Court Opinion

ID: 181049
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-12-14 17:48:38+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:25:53.902676
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                _____________

                                     No. 10-2517
                                    _____________

                                CAROLYN BECKER,
                                           Appellant

                                           v.

                           COMMISSIONER OF THE
                      SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

                                  _______________

                    On Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
                               (D.C. No. 2-08-cv-01873)
                        District Judge: Hon. Gene E.K. Pratter
                                   _______________

                      Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                 December 13, 2010

           Before: RENDELL, JORDAN and HARDIMAN, Circuit Judges.

                              (Filed: December 14, 2010)
                                   _______________

                              OPINION OF THE COURT
                                  _______________

JORDAN, Circuit Judge.

      Carolyn Becker appeals from an order of the United States District Court for the

Eastern District of Pennsylvania affirming the decision of an Administrative Law Judge
(“ALJ”) to deny Becker‟s claim for disability insurance benefits. For the following

reasons, we will affirm.

I.     Background

       On September 1, 2005, Becker filed for benefits under Titles II and XVI of the

Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 401-433, 1381-1383f, based on her alleged inability to

work since March 17, 2005. After her initial claim was denied, Becker requested a

hearing, which was held before an ALJ on May 3, 2007.

       The administrative record sets forth Becker‟s employment and medical history.

She was a high school graduate who had worked as a waitress, a reservation clerk, and,

most recently, as a telephone operator. Her job as a telephone operator mostly entailed

sitting for seven hours while responding to phone calls, with about one hour of

intermittent standing and walking in connection with routine office tasks like retrieving

faxes. During the five years that she worked as a telephone operator, Becker reported

frequently missing work because of difficulty with sitting or standing for long periods of

time. Becker was laid off from that job in March 2005.

       In April 2005, Becker had her knees x-rayed, which revealed mild to moderate

osteoarthritis in both knees. Later in April 2005, after complaining of difficulty with

prolonged standing and walking, Becker was found to have a cartilage click and medial

joint line pain in her right knee. A subsequent MRI of Becker‟s right knee in May 2005

                                             2
showed severe degenerative changes and evidence of chondromalacia involving the

patella.1

       In June 2005, Becker was evaluated by Dr. Randall Smith, an orthopedic surgeon.

Becker complained to Dr. Smith of pain in both her knees and lower back, and Dr. Smith

noted that Becker‟s right knee was swollen and was painful and noisy during joint

movement. Dr. Smith also reviewed Becker‟s x-ray and MRI studies and noted in the

right knee the same extensive degenerative changes and chondromalacia that had been

observed before, along with milder versions of the same conditions in Becker‟s left knee.

In a post-evaluation letter to Becker‟s primary care physician, Dr. Melanio Aguire, Dr.

Smith described Becker as “very active, working, caring for her 6-year-old child, and so

forth” and recommended that Becker exercise, lose weight, and “find a sit-down type

job.” (App. 2 at 18, 125, 239, 240.) Dr. Smith also suggested that Becker might benefit

from knee joint injections or arthroscopic knee surgery, though he thought that simpler

means like pain medication and supportive knee braces would enable Becker to function

at a “decent” level. (App. 2 at 125, 240.)

       The next month, in July 2005, Becker had follow-up examinations with Dr. Smith,

during which she reported that she had been working on her feet and experiencing pain in

her lower back, knees, and feet, none of which was relieved by the medication she had

       1
         “Chondromalacia patella is the softening and breaking of the tissue (cartilage)
that lines the underside of the kneecap (patella).” Medline Plus, A service of the U.S.
National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health,
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000452.htm (last visited Nov. 19,
2010).

                                             3
been taking. Dr. Smith performed knee injections, encouraged Becker to exercise and

lose weight, prescribed Oxycontin and Percocet for the pain, and suggested that Becker

have arthroscopic surgery on her right knee if the pain continued. Dr. Smith also noted

that Becker should be able to perform “limited duty” work.

