Miller v. Apfel

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
• Decided: November 8, 2000
• Docket: 00-1056
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

F I L E D United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS NOV 8 2000 FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT PATRICK FISHER Clerk

SANDRA MILLER, for her son Aaron Miller,

Plaintiff-Appellant, No. 00-1056 v. (D.C. No. 99-S-811) (D. Colo.) KENNETH S. APFEL, Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant-Appellee.

ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Before BALDOCK , KELLY , and HENRY , Circuit Judges.

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of

this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is

therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

* This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3. Plaintiff-appellant appeals from the district court’s memorandum decision

upholding the Commissioner’s decision denying Supplemental Security Income

benefits to plaintiff’s son, Aaron, who suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder. In

essence, the Commissioner determined that Aaron was not disabled under the

Social Security Act regarding children under age eighteen. See 42 U.S.C.

§ 1382c(C). We have jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and 28 U.S.C.

§ 1291, and we affirm.

In reviewing the Commissioner’s decision, we determine whether

substantial evidence in the record as a whole supports the factual findings and

whether correct legal standards were applied. See Brown v. Callahan , 120 F.3d

1133, 1135 (10th Cir. 1997). We may not reweigh the evidence or substitute our

discretion for that of the Commissioner. See Kelley v. Chater , 62 F.3d 335, 337

(10th Cir. 1995).

The focus of this appeal is whether substantial evidence supports the

conclusion of the administrative law judge (ALJ) that Aaron did not have an

impairment listed in or functionally equal to one listed in 20 C.F.R. pt. 404,

subpart P, app. 1, Part B, § 112.11. In making this determination, the ALJ used

the “broad areas of functioning” method. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.926a(b)(2). To

meet the “functionally equivalent in severity to a listed impairment” requirement,

a child must have an “extreme” limitation in one area of functioning or a

-2- “marked” limitation in two or more areas of functioning. See id. “Marked”

limitation means “more than moderate” but “less than extreme” and may arise

when several activities or functions are limited or if the degree of limitation

seriously interferes with the child’s functioning. See . § 416.926a(c)(3)(i)(C).

“Extreme” limitation means no meaningful functioning in a given area and may

arise when one or several activities or functions are limited. See

§ 416.926a(c)(3)(ii)(C). The ALJ determined that Aaron had neither a “marked”

nor an “extreme” limitation in any of the five areas of functioning of

(1) cognition/communication, (2) motor skills (3) social skills (4) personal skills

and (5) concentration, persistence or pace. See § 416.926a(c)(4)(i)-(iii), (v)-(vi).

Although appellant argues that the ALJ did not consider her claim that

Aaron is disabled because of his behavior, see Appellant’s Br. at 8-9, the record

reflects the ALJ did note Aaron’s behavior problems, see Appellant’s App. at

20-22, but concluded they did not rise to the level of a “marked” or “extreme”

limitation. The thrust of plaintiff’s argument is a request that this court reweigh

the evidence, which we may not do. See Kelley , 62 F.3d at 337. We have

carefully reviewed the record and agree with the district court’s conclusion that

there is substantial evidence in the record to support the ALJ’s decision.

-3- Accordingly, for substantially the reasons stated in the district court’s

Memorandum Decision on Appeal filed December 13, 1999, the judgment of the

United States District Court for the District of Colorado is AFFIRMED.

Entered for the Court

Bobby R. Baldock Circuit Judge

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