Dockery v. Berryhill

          MEMORANDUM OPINION

          HON. BARRY A. BRYANT U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE

         Yvonne Dockery, (“Plaintiff”) brings this action pursuant to § 205(g) of Title II of the Social Security Act (“The Act”), 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (2010), seeking judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) denying her application for Disability Insurance Benefits (“DIB”) and disabled widow benefits (“WIB”) under Title II of the Act.

         The Parties have consented to the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge to conduct any and all proceedings in this case, including conducting the trial, ordering the entry of a final judgment, and conducting all post-judgment proceedings. ECF No. 8. Pursuant to this authority, the Court issues this memorandum opinion and orders the entry of a final judgment in this matter.

         1.Background:

         Plaintiff protectively filed her application for DIB and WIB on May 14, 2015. (Tr. 18). In this application, Plaintiff alleges being disabled due to eye problems, bursitis, arthritis, carpal tunnel in hands, stomach problems, and high blood pressure. (Tr. 238). Plaintiff alleges an onset date of March 26, 2011. (Tr. 18). Her application was denied initially and again upon reconsideration. Id.

         Plaintiff requested an administrative hearing on her denied application. (Tr. 131). The request was granted and Plaintiff's administrative hearing was held on April 18, 2017. (Tr. 37-66). At this hearing, Plaintiff was present and was not represented by counsel. Id. Plaintiff and Vocational Expert (“VE”) Ivory Youngblood testified at the hearing. Id. At the time of the hearing, Plaintiff was fifty-five (55) years old and had a college education. (Tr. 41).

         Following the hearing, on August 9, 2017, the ALJ entered an unfavorable decision denying Plaintiff's application for DIB. (Tr. 18-30). In this decision, the ALJ determined the Plaintiff met the insured status requirements of the Act through June 30, 2015. (Tr. 21, Finding 1). The ALJ also determined Plaintiff had not engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity (“SGA”) since April 6, 2011. (Tr. 21, Finding 4).

         The ALJ then found Plaintiff had the following severe impairments: history of closed fracture of the humerus, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), left wrist tenosynovitis/carpal tunnel syndrome, gastritis, hypertension, status post third degree burns to the abdomen, and obesity. (Tr. 21, Finding 5). Despite being severe, the ALJ determined those impairments did not meet or medically equal the requirements of any of the Listings of Impairments in Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Regulations No. 4 (“Listings”). (Tr. 23, Finding 6).

         In this decision, the ALJ evaluated Plaintiff's subjective complaints and determined her RFC. (Tr. 24, Finding 7). First, the ALJ evaluated Plaintiff's subjective complaints and found her claimed limitations were not entirely credible. Id. Second, the ALJ determined Plaintiff retained the RFC for medium work but could only frequently, not constantly, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and climb stairs and ramps; could not climb ladders, ropes, and scaffolds at all; and could frequently, but not constantly, handle and finger. Id.

         The ALJ then evaluated Plaintiff's Past Relevant Work (“PRW”). (Tr. 28, Finding 8). The ALJ determined Plaintiff was capable of performing her PRW as a city manager, laundry worker, certified nurse assistant, and hostess. Id. Based upon this finding, the ALJ determined Plaintiff had not been under a disability, as defined in the Act, from April 6, 2011, through the date of the decision. (Tr. 30, Finding 9).

         Thereafter, Plaintiff requested the Appeals Council's review of the ALJ's decision. (Tr. 205). The Appeals Council denied this request for review. (Tr. 1-6). On April 3, 2018, Plaintiff filed the present appeal. ECF No. 1. Both Parties have filed appeal briefs. ECF Nos. 13, 14. This case is now ready for decision.

         2. Applicable Law:

         It is well-established that a claimant for Social Security disability benefits has the burden of proving his or her disability by establishing a physical or mental disability that lasted at least one year and that prevents him or her from engaging in any substantial gainful activity. See Cox v. Apfel, 160 F.3d 1203, 1206 (8th Cir. 1998); 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A). The Act defines a “physical or mental impairment” as “an impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which are demonstrable by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques.” 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(3), 1382(3)(c). A plaintiff must show that his or her disability, not simply his or her impairment, has lasted for at least twelve consecutive months. See 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A).

         To determine whether the adult claimant suffers from a disability, the Commissioner uses the familiar five-step sequential evaluation. He determines: (1) whether the claimant is presently engaged in a “substantial gainful activity”; (2) whether the claimant has a severe impairment that significantly limits the claimant's physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities; (3) whether the claimant has an impairment that meets or equals a presumptively disabling impairment listed in the regulations (if so, the claimant is disabled without regard to age, education, and work experience); (4) whether the claimant has the Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) to perform his or her past relevant work; and (5) if the claimant cannot perform the past work, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to prove that there are other jobs in the national economy that the claimant can perform. See Cox, 160 F.3d at 1206; 20 C.F.R. ...