Case Name: Patrisha L. MOORE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of Social Security Administration, Defendant-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-11-19
Citations: 114 F. App'x 983
Docket Number: No. 03-3253
Parties: Patrisha L. MOORE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of Social Security Administration, Defendant-Appellee.
Judges: Before EBEL, BALDOCK, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 114
Pages: 983–995

Head Matter:
Patrisha L. MOORE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of Social Security Administration, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 03-3253.
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
Nov. 19, 2004.
Steven M. Tilton, Tilton & Tilton, Topeka, KS, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
D. Brad Bailey, Office of the United States Attorney, Topeka, KS, for Defendant-Appellee.
Before EBEL, BALDOCK, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.
On November 9, 2001, Jo Anne B. Barnhart became the Commissioner of Social Security. In accordance with Rule 43(c)(2) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Ms. Barn-hart is substituted for Kenneth S. Apfel as the appellee in this action.

Opinion:
ORDER AND JUDGMENT
BOBBY R. BALDOCK, Circuit Judge.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously to grant the parties' request for a decision on the briefs without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
Plaintiff-appellant, Patrisha L. Moore, appeals a district court order affirming the Commissioner's determination she is not entitled to Social Security benefits for the period from November 30, 1994 through March 23, 1998. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.
Plaintiff filed for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits, with an amended alleged onset date of November 30, 1994. The underlying basis for her disability claim was an automobile accident on July 12, 1994, which resulted in severe problems with her back and neck. She continued working part-time as a home care psychiatric aide until she reinjured herself on November 21, 1994; the parties agree that plaintiff has not worked since November 30.
After plaintiffs benefits applications were denied initially and on reconsideration, she was granted a hearing in 1996 before Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Bono. ALJ Bono's 1996 decision denying benefits was affirmed by the Appeals Council on March 23, 1998. In April of 1998, plaintiff filed new applications for benefits, alleging a March 24, 1998 onset date. These second applications resulted in a favorable determination in April of 1999. Aplt.App., Yol. II at 652.
Meanwhile, in May of 1998, plaintiff filed her complaint in district court seeking review of the Commissioner's decision denying her first claims for benefits. In December, the Commissioner moved to remand the matter to the agency for further proceedings because ALJ Bono had not properly evaluated plaintiffs alleged mental impairment, nor had he completed a Psychological Review Technique Form in accordance with 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520a(d) (Aplt.App., Vol. II at 468-72). The district court granted the motion, and the Appeals Council subsequently remanded the case for a new ALJ hearing. Id. at 474-78.
A supplemental hearing was held in June of 2000 before ALJ Reed, who concluded plaintiff was not disabled prior to March 24, 1998. The Appeals Council affirmed, and the district court upheld that determination.
Standard of Review
Our standard of review is well established:
We review the agency's decision to determine whether the factual findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record and whether the correct legal standards were applied. Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Howev er, [a] decision is not based on substantial evidence if it is overwhelmed by other evidence in the record or if there is a mere scintilla of evidence supporting it. The agency's failure to apply correct legal standards, or show us it has done so, is also grounds for reversal. Finally, because our review is based on the record taken as a whole, we will meticulously examine the record in order to determine if the evidence supporting the agency's decision is substantial, taking into account whatever in the record fairly detracts from its weight. However, [w]e may neither reweigh the evidence nor substitute our discretion for that of the [Commissioner].
Hamlin v. Barnhart, 365 F.3d 1208, 1214 (10th Cir.2004) (quotations and citations omitted).
Medical Evidence
The background facts are as follows. The day after the July 1994 car accident, plaintiff was treated at the St. Francis Hospital emergency room for pain and assessed with a hip contusion. Aplt.App., Vol. I at 133. She was next treated by Dr. Randall McAllister on August 20, 1994, for continued complaints of neck pain, assessed as a cervical spasm. Id. at 129. He prescribed a soft cervical collar and physical therapy. Id. Three days later, plaintiff was placed on light work duty because of decreased cervical range of motion, headaches, a very guarded gait pattern, id. at 124, 127, increased lumbar lordosis, and point tenderness in the "right upper trapezius and bilateral scalenes and suboccipital space." Id. at 123. He rated her pain "as a 7 on a visual analogue slide," id., and concluded that "[objective findings concur with whiplash-type injuries." Id. at 124. When plaintiff next saw Dr. McAllister again on October 16, he noted her continued complaints of persistent neck spasms, hip pain, left hand tingling with diminished grip strength on the left side. Id. at 118. Plaintiff moved her head, neck, and trunk as a unit. Id. She reported she could not look down to read a newspaper. Id. X-rays of the hip were unremarkable, but the cervical spine showed a loss of lordosis. Id.
