Benton v. Commissioner of Social Security

• Court: District Court, W.D. Washington
• Decided: March 9, 2022
• Docket: 3:21-cv-05728
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 2 3 4

5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 7 8 JOHN B., 9 Plaintiff, Case No. C21-5728-SKV 10 v. ORDER AFFIRMING THE COMMISSIONER’S DECISION 11 COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, 12 Defendant. 13 14 Plaintiff seeks review of the denial of his applications for Supplemental Security Income 15 (SSI) and Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB). Having considered the ALJ’s decision, the 16 administrative record (AR), and all memoranda of record, the Court AFFIRMS the 17 Commissioner’s final decision and DISMISSES the case with prejudice. 18 BACKGROUND 19 Plaintiff was born in 1979, has at least a high school education, and has worked as a 20 construction framer, acoustical carpenter, shipping and receiving clerk, and diesel mechanic. AR 21 23. Plaintiff was last gainfully employed in the second quarter of 2018. AR 17. 22 On March 11, 2019, Plaintiff applied for DIB, alleging disability as of April 25, 2018. 23 AR 15, 183–84. On August 7, 2019, Plaintiff applied for SSI, alleging the same disability onset 1 date. AR 15, 188–204. Plaintiff’s applications were denied initially and on reconsideration, and 2 Plaintiff requested a hearing. AR 69–78, 82–109, 130–31. After the ALJ conducted a hearing 3 on December 3, 2020, the ALJ issued a decision finding Plaintiff not disabled. AR 15–25. 4 THE ALJ’S DECISION

5 Utilizing the five-step disability evaluation process,1 the ALJ found:

6 Step one: Plaintiff has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since April 25, 2018, the alleged onset date. 7 Step two: Plaintiff has the following severe impairments: degenerative disc disease of 8 the lumbar spine.

9 Step three: These impairments do not meet or equal the requirements of a listed impairment.2 10 Residual Functional Capacity (RFC): Plaintiff can perform light work with additional 11 restrictions. He can lift and/or carry 20 pounds occasionally and 10 pounds frequently. He can stand and/or walk six hours in an eight-hour day, and sit six hours. He can 12 occasionally climb ramps and stairs, but never ladders, ropes, or scaffolds. He can occasionally balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. He should avoid all concentrated 13 exposure to vibration and avoid all exposure to workplace hazards.

14 Step four: Plaintiff cannot perform past relevant work.

15 Step five: As there are jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy that Plaintiff can perform, Plaintiff is not disabled. 16

17 AR 17–24. 18 The Appeals Council denied Plaintiff’s request for review, making the ALJ’s decision the 19 Commissioner’s final decision. AR 1–3. Plaintiff appealed the final decision of the 20 Commissioner to this Court. Dkt. 4. 21 // 22 // 23 1 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920. 2 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P., App. 1. 1 LEGAL STANDARDS 2 Under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), this Court may set aside the Commissioner’s denial of social 3 security benefits when the ALJ’s findings are based on harmful legal error or not supported by 4 substantial evidence in the record as a whole. Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1214 (9th Cir.

5 2005). As a general principle, an ALJ’s error may be deemed harmless where it is 6 “inconsequential to the ultimate nondisability determination.” Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 7 1115 (9th Cir. 2012) (cited sources omitted). The Court looks to “the record as a whole to 8 determine whether the error alters the outcome of the case.” Id. 9 Substantial evidence is “more than a mere scintilla. It means - and means only - such 10 relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” 11 Biestek v. Berryhill, 139 S. Ct. 1148, 1154 (2019) (cleaned up); Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 12 747, 750 (9th Cir. 1989). The ALJ is responsible for evaluating symptom testimony, resolving 13 conflicts in medical testimony, and resolving any other ambiguities that might exist. Andrews v. 14 Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 1995). While the Court is required to examine the record

