Opinion ID: 218015
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: McKinzey's Credibility

Text: We start with McKinzey's last argument, that the ALJ erred in finding that McKinzey's account of the intensity and frequency of her symptoms lacked credibility. The ALJ did conclude that the objective medical evidence in the record could produce the symptoms of which McKinzey complained. And given the testimony of the vocational expert that there would be no jobs that a person with McKinzey's reported symptoms could do, the ALJ's credibility judgment was the determinative issue in this case. Had the ALJ found McKinzey credible, the decision would most likely have been favorable. Although we find some deficiencies in the ALJ's discussion of McKinzey's credibility, we conclude that the ALJ has pointed to sufficient evidence in the record to justify her negative determination. Like any determination by the ALJ, the findings concerning McKinzey's credibility must be supported by substantial evidence. Further, the ALJ must explain her decision in such a way that allows us to determine whether she reached her decision in a rational manner, logically based on her specific findings and the evidence in the record. See Skarbek v. Barnhart, 390 F.3d 500, 505 (7th Cir.2004); Brindisi ex rel. Brindisi v. Barnhart, 315 F.3d 783, 787-88 (7th Cir.2003). As long as the ALJ has explained her decision, this court will not overturn an ALJ's credibility determination unless it is `patently wrong.' Skarbek, 390 F.3d at 504. McKinzey argues that the reasons that the ALJ gave for discounting her testimony regarding the severity of her symptoms were defective. Specifically, she attacks the ALJ's credibility determination in three places. First, she argues that the ALJ improperly counted her decision to forego surgery against her. Second, she claims that the ALJ drew unreasonable inferences from the so-called cosmetic surgeries she underwent over the years. Finally, she asserts that the ALJ erred by holding McKinzey's pre-2003 work and her enrollment in college against her without taking into account the significant accommodations she required to pursue, ultimately unsuccessfully, those various vocations. McKinzey argues that these three errors compel a remand because the ALJ has not built the requisite logical bridge between the evidence and her conclusions. We disagree. The ALJ's credibility determination was not without fault. Indeed, we see some merit in two out of three of McKinzey's attacks. [1] Despite her obligation to consider McKinzey's explanation for her failure to seek surgery before drawing an adverse inference, S.S.R. 96-7p, the ALJ did not explain why she discounted McKinzey's facially valid reason for declining surgery, namely that her physicians did not agree that it would necessarily help, and could even hinder. [2] Further, McKinzey's unsuccessful attempts to pursue various vocations might just as easily provide corroboration that her impairments significantly limited her ability to work, as opposed to evidence that her ability was greater than she alleged. But what McKinzey's account of the credibility determination leaves out is the final reason given by the ALJ, namely that, [i]n addition, the record includes evidence strongly suggesting that claimant has exaggerated symptoms and limitations. This statement was supported by reference to Dr. Pardubsky's 2007 medical opinion, which in this case could be labeled a smoking gun: Objective findings at this time do not correlate with [McKinzey's] ongoing subjective complaints. And more damning for McKinzey's credibility she complains of an intermittent tremor that appears to be voluntarily present when she discussed exam of her hands but is absent at rest. In other words, in the opinion of her own treating specialist, McKinzey's claimed symptoms were contradicted by his clinical evaluation. In light of the substantial evidence that McKinzey was exaggerating her symptoms even to a treating physician, we conclude that the ALJ's credibility determination was adequately supported by evidence in the record.