Opinion ID: 462376
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: summary of proceedings and medical evidence

Text: Mrs. Gibson, a female in her late forties possessing an eleventh grade education, applied for SSI. Her application was denied, and a hearing was held before an ALJ. The ALJ entered a decision affirming the denial of benefits, and the appeals council of the Social Security Administration denied Mrs. Gibson's request for review. This decision was appealed to the district court, which remanded because the hearing tapes had been lost. The ALJ held a second de novo review and again denied benefits. The appeals council affirmed, and a second appeal to the district court ensued. The case was again remanded because the hearing tapes were blank. The ALJ then held a third hearing. The ALJ's decision, which incorporated the findings made after the second hearing, denied benefits on the basis that Mrs. Gibson had the residual capacity to return to her prior occupation as a wig sales clerk. The appeals council and the district court affirmed the denial, and this appeal followed. Mrs. Gibson testified that her disability stemmed from various physical and psychological ailments: migrating arthritis and limited mobility in her hips and right shoulder, urinary incontinence, hypertension, psoriasis, dizziness, anxiety, nervousness, bronchitis, and as a result of medications, sleepiness and forgetfulness. She also testified that she became short of breath when she walked, could stand for no more than ten minutes before becoming uncomfortable, and could not deal with being around people because of her anxiety and nervousness. Mrs. Gibson submitted reports of medical diagnoses and treatment by several physicians for her various impairments. In support of her disability, she relied primarily on the report of her most recent physician, Dr. Tripp. Dr. Tripp performed a motion study on Mrs. Gibson and concluded that her right shoulder and left hip were limited in motion and use chiefly because of pain. He stated that the pain markedly restrict[ed] her activities of daily living. No clinical or laboratory findings were offered to support this statement. Mrs. Gibson also consulted Doctors Johnson, Johns, Cato, Barnes, Mandel, Eilers, and Frolich. None of these doctors, however, expressed an opinion as to Mrs. Gibson's disability. Dr. Johnson treated Mrs. Gibson in 1978 for arthritis in the hips. He prescribed medication to keep pain under control. Dr. Johns treated Mrs. Gibson in 1979 and 1980 for hypertension and arthritic pain. Dr. Johns noted no limitation of motion caused by pain. Dr. Barnes examined Mrs. Gibson in 1981 and diagnosed her as having migrating arthritis, iritis, hypertension, nervousness, anxiety, bronchitis, psoriasis, and obesity. Dr. Barnes ordered x-rays of her spine and hips. The x-rays, which were taken by Dr. Cato, revealed spine osteoarthritis and arthritic spurs with bridging. Dr. Mandel performed pulmonary function tests on Mrs. Gibson and concluded that the lung test results were consistent with restrictive pulmonary disease. Dr. Eilers examined and treated Mrs. Gibson in 1982 for hypertension, anxiety, and arthritic hip pain. Dr. Frolich examined Mrs. Gibson in 1981. He concluded that she had arthritic spurs on her spine and calcification in her pelvis. Mrs. Gibson was examined and treated on several other occasions from 1978 to 1981 for iritis, psoriasis, and nervousness. Mrs. Gibson submitted evidence of her prescribed medications. She also submitted an affidavit by her daughter which stated in effect that Mrs. Gibson could no longer care for herself. It also stated that Mrs. Gibson's pain had become more frequent and severe and was not controllable by medication.