From October of 1994 through March of 1995, plaintiff was treated by Dr. David Wilson. On October 26, 1994, plaintiff reported pain in her neck that was "constant in nature which she describe[d] as tingling, numb, and terrifying," id. at 146, with symptoms including "headaches, nausea, weakness, depression, vomiting, numbness, irritability, color changes, coldness/warmth, concentration deficits, bladder problems, bowel dysfunction, difficulty walking, and balance disturbances." Id. Her pain was exacerbated by standing, walking, bending, lifting, and overhead reaching, as well as tension, weather changes, and lack of sleep. Id. Based on his physical examination, which included a notation of cervical range of motion at "50% of normal in all planes with discomfort with all movement," id. at 147, Dr. Wilson assessed "[cjhronic cervical scapular thoracic and low back discomfort . most likely musculoskeletal in nature." Id. at 148. He continued plaintiff "on light duty with no pulling, pushing or lifting over 25 lbs." Id.
At her November 30 examination following the reinjury to her neck, Dr. Wilson assessed chronic pain syndrome "with cervical strain/myofascial pain syndrome in the cervical scapular thoracic and low back region," noting that work was aggravating her symptomology. Id. at 142. Dr. Wilson also noted "trigger points in the upper trap bilaterally, rhomboids bilaterally as well as quadratus lumborum bilaterally." Id. He excused her from work for three weeks. Id. The work absences were subsequently extended, and she did not return to work again.
Because plaintiff did not improve, Dr. Wilson began administering a series of trigger-point injections beginning in February of 1995. Id. at 139. Although helpful initially for about ten days, id. at 138, the injections soon ceased to produce a significant change in her symptomology. Id. at 135. In March he found plaintiff had "significant trigger points in the right and left scalenes, right and left upper trap, right upper rhomboid, lower rhomboid, brachialis on the right, as well as bilateral quadratus lumborum and gluteus maxi-mus." Id. Dr. Wilson believed that at that point he had nothing further to offer her and suggested she consider a chronic pain program, noting that she was "not ready to return to her previous work level." Id.
In April of 1995 plaintiff was evaluated by the Kansas Rehabilitation Hospital for its pain management program under which patients were expected to attend sessions eight hours a day for a minimum of three weeks at a minimum cost of $6900. Id. at 245, 249. In completing the program evaluation form, plaintiff listed her pain as both constant and unbearable, worsened by weather changes, nearly all physical activity, concentration, sleep loss, tension, and anxiety. Id. at 237. Her pain was "slightly less" after long hours of bed rest, dulled somewhat by heat and ice, and temporarily soothed by hot baths. She listed being "depress[ed][be]cause I can't join activities I use[d] to share [with] my friends," making her irritable and short-tempered, id. at 242, and stated she was "unable to concentrate to do any work." Id. at 243. Plaintiff did not pursue this program, however, apparently because of the cost.
During May of 1995, plaintiff was treated at the Gage Chiropractic Clinic, reporting headaches, pain in her shoulders, back, hips, knees and neck. Id. at 153. Her subjective listings of pain for headaches, neck, hip and pelvic areas were rated as "substantial" or "severe." Id. at 176. Objective notations of spinal motion rated her "poor" for neck and back motion. Id. at 177. In addition to multiple and constant pains, she also reported numbness, tingling, weakness, and dizziness. Id. She further indicated that therapies she had tried had included ice, heat, stretching, exercise, massage, and liniments, in addition to pain medication. Id.
Plaintiff first saw Dr. Sharon McKinney on May 31, 1995. Plaintiff reported that she could not do much, that she got headaches if she bent over, and that bending her neck produced migraines, caused her eyes to get fuzzy and hurt her back. Id. at 172. Her hips hurt if she walked more than twenty minutes. Plaintiff mentioned her referral to the pain management program, but stated that there was "not enough insurance money left to cover this." Id. On examination, Dr. McKinney noted that plaintiff had all eighteen classic trigger points for fibromyalgia, which Dr. McKinney concluded had resulted from the July 1994 motor vehicle accident. Id. at 169. Dr. McKinney recommended a "fibromyalgia management sort of program," instead of one for chronic pain, along with stretching, extensive heat, and continued use of medications. Id. at 168-69.
Plaintiff returned to Dr. McKinney in June with worse headaches. Id. at 171. Physical findings showed little change. Id. In July, Dr. McKinney noted plaintiffs neck was still mildly limited and numerous trigger points were still present. Id. at 170. She advised plaintiff to use heat more aggressively and to continue with exercises. Id.
