Opinion ID: 787830
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pain, muscle spasm, and significant limitations of motion in the spine; and

Text: 34 2. Appropriate radicular distribution of significant motor loss with muscle weakness and sensory and reflex loss. 35 The applicant must satisfy all of the criteria in the Listing in order to receive an award of disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income under step three. Pope v. Shalala, 998 F.2d 473, 480 (7th Cir.1993), overruled on other grounds by Johnson v. Apfel, 189 F.3d 561, 564 (7th Cir.1999). 36 A plethora of subjective and objective evidence demonstrates that Rice suffers from pain and sensory and reflex loss. However, record evidence also reveals that Rice did not meet all of the criteria of Listing 1.05(C), as required. It is sufficient to note that the entire medical record contains only reference to muscle spasms, a cursory mention in Dr. Kelly's otherwise thorough and voluminous medical records. And Dr. Bilinsky affirmatively indicated that Rice did not suffer from any muscle spasm. Furthermore, the record contains no evidence of significant motor loss. In 1998, Dr. Patel reported that she could ambulate without assistance and in 1999, Dr. Kelly reported that her gait was only slightly antalgic. This is insufficient to demonstrate that Rice met all of the criteria of Listing 1.05(C). 37 As to Rice's argument that the ALJ's failure to explicitly refer to the relevant listing alone necessitates reversal and remand, we have not yet so held and decline to do so here. See Steele, 290 F.3d at 940. Moreover, given that Rice's attorney and the vocational expert who testified at the November hearing both referred only to Listing 1.05(C) (and because Rice concedes that Listing 1.05(C) is the sole listing applicable to her), we can safely conclude the ALJ considered and applied the appropriate listing, although he nowhere expressly referred to it in his February decision. 38 Mirroring her arguments as to the ALJ's step five analysis, Rice also attempts to bolster her argument that the ALJ's step three analysis was fatally flawed by characterizing it as perfunctory. We have recently held that where an ALJ omits reference to the applicable listing and provides nothing more than a superficial analysis, reversal and remand is required. See Brindisi v. Barnhart, 315 F.3d 783, 786-87 (7th Cir.2003); Scott v. Barnhart, 297 F.3d 589, 595-96 (7th Cir.2002); Steele, 290 F.3d at 940-41. But we do not find the ALJ's reasoning in Rice's case to be perfunctory. 39 The ALJ discussed Rice's severe physical impairments in detail and referred to numerous specific exhibits. He discussed her 1985 and 1988 surgeries, her 1994 fall, and the objective evidence of disc degeneration and disc herniation from 1995 and 1998. The ALJ also summarized the opinions of Drs. Patel and Kelly. He noted the use of epidural steroid injections, Darvoset, and Tylenol-3 to treat Rice's pain. He recounted Rice's course of physical therapy treatment. In addition, the ALJ summarized Rice's subjective statements regarding her pain and assessed her credibility. We have long held that an ALJ is not required to provide a complete written evaluation of every piece of testimony and evidence, Diaz v. Chater, 55 F.3d 300, 308 (7th Cir.1995), and we find that the ALJ's determination with respect to step three was supported by substantial evidence. 5