Canfield v. SSA

District Court, D. New Hampshire·Decided April 19, 2001·No. CV-00-267-B·Published

Opinion

Canfield v. SSA CV-00-267-B 04/19/01

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Kathy L. Canfield

v. vil No. 0 Opinion No. 2001DNH078

Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner, Social Security Administration

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Kathy L. Canfield applied for Title II Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits on February 1 , 1995. Canfield alleged an inability to work since November 1 8 , 1993, due to migraines, spina bifida, fibromyalgia, and hip, neck, and back pain. The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) denied her application initially and on reconsideration. Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) Frederick Harap held a hearing on Canfield’s claim on October 5 , 1995. In a decision dated December 2 8 , 1995, the ALJ found that Canfield was not disabled at any time prior to the expiration of her insured status on June 3 0 , 1995. On January 2 , 1997, the Appeals Council vacated the ALJ’s decision and remanded the case to the ALJ for a new hearing and decision. The ALJ held a second hearing on April 1 1 , 1997, and in a decision dated July

1 0 , 1997, the ALJ again found that Canfield was not disabled. On April 7 , 2000, the Appeals Council denied Canfield’s request for review, rendering the ALJ’s decision the final decision of the Commissioner of the SSA.

Canfield brings this action pursuant to § 205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), seeking review of the denial of her claim for benefits. For the reasons set forth below, I vacate the ALJ’s decision and remand the case for further proceedings.

I . FACTS1

Canfield was thirty-three years old when she filed her application for benefits on February 1 , 1995. She has the equivalent of a high school education and has worked as an electronics assembler, electronic line supervisor, office clerk, accounts payable clerk, secretary, and receptionist. Tr. 2 at

1 Unless otherwise noted, the following facts are taken from the Joint Statement of Material Facts, Doc. N o . 7 , submitted by the parties.

2 “Tr.” refers to the certified transcript of the record submitted to the Court by the SSA in connection with this case.

21. Although Canfield has not worked since 1990, she alleges that she could have worked up until November 1 8 , 1993, the date she suffered injuries in a car accident.

Canfield ruptured two discs in her neck in the car accident and sustained minor injuries to her mid-back and left shoulder. The ruptured discs cause pain that radiates down into her shoulder and arms and sometimes causes her hands to go numb. Tr. at 5 8 . Canfield had a migraine after the accident, and she testified at the second hearing that she continues to have crippling migraines four or five times per month. She takes Fioricet and Fiorinal with codeine to relieve her migraine symptoms.

The Lakes Region General Hospital Physical Therapy Department evaluated Canfield on November 2 3 , 1993. They determined that she suffered from probable cervical strain and recommended that she attend physical therapy two or three times per week for three to five weeks. In December 1993, Canfield reported to D r . Theodore Capron, her treating physician, that she developed increased mid-back pain most afternoons which radiated up to her skull and eyes.

On January 7 , 1994, Dr. Michele Rush, a neurologist,

examined Canfield. Dr. Rush determined, based on a sensory exam, that Canfield might suffer from a traumatic herniated disc. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the cervical spine, ordered by D r . Rush, showed a small, broad-based central herniation in the C4-5 intervertebral disc which minimally impinges on the spinal cord.

In March 1994, Dr. Richard Saunders, a neurosurgeon, examined Canfield. She reported to him that her neck symptoms have potentiated her migraine headaches, increasing their severity and frequency. Dr. Saunders noted that Canfield held her neck in a subtly guarded fashion and that her range of motion from flexion to extension was 90 degrees. Her neurological examination, however, did not show evidence of spinal cord or root impairment, and therefore surgery was not appropriate at that time. Dr. Saunders diagnosed Canfield with a cervical disc problem and a superimposed tension migraine complex. He recommended traction, ultrasound, massage, and collar protection. On March 9, 1994, Canfield ceased attending active physical therapy sessions. At that time, her cervical rotation remained limited to 50 degrees on the left and 40 degrees on the right.

Instead of physical therapy, Canfield began using a home

traction machine on a daily basis. Tr. at 157. She also sought chiropractic treatment between July and October 1994 from D r . Kenneth Rafferty. Shortly after her chiropractic treatment ended, Canfield sought psychological treatment from Richard Segal, M.A., because she was anxious, agitated, and depressed. Segal noted that Canfield’s depression was moderate and that her daily functioning was not greatly impaired as a result. In November 1994, Dr. Capron noted that Canfield was taking Elavil and that, as a result, her mood was better.

In January 1995, D r . Capron noted that Canfield continued to complain of neck, shoulder, back, and hip pain, all of which waxed and waned. Canfield told D r . Capron that because she felt weak all over she had to give up her baby-sitting because she could no longer pick up children. Canfield tested positive for 14 of the 18 trigger points for fibromyalgia.3 Dr. Capron prescribed Flexeril but later placed Canfield on Relafen.

In February 1995, D r . Campbell, a medical consultant for the

3 Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorder which results in pain in the fibrous tissues, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, however, no attendant inflammation is

i

present. Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy 481 (17th ed. 1999).

state disability determination agency, assessed Canfield’s physical residual functional capacity (“RFC”). Dr. Campbell determined that Canfield could lift and carry 10 pounds frequently and 20 pounds occasionally; sit or stand for six hours in an eight-hour workday; and occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl. Dr. Campbell also concluded that Canfield’s ability to reach overhead, to handle objects frequently, and to turn her head and neck was limited.4 Based on this RFC assessment, the state disability determination agency concluded that Canfield’s muscle pain, fatigue, and left arm weakness might prevent her from performing past types of work which required repetitive overhead reaching, frequent handling, or frequent turning of the hands and wrists. The agency, however, concluded that Canfield would be able to perform some types of light work.

In March 1995, Dr. David Publow examined Canfield and reviewed her medical records at the request of an insurance company. He did not assess Canfield’s physical RFC, however, he

4 I note that there is a discrepancy as to the correct reading of Dr. Campbell’s notes in the “Manipulative Limitations section of her RFC assessment. I discuss this discrepancy in greater detail in Footnote 11 of the Discussion section.

noted that Canfield showed guarded motion of the cervical spine, and that this motion was not within the normal range. Dr. Publow concluded that Canfield was not disabled from her usual duties as a homemaker and that her cervical condition, under the AMA Guide to Permanent Impairment, resulted in a permanent partial physical impairment of 5% of the whole body. Dr. Saunders agreed that Canfield suffered a 5% impairment due to her disc herniation, however, he felt that her total impairment “equates to a substantially greater disability, in light of her probable fibromyalgia, chronic strain, and tension migraine complex.” Tr. at 184.

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