Court Opinion

ID: 170594
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 18:11:15+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:48:17.531313
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                United States Court of Appeals
                                                                        Tenth Circuit

                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                    April 18, 2008
                                                                    Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                            FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
                                                                        Clerk of Court

    MARY D. STOKES,

                Plaintiff-Appellant,

    v.                                                    No. 07-5046
                                                   (D.C. No. 05-CV-539-FHM)
    MICHAEL J. ASTRUE,                                    (N.D. Okla.)
    Commissioner, Social Security
    Administration,

                Defendant-Appellee.

                             ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Before HARTZ, Circuit Judge, BRORBY, Senior Circuit Judge and
TYMKOVICH, Circuit Judge.

         Plaintiff-appellant Mary D. Stokes appeals from an order of the district

court affirming the Commissioner’s decision denying her application for Social

Security disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits. Ms. Stokes filed

for these benefits on May 16, 2003. She alleged disability since February 19,

*
       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 This order and judgment is not binding
precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and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. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent
with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
2003, based on osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, back pain, and

depression. The agency denied her applications initially and on reconsideration.

      On September 4, 2004, Ms. Stokes received a de novo hearing before an

administrative law judge (ALJ). The ALJ subsequently determined that

Ms. Stokes was not disabled.

             The Commissioner is required to follow a five-step sequential
      evaluation process to determine whether a claimant is disabled. The
      claimant bears the burden of establishing a prima facie case of
      disability at steps one through four. Step one requires the claimant to
      demonstrate that he is not presently engaged in substantial gainful
      activity. At step two, the claimant must show that he has a medically
      severe impairment or combination of impairments. At step three, if a
      claimant can show that the impairment is equivalent to a listed
      impairment, he is presumed to be disabled and entitled to benefits. If
      a claimant cannot meet a listing at step three, he continues to step
      four, which requires the claimant to show that the impairment or
      combination of impairments prevents him from performing his past
      work.

             If the claimant successfully meets this burden, the burden of
      proof shifts to the Commissioner at step five to show that the
      claimant retains sufficient . . . residual functional capacity . . . to
      perform work in the national economy, given her age, education, and
      work experience. If a determination can be made at any of the steps
      that a claimant is or is not disabled, evaluation under a subsequent
      step is not necessary.

Lax v. Astrue, 489 F.3d 1080, 1084 (10th Cir. 2007) (citations and quotations

omitted).

                                         -2-
      The ALJ found in Ms. Stokes’ favor at steps one and two. At step three he

found that Ms. Stokes’ impairments did not meet or equal a listed impairment but

he found at step four that Ms. Stokes’ residual functional capacity (RFC) would

not allow her to return to her past relevant work as a nurse’s aide, sewing machine

operator, or certified medical aide. The ALJ’s RFC finding was:

             The claimant’s impairments limit her to a wide range of light
      level work activity. Specifically, the claimant can lift and carry 20
      pounds. She can stand and/or walk 6 hours in an 8-hour workday at
      45 minute intervals and sit 6 hours in an 8-hour workday at 45
      minute intervals. She can occasionally climb, bend, stoop, squat,
      kneel, crouch, crawl, reach overhead, push and pull, and operate foot
      controls. She is slightly limited in fingering, feeling[], and grasping.
      She requires an environment of low light, low noise and must avoid
      cold, damp, rough and uneven surfaces, unprotected heights, fast and
      dangerous machinery and night driving. She requires simple,
      repetitive, and routine work and is slightly limited in contact with
      public, coworkers and supervisors.

Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 27. Nevertheless, the ALJ found at step five that with this

RFC there were a significant number of other jobs Ms. Stokes could perform in

the national or regional economy. He therefore concluded Ms. Stokes was not

disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act. The Appeals Council

denied review, making the ALJ’s decision the Commissioner’s final decision.

      Ms. Stokes appeals. Her main arguments are that the ALJ erred at steps

two, three, and five of the evaluation process and that he failed to perform a

proper credibility determination. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291

and 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). We review the Commissioner’s decision to determine

                                         -3-
whether the factual findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record

and whether the correct legal standards were applied. See Andrade v. Sec’y of

Health & Human Servs., 985 F.2d 1045, 1047 (10th Cir. 1993). Substantial

evidence is “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as

adequate to support a conclusion.” Fowler v. Bowen, 876 F.2d 1451, 1453

(10th Cir. 1989) (quotations omitted). Following such review, we AFFIRM.

                                           I.

      Ms. Stokes’ first point alleges the ALJ erred by failing to consider her pain

disorder at step two of the sequential evaluation process. “At step two, the

claimant must show that [she] has a medically severe impairment or combination

of impairments.” Lax, 489 F.3d at 1084 (quotation omitted). The ALJ found Ms.