       In August 2005, Becker had MRIs on her back and left knee. The back MRI

revealed a small annular disc bulge and central disc protrusion but no lateral disc

herniation. The left knee MRI revealed mild chondromalacia and a small cyst but no

internal derangement of the knee joint or signs of a ligament or meniscus tear.

       Another month later, in September 2005, Dr. Smith found that Becker was still

suffering from chrondomalacia of the knees, with swelling and noisy joint movement, but

noted that Becker had “decent” range of motion and good stability in her knees. (App. 2

at 226.) He also noted that the pain control regimen of Oxycontin and Percocet was

helping. Dr. Smith nevertheless concluded that Becker should perform “no work” for an

unspecified period. Having learned of Becker‟s condition from Dr. Smith, Dr. Aguire

completed a form certifying that Becker was eligible for public welfare benefits due to

temporary incapacity resulting from her knee problems.

       In mid-October 2005, Dr. Aguire reported to the Social Security Administration

that Becker exhibited full motor power and normal range of motion in her arms and legs

and no symptoms of any emotional or cognitive disorders. Becker herself reported to the

Social Security Administration that she had given up bike riding, jogging, aerobics, and

basketball but that she could still do household chores such as laundry, dishes, and light

cleaning. While noting that knee pain required her to change positions frequently from

                                             4
sitting to standing, Becker also reported being able to climb a flight of stairs four or five

times per day, walk two blocks, and lift 10 pounds.

        Around that same time, Dr. Smith reported to Dr. Aguire that Becker was still

experiencing pain in her knees and back and was also suffering from cramps in her calves

that disrupted her sleep. Dr. Smith further reported that Becker had painful range of

motion in both of her knees and great difficulty in ambulation. Dr. Smith indicated that

he had completed social security paperwork for Becker, having concluded that, in her

then-condition, Becker “obviously [could] not be working.” (App. 2 at 222.)

        In late-October 2005, Dr. Yasser Gouda examined Becker‟s knees, calves, and

feet. During Dr. Gouda‟s examination, Becker demonstrated normal leg muscle strength

and was able to ambulate without any assistive device and to do toe-walking, heel-

walking, and squatting without limitations.

        In November 2005, Dr. Smith reported to Dr. Aguire that he was going to

prescribe anti-depressants for Becker, and he recommended that she receive counseling to

deal with her chronic pain. Dr. Smith also shared that, while he believed that exercise,

weight loss, and medication could be somewhat helpful, he did not think that Becker

would be able to return to work, then or in the future, and that, due to her chronic back

and leg problems, she would “have to be careful about her activity levels.” (App. 2 at

210.)

        In December 2005, a state physician reviewed Becker‟s medical records, including

Becker‟s MRI studies and the report from Dr. Aguire, along with Becker‟s reported daily

functionality. From that review, the physician concluded that Becker could lift no more

                                              5
than 20 pounds occasionally and less than 10 pounds frequently; stand and walk for at

least two hours in an eight-hour day; and sit for about six hours in an eight-hour day.

       In March 2006, Dr. Smith reported to Dr. Aguire that Becker‟s previously-

diagnosed conditions were still causing her pain in her knees and back. Dr. Smith noted,

however, that the pain medication, used in conjunction with knee braces and a walking

exercise program, seemed to be working and that Becker still had “decent range of

motion and good stability” in her knees. (App. 2 at 197.) Dr. Smith noted similar

findings in June and September 2006, describing the pain medication as “improving and

stabilizing overall activity levels,” even though Becker‟s physical condition was

“unchanged.” (App. 2 at 184.)

       In August 2006, Becker met with mental health professionals. She reported that

she had started to feel depressed three months earlier and anxious about one year earlier.

She acknowledged that anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medication prescribed by

Dr. Aguire had helped her. Becker denied experiencing any symptoms of depression or

anxiety at that time and, despite being intermittently tearful during the meeting, her affect

was full and appropriate. She was diagnosed at that time with major depressive disorder,

single episode, in partial remission, with her psychological functioning rated as only

moderately impaired.2 The psychiatrist who conducted Becker‟s initial evaluation,

       2
         Becker was assessed using the Global Assessment of Functioning (“GAF”) and
received a score of 60. A GAF score from 51 to 60 indicates moderate symptoms (e.g.,
flat affect and circumstantial speech, occasional panic attacks) or moderate difficulty in
social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., few friends, conflicts with peers or
coworkers).

