Court Opinion

ID: 26258
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 08:50:24+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:55:18.699340
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                             FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                    No. 01-20725
                                  Summary Calendar

      DONNA BELINDA PETRY,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellant,

                                        versus

      LARRY G. MASSANARI, ACTING
      COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

                                                           Defendant-Appellee.

                  Appeal from the United States District Court for
                          the Southern District of Texas
                           (USDC No. H-00-CV-2409)
          _______________________________________________________

                            December 19, 2001
Before REAVLEY, DAVIS and EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

      Claimant-appellant Donna Belinda Petry appeals the denial of her application

for Social Security disability benefits. We review findings of the Social Security

      *
        Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the Court has determined that this opinion
should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances
set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
Commissioner for substantial evidence. See Martinez v. Chater, 64 F.3d 172, 173

(5th Cir. 1995).

      Petry argued that she was disabled because of back and knee pain and

because she has been diagnosed as bipolar. However, an evaluation conducted by

Doctor Mary Franklin indicated that Petry had a full range of motion and stable

ligaments in her knee. In a later evaluation Doctor Eileen Stade noted that

objective test results did not indicate the source of Petry’s continued discomfort in

her knee. Doctor Stade noted Petry’s “attention seeking behavior with somatic

complaints without objective clinical findings.” On September 8, 1997, Petry was

examined at the MacGregor medical clinic, and the examining physician could find

no wasting or involuntary movements in her knee. A MRI of Petry’s spine taken at

the time was within normal limits, as was an EMG/nerve conduction study.

      Petry relies on the diagnosis of bipolar disorder by Doctor Rukshan Azhar to

support her disability claim. But contrary evidence was provided by consulting

Doctors Denney and Sharifian, both of whom concluded that Petry was neither

schizophrenic nor bipolar. After a mental health examination in 1998, doctor Glenn

Sternes also did not diagnose schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Two separate

doctors assigned Petry a Global Assessment of Functioning of over 65, which

indicates an ability to work.

                                           2
      Although Doctor Azhar’s testimony does indicate that Petry was disabled, on

review of a decision to deny social security disability benefits, a finding of no

"substantial evidence" is appropriate only if no credible evidentiary choices or

medical findings support the decision. See Boyd v. Apfel, 239 F.3d 698, 704 (5th

Cir. 2001). The medical findings of those doctors who contradict Doctor Azhar’s

diagnosis provide substantial evidence to support the Commissioner’s decision.

      AFFIRMED.

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