Court Opinion

ID: 166467
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 09:14:04+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:48:38.296112
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                    United States Court of Appeals
                                                                            Tenth Circuit
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                        September 28, 2005
                             FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
                                                                           Clerk of Court

    DANNY R. NORRIS,

                 Plaintiff - Appellant,
                                                          No. 05-7002
     v.                                            (D.C. No. CIV-03-625-WH)
                                                          (E.D. Okla.)
    JO ANNE B. BARNHART,
    Commissioner, Social Security
    Administration,

                 Defendant - Appellee.

                              ORDER AND JUDGMENT           *

Before EBEL , HARTZ , and McCONNELL , 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      This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the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.
      Plaintiff-appellant Danny R. Norris appeals from an order of the district

court affirming the Social Security Commissioner’s decision denying his

applications for disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income

benefits under the Social Security Act. Exercising jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C.

§ 405(g) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm.

                                         I.

      Plaintiff claims that he “has been disabled since October 18, 1991 due to

chronic neck and arm pain.” Aplt. Br. at 5. Plaintiff has also filed an application

for benefits based on an alleged onset date of March 16, 2001, however, and the

ALJ summarized Plaintiff’s filing history as follows:

      The claimant filed an application for Supplemental Security Income
      payments previously on September 12, 1990, alleging onset of
      disability beginning February 26, 1990. That application was denied
      on January 16, 1991. The claimant filed his second application for
      Supplemental Security Income on February 8, 2002, alleging onset
      [of] disability beginning October 18, 1991. That application was
      denied initially and upon reconsideration on October 4, 2002.
      Claimant requested a hearing. In the interim, claimant filed
      applications for Disability Insurance Benefits and Supplemental
      Security Income payments on June 11, 2002, . . . alleging onset of
      disability beginning March 16, 2001. The claims were denied
      initially and on reconsideration, and a request for hearing was timely
      filed. The current applications were consolidated for hearing with
      the prior February 8, 2002 application for Supplemental Security
      Income. The claimant appeared and testified at a hearing held on
      February 4, 2003 . . . .

Aplt. App., Tab 4 at 23.

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      In a decision dated June 4, 2003, the administrative law judge (ALJ) found

that Plaintiff suffers from degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and the

ALJ determined at step two of the five-step sequential evaluation process for

determining disability that Plaintiff’s condition is a severe impairment. In

addition, the ALJ found at step four of the evaluation process that Plaintiff’s

problems with his cervical spine prevented him from performing his past relevant

work as a truck driver. But the ALJ denied Plaintiff’s applications for benefits at

step five of the evaluation process, concluding that (1) Plaintiff retained the

residual functional capacity (RFC) to perform a significant range of light work;

and (2) there are a significant number of jobs in the national economy that

Plaintiff can perform.

      In September 2003 the Appeals Council denied Plaintiff’s request for

review of the ALJ’s decision. Plaintiff then filed a complaint in the district court.

In December 2004 the district court entered an order and related judgment

affirming the denial of Plaintiff’s applications for benefits. This appeal followed.

                                           II.

      Because the Appeals Council denied review, the ALJ’s decision is the

Commissioner’s final decision for purposes of this appeal.    See Doyal v.

Barnhart , 331 F.3d 758, 759 (10th Cir. 2003). In reviewing the ALJ’s decision,

“we neither reweigh the evidence nor substitute our judgment for that of the

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agency.” Casias v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs.     , 933 F.2d 799, 800 (10th Cir.

1991). Instead, we review the ALJ’s decision only to determine whether the

correct legal standards were applied and whether the ALJ’s factual findings are

supported by substantial evidence in the record.   See Doyal , 331 F.3d at 760.

      In this appeal Plaintiff claims that the ALJ’s decision must be reversed

because (1) the ALJ failed to develop the administrative record properly; (2) the

ALJ failed to assess Plaintiff’s credibility properly; and (3) the ALJ failed to

assess Plaintiff’s RFC properly. These claims are without merit.

      A. Medical Evidence in the Administrative Record.

      As set forth above, Plaintiff claims that he initially became disabled in

October 1991 as a result of the problems with his cervical spine. But the only

medical evidence in the administrative record pertains to medical treatment that

Plaintiff received following a work-related accident on March 16, 2001.