Stokes had a medically severe impairment or combination of impairments, but did

not reference Ms. Stokes’ pain disorder when making that finding. That failure,

by itself, does not constitute reversible error, see Maziarz v. Sec’y of Health &

Human Servs., 837 F.2d 240, 244 (6th Cir. 1987), because once the ALJ finds the

claimant has a medically severe impairment or combination of impairments, he or

she is required to “consider the limiting effects of all [the claimant’s]

impairment(s), even those that are not severe, in determining [the claimant’s]

residual functional capacity.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1545(e), 416.945(e) (emphasis

added).

                                          -4-
                                          II.

      Ms. Stokes claims the ALJ erred at step three as well.

      At step three, the determination is made whether the impairment is
      equivalent to one of a number of listed impairments that the
      Commissioner acknowledges are so severe as to preclude substantial
      gainful activity. If the impairment is listed and thus conclusively
      presumed to be disabling, the claimant is entitled to benefits.

Lax, 489 F.3d at 1085 (citations, quotations, and brackets omitted).

      Ms. Stokes claims the ALJ failed to utilize the “special technique” required

by the regulations when evaluating her mental impairments at this step.

Specifically, she argues the ALJ failed to make specific findings as to what rating

he was assigning to her functional limitations in the areas of activities of daily

living; social functioning; concentration, persistence, or pace; and episodes of

decompensation. We agree error occurred.

      The ALJ’s decision simply stated that he had “carefully compared

[Ms. Stokes’] signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings with the criteria specified

in all of the Listings of Impairments” and found that her impairments did not meet

the criteria for any listed impairment. Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 22. This is deficient

when the claimant has mental impairments as well as physical impairments.

Under the regulations, when evaluating mental impairments, the agency must

follow a “special technique.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520a(a), 416.920a(a). Under

this technique, the agency is required to rate the degree of a claimant’s functional

limitations caused by those impairments in the areas of “[a]ctivities of daily

                                          -5-
living; social functioning; concentration, persistence, or pace; and episodes of

decompensation.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520a(c)(3), 416.920a(c)(3). The ALJ then

applies those ratings in determining whether the claimant’s mental impairments

are severe at step two and, if so, whether these severe impairments “meet[] or

[are] equivalent in severity to a listed mental disorder” at step three. Id. §§

404.1520a(d)(1-2), 416.920a(d)(1-2). At the ALJ hearing level, “[t]he decision

must include a specific finding as to the degree of limitation in each of [those]

functional areas.” Id. §§ 404.1520a(e)(2), 416.920a(e)(2).

      The agency argues this error was harmless under our holding in Fischer-

Ross v. Barnhart, 431 F.3d 729, 734 (10th Cir. 2005). In Fischer-Ross, as in this

case, the ALJ summarily found that none of the listed impairments were met at

step three. The court considered whether Clifton v. Chater, 79 F.3d 1007, 1009

(10th Cir. 1996) (holding that such a conclusory determination at step three was

“beyond meaningful judicial review”), “require[d] reversal where the ALJ’s

factually substantiated findings at steps four and five of the evaluation process

alleviate[d] any concern that [but for the error] a claimant might have been

adjudged disabled at step three.” Fischer-Ross, 431 F.3d at 730. The court held

that Clifton required no such outcome, holding: “harmless error analysis

‘nevertheless may be appropriate to supply a missing dispositive finding . . .

where, based on material the ALJ did at least consider (just not properly), we

could confidently say that no reasonable administrative factfinder, following the

                                          -6-
correct analysis, could have resolved the factual matter in any other way.’” Id. at

733-34 (quoting Allen v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1140, 1145 (10th Cir. 2004))

(alteration in original).

       In the present case, Ms. Stokes was diagnosed with three mental

impairments, anxiety, a depressive disorder, and a “[p]ain disorder associated

with both psychological factors and a general medical condition,” Aplt. App.,

Vol. 2 at 331. 1 At step three, these impairments are compared to the impairments

listed at sections 12.04 (Affective Disorders), 2 12.06 (Anxiety Related Disorders),

and 12.07 (Somatoform Disorders), 3 of 20 C.F.R., pt. 404, subpt. P, App. 1

(Listed Impairments). Under the facts of this case, in order for the ALJ to have

found that Ms. Stokes’ mental limitations met the required level of severity for

any of these listed limitations, the ALJ would have to have found that her

limitations resulted in at least two of the following:

1
      Dr. John Hickman also diagnosed Ms. Stokes with a cognitive disorder not
otherwise specified, but stated it was probably a secondary effect of her
depression and pain. A cognitive disorder “is a clinically significant deficit in
cognition or memory that represents a significant change from a previous level of
functioning.” Am. Psychiatric Ass’n, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders 123 (4th ed. 1994) (DSM-IV).
2
      An affective disorder is “[c]haracterized by a disturbance of mood,
accompanied by a full or partial manic or depressive syndrome. Mood refers to a
prolonged emotion that colors the whole psychic life; it generally involves either
depression or elation.” 20 C.F.R., pt. 404, subpt. P, App. 1, § 12.04.
3
     A “pain disorder associated with both psychological factors and a general
medical condition” is a type of somatoform disorder. DSM-IV at 458-62.

