Court Opinion

ID: 806473
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-08-13 14:58:19+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:00:20.357800
License: Public Domain

Case: 12-10594   Date Filed: 08/13/2012   Page: 1 of 9

                                                         [DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                     FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                      ________________________

                             No. 12-10594
                         Non-Argument Calendar
                       ________________________

                  D.C. Docket No. 3:10-cv-00427-RV-CJK

GLENDA W. WEEKLEY,

                                                             Plaintiff-Appellant,

                                   versus

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY

                                                           Defendant-Appellee.

                       ________________________

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

                             (August 13, 2012)

Before HULL, WILSON, and MARTIN, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
                 Case: 12-10594        Date Filed: 08/13/2012        Page: 2 of 9

       Glenda Weekley appeals the denial of her application for a period of

disability insurance benefits by the Commissioner of the Social Security

Administration (“Commissioner”). See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Upon review of the

record and the briefs, we affirm.1

                                                 I.

       The Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) found that through the date last

insured, Weekley possessed the following severe impairments: status post cervical

diskectomy and fusion, status post re-do cervical diskectomy and fusion with

instrumentation, cervical degenerative disc disease, and muscle tension headaches.

But the ALJ found that none of Weekley’s impairments or combination of

impairments met or medically equaled one of the impairments listed in 20 C.F.R.

Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. After reviewing the record the ALJ concluded

that Weekley’s pain and functional limitations were not as significant as she

alleged. The ALJ believed that Weekley retained the physical residual functional

capacity to perform at least at the sedentary strength or exertional level, in

function-by-function physical terms, with certain exertional and postural

       1
         We do not address Weekley’s argument regarding the support for the ALJ’s
determination of residual functional capacity because it was not raised in the district court. See
Stewart v. Dept. of Health and Human Servs., 26 F.3d 115, 115–16 (11th Cir. 1994) (“As a
general principle, this court will not address an argument that has not been raised in the district
court.”).

                                                  2
              Case: 12-10594    Date Filed: 08/13/2012   Page: 3 of 9

restrictions associated with the level of exertion. According to the ALJ,

Weekley’s past relevant work as a loan officer and bank branch manager did not

require the performance of work-related activities precluded by her residual

functional capacity. Therefore, the ALJ concluded that Weekley was not disabled

at any time from January 1, 1997, the amended alleged disability onset date,

through December 31, 2002, the date last insured.

                                         II.

      Weekley first argues that the ALJ committed reversible error by discounting

the opinion of Dr. Ruben Timmons, who treated her on 35 different occasions and

determined that due to her condition she either was limited to a sub-sedentary

level of activity or was unemployable.

      We review a Social Security case to determine whether the Commissioner’s

decision is supported by substantial evidence and whether the correct legal

standards were applied. Winschel v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 631 F.3d 1176, 1178

(11th Cir. 2011). “Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla and is such

relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a

conclusion.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). If the ALJ’s finding is

supported by substantial evidence, we must defer to it even if the evidence

preponderates against the finding. Crawford v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 363 F.3d

                                         3
              Case: 12-10594     Date Filed: 08/13/2012   Page: 4 of 9

1155, 1158–59 (11th Cir. 2004) (per curiam). “We may not decide the facts anew,

reweigh the evidence, or substitute our judgment for that of the Commissioner.”

Winschel, 631 F.3d at 1178 (internal quotation marks and alteration omitted). On

the other hand, reversal is warranted where the ALJ fails either to apply the correct

law or to provide us with a sufficient basis for determining that the proper legal

analysis has been conducted. Keeton v. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 21 F.3d

1064, 1066 (11th Cir. 1994).

      The ALJ must give a treating physician’s opinion “substantial or

considerable weight” unless there is good cause to disregard the opinion.

Winschel, 631 F.3d at 1179. “Good cause exists when the: (1) treating physician’s

opinion was not bolstered by the evidence; (2) evidence supported a contrary

finding; or (3) treating physician’s opinion was conclusory or inconsistent with the

doctor’s own medical records.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). The ALJ

must clearly articulate his reasons for disregarding a treating physician’s opinion.

Id.; 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2). When a treating physician’s opinion does not

warrant controlling weight, the ALJ must nevertheless weigh the medical opinion

based on the: (1) length of the treatment relationship and the frequency of

examination; (2) the nature and extent of the treatment relationship; (3) the

medical evidence and explanation supporting the opinion; (4) consistency with the

                                          4
              Case: 12-10594     Date Filed: 08/13/2012   Page: 5 of 9

record as a whole; (5) specialization in the pertinent medical issues; and (6) other

factors that tend to support or contradict the opinion. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c).

      Certain matters are reserved to the agency’s consideration. 20 C.F.R.

§ 404.1527(d). For example, the agency is responsible for determining whether a

claimant meets the statutory definition of disability, and a statement by a medical

source that a claimant is “disabled” or “unable to work” does not mean that the

agency must determine a claimant to be disabled. Id. In instances in which a

treating physician makes such conclusory statements, the ALJ may afford them

such weight as is supported by the clinical or laboratory findings and other

consistent evidence of the claimant’s impairments. Wheeler v. Heckler, 784 F.2d

1073, 1075 (11th Cir. 1986) (per curiam). When the ALJ has articulated specific

reasons for failing to give the opinion of a treating physician controlling weight,

and those reasons are supported by substantial evidence, there is no reversible

error. Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1212 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam).

      Here, the ALJ’s decision to afford minimal evidentiary weight to Dr.

