Case Name: James W. MUSICO, Appellant v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2006-05-23
Citations: 183 F. App'x 162
Docket Number: No. 05-3898
Parties: James W. MUSICO, Appellant v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY.
Judges: Before: SCIRICA, Chief Judge, BARRY and COWEN, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 183
Pages: 162–164

Head Matter:
James W. MUSICO, Appellant v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY.
No. 05-3898.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) May 22, 2006.
Filed: May 23, 2006.
James W. Músico, Brick, NJ, pro se.
Arthur Swerdloff, Social Security Administration, Office of General Counsel, New York, NY, for Appellee.
Before: SCIRICA, Chief Judge, BARRY and COWEN, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION
PER CURIAM.
On September 14, 1998, James Músico applied for Social Security disability insurance benefits under the Social Security Act, claiming that he was disabled due to, among other things, six-vessel bypass heart surgery in 1993, hypertension, pain, and depression. He was insured for disability benefits only through June 30, 1999. Músico requested a hearing on his application by an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"). The hearing was held on August 13, 1999. By decision dated November 17, 2000, the ALJ determined that Músico was not disabled within the meaning of the Act and, therefore, denied the application for benefits. The ALJ's decision became the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security ("Commissioner") when the Appeals Council denied Musico's request for review. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.1481.
Músico, represented by counsel, filed a civil action in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, seeking judicial review of the Commissioner's final decision. Upon consideration of the administrative record and the parties' briefs, the District Court affirmed the Commissioner's final decision. Músico appeals pro se.
Our review of the Commissioner's final decision is based upon the certified transcript of the record of proceedings. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). We will uphold the decision if it is supported by substantial evidence in the record, even if we would have decided the factual inquiry differently. See Hartranft v. Apfel, 181 F.3d 358, 360 (3d Cir.1999). Substantial evidence "does not mean a large or considerable amount of evidence, but rather such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Id., citing Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S. 552, 108 S.Ct. 2541, 101 L.Ed.2d 490 (1988).
The ALJ evaluated Musico's application for benefits under a five-step sequential evaluation. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520; Schaudeck v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration, 181 F.3d 429, 431-32 (3d Cir.1999). Within that process, the ALJ found that the medical evidence established that Músico has the following severe impairments that limit his vocational activities: coronary artery disease, hypertension, and multiple joint pain. The ALJ found that Musico's depression is not severe. The ALJ then considered the objective medical evidence, and the medical opinions of Musico's treating physicians. The ALJ also considered Musico's testimony regarding his limitations and abilities regarding household activities. Based upon the findings of several doctors (including Dr. Miller, Dr. Fisher, and Dr. Knep), and the objective medical reports documenting Musico's condition (including medical treatment records, X-rays, laboratory studies, arterial dopplers, and stress tests), the ALJ ultimately determined that Músico cannot perform his past relevant work as a plumber but retains the residual functional capacity to perform light or sedentary work. Applying the Medical-Vocational Guidelines, the ALJ made a finding of "not disabled" and denied Musico's claim for benefits.
Having reviewed the administrative record, we agree with the District Court's conclusion that the ALJ's decision is supported by substantial evidence. We note that the possibility of drawing two inconsistent conclusions from the evidence contained in the administrative record does not prevent an agency's finding from being supported by substantial evidence. See Consolo v. Federal Maritime Comm'n, 383 U.S. 607, 620, 86 S.Ct. 1018, 16 L.Ed.2d 131 (1966).
Musico's primary contention on appeal is that certain evidence favorable to him went ignored. For example, regarding his depression and anxiety, he notes that he testified at the hearing that Dr. Miller had prescribed Xanax for him. Yet the record also contains Dr. Miller's statement that Músico has no psychiatric history, and no evidence of psychiatric symptoms, depression, or cognitive impairments. Músico points to additional evidence of his treatment for anxiety and depression that he submitted to the Appeals Council, but in so doing, he refers to matters that post-date the ALJ's decision and that were not part of the record before the ALJ in this case. We cannot consider these matters as part of our review. Jones v. Sullivan, 954 F.2d 125, 128 (3d Cir.1991) (evidence not presented to the ALJ "cannot be used to argue that the ALJ's decision was not supported by substantial evidence"). Further, Músico would not be entitled to a remand to the agency for consideration of his additional evidence because it does not relate to his condition during the time period at issue in this case. See Szubak v. Secretary of Health and Human Servs., 745 F.2d 831, 833 (3d Cir.1984) (new evidence must relate to the period for which benefits were denied and not relate to a later-acquired disability or a later deterioration of a condition previously found to be non-disabling). Músico also relies on Dr. Pumill's opinion that he was permanently disabled. However, Dr. Pumill's opinion was based upon an examination in 2000, after Musico's last insured date. In addition, Dr. Pumill noted that a stress test performed in May 1999 (one month before Musico's insured status expired) was reportedly unremarkable.
Músico also contends that the Social Security Administration did not meet its burden to show that there are jobs existing in significant numbers in the national economy that he can perform, noting that no vocational expert testified at the hearing. As explained by the ALJ, application of Medical-Vocational Rule 202.21 directs a conclusion of "not disabled" given Musico's residual functional capacity for light work as a result of severe medically determinable impairments, his status as a "younger individual" under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1563, and his high school education level and no transferable skills. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1569. His vocational factors coincide with the criteria of the Medical-Vocational rule, so the existence of occupations in the national economy is met by administrative notice. See 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P., Appendix 2, § 200.00(b). Finally, Músico appears to argue that age should not be the ultimate, controlling factor in denying him benefits. As reflected in the ALJ's decision, Musico's age was but one of the several factors considered when applying the Medical-Vocational rules.
We have considered all of Musico's arguments on appeal and conclude that they are unavailing. We will affirm the order of the District Court.