Gutierrez v. Social Security Administration

CourtDistrict Court, D. New Mexico
DecidedMarch 23, 2023
Docket1:21-cv-00348
StatusUnknown

This text of Gutierrez v. Social Security Administration (Gutierrez v. Social Security Administration) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Mexico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gutierrez v. Social Security Administration, (D.N.M. 2023).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO

EVA MARIE GUTIERREZ,

Plaintiff,

v. No. 1:21-cv-00348-JHR

KILOLO KIJAKAZI, Acting Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Before the Court is Plaintiff Eva Marie Gutierrez’s Motion to Reverse or Remand Administrative Agency Decision with Memorandum in Support. [Doc. 22]. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73(b), the parties consented to Magistrate Jerry H. Ritter resolving Gutierrez’s challenge to the Commissioner’s Final Decision on her application for Social Security benefits and entering Final Judgment in this appeal. [Docs. 27– 29].1 Having reviewed the parties’ briefing and the Administrative Record (“AR”), the Court grants Gutierrez’s motion, reverses the Commissioner’s Final Decision denying Gutierrez benefits, and remands this case to the agency for rehearing. I. INTRODUCTION Administrative Law Judges (“ALJs”) considering a claimant’s application for disability benefits generally must follow a five-step sequential analysis. After the first three steps, they must determine the totality of what the claimant can do despite her limitations, called her “residual functional capacity.” Every limitation evidenced in the record must be considered

1 Documents 27–28 are text-only docket entries viewable on the CM/ECF system. when the ALJ assesses residual functional capacity, even if the ALJ believes some of those limitations are minor. Although Gutierrez raises several grounds to argue for reversal, the Court reverses and remands on just one—that the ALJ below did not address one of Gutierrez’s evidenced

limitations, and that the evidence was strong enough that considering that limitation may have made a difference. It is not for this Court to decide whether Gutierrez is disabled, so the case is remanded for an ALJ to consider the case again in light of this Court’s findings. II. BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY Plaintiff Eva Marie Gutierrez protectively applied for disability insurance benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act and supplemental security income under Title XVI on January 14, 2019, claiming disability beginning August 3, 2018. AR at 53, 202.2 The Administration denied Gutierrez’s applications initially on May 23, 2019 (AR at 84) and on reconsideration on October 2, 2019. AR at 96–99. Gutierrez was then granted a hearing before ALJ Mark M. Swayze. AR at 162–66.

Gutierrez primarily claims that she is disabled because of her mental status. She was diagnosed with and treated for depressive disorder and anxiety in 2019 and post-traumatic stress disorder in 2020. AR at 326, 422. Although her initial benefits application listed both physical and mental impairments,3 Gutierrez mostly described mental functional limitations in her adult function report and later in her hearing. See AR at 62–64, 246–52, 264–71. Post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety were chief among her concerns. See AR at 62. She alleged that crowds triggered panic attacks and caused her to flee to a public bathroom or her car. AR at 62. Smells

2 Document 17 comprises the sealed Certified Transcript of the Administrative Record. The Court cites the Record’s internal pagination rather than the CM/ECF document number and page. 3 In her April 1, 2019 Disability Report, Gutierrez stated that the following medical conditions limited her ability to work: polycythemia, type 2 diabetes, anxiety, panic attacks, and thyroid disease. AR at 225. and sounds which reminded her of sexual and physical abuse in her childhood also triggered anxiety and panic attacks, which she said she experienced every day. AR at 63. Depression, meanwhile, made it difficult, but not impossible, for Gutierrez to get up in the morning, bathe, and perform housework. AR at 71–72. These complaints were consistent with records of

Gutierrez’s treatment, including medication and psychotherapy. See AR at 421–45 (detailing Gutierrez’s psychotherapy progress and medication use). That said, Gutierrez sometimes displayed normal psychiatric status during medical examinations. See AR at 328, 337, 394. Gutierrez also alleged that headaches contributed to her inability to work. She has described having headaches daily, during which she says she experiences pain at a level of 8–9 on a 1–10 scale, blurred vision, dizziness, insomnia, phonophobia, photophobia, and tinnitus. AR at 62, 261, 335. To treat her headaches, Gutierrez takes Topiramate, an anticonvulsant. AR at 338. Gutierrez suggests her anxiety contributes to her headaches and has described how they coincide with panic attacks and are exacerbated by stress. See AR at 62, 335; [Doc. 22, pp. 5, 13]. Medical records suggest that the headaches are a symptom of hypoglycemia4 associated with

Gutierrez’s type 2 diabetes mellitus. See AR at 328–29. Gutierrez’s hearing before ALJ Swayze took place on August 14, 2020. AR at 47. Before and during her hearing, Gutierrez asked ALJ Swayze to order a consultative examination to evaluate and give opinions on her mental status. AR at 54, 299. ALJ Swayze ultimately chose not to order the consultative examination and his decision suggests he believed the record had enough information for him to decide whether Gutierrez was disabled without one. See AR at 19–24. On August 28, 2020, ALJ Swayze issued a decision denying benefits. AR at 13.

4 “Hypoglycemia” refers to low blood sugar and the host of symptoms which can result from it. See Stedmans Medical Dictionary, hypoglycemia, STEDMANS 428850, Westlaw (database updated Nov. 2014). Dizziness, confusion, headache, and inability to concentrate are common symptoms. Id. Gutierrez sought review of the unfavorable decision from the Appeals Council. AR at 199–201. In her application for review, Gutierrez included treatment records from the Family Workshop Counseling Center as additional evidence that her mental impairments are disabling. See AR at 33–46. The records are consistent with others showing the existence of Gutierrez’s

mental impairments but also contain some benign findings. See generally AR at 33–46. The Appeals Council denied review on February 9, 2021, making ALJ Swayze’s decision final.5 AR at 1–4. Gutierrez timely appealed. [Doc. 1]. On February 16, 2022, Gutierrez moved to reverse the Commissioner’s decision and remand for rehearing. [Doc. 22]. This case was assigned to me on May 6, 2022, and the parties consented to my presiding. [Docs. 26–29]. The Commissioner responded on May 18, 2022, and Gutierrez replied on May 27, 2022, completing briefing. [Docs. 30–32]. III. THE COMMISSIONER’S FINAL DECISION Claimants seeking disability benefits must establish that they are unable to engage in “any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental

impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A); 20 C.F.R.

5 Claimants who are denied benefits by the Administration must obtain a “final decision” from the Administration before they may appeal the denial to a federal district court. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Generally, when the Administration’s Appeals Council denies review after the ALJ denies benefits, the ALJ’s decision is “final” enough for a district court to review. 20 C.F.R. § 422

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