Court Opinion

ID: 3038514
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:58:43.636196+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:44:03.044704
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                           FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                    ___________

                                    No. 04-1958
                                    ___________

Janice L. Huddle,                    *
                                     *
            Appellant,               *
                                     * Appeal from the United States
      v.                             * District Court for the
                                     * Eastern District of Arkansas
Jo Anne B. Barnhart, Commissioner,   *
Social Security Administration,      * [UNPUBLISHED]
                                     *
            Appellee.                *
                                ___________

                              Submitted: July 15, 2005
                                 Filed: August 2, 2005
                                  ___________

Before BYE, McMILLIAN, and RILEY, Circuit Judges.
                            ___________

PER CURIAM.

       Janice L. Huddle appeals from the final judgment entered in the District Court1
for the Eastern District of Arkansas affirming the denial of disability insurance
benefits (DIB). For reversal, Huddle argues (1) the administrative law judge (ALJ)
failed to consider revisions to relevant administrative regulations; (2) the ALJ failed
to advise her of her right to counsel; (3) the ALJ failed to give proper weight to her

      1
       The Honorable H. David Young, United States Magistrate Judge for the
Eastern District of Arkansas, to whom the case was referred for final disposition by
consent of the parties pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).
treating physicians’ opinions; (4) she met the listings for spinal disorders and
affective disorders; and (5) the record does not support the ALJ’s finding that she
could perform unskilled work. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm the
judgment of the district court.

      Huddle forfeited her first claim by not raising it in the district court, see Craig
v. Apfel, 212 F.3d 433, 437 (8th Cir. 2000); but in any event, we note the ALJ
considered the regulations that were in effect at the time of his ruling. Huddle’s
second claim is meritless, because she was advised of her right to counsel when her
DIB application was initially denied and again when she received notice of her
hearing. See Wingert v. Bowen, 894 F.2d 296, 298 (8th Cir. 1990) (notice of hearing
properly advised claimant of right to counsel).

       We reject Huddle’s remaining claims, because substantial evidence in the
record supports the ALJ’s findings. See Neal v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 685, 688 (8th Cir.
2005) (standard of review). The ALJ properly weighed Dr. Denise Hollabaugh’s and
Dr. Terry Hunt’s opinions, as the former was not supported by any data and was
conclusory, and the latter was rendered before Huddle sought mental health treatment.
See Shontos v. Barnhart, 328 F.3d 418, 426 (8th Cir. 2003) (treating physician’s
opinion is entitled to controlling weight if it is supported by acceptable clinical and
diagnostic data, and is consistent with other substantial evidence in record);
Holmstrom v. Massanari, 270 F.3d 715, 720-21 (8th Cir. 2001) (ALJ properly
declined to give weight to treating physician’s opinion where it consisted only of
vague, conclusory statements). The ALJ properly found that (1) Huddle’s spinal
impairment did not equal Listing 1.05(C), because no physician had noted significant
motor loss, muscle weakness, or sensory and reflex loss, see 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt.
P, App. 1, § 1.05C (2000); and (2) Huddle’s mental impairment did not equal Listing
12.04, because she had only a slight restriction in her daily activities, moderate
difficulty maintaining social functioning, moderate difficulty maintaining
concentration, persistence, and pace, and moderate episodes of decompensation when

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not on her medication, see 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, App. 1 § 12.04(B) (2000).
Finally, the ALJ properly considered the medical evidence and found that Huddle
could perform unskilled, medium work in spite of her physical and mental
impairments.

      Accordingly, we affirm.
                     ______________________________

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