15 as a whole, it may neither reweigh the evidence nor substitute its judgment for that of the 16 Commissioner. Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 954 (9th Cir. 2002). When the evidence is 17 susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, it is the Commissioner’s conclusion that 18 must be upheld. Id. 19 DISCUSSION 20 Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred by (1) finding Plaintiff did not have severe impairments 21 related to his left knee, sleep issues, and obesity; (2) finding Plaintiff did not have an impairment 22 or combination of impairments that met or medically equaled a listed impairment; (3) rejecting 23 as irrelevant the opinions of David Broderick, M.D.; and (4) discounting Plaintiff’s symptom 1 testimony when assessing his RFC. The Commissioner argues the ALJ’s decision is free of 2 harmful legal error, supported by substantial evidence, and should be affirmed. 3 A. The ALJ Did Not Err in Finding Plaintiff’s Left Knee Issues, Insomnia, and Obesity Were Not Severe Impairments 4 Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred by failing to find severe impairments relating to his left 5 knee, insomnia, and obesity. The step-two inquiry is “merely a threshold determination meant to 6 screen out weak claims.” Buck v. Berryhill, 869 F.3d 1040, 1048 (9th Cir. 2017) (citing Bowen 7 v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 146–47 (1987)). At step two, the ALJ must determine if the claimant 8 suffers from any impairments that are “severe.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). “An 9 impairment or combination of impairments may be found ‘not severe only if the evidence 10 establishes a slight abnormality that has no more than a minimal effect on an individual’s 11 work.’” Webb v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 683, 686–87 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting Smolen v. Chater, 80 12 F.3d 1273, 1290 (9th Cir. 1996)). As long as the claimant has at least one severe impairment, the 13 disability inquiry moves on to step three. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(d), 416.920(d). 14 Plaintiff has failed to show the ALJ harmfully erred in finding he did not have a severe 15 impairment of his left knee. See Ludwig v. Astrue, 681 F.3d 1047, 1054 (9th Cir. 2012) (citing 16 Shinseki v. Sanders, 556 U.S. 396, 407–09 (2009)) (holding that the party challenging an 17 administrative decision bears the burden of proving harmful error). The ALJ reasonably noted 18 Plaintiff had undergone knee surgery in February 2011, over seven years before the alleged onset 19 date. AR 18, 749. The ALJ also noted there was “little to no treatment or complaints near or 20 after the alleged onset date.” AR 18, 646. Plaintiff worked during the time between his knee 21 surgery and the alleged onset date, and thus the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s left knee pain was 22 not a severe impairment—meaning it had no more than a minimal effect on his work—was 23 supported by substantial evidence. 1 Plaintiff has similarly failed to show the ALJ harmfully erred in finding insomnia and 2 obesity were not severe impairments. Plaintiff has not set forth credible evidence supporting the 3 existence of any functional limitations attributable to insomnia or obesity that the ALJ failed to 4 properly evaluate. See Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 684 (9th Cir. 2005) (“Burch has not set

5 forth, and there is no evidence in the record, of any functional limitations as a result of her 6 obesity that the ALJ failed to consider.”). As the ALJ noted, Plaintiff often denied difficulty 7 sleeping. AR 18, 674, 685, 694, 698. And Plaintiff’s body mass index, regardless of whether the 8 ALJ properly defined it, was not enough on its own to establish a severe impairment. See Social 9 Security Ruling (SSR) 19-2P, 2019 WL 2374244, at *4 (May 20, 2019) (“No specific weight or 10 BMI establishes obesity as a ‘severe’ or ‘not severe’ impairment. . . . We do an individualized 11 assessment of the effect of obesity on a person’s functioning when deciding whether the 12 impairment is severe.”). Plaintiff has thus failed to show the ALJ harmfully erred at step two. 13 B. The ALJ Did Not Err in Finding Plaintiff Did Not Have a Listed Impairment 14 Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred by failing to consider whether Plaintiff met Listing 1.03.

15 At step three of the disability evaluation process, the ALJ considers whether one or more of the 16 claimant’s impairments meets or medically equals an impairment listed in 20 C.F.R. § 404, 17 Subpart P, Appendix 1 (the “Listings”). 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(d), 416.920(d). “The listings 18 define impairments that would prevent an adult, regardless of his age, education, or work 19 experience, from performing any gainful activity, not just ‘substantial gainful activity.’” 20 Sullivan v. Zebley, 493 U.S. 521, 532 (1990) (emphasis in original; citations omitted). 21 Plaintiff bears the burden of proof at step three. Bowen, 482 U.S. at 146 n.5. To meet a 22 Listing, a claimant must show he meets “all of the specified medical criteria.” Sullivan, 493 U.S. 23 at 530. To equal a Listing, “a claimant must establish symptoms, signs and laboratory findings 1 ‘at least equal in severity and duration’ to the characteristics of a relevant listed impairment, or, 2 if a claimant’s impairment is not listed, then to the listed impairment ‘most like’ the claimant’s 3 impairment.” Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1099–1100 (quoting 20 C.F.R. § 404.1526). 4 To be found disabled under the version of Listing 1.033 in effect at the time of the ALJ’s

5 decision here, Plaintiff must establish he (1) underwent reconstructive surgery or surgical 6 arthrodesis of a major weight-bearing joint, and (2) was unable to ambulate effectively, and 7 return to effective ambulation did not occur within 12 months of onset. “Inability to ambulate 8 effectively means an extreme limitation of the ability to walk; i.e., an impairment(s) that 9 interferes very seriously with the individual’s ability to independently initiate, sustain, or 10 complete activities.” Listing 1.00(B)(2)(b)(1). Examples of ineffective ambulation include the 11 inability to walk without a walker, walk a block at a reasonable pace on rough or uneven 12 surfaces, use public transportation, and climb a few steps at a reasonable pace with the use of a 13 single handrail. Listing 1.00(B)(2)(b)(2). 14 Plaintiff has failed to show harmful error. First, although he testified to some issues

