Court Opinion

ID: 4025328
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-16 13:05:03.321702+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:05:16.803991
License: Public Domain

Case: 15-12818   Date Filed: 08/16/2016   Page: 1 of 6

                                                        [DO NOT PUBLISH]

            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                      ________________________

                            No. 15-12818
                        Non-Argument Calendar
                      ________________________

                   D.C. Docket No. 8:14-cv-00699-EAJ

WESLEY R. MILLS,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellant,

                                  versus

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

                                                          Defendant-Appellee.

                      ________________________

               Appeal from the United States District Court
                   for the Middle District of Florida
                     ________________________

                            (August 16, 2016)

Before WILSON, ROSENBAUM and BLACK, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
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       Wesley Robert Mills appeals from the district court’s order affirming the

Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) denial of his application for a period of

disability and disability insurance benefits (DIB), 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Mills

contends the ALJ committed reversible error in failing to analyze his mental

impairment using the special technique required by the Social Security regulations

and Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1213-14 (11th Cir. 2005), because the

evidence in the record established that he presented a colorable claim of mental

impairment. 1

       The ALJ did not make a specific finding regarding whether Mills presented

a colorable claim of mental impairment. Id. at 1214 (discussing “a colorable claim

of mental impairment”). However, because the ALJ analyzed and discussed Mills’

evidence of mental impairment including complaints of depression and a bipolar

diagnosis, we infer from that analysis and discussion that the ALJ determined that

Mills’ claim was at least colorable. See Richardson v. United States, 468 U.S. 317,

326 n.6 (1984) (“A colorable claim, of course, presupposes that there is some

possible validity to a claim.”).

       Because the ALJ implicitly found that Mills presented a colorable claim of

mental impairment, our precedent and the Social Security regulations require the

ALJ to complete a Psychiatric Review Technique Form (PRTF) or incorporate the

       1
         While Mills asserts other issues on appeal, our disposition of this issue makes
discussion of the other issues unnecessary.
                                                2
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analysis of a PRTF into the decision. Moore, 405 F.3d at 1214 (construing 20

C.F.R. § 4024.1520a and stating “the social security regulations require the ALJ to

complete a PRTF and append it to the decision, or incorporate its mode of analysis

into [the ALJ’s] findings and conclusions” if a claimant has presented a colorable

claim of mental impairment). It is undisputed that the ALJ did not complete a

PRTF and append it to the decision; 2 thus, we must determine if the ALJ’s analysis

of Mills’ mental impairment incorporated the PRTF technique into the decision.

       The PRTF technique requires rating the degree of a claimant’s functional

limitations in four broad areas: “[a]ctivities of daily living; social functioning;

concentration, persistence, or pace; and episodes of decompensation.” 20 C.F.R.

§ 404.1520a(c)(3). The regulations provide the first three factors (activities of

daily living; social functioning; and concentration, persistence, or pace) are rated

on a five-point scale of “[n]one, mild, moderate, marked, and extreme” while the

“fourth functional area (episodes of decompensation)” is rated using “the following

four-point scale: [n]one, one or two, three, four or more.” 20 C.F.R.

404.1520a(c)(4). The regulations provide:

       At the [ALJ] hearing and Appeals Council levels, the written decision
       must incorporate the pertinent findings and conclusions based on the
       technique. The decision must show the significant history, including
       examination and laboratory findings, and the functional limitations

       2
         While the record contains a PRTF prepared by a psychologist in December 2010, that
PRTF makes no mention of Mills’ diagnosed bipolar disorder and was not attached to or
referenced in the ALJ’s decision.
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      that were considered in reaching a conclusion about the severity of the
      mental impairment(s). The decision must include a specific finding as
      to the degree of limitation in each of the functional areas described in
      paragraph (c) of this section.

20 C.F.R. § 404.1520a(e)(4) (emphasis added).

      The ALJ’s decision does not specifically reference the PRTF technique. The

ALJ discusses some of the functional areas in analyzing Mills’ claim, however, so

we must determine whether the ALJ’s reasoning was enough to comply with the

PRTF requirement. See Moore, 403 F.3d at 1214. As to activities of daily living,

the ALJ found “[t]he claimant’s activities of daily living do no[t] evidence any

limitations due to mental impairments.” As to concentration, persistence, and

pace, the ALJ’s decision discussed that Mills reported difficulty with concentration

because of pain, but that the limitation was the result of his physical condition.

The ALJ also noted that Mills alleged problems completing tasks, but then reported

he finishes what he starts. This limitation was as a result of Mills’ physical

condition, however. The ALJ noted that on an October 2010, report, that Mills no

longer alleged problems with concentration.

      The ALJ’s opinion references one episode of decompensation.3 The ALJ

discussed Mills’ involuntary hospitalization under the Baker Act 4 in January 2009.

      3
         Episodes of decompensation are exacerbations or temporary increases in
      symptoms or signs accompanied by a loss of adaptive functioning, as manifested
      by difficulties in performing activities of daily living, maintaining social
      relationships, or maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace. Episodes of
      decompensation may be demonstrated by an exacerbation in symptoms or signs
                                             4
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In this episode of decompensation, the claimant’s wife “called the police after

[Mills] turned off the electricity in his home, kept his father-in-law confined to his

room, and indicated that he thought he was God and Bin Laden lived next door.”

Mills denied feeling depressed, having hallucinations, or having suicidal or

homicidal ideations. Mills denied ever seeing a psychiatrist or taking any

psychotropic medications. Mills admitted to mood swings and racing thoughts,

and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Mills was discharged with medications,

and was to follow up with an outpatient clinic. There was no record of any follow

up treatment, however.

       Thus, at the time of the ALJ’s opinion, 5 Mills had one episode of

decompensation in the record. The ALJ then found, despite that single hospital

       that would ordinarily require increased treatment or a less stressful situation (or a
       combination of the two). Episodes of decompensation may be inferred from
       medical records showing significant alteration in medication; or documentation of
       the need for a more structured psychological support system (e.g. hospitalizations,
       placement in a halfway house, or a highly structured and directing household); or
       other relevant information in the record about the existence, severity, and duration
       of the episode.

20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, Section 12.00(C)(4).
       4
         Chapter 394, Part 1 of the Florida Statutes, also known as the “Baker Act,” governs
mental health services, including voluntary admissions, involuntary examinations, and
involuntary placement.
       5
          Mills included hospital records of another episode of decompensation in November
2009, in his appeal before the Appeals Council. However, this evidence was not before the ALJ
at the time of the ALJ’s decision.

                                                5
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admission, that Mills did not have a severe mental impairment. The ALJ

concluded:

       Despite that single admission, there is no evidence of any mental
       functional limitations, no complaints of depression to any treating
       source, and no treatment for a mental health complaint. The
       claimant’s activities of daily living do no[t] evidence any limitations
       due to mental impairments. Accordingly, the claimant does not have
       a severe mental impairment.

       Although the ALJ’s opinion incorporated analysis of three of the four

functional limitations, the decision does not reference social functioning. The

regulations state “[t]he decision must include a specific finding as to the degree of

limitation in each of the functional areas described . . . .” 20 C.F.R.

§ 404.1520a(e)(4) (emphasis added). The ALJ’s decision does not include a

specific finding as to the degree of limitation in social functioning, and therefore

does not comply with the regulations.

       The judgment of the district court is reversed and the case is remanded with

instructions to remand the matter to the ALJ for an evaluation of Mills’ mental

impairment that complies with the applicable regulations. 6

       REVERSED AND REMANDED.

       6
         We express no opinion on the ultimate results of the PRTF, only that the technique
must be utilized as mandated by the regulations.
                                               6