Court Opinion

ID: 158528
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 05:23:53+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:12:16.455479
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                   United States Court of Appeals
                                                                           Tenth Circuit
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                          AUG 25 1999
                            FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
                                                                      PATRICK FISHER
                                                                               Clerk

    DONALD R. HUDSON,

                Plaintiff-Appellant,

    v.                                                   No. 98-7179
                                                   (D.C. No. CIV-97-720-S)
    KENNETH S. APFEL, Commissioner,                      (E.D. Okla.)
    Social Security Administration,

                Defendant-Appellee.

                            ORDER AND JUDGMENT            *

Before TACHA , McKAY , and MURPHY , 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      This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the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 Donald R. Hudson appeals from the denial of social security

disability benefits. He argues that the administrative law judge (ALJ) improperly

denied the case at step five: (1) by relying on the absence of evidence to find that

he could perform the full range of light work unlimited by any significant

nonexertional impairments, and by failing to link his credibility findings to the

evidence; and (2) by relying on expert vocational testimony that was elicited by

improper hypothetical questions. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291

and 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

      Plaintiff was born on March 6, 1952. His past work was as an oil field

worker. The vocational expert (VE) testified that this was heavy, semi-skilled

work. Plaintiff alleges that he became disabled on June 10, 1992, as a result of

an episode of Bell’s Palsy, severe lower back pain, high blood pressure, diabetes,

a separated left shoulder, left arm numbness, and blurred eyesight.

      The ALJ decided the claim at step five of the evaluation sequence.         See

generally Williams v. Bowen , 844 F.2d 748, 750-52 (10th Cir. 1988) (discussing

the five steps). Reviewing the medical evidence, the ALJ noted that plaintiff’s

diabetes was well controlled,   see Appellant’s App., Vol. II at 12; that his episode

of Bell’s Palsy was resolved,   see id. at 10; that his vision, with correction, was

within normal limits, see id. at 12; and that he did not seek treatment for, or take

medication for, his alleged back pain or any orthopedic complaint,     see id.

                                           -2-
at 10-11. The ALJ found at step two that plaintiff’s diabetes was a severe

impairment, and that his other impairments of arthritis, chest pain, and shortness

of breath were not severe. At step four, he found that plaintiff was capable only

of light work, and therefore could not return to his past, heavy work. At step

five, the ALJ determined that plaintiff was not limited by any significant

nonexertional impairments, had a limited education, and was a younger

individual. Although the ALJ questioned a VE, he based his conclusion that

plaintiff was not disabled on Rule 202.18 from the medical-vocational guidelines

(the “grids”), 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, app. 2.

       Plaintiff’s argument on his first issue is focused solely on a statement in the

ALJ’s decision that “[t]here is no support in the record for a finding that claimant

cannot occasionally perform tasks requiring bending, stooping, and all other

postural activities consistent with light work.”    See Appellant’s App., Vol. II

at 13. Citing Thompson v. Sullivan , 987 F.2d 1482, 1491 (10th Cir. 1993),

plaintiff asserts that the ALJ improperly relied on “the absence of

contraindication in the [claimant’s] medical records” to make this finding.    See

Appellant’s Br. at 21. However, the particular statement challenged by plaintiff

was part of the ALJ’s assessment of plaintiff’s residual functional capacity

(RFC). See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(b). The determination of a claimant’s RFC is

made at step four, see Winfrey v. Chater , 92 F.3d 1017, 1023 (10th Cir. 1996),

                                             -3-
where the claimant bears the burden of proof.    See Nielson v. Sullivan , 992 F.2d

1118, 1120 (10th Cir. 1993). The ALJ therefore did not err by pointing out that

plaintiff had not presented medical evidence to establish any postural limitations.

To the extent that plaintiff may be arguing that the ALJ’s finding, at step five,

that he had no significant nonexertional impairments is not properly supported,

we hold that the ALJ’s finding is supported by substantial evidence. We reject

plaintiff’s contention that the ALJ failed to link his credibility determination to

the evidence. The ALJ adequately reviewed the medical evidence, and it does not

support plaintiff’s claim for benefits.

      Plaintiff’s second issue is without merit. The ALJ relied conclusively on

the grids and did not rely on the VE’s testimony. Assuming arguendo that the

ALJ erred in formulating his hypothetical questions, the errors did not affect his

decision.

      AFFIRMED.

                                                     Entered for the Court

                                                     Michael R. Murphy
                                                     Circuit Judge

                                           -4-