                                         -7-
      1. Marked restriction of activities of daily living; or

      2. Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; or

      3. Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or
      pace; or

      4. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended
      duration[.]

See Listed Impairments §§ 12.04(B); 12.06(B), and 12.07(B). 4 A “marked”

limitation

      means more than moderate but less than extreme. A marked
      limitation may arise when several activities or functions are
      impaired, or even when only one is impaired, as long as the degree of
      limitation is such as to interfere seriously with [a claimant’s] ability
      to function independently, appropriately, effectively, and on a
      sustained basis.

Id., § 12.00(C).

      A reasonable administrative factfinder could have determined Ms. Stokes

had marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace.

“Concentration, persistence, or pace refers to the ability to sustain focused

attention and concentration sufficiently long to permit the timely and appropriate

completion of tasks commonly found in work settings.” Id., § 12.00(C)(3). The

ALJ’s opinion referenced the determination in the consultative mental status

examination that Ms. Stokes had marked limitations in the ability to understand

4
       Under certain conditions, paragraph B would not have to be met for a
limitation to meet the required level of severity under sections 12.04 and 12.06 of
the Listed Impairments. See Listed Impairments §§ 12.04(C); 12.06(C).
Ms. Stokes does not argue those conditions were met in this case.

                                          -8-
and remember detailed instructions, the ability to carry out detailed instructions,

and the ability to sustain an ordinary routine without special supervision, and that

she had a moderate limitation in the ability to complete a normal workday and

workweek and to perform at a consistent pace without an unreasonable number

and length of rest periods. Further, in his RFC determination the ALJ limited

Ms. Stokes to “simple, repetitive, and routine work,” Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 27.

      Nevertheless, a reasonable factfinder could not have determined Ms. Stokes

had a marked restriction of activities of daily living (ADLs), marked difficulties

in maintaining social functioning, or repeated episodes of decompensation, each

of extended duration.

      As to repeated episodes of decompensation:

             Episodes of decompensation are exacerbations or temporary
      increases in symptoms or signs accompanied by a loss of adaptive
      functioning, as manifested by difficulties in performing activities of
      daily living, maintaining social relationships, or maintaining
      concentration, persistence, or pace.

Listed Impairments § 12.00(C)(4). “The term repeated episodes of

decompensation, each of extended duration in these listings means three episodes

within 1 year, or an average of once every 4 months, each lasting for at least 2

weeks.” Id. Ms. Stokes argues the evidence of her one or two previous suicide

attempts shows repeated episodes of decompensation. In his disability evaluation,

Dr. Hickman noted that Ms. Stokes reported two suicide attempts, Aplt. App.,

Vol. 2 at 328, that had occurred “a few years ago.” id., at 329. In her testimony

                                         -9-
before the ALJ, Ms. Stokes testified that she had previously tried to end her life

by overdosing on medication after being fired from her job. She did not specify

exactly how many attempts she had made, simply saying “I had taken . . . a bunch

of my pills.” Id. at 403. She testified that she thought the attempts occurred in

2001, which would be prior to the claimed date of disability, but she could not

remember the exact year. She presented no evidence of the type or quantity of

medications she took and, although she testified she saw a psychiatrist after the

attempts, she gave no specifics as to her treatment and provided no treatment

records. No reasonable factfinder could have found the criteria of repeated

episodes of decompensation to have been met from such cursory references to

previous suicide attempts.

      As to marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning, we note that

“[s]ocial functioning refers to [a claimant’s] capacity to interact independently,

appropriately, effectively, and on a sustained basis with other individuals.”

Listed Impairments § 12.00(C)(2). Ms. Stokes argues her “social functioning is at

least markedly, if not extremely, limited.” Aplt. Opening Br. at 26. The ALJ

noted in his decision that Dr. Hickman’s mental status examination (MSE) found

only “3 levels of ‘marked’ functioning out of 20 and the rest were “moderate” or

not a significant limitation.” Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 23. A review of the record

shows Dr. Hickman found no limitations in the “social interaction” section of the

MSE. Ms. Stokes does not specify what record evidence supports her claim that

                                         -10-
her social functioning is, at the least, markedly limited, and our independent

review has not revealed sufficient evidence to allow a reasonable factfinder to

determine that the criteria for such a finding were met.