                                              6
Dr. Neal Gansheroff, prescribed anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications. It does not

appear that Dr. Gansheroff modified those prescriptions during the course of Becker‟s

treatment.

       Becker had a follow-up visit with Dr. Gansheroff in September 2006. He reported

that Becker exhibited mild anxiety and some tearfulness but otherwise had a full affect

and situationally-appropriate emotions, with judgment, insight, and memory intact. He

diagnosed Becker with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-

traumatic stress disorder, and again rated Becker‟s psychological functioning as only

moderately impaired.3

       In December 2006, Dr. Smith and Dr. Gansheroff responded to interrogatories

from Becker in connection with her disability claim, with Dr. Gansheroff also providing a

medical source statement rating Becker‟s impairment under the Social Security

Administration‟s listing for affective disorders.4 Noting chronic pain in Becker‟s knees

and lumbar spine, Dr. Smith opined that Becker could sit with her knees bent at a 90

degree angle for 30 minutes at a time for a total of two hours and could stand for 30

minutes at a time for a total of 30 to 60 minutes in an eight-hour day without severe pain.

Dr. Smith estimated that Becker could lift and carry 10 pounds several times an hour

throughout the course of an eight-hour day but noted that prolonged standing, walking, or

       3
           Becker‟s GAF score from that examination was 55.
       4
         The interrogatories concerning Becker‟s mental condition were directed to
Dr. Gansheroff and therapist Jennifer Cummings, who identified herself as a student
intern. For brevity‟s sake, we treat the interrogatories and the responses thereto as being
directed to and answered by Dr. Gansheroff. We likewise treat the medical source
statement as being created by Dr. Gansheroff.

                                             7
sitting would cause moderate to severe pain. He concluded that Becker would be likely

to miss more than two days per month at a simple, unskilled, sedentary job and opined

that Becker‟s prognosis for improvement was poor.

       Dr. Gansheroff indicated in his response to the interrogatories that Becker reported

being slightly better in December 2006 than she was in April 2005 after the loss of her

job but that she nevertheless met four of the criteria for a manic syndrome diagnosis. He

also indicated that Becker would be likely to miss more than two days per month at a

simple unskilled sedentary job and that her prognosis for improvement was uncertain. In

the medical source statement, Dr. Gansheroff checked boxes indicating that Becker was

“Markedly Limited”5 in various areas affecting her ability to work, including

remembering locations and work-like procedures; understanding and remembering

detailed instructions; maintaining attention and concentration for extended periods;

interacting appropriately with the general public; traveling to unfamiliar places or using

public transportation; and setting realistic goals or making plans independent of others.

Dr. Gansheroff further opined that Becker had a substantial loss of ability to understand,

remember, and carry out simple instructions; to respond appropriately to supervision,

coworkers, and usual work situations; and to deal with changes in the routine work

       5
         The medical source statement defines “Markedly Limited” as “[a]n impairment
which precludes the individual‟s ability to function independently, appropriately, and
effectively in the designated area on a regular and sustained basis, i.e., 8 hours a day, 5
days a week, or an equivalent work schedule.” (App. 2 at 258.) “Moderately Limited” is
defined as “[a]n impairment which seriously interferes with, and in combination with one
or more other restrictions assessed, may preclude the individual‟s ability to perform the
designated activity on a regular and sustained basis, i.e., 8 hours a day, for 5 days a week,
or an equivalent work schedule.” (Id.)

                                              8
setting. He indicated that Becker had had, or could at least be expected to have, those

limitations for 12 continuous months.

       At the May 3, 2007 hearing before the ALJ, Becker testified that her daily

activities were limited to house cleaning. She indicated that she could walk two blocks,

stand for 30-60 minutes, sit for 30 minutes, and lift 8-10 pounds but that she needed to lie

down periodically throughout the day.

