1 U.S. F DIL ISE TD R I IN C TT H CE O URT EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 2 May 10, 2021
3 SEAN F. MCAVOY, CLERK
4 5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 6
7 CATALINA A.,1 No. 4:20-CV-5124-EFS
8 Plaintiff, ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S 9 v. SUMMARY-JUDGMENT MOTION AND GRANTING DEFENDANT’S 10 ANDREW M. SAUL, the Commissioner SUMMARY-JUDGMENT MOTION of Social Security, 11 Defendant. 12 13 14 Before the Court are the parties’ cross summary-judgment motions.2 15 Plaintiff Catalina A. appeals the denial of benefits by the Administrative Law 16 Judge (ALJ). She alleges the ALJ erred by 1) improperly considering Steven 17 Haney, M.D.’s opinion, 2) improperly determining that the impairments did not 18 meet or equal a listing, 3) discounting her symptom reports, and 4) improperly 19
20 1 Plaintiff identifies herself as a female. The Court refers to Plaintiff as a female 21 and by first name and last initial or by “Plaintiff.” See LCivR 5.2(c). 22 2 ECF Nos. 17 & 18. 23 1 assessing her residual functional capacity and therefore relying on an incomplete 2 hypothetical at step five. In contrast, Defendant Commissioner of Social Security 3 asks the Court to affirm the ALJ’s decision finding Plaintiff not disabled. After 4 reviewing the record and relevant authority, the Court denies Plaintiff’s Motion for 5 Summary Judgment, ECF No. 17, and grants the Commissioner’s Motion for 6 Summary Judgment, ECF No. 18. 7 I. Five-Step Disability Determination 8 A five-step sequential evaluation process is used to determine whether an 9 adult claimant is disabled.3 Step one assesses whether the claimant is currently 10 engaged in substantial gainful activity.4 If the claimant is engaged in substantial 11 gainful activity, benefits are denied.5 If not, the disability-evaluation proceeds to 12 step two.6 13 Step two assesses whether the claimant has a medically severe impairment, 14 or combination of impairments, which significantly limits the claimant’s physical 15 or mental ability to do basic work activities.7 If the claimant does, the disability- 16 evaluation proceeds to step three. 17
18 3 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a). 19 4 Id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(i). 20 5 Id. § 404.1520(b). 21 6 Id. 22 7 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). 23 1 Step three compares the claimant’s impairments to several recognized by the 2 Commissioner to be so severe as to preclude substantial gainful activity.8 If an 3 impairment meets or equals one of the listed impairments, the claimant is 4 conclusively presumed to be disabled.9 If an impairment does not, the disability- 5 evaluation proceeds to step four. 6 Step four assesses whether an impairment prevents the claimant from 7 performing work she performed in the past by determining the claimant’s residual 8 functional capacity (RFC).10 If the claimant is able to perform prior work, benefits 9 are denied.11 If the claimant cannot perform prior work, the disability-evaluation 10 proceeds to step five. 11 Step five, the final step, assesses whether the claimant can perform other 12 substantial gainful work—work that exists in significant numbers in the national 13 economy—considering the claimant’s RFC, age, education, and work experience.12 14 If so, benefits are denied. If not, benefits are granted.13 15
16 8 Id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iii). 17 9 Id. § 404.1520(d). 18 10 Id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iv). 19 11 Id. 20 12 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(v); Kail v. Heckler, 722 F.2d 1496, 1497-98 (9th Cir. 21 1984). 22 13 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(g). 23 1 The claimant has the initial burden of establishing entitlement to disability 2 benefits under steps one through four.14 At step five, the burden shifts to the 3 Commissioner to show that the claimant is not entitled to benefits.15 4 II. Factual and Procedural Summary 5 Plaintiff filed a Title II application, alleging a disability onset date of 6 September 1, 2013.16 Her claim was denied initially and upon reconsideration.17 A 7 video administrative hearing was held before Administrative Law Judge Stewart 8 Stallings.18 9 In denying Plaintiff’s disability claim, the ALJ made the following findings: 10 Step one: Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity 11 since September 1, 2013, the alleged onset date, through her date last 12 insured of March 31, 2016. 13 Step two: Plaintiff had the following medically determinable severe 14 impairments: obesity, bipolar disorder, anxiety/panic disorder, 15 16
17 14 Parra v. Astrue, 481 F.3d 742, 746 (9th Cir. 2007). 18 15 Id. 19 16 AR 172-76. Plaintiff also filed a prior disability application, which was denied. 20 AR 165-71 & 94-66. 21 17 AR 99-105 & 107-113. 22 18 AR 42-68. 23 1 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personality disorder, and 2 gender identity/dysphoria disorder. 3 Step three: Plaintiff did not have an impairment or combination of 4 impairments that met or medically equaled the severity of one of the 5 listed impairments. 6 RFC: Plaintiff had the RFC to perform light work and: 7 can stand or walk up to six hour[s], and sit up to six hours, of an eight-hour workday with normal breaks. [She] cannot 8 climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds, and is precluded from exposure to dangerous or moving machinery. [She] requires 9 employment at a low-stress position (defined as without production pace or sales quotas) and is precluded 10 from security work. [She] can handle brief interaction with the public and coworkers, and occasional contact with 11 supervisors.
