Court Opinion

ID: 3030747
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:44:50.680488+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:50:09.596158
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                          FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                  ___________

                                  No. 02-2408
                                  ___________

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Social Security Administration,      *      [UNPUBLISHED]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

                         Submitted: February 25, 2003
                             Filed: February 27, 2003
                                  ___________

Before BOWMAN, WOLLMAN, and LOKEN, Circuit Judges.
                        ___________

PER CURIAM.

       Lewis L. Khalil appeals the District Court’s1 order affirming the denial of
disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income. In his January and
April 1999 applications and subsequent documents, Khalil alleged disability since
October 1998 from pain and medication side effects related to Hepatitis C, stomach
problems, and fatigue. After an August 2000 hearing, where a medical expert and a

      1
      The Honorable David S. Doty, United States District Judge for the District of
Minnesota, adopting the report and recommendations of the Honorable John M.
Mason, late a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota.
vocational expert (VE) testified, an administrative law judge (ALJ) determined that
Khalil’s history of kidney stones, hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease,
diverticulum, Hepatitis C, and major depressive disorder with anxious features
precluded him from performing his past relevant work, but also determined that he
could perform jobs the VE had identified in response to a hypothetical the ALJ posed,
which took into account Khalil’s limited English skills. We conclude the ALJ’s
decision is supported by substantial evidence and affirm. See Mittlestedt v. Apfel,
204 F.3d 847, 850-51 (8th Cir. 2000) (standard of review).

       First, the ALJ did not err by discounting the opinion of Khalil’s treating
physician, Dr. Wahlid Mikhail, that Khalil could not work. Dr. Mikhail, who was not
treating Khalil for Hepatitis C and who was not a psychiatrist, had treated Khalil for
only a brief time and he was the only physician who opined that Khalil was
permanently disabled or who recommended restrictions precluding all work. See
Prosch v. Apfel, 201 F.3d 1010, 1012-13 (8th Cir. 2000) (noting that social security
"regulations provide that a treating physician's opinion regarding an applicant's
impairment will be granted 'controlling weight,' provided the opinion is 'well-
supported by medically acceptable . . . diagnostic techniques and is not inconsistent
with the other substantial evidence in [the] record.'") (quoting 20 C.F.R.
§ 404.1527(d)(2)).

       Second, the ALJ’s determinations that Khalil’s depression was not disabling
and that a psychological consultative examination was not required were proper.
Khalil and Dr. Mikhail associated Khalil’s depression with medication that he was
no longer taking. Khalil further associated his depression with abdominal pain that
reportedly was controlled by medication. In addition, Khalil did not seek treatment
from a mental health professional until July 2000 and he first alleged disabling
depression at the August 2000 hearing. See Naber v. Shalala, 22 F.3d 186, 189 (8th
Cir. 1994) ("[A]n ALJ is permitted to issue a decision without obtaining additional
medical evidence so long as other evidence in the record provides a sufficient basis

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for the ALJ's decision." (citing 20 C.F.R. § 416.927(c)(4) (1993)); cf. Smith v.
Shalala, 987 F.2d 1371, 1375 (8th Cir. 1993) (concluding that ALJ properly
discounted psychiatrist’s opinion in part because claimant had not alleged disabling
mental impairment in benefits application and had not previously sought or been
referred for mental health treatment).

      Third, the ALJ gave multiple, valid reasons for finding that Khalil was not
credible. "Where adequately explained and supported, credibility findings are for the
ALJ to make" and we will not disturb them on review. Lowe v. Apfel, 226 F.3d 969,
972 (8th Cir. 2000) (citing Tang v. Apfel, 205 F.3d 1084, 1087 (8th Cir. 2000).

      Finally, we decline to consider Khalil’s new argument about his limited
English skills. See Misner v. Chater, 79 F.3d 745, 746 (8th Cir. 1996) (noting that
arguments raised for first time on appeal will not be considered unless appellant can
show manifest injustice would result). Nor will we consider the new records Khalil
attached to his brief and we therefore deny his motion to supplement the record. See
42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (2000); Delrosa v. Sullivan, 922 F.2d 480, 483-84 (8th Cir. 1991).

       Accordingly, while there is some evidence in the record to support Khalil's
claim, see Baker v. Heckler, 730 F.2d 1147, 1150 (8th Cir. 1984) ("An administrative
decision is not subject to reversal merely because substantial evidence would have
supported an opposite conclusion."), we affirm.

      A true copy.

             Attest:

                     CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

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