Farmer v. Astrue

832 F. Supp. 2d 1293, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56548, 2011 WL 2038721
CourtDistrict Court, D. Kansas
DecidedMay 25, 2011
DocketCase No. 10-1284-SAC
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 832 F. Supp. 2d 1293 (Farmer v. Astrue) 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
Farmer v. Astrue, 832 F. Supp. 2d 1293, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56548, 2011 WL 2038721 (D. Kan. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

SAM A. CROW, Senior District Judge.

This is an action reviewing the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying the plaintiff disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income payments. The matter has been fully briefed by the parties.

I. General legal standards

The court’s standard of review is set forth in 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), which provides that “the findings of the Commissioner of Social Security as to any fact, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive.” The court should review the Commissioner’s decision to determine only whether the decision was supported by substantial evidence and whether the Commissioner applied the correct legal standards. Glenn v. Shalala, 21 F.3d 983, 984 (10th Cir.1994). Substantial evidence requires more than a scintilla, but less than a preponderance, and is satisfied by such evidence that a reasonable mind might accept to support the conclusion. The determination of whether substantial evidence supports the Commissioner’s decision is not simply a quantitative exercise, for evidence is not substantial if it is overwhelmed by other evidence or if it really constitutes mere conclusion. Ray v. Bowen, 865 F.2d 222, 224 (10th Cir.1989). Although the court is not to reweigh the evidence, the findings of the Commissioner will not be mechanically accepted. Nor will the findings be affirmed by isolating facts and labeling them substantial evidence, as the court must scrutinize the entire record in determining whether the Commissioner’s conclusions are rational. Graham v. Sullivan, 794 F.Supp. 1045, 1047 (D.Kan.1992). The court should examine the record as a whole, including whatever in the record fairly detracts from the weight of the Commissioner’s decision and, on that basis, determine if the substantiality of the evidence test has been met. Glenn, 21 F.3d at 984.

The Social Security Act provides that an individual shall be determined to be under a disability only if the claimant can establish that they have a physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or last for a continuous period of twelve [1296]*1296months which prevents the claimant from engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA). The claimant’s physical or mental impairment or impairments must be of such severity that they are not only unable to perform their previous work but cannot, considering their age, education, and work experience, engage in any other kind of substantial gainful work which exists in the national economy. 42 U.S.C. § 423(d).

The Commissioner has established a five-step sequential evaluation process to determine disability. If at any step a finding of disability or non-disability can be made, the Commissioner will not review the claim further. At step one, the agency will find non-disability unless the claimant can show that he or she is not working at a “substantial gainful activity.” At step two, the agency will find non-disability unless the claimant shows that he or she has a “severe impairment,” which is defined as any “impairment or combination of impairments which significantly limits [the claimant’s] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” At step three, the agency determines whether the impairment which enabled the claimant to survive step two is on the list of impairments presumed severe enough to render one disabled. If the claimant’s impairment does not meet or equal a listed impairment, the inquiry proceeds to step four, at which the agency assesses whether the claimant can do his or her previous work; unless the claimant shows that he or she cannot perform their previous work, they are determined not to be disabled. If the claimant survives step four, the fifth and final step requires the agency to consider vocational factors (the claimant’s age, education, and past work experience) and to determine whether the claimant is capable of performing other jobs existing in significant numbers in the national economy. Barnhart v. Thomas, 540 U.S. 20, 124 S.Ct. 376, 379-380, 157 L.Ed.2d 333 (2003).

The claimant bears the burden of proof through step four of the analysis. Nielson v. Sullivan, 992 F.2d 1118, 1120 (10th Cir.1993). At step five, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to show that the claimant can perform other work that exists in the national economy. Nielson, 992 F.2d at 1120; Thompson v. Sullivan, 987 F.2d 1482, 1487 (10th Cir.1993). The Commissioner meets this burden if the decision is supported by substantial evidence. Thompson, 987 F.2d at 1487.

Before going from step three to step four, the agency will assess the claimant’s residual functional capacity (RFC). This RFC assessment is used to evaluate the claim at both step four and step five. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4), 404.1520(e, f, g); 416.920(a)(4), 416.920(e, f, g).

II. History of case

On September 25, 2009, administrative law judge (ALJ) James Francis Gillet issued his decision (R. at 16-30). Plaintiff alleges that he has been disabled since November 15, 2004 (R. at 16). Plaintiff is insured for disability insurance benefits through December 31, 2009 (R. at 18). At step one, the ALJ found that plaintiff has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since the alleged onset date of disability (R. at 18). At step two, the ALJ found that plaintiff had the following severe impairments: residual pain and infection from left lower extremity below the knee amputation, left hip pain, lumbar pain, depression, and a personality disorder (R. at 19). At step three, the ALJ determined that plaintiffs impairments do not meet or equal a listed impairment (R. at 21). After determining plaintiffs RFC (R. at 23), the ALJ found at step four that plaintiff is unable to perform past relevant work (R. at 28). At step five, the ALJ found that plaintiff could perform other jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national [1297]*1297economy (R. at 29). Therefore, the ALJ concluded that plaintiff was not disabled (R. at 29-30).

III. Did the ALJ err irt his consideration of the medical opinion evidence regarding plaintiff’s mental impairments?

The ALJ made RFC findings which included the following mental limitations:

... he has marked limitations in carrying out complex instructions, making judgments on complex work-related decisions, and interacting appropriately with the public; and he has mild limitations interacting appropriately with coworkers and supervisors, and responding appropriately in unusual work situations or changes in a routine work settings.

(R. at 23).

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Bluebook (online)
832 F. Supp. 2d 1293, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56548, 2011 WL 2038721, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/farmer-v-astrue-ksd-2011.