Court Opinion

ID: 2754061
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-11-21 17:00:57.786406+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:07:45.035855
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                  United States Court of Appeals
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS       Tenth Circuit

                            FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT                      November 21, 2014

                                                                      Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                                          Clerk of Court
ROBERT A. ALARID,

             Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.                                                          No. 14-1024
                                                  (D.C. No. 1:12-CV-03308-MSK)
CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting                                    (D. Colo.)
Commissioner, Social Security
Administration,

             Defendant-Appellee.

                            ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before HARTZ, BALDOCK, and BACHARACH, Circuit Judges.

      Robert A. Alarid appeals from an order of the district court affirming the

Commissioner=s decision denying his application for Social Security disability and

Supplemental Security Income benefits (SSI). Mr. Alarid applied for these benefits

with a protected filing date of June 30, 2010. The agency denied his applications,

and he requested a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ).

*
      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 This order and judgment is not binding
precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral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. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with
Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
       After a de novo hearing the ALJ reviewed the hearing testimony and the

medical evidence and issued a decision denying benefits. She determined that

Mr. Alarid had severe impairments, including “degenerative joint disease of the left

knee, status post ACL repair with partial replacement, low back pain, and

degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.” Aplt. App., Vol. I at 28. In light of

these impairments, the ALJ found that he retained the residual functional capacity

(RFC) to perform only light work with the following restrictions:

       [He] can stand/walk for four hours and sit six hours in an eight-hour
       workday. There are no lift/carry restrictions. He has the ability to
       change position and sit/stand as needed two to three times per hour,
       approximately every twenty to thirty minutes. The claimant can never
       operate foot pedals with his left foot (non-[dominant]). He can
       occasionally climb stairs, climb ramps, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
       He can never climb ladders. He should avoid concentrated exposure to
       extreme cold and avoid all exposure to unprotected heights.

Id. at 29.

       The ALJ further found that with his RFC, Mr. Alarid could return to his past

relevant work as a prison security guard, private security guard, and lot

manager/detailer. She therefore concluded that Mr. Alarid was not disabled within

the meaning of the Social Security Act. The Appeals Council denied review, making

the ALJ=s decision the Commissioner=s final decision.

       We review the Commissioner=s decision to determine whether the factual

findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record and whether the correct

legal standards were applied. See Wilson v. Astrue, 602 F.3d 1136, 1140 (10th Cir.

                                         -2-
2010). “Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might

accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. (quotation omitted).

      The Commissioner follows a five-step sequential evaluation process

to determine whether a claimant is disabled. See Williams v. Bowen, 844 F.2d 748,

750-52 (10th Cir. 1988) (describing process). The claimant bears the burden

of establishing a prima facie case of disability at steps one through four. See id.

at 751 n.2. The ALJ decided this case at step four. The burden was therefore on

Mr. Alarid to show that his impairment made him unable to perform his past relevant

work. See Henrie v. U.S. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 13 F.3d 359, 360

(10th Cir. 1993).

      Mr. Alarid raises three issues on appeal. He challenges the legal and

evidentiary basis for the ALJ’s determinations concerning (1) his credibility, (2) the

weight to be assigned to the medical opinion evidence, and (3) his ability to perform

his past relevant work. In addressing these issues, we consider only those of his

arguments that were properly preserved in the district court and that are adequately

developed in his briefing on appeal.

                                          -3-
      I. Credibility Determination

      The ALJ found that Mr. Alarid’s “medically determinable impairments could

reasonably be expected to cause the alleged symptoms; however, [his] statements

concerning the intensity, persistence and limiting effects of these symptoms” were

not fully credible. Aplt. App., Vol. I at 31. Mr. Alarid challenges several of the

ALJ’s stated reasons for reaching this conclusion.

