Burnes v. Saul

• Court: District Court, E.D. Washington
• Decided: September 8, 2020
• Docket: 1:19-cv-03161
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 2 3 U.S. F DIL ISE TD R I IN C TT H CE O URT EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 4 Sep 08, 2020 5 SEAN F. MCAVOY, CLERK 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 8 9 GREGORY B., No. 1:19-CV-03161-SAB 10 Plaintiff, 11 v. ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S 12 COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL MOTION FOR SUMMARY 13 SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, JUDGMENT; DENYING 14 Defendant. DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR 15 SUMMARY JUDGMENT 16 Before the Court are Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 17 10, and Defendant’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 11. The 18 motions were heard without oral argument. Plaintiff is represented by Victoria B. 19 Chhagan, and Defendant is represented by Assistant United States Attorney 20 Timothy Durkin and Special Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Watson. 21 For the reasons set forth below, the Court grants Plaintiff’s motion, denies 22 Defendant’s motion, and reverse the administrative law judge (“ALJ) decision 23 denying disability benefits. 24 Jurisdiction 25 On December 10, 2015, Plaintiff filed applications for Title II Disability 26 Insurance Benefits and Title XVI Supplemental Security Income Disability 27 benefits, alleging an onset date of December 1, 2013. 28 Plaintiff’s application was denied initially and on reconsideration. On May 1 1, 2018, Plaintiff appeared and testified at a hearing held in Seattle, Washington 2 before an ALJ. Steve Duchesne also participated as a vocational expert. Plaintiff 3 was represented by Timothy Anderson, an attorney. 4 The ALJ issued a decision on July 24, 2018, finding that Plaintiff was not 5 disabled. Plaintiff timely requested review by the Appeals Council, which denied 6 the request on May 5, 2019. The Appeals Council’s denial of review makes the 7 ALJ’s decision the final decision of the Commissioner. 8 Plaintiff filed a timely appeal with the United States District Court for the 9 Eastern District of Washington on July 12, 2019. The matter is before this Court 10 under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 11 Sequential Evaluation Process 12 The Social Security Act defines disability as the “inability to engage in any 13 substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or 14 mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or 15 can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months.” 16 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(A). A claimant shall be determined to be under a 17 disability only if his impairments are of such severity that the claimant is not only 18 unable to do his previous work, but cannot, considering claimant’s age, education, 19 and work experiences, engage in any other substantial gainful work which exists 20 in the national economy. 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(B). 21 The Commissioner has established a five-step sequential evaluation process 22 for determining whether a person is disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a); 23 416.920(a)(4); Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 140-42 (1987). 24 Step 1: Is the claimant engaged in substantial gainful activities? 20 C.F.R. 25 §§ 404.1520(b); 416.920(b). Substantial gainful activity is work done for pay and 26 requires compensation above the statutory minimum. Id.; Keyes v. Sullivan, 894 27 F.2d 1053, 1057 (9th Cir. 1990). If the claimant is engaged in substantial activity, 28 benefits are denied. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(b); 416.920(b). If he is not, the ALJ 1 proceeds to step two. 2 Step 2: Does the claimant have a medically-severe impairment or 3 combination of impairments? 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c); 416.920(c). If the 4 claimant does not have a severe impairment or combination of impairments, the 5 disability claim is denied. A severe impairment is one that lasted or must be 6 expected to last for at least 12 months and must be proven through objective 7 medical evidence. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1509; 416.909. If the impairment is severe, 8 the evaluation proceeds to the third step. 9 Step 3: Does the claimant’s impairment meet or equal one of the listed 10 impairments acknowledged by the Commissioner to be so severe as to preclude 11 substantial gainful activity? 