Marcotte, Jr. v. SSA CV-96-308-M 09/30/97 P UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Robert Marcotte, Jr.
v. Civil No. 96-308-M
John J. Callahan, Commissioner Social Security Administration1
O R D E R
Plaintiff Robert Marcotte appeals, pursuant to 42 U.S.C.A.
§ 4 0 5 (g), the decision of the Commissioner denying him social
security benefits. The Commissioner's decision follows a
previous remand of this case to consider whether Marcotte's
claimed mental impairment, with his physical impairments,
rendered him disabled from work. For the reasons that follow,
the Commissioner's decision is again reversed and remanded.
Background
Local Rule 9.1 reguires parties in a social security case to
file a joint statement of material facts that includes "all facts
1 The President appointed John J. Callahan as Acting Commissioner of Social Security, effective March 1, 1997, to succeed Shirley S. Chater. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 2 5 ( d ) (1), John J. Callahan is thus substituted for Shirley S. Chater as the defendant in this action. pertinent to the decision of the case and all significant
procedural developments, and define[s] all medical terms." LR
9.1(b)(2). In this case, the claimant seeks benefits for the
period from October 17, 1987, through December 1992. The
parties' joint statement of material facts, however, does not
include the period between 1980 and 1993. Instead, the parties
state that they rely on their separate factual statements from
their individual memoranda submitted in June 1994 in a previous
appeal to this court.2 The parties have not filed those
memoranda in this case. In addition, their separate memoranda,
even if they were available, would not fulfill the reguirements
of Local Rule 9.1, nor, apparently, would their factual
statements be helpful.3 Ordinarily, the parties' pleadings would
be returned and they would be directed to comply with the
reguirements of the local rule. Because of the protracted
history of this case, however, the court will instead primarily
rely on the factual background provided in the previous decision.
2 The Magistrate Judge recommended that the decision denying benefits be reversed and remanded in a report and recommendation dated July 14, 1994. The report and recommendation was approved on August 8, 1994.
3 In his report and recommendation, the Magistrate Judge described the parties' factual statements in their memoranda as "an unintelligible and confused recitation of plaintiff's medical history, . . . those facts are largely irrelevant to the issue before the court."
2 augmented by the parties' present factual statement and the
record.
Marcotte first applied for benefits in December 1987 based
on a back injury. He did not appeal the unfavorable decision in
February 1989 denying him benefits. Marcotte again applied for
benefits in April 1992 alleging an inability to work beginning in
1987 due to a back condition. During the hearing before the
Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") on May 4, 1993, the testimony
indicated that Marcotte had suffered from panic attacks since
1972, and as a result, the ALJ suspended the proceedings to allow
Marcotte, who was represented by counsel, to submit evidence
pertaining to a possible mental impairment. The hearing resumed
on July 13, 1993. Little additional evidence or testimony of
mental impairment was offered.
The ALJ ruled in 1993 that the 1989 negative decision barred
Marcotte's application for the period between 1987 and 1989, and
also determined that he was not disabled from work during the
applicable period, February 1989 through December 1992, by either
his physical or mental conditions. Marcotte appealed the
decision arguing that the ALJ failed to properly assess his
mental impairment and improperly limited the period of his
claimed disability. The court found that the record was
insufficient to determine whether Marcotte's mental impairment,
3 combined with his exertional limitation, was disabling during the
applicable period. The court also ruled that Marcotte's claim
for benefits based on mental impairment presented a new claim
that was not barred by the previous denial, so that the
applicable period began in October 1987. Accordingly, the
Commissioner's decision was reversed, and the case was remanded
to determine:
1) how work-related stress affects plaintiff's RFC in light of his panic attacks, 2) whether plaintiff's panic attacks preclude him from leaving his restrictive lifestyle and 3) the synergetic effect of alcohol and Ativan on plaintiff's RFC.
Marcotte v. Secretary of Health and Human Servs., No. 94-19-SD,
Report and Recommendation at 15, (D.N.H. July 14, 1994), adopted
(D.N.H. Aug. 8, 1994) .
