Sean David Doherty v. Kilolo Kijakazi
Trial Court Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
SEAN DAVID D., ) Case No. 2:20-cv-01055-SP
) Plaintiff, )
) v. ) MEMORANDUM OPINION AND
) ORDER
)
KILOLO KIJAKAZI, Acting ) Commissioner of Social Security ) Administration, )
) Defendant. )
) ) I.
INTRODUCTION
On January 31, 2020, plaintiff Sean David D. filed a complaint against defendant, the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (“Commissioner”), seeking a review of a denial of a period of disability and disability insurance benefits (“DIB”). The parties have fully briefed the matters in dispute, and the court deems the matter suitable for adjudication without oral argument.
Plaintiff presents two disputed issues for decision: (1) whether the ALJ’s residual functional capacity (“RFC”) determination was supported by substantial evidence; and (2) whether the ALJ erred in relying on the Vocational Expert (“VE”) testimony at step five. Plaintiff’s Memorandum in Support of Complaint (“P. Mem.”) at 3-5; see Memorandum in Support of Defendant’s Answer (“D. Mem.”) at 3-9.
Having carefully studied the parties’ memoranda on the issues in dispute, the Administrative Record (“AR”), and the decision of the ALJ, the court concludes that, as detailed herein, the ALJ’s RFC determination was supported by substantial evidence and the ALJ properly relied on the VE’s testimony at step five. Consequently, the court affirms the decision of the Commissioner denying benefits.
II.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiff, who was 45 years old on the alleged onset date, has a high school diploma and attended one year of college. AR at 93, 122. Plaintiff has past relevant work experience as a stage set painter. Id. at 104.
On April 27, 2015, plaintiff filed an application for DIB, alleging an onset date of January 16, 2013 due to two slipped disks in his lower back, a herniated disk, arthritis in both knees, panic attacks, and headaches. Id. at 122, 337-38. The Commissioner denied plaintiff’s application initially on October 29, 2015, and upon reconsideration on January 8, 2016, after which he requested a hearing. Id. at 135, 148, 162.
Plaintiff, represented by counsel, appeared and testified at a hearing before the ALJ on September 13, 2017 and at a supplemental hearing on April 25, 2018. Id. at 48-108, 109-121. The ALJ also heard testimony from Dr. Elizabeth Brown- Ramos, a vocational expert, and Dr. Miriam Sherman, a medical expert, at the April 25, 2018 supplemental hearing. Id. at 64-70, 103-08. At another supplemental hearing on November 30, 2018, the ALJ again heard testimony from the vocational expert Dr. Ramos. Id. at 43-47. In between these hearings, Dr. Ramos provided additional testimony by way of written interrogatory responses. Id. at 464-66. On December 31, 2018, the ALJ denied plaintiff’s claim for benefits. Id. at 15-26.
Applying the well-known five-step sequential evaluation process, the ALJ found, at step one, that plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity between January 16, 2013, the alleged onset date, and March 31, 2018, the date last insured. Id. at 18.
At step two, the ALJ found plaintiff suffered from the following severe impairments: degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spine; and osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees. Id.
At step three, the ALJ found plaintiff’s impairments, whether individually or in combination, did not meet or medically equal one of the listed impairments set forth in 20 C.F.R. part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 (the “Listings”). Id. at 20.
The ALJ then assessed plaintiff’s RFC,1 and determined that through the date last insured, plaintiff had the RFC to perform medium work,2 with the added limitations that he could: lift and carry 50 pounds occasionally and 25 pounds frequently; push and pull to the same extent as the lift and carry limit; sit for six hours in an eight-hour workday but no more than two hours at a time; stand for
1 Residual functional capacity is what a claimant can do despite existing exertional and nonexertional limitations. Cooper v. Sullivan, 880 F.2d 1152, 1155- 56 n.5-7 (9th Cir. 1989). “Between steps three and four of the five-step evaluation, the ALJ must proceed to an intermediate step in which the ALJ assesses the claimant’s residual functional capacity.” Massachi v. Astrue, 486 F.3d 1149, 1151 n.2 (9th Cir. 2007).
2 Medium work is defined as work that involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(c); Social Security Ruling (“SSR”) 83-10 at *6. four hours in an eight-hour workday but no more than two hours at a time; walk for four hours in an eight-hour workday but no more than an hour at a time; frequently climb ramps and stairs; occasionally climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds; frequently balance, stoop, or crouch; occasionally kneel and crawl; occasionally work at unprotected heights; frequently work around moving mechanical parts; frequently operate a motor vehicle; frequently work in humidity, wetness, extreme cold, and extreme heat; and occasionally work in vibration. Id. at 21.
