7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 8 AT SEATTLE
9 MELANIE C.,
10 Plaintiff, CASE NO. C19-6160-MAT
11 v. ORDER RE: SOCIAL SECURITY 12 ANDREW M. SAUL, DISABILITY APPEAL Commissioner of Social Security, 13 Defendant. 14
15 Plaintiff proceeds through counsel in her appeal of a final decision of the Commissioner of 16 the Social Security Administration (Commissioner). The Commissioner denied plaintiff’s 17 applications for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) after 18 a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Having considered the ALJ’s decision, the 19 administrative record (AR), and all memoranda, this matter is AFFIRMED. 20 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY 21 Plaintiff was born on XXXX, 1971.1 She has a twelfth-grade education and previously 22
23 1 Dates of birth must be redacted to the year. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(a)(2) and LCR 5.2(a)(1). 1 worked as a medical assistant and case aide, a composite job. (AR 34, 104.) 2 Plaintiff protectively filed DIB and SSI applications on April 25, 2016, alleging disability 3 beginning August 28, 2015. The applications were denied initially and on reconsideration. ALJ
4 John Michaelsen held a hearing on April 20, 2018, taking testimony from plaintiff and a vocational 5 expert (VE). (AR 11-33.) On July 5, 2018, the ALJ issued a decision finding plaintiff not disabled. 6 (AR 93-106.) 7 Plaintiff timely appealed. The Appeals Council denied plaintiff’s request for review on 8 July 17, 2019 (AR 1), making the ALJ’s decision the final decision of the Commissioner. Plaintiff 9 appealed this final decision of the Commissioner to this Court. 10 JURISDICTION 11 The Court has jurisdiction to review the ALJ’s decision pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 12 DISCUSSION 13 The Commissioner follows a five-step sequential evaluation process for determining
14 whether a claimant is disabled. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920 (2000). At step one, it must 15 be determined whether the claimant is gainfully employed. The ALJ found plaintiff had not 16 engaged in substantial gainful activity since the alleged onset date. At step two, it must be 17 determined whether a claimant suffers from a severe impairment. The ALJ found severe: history 18 of multiple sclerosis, obesity, status post laminectomy syndrome with spondylosis, peripheral 19 neuropathy, anxiety and depression. Step three asks whether a claimant’s impairments meet or 20 equal a listed impairment. The ALJ found plaintiff’s impairments did not meet or equal a listing. 21 If a claimant’s impairments do not meet or equal a listing, the Commissioner must assess 22 residual functional capacity (RFC) and determine at step four whether the claimant has 23 demonstrated an inability to perform past relevant work. The ALJ found plaintiff able to perform 1 light work as defined in 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(b) and 416.967(b), except plaintiff is further 2 limited to no more than occasional crawling, balancing, stooping, crouching, kneeling, or climbing 3 of ramps and stairs; would need to avoid climbing ropes, ladders, or scaffolds, as well as any
4 exposure to unprotected heights, moving machinery, and similar hazards; and is further limited to 5 simple, repetitive, routine tasks requiring no contact with the general public. With that assessment, 6 and the assistance of the VE, the ALJ found plaintiff unable to perform her past relevant work. 7 If a claimant demonstrates an inability to perform past relevant work, or has no past 8 relevant work, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to demonstrate at step five that the claimant 9 retains the capacity to make an adjustment to work that exists in significant levels in the national 10 economy. With the assistance of the VE, the ALJ found plaintiff able to perform the jobs of 11 production assembler; assembler, electronics accessories; and routing clerk. Therefore, the ALJ 12 found plaintiff not disabled. 13 This Court’s review of the ALJ’s decision is limited to whether the decision is in