12 Step four: Plaintiff was not capable of performing past relevant work; 13 and 14 Step five: considering Plaintiff’s RFC, age, education, and work 15 history, Plaintiff could perform work that existed in significant 16 numbers in the national economy, such as small products assembler, 17 marker, and electronics worker.19 18 When assessing the medical-opinion evidence, the ALJ gave: 19 partial weight to the opinion of Steven Haney, M.D., and 20 21
22 19 AR 13-31. 23 1 no weight to the examining opinions of Diane Fligstein, Ph.D., and 2 Thomas Clifford, who opined there was insufficient evidence to 3 establish a severe impairment.20 4 The ALJ also found Plaintiff’s medically determinable impairments could 5 reasonably be expected to cause some of the alleged symptoms, but her statements 6 concerning the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of those symptoms were 7 not entirely consistent with the medical and other evidence.21 8 Plaintiff requested review of the ALJ’s decision by the Appeals Council, 9 which denied review.22 Plaintiff timely appealed to this Court. 10 III. Standard of Review 11 A district court’s review of the Commissioner’s final decision is limited.23 The 12 Commissioner’s decision is set aside “only if it is not supported by substantial 13 evidence or is based on legal error.”24 Substantial evidence is “more than a mere 14 scintilla but less than a preponderance; it is such relevant evidence as a reasonable 15 mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.”25 Moreover, because it is 16
17 20 AR 23-24. 18 21 AR 22-23. 19 22 AR 1-6. 20 23 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 21 24 Hill v. Astrue, 698 F.3d 1153, 1158 (9th Cir. 2012). 22 25 Id. at 1159 (quoting Sandgathe v. Chater, 108 F.3d 978, 980 (9th Cir. 1997)). 23 1 the role of the ALJ and not the Court to weigh conflicting evidence, the Court 2 upholds the ALJ’s findings “if they are supported by inferences reasonably drawn 3 from the record.”26 The Court considers the entire record.27 4 Further, the Court may not reverse an ALJ decision due to a harmless 5 error.28 An error is harmless “where it is inconsequential to the [ALJ’s] ultimate 6 nondisability determination.”29 The party appealing the ALJ’s decision generally 7 bears the burden of establishing harm.30 8 IV. Analysis 9 A. Medical Opinions: Plaintiff fails to establish error. 10 Plaintiff argues the ALJ failed to fully consider Dr. Haney’s reviewing 11 opinion. Dr. Haney reviewed the medical record as part of Plaintiff’s prior 2015 12
13 26 Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1111 (9th Cir. 2012). 14 27 Lingenfelter v. Astrue, 504 F.3d 1028, 1035 (9th Cir. 2007) (The court “must 15 consider the entire record as a whole, weighing both the evidence that supports and 16 the evidence that detracts from the Commissioner's conclusion,” not simply the 17 evidence cited by the ALJ or the parties.) (cleaned up); Black v. Apfel, 143 F.3d 383, 18 386 (8th Cir. 1998) (“An ALJ's failure to cite specific evidence does not indicate that 19 such evidence was not considered[.]”). 20 28 Molina, 674 F.3d at 1111. 21 29 Id. at 1115 (quotation and citation omitted). 22 30 Shinseki v. Sanders, 556 U.S. 396, 409-10 (2009). 23 1 disability application.31 As to Paragraph B criteria, Dr. Haney opined that Plaintiff 2 was mildly restricted in her activities of daily living and moderately limited in her 3 abilities to maintain social functioning and concentration, persistence, or pace. As 4 to Paragraph C criteria, Dr. Haney opined the evidence did not satisfy the criteria 5 requirements. As to Plaintiff’s ability to sustain concentration and persistence, Dr. 6 Haney found: 7 [Plaintiff] retains the ability to carry out more than one or two step instructions. Her depression and anxiety with accompanying poor 8 stress tolerance would interfere with her ability to maintain regular attendance and to persist through a normal workweek. However, 9 these impairments are not so severe that they would prevent her from being able to sustain more than one or two step instructions in a 10 reasonably consistent manner.32