In August of 1995, Dr. McKinney again noted all eighteen classic trigger points for fibromyalgia. Id. at 167. Plaintiff reported general all over aching, earaches, and headaches. Id. Dr. McKinney stated that the only type of activity plaintiff could do at this point was "very light sedentary non-repetitive non-stressful activity for 1 to 2 hours at the most" and that plaintiff was "substantially limited in employment for at least 90 days." Id. At her next visit (date unclear), plaintiffs trigger points were "still 'hot.' " Dr. McKinney noted that plaintiff was becoming deconditioned, a problem "common with fibromyalgia." Id. at 166. On October 17, Dr. McKinney noted plaintiff still had trigger points in the "neck, shoulder girdle muscles and pelvic girdle muscles." Id. at 164. Plaintiff reported being forgetful and "not always on track," not sleeping well, able to do a few dishes and a little laundry, but requiring frequent rest breaks and having more pain. Id.
In an October 23 letter recapping plaintiffs medical situation, Dr. McKinney stated that although fibromyalgia is not life threatening, it "can make one's life miserable." Id. at 165. She noted that the disorder generally requires medications and is "notorious for remissions and exacerbations." Id. In November, plaintiff reported increased pain with the wintery weather. Id. at 162. Plaintiff also stated she had tried to get a job but would get one and then become sick and unable to work. Id.
In March of 1996, Dr. McKinney determined plaintiff was at maximum medical improvement. Id. at 200. By then plaintiffs pain had " 'spread all over' " and she had all the trigger points. Because of pain plaintiff had a mild decrease in her shoulder range of motion and hip girdles. Id. Dr. McKinney noted plaintiff was unable to "tolerate stressful situations . or to do heavy work or any repetitive work." Id. In July of 1996, plaintiff saw Dr. Engelken, reporting that she had not made much progress with her fibromyalgia and that stress and noise made her symptoms worse. Id. at 261.
In August, plaintiff was seen by Dr. McAllister in the emergency room with increased pain in her neck and shoulders. Id. at 273. That same month Dr. McKinney completed a fibromyalgia residual functional capacity (RFC) questionnaire indicating that while plaintiffs prognosis for life was good, her prognosis for normal functioning was poor. Id. at 264-65. Dr. McKinney stated that plaintiff was not malingering, her impairments had lasted or could be expected to last at least twelve months, and that her symptoms included multiple tender points, nonrestorative sleep, chronic fatigue, morning stiffness, numbness and tingling, muscle weakness, subjective swelling and depression. Id. at 264-65. Pain was precipitated by weather changes, cold, fatigue, hormone changes, movement/overuse, stress and static positioning. Id. at 266. Dr. McKinney stated that plaintiffs symptoms were severe enough to frequently interfere with attention and concentration, and that plaintiffs ability to deal with work stress was markedly limited. Id. at 267.
In assessing plaintiffs general RFC, Dr. McKinney stated plaintiff could walk for one to two blocks, sit continuously for thirty minutes and stand for fifteen (for a total sitting/standing/walking of less than two hours in an eight-hour day). Id. at 267-68. Plaintiff would need to be able to walk about five minutes every forty-five minutes, to shift positions at will and take frequent five-to-ten minute unscheduled breaks during an eight-hour work day. Id. at 268. Dr. McKinney further stated that plaintiff could occasionally lift and carry less than ten pounds, could bend only two percent of the time, could not twist and was significantly restricted in repetitive reaching, handling and fingering. Id. at 269. Plaintiff would likely miss work more than three times a month due to her impairment or need for treatment. Id. at 270.
Plaintiff visited the emergency room on October 7, 1996, with complaints of pain to her neck, back, knees, and arms. She showed multiple tender areas along her lower cervical spine. Id. at 335. On October 28, 1996, Dr. McKinney reported that plaintiff was doing her exercises and taking hot baths along with her medications. The physical examination indicated plaintiff had all eighteen trigger points, although it was "somewhat difficult to assess [plaintiffs] function otherwise as she is not always consistent in the exam." Id. at 331. Dr. McKinney further reported that plaintiff was "having great difficulty dealing with [the fibromyalgia] and is quite limited in her ability to function because of it." Id. There is no suggestion that plaintiff was imagining or exaggerating her symptoms. In November of 1996, laboratory tests were ordered to rule out other possible medical problems such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Id. at 338-41. Dr. McKinney further noted that plaintiffs fibromyalgia was not a curable disorder. Aplt.App., Vol. II at 480.