14 accordance with the law and the findings supported by substantial evidence in the record as a 15 whole. See Penny v. Sullivan, 2 F.3d 953, 956 (9th Cir. 1993). Accord Marsh v. Colvin, 792 F.3d 16 1170, 1172 (9th Cir. 2015) (“We will set aside a denial of benefits only if the denial is unsupported 17 by substantial evidence in the administrative record or is based on legal error.”) Substantial 18 evidence means more than a scintilla, but less than a preponderance; it means such relevant 19 evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Magallanes v. 20 Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 750 (9th Cir. 1989). If there is more than one rational interpretation, one of 21 which supports the ALJ’s decision, the Court must uphold that decision. Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 22 F.3d 947, 954 (9th Cir. 2002). 23 Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred in assessing certain medical opinions. She requests remand 1 for further proceedings. The Commissioner argues the ALJ’s decision should be affirmed. 2 Medical Opinions 3 In general, more weight should be given to the opinion of a treating doctor than to a non-
4 treating doctor, and more weight to the opinion of an examining doctor than to a non-examining 5 doctor. Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir. 1996).2 Where the record contains 6 contradictory opinions, as in this case, the ALJ may not reject a treating or examining doctor’s 7 opinion without “‘specific and legitimate reasons’ supported by substantial evidence in the record 8 for so doing.” Id. at 830-31 (quoted source omitted). 9 A. Brigitte Engelhardt, M.D. 10 Dr. Brigitte Engelhardt examined plaintiff on December 5, 2016 and issued a report. (AR 11 387-92.) Dr. Engelhardt assessed plaintiff’s functional limitations as including a standing/walking 12 capacity of “at least two hours in an eight-hour workday”, based on “chronic low back pain, with 13 decreased range of motion of the lumbar spine and positive straight leg raising.” (AR 391.) The
14 ALJ gave “great weight” to Dr. Engelhardt’s opinions, finding them supported by the medical 15 record and consistent with a limitation to less than the full range of light work as defined in 20 16 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(b) and 416.967(b), but greater than alleged by plaintiff. (AR 102.) 17 Plaintiff argues the ALJ misinterpreted Dr. Engelhardt’s functional assessment. She 18 characterizes as “ambiguous” the standing/walking limitation of “at least” two hours in an eight- 19 hour workday (Dkt. 12-1 at 1), but contends it was error for the ALJ to characterize Dr. 20 Engelhardt’s functional assessment as consistent with the ALJ’s RFC finding. Rather, plaintiff 21 argues, Dr. Engelhardt’s assessment of plaintiff’s ability to stand or walk “at least” two hours in a 22
23 2 Because plaintiff filed applications prior to March 27, 2017, the regulations set forth in 20 C.F.R.
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7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 8 AT SEATTLE
9 MELANIE C.,
10 Plaintiff, CASE NO. C19-6160-MAT
11 v. ORDER RE: SOCIAL SECURITY 12 ANDREW M. SAUL, DISABILITY APPEAL Commissioner of Social Security, 13 Defendant. 14
15 Plaintiff proceeds through counsel in her appeal of a final decision of the Commissioner of 16 the Social Security Administration (Commissioner). The Commissioner denied plaintiff’s 17 applications for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) after 18 a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Having considered the ALJ’s decision, the 19 administrative record (AR), and all memoranda, this matter is AFFIRMED. 20 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY 21 Plaintiff was born on XXXX, 1971.1 She has a twelfth-grade education and previously 22
23 1 Dates of birth must be redacted to the year. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(a)(2) and LCR 5.2(a)(1). 1 worked as a medical assistant and case aide, a composite job. (AR 34, 104.) 2 Plaintiff protectively filed DIB and SSI applications on April 25, 2016, alleging disability 3 beginning August 28, 2015. The applications were denied initially and on reconsideration. ALJ
4 John Michaelsen held a hearing on April 20, 2018, taking testimony from plaintiff and a vocational 5 expert (VE). (AR 11-33.) On July 5, 2018, the ALJ issued a decision finding plaintiff not disabled. 6 (AR 93-106.) 7 Plaintiff timely appealed. The Appeals Council denied plaintiff’s request for review on 8 July 17, 2019 (AR 1), making the ALJ’s decision the final decision of the Commissioner. Plaintiff 9 appealed this final decision of the Commissioner to this Court. 10 JURISDICTION 11 The Court has jurisdiction to review the ALJ’s decision pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 12 DISCUSSION 13 The Commissioner follows a five-step sequential evaluation process for determining