11 As to Plaintiff’s social interaction limitations, Dr. Haney found that Plaintiff “is 12 socially isolative. Effective communication occurs in small group or comfortable 13 settings. Supervisory feedback should be given on a 1:1 basis. [She] can interact, 14 but should avoid busy public spaces with fre[q]uent intrusions.”33 15 The ALJ gave partial weight to Dr. Haney’s opinion. The ALJ gave partial 16 weight to Dr. Haney’s opinion not because the ALJ found Plaintiff was less limited 17 than Dr. Haney opined but because the ALJ found that Plaintiff was more limited 18 than Dr. Haney opined. First, the ALJ agreed with Dr. Haney’s opinion that 19
20 31 AR 71-74. 21 32 AR 74. 22 33 AR 74. 23 1 interactive limitations were appropriate—the RFC limits Plaintiff to brief 2 interactions with the public and coworkers and occasional contact with 3 supervisors.34 Second, in contrast to Dr. Haney’s opinion that Plaintiff could 4 sustain more than one or two step instructions in a reasonably consistent manner 5 notwithstanding her depression and anxiety with accompanying poor stress 6 tolerance, the ALJ found that Plaintiff’s anxiety and poor stress tolerance required 7 limiting Plaintiff to a low-stress position and no security work (as well as 8 interactive limitations).35 9 Plaintiff argues the ALJ failed to appreciate that Dr. Haney opined that 10 Plaintiff’s depression and anxiety with accompanying poor stress tolerance 11 interfered with her ability to maintain regular attendance and persist through a 12 normal workweek. This argument fails. Dr. Haney opined that, notwithstanding 13 Plaintiff’s depression, anxiety, and poor stress tolerance, Plaintiff could perform 14 and sustain more than one or two-step instructions in a reasonably consistent 15 manner through a normal workday and workweek. The ALJ rationally 16 incorporated Dr. Haney’s opinion, to the extent it was supported by the evidence, in 17 the RFC by limiting Plaintiff to light work, limiting exposure to dangerous or 18 moving machinery, requiring a low-stress position, disallowing security work, and 19 20
21 34 AR 21, 23, & 74-75. 22 35 Id. 23 1 restricting interactions with the public and coworkers to brief interactions and 2 contact with supervisors to occasional.36 3 B. Step Three (Listings): Plaintiff fails to establish error. 4 Plaintiff contends the ALJ erred by finding that Plaintiff’s impairments, 5 singly or in combination, did not meet or medically equal Listings 12.04, 12.06, 6 12.08, or 12.15. 7 At step three, the ALJ must determine if a claimant’s impairments meet or 8 equal a listed impairment.37 The ALJ must support his listings finding with more 9 than a boilerplate finding that a listing was not satisfied. Yet, the finding may be 10 supported by the ALJ’s “articulation of the reason(s) why the individual is or is not 11 disabled at a later step in the sequential evaluation process” so long as the Court 12 can meaningfully review the basis for the step-three decision.38 To meet a listed 13 14 15
16 36 AR 21. See Rounds v. Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 807 F.3d 996, 1006 (9th Cir. 17 2015) (recognizing the ALJ has responsibility to craft an RFC that includes 18 limitations supported by the evidence). 19 37 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iii). 20 38 Social Security Ruling (SSR) 17-2p, 2017 WL 3928306, at *4; see also Lewis v. 21 Apfel, 236 F.3d 503, 512 (9th Cir. 2001); Gonzalez v. Sullivan, 914 F.2d 1197, 1200- 22 01 (9th Cir. 1990). 23 1 impairment, the claimant has the burden of establishing that she meets each 2 characteristic of a listed impairment.39 3 Listing 12.04 disorders, which include bipolar disorders, are “characterized 4 by an irritable, depressed, elevated, or expansive mood, or by a loss of interest or 5 pleasure in all or almost all activities, causing a clinically significant decline in 6 functioning.”40 Symptoms and signs can include “feelings of hopelessness or guilt, 7 suicidal ideation, a clinically significant change in body weight or appetite, sleep 8 disturbances, an increase or decrease in energy, psychomotor abnormalities, 9 disturbed concentration, pressured speech, grandiosity, reduced impulse control, 10 sadness, euphoria, and social withdrawal.”41 The impairment must also meet 11 Paragraphs B and C criteria.42 Paragraph B criteria—the areas of mental 12 functioning used in a work setting—are met if the impairment results in a marked 13 limitation in at least two of the following areas or an extreme limitation in one of 14 the following areas: understand, remember, or apply information; interact with 15 others; concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; and adapt or manage oneself.43 16 Paragraph C criteria are met if the mental disorder is serious and persistent, i.e., 17
