Heskett v. Commissioner of Social Security

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedMarch 29, 2021
Docket2:20-cv-03171
StatusUnknown

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

Bluebook
Heskett v. Commissioner of Social Security, (S.D. Ohio 2021).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO EASTERN DIVISION

TAMARA SUE HESKETT,

Plaintiff, v. Civil Action 2:20-cv-3171 Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Jolson

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

Defendant.

OPINION AND ORDER Plaintiff, Tamara Sue Heskett, brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) seeking review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner”) denying her application for Disability Insurance Benefits (“DIB”). The parties in this matter consented to the Undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). (Docs. 7, 8). For the reasons set forth below, the Court OVERRULES Plaintiff’s Statement of Errors and AFFIRMS the Commissioner’s decision. I. BACKGROUND Plaintiff filed her application for DIB on January 10, 2017, alleging that she was disabled beginning August 1, 2014, due to back pain, chronic shoulder pain, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and hypertension. (Tr. 183-84, 195). After her application was denied initially and on reconsideration, the Administrative Law Judge (the “ALJ”) held a video hearing on February 20, 2019. (Tr. 27–58). The ALJ denied benefits in a written decision on March 4, 2019. (Tr. 7–26). That became the final decision of the Commissioner when the Appeals Council denied review. (Tr. 1–6). Plaintiff filed the instant case seeking a review of the Commissioner’s decision on June 22, 2020 (Doc. 1), and the Commissioner filed the administrative record on November 9, 2020 (Doc. 13). Plaintiff filed her Statement of Errors (Doc. 14) on December 22, 2020, and Defendant filed

an Opposition (Doc. 17) on February 9, 2021. Plaintiff filed her Reply on February 23, 2021. (Doc. 19). Thus, this matter is now ripe for consideration. A. Relevant Hearing Testimony

The ALJ summarized the testimony from Plaintiff’s hearing: The [Plaintiff] alleged that she is disabled because she has trouble with her back, shoulder, and hip in addition to being fearful of going into public. The [Plaintiff] testified that her back had been bothering her for eight years despite using muscle relaxers. The [Plaintiff] alleged that she could only stand for about 15 minutes without needing to sit or lay on the floor. The [Plaintiff] alleged that her anxiety and depression prevents her from going to the grocery store, the movie theater, and the zoo.

(Tr. 17, citation to testimony omitted).

The [Plaintiff] testified that she has experienced back pain for 8 years; however, she has never been recommended for surgery and has received conservative treatment, with muscle relaxers. The [Plaintiff]’s hip pain has additionally only occurred for approximately 5 months.

(Tr. 18, citation to testimony omitted).

B. Relevant Medical Evidence

The ALJ summarized the relevant medical records: Turning first to the [Plaintiff]’s physical impairments, the [Plaintiff] has degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee. The [Plaintiff]’s degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is documented on radiological images as “mild multilevel degenerative disc disease” (4F/77, 81). Physical examinations reveal that the [Plaintiff] had a normal range of motion on medical records even when reporting back pain (4F/27; 30). The consultative physical examination found that the [Plaintiff] has normal dorsolumbular spine extension, right lateral flexion, and left lateral flexion with 70/90 flexion (3F/9). Physical examination of the [Plaintiff]’s hip found normal flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation (3F/10). Radiological images of the right hip revealed no evidence of acute fracture or dislocation with mild degenerative joint disease (3F/11). Physical examination of the [Plaintiff]’s knee found normal flexion and extension (3F/10). Radiological images of the [Plaintiff]’s left knee found no fracture, no dislocation, and mild degenerative joint disease (3F/12). The [Plaintiff] ambulates with a normal gait (2F/4; 3F/3; 8F/4) and has not reported gait problems to providers (specifically (4F/8, 65) and generally (4F/23, 26 30, 50, 69, 72)). The undersigned also notes that the [Plaintiff] does not report symptoms of pain in her back, knee, or hip continuously after the initial allegation (4F; 5F; 6F; 7F). [ ] Collectively, this supports the above physical residual functional capacity.

Turning next to the [Plaintiff] psychological impairments, the [Plaintiff] has anxiety disorder, depressive disorder. The [Plaintiff]’s medical records reveal that the she quit her last job in 2014 because her husband had a good job and her anxiety was not bad at that time (5F/8-9). Furthermore, the [Plaintiff] reported that she missed working and being more active, but does not want to leave her house due to the “cruel people in the world” (5F/8-9). The [Plaintiff] reported that her anxiety was worsening due to her husband’s kids breaking into her house and robbing her numerous times (4F/37). This additionally leads to anxiety and fear about leaving her home and her husband’s kids finding out that that her home is unoccupied (4F/37). The [Plaintiff] reports that she feels safer at her house and makes sure that the doors are locked throughout the night (4F/37). The [Plaintiff] reportedly manages her stress by isolating herself, spending time with her kids and grandkids, doing crafts, and helping kids with projects (4F/9, 39). The [Plaintiff] has never been hospitalized for psychiatric conditions and has never received outpatient mental health services, other than the psychotropic medications prescribed by her primary care physician and seeing a social worker (2F/4; 5F). Additionally, the [Plaintiff] reported she dressed up with her husband as Mrs. Claus and Santa while visiting four of their families’ houses on a Saturday, and then when to two of her husband’s kid’s houses on Monday (5F/13). Collectively, this supports the above psychological limitations.

(Tr. 17–18).

C. The ALJ’s Decision

The ALJ found that Plaintiff meets the insured status requirement through December 31, 2019, and has not engaged in substantial gainful employment since August 1, 2014, the alleged onset date. (Tr. 12). The ALJ determined that Plaintiff suffered from the following severe impairments: anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee. (Id.). The ALJ, however, found that none of Plaintiff’s impairments, either singly or in combination, meet or medically equals a listed impairment. (Tr. 13). As to Plaintiff’s residual functional capacity (“RFC”), the ALJ found that: After careful consideration of the entire record, the undersigned finds that the [Plaintiff] has the residual functional capacity to perform medium work as defined in 20 CFR 404.1567(c) except she can lift and carry 50 pounds occasionally and 25 pounds frequently, sit up to 6 hours in a day, stand and walk up to 6 hours in a day. The [Plaintiff] can push and pull as much as she can lift and carry. She can climb ramps and stairs frequently, climb ladders, ropes, and scaffolds occasionally, balance frequently, stoop frequently, kneel frequently, crouch occasionally, and crawl occasionally. She can work in unprotected heights occasionally and with moving mechanical parts occasionally. The [Plaintiff] can perform simple work.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Jimmie L. Howard v. Commissioner of Social Security
276 F.3d 235 (Sixth Circuit, 2002)
Angela M. Jones v. Commissioner of Social Security
336 F.3d 469 (Sixth Circuit, 2003)
Debra Rogers v. Commissioner of Social Security
486 F.3d 234 (Sixth Circuit, 2007)
Justice v. Commissioner Social Security Administration
515 F. App'x 583 (Sixth Circuit, 2013)
Griffeth v. Commissioner of Social Security
217 F. App'x 425 (Sixth Circuit, 2007)
Gaskin v. Commissioner of Social Security
280 F. App'x 472 (Sixth Circuit, 2008)
Cynthia Winn v. Comm'r of Social Security
615 F. App'x 315 (Sixth Circuit, 2015)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Heskett v. Commissioner of Social Security, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/heskett-v-commissioner-of-social-security-ohsd-2021.