14 whether a claimant is disabled. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920 (2000). At step one, it must 15 be determined whether the claimant is gainfully employed. The ALJ found plaintiff had not 16 engaged in substantial gainful activity since the alleged onset date. At step two, it must be 17 determined whether a claimant suffers from a severe impairment. The ALJ found severe: history 18 of multiple sclerosis, obesity, status post laminectomy syndrome with spondylosis, peripheral 19 neuropathy, anxiety and depression. Step three asks whether a claimant’s impairments meet or 20 equal a listed impairment. The ALJ found plaintiff’s impairments did not meet or equal a listing. 21 If a claimant’s impairments do not meet or equal a listing, the Commissioner must assess 22 residual functional capacity (RFC) and determine at step four whether the claimant has 23 demonstrated an inability to perform past relevant work. The ALJ found plaintiff able to perform 1 light work as defined in 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(b) and 416.967(b), except plaintiff is further 2 limited to no more than occasional crawling, balancing, stooping, crouching, kneeling, or climbing 3 of ramps and stairs; would need to avoid climbing ropes, ladders, or scaffolds, as well as any
4 exposure to unprotected heights, moving machinery, and similar hazards; and is further limited to 5 simple, repetitive, routine tasks requiring no contact with the general public. With that assessment, 6 and the assistance of the VE, the ALJ found plaintiff unable to perform her past relevant work. 7 If a claimant demonstrates an inability to perform past relevant work, or has no past 8 relevant work, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to demonstrate at step five that the claimant 9 retains the capacity to make an adjustment to work that exists in significant levels in the national 10 economy. With the assistance of the VE, the ALJ found plaintiff able to perform the jobs of 11 production assembler; assembler, electronics accessories; and routing clerk. Therefore, the ALJ 12 found plaintiff not disabled. 13 This Court’s review of the ALJ’s decision is limited to whether the decision is in
14 accordance with the law and the findings supported by substantial evidence in the record as a 15 whole. See Penny v. Sullivan, 2 F.3d 953, 956 (9th Cir. 1993). Accord Marsh v. Colvin, 792 F.3d 16 1170, 1172 (9th Cir. 2015) (“We will set aside a denial of benefits only if the denial is unsupported 17 by substantial evidence in the administrative record or is based on legal error.”) Substantial 18 evidence means more than a scintilla, but less than a preponderance; it means such relevant 19 evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Magallanes v. 20 Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 750 (9th Cir. 1989). If there is more than one rational interpretation, one of 21 which supports the ALJ’s decision, the Court must uphold that decision. Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 22 F.3d 947, 954 (9th Cir. 2002). 23 Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred in assessing certain medical opinions. She requests remand 1 for further proceedings. The Commissioner argues the ALJ’s decision should be affirmed. 2 Medical Opinions 3 In general, more weight should be given to the opinion of a treating doctor than to a non-
4 treating doctor, and more weight to the opinion of an examining doctor than to a non-examining 5 doctor. Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir. 1996).2 Where the record contains 6 contradictory opinions, as in this case, the ALJ may not reject a treating or examining doctor’s 7 opinion without “‘specific and legitimate reasons’ supported by substantial evidence in the record 8 for so doing.” Id. at 830-31 (quoted source omitted). 9 A. Brigitte Engelhardt, M.D. 10 Dr. Brigitte Engelhardt examined plaintiff on December 5, 2016 and issued a report. (AR 11 387-92.) Dr. Engelhardt assessed plaintiff’s functional limitations as including a standing/walking 12 capacity of “at least two hours in an eight-hour workday”, based on “chronic low back pain, with 13 decreased range of motion of the lumbar spine and positive straight leg raising.” (AR 391.) The
