Conn v. Colvin

14 F. Supp. 3d 875, 2014 WL 1613930, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56152
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Kentucky
DecidedApril 23, 2014
DocketCivil No. 0:13-cv-138-JMH
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 14 F. Supp. 3d 875 (Conn v. Colvin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Conn v. Colvin, 14 F. Supp. 3d 875, 2014 WL 1613930, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56152 (E.D. Ky. 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

JOSEPH M. HOOD, Senior District Judge.

This matter is before the Court upon cross-motions for Summary Judgment [D.E. 13, 14] on Plaintiff’s appeal of the Commissioner’s denial of his application for disability and disability insurance benefits. [Tr. 9-25].1 The Court, having reviewed the record and being otherwise sufficiently advised, will deny Plaintiffs motion and grant Defendant’s motion.

I.Overview of the Process and the Instant Matter

The Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”), in determining disability, conducts a five-step analysis:

1. An individual who is working and engaging in substantial gainful activity is not disabled, regardless of the claimant’s medical condition.
2. An individual who is working but does not have a “severe” impairment which significantly limits his physical or mental ability to do basic work activities is not disabled.
3. If an individual is not working and has a severe impairment which “meets the duration requirement and is listed in appendix 1 or is equal to a listed impairments)”, then he is disabled regardless of other factors.
4. If a decision cannot be reached based on current work activity and medical facts alone, and the claimant has a severe impairment, then the Secretary [878]*878reviews the claimant’s residual functional capacity and the physical and mental demands of the claimant’s previous work. If the claimant is able to continue to do this previous work, then he is not disabled.
5. If the claimant cannot do any work he did in the past because of a severe impairment, then the Secretary considers his residual functional capacity, age, education, and past work experience to see if he can do other work. If he cannot, the claimant is disabled.

Preslar v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 14 F.3d 1107, 1110 (6th Cir.1994) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520 (1982)). “The burden of proof is on the claimant throughout the first four steps of this process to prove that he is disabled.” Id. “If the analysis reaches the fifth step without a finding that the claimant is not disabled, the burden transfers to the Secretary.” Id.

In the instant matter, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff did not engage in substantial gainful activity during the relevant time period under step one. [Tr. 14]. Under step two, the ALJ found that Plaintiffs medically determinable impairments of vertebrogenic disorder and residuals of right shoulder injury were “severe” as defined by the agency’s regulations. [Tr. 14]; 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). The ALJ further found that his right hand problem, hypertension, and sleep apnea were “non-severe” impairments. [Tr. 17-18]. Additionally, the ALJ found that there was not enough evidence to support Plaintiffs claims of anxiety-related disorder or substance addiction disorder. [Tr. 18],

During step three of the analysis, the ALJ considered all of Plaintiff’s impairments and decided that none of them met the criteria listed in 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, app. 1. [Tr. 18-19]. After further review of the record, the ALJ concluded at step four that Plaintiff had a residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform a range of light work as defined in 20 C.F.R. 404.1567(b). [Tr. 19]. The ALJ found that Plaintiff also had the following limitations: Plaintiff needs a sit/stand option at one-half two hour intervals throughout the workday; Plaintiff cannot climb ladders, kneel, or crawl; Plaintiff cannot reach overhead on the right; and Plaintiff cannot work in temperature extremes or high humidity. [Tr. 23].

The ALJ found that Plaintiff was unable to perform any of his past relevant work. [Tr. 23]. However, there were jobs in the national economy that Plaintiff could perform. [Tr. 23-25], Thus, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff is not disabled under the Social Security Act. [Tr. 25].

In this appeal, Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred by failing to include all of Plaintiffs impairments, that the ALJ failed to give adequate weight to the treating physician, and that the ALJ improperly relied on the opinion of a non-examining consultant medical examiner.

II. Standard of Review

In reviewing the ALJ’s decision to deny disability benefits, the Court may “not try the case de novo, nor resolve conflicts in the evidence, nor decide questions of credibility.” Cutlip v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 25 F.3d 284, 286 (6th Cir.1994) (citations omitted). Instead, judicial review of the ALJ’s decision is limited to an inquiry into whether the ALJ’s findings were supported by substantial evidence, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Foster v. Halter, 279 F.3d 348, 353 (6th Cir.2001) (citations omitted), and whether the ALJ employed the proper legal standards in reaching her conclusion. See Landsaw v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 803 F.2d 211, 213 (6th Cir.1986). “Substantial evi[879]*879dence is more than a scintilla of evidence but less than a preponderance; it is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Cutlip, 25 F.3d at 286 (citations omitted).

III. Factual and Procedural Background

Plaintiff was 42 years of age at the alleged disability date [Tr. 23] and has a GED. [Tr. 37]. Plaintiff has past work experience as a pipefitter. [Tr. 23], Plaintiff filed a Title II application for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits, alleging disability beginning on April 6, 2010. [Tr. 12]. The claims were denied initially and upon reconsideration. [Tr. 12], Plaintiff requested a hearing with the ALJ, which took place on April 13, 2012. [Tr. 12]. The ALJ issued an unfavorable decision denying disability insurance benefits on May 10, 2012. [Tr. 25].

According to Plaintiff, he has a constant throbbing pain in his shoulder and back. [Tr. 177]. Plaintiff claims that the pain spreads to his neck and right leg. [Tr. 178]. Plaintiff treats his pain with pain medication, muscle relaxers, heat pads, and heat balms. [Tr. 178]. Plaintiff claims that he takes Percocet, Flexeril, and Xanax. [Tr. 178].

Plaintiff made routine visits to the King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ash-land, Kentucky. Plaintiff was treated for low back pain on October 16, 2009 [Tr. 240]. Plaintiff went to the emergency room on May 6, 2008 complaining of chest pain that radiated into his back. [Tr. 291]. On June 8, 2007, Plaintiff was treated for fatigue, GERD, anxiety/depression, and low back pain. [Tr. 332].

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14 F. Supp. 3d 875, 2014 WL 1613930, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56152, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/conn-v-colvin-kyed-2014.