The ALJ found, at step four, that plaintiff was unable to perform any past relevant work. Id. at 24.
At step five, the ALJ found – based on plaintiff’s age, education, work experience, and RFC – there were jobs that existed in significant numbers in the national economy that plaintiff could have performed. Id. at 25. Specifically, the ALJ found that there was unskilled light work that plaintiff could perform, such as bench assembler, electronic worker, and office worker.3 Id. Consequently, the ALJ concluded that, for the relevant period, plaintiff did not suffer from a disability as defined by the Social Security Act. Id. at 25-26.
Plaintiff filed a timely request for review of the ALJ’s decision, which was denied by the Appeals Council. Id. at 1-8. The ALJ’s decision stands as the final decision of the Commissioner.
III.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
This court is empowered to review decisions by the Commissioner to deny benefits. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The findings and decision of the Social Security
3 Light work is defined as work that involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Jobs in this category may require a good deal of walking and standing, or involve sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm and leg controls. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(b); SSR 83-10 at *5.
Administration must be upheld if they are free of legal error and supported by substantial evidence. Mayes v. Massanari, 276 F.3d 453, 458-59 (9th Cir. 2001) (as amended). But if the court determines the ALJ’s findings are based on legal error or are not supported by substantial evidence in the record, the court may reject the findings and set aside the decision to deny benefits. Aukland v. Massanari, 257 F.3d 1033, 1035 (9th Cir. 2001); Tonapetyan v. Halter, 242 F.3d 7
“Substantial evidence is more than a mere scintilla, but less than a preponderance.” Aukland, 257 F.3d at 1035. Substantial evidence is such “relevant evidence which a reasonable person might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Reddick v. Chater, 157 F.3d 715, 720 (9th Cir. 1998); Mayes, 276 F.3d at 459. To determine whether substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s finding, the reviewing court must review the administrative record as a whole, “weighing both the evidence that supports and the evidence that detracts from the ALJ’s conclusion.” Mayes, 276 F.3d at 459. The ALJ’s decision “‘cannot be affirmed simply by isolating a specific quantum of supporting evidence.’” Aukland, 257 F.3d at 1035 (quoting Sousa v. Callahan, 143 F.3d 1240, 1243 (9th Cir. 1998)). If the evidence can reasonably support either affirming or reversing the ALJ’s decision, the reviewing court “‘may not substitute its judgment for that of the ALJ.’” Id. (quoting Matney v. Sullivan, 981 F.2d 1016, 1018 (9th Cir. 1992)).
IV.
DISCUSSION
A. Plaintiff Has Waived His Undeveloped Arguments
Plaintiff initially appears to raise five issues with respect to the ALJ’s findings. See P. Mem. at 3. Specifically, plaintiff argues the ALJ erred in finding that plaintiff did not suffer from chronic pain, that his mental limitations were not severe, that the consultative opinions were of more weight than the treating sources, that plaintiff’s symptoms and descriptions by a witness were not consistent with the objective medical evidence, and that the ALJ improperly relied on vocational expert testimony in finding that plaintiff would be able to perform significant numbers of jobs in the national economy. Id. But apart from listing these purported issues in a single sentence, plaintiff fails to explain how the ALJ erred with respect to those findings. Indeed, plaintiff does not provide any citation to the record, relevant case law, or even explanation for his assertions that the ALJ erred to assist the court in evaluating plaintiff’s assertions. Instead, plaintiff indicates he abandons those undeveloped issues in order to “simplify evaluation.” Id.
To the extent plaintiff intended for these purported issues to be construed as arguments, the court declines to consider them because plaintiff failed to argue these issues with any specificity. See Carmickle v. Comm’r, 533 F.3d 1155, 1161 fn. 2 (9th Cir. 2007) (declining to address an ALJ’s allegedly erroneous finding because the claimant “failed to argues [the] issue with any specificity in his briefing”); Indep. Towers of Washington v. Washington, 350 F.3d 925, 929 (9th Cir. 2003) (“Beyond its bold assertion, [appellant] provides little if any analysis to assist the court in evaluating its legal challenge” and “we cannot manufacture arguments for an appellant and therefore we will not consider any claims that were not actually argued in appellant’s opening brief”). The court accordingly turns to the two issues plaintiff did argues in more detail.
B. The ALJ’s RFC Determination Was Supported by Substantial Evidence
Plaintiff argues that the ALJ’s RFC finding was inconsistent with the record due to plaintiff’s standing and walking limitations. See P. Mem. at 3-5.
