Court Opinion

ID: 3000416
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-24 20:04:40.005639+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:39:53.637428
License: Public Domain

NONPRECEDENTIAL DISPOSITION
                       To be cited only in accordance with
                           Fed. R. Application. P. 32.1

              United States Court of Appeals
                             For the Seventh Circuit
                             Chicago, Illinois 60604

                             Argued December 12, 2006
                               Decided April 10, 2007

                                      Before

                     Hon. WILLIAM J. BAUER, Circuit Judge

                     Hon. JOHN L. COFFEY, Circuit Judge

                     Hon. ANN CLAIRE WILLIAMS, Circuit Judge

No. 06-1476

ALLEN ADKINS,                                Appeal from the United States District
    Plaintiff-Appellant,                     Court for the Southern District of
                                             Indiana, Indianapolis, Division.
      v.
                                             No. 1:04-cv-2125-LJM-WTL
                        *
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,
Commissioner of Social Security,             Larry J. McKinney,
    Defendant-Appellee.                      Chief Judge.

                                    ORDER

      In 2001, Allen Adkins applied for disability insurance benefits and
supplemental security income under the Social Security Act, see 42 U.S.C. §§ 416(I),
423, 1382(a)(3)(A), claiming disability due to mental retardation, breathing
problems, and chronic pain. Adkins’s claim was denied at the initial levels of

      *
        Pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 43(c), we have substituted
Michael J. Astrue for Jo Anne B. Barnhart, who was originally the named
Commissioner of Social Security at the time of the complaint and oral argument in
this matter.
No. 06-1476                                                                     Page 2

administrative review and on reconsideration. Adkins then requested a hearing
before an administrative law judge (ALJ). The ALJ found that Adkins was not
disabled and was capable of working within certain limitations. On appeal, Adkins
raises only the issue of disability based on mental retardation. The record contains
substantial evidence in support of the finding that Adkins failed to qualify for
disability based upon mental retardation under Listing 12.05C, and furthermore
because we are convinced that Adkins has received all the process he is entitled to,
we affirm.

       Adkins was born on December 31, 1956. He completed the eighth grade in
special education classes. He was gainfully employed performing the duties of a
general laborer, including assembling waterbeds, servicing trucks, carrying
furniture, working as a security guard, driving a delivery truck, as well as repairing
machines in a factory. In December of 1998, at forty-one years of age, Adkins was
injured at work when a 400-pound drum fell on his chest, fracturing his ribs and
puncturing his lung, necessitating surgical intervention including the removal of a
portion of one of his lungs in the following March of 1999. He has remained
unemployed since that time.

       The next month, in April of 1999, Adkins consulted with a Dr. Dennis
Zawadski, a pulmonary specialist, who after examination determined that Adkins
smoked and suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis,
right pleural effusion with fibrothorax,1 reduced forced vital capacity, and dyspnea
(shortness of breath) on exertion. Dr. Zawadski prescribed Celebrex for pain relief.
The following September, Dr. Michael G. Koelsch, Adkins’s thoracic surgeon, released
Adkins to return to work, advising him against working in dusty environments or
other areas with strong chemical smells that might affect his lungs and interfere
with his breathing.

      In 2000, Dr. Paucen N. Mathur, another pulmonary specialist, concluded that
Adkins was suffering from early emphysema, and that his fibrothorax, initially
diagnosed in 1999, had healed fairly well. Later that year Adkins consulted with
another physician, Dr. Scott B. Taylor, board certified in physical medicine and
rehabilitation, who diagnosed degenerative disk disease in Adkins’s back and
recommended physical therapy. Dr. Taylor determined that Adkins struggled with

      1
        A condition characterized by adhesion of the two layers of pleura, the lung
being covered by a thick layer of nonexpansible fibrous tissue; often a consequence of
traumatic hemothorax or of effusion. See Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary
629 (28th ed. 1994).
No. 06-1476                                                                     Page 3

heavy lifting, but would be able to perform sedentary work, such as truck driving,
and employment that required no continuous or repetitious lifting.

       In 2001, Adkins was examined by Dr. Anton N. Kojouharov, a general
practitioner, at the behest of the state disability determination service. Dr.
Kojouharov found that Adkins’s pain increased with bending or lifting and
recommended a lifting restriction of fifteen pounds. He also noted cervical spine
pain, lower back pain, COPD, and nicotine addiction. Dr. A. Landwehr, a state
agency medical consultant, concluded that Adkins could perform medium-level work
activities, including lifting twenty-five to fifty pounds and standing, sitting, and
walking for as much as six hours in a workday.