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(d); 20 C.F.R. § 404 Subpt. P. 12 App. 1; § 416.920(d). If the impairment meets or equals one of the listed 13 impairments, the claimant is conclusively presumed to be disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 14 404.1509; 416.909. If the impairment is not one conclusively presumed to be 15 disabling, the evaluation proceeds to the fourth step. 16 Before considering Step 4, the ALJ must first determine the claimant’s 17 residual functional capacity. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(e). An individual’s residual 18 functional capacity is his ability to do physical and mental work activities on a 19 sustained basis despite limitations from his impairments. 20 Step 4: Does the impairment prevent the claimant from performing work he 21 has performed in the past? 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(f); 416.920(e). If the claimant is 22 able to perform his previous work, he is not disabled. Id. If the claimant cannot 23 perform this work, the evaluation proceeds to the fifth and final step. 24 Step 5: Is the claimant able to perform other work in the national economy 25 in view of his age, education, and work experience? 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(g); 26 416.920(f). 27 The initial burden of proof rests upon the claimant to establish a prima facie 28 case of entitlement to disability benefits. Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1098 1 (9th Cir. 1999). This burden is met once a claimant establishes that a physical or 2 mental impairment prevents him from engaging in his previous occupation. Id. At 3 step five, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to show that the claimant can 4 perform other substantial gainful activity. Id. 5 Standard of Review 6 The Commissioner’s determination will be set aside only when the ALJ’s 7 findings are based on legal error or are not supported by substantial evidence in 8 the record as a whole. Matney v. Sullivan, 981 F.2d 1016, 1018 (9th Cir. 1992) 9 (citing 42 U.S.C. § 405(g)). Substantial evidence is “more than a mere scintilla,” 10 Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971), but “less than a preponderance.” 11 Sorenson v. Weinberger, 514 F.2d 1112, 1119 n.10 (9th Cir. 1975). Substantial 12 evidence is “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as 13 adequate to support a conclusion.” Richardson, 402 U.S. at 401. The Court must 14 uphold the ALJ’s denial of benefits if the evidence is susceptible to more than one 15 rational interpretation, one of which supports the decision of the administrative 16 law judge. Batson v. Barnhart, 359 F.3d 1190, 1193 (9th Cir. 2004). The Court 17 reviews the entire record. Jones v. Heckler, 760 F.2d 993, 995 (9th Cir. 1985). “If 18 the evidence can support either outcome, the court may not substitute its judgment 19 for that of the ALJ.” Matney, 981 F.2d at 1019. 20 A decision supported by substantial evidence will be set aside if the proper 21 legal standards were not applied in weighing the evidence and making the 22 decision. Brawner v. Secr’y of Health & Human Servs., 839 F.2d 432, 433 (9th 23 Cir. 1988). An ALJ is allowed “inconsequential” errors as long as they are 24 immaterial to the ultimate nondisability determination. Stout v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. 25 Admin., 454 F.3d 1050, 1055 (9th Cir. 2006). 26 Statement of Facts 27 The facts have been presented in the administrative transcript, the ALJ’s 28 decision, and the briefs to this Court; only the most relevant facts are summarized 1 here. At the time of the hearing, Plaintiff was 32 years old. He graduated from 2 high school and worked as a cashier, cook, customer service representative, and 3 pizza delivery cashier/driver. He lives with his parents. Plaintiff suffers from 4 hemochromatosis. He must have three or four phlebotomies a year to manage the 5 iron levels in his blood. He describes having joint pain and memory loss. He has 6 difficulty doing anything for more than twenty minutes, including playing video 7 games, typing on the computer, or washing dishes. In January 2018, he was 8 diagnosed with fibromyalgia. He also testified that he has irritable bowel 9 syndrome that flares up a couple time a week or more and he experiences tremors. 10 The ALJ’s Findings 11 At step one, the ALJ found Plaintiff has not engaged in substantial gainful 12 activity since December 1, 2013. AR 18. 13 At step two, the ALJ found Plaintiff has the following severe impairments: 14 hereditary hemochromatosis, SI joint dysfunction; mild dextrocurvature and 15 straightening of the normal thoracic kyphosis; and cubital tunnel syndrome. AR 16 18. 