Specifically, as accurately summarized by the magistrate judge, the administrative

record shows the following:

            The evidence considered by the ALJ reveals that claimant was
      involved in a work-related accident while driving a log truck on
      March 16, 2001. He was admitted to Wadley Regional Medical
      Center on that day with multiple abrasions and contusions and
      headache, but neurologically he was sound and there were no
      complaints of any tenderness in the neck or arms. Claimant’s X rays
      showed a negative portable two view examination of the cervical
      spine and thoracic spine and the X ray of claimant’s lumbar spine
      revealed degenerative disc disease at the L5-S1 level with associated
      mild anterolisthesis and suspected spondylolysis. A CT of claimant’s

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head showed a thickening of the sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses which
could have been related to the trauma claimant suffered or chronic
inflammatory disease. Claimant returned to the hospital on March
22, 2001, complaining of neck pain and tingling down the right arm.
A CT taken of the cervical spine was normal. Claimant was
diagnosed with cervical strain. Claimant returned on April 9, 2001,
to undergo an MRI of the cervical spine which indicated central disc
protrusion at the C6-7 level with mild associated spinal canal
stenosis but was otherwise unremarkable.

       Claimant began seeing orthopedist Dr. Odor in April 2001.
Claimant’s chief complaint was neck pain with radiation down the
right shoulder and arm. Claimant indicated his pain was not getting
better and he was unable to work. Upon examination, Dr. Odor noted
claimant’s limited cervical motion secondary to pain and weakness of
the right triceps when compared to the left. He stated there was
some numbness in the right C-7 distribution and mild cervical spasm,
reflexes were symmetric, and there were no upper motor neuron
signs. He reviewed the MRI and observed mild cord compression
and mild to moderate compression of the right C-7 nerve root. He
assessed claimant with cervical disc herniation at C6-7 with right C-7
radiculopathy. When claimant returned in June 2001, Dr. Odor
indicated in progress notes that he was doing worse and had ongoing
pain down his right arm. Dr. Odor recommended surgery for a
herniated disc since claimant had failed to respond to conservative
care. Claimant underwent cervical microscopic discetomy at C6-7,
anterior cervical interbody fusion with radial ring Allograft and
demineralized bone matrix, and anterior spinal instrumentation with
cervical spine locking plate Synthes C6-7 on July 17, 2001. He
returned for a follow-up appointment on August 23, 2001, and
Dr. Odor noted he was progressing well. He stated that claimant’s
arm pain had completely resolved, but he did still experience
occasional muscle spasms which Dr. Odor considered normal.
Dr. Odor recommended claimant begin a physical therapy program
two times per week for six weeks. In October 2001 claimant again
reported to Dr. Odor that his arm pain was completely resolved and
his arms felt stronger and were without any numbness or tingling.
Although he still had some soreness in his neck and his graft did not
appear to be completely consolidated, X rays showed that the C6-7
level was stable without movement. Dr. Odor recommended that

                                  -5-
       claimant increase his activities and return to work with instructions
       to avoid overhead straining. Claimant returned to Dr. Odor in
       January 2002, and he was found to be doing very well. Although
       claimant occasionally had symptoms in the back of his neck, he felt
       much better than before surgery and his X rays showed his fusion
       was solid. Dr. Odor found claimant’s range of motion to be good and
       he had a normal neurological examination. He released claimant
       from further care and noted that he could return to work with
       instructions to avoid repetitive overhead lifting.

Aplt. App., Tab 7 at 212-14 (citations omitted);   see also id. , Tab 4 at 134-35,

140-45.

       B. Development of the Administrative Record.

       “[U]nlike the typical judicial proceeding, a social security disability hearing

is nonadversarial, with the ALJ responsible in every case to ensure that an

adequate record is developed during the disability hearing consistent with the

issues raised.”   Hawkins v. Chater , 113 F.3d 1162, 1164 (10th Cir. 1997) (internal

citation and quotation marks omitted). In particular, in appropriate cases, the ALJ

may have a duty to order a consultative medical examination. As we have

explained,

              The difficult issue presented here, where the charge is that the
       ALJ has failed to develop the record by not obtaining a consultative
       examination, is to decide what quantum of evidence a claimant must
       establish of a disabling impairment . . . before the ALJ will be
       required to look further. We begin by acknowledging that the [ALJ]
       has broad latitude in ordering consultative examinations.     See Diaz v.
       Secretary of Health & Human Servs. , 898 F.2d 774, 778 (10th Cir.
       1990). Nevertheless, it is clear that, where there is a direct conflict
       in the medical evidence requiring resolution,     see 20 C.F.R.