       In 2002, Dr. Amy M. Carter, a primary care physician, saw Adkins and found
that he was suffering from respiratory problems, lower back pain, arthritis, and
depression. She prescribed Celexa to treat anxiety and depression. In April 2003,
Carter opined in a letter regarding Adkins’s disability claim that Adkins had “very
few occupational options” due to his various medical problems as well as his very
limited education. In November 2003, Dr. Carter examined Adkins again and
concluded that he was “permanently unable to work due to chronic pain and dyspnea
s/p lobectomy” (difficult or labored breathing after surgical removal of a portion of a
lung).

        At a hearing in October 2002, testimony was presented by Dr. Mark O. Farber,
a medical expert in internal medicine and lung diseases, concerning Adkins’s
damaged lungs, stemming in part from his 1998 accident, and degenerative joint
disease, as well as concerns about his mental ability. Dr. Farber, appearing at the
ALJ’s request, testified that Adkins was suffering from restrictive lung disease and
COPD associated with long-term smoking. Dr. Farber also stated that Adkins had
degenerative joint disease and a history of anxiety and depression, as reported to his
primary care physicians. Dr. Farber also determined that Adkins did not meet the
criteria for any of the listed impairments. Dr. Farber opined that Adkins would be
able to lift twenty pounds occasionally, ten pounds frequently, and work about six
hours a day with periodic breaks while alternating sitting and standing. Adkins
testified that he attended special education classes in school, even though his IQ had
never been tested. At the request of Adkins’s attorney, the ALJ ordered that a
psychological evaluation combined with intelligence testing be conducted and
appointed the necessary experts.

       Thereafter, the two court-appointed psychologists, Dr. Ceola Berry and Dr.
Susan Spencer, examined Adkins and concluded that Adkins had problems with
cognition and mental health. Dr. Berry diagnosed dysthymic depression with
No. 06-1476                                                                       Page 4

anxiety features and nicotine dependency, and she rated Adkins poorly in his ability
to work. Dr. Spencer determined that Adkins’s Verbal IQ was sixty-eight, his
Performance IQ was seventy, and his Full Scale IQ was sixty-six—all scores falling
within the classification of “mildly mentally handicapped.” On the other hand, Dr.
Spencer failed to classify him as being mentally retarded; instead she reported “No
Diagnosis on Axis II,” where a diagnosis of mental retardation would ordinarily be
expected. She believed that these IQ scores were a “relatively valid representation”
of Adkins’s intellectual capacity, but also cautioned that the scores might be lower
because he was suffering from depression as well as chronic pain. Spencer found that
Adkins read at a fifth-grade level, a “level sufficient to read information required in
his past line of work.” Spencer also administered the Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality Inventory (MMPI) and noted that Adkins had “claimed many more
psychological symptoms than most patients do,” thus suggesting that he might be
“exaggerating his symptoms in order to gain attention or services” or may possibly
be suffering from “unusually severe psychological problems.”

       At a supplemental hearing before the ALJ in February 2004, Dr. Jack E.
Thomas,2 an independent, court-appointed psychologist, disagreed with some of the
conclusions offered by Drs. Berry and Spencer. Dr. Thomas opined that Adkins’s
psychological symptoms seemed to be exaggerated and that the indications of severe
mental limitations did not comport with evidence in the record of Adkins’s usually
intact cognitive status. Dr. Thomas stated that the validity scales on Adkins’s MMPI
suggested a “fake bad, exaggerated profile,”meaning Adkins might be exaggerating
his symptoms. He also identified internal inconsistencies in Dr. Spencer’s report and
ultimately rejected the suggestion made by Adkins’s attorney that Adkins was
mentally retarded and stated that he may possibly suffer from a learning disability.
Dr. Thomas opined that the overall data suggested a “less than severe” mental
impairment that fell short of meeting or equaling any listed impairment.

       In April 2004, in concluding that Adkins was not entitled to benefits, the ALJ
used the familiar five-step inquiry. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520. In the first step the
ALJ considers the applicant’s present work activity. See id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(i).
Second, the ALJ weighs the severity of the applicant’s impairment. See id. §
404.1520(a)(4)(ii). The impairment or combination of impairments must
significantly restrict an applicant’s physical or mental ability to perform basic work
activities or an ALJ should enter a finding of not disabled. See id. § 404.1520(c).
Third, the ALJ decides whether the impairment or combination of impairments

      2
        Dr. Thomas did not examine Adkins personally but, after reading the
medical reports on file, gave his interpretation of the psychological evidence.
No. 06-1476                                                                    Page 5

meets or equals an impairment listed within the regulations that are conclusively
disabling. See id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iii). If an ALJ is unable to make a disability
determination in the first three steps, then the process proceeds to an assessment of
the applicant’s residual functional capacity (RFC). See id. § 404.1520(e). At the
fourth step, the ALJ determines whether the RFC prevents the applicant from
performing his or her past relevant work. See id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iv). If not, in the
fifth and final step the ALJ uses the assessment of RFC to determine if the applicant
can make an adjustment to other work based on the applicant’s age, education, and
work experience. See id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(v). In the last step, the burden is on the
Commissioner to demonstrate that the applicant is capable of performing other work
“in the national economy.” Butera v. Apfel, 173 F.3d 1049, 1054 (7th Cir. 1999).