15 walking on uneven surfaces and climbing steps, he has not pointed to any medical evidence 16 showing he was unable to ambulate effectively due to his left knee pain. See Ford v. Saul, 950 17 F.3d 1141, 1157 (9th Cir. 2020) (holding ALJ need not discuss whether impairment equals 18 Listing unless plaintiff presents evidence to establish equivalence); cf. Mannion v. Comm’r of 19 Social Sec. Admin., 2017 WL 5598810 at *4 (D. Or. Nov. 21, 2017) (“Absent identification of 20 21

3 The Commissioner revised the Listings related to musculoskeletal disorders effective April 2, 2021. 22 Revised Medical Criteria for Evaluating Musculoskeletal Disorders, 85 Fed. Reg. 78164-01, 202 WL 7056412 (Dec. 3, 2020). This was after the ALJ decision at issue here, and thus the prior version of those 23 Listings applies. The prior version is archived at Program Operations Manual System DI 34131.013, available at https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0434121013. All citations in this order refer to that version of the Listings. 1 some medical evidence by Plaintiff that he satisfies all the listing criteria . . . the ALJ’s failure to 2 discuss it is harmless error at best.”). 3 Second, the ALJ discussed Plaintiff’s knee issues, albeit at step two, and determined the 4 evidence did not support a finding of even a severe impairment. As discussed above, the ALJ

5 did not err in making that finding, as Plaintiff received little to no treatment for his knee near or 6 after the alleged onset date. The ALJ did not have to repeat that discussion in the step three 7 section. See Lewis v. Apfel, 236 F.3d 503, 513 (9th Cir. 2001) (holding ALJ did not have to 8 make specific findings regarding Listings when ALJ elsewhere found Plaintiff’s impairments 9 were well-controlled by medication and Plaintiff was noncompliant with treatment). Plaintiff 10 has therefore failed to show the ALJ harmfully erred in finding Plaintiff did not meet a Listing. 11 C. The ALJ Did Not Err in Rejecting Dr. Broderick’s Opinions 12 Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred in rejecting Dr. Broderick’s opinions because they were 13 meant to describe permanent limitations, and were thus temporally relevant. Dr. Broderick 14 examined Plaintiff in August 2011, and signed a report containing his opinions in September

15 2011. AR 748–56. Dr. Broderick opined Plaintiff had intermittent episodes of left knee pain. 16 AR 754. He opined Plaintiff “would benefit from restrictions from repetitive squatting and 17 kneeling, as this type of activity would, in all probability, aggravate his left knee complaints.” 18 Id. Dr. Broderick opined Plaintiff would be able to perform his former work activities as a parts 19 runner. AR 756. 20 Plaintiff has failed to show the ALJ harmfully erred in addressing Dr. Broderick’s 21 opinions. First, the ALJ reasonably noted Dr. Broderick’s opinions were from approximately 22 seven years prior to the alleged onset date, and therefore not temporally relevant. Carmickle v. 23 1 Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 533 F.3d 1155, 1165 (9th Cir. 2008) (“Medical opinions that predate 2 the alleged onset of disability are of limited relevance.”). 3 Second, the RFC is consistent with Dr. Broderick’s opinions, so the ALJ did not need to 4 give reasons for rejecting it. See Turner v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 613 F.3d 1217, 1223

5 (9th Cir. 2010) (holding ALJ need not provide reason for rejecting physician’s opinions where 6 the ALJ incorporated opinions into RFC; ALJ incorporated opinions by assessing RFC 7 limitations “entirely consistent” with limitations assessed by physician). Dr. Broderick opined 8 Plaintiff should be restricted from activities involving repetitive squatting and kneeling, and the 9 RFC limited Plaintiff to only occasional stooping, crouching, and crawling. AR 19, 754. 10 Plaintiff has failed to show any appreciable difference between these limitations, and has 11 therefore failed to show harmful error. 12 D. The ALJ Did Not Err in Discounting Plaintiff’s Symptom Testimony 13 Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred by discounting Plaintiff’s testimony when formulating the 14 RFC. Plaintiff testified he has problems with balance and going up stairs due to back pain that

15 travels into his legs. AR 45, 47, 262. He testified he can sit for two to three minutes at times 16 before needing to stand up or adjust, and 20 to 30 minutes at other times. AR 47, 262. He 17 testified he can stand for 10 to 20 minutes at times, and at others cannot stand up due to back 18 spasms. AR 48, 262. He testified he has problems walking on uneven surfaces because of his 19 balance issues and pain. AR 52, 257. He testified he could probably walk a block on an uneven 20 surface. AR 52, 262. 21 Plaintiff testified he still has limitations due to his knee injury in 2011. See AR 49–50. 22 He testified he cannot kneel, squat, stoop, crouch, or crawl. AR 50. He testified he has to use a 23 handrail while going up or down stairs, and uses a cane from time to time. AR 51, 263. 1 The Ninth Circuit has “established a two-step analysis for determining the extent to 2 which a claimant’s symptom testimony must be credited.” Trevizo v. Berryhill, 871 F.3d 664, 3 678 (9th Cir. 2017). The ALJ must first determine whether the claimant has presented objective 4 medical evidence of an impairment that “‘could reasonably be expected to produce the pain or

