Court Opinion

ID: 620440
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-01-07 00:06:03+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:50:52.363546
License: Public Domain

FILED
                            NOT FOR PUBLICATION                                 JAN 06 2012

                                                                        MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                          U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS

                            FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

MICHELLE R HURTER,                               No. 10-35997

              Plaintiff - Appellant,             D.C. No. 3:09-cv-05617-RBL

  v.
                                                 MEMORANDUM *
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,

              Defendant - Appellee.

                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Western District of Washington
                    Ronald B. Leighton, District Judge, Presiding

                      Argued and Submitted October 14, 2011
                               Seattle, Washington

Before: BEEZER and PAEZ, Circuit Judges, and COLLINS, District Judge.**

       Michelle Hurter challenges the denial of disability benefits by the

Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Because we hold that

        *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
       **
             The Honorable Raner C. Collins, District Judge for the U.S. District
Court for Arizona, sitting by designation.
substantial evidence supports the decision of the administrative law judge (ALJ),

we affirm the judgment of the district court.

      We have jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. The

facts of this case are known to the parties. We need not repeat them here.

                                           I

      We review de novo an order by the district court upholding a decision by the

Social Security Commissioner that denies benefits to an applicant. Batson v.

Comm’r of the Soc. Sec. Admin., 359 F.3d 1190, 1193 (9th Cir. 2004). We affirm a

decision by the Commissioner if it is “supported by substantial evidence, and if the

Commissioner applied the correct legal standards.” Id. If the “evidence is

susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, it is the ALJ’s conclusion that

must be upheld.” Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2005).

                                          II

      Hurter first argues that the ALJ erred by failing to classify some of her

alleged impairments as severe. Hurter is incorrect.

      The ALJ provided ample support in determining which of Hurter’s

impairments were non-severe. For example, there was no evidence of appellant’s

depression or anxiety other than her subjective complaints. Further, the evidence

showed that medication was treating her migraines and high blood pressure.

                                    Page 2 of 12
      Hurter also argues that the ALJ failed even to identify certain impairments.

She contends that the medical record supports her argument, but most of the

reports she cites are inconclusive. The two most salient pieces of evidence

supporting her case are Dr. Seiwert’s evaluations and Hurter’s own testimony at

the benefits hearing. But, as we discuss in Part III below, the ALJ properly

discredited both. Hurter had the burden of proving that her impairments affected

her ability to perform basic work activities, Edlund v. Massanari, 253 F.3d 1152,

1159–60 (9th Cir. 2001), and substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s conclusion

that she did not meet that burden.

                                         III

      Hurter next contends that the ALJ made a variety of mistakes in assessing

her residual functional capacity (RFC). She argues that the ALJ erred by

discrediting her hearing testimony, evaluating the medical evidence as he did, and

failing to consider all of her impairments. We address each in turn.

      The ALJ did not err in discounting Hurter’s testimony. Credibility

determinations are the province of the ALJ, Morgan v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec.

Admin., 169 F.3d 595, 599 (9th Cir. 1999), but “the ALJ can reject the claimant’s

testimony about the severity of her symptoms only by offering specific, clear and

                                     Page 3 of 12
convincing reasons for doing so.” Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1281 (9th Cir.

1996).

         The ALJ provided numerous specific, clear and convincing reasons to find

that Hurter had exaggerated the gravity of her symptoms. First, the objective

evidence contradicts Hurter’s testimony regarding the severity of her symptoms.

For example, the ALJ referenced a doctor’s report that stated she had a normal

tandem gait. Hurter is correct that there is some conflicting evidence; a physical

therapist concluded that Hurter does suffer from some gait issues. We do not,

however, “reverse credibility determinations of an ALJ based on contradictory or

ambiguous evidence.” Johnson v. Shalala, 60 F.3d 1428, 1434 (9th Cir. 1995).

         The ALJ noted Hurter’s conservative treatment as another reason to discredit

her testimony. “[E]vidence of ‘conservative treatment’ is sufficient to discount a

claimant’s testimony regarding severity of an impairment.” Parra v. Astrue, 481

F.3d 742, 751 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting Johnson, 60 F.3d at 1434). The ALJ

referenced the prescription of home exercise to treat her back problems, the fact

that she was not a candidate for surgery and the successful use of medication to

treat her migraines.

         Hurter’s failure to follow prescribed treatment without adequate explanation

is also relevant to a credibility analysis. See Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035,

                                     Page 4 of 12
1039 (9th Cir. 2008). Hurter continues to smoke despite warnings from her

doctors regarding its impact on her lung condition and has “decreased adherence”

to her prescribed exercises due to forgetfulness.