      Finally, as to whether a reasonable factfinder could find Ms. Stokes had

marked restrictions of ADLs, we note that “[a]ctivities of daily living include

adaptive activities such as cleaning, shopping, cooking, taking public

transportation, paying bills, maintaining a residence, caring appropriately for

[one’s] grooming and hygiene, using telephones and directories, and using a post

office.” Listed Impairments § 12.00(C)(1). The ALJ found “[a]t the hearing the

claimant testified that she is able to take care of her personal needs. She testified

that she can perform household chores and does the cooking. The claimant

testified that she is able to read, shop and watch television.” Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at

24.

      Ms. Stokes argues:

      her ADLs are markedly limited. The ALJ cited Claimant’s testimony
      about being able to care for her personal needs, perform household
      chores, cook, read, shop and watch television. He ignored that these
      are minimal ADLs, which are not substantial evidence that a claimant
      can work. He also ignored that the non-treating, non-examining,
      reviewing experts of the State agency stated that her ADLs were
      limited.

Aplt. Opening Br. at 25 (citations omitted).

      As to Ms. Stokes’ first argument, it is true that evidence showing the ability

to perform minimal activities of daily living is not, by itself, substantial evidence

                                         -11-
a claimant can work. “The sporadic performance of household tasks or work does

not establish that a person is capable of engaging in substantial gainful activity.”

Thompson v. Sullivan, 987 F.2d 1482, 1489 (10th Cir. 1993). But the question at

issue at this point in the review is simply whether a reasonable factfinder could

conclude Ms. Stokes had marked restrictions of ADLs, not the overall question of

whether she is disabled.

      As to Ms. Stokes’ second argument, we acknowledge that the “Consultant’s

Notes” section of a Psychiatric Review Technique (PRT) form in the record states

“[h]er ADL[]s are limited by physical issues.” Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 148. But the

consultant did not offer an opinion on what level of limitation existed. That

section of the PRT form also states:

      ADL[]s indicate she is able to meet her own personal needs,
      sometimes, husband helps put on her shoes, she cooks several times a
      week, she vacuums, family does laundry, her daughter does the
      shopping for her, she reads, watches TV, her hobby is playing Bingo
      weekly, she visits about three times a week, she drives + is not active
      in groups.

Id. This recitation of her abilities is fairly consistent with Ms. Stokes’ hearing

testimony. At the hearing she testified she had no hobbies, she did not read

anymore because of concentration problems, she did the laundry and her husband

hung it on the clothesline for her, and she did the shopping but her daughter went

along to lift the heavy items.

                                         -12-
      Consequently, while it is clear Ms. Stokes’ ADLs are somewhat limited by

her medical conditions, we conclude no reasonable factfinder could have found

Ms. Stokes had marked restrictions of her ADLs and, therefore, that the ALJ’s

failure to properly utilize the “special technique” at step three was harmless error.

                                         III.

      In her third point on appeal, Ms. Stokes claims the ALJ erred at step five of

the sequential evaluation. At step five, the Commissioner must “show that the

claimant retains sufficient [RFC] to perform work in the national economy, given

her age, education, and work experience.” Lax, 489 F.3d at 1084.

      An individual shall be determined to be under a disability only if his
      physical or mental impairment or impairments are of such severity
      that he is not only unable to do his previous work but cannot,
      considering his age, education, and work experience, engage in any
      other kind of substantial gainful work which exists in the national
      economy, regardless of whether such work exists in the immediate
      area in which he lives, or whether a specific job vacancy exists for
      him, or whether he would be hired if he applied for work. For
      purposes of the preceding sentence (with respect to any individual),
      “work which exists in the national economy” means work which
      exists in significant numbers either in the region where such
      individual lives or in several regions of the country.
42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(2)(A).

      Ms. Stokes argues that a person with her RFC could not perform the jobs of

bench assembler, electrical assembler, clerical mailer, and assembler, which the

ALJ found were representative of a significant number of jobs that Ms. Stokes

could perform that were available in the national economy. Among other

limitations incorporated in the RFC, the ALJ found that Ms. Stokes “requires an

                                         -13-
environment of low light, low noise” and was limited to “simple, repetitive and

routine work.” Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 27.

      Ms. Stokes’ first argument is that the ALJ’s limitation to an environment of

low noise should be construed as a limitation to jobs with a Department of Labor

noise-intensity-level rating of two or less. Her second argument is that the ALJ’s

limitation to simple, repetitive, and routine work should be construed as a

limitation to jobs with a Department of Labor reasoning-level rating of one.