Upon remand, the ALJ obtained a copy of a consultative
examination report by Dr. Edward G. Martin, a clinical
psychologist, who met with Marcotte in May 1995 and had also
treated him in 1985. Dr. Martin's report, prepared for the New
Hampshire Vocational Rehabilitation Division, presented
Marcotte's psychological profile developed through observation,
interview, and a mental status examination during the May 1995
meeting. Dr. Martin noted Marcotte's anxiety and panic disorder
(for which he took the anti-anxiety medication Ativan), his
alcohol abuse, and his ongoing treatment at the White Mountain
4 Mental Health Clinic. He evaluated Marcotte's mental functioning
on the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale as 45 for the
six months preceding the May interview. A GAF score of 45
indicates serious symptoms or impairment in social or
occupational functions.4 Dr. Martin estimated that Marcotte had
average intelligence and did not find that he was particularly
anxious during the interview. Based on Marcotte's description of
his life and symptoms. Dr. Martin concluded that Marcotte's
twenty year history of panic attacks and agoraphobia combined
with a "long-standing history" of alcohol abuse had caused him to
be "nearly housebound" and that "[i]t is difficult to imagine him
becoming employable."
At the reguest of Marcotte's attorney. Dr. Martin completed
a mental impairment guestionnaire in July 1995. He found that
Marcotte's mental impairments caused a moderate restriction of
4 Lower GAF scores signify more serious symptoms. Scores between 31 and 40 indicate "'major impairment in several areas, such as work or school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood (e.g., depressed man avoids friends, neglects family, and is unable to work),'" scores between 41 and 50 indicate "'serious impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g. no friends, unable to keep a job),'" and scores between 51 and 60 indicate "'moderate symptoms (e.g. flat effect and circumstantial speech, occasional panic attacks) or moderate difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g. few friends, conflicts with co-workers.'" Sousa v. Chater, 945 F. Supp. 1312, 1319 n.7, 1320 n.8, 1322 n.9 (E.D. Gal. 1996) (guoting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, American Psychiatric Association, p . 12 (3d ed. 1987)).
5 daily living activities, a marked limitation in social
functioning, freguent deficiencies of concentration and work
pace, and repeated episodes of deterioration in work settings
that would cause him to withdraw from the work situation. In a
letter to Marcotte's attorney. Dr. Martin explained that his 1995
evaluation of Marcotte was consistent with his diagnosis in 1985
of anxiety with panic attacks. He noted that while alcohol abuse
was not addressed in 1985, he nevertheless found that alcohol
abuse had been a serious problem "over the last few years" prior
to 1995. He also noted that Marcotte's physician. Dr. Felgate,
had prescribed the anti-anxiety medication, Ativan, prior to 1985
and that he continued to take the medication throughout the
period. He gave his opinion that he would have made the same
diagnosis between 1985 and 1995 that he made based on his
evaluation in 1995 if the same information had been presented and
if he used the criteria in the 1994 manual. He estimated that
Marcotte's GAF range from 1987 to 1992 was between 45 and 60.
The administrative record includes medical records from
White Mountain Mental Health and Developmental Services beginning
on July 27, 1994, when Marcotte referred himself to the clinic
because of his panic attacks and alcohol abuse. The notes
indicate a diagnosis of panic disorder without agoraphobia,
alcohol dependence, and a GAF score of 30 with the highest GAF
6 score of 50. On January 21, 1995, Marcotte's therapist completed
a mental impairment questionnaire in which she indicated that
restriction of Marcotte's daily living activities was marked, his
difficulties in social functioning were moderate, that he often
experienced deficiencies in concentration, and that according to
his report he had continual episodes of deterioration.
An administrative hearing, following remand, was held on
September 12, 1995. Marcotte testified about his panic attacks
during the relevant period between October 1987 and December
1992. He said that he was hospitalized in September 1987 because
of a panic attack and said that he experienced panic attacks
several times a month despite taking medication, Ativan, to
control the attacks. He said that he also used alcohol, a six-
pack of beer or more each day, to control his anxiety and panic
and that he had little contact with other people during the
period as he spent most of his time at home fearing that a panic
attack would occur if he left home. He explained that being
around people or being in a place where he knew he could not get
away by himself was likely to trigger his panic attacks. He did
not receive counseling for his mental condition during the period
because, he said, he did not need counseling since he was taking
Ativan and using alcohol. He also said that he could not afford
counseling and his medical doctors did not recommend treatment.
7 He sought counseling again later to control his alcoholism.
During the period, he treated with his medical doctor who
continued to prescribe Ativan to control his anxiety and panic
attacks and who noted Marcotte's chronic alcoholism.