                                            -6-
       § 404.1519a(b)(4), or where the medical evidence in the record is
       inconclusive, see Thompson v. Sullivan , 987 F.2d 1482, 1491
       (10th Cir. 1993), a consultative examination is often required for
       proper resolution of a disability claim. Similarly, where additional
       tests are required to explain a diagnosis already contained in the
       record, resort to a consultative examination may be necessary.

Hawkins , 113 F.3d at 1166.

       We have also made clear, however, that “the burden to prove disability in a

social security case is on the claimant.”   Id. at 1164. As a result, the claimant

always has the initial burden of proof.

             Ordinarily, the claimant must in some fashion raise the issue
       sought to be developed, which, on its face, must be substantial.
       Specifically, the claimant has the burden to make sure there is, in the
       record, evidence sufficient to suggest a reasonable possibility that a
       severe impairment exists. When the claimant has satisfied his or her
       burden in that regard, it then, and only then, becomes the
       responsibility of the ALJ to order a consultative examination if such
       an examination is necessary or helpful to resolve the issue of
       impairment.

Id. at 1167 (citations omitted).

       In this appeal Plaintiff has put forth three arguments in support of his claim

that the ALJ failed to develop the administrative record properly. First, Plaintiff

claims that the administrative record was deficient because the abnormalities

detected in his lumbar spine and sinuses “were never fully evaluated by the

Agency physician or the ALJ.” Aplt. Br. at 10. Second, he claims that the

administrative record was deficient because “[t]here are no range of motion

studies included in the record.”    Id. Third, he claims that “the transcript of the

                                            -7-
hearing reflects that the ALJ agreed that [Plaintiff] should undergo a consultative

examination,” but “[n]o such examination was ever conducted.”             Id. at 10-11. We

reject the claim that the ALJ failed to develop the administrative record properly.

       To begin with, as pointed out by the magistrate judge,

       the only impairments claimant raised in his application for benefits
       were neck and arm pain; he did not make any complaints related to
       the abnormalities [detected in his lumbar spine and sinuses] to Dr.
       Odor, and he provided no testimony at the hearing about the
       abnormalities or that they functionally limited him in any way.

Aplt. App., Tab 7 at 215. Consequently, Plaintiff failed to meet his initial burden

of showing that there are substantial issues related to the abnormalities detected

in his lumbar spine and sinuses, and we therefore conclude that the ALJ had no

duty to investigate those conditions further.         See Hawkins , 113 F.3d at 1167.

       We also reject Plaintiff’s claim that the administrative record was deficient

because it did not contain range-of-motion studies regarding his ability to move

his neck. The magistrate judge noted that

       contrary to claimant’s testimony that Dr. Odor never evaluated his
       range of motion during his examinations, the last treatment note from
       Dr. Odor from January 2002 indicated that claimant had a good range
       of motion and a normal neurological examination and he could be
       released to work with only a restriction from engaging in repetitive
       overhead lifting.

Aplt. App., Tab 7 at 215 (citations omitted). In addition, the ALJ found that

Plaintiff’s hearing testimony was not “entirely credible,”        id. , Tab 4 at 28, and, as

set forth below, we have determined that the ALJ’s credibility finding is

                                                -8-
supported by substantial evidence in the record. As a result, Plaintiff’s hearing

testimony to the effect that Dr. Odor did not evaluate his range of motion was

properly rejected by the ALJ, and the ALJ did not err in accepting Dr. Odor’s

statement that Plaintiff had good range of motion. We also note that the ALJ did

not completely discount Plaintiff’s claim that he has limited range of motion, as

the ALJ found that Plaintiff was incapable of performing work that required

“more than occasional side to side movements of the head.”        Id. at 29.

