Johnson v. Colvin

949 F. Supp. 2d 1025, 2013 WL 5522166, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 141726
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. California
DecidedSeptember 30, 2013
DocketCase No. 12cv1877-WQH-DHB
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 949 F. Supp. 2d 1025 (Johnson v. Colvin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnson v. Colvin, 949 F. Supp. 2d 1025, 2013 WL 5522166, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 141726 (S.D. Cal. 2013).

Opinion

ORDER

HAYES, District Judge.

The matter before the Court is the review of the Report and Recommendation (ECF No. 18) issued by United States Magistrate Judge David H. Bartick, recommending that Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 12) be denied and Defendant’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 16) be granted.

BACKGROUND

I. Plaintiffs Previous Féderal Action

On July 3, 2007, Plaintiff filed an initial application for Supplemental Security Income, alleging a disability beginning on April 1, 2003. (Administrative Record (“AR”) at 94). Plaintiff. alleged that he was unable to work due to hepatitis C, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis in both hands, depression, asthma and high blood pressure. Id. at 78. Plaintiffs application was denied initially on November 28, 2007, id. at 78-81, and on reconsideration on March 3, 2008. Id. at 83-87. On May 2, 2008, Plaintiff filed a timely request for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). Id. at 89-90.

On March 17, 2009, Plaintiff testified at an administrative hearing before ALJ Mark Ramsey. Id. at 41-72. On April 22, 2009, ALJ Ramsey denied Plaintiff benefits after finding that Plaintiff was not disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act. Id. at 6-26. On May 22, 2009, the Appeals Council adopted ALJ Ramsey’s findings, and the Commissioner’s decision became the final decision of the Social Security Administration. Id. at 1-3. Thereafter, Plaintiff sought judicial review of the Commissioner’s decision- in United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.

On September 16, 2010, the district court granted Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment and denied the Commissioner’s cross-motion for summary judgment. Id. at 415-21. The district court concluded that ALJ Ramsey “directly violated a holding of the Ninth Circuit in not performing a credibility analysis with respect to a lay witness, and also erred in not assigning any limitations to plaintiffs residual functional capacity based on right hand carpal tunnel syndrome.” Id. at 415-16. The district court remanded the case to the Appeals Council for further administrative proceedings. Id.'

II. Findings of the ALJ on Remand

On November 6, 2010, the Appeals Council remanded Plaintiffs claim to an ALJ for further administrative proceedings. Id. at 423-24.

On January 20, 2012; Plaintiff testified at an administrative hearing before ALJ Carol Buck (hereinafter “ALJ”). Id. at 374^114. On June 4, 2012, the ALJ issued a written decision' denying Plaintiffs application for benefits. Id. at 352-72. The ALJ reviewed the evidence in the record, and concluded that Plaintiff has not been under a disability, as defined by the Social Security Act, from June 7, 2007 through the date of her decision. Id. at 365.

At step one of the sequential evaluation process, the ALJ concluded that Plaintiff has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since June 7, 2007, the daté of Plaintiffs application. Id. at 357. At step two, the ALJ concluded that Plaintiff has the following severe impairments: “[Bjilateral carpal tunnel syndrome status-post release surgery on left wrist and two release surgeries on right carpal tunnel; hepatitis C status-post pegylated interferon/ribavirin [1029]*1029treatments; post traumatic stress disorder; bipolar disorder; psychotic disorder with anti-social personality traits; alcohol abuse in early remission and mild degenerative cervical disk disease.” Id. At step three, the ALJ concluded that Plaintiff does not have an impairment or combination of impairments that meet or exceed the impairments contained in the Listing of Impairments (“Listings”). Id.

Before proceeding to step four, the ALJ: (1) found the statements of Plaintiff and Plaintiffs uncle-in-law regarding Plaintiffs physical and mental symptoms not credible and inconsistent with medical records, id.; (2) credited the opinion of Plaintiffs treating physician’s-assistant, Jennifer Inglet, who stated that Plaintiff is capable of lifting/carrying no more than 10 pounds frequently and 25 pounds occasionally, has some limitations in his ability to use his upper extremities, and has no limitations in his ability to stand, walk or sit, despite several impairments of degenerative cervical disk disease, id. at 361; (3) concluded that Plaintiffs mental condition was stable when Plaintiff took his prescribed medications and attended his therapy sessions, but that Plaintiffs condition worsened when he was not compliant with his medications and therapy, id. at 363; (4) did not credit the January 2008 and March 2009 opinions of Plaintiffs treating psychiatrist, Dr. Heitzman (who stated that Plaintiff was permanently incapacitated from working due to his bipolar disorder), because Dr. Heitzman’s opinion was based solely upon Plaintiffs subjective complaints, and lacked objective support in Plaintiffs treatment records, id. at 363-364; (5) did not fully credit the January ‘2012 opinion of Plaintiffs treating psychiatrist, Dr. Papp (who stated that Plaintiff had no useful ability to sustain any type of work-related mental activities), because Dr. Papp’s opinion was based solely upon Plaintiffs subjective complaints, id. at 364; and (6) credited the opinion of Dr. Tyl, the state agency medical consultant, who stated that Plaintiff has the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) “to sustain the concentration, persistence and/or pace to complete 1 and 2 step ' simple tasks which require only limited contact with others.” Id. 364.

At step four of the sequential evaluation process, the ALJ credited the vocational expert’s testimony and concluded that Plaintiff is unable to perform his past relevant work. Id. at 364. At step five, the ALJ found that, based on the testimony of the vocational expert, a significant number of jobs exist in the national economy that Plaintiff can perform, including jobs such as a fruit distributor and conveyor line bakery worker. Id. at 365. The ALJ concluded that Plaintiff was not “disabled” within the meaning of the Social Security Act. Id.

III. Plaintiffs Action in this Court

On July 31, 2012, Plaintiff filed a Complaint in this Court pursuant to section 405(g) of the Social Security Act, seeking judicial review of the final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (“Commissioner” or “Defendant”) to deny Plaintiffs claim for disability benefits. (ECF No. 1.)

On October 17, 2012, Defendant filed an Answer (ECF No. 8) and lodged the Administrative Record. (ECF No. 9.)

On November 28, 2012, Plaintiff filed the Motion for Summary Judgment, contending that the decision of the ALJ should be reversed and the case remanded for an award of benefits or further proceedings. (ECF No. 12). Plaintiff contends: (1) the ALJ erred by failing to make step two and step three findings regarding Plaintiffs depression; (2) the ALJ erred by failing to properly resolve conflicts between the opinions of Plaintiffs treating and consulting psychiatrists and by failing to set forth [1030]

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949 F. Supp. 2d 1025, 2013 WL 5522166, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 141726, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johnson-v-colvin-casd-2013.