Court Opinion

ID: 4233068
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-12-28 17:00:26.124291+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:17.517293
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                              For the Eighth Circuit
                          ___________________________

                                  No. 16-2849
                          ___________________________

                                     Carolyn Combs

                         lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellant

                                             v.

          Nancy A. Berryhill,1 Commissioner, Social Security Administration

                         lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellee
                                        ____________

                      Appeal from United States District Court
                     for the Eastern District of Arkansas - Helena
                                    ____________

                             Submitted: January 11, 2017
                              Filed: December 28, 2017
                                   ____________

Before SMITH, Chief Judge,2 KELLY, Circuit Judge, and SIPPEL,3 District Judge.

      1
       Nancy A. Berryhill has been appointed to serve as Acting Commissioner of
Social Security, and is substituted as appellee pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate
Procedure 43(c).
      2
       The Honorable Lavenski R. Smith became Chief Judge of the United States
Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on March 11, 2017.
      3
        The Honorable Rodney W. Sippel, Chief Judge, United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Missouri, sitting by designation.
KELLY, Circuit Judge.

       Carolyn Combs appeals from the district court’s order affirming the
Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) denial of her application for disability insurance
benefits and supplemental security income. Because we conclude that the ALJ failed
to fully and fairly develop the record, we reverse and remand for further factual
findings.

                                   I. Background

       Combs applied for disability benefits on July 2, 2012, alleging a disability
onset date of May 17, 2012. She claims she is disabled as a result of the combined
effects of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, asthma, and obesity. Combs was born
on December 24, 1961, and has a ninth grade education. She last worked as a hotel
housekeeper and was fired for talking on her cell phone.

        The ALJ held a hearing on Combs’ application on January 9, 2014, at which
Combs and a Vocational Expert (VE) testified. Combs provided the following
information. She is 5’3” tall and weighs 240 pounds. She was first told by a doctor
that she had arthritis in August 2011; a little later, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid
arthritis by a doctor who prescribed meloxicam for the arthritis and tramadol for pain.
The medications “eased the pain whereas [she] can basically deal with it a little bit,
but it didn’t take the pain away, but it made it bearable a little bit.” She has swelling
“from [her] knees all the way down to [her] foot,” which is worsened by walking and
standing. She can walk for about five minutes at a time, but then she has to stop
because of the pain in her lower back, knees, and feet. She can only stand for two or
three minutes before having to sit down and prop up her legs, which sometimes
lessens the swelling. She can sit for one hour but spends the day changing positions.
Her hands sometimes cramp up so much she cannot use them—“they just get stuck.”

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She has pain daily, and has restless leg syndrome, which disturbs her sleep. She is
prescribed amitriptyline, which helps but does not eliminate the problem.

       Combs’ daily activities consist mostly of sitting on her couch or walking
around the house in an effort to keep her legs from stiffening. She sometimes goes
to her daughter’s house, but because she has trouble getting up from her daughter’s
couch, she prefers to sit at home where she can be more comfortable. She can shop
only if a motorized cart is available. She can make herself a sandwich, but can only
cook for her family if she has a chair in the kitchen, where she can sit down after
standing for two or three minutes. She sometimes does dishes. She does not have the
strength in her hands to wring mops or wipe surfaces, and she can no longer play with
her grandchildren.

       Combs presented medical records spanning the time period from July 2011 to
September 2014 from St. Bernards Regional Medical Center, AR Care, Jonesboro
Church Health Center, and NEA Baptist Clinic. Henry Allen, M.D., of AR Care,
diagnosed Combs with rheumatoid arthritis in November 2011 and prescribed
meloxicam, cyclobenzaprine, and tramadol to treat the arthritis and accompanying
pain. Combs has continued treatment with various medical providers for this
condition, including Dr. Allen, Beata Majewski, M.D., and Jennifer Long, APN, and
these providers continue to prescribe pain medication—including toradol,
hydrocodone, and tramadol—for “severe pain” due to her rheumatoid arthritis.
X-rays showed severe degenerative changes in both of Combs’ knees, narrowing of
the joint space in her wrists and in the fingers of both hands. Treatment notes from
Dr. Allen, Dr. Majewski, and APN Long reported swelling, warmth, and tenderness
in Combs’ hands, wrists, knees, and ankles, as well as painful range of motion, but
“no acute distress” and “normal movement of all extremities.” None of these medical
treatment providers offered an opinion about Combs’ ability to function in the
workplace.

