Court Opinion

ID: 166921
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 09:35:15+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:42:00.440631
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                    United States Court of Appeals
                                                                            Tenth Circuit
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                         January 12, 2006
                             FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT                      Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                                           Clerk of Court

    MARY R. BRIDGES,

              Plaintiff-Appellant,

     v.                                                    No. 05-6134
                                                     (D.C. No. 04-CV-924-C)
    JO ANNE B. BARNHART,                                   (W.D. Okla.)
    Commissioner of Social Security
    Administration,

              Defendant-Appellee.

                             ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Before KELLY, PORFILIO, and BRORBY, Circuit Judges.

          After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously to grant the parties’ request for a decision on the briefs without oral

argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore

ordered submitted without oral argument.

*
      This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
       Claimant Mary R. Bridges appeals from a district court order affirming the

Social Security Commissioner’s (Commissioner) denial of her application for

disability insurance benefits. Because the Commissioner’s decision is supported

by substantial evidence and the correct legal standards were applied, we affirm.

                                  BACKGROUND

       Bridges filed her first application for disability benefits in October 1995,

alleging disability as of July 1995. In May 1999, an administrative law judge

(ALJ) denied her application.

       In December 2000, Bridges filed her second application for disability

benefits, claiming the same July 1995 disability date. According to her

application, she was disabled due to chronic fatigue syndrome, hypertension,

depression, chronic joint pain, shortness of breath, a neck injury, and occasional

cognitive difficulties.

       Following administrative denial of her claim, Bridges appeared at a hearing

before an ALJ in December 2002. In his decision, the ALJ found that her

previous application should not be re-opened and that she was not disabled

between May 1999 and December 31, 2000 – the last date she was insured for

disability benefits. 1

1
      Bridges’ attorney stipulated at the hearing that the previous application
should not be re-opened and no such request is made on appeal. Further, Bridges
                                                                      (continued...)

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      The ALJ followed the required five-step sequential evaluation process for

disability claims. See Williams v. Bowen, 844 F.2d 748, 750-52 (10th Cir. 1988).

Because Bridges was not engaged in substantial gainful employment, the ALJ

moved to step two and found that her obesity, borderline intellectual functioning,

and depression constituted severe impairments. However, at step three, the ALJ

found that she had no impairments, singly or in combination, that met any of the

Commissioner’s listing of impairments.

      Based on the medical record, including Bridges’ testimony concerning her

subjective complaints, the ALJ concluded at step four that she could not perform

her past relevant work as an acid cleaner. Nonetheless, at step five, and based on

hypothetical questions posed to a vocational expert, the ALJ found that because

there were a significant number of light jobs that Bridges could perform, she was

not disabled.

      Bridges’ request for review was denied by the Appeals Council, and the

district court affirmed the Commissioner’s decision. This appeal followed.

                            STANDARD OF REVIEW

      We review the ALJ’s decision “to determine whether the factual findings

are supported by substantial evidence in the record and whether the correct legal

1
 (...continued)
agrees that the last date of her eligibility for disability benefits was December 31,
2000.

                                          -3-
standards were applied.” Hamlin v. Barnhart, 365 F.3d 1208, 1214 (10th Cir.

2004) (internal quotation marks omitted). We base our review on the whole

record; therefore, “we . . . meticulously examine the record in order to determine

if the evidence supporting the agency’s decision is substantial,” but we

“neither reweigh the evidence nor substitute our discretion for that of the

Commissioner.” Id. (internal quotation marks and brackets omitted).

                                    DISCUSSION

      Bridges argues that the ALJ improperly evaluated her subjective complaints

concerning the impact of her impairments on her ability to work and that he failed

to consider all of her impairments in finding that she retained the residual

functional capacity (RFC) to perform a reduced range of light work. We disagree

with both arguments.

      We use a three-part analysis in reviewing an ALJ’s credibility

determination concerning a claimant’s allegations of disabling pain or

impairments. Kepler v. Chater, 68 F.3d 387, 390 (10th Cir. 1995). First, has the

claimant established a pain-producing impairment by objective medical evidence;

second, if so, is there a loose nexus between the proven impairment and the

claimant’s subjective allegations of pain; and third, if so, does all of the evidence,

both objective and subjective, establish that the pain is in fact disabling. Id.

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Moreover, it is “difficult” for a claimant “[t]o establish disabling pain without the

explicit confirmation of treating physicians.” Id.

      In the final analysis, “[c]redibility determinations are peculiarly the

province of the finder of fact, and we will not upset such determinations when

supported by substantial evidence.” Diaz v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs.,

898 F.2d 774, 777 (10th Cir. 1990).

      In this case, the ALJ explained his reasons for determining that Bridges’

testimony was not wholly credible. The medical records for the relevant time

frame did not contain any findings or treatment for any condition that could

reasonably be expected to produce the physical symptoms complained of by

Bridges. 2 Faced with a dearth of objective evidence concerning the claimed

impairments, the ALJ concluded that

      the medical records do not reveal conditions that might be expected
      to produce the physical symptoms alleged by the claimant. The
      claimant underwent testing in 2000 in response to her allegations of
      chest pain. There were no cardiac conditions evident to explain her
      symptoms. There are no other conditions to explain the claimant’s
      remaining conditions to the degree alleged.

Aplt. App. at 21.

2
       From May 1999 forward, Bridges’ medical records consisted of tests that
eliminated certain conditions, a normal pap smear, mild obesity, and treatment for
a rash and bronchitis.

                                          -5-
      More particularly, Bridges claims that the ALJ improperly ignored her

testimony that chronic fatigue syndrome and resulting weakness and muscle and

joint pain prevented her from working. The medical record does contain a

diagnosis from a physician in September 1995 that she was unable to return to

work for an indefinite period of time. However, although she continued to

complain of fatigue in early 1996, the examining physician noted at that time that

it was “not debilitating” and probably related to her “lack of activity and

lifestyle.” Aplt. App. at 275. There is no other evidence in the record of any

medical treatment for, or symptoms of, chronic fatigue syndrome between 1996

and December 31, 2000 when her insured status expired. In summary, the ALJ

applied the correct legal standards in evaluating Bridges’ subjective allegations of

her symptoms and his assessment of credibility is supported by substantial

evidence in the record.

      We also reject Bridges’ argument that the ALJ improperly failed to

consider all of her impairments in assessing her RFC. Although it is less than

clear, she apparently argues that the ALJ failed to consider her depression and

occasional cognitive difficulties.

      An ALJ is not required to discuss every piece of evidence. Instead, “in

addition to discussing the evidence supporting his decision, the ALJ also must

discuss the uncontroverted evidence he chooses not to rely upon, as well as

                                         -6-
significantly probative evidence he rejects.” Clifton v. Chater, 79 F.3d 1007,

1010 (10th Cir. 1996).

      Here, the ALJ considered and specifically mentioned the only relevant

consultative mental health evaluation in the record. In connection with her first

application for disability benefits, a 1998 report noted a marked restriction in her

ability to deal with work stresses, along with her obesity, borderline intellectual

functioning, and depression. Significantly, the ALJ took these limitations into

account in his RFC assessment.

      Moreover, although the ALJ did not specifically mention a second 1998

consultative examination, he was required to do so only if it contained

significantly probative evidence contrary to the ALJ’s findings – which it did not.

In fact, although the ALJ did not mention the second evaluation in his decision, it

appears that he also considered it in making his RFC determination. As such, the

RFC assessment is supported by substantial evidence.

      The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

                                                     Entered for the Court

                                                     Paul J. Kelly, Jr.
                                                     Circuit Judge

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