Source: http://or.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20131220_0001126.DOR.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-12-07 08:35:39
Document Index: 282804258

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 405', '§ 416', '§ 423', '§ 416', '§ 416', 'art 404', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 405', 'art, 400', '§ 416']

| Plourd v. Colvin
Plourd v. Colvin
JAY PLOURD, Plaintiff,v.CAROLYN L. COLVIN, Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant.
Philip Studenberg, Klamath Falls, OR, Attorney for Plaintiff.
S. Amanda Marshall, United States Attorney, and Adrian L. Brown, Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office, District of Oregon, Portland, OR, Courtney Garcia, Special Assistant United States Attorney, Office of the General Counsel, Social Security Administration, Seattle, WA. Attorneys for Defendant.
Plaintiff Jay Plourd ("plaintiff') seeks judicial review of the final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration ("Commissioner") denying his application for Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. This court has jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c). Because the Commissioner's decision is supported by substantial evidence, the decision should be AFFIRMED.
Born in 1968, plaintiff was 39 years old on the alleged disability onset date of September 21, 2007. Tr. 110. Plaintiff was incarcerated for 20 years, and has most recently worked as a gas station attendant and general laborer. Tr. 115. Plaintiff speaks English, has a G.E.D., and attended Klamath Community College. Tr. 113, 119.
Plaintiff filed an application for SSI on November 20, 2009, alleging disability due to substance dependence, antisocial personality disorder, nervousness, anxiety, and paranoia due to psychosocial stressors. Tr. 16, 114. The Commissioner denied plaintiffs application initially and upon reconsideration, and he requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"). Tr. 64-66. After an administrative hearing the ALJ issued a decision finding plaintiff not to be disabled. Tr. 14-21. Plaintiffs subsequent request for review was denied by the Appeals Council, making the ALJ's decision the final Agency decision. Tr. 1-4; 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.1481, 422.210 (2012). This appeal followed.
A claimant is disabled if he or she is unable to "engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which... has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months[.]" 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). "Social Security Regulations set out a five-step sequential process for determining whether an applicant is disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act." Keyser v. Comm'r Soc. Sec. Admin., 648 F.3d 721, 724 (9th Cir. 2011); see also 20 C.F.R. § 416.920; Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 140 (1987). Each step is potentially dispositive. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)(4). The five-step sequential process asks the following series of questions:
3. Does the claimant's severe impairment "meet or equal" one or more of the impairments listed in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1? If so, then the claimant is disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)(4)(iii). If the impairment does not meet or equal one or more of the listed impairments, the analysis proceeds beyond step three. At that point, the ALJ must evaluate medical and other relevant evidence to assess and determine the claimant's "residual functional capacity" ("RFC"). This is an assessment of work-related activities that the claimant may still perform on a regular and continuing basis, despite any limitations imposed by his or her impairments. 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.920(e), 416.945(b)-(c). After the ALJ determines the claimant's RFC, the analysis proceeds to step four.
5. Considering the claimant's RFC and age, education, and work experience, is the claimant able to make an adjustment to other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy? If so, then the claimant is not disabled. §§ 416.920(a)(4)(v), 416.960(c). If the claimant cannot perform such work, he or she is disabled. Id. See also Bustamante v. Massanari, 262 F.3d 949, 954 (9th Cir. 2001).
The claimant bears the burden of proof at steps one through four. Id. at 953; see also Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1100 (9th Cir. 1999); Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 140-41. The Commissioner bears the burden of proof at step five. Tackett, 180 F.3d at 1100. At step five, the Commissioner must show that the claimant can perform other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy, "taking into consideration the claimant's residual functional capacity, age, education, and work experience." Id .; see also 20 C.F.R. § 416.966 (describing "work which exists in the national economy"). If the Commissioner fails to meet this burden, the claimant is disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a)(4)(v). If, however, the Commissioner proves that the claimant is able to perform other work existing in significant numbers in the national economy, the claimant is not disabled. Bustamante, 262 F.3d at 953-54; Tackett, 180 F.3d at 1099.
The ALJ performed the sequential analysis. At step one, she found that plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity after the alleged onset date. Tr. 16. At step two, the ALJ found that plaintiff's antisocial personality disorder and history of drug dependence were severe impairments. Id. At step three, the ALJ found that plaintiff did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that met or medically equaled a listed impairment. Tr. 17.
The ALJ next assessed plaintiff's residual functional capacity ("RFC") and determined that plaintiff could perform the full range of work at all exertion levels with the limitation that he cannot have public contact; he can only have brief, superficial contact with coworkers; and he cannot perform teamwork assignments. Tr. 18. At step four, the ALJ found plaintiffs capable of performing his past relevant work as a production assembler. Tr. 21. Accordingly, the ALJ concluded that plaintiff is not disabled. Tr. 21.
