Shear v. Commissioner of Social Security

District Court, M.D. Florida·Decided August 14, 2023·No. 8:22-cv-01077·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TAMPA DIVISION

CYNTHIA M. SHEAR,

Plaintiff,

v. Case No: 8:22-cv-1077-CEH-AAS

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

Defendant.

ORDER This matter comes before the Court upon the Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Amanda Arnold Sansone (Doc. 23) and the Objections of Plaintiff Cynthia Shear (Doc. 24). Magistrate Judge Sansone has recommended that the Court AFFIRM the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying Plaintiff’s claim for disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income. Plaintiff raises arguments as to the findings of the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). Having considered the Report and Recommendation and Objections, and being fully advised in the premises, the Court will ADOPT the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge, OVERRULE the Objections, and AFFIRM the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying Plaintiff’s claim for disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income. I. BACKGROUND Plaintiff Cynthia Shear applied for disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) on

November 14, 2019, and supplemental security income (“SSI”) on September 14, 2020. App. 218, 226. She alleged that she became unable to work because of her disabling conditions on October 23, 2019. Id. Her medical conditions included chronic pain in her back, neck, left wrist and elbow, and right knee. App. 240. She explained that she had tried to continue working after a prior period of disability, but that her

pain had become too severe despite treatment. App. 260. Plaintiff’s application was denied on March 12, 2020, and again, upon reconsideration, on June 25, 2020, based on a finding that she was not disabled. App. 179, 183, 187. The disability examiners determined that her condition was not severe enough to keep her from working, and that she was still capable of performing her past

work as a dental receptionist. App. 151. They relied on a consultative examination that occurred on March 5, 2020, in which Plaintiff was observed to be in no acute distress; she was able to change for the exam, get on and off the exam table without assistance, and to rise from a chair without difficulty; and the cane she was using did not appear to be medically necessary. App. 142. As a result, her Residual Functional

Capacity (“RFC”) was found to correspond with her past relevant work. App. 145- 148; App. 154-167. On Plaintiff’s request, a hearing was held on July 8, 2021 before Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) Elving Torres. App. 24. The ALJ heard testimony from Plaintiff and vocational expert Tennyson Wright. Id. After reviewing the facts of the case, the ALJ made a decision that was unfavorable to Plaintiff, concluding that she is not disabled under section 1614(a)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act. App. 17-18. He found that she has an RFC that would allow her to perform her past relevant work in the

dental field. App. 14, 17-18. In making this decision, the ALJ acknowledged Plaintiff’s hearing testimony and other self-reports that her neck, back, and multi-joint pain is both constant and worsening, and that it limits her ability to perform her past work, walk short distances even with a cane, and sit or stand in one position for more than a few minutes before

being overcome with pain. App. 15. Nonetheless, the ALJ found that objective imaging and findings did not establish the severity or debilitating nature of her self- reported symptoms. Id. Similarly, he found that the medical records showed that she had pursued largely conservative treatment, rather than hospitalizations or surgery, and that the conservative treatments had proven moderately successful for pain

reduction. App. 15-16. He also highlighted the findings of the state agency reviewers, the consultative examiner, and Plaintiff’s self-reported activities of daily living (“ADLs”). App. 16-17. In all, the ALJ concluded that the evidence failed to support the Plaintiff’s assertions of a disability, and that she retained the ability to perform light exertional work. Id.

Plaintiff sought review of the ALJ’s decision from the Appeals Council, which declined review. App. 1. She then filed this action seeking review of the final administrative decision. Doc. 1. In her Memorandum in Opposition to the Commissioner’s Decision, Plaintiff requests a determination that the ALJ’s decision was not based on substantial evidence and a remand of the case for further consideration. Doc. 19. Plaintiff first argues that the ALJ’s decision was based on factual errors, including findings that she had received only one radiofrequency

ablation and that it, along with epidural steroid injections and pain medications, was successful in reducing her pain to a level that would allow her to work. Id. at 3-6, 7-8. In addition, she contends that his finding that her ADLs supported a light exertion RFC was inconsistent with the evidence. Id. at 6-7. Finally, she asserts that the ALJ’s rejection of her subjective pain reports was inconsistent with her strong work history,

which should entitle her to greater credibility. Id. at 8-11. In response, the Commissioner argues that the ALJ’s decision was supported by substantial evidence. Doc. 22. Specifically, the medical records, her treatment history, her ADLs, and the medical consultants’ findings all failed to establish that

Plaintiff was as limited as she alleged or that her condition was of disabling severity. Id. at 7-12. Although some of the evidence could support Plaintiff’s subjective complaints, she failed to show the absence of substantial evidence that supported the ALJ’s decision. Id. at 12-15. Magistrate Judge Sansone issued a Report and Recommendation (“R&R”)

recommending that the ALJ’s decision be affirmed. Doc. 23. The magistrate court found that substantial evidence supported the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff largely pursued conservative treatment, despite his reference to only a single radiofrequency ablation, because the medical records he cited in his decision supported his conclusions. Id. at 6-9. The magistrate court also found that the records supported the ALJ’s conclusion regarding her ability to perform ADLs and her pain level, noting that the reviewing court is not permitted to reweigh the medical evidence in Plaintiff’s favor in such a scenario. Id. at 9-12. Lastly, the magistrate court found that the ALJ

explicitly considered Plaintiff’s work history in his hearing decision, and was not required to expressly note such consideration when adjudicating the credibility of her pain allegations. Id. at 12-14. Plaintiff has filed Objections to the R&R. Doc. 24. She first argues that the magistrate court was wrong to allow a decision to stand that was based on statements

of fact that it agreed were untrue. Id. at 2-3. Next, she contends that the R&R used an improper standard to evaluate the evidence of her ADLs, because she was not asking the court to reweigh the medical evidence. Id. at 3-4. Finally, Plaintiff argues that the R&R was wrong to deny the need to consider her work history when evaluating her

credibility. Id. at 4-5. The Commissioner has not responded to Plaintiff’s Objections. II. LEGAL STANDARD Under the Federal Magistrates Act, Congress vests Article III judges with the power to “designate a magistrate judge to hear and determine any pretrial matter pending before the court,” subject to various exceptions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A).

The Act further vests magistrate judges with authority to submit proposed findings of fact and recommendations for disposition by an Article III judge. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B).

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Shear v. Commissioner of Social Security, (M.D. Fla. 2023).

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