Court Opinion

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Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:15:18.305861+00
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Opinions of the United
2005 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

4-15-2005

Donatelli v. Comm Social Security
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 04-2828

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                                                                 NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                ___________

                                     No. 04-2828
                                     ___________

                               MICHAEL DONATELLI

                                       Petitioner

                                            v.

                          JO ANNE B. BARNHART,
                     COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY

                                     ___________

                   On Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Pennsylvania
                             (Civil Action No. 04-cv-00120)
                 District Judge: The Honorable Thomas M. Hardiman
                                      ___________

                  Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)
                                 February 10, 2005

       Before: BARRY, FUENTES, and VAN ANTWERPEN, Circuit Judges.

                                 (Filed April 15, 2005)

                             ________________________

                                     OPINION
                             ________________________

FUENTES, Circuit Judge:

      Appellant Michael Donatelli appeals the order of the District Court, affirming the
decision of the Commissioner of Social Security’s (“Commissioner”) denial of social

security disability benefits. Donatelli challenges the Administrative Law Judge’s (“ALJ”)

determination at step five of the five-step evaluation process promulgated by the Social

Security Administration (“SSA”) to determine whether an individual is disabled. At step

five, the ALJ concluded that Donatelli’s impairments did not preclude him from

performing work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy. For the

reasons stated below, we conclude that the Commissioner’s finding is based on

substantial evidence, and, therefore, we will affirm.

                         I. FACTS & PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       Donatelli was born on October 20, 1953, and was 49 years old 1 at the time of the

hearing before the ALJ. He has a high school education and prior relevant work

experience as a liquor store clerk. This job required him to lift 40-50 pounds, wait on

customers at a cash register, and perform janitorial duties, such as running a buffer on the

floor. He claims that diabetes, blood pressure, and back pain have rendered him unable to

perform substantial gainful work since October 2001 and, accordingly, he is entitled to

disability benefits. See 42 U.S.C. § 423. According to his testimony, Donatelli now

spends his days playing games on the internet, bathing, and collecting hot wheels cars.

       Donatelli filed an application for disability benefits in November 2002. This claim

  1
   The applicable regulations define Donatelli as a “younger person.” See 20 C.F.R. §
404.1563(c).

                                             2
was denied, after which Donatelli filed a request for a hearing before an ALJ.

       An ALJ considered the case de novo. At the hearing, Donatelli was represented by

an attorney and presented his own testimony. A vocational expert also testified. The ALJ

considered the testimony, along with a variety of medical reports and other evidence. He

concluded, among other things, that: (1) Donatelli has not engaged in substantial gainful

employment since the alleged onset of the disability; (2) Donatelli’s back pain constitutes

a “severe impairment” as defined by the SSA; (3) Donatelli’s impairments do not present

an impairment that meets the relevant “listing” in the applicable regulations; (4)

Donatelli’s assertions are not entirely credible in light of the medical evidence and his

testimony; (5) while Donatelli is unable to perform his past relevant work, he retains the

residual functional capacity to perform light work 2 with occasional stooping, kneeling,

crawling, climbing and balancing; and, (6) Donatelli’s impairments do not prevent him

from performing one of a significant number of jobs that exist in the national economy.

Consequently, the ALJ concluded that Donatelli was not disabled as defined by the Social

Security Act and, hence, is not entitled to benefits. The Appeals Council denied

Donatelli’s request for review of the ALJ’s decision.

  2
   “Light work” involves mostly walking and standing, frequently lifting and carrying
items that weigh up to ten pounds, and occasionally lifting and carrying items that weigh
up to twenty pounds. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(b). A job is also considered light work if the
individual sits most of the day but operates arm or leg controls. Id. The ALJ found that
Donatelli is capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, meaning that he can
perform substantially all of the activities stated in the applicable regulations. Id.

                                              3
       Donatelli then filed an action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of

Pennsylvania seeking review of the Commissioner’s decision. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

The District Court affirmed the Commissioner’s decision, finding that the

Commissioner’s determinations were supported by substantial evidence.

