Tucker v. Colvin

117 F. Supp. 3d 594, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99246, 2015 WL 4592073
CourtDistrict Court, D. Delaware
DecidedJuly 30, 2015
DocketC.A. No. 13-01246-LPS
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 117 F. Supp. 3d 594 (Tucker v. Colvin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tucker v. Colvin, 117 F. Supp. 3d 594, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99246, 2015 WL 4592073 (D. Del. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

STARK, District Judge

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Fyresta Tucker (“Tucker” or “Plaintiff’) appeals from a decision of Carolyn W. Colvin, the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration [598]*598(“Commissioner” , or “Defendant”), denying her claim, for disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 401-33. The Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

Presently pending before the Court are cross-motions for summary judgment filed by Plaintiff and the Commissioner, (D.I. 9; D.I. 12) Plaintiff seeks, an: award' of benefits for the entire period at issue or, in the alternative, asks that the Court reverse and remand the Commissioner’s decision. (D.I. 10 at. 20) The Commissioner requests that the Court affirm her decision denying Plaintiffs application for benefits. (D.I. 13 at 20) For the reasons set forth below, the Court will grant Plaintiff s motion for summary judgment and deny Defendant’s motion for summary judgment.

II. BACKGROUND

A. Procedural History

Plaintiff filed her claim for DIB on March 1, 2010, alleging disability since May 4, 2009. (D.I. 5 (hereinafter “Tr.”) at 30) Her application was denied at the pre-hearing levels. (Id. at 14) She appeared before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) on June 5, 2012. (Id. at 28) During this hearing, Plaintiff amended the onset date of the disability to September 28, 2009. (Id. at 32) On June 26, 2012, the ALJ issued a decision against Plaintiff, and on May 14, 2013, the Appeals Council denied Plaintiffs request for review. (Id. at 14, 2) Therefore, the June 26, 2012 decision of the ALJ became the final decision of the Commissioner. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.955, 404.981; Sims v. Apfel, 530 U.S. 103, 107, 120 S.Ct. 2080, 147 L.Ed.2d 80 (2000).

On July 17, 2013, Plaintiff filed a complaint seeking judicial review of the ALJ’s June 26, 2012 decision. (D.I.1) • Subsequently, on January ,30, 2014, Plaintiff moved for summary judgment (D.I.9) On April 2, 2014, the Commissioner filed a cross-motion for summary judgment. (D.I.12)

B. Factual Background

1. Plaintiff’s Medical History, Treatment, and Condition

Plaintiff was fifty-four years old on her amended alleged disability onset date, or a person closely approaching advanced age. (Tr. at 32; see also 20 CFR 404.1563 and 416.963) She was fifty-seven years old — a person of advanced age — when the ALJ rendered the decision that, is now the subject of review. (Id.)

Plaintiff has a high-school education and a two-year college degree. (Id. at 35) She is able to communicate in. English. • (Id.) Plaintiff has past relevant work history as an insurance claims processor, data entry clerk, insurance clerk, and child care operator. (Id. at 17) She last worked in December 2009 as an insurance claims processor. (Id. at 33) Plaintiffs relevant medical history is detailed below.

a. Injury to Right Foot

Tucker has injured her right foot on three occasions since 2007 and has seen eight doctors to address the issue. In February 2007, a large co-worker stepped on her foot. (Id. at 367) X-rays showed a chip fracture, and surgery was performed in June 2007 to remove any fragments. (Id.) However, Tucker’s pain in the area worsened, and in August 2007, she had a cheilectomy.

In February 2008, Tucker re-injured her right foot when a co-worker stepped on it again. (Id. at 306) Linda L. Lawton, DPM, a podiatrist at Brandywine Foot Care, noted that Tucker felt her pain at this point was greater than it ever had been pre- or post-operatively, but the films of. Tucker’s foot were unavailable for re[599]*599view. (Id. at 306) In March 2008, Tucker returned to Dr. Lawton for a surgical consult and was diagnosed with capsulitis and joint pain. (Id. at 303) Dr. Lawton also noted that Tucker’s labs showed an elevated rheumatoid factor. Given the severity of. Tucker’s pain, Dr. Lawton believed Tucker may have inflammatory arthritis, (Id.) Dr. Lawton recommended a rheuma-tology consult and an .evaluation by the consulting physician for capsulitis. (Id. at 304)

In October 2008, Robert A. Gatter, M.D., from Delaware County Rheumatolo-gy, PC, evaluated Tucker and documented continued pain in her toe with limited motion and swelling in the area in which the surgery had been performed. (Id. at 367)

In May 2009, Tucker injured her foot for a third time when a co-worker stepped on the back of her shoe. (Id. at 295) Dr. Lawton noted that Tucker had decreased range of motion-in both dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. (Id.) Additionally, the first metatarsal was structurally dorsiflexed and there was crepitus with range of motion. (Id.) Tucker reported that she had been in constant pain since this third injury. (Id.) After reviewing an x-ray that showed a lack of joint space at the dorsal third joint, Dr. Lawton recommended a joint replacement- with an implant ánd -a possible graft. (Id. at 296)

b. Hallux Rigidus

In mid-July 2009, Tucker saw Paul C. Kupcha, M.D., for a second opinion. Dr. Kupcha noted that Tucker walked with a limp on her right side, that she had limited motion of her toe, and that the tests were “excruciating and painful” for her. (Id. at 328) After examining Tucker’s x-rays, Dr. Kupcha diagnosed her with hallux rigidus (i.e., stiff right great toe, see D.I. 13 at . 2). and recommended viscosupplementation, interposition arthroplasty, and fusion — in contrast to Dr. Lawton’s recommendation of replacement arthroplasty. (Id.) On August-4, 2009, Tucker elected to undergo another, cheilectomy. (Id. at 330-31) At the end.of that month, Dr. Kupcha noted that she was improving overall, there were no signs of complications, and the swelling in her right great toe was as was to be expected. (Id. at 322)

In late July 2009, Tucker visited Christopher Davis, D.O., and Robert F. Sing, D.O., at Springfield Sports Science Center. (Id. at 410) She began physical therapy there about one month after her August 4, 2009 surgery with Dr. Kupcha. (Id. at 411)

c. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (“CRPS”)/ Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (“RSD”)

. Roughly five months after her August 4, 2009 surgery, Tucker began to see Gerald E. Dworkin, D.O., a pain management specialist at Delaware Valley Orthopedic and. Spine Surgicenter. (Id. at 478) On January 7, 2010, Dr. Dworkin noted that Tucker was still in significant pain despite having undergone total surgery procedures and was making very little progress in therapy. (Id.)

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Bluebook (online)
117 F. Supp. 3d 594, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99246, 2015 WL 4592073, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tucker-v-colvin-ded-2015.