             A. Failure to Pursue Physical Therapy

      First, he challenges the ALJ’s statement concerning his failure to pursue

physical therapy for his knee problems. In her summary of Mr. Alarid’s hearing

testimony, the ALJ noted that he “testified he went to physical therapy in 2010 for his

left knee but only went for one week. He said this did not help. He stopped going

because one week was all that was paid for.” Id. at 30. Later, as part of her

credibility analysis, the ALJ noted that Mr. Alarid had “only attended one week of

physical therapy even though it was recommended for treatment. This suggests that

his symptoms may not have been as serious as has been alleged in connection with

this application and appeal.” Id. at 35.

      Had the ALJ stopped there, we would have no problem with her analysis. But

she continued by stating:

      To obtain disability benefits, a claimant must follow treatment
      prescribed by his or her physician if the treatment would restore the
      claimant’s ability to work. If the claimant does not follow prescribed
      treatment without a good reason, the claimant will not be found
      disabled. The regulations do not list financial inability to pay for

                                           -4-
      treatment as an acceptable excuse for failing to follow prescribed
      treatment.

Id. (emphasis added).

      Mr. Alarid contends that the highlighted language misstated the law. It is true

that a claimant’s inability to pay for treatment can constitute an acceptable

justification for failing to follow prescribed treatment, see Threet v. Barnhart,

353 F.3d 1185, 1190-91 n.7 (10th Cir. 2003) (“[I]nability to pay may provide a

justification for a claimant’s failure to seek treatment”), and that the ALJ is ordinarily

required to address such financial considerations before drawing adverse inferences

from the claimant’s failure to seek or pursue treatment, see Soc. Sec. Ruling 96-7p,

1996 WL 374186, at *7-*8 (1996) (“[T]he adjudicator must not draw any inferences

about an individual’s symptoms and their functional effects from a failure to seek or

pursue regular medical treatment without first considering any explanations that the

individual may provide. . . .The individual may be unable to afford treatment and

may not have access to free or low-cost medical services”).

      But examining this argument in its relevant context, what is missing here to

support Mr. Alarid’s claim is a reference to any evidence that he failed to pursue

treatment because he could not afford it. A careful review of the hearing testimony

cited by the ALJ reveals that Mr. Alarid did not actually say he could not afford

physical therapy. He testified as follows:

      Q      And have you tried any physical therapy for any of your impairments?
      A      Yes, I have.
      Q      When did you last do physical therapy?

                                          -5-
      A      My last physical therapy was in 2010 and that was for my left knee.
      Q      And how many times roughly did you go for?
      A      They only paid for one week.
      Q      Did that help?
      A      No, it didn’t.

Aplt. App., Vol. I at 72.

      Mr. Alarid did not say he could not afford to pay for additional treatment once

the week that was already paid for was over. Nor did the ALJ deny him benefits for

failure to pursue treatment. Instead, as part of her credibility analysis, she noted

Mr. Alarid’s failure to seek out further physical therapy beyond the week that had

been paid for, considering it as an adverse credibility factor. Cf. Qualls v. Apfel,

206 F.3d 1368, 1372 (10th Cir. 2000) (distinguishing between denial of benefits for

failure to follow prescribed treatment and the ALJ’s evaluation of failure to seek

treatment as part of the credibility analysis). Viewed in this light, we discern no

harmful error in the ALJ’s discussion of this point.

             B. Limited Treatment

      The ALJ rejected Mr. Alarid’s allegations in part because of the limited

treatment he received. She stated:

      The claimant has not generally received the type of medical treatment
      one would expect for a totally disabled individual. The record also
      reveals that the treatment has been generally successful in controlling
      his symptoms. His back treatment has been essentially routine and/or
      conservative in nature, consisting of only medications and injections.

Aplt. App., Vol. I at 35.

                                          -6-
       Mr. Alarid complains that this statement is inaccurate concerning his knee

problems because he consented to and was awaiting knee replacement surgery at the

time of the hearing. The record shows that he was recommended for this surgery in

October 2010 and was told to obtain dental clearance. At the time of the hearing nine

months later, he had still not had the surgery because he had not obtained the

required dental clearance, a fact the ALJ cited as evidence that his symptoms may not

have been as serious as alleged. Thus, to the extent knee surgery is “the type of

medical treatment one would expect for a totally disabled individual,” the ALJ’s

observation that he had not received that surgery at the time of the hearing was both

accurate and legitimate. Id.