                                         -3-
       The only medical opinions regarding Combs’ residual functional capacity
(RFC)4 that the ALJ considered were from two state–agency medical consultants:
Robert Redd, M.D., who conducted an initial review of Combs’ medical records, and
Sharon Keith, M.D., who reviewed Combs’ records at the reconsideration level.
Neither doctor examined Combs. Dr. Redd opined that Combs was able to lift ten
pounds occasionally and less than ten pounds frequently and was therefore limited
to sedentary work. In Dr. Keith’s opinion, Combs was capable of work at the light
exertional level and could lift twenty pounds occasionally and ten pounds frequently.5

      Following the hearing, the ALJ issued a decision on July 18, 2014, analyzing
Combs’ disability following the five-step sequential evaluation process outlined in
20 C.F.R. § 420.1520(a)–(f). At the first and second steps, the ALJ determined that
Combs had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since her alleged disability
onset date, and had the following severe impairments: rheumatoid arthritis,
fibromyalgia, and obesity. At step three, the ALJ determined that Combs did not have

      4
       “A claimant’s RFC is what . . . he or she can do despite his or her limitations.”
Pearsall v. Massanari, 274 F.3d 1211, 1217 (8th Cir. 2001) (citing 20 C.F.R.
§ 404.1545).
      5
          Light work involves:

      [l]ifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or
      carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight
      lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good
      deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time
      with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered
      capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have
      the ability to do substantially all of these activities.

20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(b). To be capable of performing “light work,” a claimant must
also be able to stand or walk for six hours of an eight-hour work day. Frankl v.
Shalala, 47 F.3d 935, 937 (8th Cir. 1995).

                                          -4-
an impairment or combination of impairments listed in or medically equal to one
listed in Appendix 1, Subpart P, Regulation No. 4.

       The ALJ next considered Combs’ RFC. The ALJ found Combs’ subjective
complaints of pain not entirely credible in large part based on her treating physicians’
notations that she was in “no acute distress” and “had normal movement of all
extremities.” The ALJ gave “some weight” to Dr. Redd’s opinion but concluded that
Dr. Keith’s opinion was more consistent with the record as a whole, and with the
notations in the treatment notes specifically. Relying on Combs’ medical records and
Dr. Keith’s opinion, as well as the VE’s testimony, the ALJ determined Combs had
the RFC to perform light work as defined in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(b) with the
following limitations: she can only frequently use her hands to finger and grasp; only
occasionally climb ladders, ropes, scaffolds, ramps, or stairs; and only occasionally
balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl. Because Combs’ past work as a hotel
housekeeper did not require her to perform any work-related activities precluded by
her RFC, the ALJ concluded Combs was capable of performing her past relevant
work and so was not disabled. Alternatively, the ALJ found that Combs could
perform other jobs that existed in significant numbers in the national economy, such
as a cashier or a fast food worker.

      On August 6, 2015, the Appeals Council denied Combs’ request for review.
She sought judicial review and, on May 25, 2016, the district court affirmed the
Commissioner’s denial of Combs’ claims. In this appeal, Combs challenges the
ALJ’s RFC determination.

                                    II. Discussion

      “Because the Appeals Council declined review, the ALJ’s decision is the final
decision of the Commissioner.” Lott v. Colvin, 772 F.3d 546, 548 (8th Cir. 2014).
“The findings of the Commissioner of Social Security as to any fact, if supported by
substantial evidence, shall be conclusive.” Id. (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 405(g)). “We

                                          -5-
review the ALJ’s denial of disability insurance benefits de novo to ensure that there
was no legal error and that the findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence
on the record as a whole.” Brown v. Colvin, 825 F.3d 936, 939 (8th Cir. 2016).
“Substantial evidence is less than a preponderance, but enough that a reasonable mind
would find it adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. We consider the record as a
whole, reviewing both the evidence that supports the ALJ’s decision and the evidence
that detracts from it. Id.

       Combs contends the ALJ’s conclusion that she had the RFC to perform light
work, and therefore could return to her past relevant work as a hotel housekeeper, is
not supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole. An ALJ determines
a claimant’s RFC “based on all the relevant evidence, including the medical records,
observations of treating physicians and others, and an individual’s own description
of [her] limitations.” Strongson v. Barnhart, 361 F.3d 1066, 1070 (8th Cir. 2004)
(quoting McKinney v. Apfel, 228 F.3d 860, 863 (8th Cir. 2000)).6 “Because a
claimant’s RFC is a medical question, an ALJ’s assessment of it must be supported
by some medical evidence of the claimant’s ability to function in the workplace.”
Steed v. Astrue, 524 F.3d 872, 875 (8th Cir. 2008) (quoting Cox v. Astrue, 495 F.3d
614, 619 (8th Cir. 2007)). The ALJ “may not simply draw his own inferences about
plaintiff’s functional ability from medical reports.” Strongson, 361 F.3d at 1070.

       Here, in determining Combs’ RFC, the ALJ had opinions from two reviewing
physicians. See Casey, 503 F.3d at 697 (recognizing that an ALJ may rely “on a
reviewing physician’s report at step four when the burden is on the claimant to
establish an inability to do past relevant work”). Dr. Redd and Dr. Keith each
considered the total medical and non-medical evidence in Combs’ file, yet came to

      6
       In addition, “[i]t is well settled that an ALJ may consider the opinion of an
independent medical advisor as one factor in determining the nature and severity of
a claimant’s impairment.” Casey v. Astrue, 503 F.3d 687, 697 (8th Cir. 2007)
(quoting Harris v. Barnhart, 356 F.3d 926, 931 (8th Cir. 2004)).