17 At step three, the ALJ found that Plaintiff’s impairments or combination of 18 impairments do not meet or medically equal any Listing. AR 19. 19 The ALJ concluded that Plaintiff has the residual functional capacity to 20 perform: 21 Light work as defined in 20 CFR 505.1567(b) and 416.967(b) except he can stand and/or walk about 2 hours in an 8-hour day; he can 22 occasionally balance, stoop, kneel, and crouch; he could not climb or 23 crawl; he can frequently reach, handle, and finger with the upper extremities; and he should avoid concentrated exposure to extreme 24 cold, noise, pulmonary irritants and hazards. 25 AR 20. At step four, the ALJ found that Plaintiff is capable of performing past 26 relevant work as a Customer Service Representative. AR 29. 27 In the alternative, the ALJ found there were other jobs existing in the 28 national economy that he could perform other work, including positions as 1 Receptionist and Final Assembler. AR 30. 2 Issues for Review 3 1. Whether the ALJ was correct in finding fibromyalgia not a medically 4 determinable impairment at step two of the sequential evaluation process? 5 2. Whether the ALJ properly evaluated the treating physician’s opinion? 6 3. Whether the ALJ properly evaluated Plaintiff’s credibility? 7 Discussion 8 The ALJ rejected Plaintiff’s treating doctors’ opinion and found at step two 9 that Plaintiff did not have a medically determinable impairment of fibromyalgia 10 because the SSR 12-2p requirements were not met. He also gave little weight to 11 his treating doctor’s opinion regarding Plaintiff’s physical limitations. 12 To reject the uncontradicted opinion of a treating or examining doctor, the 13 ALJ must state clear and convincing reasons that are supported by substantial 14 evidence. Revels v. Berryhill, 874 F.3d 648, 654 (9th Cir. 2017) (quotation 15 omitted). If a treating or examining doctor’s opinion is contradicted by another 16 doctor’s opinion, an ALJ may only reject it by providing specific and legitimate 17 reasons that are supported by substantial evidence. Id. (quotation omitted). The 18 opinion of a non-examining physician cannot by itself constitute substantial 19 evidence that justifies the rejection of the opinion of either an examining 20 physician or a treating physician. Id. (citation omitted). 21 Plaintiff’s treating doctor, Dr. Duane Teerink, referred Plaintiff to Dr. 22 Jeffrey Ventre due to his diffuse arthropathy and joint pain. AR 451. Dr. Ventre 23 saw Plaintiff in February 2016. He noted that Dr. Shenoi, Plaintiff’s oncologist, 24 told Plaintiff that he should not be having his joint pain because his iron levels 25 were decreasing. AR 451. Dr. Ventre noted that Plaintiff had tender and/or 26 triggerpoints that could be suggestive of a systemic process such as fibromyalgia. 27 AR 451. Dr. Ventre noted that activity exacerbates the symptoms. AR 452. Dr. 28 Ventre referred Plaintiff to Dr. Kelly Timmons. AR 451 1 Plaintiff saw Dr. Timmons, a rheumatologist, in January 2018. AR 628. Dr. 2 Timmons reviewed Plaintiff’s medical records, including an evaluation at 3 Lakeview Rheumatology Clinic in November 2016. AR 628. She listed his 4 symptoms as stomach pain, IBS, muscle weakness in all muscles, headache, 5 fatigue, and sleeping difficulties. AR 630. She diagnosed him with Fibromyalgia 6 (Primary), Hemochromatosis, and Polyarthralgia. AR 630. 7 Social Security Rule (SSR) 12-2p provides guidance for determining 8 whether fibromyalgia is a medically determinable impairment. Social Security 9 Rule, SSR 12-2P; Titles II and XVI; Evaluation of Fibromyalgia, 2012 WL 10 3104869 (July 25, 2012). Pursuant to SSR 12-2p, a claimant can establish that he 11 has a medically determinable impairment of fibromyalgia by provided evidence 12 from an acceptable medical source. Id. at *2. SSR 12-2p provides two sets of 13 criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia. The first set of criteria provides that a person 14 suffers from fibromyalgia if: (1) he has widespread pain that has lasted at least 15 three months; (2) he has tenderness in at least eleven of eighteen specified points 16 on his body; and (3) there is evidence that other disorders are not accounting for 17 the pain. Id. at *2-3. The second set of criteria indicates that a person suffers from 18 fibromyalgia if: (1) he has widespread pain that has lasted at least three months; (2) 19 he has experienced repeated manifestations of six or more fibromyalgia symptoms, 20 signs, or co-occuring conditions, “especially manifestations of fatigue, cognitive 21 or memory problems (‘fibro fog’), waking unrefreshed, depression, anxiety 22 disorder, or irritable bowel syndrome”; and (3) there is evidence that other 23 disorders are not accounting for the pain. Id. at *3. SSR 12-2 instructs that after a 24 claimant has established a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, an analysis of the RFC 25 should consider a “longitudinal record whenever possible.” Id. at *6. 