      With regard to the ALJ’s limitation to low noise, we note the ALJ stated to

the vocational expert (VE) in presenting his hypothetical:

      In limiting the low light and low noise, I’m not trying to restrict a
      routine ordinary business, commercial, educational type noise or
      light environment, but if she’s going to be outside in bright sunlight
      all day flagging trucks by or on a foundry floor or working around
      bright photo plugs, I want to restrict that type of work activity.

Id. at 412, Aplt. App., Vol. 1 at 57-58. The Department of Labor ranks noise

intensity as follows:

      1      Very Quiet                isolation booth for hearing test; deep sea
                                       diving; forest trail

      2      Quiet                     library; many private offices; funeral
                                       reception; golf course; art museum

      3      Moderate                  business office where typewriters are
                                       used; department store; grocery store;
                                       light traffic; fast food restaurant at
                                       off-hours

                                        -14-
      4      Loud                      can manufacturing department; large
                                       earth-moving equipment; heavy
                                       traffic

      5      Very Loud                 rock concert - front row; jackhammer
                                       in operation; rocket engine testing
                                       area during test

U.S. Dep’t of Labor, Selected Characteristics of Occupations Defined in the

Revised Dictionary of Occupational Titles, App. D, D-2 (1993) (SCO). It appears

to us that the ALJ intended to preclude jobs with a noise intensity level of four or

five. The electrical assembler (DOT number 729.687-010) and clerical mailer

(DOT number 209.587-010) both have noise intensity levels of three. See SCO at

284, 347. But the bench assembler (DOT number 780.684-062) and

semiconductor assembler (DOT number 726.687-046) jobs have noise intensity

levels of four. 5 See SCO at 302, 308. We believe the ALJ’s reference to these

level-four jobs was harmless.

      Harmless error is seldom used to supply a missing dispositive finding in a

situation such as this because this court must avoid “usurping the administrative

tribunal’s responsibility to find the fact” and must not “violate[]the general rule

5
       The VE specifically provided the court with the DOT numbers for the jobs
he was considering. We have examined the jobs specified by those numbers. We
note, however, that the official titles for the jobs the VE described “electrical
assembler,” “clerical mailer,” “bench assembler,” and “semiconductor assembler”
are actually “assembler, electrical accessories I,” “addressor,” “fabricator, foam
rubber,” and “wafer breaker, semiconductors,” respectively. See 1 U.S. Dep’t of
Labor, Dictionary of Occupational Titles 180 (4th ed., rev. 1991); 2 U.S. Dep’t of
Labor, Dictionary of Occupational Titles 736, 744, 810 (4th ed., rev. 1991).

                                         -15-
against post hoc justification of administrative action.” Allen, 357 F.3d at 1145.

In Allen, we refused to find harmless error when the ALJ erroneously relied on

testimony that there were eight hundred appropriate jobs available statewide when

the record supported only a determination that one hundred appropriate jobs were

available statewide. We recognized in Allen, however, that harmless error “might

have been [appropriate] had the number of available jobs identified by the VE not

been one hundred but considerably greater.” Id. Further, as recognized in Allen,

we had determined in the previous case of Trimiar v. Sullivan, 966 F.2d 1326,

1330 (10th Cir. 1992), that an evidentiary showing of 650-900 statewide jobs was

not sufficient to show that work existed in significant numbers in the region

where the claimant lived as a matter of law, although we did affirm the ALJ’s

factual finding that significant numbers existed.

      But the case at hand is different from both Allen and Trimiar. Here, the VE

testified that 6,000 electronics assembler jobs existed regionally and 72,000

existed nationally and that 5,000 clerical mailer jobs existed regionally and

80,000 nationally. Thus, even if we consider only these two jobs out of the four

considered by the ALJ, there were still 11,000 jobs available regionally and

152,000 jobs available nationally. 6 Here, we do not believe any reasonable

6
       The VE testified he was “using Region Six of the Social Security
Administration’s regions.” Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 410. We note that the Social
Security Administration is divided into ten different regions. Region six is also
referred to as the “Dallas Region” and serves the states of Arkansas, Louisiana,
                                                                      (continued...)

                                        -16-
factfinder could have determined that suitable jobs did not exist in significant

numbers in either the region where Ms. Stokes lives or several regions of the

country.

