Larkins v. Barnhart
Larkins v. Barnhart
Opinion of the Court
SUMMARY ORDER
Plaintiff-Appellant Christine Larkins appeals from a final judgment of the district court affirming the decision of an administrative law judge (ALJ) to deny her Social Security disability benefits. Larkins had been employed at Bell Atlantic (or its predecessors) for 32 continuous years when she stopped working on June
We may only set aside an ALJ’s decision if it is based upon legal error or is not supported by substantial evidence. See Shaw v. Chater, 221 F.3d 126, 131 (2d Cir. 2000). After carefully reviewing the administrative record in this case, we vacate and remand the district court’s decision with directions to remand to the ALJ for reconsideration and further fact-finding in accordance with this opinion.
Larkins challenges the ALJ’s reasoning at steps three and four in the five-step process used for determining whether a claimant is “disabled” under 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). See Green-Younger v. Barnhart, 335 F.3d 99, 106 (2d Cir. 2003) (describing the five-step decision process and observing that the claimant bears the burden of proof with respect to the first four steps). In reaching his decision, the ALJ had before him the following evidence: 1) various reports by Larkins’ treating physician, Dr. Bagley, a board-certified neurologist; 2) a report by Dr. Kaye, a non-examining government consultant; and 3) Larkins’ testimony at the hearing. After the ALJ’s decision, Larkins submitted to the Appeals Council additional reports and letters-three from Dr. Bagley and one from examining neurologist Dr. Rabinovici. To the extent that this new evidence bears on Larkin’s medical condition prior to the ALJ’s decision, we review the ALJ’s decision as though this evidence was before him. See Perez v. Chater, 77 F.3d 41, 45 (2d Cir. 1996).
We hold that the ALJ lacked an adequate basis for determining, at step three, that Larkins did not have a listed impairment. The ALJ gave no specific reasons for his conclusion that she did not have a listed impairment, but stated only that “[n]o treating or examining physician has mentioned findings equivalent in severity to the criteria of any listed impairment,” and that he had paid “[pjarticular attention” to Listing 11.09. Listing 11.09 provides that multiple sclerosis, when accompanied by one of three other conditions, qualifies as a per se disability. See 20 C.F.R. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, § 11.09. Larkins argues that her multiple sclerosis is accompanied by one of these three conditions, namely, “[disorganization of motor function,” which is defined by a cross-reference to section 11.04B as “[significant and persistent disorganization of motor function in two extremities, resulting in sustained disturbance of gross and dexterous movements, or gait and station....” See Listing 11.04B. Section 11.04B, in turn, refers to section 11.00C, which states: “Persistent disorganization of motor function in the form of paresis or paralysis, tremor, or other involuntary movements, ataxia and sensory disturbances (any or all of which may be due to cerebral cerbellar, brain stem, spinal cord, or peripheral nerve dysfunction) which occur singly or in various combinations, frequently provides the sole or partial basis for decision in cases of neurological impairment. The assessment of impairment depends on the degree of interference with locomotion and/or interference with the use of fingers, hands, and arms.”
If the ALJ should determine, on remand, that Larkins had a listed impairment at the relevant time, the inquiry is over and the only task that remains is the calculation of disability benefits. If, however, the ALJ determines that Larkins did not have a listed impairment, he should then reconsider his earlier determination, at step four, that Larkins retained the “residual functional capacity” to perform one of her past jobs, namely that of a “circuit designer” at a phone company. In doing this, the ALJ should especially seek to resolve seeming inconsistencies between Dr. Bagley’s March 4, 1998 report, and his earlier and later reports together with Dr. Rabinovici’s 1999 report.
We therefore VACATE and REMAND the district court’s judgment with directions to REMAND to the ALJ for reconsideration and further fact-finding in accordance with this opinion.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Christine LARKINS v. Jo Anne B. BARNHART
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published