       Also at the hearing, the ALJ asked a vocational expert to testify regarding the

work prospects of a hypothetical person resembling Becker. The hypothetical person was

between 39 and 41 years old; had a high school education; had worked as waitress,

reservation clerk, and telephone operator; could do no more than sedentary work;

required occasional postural changes; and needed to avoid crawling, kneeling, and

temperature extremes. The vocational expert testified that there were hundreds of jobs

regionally and thousands of jobs nationally that the hypothetical person could perform.

That held true, the vocational expert said, even if it was assumed that the hypothetical

person required a job that allowed for a sit/stand option; had a low stress work-setting;

featured routine, repetitive tasks; and required understanding, remembering, and

following only simple instructions.

       After considering the foregoing, the ALJ denied Becker‟s claim on May 21, 2007.

Working through the five-step regulatory analysis,6 the ALJ found that Becker had not

       6
         At step one, the ALJ considers whether the claimant is engaged in substantial
gainful activity. If so, the claimant is not disabled, and the inquiry ends. At step two, the
ALJ considers whether the claimant suffers from a severe medical impairment. If not, the
claimant is not disabled, and the inquiry ends. At step three, the ALJ considers whether
                                             9
engaged in substantial gainful activity since her alleged onset date and that she had

impairments, including bilateral degenerative joint disease/chondromalacia

patella/arthritis, degenerative disc disease in her lumbar spine, obesity, depression, and

anxiety. However, the ALJ also found that Becker‟s impairments were not equivalent to

those listed under the regulations; that her residual functional capacity of being able, with

periodic breaks, to walk, sit, stand, and lift 10 pounds enabled her to perform sedentary

work with occasional postural changes; and that jobs of that kind were available in the

regional and national economy. In reaching that conclusion, the ALJ noted that

Dr. Gansheroff‟s assessing of Becker as “Markedly Limited” was neither explained nor

supported by the treatment records, which indicated that Becker‟s psychological

impairments were only moderate. The ALJ further noted that the pain medications had

helped Becker without any material side effects and that she still was able to perform

tasks requiring limited sitting, standing, and walking. The ALJ gave only limited weight

to Dr. Smith‟s interrogatory responses, reasoning that they were not supported by his

treatment records. Becker‟s request for further review was denied on March 27, 2008.

the impairment is equivalent to those listed in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, subpart P, Appendix 1.
If it is, the claimant is considered presumptively disabled, and the inquiry ends. If not,
the inquiry moves on to step four. At step four, after assessing the claimant‟s residual
functional capacity (“RFC”), the ALJ considers whether that RFC enables the claimant to
perform past relevant work. If it does, the claimant is not disabled, and the inquiry ends.
Finally, at step five, the ALJ considers whether, based on the claimant‟s RFC, age,
education, and work experience, there is sufficient work available in the national
economy. If so, the claimant is not disabled. Otherwise, the claimant is disabled. 20
C.F.R. ' 404.1520(a)(4).

                                             10
       On April 21, 2008, Becker sought review in the District Court. The District Court

assigned the matter to a magistrate judge, who issued a report and recommendation in

January 2009, recommending that the ALJ‟s decision be affirmed. On July 17, 2009, the

District Court adopted in part and rejected in part the report and recommendation and

referred the matter back to the magistrate judge for further consideration of Dr. Smith‟s

assessments and conclusions regarding Becker‟s functional limitations. After considering

Dr. Smith‟s assessments and conclusions, the magistrate judge concluded that they were

too inconsistent to be “afforded controlling weight” (App. 1 at 50) and issued a

supplemental report and recommendation again recommending that the ALJ‟s decision be

affirmed. On March 22, 2010, the District Court approved and adopted the supplemental

report and recommendation and ordered the case closed.

       Becker timely appealed.

II.    Discussion7

       When reviewing a District Court‟s affirmance of an ALJ‟s denial of benefits, we

exercise plenary review of the District Court‟s legal decisions. Allen v. Barnhart, 417

F.3d 396, 397 (3d Cir. 2005). Like the District Court, we review the ALJ‟s factual

findings only to determine if they are supported by substantial evidence. Plummer v.