       Mr. Alarid also contends the ALJ erred in relying on his “routine” and

“conservative” back treatment, which he argues could be attributed to a lack of

surgical alternatives rather than to relief he obtained through conservative treatment.

The record reveals that Mr. Alarid received limited, short-term relief of his back pain

when treated with medications and physical therapy. Although his pain continued,

his doctors later concluded that he would “not benefit from surgical intervention at

this time.” Id., Vol. II at 356. It is unclear whether they reached this conclusion

because they believed surgery would provide no relief or because they concluded it

was unnecessary, or both. In any event, at the same time that they reached this

conclusion they also approved him for the more conservative measure of a lumbar

facet injection.

                                          -7-
       Mr. Alarid underwent a lumbar facet injection about a month before his July

2011 hearing before the ALJ, and obtained an 80 percent reduction in back-pain

symptoms. This is the most recent medical evidence in the record concerning back

pain. Given the record evidence concerning the treatment he received for his back

pain and the relief he experienced from that treatment, the ALJ’s conclusion that

Mr. Alarid’s treatment was “essentially routine and/or conservative in nature,

consisting only of medications and injections,” id. Vol. I at 35, was supported by

substantial evidence.

       Mr. Alarid next complains that the ALJ improperly required objective

verification of his subjective complaints of severe pain. The ALJ stated:

       Although the claimant and his friends/family have described daily
       activities that are fairly limited, two factors weigh against considering
       these allegations to be strong evidence in favor of finding the claimant
       disabled. First, allegedly limited daily activities cannot be objectively
       verified with any reasonable degree of certainty. Secondly, even if the
       claimant’s daily activities are truly as limited as alleged, it is difficult to
       attribute that degree of limitation to the claimant’s medical condition, as
       opposed to other reasons, in view of the relatively weak medical
       evidence and other factors discussed in this decision. Overall, the
       claimant’s reported limited daily activities are considered to be
       outweighed by the other factors discussed in this decision.

Id. at 36-37.

       In Keyes-Zachary v. Astrue, 695 F.3d 1156 (10th Cir. 2012), we considered

nearly identical language citing the lack of objective verification of the claimant’s

limited daily activities with any reasonable degree of certainty. We found no

reversible error in that language because “[t]he ALJ merely considered the lack of

                                            -8-
objective verification as a factor in assessing the value of [the claimant’s] hearing

testimony concerning her limited daily activities.” Id. at 1168. The same is true

here.

        In addition, to say that it was difficult to attribute Mr. Alarid’s limited daily

activities to his medical condition is not to require him to establish his level of pain

by objective evidence. The ALJ made the commonsense observation that the medical

evidence, which included a detailed consulting physician’s opinion concerning

Mr. Alarid’s functional capacities, did not provide support for his testimony

concerning his limited daily activities.

        Mr. Alarid next challenges the ALJ’s statement that “[t]he scant, infrequent

and non-descript medical evidence of record simply does not support the severity of

limitation alleged by the claimant.” Aplt. App., Vol. I at 35-36. Mr. Alarid contends

this conclusion is inconsistent with surgical notes that revealed more arthritis than

anticipated, positive MRI findings concerning his back and knee, and frequent

complaints of pain to his treating providers. But even if the ALJ’s characterization of

the medical evidence as “scant, infrequent and non-descript” is debatable, we have no

difficulty with the gist of her statement, which concerned whether the medical

evidence supported the severity of the limitations alleged by Mr. Alarid. In

concluding that it did not, the ALJ cited numerous factors, including a negative

straight-leg raising test, the consistency of physical examination results with his

RFC, lack of EMG testing, lack of a physician’s recommendation for an assistive

                                            -9-
device, and lack of restrictions placed on his activities by any treating physicians.