18 39 20 C.F.R. § 404.1525(d); Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 683 (9th Cir. 2005). 19 40 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App 1 at 12.00(A)(3)(a) (Listing 12.04). 20 41 Id. 21 42 Id. at 12.00(A)(2). 22 43 Id. at 12.00(A)(2)(b). 23 1 there is a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a 2 period of at least two years and the claimant relies on ongoing medical treatment 3 to diminish the symptoms and signs of the mental disorder, and despite the 4 ongoing treatment the claimant has only achieved marginal adjustment, i.e., her 5 adaptation to the requirements of daily life is fragile.44 6 Listing 12.06 includes anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders, which are 7 characterized by excessive anxiety, worry, oppression, and fear, or by avoidance of 8 feelings, thoughts, activities, places, or people.45 Symptoms and signs can include 9 restlessness, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, muscle tension, sleep 10 disturbance, fatigue, panic attacks, obsessions and compulsions, constant thoughts 11 and fears about safety, and frequent physical complaints.46 Paragraphs B and C 12 criteria must also be met.47 13 Listing 12.08 includes personality and impulse-control disorders that are 14 characterized by enduring, inflexible, maladaptive, and pervasive patterns of 15 behavior.48 Symptoms and signs include, but are not limited to, social detachment, 16 17
18 44 Id. at 12.00(A)(2)(c) & 12.00(G). 19 45 Id. at 12.00(B)(5)(a) (Listing 12.06). 20 46 Id. 21 47 Id. at 12.00(A)(2). 22 48 Id. at 12.00(B)(7) (Listing 12.08). 23 1 discomfort, or avoidance; difficulty making independent decisions; and patterns of 2 distrust, suspiciousness, and odd beliefs.49 Paragraph B criteria must also be met.50 3 Listing 12.15 includes trauma and stressor-related disorders.51 Symptoms 4 and signs include, but are not limited to, distressing memories, dreams, and 5 flashbacks related to the trauma or stressor; avoidant behavior; diminished 6 interest or participation in significant activities; persistent negative emotional 7 states or inability to experience positive emotions; anxiety; irritability; aggression; 8 difficulty concentrating; and sleep disturbance.52 Paragraphs B and C criteria must 9 also be met.53 10 Here, while recognizing that Plaintiff’s bipolar symptoms waxed and waned, 11 the ALJ found Plaintiff did not satisfy Paragraph B or C criteria.54 Plaintiff argues 12 the ALJ’s determination was internally inconsistent because he described serious 13 deficits in functioning but then concluded that Plaintiff was only moderately 14 limited in the Paragraph B criteria. This argument is unpersuasive. As discussed 15 16
17 49 Id. 18 50 Id. at 12.00(A)(2). 19 51 Id. at 12.00(B)(11)(b) (Listing 12.15). 20 52 Id. at 12.00(b)(11)(a). 21 53 Id. at 12.00(A)(2). 22 54 AR 21. 23 1 below, the ALJ’s listings findings were supported by substantial evidence and 2 meaningfully explained either in the listings paragraph or by the entire decision.55 3 As to the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s ability to understand, remember, or 4 apply information was only mildly limited, the ALJ cited to numerous supporting 5 medical records. These medical records are a fair representation of Plaintiff’s 6 mental health over the longitudinal record, which reflected that notwithstanding 7 an impacted mood and affect, Plaintiff’s memory and understanding were usually 8 normal.56 9 As to the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s ability to interact with others was 10 moderately limited, the ALJ recognized that Plaintiff self-isolates and has shown 11 mood disturbances including depression, sadness, flat affect, anxiousness, and 12 irritability. The ALJ then found that Plaintiff’s mood—and ability to interact with 13 others—improved with hormone therapy.57 The ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s ability 14 15 16 17