      Finally, “[e]ven though the record indicates claimant’s attorney requested a

consultative examination at the hearing and the ALJ agreed to order it,”       id. , Tab 7

at 215, we agree with the magistrate judge that “the examination’s absence from

the record suggests that the ALJ reconsidered the request after the hearing and

determined the examination was not necessary based on the evidence of record.”

Id. We also agree with the magistrate judge that the absence of a consultative

orthopedic examination did not render the administrative record deficient.

      As summarized above, the medical evidence in the administrative record

shows that (1) Plaintiff suffered a work-related injury to his cervical spine in

March 2001; (2) his treating orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Odor, diagnosed him as

suffering from a herniated cervical disc with right radiculopathy; (3) he

subsequently failed to respond to conservative care; (4) Dr. Odor performed

surgery on his cervical spine in July 2001; and (5) in January 2002, Dr. Odor

                                           -9-
released him from further care based on the determination that he had reached

maximum medical improvement and could return to work with instructions to

avoid repetitive overhead lifting. Further, as noted by the ALJ, Plaintiff “has not

submitted any medical records pertaining to any medical treatment after he was

last seen by Dr. Odor in January 2002.”     Id. at 27. Given this record, the ALJ did

not err in failing to order a consultative orthopedic examination. Simply put,

there was no direct conflict in the medical evidence requiring resolution; the

medical evidence in the record was not inconclusive; and additional tests were not

required to explain a diagnosis already contained in the record.   See Hawkins , 113

F.3d at 1166.

       C. Plaintiff’s Credibility.

       In his brief on appeal, Plaintiff claims that “the ALJ’s conclusions

regarding credibility based on [Plaintiff’s] loss of his commercial driver’s license,

lack of medical treatment and multiple applications for benefits are neither

rational nor supported by a substantial amount of evidence.” Aplt. Br. at 16. We

disagree, and we adopt the following analysis of the magistrate judge:

              Although the undersigned Magistrate Judge would agree with
       claimant that there is nothing in the record to support the ALJ’s
       presumption that claimant lost his commercial driver’s license
       because of a driving offense, the ALJ relied on numerous other
       reasons for finding claimant’s complaints not credible. The ALJ’s
       consideration of claimant’s lack of ongoing medical treatment was
       appropriate, as was his consideration of claimant’s taking aspirin for
       pain relief and the inconsistency between claimant’s testimony

                                           -10-
       regarding arm and neck pain and his reports to Dr. Odor that his pain
       had resolved. Further, the ALJ properly considered claimant’s work
       history as part of the credibility analysis, and the inconsistencies in
       claimant’s testimony and between his testimony and the medical
       evidence. The ALJ linked his findings to the evidence in the record
       . . . and cited evidence from the record in support of his
       determination that claimant’s impairment was not as severe as
       alleged and did not keep claimant from performing work. Because
       there is no indication that the ALJ misread the medical evidence as a
       whole, deference must be given to the ALJ’s determination of the
       claimant’s credibility.

Aplt. App., Tab 7 at 219-20 (citations omitted).

       D. The ALJ’s RFC Determination.

       Plaintiff’s brief on appeal argues that the ALJ’s RFC determination must be

reversed because “the ALJ failed to properly weigh the opinions of [Plaintiff’s]

examining physicians, failed to fully document the record by obtaining a

consultative examination, . . . and improperly discounted [Plaintiff’s] subjective

complaints of pain.” Aplt. Br. at 13-14. Plaintiff also argues that “the record

does not contain sufficient medical evidence to support any kind of conclusion as

to [Plaintiff’s] abilities or limitations.”    Id. at 14. As set forth above, we have

rejected Plaintiff’s claims regarding a consultative medical examination and the

ALJ’s credibility analysis. For similar reasons, we also conclude that Dr. Odor’s

medical records, when considered along with the undisputed fact that Plaintiff has

not received any relevant medical treatment since he was last seen by Dr. Odor in

                                              -11-
January 2002, provided a sufficient medical basis for the ALJ’s finding that

Plaintiff retains the RFC to perform a significant range of light work.

      The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

                                                    Entered for the Court

                                                    Harris L Hartz
                                                    Circuit Judge

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