         Hurter argues correctly that the ALJ should not have cited her daily

activities as a reason to discredit her testimony. They neither contradict her other

testimony nor bear a meaningful relationship to workplace activities. See Orn v.

Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 639 (9th Cir. 2007). Even excluding this rationale, however,

there remains substantial evidence supporting the ALJ’s decision to discount

Hurter’s testimony. See Tonapetyan v. Halter, 242 F.3d 1144, 1148 (9th Cir.

2001).

         We turn next to the ALJ’s analysis of Dr. Seiwert’s reports. We hold that

there is substantial evidence for rejecting her evaluations. But because of the

deference our circuit accords the opinions of treating physicians, see Lester v.

Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir. 1995), and the fact that Dr. Seiwert and Hurter

have a 15-year treatment relationship, we will explain our reasoning thoroughly.

         We note initially that the ALJ needed only to provide “specific and

legitimate” reasons supported by substantial evidence for rejecting Dr. Seiwert’s

opinion. Id. (holding that an ALJ must have specific and legitimate reasons for

rejecting a treating physician’s opinion when it is contradicted by another doctor).

                                      Page 5 of 12
“The ALJ can meet this burden by setting out a detailed and thorough summary of

the facts and conflicting clinical evidence, stating [his] interpretation thereof, and

making findings.” Tommasetti, 533 F.3d at 1041 (citation and internal quotation

marks omitted). Dr. Rao concluded that Hurter could stand or walk comfortably

for six hours a day and lift up to 25 pounds frequently, directly contravening Dr.

Seiwert’s assessment. The specific and legitimate standard is less searching than

the clear and convincing rationale required for rejecting the uncontradicted opinion

of a treating physician, see Lester, 81 F.3d at 830–31, and the ALJ properly

explained why he relied on Dr. Rao’s evaluation instead of Dr. Seiwert’s.

      The ALJ met his burden by providing specific and legitimate reasons for

rejecting Dr. Seiwert’s opinions. First, the ALJ noted that the doctor’s reports

were largely informed by Hurter’s own subjective complaints. We have held that

“[a]n ALJ may reject a treating physician’s opinion if it is based ‘to a large extent’

on a claimant’s self-reports that have been properly discounted as incredible.”

Tommasetti, 533 F.3d at 1041 (quoting Morgan, 169 F.3d at 602). The record

supports the ALJ’s conclusion. Much of the first evaluation recounts what Dr.

Seiwert herself labels Hurter’s “Subjective Medical History” or “Subjective and

Medical History.” The information that follows fits this description. For example,

in the paragraph labeled “depression” Dr. Seiwert writes that Hurter “suffered

                                     Page 6 of 12
abuse as a child, which caused depression and subsequent drug abuse.” There is no

other such evidence in the record. The paragraph on migraines is comprised

almost entirely of descriptions of pain and frequency of symptoms. The hearing

loss section notes that Hurter received a recommendation for hearing aids. In fact,

Dr. Becker only wrote that Hurter was “borderline” for hearing aids.

      The ALJ also reasoned that the medical record as a whole did not support

Dr. Seiwert’s conclusions. The contrary opinions of other doctors constitute a

specific and legitimate reason to discount a treating physician’s opinion. See

Tonapetyan, 242 F.3d at 1149. Drs. Rao and Merrill both concluded that Hurter

could sit or stand for six hours out of an eight-hour workday, contrary to Dr.

Seiwert’s assessment. Those doctors also opined that Hurter had the ability to lift

weights greatly in excess of Dr. Seiwert’s estimate.

      Another reason proffered by the ALJ is that the other records referenced in

Dr. Seiwert’s treatment notes do not support her conclusions. Cf. Bayliss v.

Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1216 (9th Cir. 2005) (discrepancies between a doctor’s

own notes and conclusions constitute a clear and convincing reason to reject that

doctor’s opinion). The diagnoses in Dr. Brack’s report are far more subdued than

Dr. Seiwert’s. For example, Dr. Brack acknowledged back problems, but opined

that Hurter was not a candidate for surgery and instead proposed a walking

                                    Page 7 of 12
program. He also noted an ability to forward flex with her fingers to her toes and

suggested only that Hurter “take precautions bending and lifting.” These

discrepancies in the treatment notes are a specific and legitimate reason to reject

Dr. Seiwert’s opinion.