      Ms. Stokes’ second argument is that the ALJ’s limitation to simple,

repetitive and routine work should be construed as a limitation to jobs with a

reasoning-level rating of one. We disagree. All of the jobs considered by the

ALJ had a reasoning level rating of two. In Hackett v. Barnhart, we held that a

limitation “‘for simple and routine work tasks’” was inconsistent with the

demands of level-three reasoning but consistent with the demands of level-two

reasoning, 395 F.3d 1168, 1176 (10th Cir. 2005), which under the DOT means

that a claimant can “[a]pply commonsense understanding to carry out detailed but

uninvolved written or oral instructions[ and d]eal with standardized situations

with occasional or no variables in or from these situations encountered on the

job.” See 2 DOT, App. C, at 1011.

                                         IV.

      Ms. Stokes’ main argument in her final point is that the ALJ failed to

perform a proper credibility determination in part because he ignored her

6
 (...continued)
New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. See Dallas Region Home Page,
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/dallas/ (last visited April 4, 2008), and Office of
Disability Adjudication and Review, Dallas Region 6 Homepage,
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/appeals/r6/dallas.html (last visited April 4, 2008).

                                        -17-
somatoform disorder. She claims the following credibility determination was

erroneous:

             The claimant has alleged pain and that she cannot work
      because of these symptoms. The credible medical evidence,
      however, does not establish an underlying medical condition so
      severe as to be productive of limitations that would preclude all work
      activity and the claimant’s testimony is found credible only to the
      extent consistent with a residual functional capacity for a wide range
      of light work.

Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 27. Ms. Stokes claims that instead of properly determining

her credibility, the ALJ determined her RFC and then tailored this credibility

determination accordingly.

      We initially note that this is not a case where the ALJ failed to give any

consideration to Ms. Stokes’ subjective complaints of pain. 7 The decision states:

      [a]s to the claimant’s allegations of totally disabling pain, her
      testimony was evaluated and compared with prior statements and
      other evidence. It is the conclusion of the [ALJ] that the pain

7
      When a claim of disabling pain has been made:

            We must consider (1) whether Claimant established a
      pain-producing impairment by objective medical evidence; (2) if so,
      whether there is a loose nexus between the proven impairment and
      the Claimant’s subjective allegations of pain; and (3) if so, whether
      considering all the evidence, both objective and subjective,
      Claimant’s pain is in fact disabling.

Kepler v. Chater, 68 F.3d 387, 390 (10th Cir. 1995) (quotation omitted). Here,
objective physical and mental medical evidence showed pain-producing
impairments and that a “loose nexus” existed between the impairments and Ms.
Stokes’ subjective allegations of pain.

                                        -18-
      experienced by the claimant is limiting but, when compared with the
      total evidence, not severe enough to preclude all types of work.

Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 23. Ms. Stokes challenges the determination that her claim

of disabling pain was not credible.

      “Credibility determinations are peculiarly the province of the finder of fact,

and we will not upset such determinations when supported by substantial

evidence.” Kepler, 68 F.3d at 391 (quotation omitted). But “[i]t is

well-established that an ALJ’s findings with respect to a claimant’s credibility

should be closely and affirmatively linked to substantial evidence and not just a

conclusion in the guise of findings.” Hardman v. Barnhart, 362 F.3d 676, 678-79

(10th Cir. 2004) (quotation omitted).

      Ms. Stokes attacks the ALJ’s credibility determination on a number of

fronts. She disputes certain findings or statements the ALJ made in determining

her claim was not credible. These include: (1) her diabetes treatment was routine

and conservative in nature; (2) her back injury treatment was conservative; (3)

Ms. Stokes had not sought mental health treatment on her own, and (4) she quit

working because of her back pain, and not due to emotional problems.

      She also claims the ALJ ignored certain pieces of favorable evidence from

her medical records in finding her claim of disabling pain non credible. These

include evidence that she demonstrated “absent ankle deep tendon reflexes,” Aplt.

Opening Br. at 37, numbness, “muscle weakness, an abnormal gait and toe

                                        -19-
walking, sacroiliac joint tenderness, muscle spasm, and decreased and painful

range of motion of the lumbar spine,” id., “bilateral arthritic changes in her

ankles,” id. at 38, and evidence that “following her surgery, Claimant developed

another bulging disc, was prescribed a back brace, and found to have arthritic

changes of her spine, as well as blood tests indicating rheumatoid arthritis,” id.

Finally, she claims the ALJ’s credibility determination was flawed because he

gave her no credit for her work history after her 1997 back surgery, in that a good

work history enhances credibility.