       The ALJ found that: (1) Adkins had no history of performing substantial
employment since his accident and the alleged onset of his disability in March 1999;
(2) Adkins had a variety of severe impairments, including COPD, lumbar and
cervical disc disease, and a mild cardiac impairment; (3) Adkins did not have an
impairment that met or equaled a listed impairment in Appendix 1, Subpart P,
Regulations No. 4; (4) Adkins could perform his past work as a sedentary semi-skilled
security guard-patroller; and (5) Adkins also could perform similar sedentary light
and unskilled occupations such as hand sorting and assembly, as long as he avoided
certain environmental conditions that aggravated his breathing problems. The ALJ
also found that Adkins’s “veracity in general is somewhat suspect.”

       After the Appeals Council denied Adkins’s request for review, Adkins appealed
to the district court, arguing that his mental retardation combined with his physical
ailments constituted a disability under Listing 12.05C. The district court affirmed
the denial of benefits, finding that Adkins did not suffer from any severe mental
impairments and that no physician of record opined that Adkins met or medically
equaled Listing 12.05C.

       We refuse to overturn or reject the ALJ’s findings if they are supported by
substantial evidence. See Blakes v. Barnhart, 331 F.3d 565, 568 (7th Cir. 2003).
The ALJ’s decision is not required to address every piece of evidence or testimony
presented, but must provide a “logical bridge” between the evidence and his
conclusions. Clifford v. Apfel, 227 F.3d 863, 872 (7th Cir. 2000). We will not reweigh
the evidence or substitute our judgment for that of the ALJ. Jens v. Barnhart, 347
F.3d 209, 212 (7th Cir. 2003).

      On appeal, Adkins argues that the ALJ improperly discounted evidence
supporting his claim that he was mentally retarded and thus met Listing 12.05C.
These are the four requirements for a finding of mental retardation under Listing
No. 06-1476                                                                      Page 6

12.05C: (1) significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning; (2) deficits in
adaptive functioning initially manifested during the developmental period before
age 22; (3) a valid verbal, performance, or full scale IQ of sixty through seventy; and
(4) a physical or other mental impairment imposing an additional and significant
work-related limitation of function. See 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App.1 § 12.05;
Maggard v. Apfel, 167 F.3d 376, 380 (7th Cir. 1999). Adkins points to his placement
in special education classes during childhood; Dr. Spencer’s determination that he
had a mild mental handicap, with IQs of sixty-eight, seventy, and sixty-six; Dr.
Berry’s conclusion that he suffered from depression, anxiety, and possible borderline
personality disorder; and Dr. Carter’s finding that he could not work due to chronic
pain and breathing problems.

       After our review of the record, we are of the opinion that Adkins has failed to
establish that he met the requirements of Listing 12.05C because his IQ test scores
were inconsistent with other evidence of his cognitive stability and were thus invalid.
Dr. Spencer’s own evaluation questioned the validity of the IQ test she performed.
Significantly, Dr. Spencer refrained from making a diagnosis of mental retardation.
Dr. Thomas testified at length regarding his reasons for questioning the credibility of
some of the findings made by Drs. Berry and Spencer, explaining that the results of
Adkins’s MMPI test cast doubt on the validity of the IQ tests. Dr. Thomas explained
that the MMPI test can only be completed by someone who has at least an 8th grade
comprehension level, a level that is inconsistent with mental retardation. The
MMPI test results led Dr. Thomas to conclude that Adkins’s cognitive skills were
“excellent” and that the IQ scores and findings of serious mental impairment were
“invalid.”

       In addition, Adkins has failed to demonstrate significantly subaverage
general intellectual functioning nor deficits in his adaptive functioning prior to age
twenty-two, as required in the listing schedule. Indeed, aside from Adkins’s
testimony that he completed school only through the eighth grade, the record
contains only minimal evidence concerning his cognitive and medical state before he
reached twenty-two years of age. The fact that Adkins was able to be gainfully
employed until the age of forty-one without material complaints from his employers
further exemplifies his adaptive abilities. Although low IQ scores are indicative of
retardation, other factors, such as the claimant’s life activities and employment
history, must be considered and weighed and properly play into the ALJ’s analysis.
See Mendez v. Barnhart, 439 F.3d 360, 361 (7th Cir. 2006) (noting that because IQ of
seventy is just at borderline of mental retardation, grid requires additional
impairment to establish disability); Maggard, 167 F.3d at 380 (low IQ scores did not
demonstrate mental retardation where claimant showed an ability to perform his
No. 06-1476                                                                      Page 7

work assignments, understand and follow directions, relate to coworkers, and
withstand the stress of daily work).