18 55 See Lewin v. Schweiker, 654 F.2d 631, 635 (9th Cir. 1981) (requiring the 19 “subordinate factual foundations on which the [ALJ’s] ultimate factual conclusions” 20 were based to be explained). 21 56 AR 20 (citing, e.g., AR 273, 295, 524, 530, 569, & 574-75). 22 57 AR 20 (citing, e.g., AR 290, 304, 367, 374, 524, 568, 574, 666, & 731). 23 1 to interact with others was moderately limited is a rational finding supported by 2 substantial evidence.58 3 As to the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s ability to concentrate, persist, or 4 maintain pace was moderately limited, the ALJ highlighted that Plaintiff had 5 shown normal concentration and attention at many treatment visits.59 The ALJ’s 6 moderate-limitation finding in this regard was rational and supported by 7 substantial evidence. 8 Finally, the ALJ found that Plaintiff’s ability to adapt or manage herself was 9 moderately limitation because she endorsed problems handling stress and changes 10 to routine, had impulsive spending habits, and demonstrated limited insight and 11 judgment at multiple treatment visits.60 The ALJ’s analysis in this regard was 12 brief, however, the Court reviews this finding considering the ALJ’s entire findings 13 and discussion.61 The ALJ found that, in addition to managing herself, Plaintiff 14 was able to care for her children, prepare meals, handle financial affairs, drive 15 herself and family members, and use public transportation. The ALJ’s moderate- 16 17
18 58 In making this determination, the Court gave less consideration to the notes in 19 the medical records pertaining solely to Plaintiff’s physical conditions. 20 59 AR 21 (citing, e.g., AR 295, 562, 569, 575, 577, 581, 587, 590, & 596). 21 60 AR 21. 22 61 AR 22-23; SSR 17-2p; Lewin , 654 F.2d at 635. 23 1 limitation finding as to adaption/management is a rational finding supported by 2 substantial evidence.62 3 As to the Paragraph C criteria, Plaintiff failed to cite to evidence to support 4 the criteria. Plaintiff failed to establish that, with ongoing medical treatment, her 5 adaptation to the requirements of daily life is fragile. 6 The ALJ’s step-three findings are rational and supported by substantial 7 evidence. 8 C. Plaintiff’s Symptom Reports: Plaintiff fails to establish 9 consequential error. 10 Plaintiff argues the ALJ failed to provide valid reasons for rejecting her 11 symptom reports. When examining a claimant’s symptom reports, the ALJ must 12 make a two-step inquiry. “First, the ALJ must determine whether there is objective 13 medical evidence of an underlying impairment which could reasonably be expected 14 to produce the pain or other symptoms alleged.”63 Second, “[i]f the claimant meets 15 the first test and there is no evidence of malingering, the ALJ can only reject the 16 claimant’s testimony about the severity of the symptoms if [the ALJ] gives ‘specific, 17
18 62 See, e.g., AR 294-96 (fair eye contact, pleasant, and cooperative); AR 289-92 (good 19 eye contact, pleasant, and cooperative); AR 322 (cooperative); AR 639-42 20 (appropriate dress/grooming, cooperative, and good eye contact); & AR 598-99 21 (appropriate dress/grooming, cooperative, and good eye contact). 22 63 Molina, 674 F.3d at 1112. 23 1 clear and convincing reasons’ for the rejection.”64 Here, the ALJ found Plaintiff’s 2 statements concerning the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of her 3 symptoms were not supported by the evidence, including Plaintiff’s lack of 4 motivation to work, her level of activity, and the objective and observational 5 medical evidence.65 6 First, the ALJ found that Plaintiff’s lack of employment was primarily 7 related to her lack of motivation as was reflected in her poor work history before 8 her alleged disability onset date.66 Evidence of a poor work history that suggests a 9 claimant is not motivated to work is a permissible reason to discredit a claimant’s 10 claim that she is unable to work.67 Here, the ALJ noted that Plaintiff’s earnings 11 records, showed only substantial-gainful-activity earnings for one year, which was 12 six years before the alleged disability onset date. For a claimant who was 28-years- 13 old at the alleged disability onset date, the ALJ rationally found that Plaintiff had 14 a poor work history indicating a lack of motivation to work. 15 16