      The only question this court must answer is whether the ALJ’s

determination that Ms. Stokes’ allegations of disabling pain were not credible was

closely and affirmatively linked to evidence that a reasonable mind might accept

as adequate to support that conclusion . As properly stated by the magistrate judge

in the district court: “The ALJ accurately summarized the record and explained

his reasons for discounting claimant’s pain allegations, including Plaintiff’s own

testimony about her activities, relatively moderate symptoms reflected in the

medical record, functional range of motion, and no functional limitations placed

on her activity by any treating physician.” Aplt. App., Vol. 1 at 59. A review of

the record shows the ALJ incorporated most of Ms. Stokes’ hearing testimony

regarding her limitations into his RFC finding. Although Ms. Stokes argues that

one of her treating physicians did, in fact, place a functional limitation on her

activity by way of an opinion that she could not work, this opinion, as will be

                                         -20-
discussed in detail below, was cursory, conclusory, and unsupported by the

record. Thus we see no reason to overturn the ALJ’s credibility determination in

this case.

      Ms. Stokes also raises arguments in her last point separate from her

challenge to the ALJ’s credibility finding. Ms. Stokes claims that “[t]he ALJ

found Claimant’s ADLs compatible with light work. He never explained how he

reached this conclusion. He merely implied that she took care of her personal

needs, performed household chores, cooked, read, shopped and watched television

on a full time basis.” Aplt. Opening Br. at 40. This argument misrepresents the

content of the ALJ’s decision. The determination that Ms. Stokes could perform a

wide range of light level work activity was based on the ALJ’s RFC determination

which, in turn, was based on the evidence in the record, including Ms. Stokes’

own testimony regarding her limitations. The RFC determination was not based

solely on her ability to perform ADLs.

      Ms. Stokes claims the ALJ’s RFC determination was flawed because “he

failed to include any limitations with regard to foot controls, and he

acknowledged only a ‘slight’ limitation of fingering, feeling, and grasping.” Aplt.

Opening Br. at 37. The ALJ’s decision properly described the physical

consultative examination as indicating that “the claimant’s feet and hands for

repetitive movement would be limited bilaterally.” Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 23.

                                         -21-
Ms. Stokes argues that “[r]epetitive use implies more that ‘slight’ use.” Aplt.

Opening Br. at 37.

      First, we note that the ALJ did not limit Ms. Stokes’ fingering, feeling, and

grasping to “slight use.” The RFC determination found Ms. Stokes could reach

overhead, push and pull, and operate foot controls “occasionally,” and that “[s]he

is slightly limited in fingering, feeling[], and grasping.” Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 27.

Nevertheless, when the VE was asked whether the jobs he had found Ms. Stokes

could perform “require[d] constant or repetitive use of the hands,” he testified:

“Yes, frequent to constant.” Id. at 415. The physical consultative examination

simply stated that Ms. Stokes’ ability for repetitive grasping and fingering was

limited. The examination report noted she had functional range of motion in her

wrist and fingers but that she had tingling numbness and pain in her legs and

hands, “with findings consistent with peripheral neuropathy, probably the result

of her longstanding diabetes mellitus.” 8 Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 338.

      At the hearing Ms. Stokes was asked to describe the problems she was

having with her hands and wrists. The ALJ asked her if she was having any

problems with neuropathy in her hands and fingers. She testified she had

8
      Peripheral neuropathies related to diabetes mellitus “can cause a bilaterally
symmetric hypesthesia [loss of sensitivity], hyperesthesia [hyper-sensitivity],
paresthesia [abnormal sensitivity–prickling, tickling, or tingling], loss of
temperature and vibratory sense, or causalgia [persistent severe burning pain].”
See Stedman’s Medical Dictionary 1212 (27th ed. 2000) (description of diabetic
neuropathy).

                                         -22-
arthritis, that sometimes when she got out of bed her hands were stiff and she

could not hold things, and that sometimes the condition wore off as the day

progressed. But she testified she had no neuropathy in her hands and fingers.

She testified she could pick dimes off a table with both hands, that she could not

change a light bulb over her head because she could not keep a hold on the light

bulb, but that she could comb and wash her hair, and she had no trouble operating

the steering wheel, gear selector, or turn signal when she drove. She also testified

she could lift an iron skillet or a gallon of milk, although she sometimes had to

use two hands for the skillet.

      The ALJ, in a colloquy with the VE on the issue of Ms. Stokes’ slight

limitation on fingering, feeling, and grasping, stated “I’m not saying she can’t

work with her hands and fingers, but she shouldn’t be doing small, tedious things

with her hands and fingers. She could put her kid’s bicycle together maybe but

she might not be able to work with her kid’s erector set.” Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at

412. Considering Ms. Stokes’ own testimony that the problem she was

experiencing with her hands was stiffness from arthritis and the ALJ’s

explanation to the VE that he did not want her doing small, tedious things with

her hands and fingers, we hold that the RFC’s limitations that she only operate

foot controls “occasionally,” and that “[s]he is slightly limited in fingering,

feeling[], and grasping,” are supported by substantial evidence.

