.
In short, the ALJ provided a number of clear and convincing reasons that are supported by the record when concluding Plaintiff's subjective symptom testimony was less than credible. These reasons include: (1) Plaintiff's conservative treatment (AR 28-29, 38, 192, 199, 205, 207)*fn5 ; (2) her failure to attend medical appointments despite complaints of severe pain (AR 168); (3) an inconsistency between her alleged symptoms and the medical evidence (180-184, 184, 196); (4) her activities of daily living include skills and abilities that are transferable to some level of exertional work (AR 35-36); and (5) Plaintiff stopped working for reasons other than her disabling condition. AR 26-27.
Thus, ALJ Treblin clearly identified what testimony he found not credible and what evidence undermined Plaintiff's complaints. Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d at 834. Furthermore, the reasons provided are acceptable. See, e.g., Johnson v. Shalala, 60 F.3d 1428, 1434 (9th Cir. 1995) (inconsistencies between the record and medical evidence supports a rejection of a claimant's credibility; no medical treatment or a conservative level of medical treatment has been found to suggest a lower level of pain and functional limitations);*fn6 Fair v. Bowen, 885 F.2d at 603-04 (claiming severe conditions yet receiving minimal, conservative, or no treatment is a basis to reject claimant's testimony; additionally, failure to follow prescribed treatment can be considered in determining credibility); " Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F. 3d at 1039 (ALJ properly inferred that the claimant's pain was not as all-disabling as he reported in light of fact that the he did not seek an aggressive treatment program); Meanel v. Apfel, 172 F. 3d 1111, 1113 (9th Cir. 1999) (subjective pain complaints properly discredited where claimant complained of intense pain but only received minimal and "conservative" treatment),
Furthermore, contrary to Plaintiff's contention, the ALJ may discount Plaintiff's credibility based on daily activities. Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d at 638. Here, the ALJ noted that although Plaintiff is not able to ski or go sledding*fn7 the ADL skills Plaintiff does perform require a combination of standing, walking, sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling consistent with the ability to perform work at some level of exertion. This reasoning, in conjunction with the other basis for the ALJ's credibility finding, constitute clear and convincing reasons.
Finally, although evidence supporting an ALJ's conclusions might also permit an interpretation more favorable to the claimant, if the ALJ's interpretation of evidence was rational, as here, the Court must uphold the ALJ's decision where the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation. Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 680-81 (9th Cir. 2005). Thus, because there is evidence to support the ALJ's conclusion, even were one of the ALJ's reasons erroneous or improper, the decision should be upheld. See eg., Batson v. Barnhart, 359 F.3d 1190, 1197 (9th Cir. 2004) (upholding ALJ's credibility determination even though one reason may have been in error).
C. Step Five and the ALJ's Use of the Grids
Plaintiff argues that the limitations included by the ALJ in his RFC findings (or the limitations that the ALJ should have included in his RFC finding, namely a sit/stand option, elevation of her legs, simple work, a limited ability to work with others, and environmental limitations,) constituted significant non exertional-limitations that eroded the occupational base for light work. Accordingly, use of the grids at step five was inappropriate. Defendant argues that the ALJ's finding at step five was supported by substantial evidence.
Here, the ALJ found Plaintiff had the RFC to perform light work except that Plaintiff can "climb ramps and stairs, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl occasionally, but she should never climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds." AR 17. The ALJ also determined that Plaintiff should avoid concentrated exposure to workplace hazards such as moving machinery and unprotected heights. AR 17. The ALJ further found that Plaintiff's additional limitations had little or no effect on the occupational base of unskilled light work. AR 20. He applied the medical-vocational guidelines as a framework and determined that jobs exist in significant numbers in the national economy that the Plaintiff can perform. AR 19-20.
Although Plaintiff argues that the ALJ should have imposed additional limitations, the ALJ's RFC is supported by substantial evidence as previously explained in this order. Further, this Court is not persuaded by Plaintiff's argument that SSR 85-15 precludes the application of guidelines based on the limitations imposed by the ALJ including occasional climbing ramps and stairs, stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, as well as avoiding concentrated exposure to workplace hazards such as moving machinery and unprotected heights. In support of her argument, Plaintiff cites only to select sections of SSR 85-15. However, the complete relevant portions of this rule provides as follows
b. Stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling are progressively more strenuous forms of bending parts of the body, with crawling as a form of locomotion involving bending. Some stooping (bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist) is required to do almost any kind of work, particularly when objects below the waist are involved. If a person can stoop occasionally (from very little up to one-third of the time) in order to lift objects, the sedentary and light occupational base is virtually intact. However, because of the lifting require for most medium, heavy, and very heavy jobs, a person must be able to stoop frequently (from one-third to two-thirds of the time); inability to do so would substantially affect the more strenuous portion of the occupational base. This is also true for crouching (bending the body downward and forward by bending both the legs and spine). However, crawling on hands and knees and feet is a relatively rare activity even in arduous work, and limitations on the ability to crawl would be of little significance in the broad world or work. This is also true of kneeling (bending the legs at the knees to come to rest on one or both knees).
Where the environmental restriction falls between very little and excessive, resolution of the issue will generally require consultation of occupational reference materials or the services of a v.
SSR 85-15.
Thus, the ability to occasionally climb, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl does not erode the occupational base for light work. As stated above, use of the Medical Vocational Guidelines is precluded only if the ALJ determines that the claimant's non-exertional limitations significantly limit the range of work permitted by her exertional limitations. Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred by not including limitations that Plaintiff can only do simple work or has a limited ability to work with others. She contends that had he done so, he would have been required to take the testimony of a vocational expert at the hearing. However, as previously noted, the ALJ's RFC is supported by substantial evidence and he did not err by failing to include these limitations.
Moreover, even if the ALJ had imposed those limitations, use of the guidelines would not be precluded. Light work represents " substantial work capability compatible with making a work adjustment to substantial numbers of unskilled jobs, and thus generally provides sufficient occupational mobility even for severely impaired individuals who are not of advanced age and have sufficient educational competencies for unskilled work." See 20 C.F.R.§ 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2, § 202.00. Unskilled work requires little or no judgment to do simple duties that can be learned on the job or in a short period of time that does not focus on working with people. 20 C.F.R. § 416.968. Thus, a person who can only perform simple work and can only have limited interaction with others is still able to perform light unskilled work. Thus, the testimony of a vocational expert would not be needed.
Given the above, the ALJ did not err by applying the grids. The ALJ's decision is supported by substantial evidence and is free of legal error.
Based on the foregoing, it is recommended that judgment be entered against Plaintiff, Darlene Dunn and in favor of Defendant Commissioner of Social Security.
These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Honorable Lawrence J. O'Neill pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 of the United States Code section 636(b)(l). Within ten (10) days after being served with these findings and recommendations, the parties may file written objections with the Court. The document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).