RFC is what one can “still do despite [his or her] limitations.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(1)-(2). The ALJ reaches an RFC determination by reviewing and considering all of the relevant evidence, including non-severe impairments. Id. When the record is ambiguous, the Commissioner has a duty to develop the record. See Webb v. Barnhart, 433 F.3d 683, 687 (9th Cir. 2005); see also Mayes, 276 F.3d at 459-60 (ALJ has a duty to develop the record further only “when there is ambiguous evidence or when the record is inadequate to allow for proper evaluation of the evidence”); Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1288 (9th Cir. 1996) (“If the ALJ thought he needed to know the basis of [a doctor’s] opinion[] in order to evaluate [it], he had a duty to conduct an appropriate inquiry, for example, by subpoenaing the physician[] or submitting further questions to [him or her].”). This may include retaining a medical expert or ordering a consultative examination. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1519a(a). The Commissioner may order a consultative examination when trying to resolve an inconsistency in evidence or when the evidence is insufficient to make a determination. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1519a(b).
Here, the ALJ determined that plaintiff had the RFC to perform medium work with additional limitations, including that plaintiff could stand or walk for only four hours in an eight-hour workday, and could stand for no more than two hours at a time and walk for no more than one hour at a time. AR at 21. At step five, the ALJ found that plaintiff could perform three unskilled light jobs. Id. at 25. Plaintiff argues the ALJ’s finding that plaintiff could perform light work is inconsistent with the record due to his standing and walking limitations. See P. Mem. at 3-5. The court disagrees, and finds the standing and walking limitations found by the ALJ were supported by substantial evidence.
In reaching his RFC determination, the ALJ considered the objective medical evidence in the record, which supports his RFC determination. AR at 22. The ALJ acknowledged that clinical and diagnostic findings showed that plaintiff had some abnormalities, but found they were inconsistent with the severity of plaintiff’s assertion of disabling limitations. Id. For example, the ALJ noted that an MRI of plaintiff’s left knee in 2003 only disclosed mild degenerative changes and minimal joint effusion. See id. at 22, 489-92. Additionally, although plaintiff’s physical examination in July 2015 disclosed mild abnormalities in the bilateral shoulders, cervical spine, and lumbar spine, there was no evidence of increased muscle tone or spasm, and plaintiff exhibited a normal tandem and heel-to-toe gait, normal range of motion in his hips and knees, and negative straight leg raising. See id. at 22, 489-92. Plaintiff was also able to get on and off the examination table without assistance, had no apparent discomfort during the evaluation, and had normal gait and posture. Id. at 22, 489.
The ALJ also considered more recent medical records, which were consistent with the ALJ’s RFC finding. For example, an X-ray of plaintiff’s lumbar spine in June 2016 disclosed only mild degenerative changes in plaintiff’s neck and back, and an MRI of plaintiff’s lumbar spine in August 2017 did not indicate any significant deterioration. Id. at 22, 544-48. The ALJ also noted that plaintiff demonstrated some physical improvement in that he no longer required a cane to walk in 2017. See id. at 22, 540. In addition, from February 2017 to April 2018, plaintiff reported that he was feeling good and that his pain was controlled with medication. See id. at 525-540, 562-63. While plaintiff sometimes complained of back pain, he also reported that he was “more functional” when taking his pain medication, and that he had been doing landscaping work with a friend. See id. at 528-29; Warre v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 439 F.3d 1001, 1006 (9th Cir. 2006) (“Impairments that can be controlled effectively with medication are not disabling for the purpose of determining eligibility for SSI benefits”). Further, throughout 2017, plaintiff’s physical and psychiatric examinations were normal, he denied any lower extremity weakness, and he had normal range of motion in his back. See AR at 525-26, 528-29, 531-32, 536-37, 538-39, 539-540, 572-73. As such, the ALJ’s RFC assessment is consistent with the objective medical evidence.
In addition to plaintiff’s medical records, the ALJ also considered four medical opinions that support his RFC assessment. See id. at 23. The ALJ afforded great weight to the opinion of Dr. Peter Schosheim, an orthopedist, who reviewed plaintiff’s medical records and opined that he could perform medium work, with the limitations that he could: sit for two hours at a time for a total of six hours in an eight-hour workday; stand for two hours at a time for a total of four hours in an eight-hour workday; walk for one hour at a time for a total of four hours in an eight-hour workday; frequently or occasionally perform various postural activities; shop, travel without a companion, walk a block at a reasonable pace on rough or uneven surfaces, use standard public transportation, climb a few steps at a reasonable pace with the use of a single hand rail, prepare meals, and care for his personal hygiene; and he did not need a cane. See id. at 23, 600-05. The ALJ gave Dr. Schosheim’s opinion great weight because he is an orthopedist with an understanding of social security disability programs and evidentiary requirements, and because he reviewed the relevant medical evidence, which supported his opinion. See id. at 23.
