Jenkins v. Astrue

815 F. Supp. 2d 1145, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99086, 2011 WL 3860458
CourtDistrict Court, D. Oregon
DecidedAugust 31, 2011
DocketCivil No. 3:10-849-HA
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 815 F. Supp. 2d 1145 (Jenkins v. Astrue) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jenkins v. Astrue, 815 F. Supp. 2d 1145, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99086, 2011 WL 3860458 (D. Or. 2011).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

HAGGERTY, District Judge:

Plaintiff Richard D. Jenkins seeks judicial review of a final decision by the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration denying his application for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This court has jurisdiction to review the Commissioner’s decision under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). After reviewing the record, this court concludes that the Commissioner’s decision must be AFFIRMED.

STANDARDS

To establish eligibility for benefits, a plaintiff has the burden of proving an inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) “by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment” that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A).

The Commissioner has established a five-step sequential evaluation process for determining if a person is eligible for DIB or SSI. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920. The claimant bears the burden of proof at steps one through four to establish his or her disability. At the fifth step, however, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to show that jobs exist in a significant number in the national economy that the claimant can perform given his or her residual functional capacity (RFC), age, education, and work experience. Gomez v. [1149]*1149Chater, 74 F.3d 967, 970 (9th Cir.1996). If the Commissioner cannot meet this burden, the claimant is considered disabled for purposes of awarding benefits. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(f)(1), 416.920(a). If the Commissioner meets this burden, the claimant is deemed not disabled for purposes of determining benefits eligibility. Id.

The Commissioner’s decision must be affirmed if it is based on the proper legal standards and its findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1097 (9th Cir.1999); Andrews v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir.1995). Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla but less than a preponderance; it is “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Sandgathe v. Chater, 108 F.3d 978, 980 (9th Cir.1997) (citation omitted).

The court must weigh all of the evidence, whether it supports or detracts from the Commissioner’s decision. Tackett, 180 F.3d at 1098. The Commissioner, not the reviewing court, must resolve conflicts in the evidence, and the Commissioner’s decision must be upheld in instances where the evidence supports either outcome. Reddick v. Chater, 157 F.3d 715, 720-21 (9th Cir.1998). However, a decision must be set aside if the Commissioner did not apply the proper legal standards in weighing the evidence and making the decision. Id. at 720.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Plaintiff alleges disability due to a number of physical and mental impairments. Plaintiff was forty-three years old at his alleged disability onset date of August 8, 2002, and he was last insured on December 31, 2006. His applications were denied initially and upon reconsideration.

An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) conducted a hearing on April 29, 2009. The ALJ heard testimony from plaintiff, who was represented by counsel, plaintiffs case manager from the Community Engagement Program, and an independent vocational expert (VE).

Following the hearing, the ALJ issued a decision finding that plaintiff was not disabled as defined in the Social Security Act. The ALJ found that plaintiff suffered from several severe impairments, including: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, mild peripheral neuropathy, asthma, a history of substance-induced mood disorder with psychosis, polysubstance dependence, and an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression. Tr. 19, Finding 3.1 The ALJ noted that plaintiffs substance dependence was purportedly in remission. Tr. 19.

The ALJ determined that plaintiff has the RFC to perform light work, but found that plaintiff should not be required to stand or walk for more than two to four hours in an eight-hour workday, should never climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds, and should avoid hazards and exposure to environmental fumes. Tr. 21, Finding 5. The ALJ limited plaintiff to unskilled or low semi-skilled work with occasional public contact. Id. The ALJ also concluded that due to plaintiffs combined impairments, including his drug addiction, he might be absent from work for more than two days per month. Id.

Based on plaintiffs RFC, the ALJ concluded that plaintiff was unable to perform his past relevant work as a housecleaner [1150]*1150and part-owner of a housecleaning business. Tr. 21, Finding 6. The ALJ also found that plaintiff could not perform other jobs existing in the national economy. Tr. 22, Finding 10. Accordingly, the ALJ concluded that plaintiff was “disabled” under the Act. Tr. 22.

However, because plaintiffs disability was based in part on his drug addiction, the ALJ performed a second analysis of the five steps assuming that plaintiff no longer engaged in substance abuse. Tr. 22-30. The ALJ explained that although plaintiff suffered from several impairments independent of his substance abuse, those impairments were not disabling. Id. Plaintiffs remaining impairments precluded him from performing his past relevant work, but did not prevent him from performing other work existing in significant numbers in the national economy. Tr. 30. Because the ALJ determined that plaintiffs disability would terminate once plaintiff stopped his substance abuse, the ALJ concluded that plaintiff was not disabled. Tr. 31.

The Appeals Council declined plaintiffs request for administrative review, making the ALJ’s decision the final decision of the Commissioner. Plaintiff subsequently initiated this action seeking judicial review. DISCUSSION

Plaintiff contends that this court must reverse and remand the Commissioner’s final decision for an immediate award of benefits based on several alleged errors in the ALJ’s decision. Plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred in finding that plaintiffs substance abuse was material to his disability. In making that decision, plaintiff asserts that the ALJ improperly rejected his treating physician’s opinion that plaintiff was disabled independent of his substance abuse. Plaintiff also asserts that the ALJ erred by concluding that plaintiffs mental impairment did not meet Listing 12.04, and in determining plaintiffs RFC. These arguments are addressed in turn.

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815 F. Supp. 2d 1145, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99086, 2011 WL 3860458, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jenkins-v-astrue-ord-2011.