      The ALJ chose to credit greatly the opinions of Drs. Rao and Merrill. As the

district court noted, Hurter cannot provide a compelling reason why this decision

was error. Likewise she complains that the ALJ failed to discuss certain medical

reports, but the opinions she cites are not significant probative evidence. See

Vincent v. Heckler, 739 F.2d 1393, 1394–95 (9th Cir. 1984) (holding that ALJ

need only discuss significant probative evidence). “Where as here, medical reports

are inconclusive, questions of credibility and resolution of conflicts in the

testimony are functions solely of the [Commissioner].” Sample v. Schweiker, 694

F.2d 639, 642 (9th Cir. 1982) (internal quotation marks omitted).

      Hurter next argues that the ALJ failed to consider all of her severe and non-

severe impairments when assessing her RFC. This contention gives us pause

because it does appear that the ALJ may have failed to consider the totality of her

impairments at this stage of his analysis. We hold, however, that any failure was

harmless error.

                                     Page 8 of 12
      Social Security Ruling 96-8p is clear that the ALJ must consider all of a

claimant’s impairments during the RFC assessment, not just those classified as

“severe.” “While a ‘not severe’ impairment(s) standing alone may not

significantly limit an individual’s ability to do basic work activities, it may—when

considered with limitations or restrictions due to other impairments—be critical to

the outcome of a claim.” SSR 96-8p, 1996 WL 374184, at *5 (July 2, 1996). In

his RFC analysis the ALJ failed to consider explicitly Hurter’s alleged impairments

of depression, anxiety, a hernia and an ankle injury.

      The ALJ’s omission of these impairments does not require reversal of the

RFC assessment because any error was harmless. First, although the ALJ did not

explicitly consider the above impairments, he stated that he had considered all

symptoms in formulating the RFC. In addition, these four alleged impairments

were devoid of almost any merit. As discussed supra, the only support for

Hurter’s allegations of depression and anxiety were her own subjective complaints

in Dr. Seiwert’s evaluation. Hurter had apparently successful surgery to remove

the hernia and a radiograph of her ankle fracture showed “at most only a few

millimeters of displacement.” The ALJ discussed these very reasons at step two

while classifying Hurter’s depression, anxiety, hernia and ankle injury as non-

severe. See Stout v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 454 F.3d 1050, 1054–55 (9th Cir.

                                    Page 9 of 12
2006) (noting that ALJ commits harmless error when the mistake was

“nonprejudicial” or “irrelevant” to the ultimate disability conclusion). Given the

meager medical support for these impairments, we hold that the ALJ’s failure to

consider how these impairments might complicate Hurter’s other symptoms was

harmless error.

                                           IV

      Hurter next challenges the ALJ’s decision to apply Medical-Vocational Rule

202.20, which directs a finding of “not disabled.” Appellant identifies three issues

at step five: the failure to consult a vocational expert, the determination that she is

capable of light instead of sedentary work and her classification as a “younger

individual.”

      For the reasons stated by the district court, Hurter is correct that the ALJ

should have consulted a vocational expert on the issue of her ability to perform

other work existing in significant numbers in the national economy. Where a

claimant has exertional and non-exertional impairments, the ALJ cannot rely on the

grids alone to find the claimant not disabled. Lounsburry v. Barnhart, 468 F.3d

1111, 1115–16 (9th Cir. 2006). The district court was correct in remanding the

case to the ALJ on this issue.

                                     Page 10 of 12
      Hurter is wrong, however, that the ALJ erred in determining that she was

capable of light work. Because her arguments merely reiterate her challenge to her

RFC finding, our determination that the ALJ did not err applies here as well. See

Stubbs-Danielson v. Astrue, 539 F.3d 1169, 1175–76 (9th Cir. 2008).

      The ALJ did err in determining Hurter’s age. Instead of using her age on the

date she filed her application, the ALJ should have used her age on the date of his

decision. See Russell v. Bowen, 856 F.2d 81, 84 (9th Cir. 1988). On remand, the

ALJ should calculate Hurter’s age on the date of the new decision. See Bray v.

Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 554 F.3d 1219, 1229 n.9 (9th Cir. 2009). After he

obtains a vocational expert’s testimony as to what kind of work someone with

Hurter’s limitations can do, the ALJ should consider this updated age to decide

whether she can find work in the national economy. See Valentine v. Comm’r Soc.

Sec. Admin., 574 F.3d 685, 689 (9th Cir. 2009).

                                         V

      Because substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s analysis at step two and at

the RFC stage, we affirm. We thus reject Hurter’s request to remand for an award

of benefits. See Benecke v. Barnhart, 379 F.3d 587, 593 (9th Cir. 2004). This case

is remanded to the ALJ as ordered by the district court for proceedings consistent

with the district court’s judgment and this memorandum disposition.

                                   Page 11 of 12
AFFIRMED and REMANDED.

                  Page 12 of 12