       We have jurisdiction over this appeal from the final decision of the District Court

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

                                     II. DISCUSSION

A.     Statutory and Regulatory Framework

       Entitlement to disability benefits requires a showing that the applicant is unable “to

engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable

physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has

lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” 42

U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). The applicable statute requires an applicant to furnish, among

other things, medical evidence, § 423(d)(5)(A), and to show that the impairment

precludes the applicant’s ability to work where a significant number of jobs exist in the

national economy that the applicant would otherwise be capable of performing, §

423(d)(2)(A). Pursuant to regulations promulgated by the SSA, a five-step evaluation

process governs the determination of whether a person meets these criteria and is

therefore disabled and entitled to benefits. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520; see also Jones v.

Barnhart, 364 F.3d 501, 503 (3d Cir. 2004) (explaining the manner in which an ALJ

                                              4
should apply the five-step evaluation process).

       In step one of this process, the Commissioner decides whether the claimant is

currently engaging in substantial gainful activity. If so, the claimant is not eligible for

benefits. § 404.1520(a)(4)(i). In step two, the question is whether the claimant is

suffering from a severe impairment. If the Commissioner determines that the impairment

is not severe, then the claimant is not eligible for benefits. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). At step

three, the Commissioner evaluates whether the claimant suffers from a listed impairment.

If so, the claimant is automatically eligible for benefits. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iii). If not, the

Commissioner moves on to step four. At step four, the Commissioner determines

whether the claimant retains the “residual functional capacity” 3 to perform his past

relevant work. If he can, then he is not eligible for benefits. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iv).

Lastly, in step five, the question is whether jobs exist in sufficient numbers in the national

economy that the claimant can perform given the claimant’s medical impairments, age,

education, past work experience, and residual functional capacity. If these jobs exist, the

claimant is not eligible for benefits. § 404.1520(a)(4)(v). At this ultimate step, the

burden shifts from the claimant to the Commissioner, whereby the Commissioner must

show that the claimant is capable of performing other available work that exists in the

national economy. If the Commissioner makes such a showing, the claimant will be

  3
   “Residual functional capacity” is defined as “the most you can still do despite your
limitations.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(1).

                                               5
denied benefits. Jones, 364 F.3d at 503.

B.     Standard of Review

       Our review of the Commissioner’s application of the five-step evaluation is limited

to determining whether the Commissioner’s decision is supported by substantial evidence.

42 U.S.C. § 405(g). We do not undertake a de novo review of the decision, nor do we re-

weigh the evidence in the record. Monsour Med. Ctr. v. Heckler, 806 F.2d 1185, 1190-91

(3d Cir. 1986). Substantial evidence is evidence that is less than a preponderance, but

more than a mere scintilla. Jones, 364 F.3d at 503.

C.     Whether the Determination Below is Based on Substantial Evidence

       This appeal arises from the ALJ’s determination at step five. Donatelli argues that

the ALJ erred in finding that he could perform work that exists in significant numbers in

the national economy, and erred in arriving at an adverse credibility determination with

respect to his subjective complaints.

       Donatelli argues that his residual functional capacity prevents him from

performing any jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy. In

essence, he makes two arguments: (1) that the ALJ’s finding that Donatelli can perform

jobs that exist in the national economy is not based on substantial evidence because he

only cited the evidence supporting his determinations while ignoring or incorrectly

discrediting other medical evidence; and (2) that the ALJ did not adequately account for

Donatelli’s subjective symptoms and incorrectly found his testimony to be not fully

                                             6
credible.

       The Commissioner argues that the District Court was correct in determining that

the ALJ’s finding is supported by substantial evidence. Specifically, the Commissioner

notes that: (1) the ALJ’s determination at step five of the sequential evaluation process

was supported by medical evidence and the vocational expert’s testimony; and (2) the

ALJ’s credibility determination is supported by inconsistencies between the treatment

Donatelli sought and his characterization of the severity of his condition.

       1.     Donatelli’s Residual Functional Capacity4

       While the ALJ found that Donatelli is unable to perform his past relevant work, he

also found that Donatelli retains the residual functional capacity to perform light work

with occasional stooping, kneeling, crawling, climbing, and balancing. In arriving at this

finding, the ALJ cites doctors’ reports, which state that Donatelli’s condition has

improved, that he suffered only a minimal decrease in strength, and that he could return to

light duty. Additionally, a report of Dr. Ramalingam Ravishankar noted that Donatelli

stopped using a sequential simulator and had no significant pain in his legs. Donatelli

previously used the simulator device to provide relief when he suffered from back pain.