In December of 1996, plaintiff complained of muscle twitching, pain and stiffness in her knees, and depression (she noted she did not want antidepressant medication and would go to a support group instead). Trigger points were still present, and her range of motion was still functional. Id. at 543. At some point, Dr. McKinney signed a form Kansas Certificate of Disability stating that plaintiff was unable to perform substantial gainful activity for the entire year of 1996 based on her disability due to "severe fibromyalgia," accompanied by "fatigue[,] muscle spasms[,] depression^] and migraines." Id. at 546.
In July of 1997, plaintiff reported new problems, including hand pain and more numbness and tingling in her right arm, and a general decrease in activity. Id. at 540. Also in July and August of 1997, plaintiff was evaluated for cervical and shoulder problems. She received exercises to perform. Id. at 498-514. With a primary diagnosis of cervical pain, id. at 500, she was experiencing throbbing, pounding headaches, id., pulling in her neck, id., pain with cervical flexion and extension, id. at 501, and moderate pain response with palpitation, id. Her pain was better with water, heat, medication, and massage, but worse with stress and bending her head. Id. at 503.
In September of 1997, plaintiff reported problems with muscle spasms, mainly on her left side with some numbness and tingling. Id. at 539. Dr. McKinney noted plaintiff was very tender around her post hip girdle muscles and exhibited poor hip extension. Id. In that same month, Dr. McKinney's treatment notes reflect that plaintiffs knees felt like rubber sometimes and her right hand tingled. Id. at 538. Plaintiff reported doing limited household chores and taking baths three times a day. Id. Trigger points were still present. Id.
In April of 1998, plaintiff again saw Dr. Engelken, reporting that she was experi encing "occasional chest pain that is fairly sharp," which she associated with activity, and which radiated down her left arm, causing some numbness. Id. at 517. Dr. Engelken thought plaintiffs chest pain was likely anxiety related, but ordered a treadmill test to rule out underlying cardiac disease. Id. at 516-17.
In September of 1998, Dr. McKinney completed a medical statement form listing a diagnosis of "significant fibromyalgia [and] depression" associated with decreased sleep, which prevented gainful employment, was expected to last twelve months or longer, and could not be controlled in that time frame by medication, surgery, or other treatment. Id. at 535-37. In December of 1998, Dr. McKinney recommended plaintiff take antidepressants. Id. at 534.
Shortly after plaintiff filed her second applications for disability benefits in April of 1998, she was evaluated by two consultative doctors. In July of 1998, Dr. Charles Fantz, Ph.D., diagnosed her as having major depression with, among other issues, depressed mood, lowered pleasure and interest in activities, significant weight gain, insomnia, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, difficulties with concentration, and continual suicide ideation. Id. at 530. He described her behavior as "consistent with her self report of severe depression." Dr. Fantz believed plaintiff was "not able to work at the present time." Id. In August of 1998, Dr. Joseph Sankoorikal also observed the possibility of depression. Id. at 533. He further noted that she complained "of a lot of pain" and had sleep problems. Id. at 532-33. In addition, the record contains numerous later records of medical visits and prescription refills.
Appellate Issues
On appeal, plaintiff argues, as she did in district court, that the ALJ (1) improperly weighed Dr. McKinney's opinions, (2) improperly analyzed her fibromyalgia, (3) failed to support his psychiatric review technique form by substantial evidence (i.e., plaintiff argues that, with regard to her mental impairments, she satisfied the criteria to meet or equal Listing 12.04 of 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpart P, App. 1), and (4) failed to apply proper legal standards when evaluating her subjective complaints of pain. Aplt. Br. at i.
Discussion
A. Mental Impairment
We first address plaintiff's claim that her mental impairment met Listing 12.04. To establish disability based on meeting the requirements of the listed impairment for affective disorders (§ 12.04), plaintiff must show evidence satisfying all listed requirements; to meet the "A" criteria she was required to show medically documented persistence (continuous or intermittent) of (in plaintiff's case) depressive syndrome. See 20 C.F.R., Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, § 12.04(A)(1). To show depressive syndrome requires at least four of the following: anhedonia or pervasive loss of interest in nearly all activities; appetite disturbance with change in weight; sleep disturbance; psychomotor agitation or retardation; decreased energy; feelings of guilt or worthlessness; difficulty with concentration or thinking; thoughts of suicide; or hallucinations, delusions, or paranoid thinking, id. The ALJ determined that the evidence supported three of these factors: sleep disturbance, psychomotor agitation and difficulty concentrating or thinking. Aplt.App., Vol. II at 458.