The ALJ posed a hypothetical guestion about a worker with
restricted light work ability at an unskilled or semiskilled
level and then added a restriction limiting contact with the
public. Even with the restriction, the vocational expert found
that significant numbers of appropriate factory jobs were
available in packaging, testing, grading, sorting, inspecting,
and examining. In response to Marcotte's attorney's hypothetical
guestion, which emphasized his psychological limitations, the
vocational expert said that no jobs existed that he could
perform.
In his decision dated March 26, 1996, the ALJ again found
that Marcotte was able to do light work, except sitting or
standing more than one hour at a time, walking for more than
thirty minutes, or performing extremes of reaching or freguent
bending. He found that Marcotte's mental impairment, an anxiety
disorder, precluded jobs that reguired dealing with or waiting on
the public but otherwise did not limit his work ability. The ALJ
ruled out a substance abuse impairment based on Marcotte's use of
alcohol. The ALJ completed a psychiatric review technique form which
guides an evaluation of mental impairment based on the mental
disorders listed at 20 C.F.R. P t . 404, Subpt. P, A p p . 1, and
which focused on § 12.06, "Anxiety Related Disorders." The ALJ
indicated on the form that Marcotte had anxiety related disorders
that included persistent irrational fear of a specific situation
and recurrent severe panic attacks. However, he rated Marcotte's
impairment in daily living as slight, in social functioning as
moderate, and determined that Marcotte seldom experienced
deficiency in concentration and only once or twice experienced
episodes of deterioration. The ALJ also found that Marcotte's
symptoms did not result in complete inability to function outside
of his home. Thus, the ALJ found that Marcotte did not have the
required levels of severity for a listed anxiety disorder
impairment.
The ALJ concluded, based on Marcotte's residual functional
capacity and the testimony of the vocational expert, that jobs
existed that Marcotte could perform despite his exertional and
nonexertional functional limitations and ruled that he was not
disabled.
Standard of Review After a final determination by the Commissioner and upon
request by a party, the court is empowered "to enter, upon the
pleadings and transcript of the record, a judgment affirming,
modifying, or reversing the decision of the Secretary, with or
without remanding the cause for a rehearing." 42 U.S.C.A. §
405(g). The Commissioner's factual findings are conclusive if
supported by substantial evidence. Id.; Irlanda-Qrtiz v.
Secretary of H.H.S., 955 F.2d 765, 769 (1st Cir. 1991).
Substantial evidence is "'such relevant evidence as a reasonable
mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.'"
Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971) (quoting
Consolidated Edison Co. v. N.L.R.B., 305 U.S. 197, 229 (1938));
see also Rodriquez Pagan v. Secretary of H.H.S., 819 F.2d 1, 3
(1st C i r .1987).
In making factual findings, the Commissioner must weigh and
resolve conflicts in the evidence, settle credibility issues, and
draw inferences from the record evidence. Ortiz, 955 F.2d at
7 69; Burgos Lopez v. Secretary of H.H.S., 747 F.2d 37, 40 (1st
Cir. 1984). The court will defer to the ALU's credibility
determinations, particularly where those determinations are
supported by specific findings. Frustaqlia v. Secretary of
H .H .S ., 829 F.2d 192, 195 (1st Cir. 1987). Accordingly, the
Commissioner's decision to deny benefits will be affirmed unless
10 it is based on a legal or factual error. Manso-Pizarro v.
Secretary of H.H.S., 76 F.3d 15, 16 (1st Cir. 1996).
Discussion
On appeal, Marcotte challenges the ALJ's determination, made
at the fifth step of the seguential analysis, that he was not
disabled during the relevant period.5 At the fifth step, the
burden shifts to the Commissioner to show that despite the
claimant's severe impairment, he retains the residual functional
capacity to do work other than his prior work, and that work the
claimant can do exists in significant numbers in the national and
regional economies. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(f); Keating v.
Secretary of H.H.S., 848 F.2d 271, 276 (1st Cir. 1988).
Marcotte contends that the ALJ erroneously discounted Dr.
Martin's retrospective opinion of his disability during the
5 The ALJ is reguired to consider the following five steps when determining if a claimant is disabled: (1) whether the claimant is engaged in substantial gainful activity at the time of the claim; (2) whether the claimant has a severe impairment that has lasted for twelve months or had a severe impairment for a period of twelve months in the past; (3) whether the impairment meets or eguals a listed impairment; (4) whether the impairment prevents or prevented the claimant from performing past relevant work; (5) whether the impairment prevents or prevented the claimant from doing any other work. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520 (1995) .