  4
   Donatelli alleges that he is disabled as a result of diabetes and hypertension, in
addition to his back pain. The ALJ found that the diabetes and hypertension are
controlled by medication and have not caused organ damage and therefore are not severe.
Donatelli does not contest these findings in his appeal. Therefore, we focus only on the
ALJ’s findings regarding Donatelli’s back pain, and express no opinion as to the other
conditions.

                                             7
The ALJ also noted that Dr. Eric Altschuler wrote a report in December 2001. In this

report, Dr. Altschuler stated that Donatelli’s “strength, sensation and reflexes are

normal.” Considering these reports, the ALJ determined that the medical evidence does

not entirely support Donatelli’s allegations and that he retains the residual functional

capacity to perform light work with occasional stooping, kneeling, crawling, climbing and

balancing.5 We find that the ALJ’s finding is supported by substantial evidence.

       2.     Subjective Symptoms and Credibility

       When addressing the issue of subjective symptoms, the ALJ noted that he

considered “all symptoms, including pain, and the extent to which these symptoms can

reasonably be accepted as consistent with the objective medical evidence.” The ALJ

went on to determine that Donatelli’s statements concerning his subjective symptoms

were not credible. This finding was based on the inconsistency between Donatelli’s

testimony and various medical reports. See Burns v. Barnhart, 312 F.3d 113, 130-31 (3d

  5
   Donatelli asserts that the ALJ’s failure to cite explicitly to Dr. Arshad Chughtai’s
report, in which it is noted that Donatelli cannot resume his job as a liquor clerk, that he
should not perform any lifting while bending, and that walking aggravates his condition,
merits reversal of the denial of benefits. We first note that the ALJ did find that Donatelli
cannot return to his past work, in accordance with the first point from Dr. Chughtai’s
report. As to the lifting and walking limitations, we note that the ALJ provided a
reasoned explanation for his RFC determination as discussed above, rejecting such
absolute restrictions. To the extent that the ALJ erred in not actually mentioning Dr.
Chughtai’s report by name, we conclude that it was of little consequence, given the
thorough consideration of Donatelli’s impairment. See Heston v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec.,
245 F.3d 528, 535-36 (6th Cir. 2001).

                                              8
Cir. 2002) (stating that an ALJ may reject testimony of subjective complaints where the

testimony is not consistent with medical evidence). Specifically, Donatelli testified that

he goes to the grocery store but requires his wife and son to bring the groceries into the

house. This testimony contrasts with Dr. Ravishankar’s March 14, 2002 report. Dr.

Ravishankar reported that Donatelli told him that he goes shopping and brings the

groceries in his house without assistance. In fact, Dr. Ravishankar’s March 14, 2002

report implies that Donatelli was specifically capable of performing light work. Donatelli

argues that the ALJ unduly relied on and misconstrued Dr. Ravishankar’s statements.

However, the ALJ followed the dictate of current case law by weighing the conflicting

evidence that was presented and explaining his rejection of Donatelli’s subjective

allegations with reference to the reports by multiple doctors. See Sykes v. Apfel, 228

F.3d 259, 266 n.9 (3d Cir. 2000). Additionally, under the substantial evidence standard,

the question is not whether we would have arrived at the same decision; it is whether

there is substantial evidence supporting the Commissioner’s decision. Hartranft v. Apfel,

181 F.3d 358, 360 (3d Cir. 1999). Consequently, the ALJ’s determination as to the

credibility of Donatelli’s testimony is supported by substantial evidence.

              3.     Performing Jobs that Exist in the National Economy

       A vocational expert also testified at the hearing before the ALJ. The ALJ asked

the expert whether jobs exist in the national economy for an individual of Donatelli’s age

and education with his past relevant work experience and his residual functional capacity.

                                              9
The expert responded that Donatelli could work as a packer, assembler or inspector. The

expert estimated that in the aggregate there are approximately three million jobs that fit

within these categories. Based on this testimony, the ALJ concluded that Donatelli

retains the capacity for work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy.

The ALJ’s decision in this regard is supported by substantial evidence. See Jones, 364

F.3d at 503.

                                      CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the judgment of the District Court.

                                             10