Source: http://al.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20150128_0000075.NAL.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-12-05 12:32:50
Document Index: 80096798

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 405', '§ 205', '§ 405', 'art 404', '§ 404', '§ 404', 'art, 357', 'art, 197']

GERALD DEWAYNE WILLIAMS, Plaintiff,v.CAROLYN W. COLVIN, ACTING COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, Defendant.
Plaintiff Gerald Dewayne Williams ("Williams") seeks review, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), § 205(g) of the Social Security Act, of a final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration ("Commissioner"), denying his application for a period of disability, disability insurance benefits ("DIB"), and Supplemental Security Income ("SSI"). Williams timely pursued and exhausted his administrative remedies. The case is therefore ripe for review under 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3). The undersigned has carefully considered the record and, for the reasons stated below, the Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED.
Williams was a forty-six year old male at the time of the Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") decision. (Tr. 29). Williams has a high school education and previously worked as a machine operator, sales-route driver, forklift operator, industrial cleaner, and heavy truck delivery driver. ( Id. ).
Williams filed his application for a period of disability, DIB, and SSI on March 23, 2010, alleging an initial onset date of January 23, 2010. (Tr. 146-53). The Commissioner denied Williams's application, (tr. 93-97), and Williams requested a hearing before an ALJ, (tr. 101-02). After a hearing, the ALJ denied Williams's claim on January 23, 2012. (Tr. 30). Williams sought review by the Appeals Council, but it declined his request on May 15, 2012. (Tr. 1-5). On that date, the ALJ's decision became the final decision of the Commissioner. On July 16, 2013, Williams initiated this action. ( See doc. 1).
At Step One, the ALJ found Williams met the insured status requirements of the Social Security Act through September 30, 2012, and that Williams had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since January 23, 2010, the alleged onset date of his disability. (Tr. 22). At Step Two, the ALJ found Williams has the following severe impairments: disc protrusion at C5-6, headaches, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and pain disorder associated with psychological factors and general medical condition. ( Id. ). At Step Three, the ALJ found Williams does not have an impairment or combination of impairments that meets or medically equals one of the listed impairments in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. (Tr. 23).
Before proceeding to Step Four, the ALJ determined Williams's residual functioning capacity ("RFC"), which is the most a claimant can do despite his impairments. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(1). The ALJ determined Williams has the RFC to perform less than the full range of light work, being able to lift and carry 20 pounds occasionally and 10 pounds frequently with the same true for pushing and pulling with the upper and lower extremities. (Tr. 24). He can stand and/or walk, with normal breaks, for a total of about six hours in an eight-hour day, and the same for sitting. ( Id. ). He is limited to occasional overhead reaching but frequent horizontal reaching. ( Id. ). He cannot climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds and should avoid all exposure to hazards, such as unprotected heights, commercial driving, and hazardous machinery. ( Id. ). He can maintain attention and concentration for two-hour periods, with all customary rest breaks, and he can understand, remember and carry out short, simple instructions and tasks but would likely have trouble with more-detailed tasks and instruction. ( Id. ). The claimant would likely miss one to two days a month due to psychological symptoms, and contact with the public should be infrequent and non-intense, supervision should be tactful and constructive, and non-threatening changes in the workplace should be infrequent and gradually introduced. (Tr. 25).
At Step Four, the ALJ determined Williams is unable to perform any past relevant work. (Tr. 29). At Step Five, the ALJ determined, based on Williams's age, education, work experience, and residual functional capacity, there are jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy Williams could perform. ( Id. ). Therefore, the ALJ determined Williams has not been under a disability and denied Williams's claim. ( Id. ).
Although the Court may only reverse a finding of the Commissioner if it is not supported by substantial evidence or because improper legal standards were applied, "[t]his does not relieve the court of its responsibility to scrutinize the record in its entirety to ascertain whether substantial evidence supports each essential administrative finding." Walden v. Schweiker, 672 F.2d 835, 838 (11th Cir. 1982) (citing Strickland v. Harris, 615 F.2d 1103, 1106 (5th Cir. 1980)). The Court, however, "abstains from reweighing the evidence or substituting its own judgment for that of the [Commissioner]." Id. (citation omitted).
Here, substantial evidence supports the ALJ's determination Williams failed to demonstrate a disability. Williams contends the ALJ's erred by giving improper weight to the opinion of a treating physician and failing to develop the record. (Doc. 15). The record indicates otherwise.