        Adkins also argues that because the ALJ failed to discuss Listing 12.05C we
must remand the case. See Ribaudo v. Barnhart, 458 F.3d 580, 583 (7th Cir. 2006)
(“an ALJ should mention the specific listings he is considering and his failure to do
so, if combined with a ‘perfunctory analysis,’ may require a remand”). It is true that
the ALJ did not refer to the Listing—which would have been helpful—and thus we
are somewhat at a loss to be able to ascertain how meaningfully he considered it.
However, we are convinced that the ALJ’s treatment and consideration of this issue
certainly was not done in a perfunctory fashion. The ALJ ordered a supplemental
hearing in order that Adkins might be examined by two psychologists and have his
psychological condition examined more thoroughly. The ALJ devoted several pages
of his decision to an exhaustive discussion of the psychological and intelligence
testing, weighing the opinions of the mental health specialists, and considering the
issues relevant to Listing 12.05C, including the results of various intelligence and
psychological tests as well as physical medical examinations. After his examination
and weighing of this evidence, the ALJ concluded that Adkins “does not have a
‘severe’ emotional, mental, psychological, or psychiatric impairment as contemplated
by the Social Security Act” and that he “does not have any limitations or restrictions
due to any emotional, mental, psychological, or psychiatric impairment.”

       Next, Adkins asserts that the ALJ’s adverse credibility determination violated
Social Security Ruling 96-7p, which requires an ALJ to provide “specific reasons” for
a credibility determination and not simply state that “the individual’s allegations
have been considered” or that “the allegations are credible.” SSR 96-7p. After
reviewing Adkins’s medical and employment history and questioning him
personally, the ALJ stated that his “veracity in general is somewhat suspect.” We
defer to a credibility finding and will reverse only if the finding is “patently wrong.”
See Prochaska v. Barnhart, 454 F.3d 731, 738 (7th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted). The
ALJ based his determination on a combination of medical evidence—including Dr.
Spencer’s belief that Adkins may be exaggerating his symptoms—and the ALJ’s own
perception of Adkins as a witness. Because the ALJ’s credibility finding is supported
by the record, it should not be disturbed. See Sienkiewicz v. Barnhart, 409 F.3d 798,
803-04 (7th Cir. 2005).

       Adkins also argues that the ALJ erred in formulating his RFC—by not
factoring in his alleged mental retardation—and that the ALJ improperly found that
he could adequately perform the jobs he previously held. As discussed above,
substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s conclusion that Adkins was not mentally
retarded. The record reflects substantial evidence supporting the ALJ’s finding that
No. 06-1476                                                                      Page 8

Adkins could perform sedentary work away from harsh environmental conditions
troublesome to his pulmonary problems. Furthermore, the ALJ calculated that
there are over 17,000 sedentary and light unskilled occupations throughout the state
of Indiana that Adkins would be capable of performing.

        Finally, Adkins contends that the ALJ failed to provide a “fair determination”
of his disability claim because he used “misleading rhetorical devices;”3 considered
psychological research from outside the record; reported that Carter found Adkins
was not totally disabled; and improperly excused Thomas’ failure to complete an
evaluation of Adkins’s ability to work. In our opinion, these arguments are without
merit and warrant but limited discussion. Adkins cites Ray v. Brown , 843 F.3d 998
(7th Cir. 1988), for the proposition that disability claimants are entitled to a “fair
hearing.” In this case, we observe that the ALJ reviewed and developed a thorough
record dealing with Adkins’s mental health and conducted an extensive hearing with
a psychological medical expert. This record and medical evidence, when considered
in its entirety, defeats Adkins’s claim of unfairness. Adkins also suggests that it was
a violation of the Federal Rules of Evidence for the ALJ to consult a medical
reference text from outside the record. However, the Federal Rules of Evidence do
not apply in Social Security disability hearings. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(b)(1).
Ultimately, Adkins has failed to demonstrate that the ALJ exhibited sufficient
antagonism to a degree that would constitute a denial of due process. See Liteky v.
United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555-56 (1994).
                                                                                AFFIRMED.

      3
         Adkins complains, for example, that the ALJ “exaggerated” the significance
of his own medical experts’ evidence by repeatedly stating that this evidence was
provided by a “board certified” or “licensed” practitioner, without applying the same
descriptive phrases to Adkins’s primary care physicians, who were also certified and
licensed.