17 64 Ghanim v. Colvin, 763 F.3d 1154, 1163 (9th Cir. 2014) (quoting Lingenfelter, 504 18 F.3d at 1036). 19 65 AR 22-23. 20 66 AR 22. 21 67 See Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 959 (9th Cir. 2002); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529 22 (work record can be considered in assessing reported symptoms). 23 1 Second, the ALJ discounted Plaintiff’s symptom reports because her level of 2 activity was minimally limited, the activities could not be reconciled with the 3 considerable severity alleged, and she engaged in activities similar to activities 4 performed in a variety of occupations.”68 If a claimant can spend a substantial part 5 of the day engaged in pursuits involving the performance of exertional or non- 6 exertional functions, the ALJ may find these activities inconsistent with the 7 reported disabling symptoms.69 The ALJ highlighted that Plaintiff provided 8 childcare for children, ensured the children attended school, provided pet care, was 9 independent in activities of self-care (although she had difficulty being motivated 10 to complete activities), prepared simple meals, performed housework (with some 11 encouragement), handled financial matters, drove herself and her family, rode a 12 bicycle, used public transportation, shopped in stores, and went out to eat.70 The 13 ALJ rationally found that Plaintiff engaged in a wide range of activities; however, 14 the ALJ failed to meaningfully explain why Plaintiff’s assertion that her anxiety 15 and worry impact her ability to persist and sustain “public” activities was 16 inconsistent with the noted activities. Nonetheless, the ALJ largely accepted 17 Plaintiff’s symptom reports as to difficulties interacting with others by limiting 18 Plaintiff to occasional contact with supervisors and brief interaction with the public 19
20 68 AR 24. 21 69 Molina, 674 F.3d at 1113. 22 70 AR 200-02, 622, & 732. 23 1 and coworkers.71 And Plaintiff fails to explain why her activities are inconsistent 2 with activities required by the identified jobs of small products assembler, marker, 3 and electronics worker. Plaintiff fails to establish that the ALJ consequentially 4 erred in this regard. Even if the ALJ erred in this regard, the ALJ offered other 5 clear and convincing reasons supported by substantial evidence to discount 6 Plaintiff’s symptom reports. 7 Finally, the ALJ found that Plaintiff’s physical and mental symptoms were 8 not supported by the objective and observational record. Symptom reports cannot 9 be solely discounted on the grounds that they were not fully corroborated by the 10 objective medical evidence.72 However, objective medical evidence is a relevant 11 factor in considering the severity of the reported symptoms.73 “Objective medical 12 evidence” means signs, laboratory findings, or both.74 In turn, “signs” is defined as: 13 one or more anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that can be observed, apart from [the claimant’s] statements 14 (symptoms). Signs must be shown by medically clinical diagnostic techniques. Psychiatric signs are medically demonstrable phenomena 15 that indicate specific psychological abnormalities, e.g., abnormalities of behavior, mood, thought, memory, orientation, development, or 16 17 18
19 71 AR 21. 20 72 See Rollins v. Massanari, 261 F.3d 853, 857 (9th Cir. 2001). 21 73 Id. 22 74 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(f). 23 1 perception, and must also be shown by observable facts that can be medically described and evaluated.75 2
Here, in contrast to Plaintiff’s reported pain in her knees and shoulders, the 3 ALJ found the physical examinations revealed normal gait, station, range of 4 motion, and strength.76 The ALJ’s discounting of Plaintiff’s reported physical 5 symptoms was supported by substantial evidence and was a clear and convincing 6 reason to discount these reported symptoms. 7 As to Plaintiff’s mental health, the ALJ highlighted that multiple treatment 8 visits showed minimal or mild findings while others revealed more severe 9 limitations.77 The ALJ acknowledged that bipolar disorder presents with waxing 10 and waning symptoms and found that Plaintiff’s normal findings were not isolated 11 but instead represented a consistent overall pattern of moderate mental-health 12 limitations.78 Plaintiff argues the ALJ failed to cite to the most severe treatment 13 notes, including those related to Plaintiff’s mental-health hospitalization. Yet, an 14 15 16 17
