Kevin Hornbuckle v. Nancy Berryhill

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: July 12, 2018
• Docket: 17-35705
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS JUL 12 2018 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

KEVIN A. HORNBUCKLE, No. 17-35705

Plaintiff-Appellant, No. 6:16-cv-01108-BR

v. MEMORANDUM*

NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting Commissioner Social Security,

Defendant-Appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Oregon Anna J. Brown, District Judge, Presiding

Submitted July 10, 2018**

Before: LEAVY, TROTT, and SILVERMAN, Circuit Judges.

Kevin A. Hornbuckle appeals the district court’s judgment affirming the

Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of his application for disability insurance

benefits and supplemental security income under Titles II and XVI of the Social

Security Act. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 42 U.S.C. §

* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). 405(g). We review de novo, Attmore v. Colvin, 827 F.3d 872, 875 (9th Cir. 2016),

and we affirm.

The ALJ did not err at Step Two of the sequential analysis by not finding

depression constituted a severe impairment. The record supports the ALJ’s

conclusion that, while two consulting psychologists diagnosed Hornbuckle with

depression, the record did not show Hornbuckle had any limitations stemming

from his depression that would significantly affect his ability to perform basic

work activities. Furthermore, because the ALJ decided Step Two in Hornbuckle’s

favor and considered the evidence of Hornbuckle’s depression in subsequent steps,

Hornbuckle “could not possibly have been prejudiced,” thus rendering any error

harmless. Buck v. Berryhill, 869 F.3d 1040, 1049 (9th Cir. 2017) (citation

omitted).

The ALJ did not err in discounting Hornbuckle’s testimony. The ALJ cited

specific, clear, and convincing reasons for discounting Hornbuckle’s statements,

including inconsistencies in Hornbuckle’s testimony, Hornbuckle’s erratic work

history, evidence of Hornbuckle’s motivation to obtain benefits, and the lack of

supporting objective medical evidence. See Trevizo v. Berryhill, 871 F.3d 664, 678

(9th Cir. 2017); Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1112 (9th Cir. 2012); Thomas v.

Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 958-59 (9th Cir. 2002); Matney ex rel. Matney v. Sullivan,

2 981 F.2d 1016 (9th Cir. 1992); Bray v. Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 554 F.3d 1219,

1227 (9th Cir. 2009).

Hornbuckle contends that the ALJ erred in relying upon Hornbuckle’s daily

living activities to afford less weight to his testimony. While the ALJ summarized

Hornbuckle’s reported activities in his decision, the ALJ did not cite this

information as grounds for discounting his testimony. Thus, Hornbuckle’s

argument does not address the ALJ’s reasoning. In addition, any error in relying

upon Hornbuckle’s lack of treatment, in light of Hornbuckle’s claims he had been

unable to afford treatment at times, was harmless because the ALJ provided several

other valid reasons for rejecting Hornbuckle’s testimony. See Carmickle v.

Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 533 F.3d 1155, 1162 (9th Cir. 2008).

The ALJ did not err in evaluating the medical opinion evidence. The ALJ

supported rejecting treating physician Dr. Keiper’s opinion by explaining it was

internally inconsistent and lacked support from objective medical evidence, which

are specific and legitimate reasons for discounting medical opinions. See Trevizo,

871 F.3d at 675; Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1216 (9th Cir. 2005).

Hornbuckle contends there is a contradiction within Dr. Keiper’s notes and

advocates for an alternative interpretation. The ALJ, however, is charged with

resolving such conflicts in the medical evidence. See Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533

3 F.3d 1035, 1041-42 (9th Cir. 2008). We uphold the ALJ’s rational interpretation.

See Ryan v. Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 528 F.3d 1194, 1198 (9th Cir. 2008).

The ALJ also properly supported the decision to discount treating physician

Dr. Gabriele’s opinions, citing the limited length of the treatment relationship for

her initial opinion rendered during Hornbuckle’s first visit, as well as infrequency

of treatment for subsequent opinions. See Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1012

n.11 (9th Cir. 2014) (citation omitted). The ALJ also relied upon the lack of

supporting medical evidence, see Bayliss, 427 F.3d at 1216, and Dr. Gabriele’s

reliance on the Hornbuckle’s reports of his symptoms and limitations, which the

ALJ properly discounted, see Tommasetti, 533 F.3d at 1041.

The ALJ did not err at Step Five. Hornbuckle’s argument turns upon his

contentions of error concerning previous steps in the ALJ’s analysis, which lack

merit. The ALJ properly relied upon the fact that Hornbuckle’s age group changed

to “closely approaching advanced age” on his fiftieth birthday when determining

he was disabled as of August 20, 2012. See 20 CF.R. Pt. 404 App. 2 §§ 201.00(g),

201.14; Russell v. Bowen, 856 F.2d 81, 84 (9th Cir. 1988) (citation omitted).

The ALJ did not err by denying the subpoena requests Hornbuckle submitted

without his attorney’s knowledge. Hornbuckle did not challenge the ALJ’s denial

of his subpoena requests in district court, where he was represented by counsel,

and therefore he has waived the issue. See Warre v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin.,

4 439 F.3d 1001, 1007 (9th Cir. 2006). Moreover, concerning the merits of his

requests, Hornbuckle has not demonstrated these subpoenas were necessary to

reveal “facts [that] could not be proven without issuing a subpoena,” or that such

additional testimony was “reasonably necessary for the full presentation of a case.”

See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.950(d), 416.1450(d).1

AFFIRMED.

1 Hornbuckle’s “Motion for Leave to Amend” is denied. (Docket Entry No. 15). Hornbuckle’s request to schedule oral argument is denied. (Docket Entry No. 27).