                                         -6-
conflicting views of Combs’ ability to function in the workplace based on that
evidence. Dr. Redd gave Combs a ten-pound weight limit, which would have limited
her to sedentary work. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(a) (“Sedentary work involves lifting
no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like
docket files, ledgers, and small tools.”). It is undisputed that had the ALJ accepted
Dr. Redd’s opinion regarding Combs’ RFC, Combs would have been found disabled
under rule 201.09 of the medical-vocational guidelines due to her age, education, and
previous work experience. See 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 2, rule 201.09.
Viewing the same evidence, Dr. Keith opined that Combs was instead capable of
work at the light exertional level.

       Combs’ dispute centers on how the ALJ decided which opinion to credit.
Citing to Combs’ treating physicians’ notations of “no acute distress” and “normal
movements,” the ALJ gave Dr. Keith’s opinion greater weight than Dr. Redd’s
opinion because it was “more consistent with [Combs’] record as a whole.” Rather
than rely on his own inferences of what those notations meant, Combs asserts, the
ALJ should have contacted her medical providers for clarification. Because the ALJ
failed to do so, Combs argues, he did not satisfy his duty to fully and fairly develop
the record.

       “Well-settled precedent confirms that the ALJ bears a responsibility to develop
the record fairly and fully, independent of the claimant’s burden to press his case.”
Vossen v. Astrue, 612 F.3d 1011, 1016 (8th Cir. 2010) (quoting Snead v. Barnhart,
360 F.3d 834, 838 (8th Cir. 2004)). We recognize that an ALJ does not “have to seek
additional clarifying statements from a treating physician unless a crucial issue is
undeveloped.” Vossen, 612 F.3d at 1016 (emphasis omitted) (quoting Stormo v.
Barnhart, 377 F.3d 801, 806 (8th Cir. 2004)); see also Ellis v. Barnhart, 392 F.3d 988,
994 (8th Cir. 2005) (duty to seek clarification from treating physician “arises only if
a crucial issue is undeveloped”). But “an ALJ must not substitute his opinions for
those of the physician.” Finch v. Astrue, 547 F.3d 933, 938 (8th Cir. 2008) (quoting

                                         -7-
Ness v. Sullivan, 904 F.2d 432, 435 (8th Cir. 1990)); see also Pate-Fires v. Astrue,
564 F.3d 935, 946–47 (8th Cir. 2009) (noting that ALJs may not “play doctor”).

        We conclude the ALJ erred in relying on his own inferences as to the relevance
of the notations “no acute distress” and “normal movement of all extremities” when
determining the relative weight to assign to Dr. Redd’s and Dr. Keith’s opinions.
Notably, the Commissioner concedes in her brief that the term “‘no acute distress’ [is
not] of particular significance with a chronic condition such as [Combs’] rheumatoid
arthritis.” The Commissioner instead argues that the finding of “normal movement
of all extremities” is inconsistent with Combs’ complaints of pain. But the relevance
of this finding in terms of Combs’ ability to function in the workplace is not clear:
Although Combs’ medical providers consistently note in their treatment records that
Combs has a normal range of motion, they likewise consistently diagnose her with
rheumatoid arthritis, prescribe medications for “severe pain,” and note “trigger point”
and “joint pain with” range of motion. By relying on his own interpretation of what
“no acute distress” and “normal movement of all extremities” meant in terms of
Combs’ RFC, the ALJ failed to satisfy his duty to fully and fairly develop the record.
See Byes v. Astrue, 687 F.3d 913, 915–16 (8th Cir. 2012) (“Failing to develop the
record is reversible error when it does not contain enough evidence to determine the
impact of a claimant’s impairment on [her] ability to work.”). Accordingly, we
conclude remand is necessary so the ALJ may conduct further inquiry as to what
relevance Combs’ being in “no acute distress” and having “normal movement of all
extremities” has for her ability to function in the workplace.

                                  III. Conclusion

       Accordingly, we reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with
this opinion.

                                         -8-
SMITH, Chief Judge, dissenting.

      The majority holds that the ALJ failed to fully and fairly develop the record.
Specifically, the majority holds that the ALJ failed to seek clarification of the terms
“no acute distress” and “normal movement of all extremities.” I respectfully dissent.

       Combs argues that the ALJ failed to fully and fairly develop the record because
he failed to seek clarification of the terms “no acute distress” and “normal movement
of all extremities” and improperly relied on his own interpretations of these terms.
Combs essentially argues that these terms were unclear and that the ALJ was
duty-bound to ask the treating physicians for more information. “The ALJ’s duty to
develop the record, however, does not extend so far” as to necessarily require an ALJ
to seek more information when an opinion is arguably unclear. See Stormo, 377 F.3d
at 806. “The ALJ must neutrally develop the facts. He does not, however, have to
seek additional clarifying statements from a treating physician unless a crucial issue
is undeveloped.” Id. (citation omitted). The medical record contains dozens of
treatment notes detailing Combs’s physical limitations. In this case, no crucial issue
was undeveloped as to create a duty to seek additional information from Combs’s
treating physicians. See KKC ex rel. Stoner v. Colvin, 818 F.3d 364, 372 (8th Cir.
2016).

      I therefore respectfully dissent.
                          ______________________________

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