Calhoun v. Commissioner of Social Security

338 F. Supp. 2d 765, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21681, 2004 WL 2251833
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedJune 14, 2004
Docket03-71524
StatusPublished

This text of 338 F. Supp. 2d 765 (Calhoun v. Commissioner of Social Security) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Calhoun v. Commissioner of Social Security, 338 F. Supp. 2d 765, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21681, 2004 WL 2251833 (E.D. Mich. 2004).

Opinion

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

ROBERTS, District Judge.

On April 23, 2004, Magistrate Judge Whalen issued a Report and Recommendation [Doc. 17], recommending that Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment be denied, Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment be granted, and the case be remanded for further proceedings. Neither party has filed objections within the ten day period pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Thus, the Court adopts the Report and Recommendation. Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. 9] is GRANTED, Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. 15] is DENIED, and the case is REMANDED for further proceedings.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

WHALEN, United States Magistrate Judge.

Plaintiff Stephanie Calhoun brings this action under 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3) to challenge a final decision of Defendant Commissioner denying her application for Social Security benefits under Title II and XVIII of the Social Security Act. Both parties have filed summary judgment motions which have been referred for a report and recommendation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B). Because there was not substantial evidence on the record that Plaintiff could perform jobs in the national economy, Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment should be granted, Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment should be denied, and the case remanded for further proceedings.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Plaintiff applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) under the Social Security Act alleging that she became disabled on February 13, 1991 (Tr. 53, 65). 1 Plaintiffs claim was denied initially (Tr. 35). On April 23, 2002, a hearing was held before Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) John Ransom, where Plaintiff was represented by counsel and testified (Tr. 391-411). Mary Williams testified as a voca *768 tional expert (VE) (Tr. 407-412). The ALJ issued a decision denying benefits and finding that Plaintiff was not disabled because she could perform a significant number of jobs in the national economy (Tr. 26-34).

On February 21, 2003, the Appeals Council denied review (Tr. 5-7). Both parties have submitted summary judgment motions.

BACKGROUND FACTS

Plaintiff was 53 years old when the ALJ issued his decision (Tr. 53). She graduated from high school, and completed some college-course work (Tr. 71). Plaintiff claimed that she could not work because of high blood pressure, pain in her back, right hand and right foot, swelling in her feet and legs, chest pain and headaches (Tr. 395-397). She further stated that she had poorly controlled diabetes (Tr. 399).

A. Plaintiffs Testimony

At the April 2002, hearing before ALJ Ransom, Plaintiff testified that she did not drive anymore because it was too painful on her back, right hand and right foot (Tr. 394-395). She stated that she also had problems reading (Tr. 395). Plaintiff indicated that she took blood pressure medication, but that it did not work (Tr. 396). “... My blood pressure is always high” (Tr. 396). She said that she also experienced swelling with her feet and legs and that she had chest pain (Tr. 397). The swelling lasted all night, and in the summer, the swelling was especially bad. Plaintiff testified that she had headaches, and that her doctor told her it might be mini seizures “because the headaches are in colors” (Tr. 398). She indicated that she had pain from the base of her neck all the way down her spine and all along her right side, especially in her joints (Tr. 399).

Plaintiff testified that her blood sugar level ran high, and “once every two days, it’ll drop just for no reason.... And once it drops past 70, I get the shakes” (Tr. 399). She said that she also had problems with her vision, and that her eyes would stay blurry even when she wore glasses (Tr. 400). Plaintiff indicated that she had an untreatable bleeding ulcer (Tr. 400). She said that she had a lot of side effects from all the medications that she took, such as sleepiness, itchiness, and that her hair fell out and some medications caused her to stay awake (Tr. 401). She also indicated that she was depressed and had fibromyalgia (Tr. 402).

Plaintiff testified that she did not cook anymore, did not clean dishes, but would straighten up or sweep when the house needed it (Tr. 403). One of her daughters did the laundry and the grocery shopping (Tr. 404). Plaintiff stated that she could walk about four blocks, “but by the time I get back I’d be in so much pain, I’d have to just stand there at the sink” (Tr. 405). She indicated that she could bend and walk stairs sometimes, had problems standing in lines, reaching and gripping, could sit for about an hour and was unable to carry or lift weight (Tr. 405-407). Plaintiff said that she could no longer perform any hobbies because of pain (Tr. 407). Her hobbies had been sawing, wood finishing, lamp repair, and writing (Tr. 407).

B. Medical Evidence

Dr. Santiago examined Plaintiff in 1999, at which time Plaintiffs hypertension was under fair control (Tr. 305-306). In a December 1999 report, Dr. Santiago assessed Plaintiff as capable of standing, walking, and sitting for four hours throughout an eight-hour workday, occasionally lifting up to twenty pounds, and frequently lifting up to ten pounds. Plaintiff could use her hands and arms for *769 grasping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and fíne manipulation, and could operate foot and leg controls with both feet (Tr. 306). Dr. Santiago stated that Plaintiff was limited in reading, writing, and following directions (Tr. 306).

Dr. Pestrue performed a consultative psychological examination of Plaintiff in September 2000 (Tr. 284-291). She reported that her biggest problem was pain in her back because of deteriorating discs (Tr. 284). Plaintiff indicated that she had severe headaches three times a week, and that her blood pressure was high. She also said that she had chest pains and was depressed (Tr. 285). Plaintiff reported felling depressed due to pain. She reported performing daily activities including limited household chores (Tr. 287-288). Although Plaintiffs facial expression appeared depressed, she was alert and interacted with the examiner in a friendly, cooperative, spontaneous, and socially appropriate manner (Tr. 288). The pace, volume, and tone of her speech were normal. Plaintiff was in contact with reality, her motor activity was normal, and she appeared to have good motivation for many of life’s usual activities. Dr. Pes-true diagnosed dysthymia, and assigned Plaintiff a Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) rating of 50 2 (Tr. 291).

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338 F. Supp. 2d 765, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21681, 2004 WL 2251833, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/calhoun-v-commissioner-of-social-security-mied-2004.