11 period between 1987 and 1992 and determined that his mental
condition was not a significant impairment.6 In doing so, he
argues, the ALJ impermissibly substituted his own opinion for Dr.
Martin's opinion and diagnosis. The disputed guestion in this
case, therefore, is whether substantial evidence exists in the
record to support the ALJ's determination that Marcotte was not
disabled, notwithstanding Dr. Martin's opinion and retrospective
diagnosis of the severity of his psychological impairment.
A. Retrospective Diagnosis of Disability
Dr. Martin's 1995 opinion and diagnosis were based on
Marcotte's narrative report during their meeting in May 1995 of
his condition from October 1987 through 1992, and a comparison of
Martin's treatment diagnosis in 1985 with his evaluation in 1995.
He concluded that Marcotte suffered panic attacks and anxiety
during the period to a degree that would have "impact[ed] on his
ability to work efficiently and consistently." Dr. Martin
"hypothesized" a GAF score for the relevant period between 45 and
60 (which indicates a moderate to serious impairment) while
6 Marcotte also seems to suggest that having sought Dr. Martin's opinion, as directed by the court's order, the ALJ was obligated to accept his opinion or obtain another consultative examination. Given the lack of contemporaneous evidence in this record, it does not appear that additional opinions, from psychologists who would have had less or no previous contact with Marcotte, would have been any more credible.
12 noting that he did not have some of the necessary information to
make the assessment.
The ALJ did not credit Dr. Martin's diagnosis that Marcotte
was disabled by his anxiety and panic attacks, and the effects of
his treatment,7 during the relevant period between 1987 and 1992
and made specific findings in support of his decision. First,
the ALJ noted that Marcotte had received no psychological
treatment or assessment during the period. Second, the ALJ found
no evidence during the period that alcohol abuse limited
Marcotte's work activities. Third, Marcotte had not claimed
anxiety as a disabling disorder in his applications for benefits.
Fourth, Dr. Martin's 1995 evaluation was based entirely on
Marcotte's own report of his symptoms during the period and was
contradicted by his own observations of Marcotte's appearance and
7 The court, on remand, directed determination of "the synergetic effect of alcohol and Ativan on plaintiff's RFC." Although alcohol use can no longer be considered as a contributing factor to disability, see 42 U.S.C.A. § 423(d)(2)(C), it is likely that the restriction, added by amendment effective March 29, 1996, does not apply in this case where the last final decision of the Commissioner was issued on March 26, 1996, see, e.g.,Perkins v. Chater, 107 F.3d 1290, 1293 (7th Cir. 1997); Newton v. Chater, 92 F.3d 688, 69-96 (8th Cir. 1996); Santos v. Chater, 942 F. Supp. 57, 63-64 (D. Mass. 1996). There appears, however, to be no evidence in the record pertaining to the combined effect of alcohol abuse and Ativan. Since Marcotte has had two separate opportunities to augment the factual record in support of his claim for benefits, it seems that evidence of side effects or synergetic effects is simply unavailable and that further remand for additional evidence would be futile.
13 manner during the interview. Fifth, Dr. Martin disclaimed his
ability to assess Marcotte's functioning during the applicable
period.
Retrospective diagnoses (medical opinions of claimants'
impairments which relate back to the covered period) may be
considered only to the extent that such opinions both
substantiate a disability that existed during the eligible period
and are corroborated by evidence contemporaneous with the
eligible period. See Evangelista v. Secretary of H.H.S., 826
F.2d 136, 140 (1st Cir. 1987); see also, e.g.. Likes v. Callahan,
112 F.3d 189, 190-91 (5th Cir. 1997); Adams v. Chater, 93 F.3d
712, 714 (10th Cir. 1996); Perez v. Chater, 77 F.3d 41, 48 (2d
Cir. 1996); Jones v. Chater, 65 F.3d 102, 103-04 (8th Cir. 1995);
Flaten v. Secretary of H.H.S., 44 F.3d 1453, 1457-62 (9th Cir.
1995). A psychologist's professional opinion is weighed based on
the type of evaluation, the treatment relationship, evidentiary
support for the opinion, the opinion's consistency with the
record, and his specialization. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d).