In addition, plaintiff must show at least two of the following under the "B" criteria: a limitation degree of "marked," in the categories of restrictions of activities of daily living, difficulties in maintaining social functioning, or difficulties in maintaining concentration, or a showing of repeated episodes of deterioration or decompensation in a worklike setting. 20 C.F.R., Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, § 12.04(B). The ALJ rated plaintiffs restrictions in these areas as "slight," as to restrictions on daily living and maintaining social functioning, "seldom" as to concentration deficiencies, and "never" having episodes of deterioration or decompensation. ApltApp., Vol. II at 462.
The ALJ reviewed the evidence prior to the March 24, 1998, date plaintiff previously was found to be disabled and determined that plaintiffs limitations due to depression before March of 1998 were less than the moderate restrictions the record showed after June of 1998. Contrary to plaintiffs assertion, the ALJ did not rely on Dr. Fantz's report in support of a conclusion that "[p]laintiff s depression initially manifested itself on March 23, 1998." Aplt. Br. at 38. Rather, the ALJ acknowledged that in June of 1998 Dr. Fantz diagnosed plaintiff with major depression and that the evidence reflected that plaintiff "currently has a mental impairment that could reasonably be expected to produce the alleged work-related limitations." Aplt.App., Vol. II at 450. The bottom line, however, was that there were no "clinical signs or laboratory findings of any significant mental impairment that could reasonably be expected to produce disabling symptoms prior to March 24, 1998." Id. (emphasis added). Plaintiffs references to other statements she made prior to March 24, 1998, likewise do not establish a significant mental impairment of disabling proportions. See Aplt. Br. at 39-40.
In sum, the AL J's determination reflects he considered all the evidence of mental impairment even if he did not refer to each piece of it. See Clifton v. Chater, 79 F.3d 1007, 1009-10 (10th Cir.1996). We hold that substantial evidence supports the ALJ's finding that plaintiff did not have a disabling mental impairment during the period prior to March 24,1998.
B. Remaining Arguments
Plaintiffs remaining arguments — that the ALJ failed to properly consider her symptoms of fibromyalgia, the opinions of her treating physician, and her credibility — are all related. We conclude, based on our review of the record, that because the ALJ did not accurately perceive the nature of plaintiffs fibromyalgia, he erroneously faded to properly consider both the treating physician's opinions and plaintiffs statements regarding her symptoms. Critically, moreover, he did not specify what weight he did give Dr. McKinney's opinions, further impeding our review. This was error.
1. Fibromyalgia
The ALJ recognized plaintiffs diagnosis of fibromyalgia, but seemed to require that it be established by a formalistic clinical or laboratory test. See, e.g., "laboratory testing is not consistent with an impairment or combination of impairments . reasonably expected to produce severe and intractable pain [before] . March 24, 1998," Aplt.App., Vol. II at 445; "no laboratory test has been consistent with . impairments . expected to cause the level of disability alleged by [plaintiff]," id. at 446, "the clinical signs are not consistent with . impairments . reasonably . expected to cause the level of pain alleged by the [plaintiff]." Id. The ALJ stated that Dr. McKinney's opinions on plaintiffs limitations appeared to be based "more on [plaintiffs] subjective complaints and the diagnosis of fibromyalgia than on any clinical signs or laboratory findings," id. at 448. In addition to being speculative inferences from medical reports that an ALJ may not make, see McGoffin v. Barnhart, 288 F.3d 1248, 1252 (10th Cir.2002), these examples reflect the ALJ's fundamental misperception of the nature of fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia, previously called fibrositis, is "a rheumatic disease that causes inflammation of the fibrous connective tissue components of muscles, tendons, ligaments and other tissue." Benecke v. Barnhart, 379 F.3d 587, 589 (9th Cir.2004). It is a chronic condition, causing "long-term but variable levels of muscle and joint pain, stiffness and fatigue." Brosnahan v. Barnhart, 336 F.3d 671, 672 n. 1 (8th Cir.2003). The disease is "poorly-understood within much of the medical community [and] . is diagnosed entirely on the basis of patients' reports and other symptoms." Benecke, 379 F.3d at 590. Clinical signs and symptoms supporting a diagnosis of fibromyalgia under the American College of Rheumatology Guidelines include "primarily widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body and at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points on the body." Green-Younger v. Barnhart, 335 F.3d 99, 107 (2d Cir.2003); see also Brosnahan, 336 F.3d at 678 (objective medical evidence of fibromyalgia includes consistent trigger-point findings). Fibromyalgia can be disabling. Kelley v. Callahan, 133 F.3d 583, 589 (8th Cir.1998).
