Court Opinion

ID: 9482340
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 08:47:12.052579+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:48:55.244879
License: Public Domain

HEANEY, Senior Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. Substantial evidence in the record belies the ALJ’s conclusion that Russell’s mental impairment has no effect on his ability to perform the full range of sedentary work.
The ALJ conceded that Russell suffers from depression, but nonetheless used the “grid” to satisfy the Secretary’s burden of demonstrating the existence of jobs in the national economy which Russell could perform. When a nonexertional impairment such as depression exists, the grid may be used only “if the ALJ finds, and the record supports the finding, that the nonexertional impairment does not diminish the claimant’s residual functional capacity to perform the full range of activities listed in the Guidelines.” Thompson v. Bowen, 850 F.2d 346, 349-50 (8th Cir.1988) (footnote omitted). Conversely, if a nonexertional impairment diminishes the claimant’s ability to perform the full range of activities contemplated by the grid, the Secretary can meet his burden only by producing vocational expert testimony or other similar evidence to establish the existence of jobs in the national economy for a person with the claimant's characteristics. Buck v. Bowen, 885 F.2d 451, 454 (8th Cir.1989).
In this case, the record contradicts the AU’s finding that Russell’s nonexertional impairment does not diminish his capacity to perform the full range of sedentary work. Undisputed medical evidence in the record establishes that Russell’s psychological symptoms include an inability to deal with work stresses. Dr. James L. Becker, a psychologist who examined Russell for the Social Security Administration, completed a form entitled “Medical Assessment of Ability to do Work-Related Activities (Mental)” as part of his report. In assessing Russell’s ability to make occupational adjustments, Dr. Becker rated Russell’s capacity to deal with work stresses as “poor or none,” which the form defines as “no useful ability to function in this area.” Dr. Becker also concluded that Russell’s ability to function independently in a job was poor or none.1
One year earlier, Dr. Farida Farzana had performed a psychiatric evaluation of Russell and reached conclusions consistent with Dr. Becker’s. Dr. Farzana concluded that Russell’s ability to relate to fellow workers and supervisors was poor and that his ability to follow simple instructions was doubtful. Dr. Farzana also concluded that Russell’s impairments diminished his ability to concentrate and to withstand the stress and pressure associated with day to day work activities.
Dr. Farzana’s findings persuaded the Appeals Council to remand Russell’s case for a consultative psychological examination and an assessment of Russell’s abilities to make occupational, personal, and social adjustments. Dr. Becker’s report is the result of the ensuing consultative examination. The AU did not explicitly discredit Drs. Becker and Farzana’s conclusions; he instead relied on them as indicative of “no significant psychiatric problem.” This finding discounts uncontroverted evidence and ignores Dr. Becker’s express conclusion that Russell had no useful ability to deal with work stress.
*547The AU also relied on Russell’s own testimony that his depression was “not that bad” to conclude that it had no effect on his ability to work. The AU did not indicate why this portion of Russell’s testimony was more credible than his allegations of pain, which the AU discredited. The record demonstrates Russell’s history of denying he had any psychological problems at all and refusing psychiatric treatment whenever it was recommended. Both his treating physicians and the consulting psychologists agreed, however, that Russell showed symptoms of mental impairment. With respect to Russell’s ability to withstand stress, the transcript of his second administrative hearing reveals that Russell burst into tears during questioning by the AU, necessitating a recess. When asked by his attorney whether he had had such crying spells before, Russell replied that it was “one of the first ones,” that he had come close to crying before, and that he tried to refrain from doing it.
An inability to endure stress constitutes a nonexertional impairment which diminishes a claimant’s residual functional capacity and precludes resort to the grid. Mitchell v. Sullivan, 925 F.2d 247, 249 n. 2 (8th Cir.1991); Marshall v. Bowen, 871 F.2d 68, 70 (8th Cir.1989). The record amply supports a finding that Russell’s poor tolerance of stress prevents him from performing the full range of sedentary work, particularly when his past relevant work has equipped him with no skills which are transferable to sedentary work. The AU should have called a vocational expert to supplement the grid with a realistic appraisal of available work that can be performed by someone with Russell’s precise limitations. See Forsythe v. Sullivan, 926 F.2d 774, 776 (8th Cir.1991); Marshall, 871 F.2d at 70.
Even under the grid, Russell’s status as disabled or not disabled was borderline. At the time of his third hearing, Russell was 48, making him a “younger individual.” 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, app. 2, § 201.00(h) (1991). A younger individual aged 45 to 49 with an education of high school or more and previous skilled or semiskilled work experience whose skills are not transferable to sedentary work is “not disabled” under Rule 201.21. Id. at Table No. 1. An individual aged 50 to 54, however, is considered closely “approaching advanced age.” Id., § 201.00(g). An individual aged 50 to 54 with the previously listed characteristics is disabled under Rule 201.-14. Id. at Table No. 1. Russell is currently 51 years old. Thus, even if Russell was not disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act before June 30, 1985, when he last met the earnings requirements for disability insurance benefits, he became disabled under the grid for purposes of SSI when he turned 50. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.969 (1991) (grid for disability insurance benefits eligibility is also used to determine eligibility for SSI).
For these reasons, I would reverse the decision of the district court and remand this case with instructions to remand Russell’s application for disability insurance benefits to the Secretary for a rehearing to include testimony by a vocational expert. On Russell’s application for SSI, I would instruct the Secretary to award benefits as of March 1, 1990, Russell’s fiftieth birthday.

. Dr. Becker rated Russell's abilities to deal with the public, use judgment, interact with supervisors, and maintain attention or concentration as “fair," about which the form explains: "ability to function in this area is seriously limited but not precluded.”