5 other symptoms alleged.’” Id. (quoting Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1014–15 (9th Cir. 6 2014)). At this stage, the claimant need only show the impairment could reasonably have caused 7 some degree of the symptoms; he does not have to show the impairment could reasonably be 8 expected to cause the severity of the symptoms alleged. Id. The ALJ found Plaintiff met this 9 step because his medically determinable impairments could reasonably be expected to cause the 10 symptoms he alleged. AR at 20. 11 If the claimant satisfies the first step, and there is no evidence of malingering, the ALJ 12 may only reject the claimant’s testimony “‘by offering specific, clear and convincing reasons for 13 doing so. This is not an easy requirement to meet.’” Trevizo, 871 F.3d at 678 (quoting 14 Garrison, 759 F.3d at 1014–15). In evaluating the ALJ’s determination at this step, the Court

15 may not substitute its judgment for that of the ALJ. Fair v. Bowen, 885 F.2d 597, 604 (9th Cir. 16 1989). As long as the ALJ’s decision is supported by substantial evidence, it should stand, even 17 if some of the ALJ’s reasons for discrediting a claimant’s testimony fail. See Tonapetyan v. 18 Halter, 242 F.3d 1144, 1148 (9th Cir. 2001). 19 Plaintiff has failed to show the ALJ harmfully erred in rejecting his testimony regarding 20 his back pain. As the ALJ noted, objective findings were relatively minimal. AR 21. Imaging 21 including MRIs showed minimal degenerative changes with small disc bulges or protrusions, 22 primarily at L4-L5. AR 399–400, 512, 827. Several providers also noted inconsistencies 23 between Plaintiff’s presentation and the severity of his complaints. One examiner noted Plaintiff 1 demonstrated more stability when not being tested, and “his active range of motion of the lumbar 2 spine is observed to be better when he is getting on and off the examining table, compared to 3 during formal testing.” AR 647–48. Another provider told Plaintiff he “ha[d] no explanation for 4 his persisting and worsening symptomatology. The objective evidence does not establish a cause

5 for it.” AR 679. The ALJ’s reasoning was accordingly supported by substantial evidence. 6 The ALJ’s analysis of Plaintiff’s back pain symptom testimony was not free from error, 7 but the errors were harmless. The ALJ erred, for example, in finding Plaintiff received only 8 conservative treatment. AR 21. Plaintiff received multiple steroid injections for his back pain, 9 which, while short of surgery, are not considered conservative. See Garrison, 759 F.3d at 1015 10 n.20 (“[W]e doubt that epidural steroid shots . . . qualify as ‘conservative’ medical treatment.”). 11 The ALJ’s errors were nonetheless harmless because they did not affect the ultimate 12 nondisability determination. Molina, 674 F.3d at 1115. The ALJ still gave valid reasons for 13 rejecting Plaintiff’s testimony regarding his back pain, and the validity of those reasons is 14 unaffected by the invalidity of the ALJ’s erroneous reasons.

15 Plaintiff has also failed to show the ALJ harmfully erred in rejecting Plaintiff’s testimony 16 regarding the severity of his knee pain. In his step two analysis, the ALJ noted Plaintiff had 17 received little to no treatment for his knee since the alleged onset date, and had made few to no 18 complaints in that time. AR 18. An ALJ may discount the claimant’s testimony when the 19 “‘level or frequency of treatment is inconsistent with the level of complaints.’” Molina, 674 F.3d 20 at 1113 (quoting SSR 96–7p, 1996 WL 374186, at *7 (July 2, 1996)).4 Plaintiff has therefore 21 failed to show the ALJ harmfully erred in rejecting his symptom testimony. 22

23 4 SSR 96–7p has been superseded by SSR 16–3p, 2017 WL 5180304 (Oct. 25, 2017). SSR 16–3p nonetheless retains language providing that an ALJ may discount a claimant’s testimony “if the frequency 1 CONCLUSION 2 For the reasons set forth above, the Commissioner’s final decision is AFFIRMED and 3 this case is DISMISSED with prejudice. 4 Dated 9th day of March, 2022.

5 A 6 S. KATE VAUGHAN 7 United States Magistrate Judge

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 or extent of the treatment sought by an individual is not comparable with the degree of the individual’s subjective complaints.” Id. at *9.