Crump v. Califano

452 F. Supp. 848, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17169
CourtDistrict Court, D. Kansas
DecidedJune 15, 1978
DocketCiv. No. 77-1223
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 452 F. Supp. 848 (Crump v. Califano) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Crump v. Califano, 452 F. Supp. 848, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17169 (D. Kan. 1978).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

WESLEY E. BROWN, District Judge.

Plaintiff brings this action to seek judicial review of the partial denial of his claim for disability insurance benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 401 et seq. The denial is the “final decision” of the Secretary and therefore this Court may undertake a limited review under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

On August 6, 1976, plaintiff filed an application (Tr. 73-76) to establish a period of disability and to obtain disability insurance benefits, 42 U.S.C. §§ 416(i) and 423. The application received consideration and reconsideration by the Social Security Administration (Tr. 77-78, 80-81) and the claim was denied.

On January 11, 1977, at plaintiff’s request, a hearing was held at which he and a vocational expert, Eudora Getz, appeared and testified. Plaintiff was represented by counsel at the hearing. On January 18, 1977, the Administrative Law Judge [ALJ] made a determination. (Tr. 15-21). He found that plaintiff had been under a disability as defined in the Social Security Act, as amended, continuously from August 11, 1975, through August 23, 1976, but not thereafter. It was the determination of the ALJ that plaintiff was entitled to a period of disability and entitlement to benefits until the end of October 1976. On May 25, 1977, after receipt of evidence in addition to that which was before the ALJ (Tr. 120), the Appeals Council of the Social Security Administration affirmed the hearing determination (Tr. 5). Thus, the determination of the ALJ stands as the final decision of the Secretary. This action was filed June 10, 1977. Plaintiff asserts that there is no substantial evidence to support the Secretary’s decision that plaintiff’s disability terminated after August 23, 1976.

The matter is before the Court on cross motions for summary judgment, the motions based on the pleadings currently on file in the action and the certified Transcript of the Record of Proceedings relating to plaintiff’s claim. For reasons stated herein, we grant defendant’s motion for summary judgment.

The facts are not in dispute. Plaintiff was born March 27,1949. Plaintiff attended, but did not complete high school. He has worked as a dishwasher, maintenance man, bank security guard, stacker, loader, grinder, brake installer, and sampler for the Kansas State Grain Inspection Department. He alleges that he became unable to work on April 11, 1975, because of a back injury.

[850]*850On April 30, 1975, plaintiff was admitted to the Wesley Medical Center, complaining that he had injured his back while pulling a boxcar door shut on April 10, 1975, and had since that time experienced sharp pain running up and down his back. He said that he also had some headaches but he had no pain in his arms or legs. He was hospitalized until May 7, 1975, when he stated that he was much improved, and was discharged with instructions to continue physical therapy as an outpatient. Final diagnosis was chronic lumbosacral strain. (Tr. 98-100).

On June 30, 1975, plaintiff was seen at the Hertzler Clinic complaining of pain across the low back and pain in his right elbow. He also alleged difficulty in climbing stairs and a tendency to fall backward. The impression of Dr. Pokorny, the examining physician, was degenerative disc disease at L5-S1. (Tr. 105-106).

Plaintiff was admitted to the Hospital on June 30, 1975, for treatment for back pain. A lumbar myelogram showed defects at L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1. The diagnosis was herniated nucleus pulposus (ruptured disc), L4-5, and unstable low back syndrome. Plaintiff was discharged from the Hospital on July 9,1975, and was to return in a week for back surgery. (Tr. 108).

Plaintiff was again hospitalized, July 15 through July 26, 1975, for back surgery. Dr. Neonilo A. Tejano, an orthopedic surgeon, performed surgery to remove a ruptured disc, L4-5, and fuse L4-L5 to S-l. Plaintiff was sent to the recovery room in good condition, and there were no unusual post-operative complications. He was dismissed as improved with instructions for care. (Tr. 107-108).

Plaintiff was seen by Dr. Tejano at the Hertzler Clinic, May 4,1976, complaining of pain in the low back at the area of the sacrum, not at the area of the operation, which radiated down the inside of his left thigh. Plaintiff also complained of pain and blood at his bowel movements. (Tr. 102). He was admitted to the Hospital for evaluation of the problem, May 9, 1976. It was determined that plaintiff’s spinal fusion had proceeded satisfactorily. X-rays showed a solid fusion. Final diagnosis was postoperative back fusion, possible hemorrhoids, and anal fissure (ulcer). Plaintiff was dismissed as improved, and instructed to wear a back brace, May 12, 1976. (Tr. 103, 109). On June 23, 1976, plaintiff was seen as an outpatient by Dr. Tejano. Plaintiff felt better with the back brace but still complained of pain going down the left leg. Dr. Tejano advised him to continue wearing the brace for two more months, and then planned to re-evaluate him. (Tr. 109).

Plaintiff was again evaluated on August 23, 1976. Dr. Tejano noted that plaintiff still suffered pain, and recommended another lumbar myelogram. (Tr. 101). In a report to the ALJ dated November 26, 1976 (Tr. 110-111), Dr. Tejano stated that he recommended the additional myelogram because he noted the possibility of nerve root pressure on the 5th lumbar nerve root on the left, which could be secondary to hypertrophic bone formation, or possibly a ruptured disc from a previously retained disc. Dr. Tejano stated that he discussed the problem with plaintiff, and after going over it thoroughly plaintiff elected to go ahead and learn to live with the.problem, refusing the myelogram. At the time of the August evaluation, plaintiff used a cane to walk. Dr. Tejano made the following evaluation of plaintiff’s limitations:

I do not think he should carry anything over 25 pounds; stooping, bending, prolonged standing or sitting will be contraindicated — he should not sit or stand over 45 minutes at a time. He can only bend forward to within 8" measured from fingertips to the floor, and probably won’t be able to push or pull any weight more than 50 pounds. He can manipulate his arms and fingers — can raise his arms above shoulder level. Climbing up and down stairs will be limited, as he has a left leg pain and uses a cane. He can ride in or dirve [sic] a vehicle. He should be able to perform light duty of any kind. (Tr. 111).

Plaintiff testified about his physical condition at the hearing of January 11, 1977, before the ALJ. He complained of con[851]*851stant back pain, and numbness and weakness in Ms left leg. He uses a cane to help his left leg. He has pain in his leg and back when he sits or stands too long, and must change positions every five or six minutes. According to plaintiff, he lies down frequently during the day to relieve pain. He testified that he takes three to four Empirins per day as needed to relieve pain. Occasionally, when he takes two Empirins at a time, they make him dizzy and drowsy.

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Bluebook (online)
452 F. Supp. 848, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17169, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crump-v-califano-ksd-1978.