Opinion ID: 67177
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: 2007 Supplemental Hearing

Text: On May 1, 2007, Dr. Oliverio wrote a letter to the ALJ clarifying that he based his September 2004 functional capacity assessment on a review of his office notes, the objective medical evidence and Snyder’s subjective complaints. Dr. Oliverio also reaffirmed his opinion that his assessment represented Snyder’s condition prior to September 30, 2003. The ALJ conducted a supplemental hearing, at which he heard testimony from Snyder as to the effect of her Hepatitis C symptoms of pain and fatigue on her daily life. According to Snyder, she experiences extreme tiredness and pain all over her body, but particularly in her legs, knees and feet. She has a constant low 4 grade fever that causes her to feel tired and dizzy and to sweat. She also gets nauseous and has little appetite. Snyder had lost 30 pounds since she stopped working and 15 pounds since the last hearing. At 5'8 tall, Snyder weighed only 105 pounds. Snyder testified that she spends most of her day lying down or sleeping and that she is asleep more than she is awake. In recounting her day, Snyder said she gets up and sees her ten-year-old son off to school, goes back to bed for two or three hours and then rises to eat and sit on her porch. After about an hour, Snyder goes back to bed to sleep for two more hours before her son comes home from school. Snyder helps her son with his homework between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm and then sleeps again until 8:30 pm, at which point she gets up again to see her son to bed. Once her son is in bed, she goes to sleep for the night. Snyder no longer does household chores or cooks. Instead, she buys premade meals that her son can make in the microwave. Her son and husband clean the house. She can care for herself, but does not shower everyday and takes showers in the evening when someone else is home in case she becomes dizzy. A vocational expert testified in response to hypothetical questions that a person with the functional limitations described by Dr. Oliverio and Snyder would not be able to perform any jobs in the economy, but that a person with the 5 limitations described by Dr. Bhatia could perform sedentary work, such as Snyder’s previous job as a telemarketer. The vocational expert testified that there were no jobs available for a person who had to lie down 5 times a day, take frequent naps and miss 3 days of work a month. After the supplemental hearing, the ALJ again denied Snyder’s application. The ALJ concluded that Snyder’s Hepatitis C was a severe impairment and “could reasonably be expected to produce the alleged symptoms, but that [Snyder’s] statements concerning the intensity, persistence and limiting effects of these symptoms are not entirely credible.”2 The ALJ gave “greater weight” to Dr. Bhatia’s opinion, which the ALJ stated was “based on [Snyder’s] history and objective findings.” As to Dr. Oliverio’s opinion, the ALJ did not state what weight he was giving. Rather, the ALJ stated: “In contrast, Dr. Oliverio indicated that his responses to the assessment form regarding [Snyder’s] abilities were based on [Snyder’s] subjective statements.” The ALJ concluded that Snyder could “sit for at least 6 of 8 hours in an 8- hour workday, shifting her positions to standing or walking from time to time” and could “lift and carry at least 10 pounds.” The ALJ rejected Snyder’s allegations of 2 The ALJ also concluded that Snyder’s mental impairments of depression and anxiety were not severe. Snyder does not challenge this finding on appeal. Thus, our analysis focuses only on Snyder’s Hepatitis C. 6 disabling pain in her legs, feet and hands as “not supported by the objective medical evidence of record to the extent alleged.” Based on the vocational expert’s testimony that a person with the functional limitations imposed by Dr. Bhatia could perform work as a telemarketer, the ALJ concluded that Snyder had the residual functional capacity to perform her past relevant work as a telemarketer and was not disabled. Snyder appealed to the district court, and the parties consented to proceed before a magistrate judge.3 The magistrate judge affirmed the ALJ’s decision. Snyder appealed to this Court.4