26 Here, the ALJ erred in rejecting of Dr. Timmons’ opinion because he failed 27 to provide specific and legitimate reasons for doing so. The ALJ erred in 28 suggesting that Dr. Timmons disregarded the requirements of the American 1 College of Rheumatology in coming to her diagnosis. Dr. Timmons reviewed 2 Plaintiff’s medical records and note the absence of a number of signs/symptoms 3 characteristic of other conditions. AR 628. Plaintiff’s medical records contained 4 evidence of tender points. It was not reasonable to question her diagnosis because 5 she did not specifically identify the number and location of the tender points. See 6 Contreras v. Astrue, 2010 WL 1784725 (9th Cir. 2010) (in an unpublished 7 opinion, the Ninth Circuit indicated that it is not necessary for a physician to 8 provide documentation identifying the specific number and location of the tender 9 points for fibromyalgia to be a medically determinable impairment). 10 Consequently, the ALJ erred in concluding that fibromyalgia was not a 11 severe impairment, and then erred in rejecting Plaintiff’s pain testimony on the 12 grounds that his other impairments did not reasonably account for his symptoms. 13 The ALJ erred in rejecting the February 2016 opinion of Plaintiff’s treating 14 physician, Dr. Teerink because he failed to provide specific and legitimate reasons 15 for rejecting it. A non-examining DDS consultant, Dr. Hale, assessed fewer 16 limitations than Dr. Teerink, AR 121. However, his opinion alone does not 17 constitute substantial evidence sufficient to reject a treating or examining 18 physician. See Tonapetyan v. Halter 242 F.3d 1144, 1149 (9th Cir. 2001). 19 Moreover, Dr. Hale did not directly address some of the limitations assessed by 20 Dr. Teerink, and thus, did not contest them. 21 The ALJ also failed to provide clear and convincing reasons for rejecting 22 Plaintiff’s testimony about his symptoms and functional limitations. The ALJ 23 found there was no reason for Plaintiff to have the level of pain he alleged since 24 the phlebotomies were reducing his iron levels. However, this finding does not 25 account for Plaintiff’s diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Moreover, Plaintiff testified that 26 he was unable to work full-time. He explained that he worked for Pizza Hut for 27 many years, starting out as full time, then transitioning to part-time. Pizza Hut was 28 able to accommodate his medical condition to permit him to work part-time, but 1 as his condition worsened, he was unable to continue part-time work. The ALJ 2 erred to relying on Plaintiff’s part-time work to find his description of his 3 symptoms incredible. 4 Conclusion 5 Because the ALJ erred in rejecting Dr. Timmons’s diagnosis of 6 fibromyalgia, erred in rejecting Dr. Teerink’s opinions, and erred in finding 7 Plaintiff not credible, it is necessary to remand this case to the Commissioner for 8 further proceedings to make a new step two finding; re-evaluate the medical and 9 testimonial evidence, reassess Plaintiff’s RFC and make new step four and five 10 findings. 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17 // 18 // 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24 // 25 // 26 // 27 // 28 // 1 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 1. Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 10, is GRANTED. 2. Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 11, is DENIED. 3. The decision of the Commissioner denying benefits is reversed. This matter is remanded to the Commissioner for further proceedings. The Commissioner must make a new step two finding; re-evaluation the medical and testimonial evidence, reassess Plaintiff's RFC, and make new step four and five findings. 4. The District Court Executive is directed to enter judgment in favor of Plaintiffand against Defendant. I] IT IS SO ORDERED. The District Court Executive is hereby directed to 12| file this Order, provide copies to counsel, and close the file. l DATED this 8th day of September 2020. 1 1 I by Siesta Stanley A. Bastian

Chief United States District Judge

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