14 ALJ gave “great weight” to Dr. Engelhardt’s opinions, finding them supported by the medical 15 record and consistent with a limitation to less than the full range of light work as defined in 20 16 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(b) and 416.967(b), but greater than alleged by plaintiff. (AR 102.) 17 Plaintiff argues the ALJ misinterpreted Dr. Engelhardt’s functional assessment. She 18 characterizes as “ambiguous” the standing/walking limitation of “at least” two hours in an eight- 19 hour workday (Dkt. 12-1 at 1), but contends it was error for the ALJ to characterize Dr. 20 Engelhardt’s functional assessment as consistent with the ALJ’s RFC finding. Rather, plaintiff 21 argues, Dr. Engelhardt’s assessment of plaintiff’s ability to stand or walk “at least” two hours in a 22
23 2 Because plaintiff filed applications prior to March 27, 2017, the regulations set forth in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527 and § 416.927 apply to the ALJ’s consideration of medical opinions. 1 workday should not be relied on to find plaintiff capable of standing or walking “significantly” 2 more than two hours, and certainly not as long as six hours per day. Plaintiff further argues a 3 restriction to less than six hours of standing or walking would render an individual unable to
4 perform light work. 5 The Commissioner argues the regulations do not define “light work” as requiring the ability 6 to walk or stand six hours. Rather, the applicable regulation defines light work as requiring “a 7 good deal of walking or standing”. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1567(b), 416.967(b). The Commissioner 8 suggests Dr. Engelhardt’s functional assessment of plaintiff’s ability to stand or walk “at least” 9 two hours in a workday evidences the doctor’s rejection of a more stringent restriction to sedentary 10 work. 11 The ALJ is responsible for resolving conflicts in the medical record, Carmickle v. Comm’r 12 of SSA, 533 F.3d 1155, 1164 (9th Cir. 2008), and when evidence reasonably supports either 13 confirming or reversing the ALJ’s decision, the court may not substitute its judgment for that of
14 the ALJ, Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1098 (9th Cir. 1999). “As a reviewing court, we are not 15 deprived of our faculties for drawing specific and legitimate inferences from the ALJ’s opinion.” 16 Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 755 (9th Cir. 1989). 17 The Court finds no error. An ability to stand or walk “at least two hours” is not inconsistent 18 with the performance of light work as defined in the regulations. Substantial evidence supports the 19 ALJ’s characterization of Dr. Engelhardt’s opinion as supported by the medical record. For 20 example, Dr. Platter, a state agency consultant, assessed plaintiff as able to stand or walk “about 21 six hours” in a workday. (AR 70, 84, 103.) Plaintiff’s suggestion Dr. Engelhardt meant to message 22 a functional assessment of plaintiff as unable to stand or walk sufficient to perform light work is 23 purely speculative. The Court will not disturb the ALJ’s evaluation of Dr. Engelhardt’s opinion. 1 B. Cheryl Einerson FNP-C 2 Ms. Cheryl Einerson examined plaintiff on April 26, 2016 for the Washington State 3 Department of Social and Health Services. (AR 363-64.) She assessed plaintiff as able to perform
4 sedentary work. (AR 360.) The ALJ gave little weight to Ms. Einerson’s opinion, finding it 5 unsupported by the medical record and inconsistent with her findings. (AR 103.) 6 Less weight may be assigned to the opinions of “other sources[,]” Gomez v. Chater, 74 7 F.3d 967, 970 (9th Cir. 1996), such as Ms. Einerson, but the ALJ’s decision should reflect 8 consideration of such opinions, Social Security Ruling (SSR) 06-3p. The ALJ may discount the 9 evidence by providing reasons germane to each source. Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1111 10 (9th Cir. 2012) (cited sources omitted). 11 As discussed above, the ALJ reasonably found the weight of the evidence supported a 12 functional limitation to light work, not sedentary work as opined by Ms. Einerson. Likewise, the 13 ALJ reasonably characterized Ms. Einerson’s opinion as inconsistent with her findings. Indeed,
14 Ms. Einerson’s report is devoid of any relevant physical findings other than a vague reference to 15 “abnormal movement of all extremities”. (AR 363.) These reasons are germane to Ms. Einerson, 16 and the Court finds no error in the ALJ’s consideration of Ms. Einerson’s opinions. 17 CONCLUSION 18 For the reasons set forth above, this matter is AFFIRMED. 19 DATED this 26th day of June 2020. A 20 21 Mary Alice Theiler United States Magistrate Judge