As described by the Seventh Circuit:
Its cause or causes are unknown, there is no cure, and, of greatest importance to disability law, its symptoms are entirely subjective. There are no laboratory tests for the presence or seventy of fibromyalgia. The principal symptoms are "pain all over," fatigue, disturbed sleep, stiffness, and — the only symptom that discriminates between it and other diseases of a rheumatic character — multiple tender spots, more precisely 18 fixed locations on the body (and the rule of thumb is that the patient must have at least 11 of them to be diagnosed as having fibromyalgia) that when pressed firmly cause the patient to flinch.
Sarchet v. Chater, 78 F.3d 305, 306 (7th Cir.1996) (emphasis added).
The ALJ noted that Dr. McKinney had not listed swelling as one of plaintiffs symptoms. Aplt.App., Vol. II at 446. But joint swelling is not a symptom of fibromyalgia, and its absence is therefore no indication that plaintiffs condition is not disabling. Sarchet, 78 F.3d at 306. Indeed, it is the absence of symptoms ordinarily associated with joint and muscle pain that is one of the most striking aspects of this disease:
Patients with FMS [ (fibromyalgia) syndrome] usually look healthy. Their joints appear normal, and further mus culoskeletal examination indicates no objective joint swelling, although there may be tenderness on palpation. In addition, muscle strength, sensory functions, and reflexes are normal despite the patient's complaints of acral numbness.
The most striking and unique finding in FMS is the presence of multiple tender points. Blind studies have established that these tender points are both quantitatively and qualitatively different from those observed in healthy persons and in those with other chronic pain conditions . Patients with FMS not only hurt more, but they also hurt in many more places than other patients.
Muhammad B. Yunus, Fibromyalgia syndrome: blueprint for a reliable diagnosis, Consultant, June 1996 at 1260.
Rollins v. Massanari, 261 F.3d 853, 863 (9th Cir.2001) (Ferguson, J., dissenting).
In a case with strikingly similar underlying facts, the Second Circuit concluded that the ALJ either "did not actually credit the [treating physician's] diagnosis of fibromyalgia or misunderstood its nature." Greenr-Younger, 335 F.3d at 108. Thus the ALJ erred in effectively "requiring] 'objective' evidence for a disease that eludes such measurement." Id. The court further noted that "[a]s a general matter, 'objective' findings are not required in order to find that an applicant is disabled." Id.
Here, the ALJ mentioned the finding of trigger points beginning in November of 1994, as well as plaintiffs treatment with trigger point injections, Aplt.App., Vol. II at 446, but seemed to attach little or no significance to these findings and treatment. Instead, he noted that plaintiff had not attended a pain clinic, work hardening program or behavior modification program. Id. To this court it appears the ALJ did not fully understand the nature of plaintiffs diagnosed condition. consequently, the ALJ did not properly analyze Dr. McKinney's opinions.
2. Treating Physicians'Opinions
The ALJ referred to Drs. McAllister and Wilson as treating physicians, Aplt. App., Vol. II at 447, noting that neither had felt that plaintiff "was totally prevented from employment." The restrictions and observances of those doctors, as described by the ALJ, generally occurred prior to plaintiffs November 30, 1994, alleged onset date. In addition, the fact that neither Dr. Wilson nor Dr. McAllister specifically thought plaintiff was unem ployable in 1994 or 1995, does not necessarily mean she did not become so at some time prior to March of 1998.
In addition, the ALJ stated that Dr. Wilson found 6 of 18 positive trigger points in November and December of 1994, but no specific ones in plaintiffs thighs in January of 1995. Aplt.App., Vol. II at 446. Not mentioned by the ALJ, however, were the additional "significant trigger points" in the various other areas Dr. Wilson found at that same January examination, ApltApp., Vol. I at 140, or his March 1995 finding of significant trigger points "in the right and left scalenes, right and left upper trapezoids, right upper rhomboid, lower rhomboid, brachialis on the right as well as bilateral quadratus lumborum and gluteous medius." Id. at 135.
In assessing Dr. McKinney's numerous opinions and reports, the ALJ did not expressly state whether he treated her as a treating physician. More importantly, however he did not relate what weight he did give her opinions. This was error. The ALJ must first determine whether a treating source's opinion is entitled to controlling weight. Langley v. Barnhart, 373 F.3d 1116, 1119 (10th Cir.2004). This determination, in turn, hinges on whether the opinion is "well-supported by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques." Id. (quotations omitted). However, even if a treating source's opinion is not entitled to controlling weight, it is still entitled to deference and must be properly evaluated. See Langley, 373 F.3d at 1119 (listing factors for evaluation as outlined in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527). The ALJ must also supply good reasons for the weight he assigns to a treating physician's opinion, and if he rejects entirely that opinion, must provide specific, legitimate reasons for that rejection. See Watkins v. Barnhart, 350 F.3d 1297, 1300-01 (10th Cir.2003). These are the steps the ALJ neglected to follow in analyzing Dr. McKinney's reports and opinions.