                                         -23-
      Ms. Stokes also claims the ALJ failed to properly consider the medical

opinion of one of her treating physicians. That physician, Dr. Steve Sanders from

the Pawnee Indian Health Clinic, provided a one-sentence opinion stating “Mary

Stokes suffers from chronic low back [sic] and would not be able to work full

time on a regular basis.” Id. at 308. Ms. Stokes’ attorney informed the ALJ that

the clinic was not cooperative with such requests, that “[w]e get what we can,”

and that he had “to dance a little trick” to get anything at all. Aplt. App., Vol. 2

at 379. In his decision, the ALJ found that Dr. Sanders’ opinion could not “be

given controlling weight because it is brief and conclusory with nothing in the

way of clinical findings to support his conclusion.” Id. at 25.

      Citing Goatcher v. U.S. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 52 F.3d 288, 290

(10th Cir. 1995), Ms. Stokes argues the ALJ should have gone on to determine

what weight he was giving the opinion. No error was made because this is not a

medical opinion. The “opinion” merely opines that Ms. Stokes suffers from

“chronic low back.” Aplt. App., Vol. 2 at 308. It was undisputed that Ms. Stokes

has some degree of back injury and pain. The doctor’s subsequent legal

conclusion that this “chronic low back” rendered Ms. Stokes totally disabled is a

determination reserved for the Commissioner. 20 CFR §§ 404.1527(e),

416.927(e).

      Ms. Stokes also argues the ALJ had a duty to re-contact Dr. Sanders to

obtain a detailed opinion. The applicable regulations state:

                                          -24-
      We will seek additional evidence or clarification from your medical
      source when the report from your medical source contains a conflict
      or ambiguity that must be resolved, the report does not contain all the
      necessary information, or does not appear to be based on medically
      acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. We may do
      this by requesting copies of your medical source’s records, a new
      report, or a more detailed report from your medical source, including
      your treating source, or by telephoning your medical source.

20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1512(e)(1), 416.912(e)(1) (emphasis added). But “it is not the

rejection of the treating physician’s opinion that triggers the duty to recontact the

physician; rather it is the inadequacy of the evidence the ALJ receives from the

claimant’s treating physician that triggers the duty.” White v. Barnhart, 287 F.3d

903, 908 (10th Cir. 2001) (quotations omitted). Here, the administrative record

contains the medical records from the Pawnee Indian Health Clinic. Further, Dr.

Sanders was not the only treating physician and the records from the other

treating physicians are contained in the record as well. Thus, the ALJ did not err

in failing to recontact Dr. Sanders.

      Finally, Ms. Stokes claims that although the ALJ was aware she was on

medication, he “failed to consider [her] medication and side effects with any

significant degree of accuracy.” Aplt. Opening Br. at 41. In support for this one-

sentence argument, Ms. Stokes cites to a district court case and federal

regulations which merely stand for the proposition that when considering

subjective complaints of pain the ALJ should consider, among other things, the

effects of the claimant’s medications. Ms. Stokes’ testimony as to her limitations

                                         -25-
would clearly have taken into account the effects of her medications, as would the

various objective tests in the record. Ms. Stokes’ counsel made no argument at

the administrative hearing regarding any extraordinary effects of her medications

and her appellate brief does not specify what effects the ALJ failed to properly

consider.

      Finally, Ms. Stokes argues that the hypothetical the ALJ presented to the

VE was incomplete. She argues the hypothetical was deficient because it

insufficiently considered Dr. Hickman’s finding in the post-hearing MSE that

Ms. Stokes was markedly limited in her ability to sustain an ordinary routine

without special supervision. Ms. Stokes failed to raise this argument with the

district court. We do not ordinarily address arguments not first raised in the

district court. Crow v. Shalala, 40 F.3d 323, 324 (10th Cir. 1994) (“Absent

compelling reasons, we do not consider arguments that were not presented to the

district court.”). Here, Ms. Stokes argues that this is purely a legal argument and

it is not intended to surprise the Commissioner and should be considered despite

the failure to present it to the district court. But not only was this issue not raised

in the district court, it was not raised in Ms. Stokes’ opening brief. An appellant

must raise all issues and arguments to be reviewed in their opening brief. See

Fed. R. App. P. 28 (a)(5) & (9)(A). An issue or argument insufficiently raised in

the opening brief is deemed waived. Becker v. Kroll, 494 F.3d 904, 913 n.6

(10th Cir. 2007).

                                          -26-
                                V.

The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

                                          Entered for the Court

                                          Wade Brorby
                                          Senior Circuit Judge

                               -27-