18 75 Id. § 404.1502(g); see also 3 Soc. Sec. Law & Prac. § 36:26, Consideration of 19 objective medical evidence (2019). 20 76 AR 23 (citing, e.g., AR 333, 342, 387, 524, 542, 618, & 627). 21 77 AR 23. 22 78 Id. 23 1 ALJ need not cite to every piece of evidence.79 The Court finds the ALJ 2 appropriately considered the longitudinal medical record, which included records 3 revealing that Plaintiff’s mental health symptoms waxed and waned, and the ALJ’s 4 finding that the longitudinal objective and observational record did not support 5 Plaintiff’s disabling mental-health symptom reports is supported by substantial 6 evidence.80 7
8 79 See, e.g., Howard ex rel. Wolff v. Barnhart, 341 F.3d 1006, 1012 (9th Cir. 2003) 9 (stating that “in interpreting the evidence and developing the record, the ALJ does 10 not need to discuss every piece of evidence” (quotation marks omitted)). 11 80 See, e.g., AR 363 (Apr. 2014: Plaintiff sought emergency treatment for rectal 12 bleeding, dizziness, and anxiety. She was observed with anxiety and a normal 13 neurological examination); AR 294-96 (Sept. 2014: fair eye contact, mildly 14 depressed affect with some anxiety, speech coherent, pleasant, cooperative, 15 orientated, memory intact, concentration adequate, and fair judgment/insight); AR 16 289-92 (Jan. 2015: inpatient treatment, good eye contact, mildly depressed with 17 some anxiety, somewhat restricted affect though brightened up, pleasant, 18 cooperative, insight/judgment fair, and not medically compromised); AR 322 19 (March 2015: cooperative, intermittent eye contact, normal speech, thought process 20 linear, affect generally restricted but brightened up, insight/ judgment good, and 21 intact orientation); AR 555-56 (Aug. 2015: poorly groomed, appropriately dressed, 22 eye contact brief/minimal, anxious, fidgeting, and completed cognitive tasks except 23 1 In summary, Plaintiff fails to establish the ALJ consequentially erred by 2 discounting her symptom reports. 3 D. Step Five: Plaintiff fails to establish error. 4 Plaintiff argues that the ALJ’s hypothetical to the vocational expert and the 5 RFC failed to consider Plaintiff’s absenteeism, off-task, and unproductivity 6 limitations. “[T]he ALJ is responsible for translating and incorporating clinical 7 findings into a succinct RFC.”81 Plaintiff’s argument merely restates her earlier 8 allegations of error, which are not supported by the record. Accordingly, the ALJ’s 9 10
11 for identifying treatment needs); AR 748 (Aug. 2016: fair grooming, anxious, affect 12 generally blunted, intermittent eye contact, speech normal, thought process 13 illogical, thought association linear, insight/judgment good, and 14 orientation/attention intact); AR 639-42 (Nov. 2016: appropriate dress/grooming, 15 cooperative, good eye contact, soft speech, sad/depressed mood with congruent 16 affect, thought process logical, insight/judgment intact, and average fund of 17 knowledge); & AR 598-99 (Aug. 2017: appropriate dress/grooming, cooperative, 18 good eye contact, euthymic mood with congruent affect, thought process logical, no 19 abnormal thought content, intact insight/judgment, intact memory, and average 20 fund of knowledge). 21 81 Rounds, 807 F.3d at 1006; see Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 756-57 (9th 22 Cir. 1989). 23 1 hypothetical and RFC properly accounted for the limitations supported by the 2 record. 3 V. Conclusion 4 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 5 1. Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 17, is DENIED. 6 2. The Commissioner’s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 18, is 7 GRANTED. 8 3. The Clerk’s Office shall enter JUDGMENT in favor of the 9 Commissioner. 10 4. The case shall be CLOSED. 11 IT IS SO ORDERED. The Clerk’s Office is directed to file this Order and 12 provide copies to all counsel. 13 DATED this 10th day of May 2021. 14
s/Edward F. Shea . 15 EDWARD F. SHEA Senior United States District Judge 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23