For example, he described Dr. McKinney's March 1996 opinions as "contradictory." Aplt.App., Vol. II at 448. Given that the purposes of the two reports do not appear to be the same, we disagree. In addition to noting plaintiff was unable to tolerate stressful situations or to perform heavy or repetitive work, Dr. McKinney's March 11 opinion also related plaintiffs complaints of "increased pain [which plaintiff said had] 'spread all over.' " Aplt.App., Vol. I at 200. Dr. McKinney found plaintiff had "all her trigger points" with "a mild decrease in range of motion in the shoulders and hip girdle due to her pain," id., and further stated that plaintiff was at "maximum medical" improvement. The March 24 report, however, was a Request for Medical Statement questionnaire, listing some fifty-nine specific medical conditions with a place to explain "unlisted or combination impairments." Id. at 195-99. In completing her response, Dr. McKinney stated that plaintiff "has significant fibromyalgia which prevents significant] employment [and] will last the rest of her life unless medicine comes up with a cure." Id. at 198. Dr. McKinney reported that this was "intractable (sic) painful despite tx," an opinion she had issued on at least one other occasion as well. See id. at 286. We fail to see any contradictions in these two opinions.
The ALJ further acknowledged that Dr. McKinney had stated plaintiff was "not a malingerer," but then stated that "Dr. McKinney also admits there are inconsistencies in [plaintiffs] performance," which the ALJ found "significant when one also notes a suggestion of inconsistency ob serve[d] by Dr. Sankoorikal." Id. at 448. But Dr. Sankoorikal, a consulting physician, examined plaintiff only one time in August of 1998. Moreover, he did not state that he observed "inconsistencies," but only that he could not tell whether some of the examination results were based on pain as the limiting factor or because plaintiff was not applying a full effort. Id. at 532. Nonetheless, he did not suggest plaintiff was malingering or exaggerating her symptoms, either. To this extent, too, the ALJ appears to have overlooked our requirement that "when a treating physician's opinion is inconsistent with other medical evidence, the ALJ's task is to examine the other physicians' reports to see if they outweigh the treating physician's report, not the other way around." Hamlin, 365 F.3d at 1215 (further quotation omitted).
The ALJ also mischaracterized what Dr. McKinney reported, stating that "[i]n August 1995, the physician opined that the claimant could possibly due (sic) part-time, 'very sedentary non-repetitive non-stressful activity,' " Aplt.App., Vol. II at 447, when in fact Dr. McKinney's impression, on physical examination, was that "[a]t this point the only kind of activity [plaintiff] can do would be very light sedentary non-repetitive non-stressful activity for 1 to 2 hours at the most." (emphasis added). Aplt.App., Vol. I at 167. We have long held that the ALJ may not "pick and choose which aspects of an uncontradicted medical opinion to believe, relying on only those parts favorable to a finding of non-disability." Hamlin, 365 F.3d at 1219. Accord, Robinson v. Barnhart, 366 F.3d 1078, 1083 (10th Cir.2004).
Finally, we have noted that the ALJ suggested numerous procedures and "treatments" that plaintiff did not undergo (e.g., work hardening program, back brace, TENS unit, MRI, CT Scan, surgery, see id. at 446^17), without any corresponding determination that any of these were ever medically prescribed or would have achieved a better diagnosis or relief from pain. The ALJ, however, is simply "not free to substitute his own medical opinion for that of a disability claimant's treating doctors." Hamlin, 365 F.3d at 1221.
Because the ALJ did not follow the proper legal standards in evaluating Dr. McKinney's opinions, his decision that plaintiff was not disabled at any time between her alleged onset date of November 30, 1994, and the March 24, 1998, disability determination date, is not supported by substantial evidence. On remand, the ALJ should follow the analysis we set forth in Langley, 373 F.3d at 1119 and Watkins, 350 F.3d at 1300-01.