A. The ALJ Did Not Err in Rejecting the Opinion of a Treating Physician
Williams contends the ALJ erred by rejecting the opinion of Williams's treating physician, Dr. William Barr III. (Doc. 15 at 5-7). Under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2), a treating physician's opinion is given controlling weight where it is "supported by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques and is not inconsistent with the other substantial evidence in [the] case record." Accordingly, "[t]he ALJ must clearly articulate the reasons for giving less weight to the opinion of a treating physician, and the failure to do so is reversible error." Lewis, 125 F.3d at 1440. Good cause to reduce the weight given to a treating physician's opinion exists "when the: (1) treating physician's opinion was not bolstered by the evidence; (2) evidence supported a contrary finding; or (3) treating physician's opinion was conclusory or inconsistent with the doctor's own medical records." Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1241 (11th Cir. 2004).
Williams contends the ALJ's articulated reasons for rejecting Dr. Barr's opinion are not supported by substantial evidence. ( See doc. 15 at 7) (citing evidence he believes is contrary to that upon which the ALJ relied). However, the MRI to which Williams cites, (doc. 15 at 7), was done before consultant Dr. Robert Heilpern's examination, and Dr. Heilpern took the MRI into account in his opinion upon which the ALJ relied. ( See tr. 252 & 283). Williams also argues it was his persistent pain that required the neurological evaluations in the first place, (doc. 15 at 7); however, it is not that he alleges pain or that he was treated for pain that are at issue but the degree of pain and the extent to which it affects his ability to work. Last, Williams contends the ALJ's statement Williams "does not have a cervical disc problem that requires surgery" does not reflect "the standard measurement of pain levels and severity." (Doc. 15 at 7). Williams includes no authority or any further argument for this proposition. Regardless, the ALJ provides other sufficient evidence to support his conclusion regarding Dr. Barr's opinion letter.
The ALJ rejected Dr. Barr's opinion because Dr. Barr's own records showed the medications were successful at treating the pain and his headaches may have been related to Williams's abuse of analgesics and failure to share with his doctors what medications he was taking in addition to what he was prescribed. (Tr. 28). ( See also tr. 360 (in which Dr. Barr notes: "He describes the medication as fantastic'.... You saved my life' with changes of [Williams's] medications."), 361 (in which Dr. Barr notes: "[Williams's headaches] could be analagesic [sic] rebounds because I did not know he was taking some [sic] much aspirin.... Once she [sic] is off it, we may be able to get a better handle on his headaches.")). The ALJ also noted the statement regarding an inability to sit or stand for long periods was inconsistent with the recorded signs, symptoms, and treatment records. (Tr. 28). ( See also tr. 260 (in which Dr. R.J. Johnson found in April 2010 that Williams "stands and walks normally" with "no lateralizing deficit or tenderness in movement of any of his extremities or his neck"), 275 (listing Williams's daily activities as including "wash[ing] the clothes, cook[ing] the meals, wash[ing] the dishes, and clean[ing] the house), 347 (in which Dr. Barr stated in March 2011 after discussing Williams's complaints of pain: "He has not had any progressive neurological decline. He continues to be able to function, mowed his yard front and back but had to rest between doing the front and back.")).
The record contains such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support the ALJ's decision to reject the opinion letter of Dr. Barr. As this constitutes substantial evidence and is based on application of the proper legal standards, the undersigned may not override that conclusion.
B. The ALJ Did Not Fail to Properly Develop the Record
Williams supports his assertion the ALJ failed to develop the record by stating the ALJ did not order other examinations he could have ordered. (Doc. 15 at 8-9). It is true "[t]he ALJ has a duty to develop the record fully and fairly"; however, "the ALJ is not required to order an examination if it is not necessary to enable the ALJ to make a disability determination." Outlaw v. Barnhart, 197 F.Appx. 825, 828 (11th Cir. 2006).
Williams notes Dr. Robert Heilpern reviewed the file at the Disability Determination Service (DDS) level on May 25, 2010 and gave a consultative opinion based on treating evidence through April 12, 2010, and an ophthalmological consultative exam on April 27, 2010, and that that evidence was supplemented after that time with records from various treating sources. ( Id. at 8). He does not argue this is insufficient evidence to make a determination of disability; instead, he argues the ALJ gave significant weight to Dr. Heilpern's 2010 opinion without getting a more recent consultative opinion. ( Id. ). That is not the same as failing to fulfill the obligation to develop a full and fair record.
The ALJ considered all of the treating physician records, before and after the consultative examinations in 2010, and determined they supported the continued viability of the DDS physicians' consultative opinions and did not support the letter from Williams's treating neurologist, Dr. Barr. (Tr. 28). This does not constitute a failure to develop the record.
For the reasons set forth herein, and upon careful consideration of the administrative record and memoranda of the parties, it is hereby ORDERED that the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying Plaintiff's claim for a period of disability, disability insurance benefits, and supplemental security income is AFFIRMED and this action is due to be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. A separate order will be entered.