Opinion ID: 49938
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Osborn’s Headaches

Text: Next, Osborn argues that he suffered from migraine and other types of headaches until successful treatment by Dr. DeRossett, and that the ALJ ignored his history of headaches and the psychological report concluding that he was not overstating his symptoms or exaggerating his pain. First, Osborn is not claiming that his headaches were disabling after May 2003, following treatment by Dr. DeRossett, but that the ALJ erred by failing to consider or mention Osborn’s more severe prior history of headaches. However, 16 the medical records reveal that Osborn complained of migraine headaches as far back as August 1998, more than three years before he filed for disability. He continued to present symptoms of migraine headaches through 2001, but during this same time continued his employment until his contract expired. In December 2002, Osborn was treated by Dr. Qadir, who diagnosed Osborn with mixed chronic headaches, although no description of either the severity or duration of those headaches was noted. After being referred to Dr. DeRossett, Osborn received treatment that significantly improved his headaches, resulting in DeRossett’s letter indicating that, while Osborn might suffer some decrease in physical and mental activities during a headache, his headaches should not be considered disabling. No other medical records relating to headaches appeared in the record. The only other evidence presented was Osborn’s subjective testimony, which indicated that his migraines could occur anywhere from two to eight times a week and could get bad enough that he would have to sit in a dark, quiet area. He testified that these migraines would last anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days, and sometimes they required an injection. None of the medical records, however, indicate that Osborn received injections for his migraines, nor did they reflect the level of severity to which Osborn testified. However, in spite of the pain from his migraines, Osborn was able to take care of himself and 17 managed to work from at least 1998 (the first medical complaint of migraines) until September 2001. He also managed to work for friends and other employers on temporary contract jobs in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Moreover, Osborn, on a typical day, was capable of waking up, cooking breakfast, helping the kids “get out the door” and driving them to school, checking e-mail, attending to appointments, and taking care of the household. Finally, Osborn briefly alludes to the psychological evaluation completed by Michele Martin, Ph.D, on June 11, 2003, and argues that the ALJ ignored Martin’s conclusion that Osborn was not overstating his symptoms or exaggerating his pain. However, Martin’s report notes that Osborn has had severe headaches his entire life, severe migraines for the past 10 years, and daily migraines at the time of his evaluation. While Osborn may have been sincere, it does not appear that he described his symptoms to Martin. Furthermore, Osborn’s own statements are contradicted by medical records from April 24, 2003, and June 4, 2003, where Osborn reportedly had a “50% improvement in his headaches and only 4-5 ‘bad headaches’” and had indicated that his migraines were “much better,” respectively. In any event, Osborn also told Martin that he had suffered from migraines for the last ten years and severe headaches his entire life. Taking Osborn’s statement as true, he suffered from migraine headaches since 1993, but was 18 gainfully employed from 1993 until 2001 as, among other things, an electrician, construction worker, and information technologies worker. In short, the ALJ’s finding that Osborn’s migraines were not disabling was supported by substantial evidence.