Her conclusion concerning the severity of Mr. Alarid’s impairments was thus

supported by substantial evidence in the medical record. In citing what he contends

is contrary evidence, Mr. Alarid is asking us to reweigh the evidence, which we

cannot do. See Oldham v. Astrue, 509 F.3d 1254, 1257 (10th Cir. 2007) (“We review

only the sufficiency of the evidence, not its weight.”).

             C. Side Effects of Medications

      Mr. Alarid complains that the ALJ’s statement that he “has not alleged any

side effects from the use of medications,” Aplt. App., Vol. I at 37, is inconsistent

with a statement he made to a treating health-care provider that Flexeril made him

“feel jumpy as he was having a hard time sleeping,” id., Vol. II at 317. But when he

made this statement, the medical provider at least temporarily discontinued his use of

Flexeril. Further, when Mr. Alarid was asked at the ALJ hearing about his

medications, including Flexeril, he said that he suffered no side-effects from the

Flexeril. Thus, Mr. Alarid has identified no reversible error in the ALJ’s statement

concerning alleged side-effects of his medications.

             D. Typicality of Symptoms

      Finally, Mr. Alarid assigns error to the ALJ’s statement that his “symptoms are

unusual and not typical for the impairments that are documented by objective

medical findings in this case.” Id., Vol. I at 38 (emphasis added). He argues that in

                                          - 10 -
using this phrase, “[t]he ALJ was essentially substituting her opinion for the medical

opinion of Mr. Alarid’s doctors.” Aplt. Opening Br. at 28.

       We are uncertain which symptoms the ALJ was referring to and how she

determined that they were unusual for Mr. Alarid’s particular impairments. That is

the peril of a boilerplate statement such as this one, which hampers our task of

judicial review. But as to the specific objection raised, concerning whether the ALJ

improperly substituted his opinion for Mr. Alarid’s treating physicians, we do not

find reversible error.

       According to the Commissioner’s regulations, the ALJ is charged with using

the objective medical evidence as “a useful indicator to assist us in making

reasonable conclusions about the intensity and persistence of your symptoms and the

effect those symptoms, such as pain, may have on your ability to work.” 20 C.F.R.

§ 404.1529(c)(2). The regulations further provide that “[b]ecause symptoms, such as

pain, are subjective and difficult to quantify, any symptom-related functional

limitations and restrictions which you, your treating or nontreating source, or other

persons report, which can reasonably be accepted as consistent with the objective

medical evidence and other evidence, will be taken into account . . . in reaching a

conclusion as to whether you are disabled.” Id. § 404.1529(c)(3) (emphasis added).

Thus, the regulations empower and require the ALJ to determine which symptoms are

reasonably consistent with the objective medical evidence. Although Mr. Alarid

construes the phrase “unusual and not typical” to suggest that the ALJ considered

                                         - 11 -
factors beyond the specific medical evidence in the record, we think it more

appropriate to read this phrase as in accordance with the ALJ’s duty to inquire

concerning the reasonable consistency of symptoms with the medical evidence.

Thus, “unusual and not typical for” equates to “not reasonably consistent with.”

Viewed in this way, the ALJ’s statement was in accordance with her regulatory duties

and does not constitute reversible error.

       II. RFC and Medical Opinion Evidence

              A. Dr. Dilullo’s Opinion

       The ALJ assigned great weight to the opinion of consulting physician

Dr. Angelo Dilullo, who examined Mr. Alarid on September 4, 2010, and assessed

his physical functional abilities. The record contains no other physician’s assessment

of these functional abilities that directly contradicts Dr. Dilullo’s findings.

Nevertheless, Mr. Alarid argues that Dr. Dilullo’s opinion was not entitled to great

weight because it was overshadowed by subsequent medical findings. In particular,

he claims that the ALJ did not take into account (1) the observations from his

arthroscopic knee surgery on September 16, 2010; (2) a treating physician’s opinion,

expressed on October 26, 2010, that Mr. Alarid was a good candidate for total knee

arthroplasty; and (3) the additional symptom of hand numbness that manifested itself

between the date of Dr. Dilullo’s examination and the date of the ALJ’s decision.