3. Plaintiffs Pain Allegations
Likewise, the ALJ did not properly consider plaintiffs allegations of pain. Although he accepted her testimony regarding pain from both the 1996 and 2000 hearings, Aplt.App., Vol. II at 445, and recited the appropriate factors to consider, see Luna v. Bowen, 834 F.2d 161, 164-66 (10th Cir.1987), he discounted her allegations of "severe and intractable pain" because laboratory testing was "not consistent with an impairment . that could reasonably be expected to produce" such severe pain. Aplt.App., Vol. II at 445. But two of the "laboratory tests" he mentioned predate both her disability onset date and the second injury that precipitated her being unable to work, id., and one is from the period after the Secretary had found her disability began. Id. at 446. The ALJ acknowledged, in passing, the testimony of plaintiffs housemate corrobo rating her pain testimony but apparently attached no weight to it, for reasons not readily apparent. Id. at 445. As noted, the ALJ recognized that Drs. Wilson and McKinney elicited positive trigger points, and that plaintiff underwent trigger point injections and physical injections. Id. at 446. Again, however, the ALJ focused his disbelief of plaintiffs pain claims on the lack of "clinical signs." Id. As we earlier noted, fibromyalgia is a condition that is simply not amenable to such clinical determination. See, e.g., Tennant v. Apfel, 224 F.3d 869, 870 n. 2 (8th Cir.2000) ("Fibromyalgia . [causes] muscle and joint pain, stiffness, and fatigue [and] . there are no specific diagnostic tests for this affliction."). On remand the ALJ must follow the proper legal standards for evaluation of plaintiffs pain testimony, see SSR 96-7p, 1996 WL 374186 (July 2, 1996), and must "closely and affirmatively link[ ] [his findings] to substantial evidence." Hardman v. Barnhart, 362 F.3d 676, 679 (10th Cir.2004) (quotation omitted). In so doing, the ALJ should further evaluate the evidence of plaintiffs repeated attempts to seek medical relief for her pain, the numerous medications she has taken and her various other attempts to alleviate the pain. See id. at 679-80.
Conclusion
Accordingly, for the above reasons, the judgment of the district court is REVERSED, and the matter is REMANDED with directions to remand to the Secretary for further proceedings consistent with this order and judgment. Nancy Caplinger's motion to withdraw as counsel for appellee is granted.
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
. The exact basis for this award is unclear from the record. Thus we do not know whether plaintiff was awarded benefits based on physical or mental impairments, or a combination of both.
. Although he twice referred to this as having first been diagnosed in 1996, see Aplt.App., Vol. II at 450-51, plaintiff was in fact so diagnosed by Dr. McKinney in May of 1995. Aplt.App., Vol. I at 169. In addition, plaintiff was treated for trigger points even before that.
. This is not entirely accurate. In completing the fibromyalgia RFC questionnaire in August of 1996, Dr. McKinney did list "subjective swelling" as one of plaintiff's symptoms. Aplt.App., Vol. I at 265.
. While acknowledging that plaintiff's reason for not doing so may have been financial, the ALJ noted plaintiff obtained a $10,000 judgment from the City of Topeka because of her automobile accident in 1994. Aplt.App., Vol. II at 446 n. 3. He makes no mention of whether she in fact received all of those funds, nor did he note the nearly $7,000 cost of attending the Kansas Rehabilitation Hospital's pain clinic. See Aplt.App., Vol. I at 249. This apparent inference that plaintiff had available resources with which to pursue other avenues for pain relief is thus pure speculation.
. Moreover, we have held (in assessing chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)) that the cases do not suggest that "[CFS] — or any other disease — is per se excluded from coverage because it cannot be conclusively diagnosed in a laboratory setting." Sisco v. United States Dep't of Health & Human Servs., 10 F.3d 739, 744 (10th Cir.1993).
. Indeed, one of the ALJ's citations to "Dr. Wilson's references [to] 'light duty' work" included his taking her off work for three weeks beginning November 30, 1994, Aplt.App., Vol. I at 142, which status was continued through the end of January of 1995. Id. at 140-41.
. The ALJ acknowledged that plaintiff "takes several prescription anti-inflammatory, anti-pain, and muscle-relaxant medications." Aplt.App., Vol. II at 447. The record, however, indicates numerous and continuous prescriptions over the course of plaintiff's treatment since her 1994 injuries that have included Tylenol # 3, Flexeril, Toredol, Anaprox, Oruvail, Extra Strength Motrin, Benedryl, Lortab, Klonopin, Ultram, Norflex, Relaten, Darvocet, and Soma. See Aplt.App., Vol. I at 145, 146, 162, 164, 166, 167, 170, 200; id. at Vol. II at 316-17. This is hardly reflective of "some aches and pains" the ALJ had "no doubt" plaintiff experienced between 1994 and 1998. Id. at 449.