Because the Commissioner is responsible for making the decision
as to whether a claimant is disabled based on the evidence in the
record, an opinion that a claimant is disabled or unable to work
or that his impairments meet or egual the reguirements of a
14 listed impairment is not entitled to any particular significance.
§ 404.1527(e) .
The record substantiates that Marcotte suffered from anxiety
and panic attacks both before and after the applicable period and
that his symptoms were alleviated, at least to some extent, by
the prescribed medication, Atavin, and his consumption of
alcohol. Dr. Martin was Marcotte's treating psychologist for
only a few months in 19858 and had not treated Marcotte for ten
years when he made his evaluation, based on an interview, in May
1995. Because Marcotte was not treated for his anxiety during
the applicable period, other than by his medical doctor's
prescription of Ativan, no clinical evidence from the period
supports Dr. Martin's opinion of the severity of Marcotte's
impairment. Thus, Dr. Martin had neither the benefit of a
professional continuous longitudinal picture of Marcotte's
condition, nor supporting contemporaneous clinical evidence for
his diagnosis in 1995. In addition, as the ALJ noted. Dr. Martin
acknowledged the difficulty in 1995 of making a diagnosis of
Marcotte's condition during the applicable period and stated that
he lacked some necessary information to make a GAF assessment.
8 Dr. Martin's treatment notes from 1985 do not seem to be included in the record.
15 Other evidence in the record is inconsistent with Dr.
Martin's retrospective diagnosis and assessment of the severity
of Marcotte's mental impairment. At the hearing before the ALJ
in May 1993, Marcotte testified that he left his employment in
1987 because of his back condition although he also explained
that the panic attack, which occurred at one of his two jobs,
kept him from returning to that particular employer. Shortly
thereafter, Marcotte applied for job rehabilitation. In one
rehabilitation program, he attended four days of evaluation and
considered accepting an opportunity to be trained as an EEC
technician at an out-of-state school but turned it down because
of the hardship relocation would impose on him and his wife. In
1988, he again sought work through vocational rehabilitation, and
attended interviews and meetings, but turned down their job
referrals because they were too physically demanding. Marcotte
did not indicate in his testimony that he experienced any
particular anxiety during that time or that his anxiety disorder
interfered with his efforts at vocational rehabilitation. The
ALJ also noted that he observed Marcotte at the May and July 1993
hearings, both within a year of the applicable period, and found
no cognitive deficit or functional inability sufficient to
constitute a disability.
16 Marcotte testified at the September 1995 hearing that he was
then more withdrawn than he had been in 1992, suggesting that his
symptoms had worsened since the relevant period. He also
explained that his medication had been increased within a year of
the hearing. Even at the increased dosage level, Marcotte
described only minimal side effects from Ativan saying that he
had no physical effects and that he might get drowsy.
In May 1993, Dr. Bishop summarized Marcotte's "health
problems" during the applicable period as "chronic alcoholism,"
"sguamous cell carcinoma of the lip and nare in 1989," and
"anxiety probably related to his alcoholism." Dr. Bishop's notes
do not indicate impairment in functioning or the severity of
impairment suggested by Dr. Martin's retrospective diagnosis.
While Dr. Bishop noted Marcotte's excessive alcohol use, he did
not comment in his office notes on any potential interaction of
Ativan with alcohol abuse.
While the record confirms that Marcotte continued to
experience anxiety and take medication during the applicable
period, no contemporaneous medical evidence exists in the record
pertaining to the severity of Marcotte's impairment during the
period. In addition, substantial evidence exists in the record
supporting the ALJ's reasons for discounting Dr. Martin's
retrospective diagnosis and for not crediting Marcotte's
17 testimony that he was unable to work because of his anxiety
disorder during the period.9 For those reasons, the ALJ
appropriately discounted Dr. Martin's opinion and diagnosis.
See, e.g., Grebenick v. Chater, No. 96-3032, 1997 WL 437266 (8th
C i r . A u g . 6, 1997).