Apfel, 186 F.3d 422, 427 (3d Cir. 1999). Substantial evidence is defined as “more than a

mere scintilla. It means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as

       7
        The District Court had jurisdiction to review the Social Security Administration=s
decision pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), and we have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1291.

                                            11
adequate.” Ventura v. Shalala, 55 F.3d 900, 901 (3d Cir. 1995) (quoting Richardson v.

Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971) (internal quotation marks omitted)). To ensure

meaningful review, the ALJ must discuss “the evidence he considered which supports the

result” and “the evidence which was rejected,” Cotter v. Harris, 642 F.2d 700, 705 (3d

Cir. 1981), and should give his reasons for accepting only some evidence while rejecting

other evidence, see id. (noting that the ALJ should “explain[] the weight he has given to

obviously probative exhibits”). Where the ALJ‟s findings of fact are supported by

substantial evidence, a court is bound by those findings, even if the court would have

decided the factual inquiry differently. Hartranft v. Apfel, 181 F.3d 358, 360 (3d Cir.

1999). The court looks at the whole record in making such determination. See Smith v.

Califano, 637 F.2d 968, 970 (3d Cir. 1981) (noting that the court “must scrutinize the

record as a whole”).

       Becker‟s principal contention on appeal is that the ALJ‟s decision was not

supported by substantial evidence because the ALJ improperly rejected the opinions of

Dr. Smith and Dr. Gansheroff regarding Becker‟s residual functional capacity.8 We

disagree.

       “A cardinal principle guiding disability determinations is that the ALJ accord

treating physicians‟ reports great weight, especially „when their opinions reflect expert

judgment based on continuing observation of the patient‟s condition over a prolonged

       8
         Becker also argues that the District Court erred by affirming the ALJ‟s decision
based on facts that the ALJ did not cite and that, when viewed as part of the whole
record, did not amount to substantial evidence. We need not address that argument,
however, because we are independently reviewing the ALJ‟s decision.

                                            12
period of time.‟” Morales v. Apfel, 225 F.3d 310, 317 (3d Cir. 2000) (quoting Plummer

v. Apfel, 186 F.3d 422, 429 (3d Cir. 1999)). However, “where … the opinion of a

treating physician conflicts with that of a non-treating, non-examining physician, the ALJ

may choose whom to credit” and may reject the treating physician‟s assessment if such

rejection is based on contradictory medical evidence. Id. Similarly, under 20 C.F.R.

§ 416.927(d)(2), the opinion of a treating physician is to be given controlling weight only

when it is well-supported by medical evidence and is consistent with other evidence in

the record.

       Here, the ALJ rejected Dr. Gansheroff‟s opinion of marked limitation because it

contradicted his own treatment records, which indicated Becker‟s mental limitations as

only moderate. Likewise, the ALJ rejected Dr. Smith‟s interrogatory responses and

conclusions regarding Becker‟s ability to work because they contradicted his own

treatment records, which indicated that Becker had responded positively to medication

and treatment and could sit, stand, walk, and lift to some degree. Dr. Smith‟s

interrogatory responses were also contradicted by Dr. Gouda, Dr. Aguire, and even

Becker herself, all of whom either documented or testified that Becker was able to

ambulate and perform various light activities for periods of time without severe pain.

Thus, the ALJ could properly reject parts of the opinions of Dr. Smith and

Dr. Gansheroff.

       We also conclude that the ALJ‟s decision regarding residual functional capacity is

supported by substantial evidence. The physicians‟ treatment records, along with

Becker‟s own statements, indicate that medication had stabilized and improved Becker‟s

                                            13
overall activity levels and that, with periodic breaks, she could sit, stand, and walk and

could lift and carry 10 pounds. The ALJ did not err, then, in finding that Becker had the

residual functional capacity to perform sedentary work.9

III.   Conclusion

       For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the District Court‟s order upholding the

ALJ‟s decision denying Becker‟s claim for disability insurance benefits.

       9
           Becker does not challenge the other aspects of the ALJ‟s decision.

                                              14