       Mr. Alarid fails to explain how either the arthroscopic-knee-surgery results or

his treating physician’s opinion concerning his being a candidate for arthroplasty

                                            - 12 -
undermined the value of Dr. Dilullo’s opinion and, in particular, Dr. Dilullo’s

assessment of his physical capacities. He complains that his surgery, 12 days after

Dr. Dilullo examined him, “demonstrated significant arthritis,” Aplt. Opening Br. at

28, but fails to refer to any medical evidence showing why that would prevent him

from performing the limited standing permitted by Dr. Dilullo’s findings and

incorporated in the ALJ’s RFC assessment. Further, in reaching his opinion

Dr. Dilullo acknowledged that Mr. Alarid “is slated for another knee arthroscopy in

the near future to try and temporize until he needs a total knee replacement.” Aplt.

App., Vol. II at 267. He further opined that “[a]t some point he will undergo a total

knee replacement of the left knee, which I think will significantly improve his

function.” Id. at 270-71 (emphasis added). Thus, Mr. Alarid fails to show that his

treating physician’s opinion that he was a good candidate for arthroplasty is

inconsistent with Dr. Dilullo’s opinion concerning his functional abilities.

      Mr. Alarid complains that Dr. Dilullo’s opinion failed to assign any limitation

arising from his upper-extremity numbness. But the record reflects only a single

complaint of upper-extremity numbness, and contains no medical diagnosis for the

complaint. Thus, the medical evidence does not support the claimed impairment.

      B. Limitations Not Reflected in RFC

      Mr. Alarid contends the ALJ improperly failed to consider and to include in

her RFC assessment the limitations from numbness in his upper and lower

extremities; the side effects of his medications, including sleepiness; and his anxiety

                                         - 13 -
and depression. “It is beyond dispute that an ALJ is required to consider all of the

claimant’s medically determinable impairments, singly and in combination.” Salazar

v. Barnhart, 468 F.3d 615, 621 (10th Cir. 2006); see also 20 C.F.R. § 416.923;

§ 416.908. In formulating his RFC assessment, the ALJ must discuss the combined

effect of all the claimant’s medically determinable impairments, both severe and

nonsevere. See Wells v. Colvin, 727 F.3d 1061, 1065 (10th Cir. 2013).

      As we have noted, the medical evidence does not support Mr. Alarid’s claim of

a medically determinable impairment involving upper-extremity numbness. In

addition, the ALJ’s decision did not fail to discuss this fact. She stated:

      [Mr. Alarid’s] complaints of hand numbness and swelling are not
      supported by the medical evidence. The record reflects no actual
      treatment for this alleged impairment. The only mention of this in the
      record was a complaint to Lynn Shields of arm and hand numbness on
      June 9, 2011. Subjective complaints alone are insufficient to establish a
      medically determinable impairment.

Aplt. App., Vol. I at 28 (citation omitted). Substantial evidence thus supports the

omission from the RFC assessment of limitations due to upper-extremity weakness.

      As for Mr. Alarid’s allegation of lower-extremity numbness, it also apparently

rests on a single complaint to nurse practitioner Lynn Shields, on June 9, 2011.1 No

separate diagnosis was made, nor was any treatment ordered for this condition. Most

importantly, Mr. Alarid fails to show how consideration and discussion of this
1
       On January 31, 2011, Mr. Alarid reported “paresthesias in his L lower
extremity,” Aplt. App., Vol. II at 295, but it is unclear whether his complaints at that
time included numbness. The doctor who examined him felt this problem “could be
related to his knee.” Id.

                                          - 14 -
alleged impairment would have resulted in any change to the ALJ’s RFC assessment,

which already contained precise, medically supported restrictions based on his knee

problems. Given these circumstances, he fails to show any harm from the omission

by the ALJ of a discussion of this isolated complaint of lower-extremity numbness.