The ALJ also gave weight to the opinions of State Agency Physicians Drs. Robert Mitgang and J. Rule and Consultative Orthopedist Dr. Frank Guellich. See id. They opined that plaintiff could perform medium work with the ability to stand, walk, or sit for six hours in an eight-hour workday with occasional and frequent postural limitations. See id. at 131, 144-45, 487-94. The ALJ gave weight to these opinions because they were consistent with each other and with the record as a whole, but found that plaintiff could stand for only four hours in an eight-hour workday for no more than two hours at a time, and walk for four hours in an eight-hour workday for no more than one hour at a time. See id. at 23. The ALJ’s RFC determination and step five finding that plaintiff could perform certain unskilled light jobs take into account plaintiff’s standing and walking limitations and are supported by medical expert opinions. See Saelee v. Chater, 94 F.3d 520, 522 (9th Cir. 1996) (“[T]he findings of a nontreating, nonexamining physician can amount to substantial evidence, so long as other evidence in the record supports those findings.”).
Accordingly, contrary to plaintiff’s contention, the ALJ’s RFC determination is supported by substantial evidence in the record.
C. The VE’s Testimony Constitutes Substantial Evidence for the ALJ’s
Step Five Finding Plaintiff also appears to argue that the ALJ erred in finding that plaintiff could not perform light or medium work, and instead should have limited plaintiff to sedentary work, which would have rendered him disabled under Medical Vocational Guideline Rule 201.06. See P. Mem. at 3-5.
At step five, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to show that the claimant retains the ability to perform other gainful activity. Lounsburry v. Barnhart, 468
16 F.3d 1111, 1114 (9th Cir. 2006). To support a finding that a claimant is not disabled at step five, the Commissioner must provide evidence demonstrating other work exists in significant numbers in the national economy that the claimant can perform, given his or her age, education, work experience, and RFC. 20 C.F.R. § 20
In response to a hypothetical that includes the limitations the ALJ found credible, a VE may testify as to “(1) what jobs the claimant, given his or her [RFC], would be able to do; and (2) the availability of such jobs in the national economy.” Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1101 (9th Cir. 1999). “A VE’s recognized expertise provides the necessary foundation for his or her testimony.” Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1218 (9th Cir. 2005). Accordingly, VE testimony is substantial evidence. See Johnson v. Shalala, 60 F.3d 1428, 1435 (9th Cir. 1995) (“‘[T]he ALJ was within his rights to rely solely on the vocational expert’s testimony.’”) (quoting Conn v. Sec’y, 51 F.3d 607, 610 (6th Cir. 1995)). But where the VE testimony is fundamentally flawed, remand is appropriate. See, e.g., Farias v. Colvin, 519 Fed. App’x 439, 440 (9th Cir. 2013).
While the ALJ’s RFC assessment provides that plaintiff could perform a reduced range of medium work, the VE testified that the standing and walking limitations in the RFC would limit plaintiff to light jobs. See AR at 464-65. As part of the ALJ’s analysis at step five, the ALJ recognized that plaintiff’s ability to perform a full range of light work was impeded by additional standing, walking, postural, and environmental limitations. See id. at 25. To determine the extent to which these limitations eroded the unskilled light occupational base, the ALJ properly relied on VE testimony in finding that three representative unskilled light occupations existed in significant numbers in the national economy, which an individual with plaintiff’s age, education, work experience, and RFC could perform, even with some erosion in the positions due to plaintiff’s standing and walking limitations. See id. at 25, 465; Bayliss, 427 F.3d at 1218 (“[T]he ALJ’s reliance on the VE’s testimony regarding the number of relevant jobs in the national economy was warranted” because an “ALJ may take administrative notice of any reliable job information, including information provided by the VE.”).
Plaintiff’s conclusory assertion that he could not perform light or medium work, and instead should be limited to sedentary work, which would render him disabled per the Grids, is unsupported by the record. Indeed, plaintiff does not provide any evidence in support of his assertion that he should have been limited to sedentary work, nor does he explain how the ALJ’s finding that plaintiff could perform certain unskilled light work is inconsistent with his standing and walking limitations. As such, the ALJ’s step five finding that plaintiff could perform certain unskilled light work is supported by substantial evidence, namely, the VE’s testimony.
5 V. 6 CONCLUSION
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Judgment shall be entered AFFIRMING the decision of the Commissioner denying benefits, and dismissing the Complaint with prejudice.
LR =
DATED: September 29, 2021
Dnited States Magistrate Judge
Case-law data current through September 30, 2026. Source: CourtListener bulk data.