Timmons’s opinions regarding Weekley’s symptoms and functional limitations is

supported by substantial evidence that Weekley was not credible and by findings

recorded by Weekley’s treating neurosurgeon. There is evidence that Weekley

exaggerated the severity of her symptoms when she was under the care of Dr.

                                          5
              Case: 12-10594     Date Filed: 08/13/2012   Page: 6 of 9

Timmons. In 1998 during a functional capacity evaluation, the examiner noted

that Weekley exerted sub-maximal effort, exhibited symptom magnification

behaviors, and reported disproportionate pain scale ratings that were not in

accordance with her behavior. A functional capacity evaluation in 2000 also noted

sub-maximal effort. Dr. Timmons’s opinion was informed by Weekley’s

persistent, subjective complaints of pain, but the functional capacity evaluations

raise concerns about Weekley’s credibility and the reliability of Dr. Timmons’s

opinion. Weekley’s credibility is also undermined by evidence that she

exaggerated her symptoms when she was seen by Dr. Slobodian. Dr. Slobodian

had evaluated Weekley and had formed an opinion about her condition. But after

viewing a video of Weekley riding a jet ski and performing other activities that

were inconsistent with her supposed debilitating disability, Dr. Slobodian testified

that he did not believe Weekley had been truthful during his evaluation of her.

      Additionally, Weekley’s treating neurosurgeon, Dr. Raymon, could not

explain Weekley’s complaints of pain after an office visit in 1999. He did not

believe the pain was created by cervical radiculopathy or cord compression. He

also could find no diagnostic evidence that indicated nonunion or “slippage of the

instrumentation system.” Dr. Raymon reviewed an MRI that showed that Weekley

had two small disc herniations, but because of their location he did not believe

                                         6
              Case: 12-10594    Date Filed: 08/13/2012   Page: 7 of 9

they were causing Weekley’s reported symptoms. Dr. Raymon recommended that

Weekley work at a sedentary work status. Moreover, the ALJ was not required to

give evidentiary weight to Dr. Timmons’s opinion that Weekley was

unemployable because the determination is one that is reserved to the

Commissioner. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d).

      Weekley also argues that the ALJ committed reversible error by failing to

evaluate her pain-related testimony under this Court’s three-part standard. She

contends that by failing to properly evaluate her testimony and complaints of pain,

the ALJ’s determination that she was not credible is not supported by substantial

evidence.

      An individual seeking Social Security disability benefits bears the burden of

proving that she is disabled. Moore, 405 F.3d at 1211. A claimant may establish

that she has a disability through her own testimony regarding her pain or other

subjective symptoms. Dyer v. Barnhart, 395 F.3d 1206, 1210 (11th Cir. 2005)

(per curiam). In such a case, the claimant must show:

      (1) evidence of an underlying medical condition and either (2)
      objective medical evidence that confirms the severity of the alleged
      pain arising from that condition or (3) that the objectively determined
      medical condition is of such a severity that it can be reasonably
      expected to give rise to the alleged pain.

Id. Reversal is warranted if the ALJ’s decision contains no evidence of the proper

                                         7
               Case: 12-10594    Date Filed: 08/13/2012    Page: 8 of 9

application of the three-part standard. See Holt v. Sullivan, 921 F.2d 1221, 1223

(11th Cir. 1991) (per curiam). The ALJ is not required to recite the pain standard

word for word, but instead, must make findings that indicate that the standard was

applied. See Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219, 1225–26 (11th Cir. 2002) (per

curiam) (holding that the ALJ did not err where his findings and discussion

indicated that the three-part standard was applied and he cited to 20 C.F.R.

§ 404.1529).

      In evaluating a claimant’s testimony, the ALJ should also consider: (1) the

claimant’s daily activities; (2) the “duration, frequency, and intensity” of the

claimant’s symptoms; (3) “[p]recipitating and aggravating factors;” (4) the

effectiveness and side effects of any medications; and (5) treatment or other

measures taken by the claimant to alleviate symptoms. 20 C.F.R.

§ 404.1529(c)(3). Additionally, the ALJ may consider the claimant’s “appearance

and demeanor during the hearing” as a basis of credibility, although it cannot

impose his observations in lieu of a consideration of the objective medical

evidence. Norris v. Heckler, 760 F.2d 1154, 1158 (11th Cir. 1985). The ALJ is to

consider these factors in light of the other evidence in the record. 20 C.F.R.

§ 404.1529(c)(4). If the ALJ discredits the claimant’s testimony as to her

subjective symptoms, it “must clearly articulate explicit and adequate reasons for”

                                          8
              Case: 12-10594     Date Filed: 08/13/2012    Page: 9 of 9

doing so. Dyer, 395 F.3d at 1210 (internal quotation marks omitted). The ALJ

must also show that it considered the claimant’s medical condition as a whole. Id.

      Here, the ALJ did not err by failing to explicitly cite to our three-part

standard because the record reflects that the ALJ considered and cited to the

regulations on which the standard is based and applied the standard correctly.

Furthermore, substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s determination that

Weekley’s subjective complaints of pain were not credible. When making a

credibility determination, the ALJ must show that he considered the claimant’s

“medical condition as a whole,” and in this case, the ALJ’s analysis of the

objective medical evidence and other evidence in the record complies with this

requirement. See Dyer, 395 F.3d at 1210.

      Because substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s conclusions, “[w]e may

not decide the facts anew, reweigh the evidence, or substitute our judgment for

that of the Commissioner.” Winschel, 631 F.3d at 1178 (internal quotation marks

and alteration omitted).

      AFFIRMED.

                                          9