B. Substantial Evidence in Support of ALJ's Determination
The ALJ found that Marcotte's anxiety disorder caused him to
experience a "persistent irrational fear of a specific object,
activity or situation which results in a compelling desire to
avoid the dreaded object, activity, or situation," and "recurrent
severe panic attacks manifested by a sudden unpredictable onset
of intense apprehension . . . occurring on the average of at
least once a week." He also found that although the disorder was
"severe," it caused only minimal to moderate effects in
Marcotte's ability to function that were not sufficient to meet
the reguirements of a listed anxiety disorder. The ALJ concluded
that Marcotte's anxiety disorder would prevent him from
performing jobs that reguired dealing with the public, but would
not otherwise limit his job function. Thus, in essence, the ALJ
9 The ALJ considered Marcotte's reported activities and medical evidence as well as his own observations during three hearings in making his credibility determination. See Averv v. Secretary of H.H.S., 797 F.2d 19 (1st Cir. 1986).
18 concluded that if Marcotte's employment did not require contact
with the public, he would not experience anxiety attacks that
would impair his ability to work.
Although substantial evidence exists in the record to
support the ALJ's finding as to the frequency of Marcotte's
anxiety attacks, it is lacking with respect to the disability
determination. Marcotte told Dr. Martin in 1995 that over the
time he had been experiencing anxiety attacks, minor attacks
occurred every few days but that every once in a while he had a
"big one." Notes from White Mountain Mental Health in 1994 state
that he reported then that he tended to have one major attack a
month and minor attacks about once a week despite staying at home
to avoid unfamiliar people and situations. The record does not
establish, however, what triggers the attacks, whether merely
avoiding contact with the public would avoid more frequent or
severe attacks in a work setting, or whether he could work
despite the frequency and type of anxiety he experienced even
when he did avoid the public.
The ALJ relied on the Medical-Vocational Guidelines, 20
C.F.R. Part 404, Subpt. P, App. 2 ("the Grid") as a "framework"
in deciding that a significant number of jobs existed that
Marcotte could do despite his limitations. The Grid is an
appropriate shortcut at the fifth step only if a nonexertional
19 impairment, such as a psychological disorder, does not
significantly affect the claimant's range of work ability. See
Ortiz v. Secretary of Health and Human Servs., 890 F.2d 520, 524
(1st Cir.1989). The ALJ found that Marcotte's anxiety disorder
limited his ability to perform the full range of light work
because he would need to avoid jobs dealing with the public, and
the vocational expert testified that a limitation in dealing with
the public would restrict the jobs available. Thus, the Grid was
not an appropriate basis for determining that Marcotte was not
disabled. See Ortiz, 890 F.2d at 524; Gagnon v. Secretary of
Health and Human Servs., 666 F.2d 662, 665 n.6 (1st Cir. 1981) .
A vocational expert's opinion may serve as significant
evidence, but only if her opinion was elicited with an accurate
hypothetical based on significant record evidence. See Arocho v.
Secretary of Health and Human Servs., 670 F.2d 374, 375 (1st Cir.
1982). The hypothetical posed by the ALJ to the vocational
expert included a limitation that Marcotte avoid the public but
did not explain that Marcotte would experience one "big" anxiety
attack per month and "small" anxiety attacks at least once a
week. Thus, without the specific limitation that the ALJ found,
the vocational expert's opinion cannot serve as substantial
evidence in support of the ALJ's determination.
20 Marcotte's attorney's hypothetical, by his own description,
emphasized Marcotte's psychological impairments. He described a
claimant with a "frequency of panic attacks that would result in
him being absent from work at least three times a month and that
he would have difficulty working at a regular job on a sustained
basis . . . and frequently secludes himself in his home." The
vocational expert responded that such a claimant would not be
able to do the jobs she had identified. Record evidence from the
period of 1987 through 1992 does not support the severity of
impairment suggested by the attorney's hypothetical. Thus, the
attorney's hypothetical also did not elicit an opinion that can
serve as substantial evidence.
Because substantial evidence does not exist in the record to
support the ALJ's determination, the Commissioner's decision that
Marcotte was not disabled must be reversed. The case must be
remanded to determine whether or not jobs existed in the relevant
economies that Marcotte could perform despite his physical and
mental impairments during the period between 1987 and 1992 as
found by the ALJ.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the defendant's motion to affirm
the decision of the Commissioner (document no. 8) is denied; the
21 plaintiff's motion to reverse (document no. 7) is granted, and
the case is remanded for further administrative proceedings
consistent with this order. The clerk of court shall enter
judgment.
SO ORDERED.
Steven J. McAuliffe United States District Judge
September 30, 1997
cc: Raymond J. Kelly, Esg. David L. Broderick, Esg.