The reviewing court must affirm the Commissioner's decision if it is based on the proper legal standards and the findings are supported by substantial evidence. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); see also Hammock v. Bowen, 879 F.2d 498? 501 (9th Cir. 1989). "Substantial evidence" means "more than a mere scintilla, but less than a preponderance." Bray v. Comm'r, 554 F.3d 1219, 1222 (9th' Cir. 2009) (quoting Andrews v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 1995)). It means "such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Id. Where the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, the Commissioner's conclusion must be upheld. Sample v. Schweiker, 694 F.2d 639, 642 (9th Cir. 1982). Variable interpretations of the evidence are insignificant if the Commissioner's interpretation is a rational reading of the record, and this court may not substitute its judgment for that of the Commissioner. Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2005). "However, a reviewing court must consider the entire record as a whole and may not affirm simply by isolating a specific quantum of supporting evidence." Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 630 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting Robbins v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 466 F.3d 880, 882 (9th Cir. 2006) (quotation marks omitted)). The reviewing court, however, may not affirm the Commissioner on a ground upon which the Commissioner did not rely. Orn, 495 F.3d at 630; see also Bray, 554 F.3d at 1226-26 (citing SEC v. Chenery Corp., 332 U.S. 194, 196 (1947)).
Plaintiff challenges the ALJ's decision, claiming that she erred by: (1) failing to find that plaintiff met the paragraph B Criteria for Listing 12.08, and (2) failing to order a release of plaintiff's records.
Listing 12.08
Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred in failing to find that he met the paragraph B criteria for Listing 12.08 ("Personality Disorders"). The ALJ must determine whether the claimant's impairments equal a listing. 20 C.F.R. § 416.926. The required level of severity is met for Listing 12.08 when the requirements in paragraphs A and Bare satisfied. To satisfy the paragraph B criteria, the claimant's mental impairments must result in at least two of the following: marked restriction of activities of daily living; marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; or repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration. Tr. 17. Because the ALJ found that plaintiff had only mild difficulties with regard to concentration, persistence and pace, mild restriction in activities of daily living, and no episodes of decompensation of extended duration, she concluded that plaintiff does not meet the paragraph B criteria. Tr. 17.
Plaintiff contends that the ALJ failed to correctly interpret the findings of examining psychologist Gregory Cole, Ph.D., which allegedly show that plaintiff meets the paragraph B criteria for Listing 12.08. Dr. Cole conducted a psychodiagnostic evaluation of plaintiff in December, 2009, and concluded that plaintiffs primary obstacle to employment would be his "problems interacting with others" and his potential to engage in illegal behaviors or substance abuse. Tr. 172, 177. The ALJ credited Dr. Cole's opinion, and made a finding that plaintiff had moderate to marked difficulties in social functioning. Tr. 17, 20.
Plaintiff asserts that Dr. Cole's assessment "places [p]laintiff within the listing of 12.08, " but provides neither facts nor further legal argument to support his position. Pl.'s Br., pp. 1. While the ALJ is responsible for determining whether a claimant meets a listed impairment, a claimant on appeal must do more than draw a court's attention to an ALJ's omission. See Lewis v. Apfel, 236 F.3d 503, 514 (9th Cir. 2001). Insofar as plaintiff presents an alternative interpretation of the evidence, that interpretation is insignificant because the Commissioner provided a rational reading of the medical record. See Burch, 400 F.3d at 679 (this court may not substitute its judgment for that of the Commissioner when the ALJ's decision is based on a rational interpretation of the evidence). In sum, plaintiff fails to present a plausible theory as to how his combined disorders meet or equal Listing 12.08, and the ALJ's decision should be upheld. See Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 750 (9th Cir. 1989) (the ALJ's reasonable decision must be upheld even if the evidence "is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation"); see also Sample, 694 F.2d at 642.
Plaintiff also argues that the ALJ failed to order a release of records from BestCare Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center to plaintiff's counsel. Pl.'s Br., 1-2. The court also rejects this argument. After the hearing held on September 9, 2011, the ALJ provided plaintiff's counsel with two weeks to obtain any pertinent medical records. Tr. 20, 32. On September 16, 2001, the ALJ also sent a subpoena duces tecum to BestCare Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center, plaintiff's alleged treatment provider. Tr. 20, 164-66. On this record, the court cannot agree with plaintiff that the ALJ "abuse[d] her discretion in failing to order release of records." Pl.'s Br., 1. The ALJ's decision should therefore be affirmed.
The ALJ's conclusion that plaintiff is not disabled is supported by substantial evidence and should be AFFIRMED.
This Recommendation is not an order that is immediately appealable to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Any notice of appeal pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure Rule 4(a)(1) should not be filed until entry of the district court's judgment or appealable order.
The Report and Recommendation will be referred to a district judge. Objections to this Report and Recommendation, if any, are due no later than fourteen (14) days from today's date. If objections are filed, any response is due fourteen (14) days from the date of the objections. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 72, 6. Parties are advised that the 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).