See Keyes-Zachary, 695 F.3d at 1161-63, 1165 (any error in ALJ’s failure to weigh

medical opinions was harmless when ALJ’s RFC assessment was generally consistent

with opinions).

      We have already rejected Mr. Alarid’s argument that the ALJ committed

reversible error in stating that he “has not alleged any side effects from the use of

medications.” Aplt. App., Vol. I at 37. To the extent he challenges the ALJ’s failure

to discuss this issue adequately, that claim must fail as well. When discussing

Mr. Alarid’s hearing testimony, the ALJ specifically and correctly noted that at the

hearing, Mr. Alarid stated he had no side-effects from his medications.2

      The record contains occasional references to anxiety and depression. The ALJ

mentioned the observation of Mr. Alarid’s physician in April 2011 that he was

“depressed and irritable since his unemployment ran out and he was denied

2
       Mr. Alarid stated at the hearing that he stopped taking Flexeril and Baclofen a
month earlier because “[i]t was starting to upset my stomach taking everything.”
Aplt. App., Vol. I at 67. But he develops no specific argument that the ALJ failed to
discuss stomach complaints as a side-effect of his medicine.

       In questionnaires he filed with the agency, Mr. Alarid stated that his
medications caused him drowsiness, dizziness, and stomach problems. But he did
not mention drowsiness or dizziness when asked at the hearing whether he suffered
side-effects from medicines.

                                         - 15 -
disability,” Id. at 34, but the ALJ did not identify either anxiety or depression as a

medically determinable impairment.

      Mr. Alarid’s attorney gave an opening statement at the hearing describing the

impairments that made him unable to work, but he did not mention either anxiety or

depression. When asked at the hearing what conditions prevented him from working,

Mr. Alarid did not include either anxiety or depression. Given these omissions, and

given the paucity of medical evidence to support the existence of a medically

determinable mental impairment that restricted Mr. Alarid’s ability to work, see

Wells, 727 F.3d at 1065 & n.3 (requiring consideration and discussion of medically

determinable mental impairments that restrict a claimant’s work activities), any error

in the ALJ’s analysis on this point was harmless.

      III. Finding Concerning Past Relevant Work

      Much of Mr. Alarid’s argument concerning this issue consists of contentions

involving the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and the classification of Mr. Alarid’s

work as he actually performed it. These arguments were not raised in the district

court, and thus are not preserved for our appellate review. The remaining argument

contends that the ALJ’s hypothetical question to the vocational expert (VE) did not

accurately reflect all of Mr. Alarid’s impairments. The substance of this argument is

found in a single sentence: “The ALJ’s errant reliance on Dr. Dilullo’s opinion

caused the ALJ to omit any lifting and carrying limitations as well as limitations

arising from debilitating pain.” Id. at 33.

                                          - 16 -
      The ALJ’s hypothetical question to the VE must accurately reflect the

“impairments and limitations that were borne out by the evidentiary record.”

Newbold v. Colvin, 718 F.3d 1257, 1268 (10th Cir. 2013) (internal quotation marks

and brackets omitted). We have already upheld the ALJ’s credibility determination,

which concluded that Mr. Alarid’s statements concerning “the intensity, persistence

and limiting effects” of his pain were “not credible to the extent they are inconsistent

with the [ALJ’s RFC] assessment.” Aplt. App., Vol. I at 31. Mr. Alarid has failed to

show that the ALJ’s conclusions concerning pain were unsupported by substantial

evidence. Nor does he point to any medical evidence that required the ALJ to

include lifting and carrying limitations within his RFC. We therefore reject his

challenge to the hypothetical question to the VE and the ALJ’s resulting reliance on

the VE’s findings and opinion.

      The judgment of the district court is affirmed.

                                                  Entered for the Court

                                                  Harris L Hartz
                                                  Circuit Judge

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