Hall v. Chater ( 1998 )

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
JAN 16 1998
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
JANETT M. HALL,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 97-7058
(D.C. No. 96-CV-104-S)
KENNETH S. APFEL, Commissioner, (E.D. Okla.)
Social Security Administration, *
Defendant-Appellee.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT **
Before PORFILIO , KELLY , and HENRY , Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously to grant the parties’ request for a decision on the briefs without oral
*
Effective September 29, 1997, Kenneth S. Apfel became the Commissioner
for the Social Security Administration. Pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 43(c),
Mr. Apfel is substituted for Shirley S. Chater, former Commissioner of Social
Security, as the defendant in this action.
**
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument.
Claimant Janett M. Hall appeals from the district court’s judgment
affirming the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying her
application for disability benefits under the Social Security Act. After her
application was denied administratively, both initially and upon reconsideration,
claimant requested a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). The
hearing was held on August 22, 1994. The ALJ concluded that claimant was not
disabled under the Social Security Act. On January 5, 1996, the Appeals Council
denied claimant’s request for review, making the ALJ’s decision final for
purposes of appeal. See Williams v. Bowen , 844 F.2d 748, 749 (10th Cir. 1988).
Our jurisdiction over this appeal arises from 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). We
review the agency’s decision to determine whether the factual findings are
supported by substantial evidence, viewing the record as a whole, and whether the
correct legal standards were applied. See Castellano v. Secretary of Health
& Human Servs. , 26 F.3d 1027, 1028 (10th Cir. 1994). The agency uses a
five-step process to determine the existence of a disability. See, e.g. , 20 C.F.R.
§ 404.1520; Williams , 844 F.2d at 750-52 (discussing five steps in detail). If a
claimant is determined to be disabled or not disabled at any step, the evaluation
process ends there. See Sorenson v. Bowen , 888 F.2d 706, 710 (10th Cir. 1989).
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Here, the ALJ found, at the second step of this process, that claimant did not have
severe impairments at the time her eligibility for disability benefits expired such
that she could be considered disabled. See Potter v. Secretary of Health & Human
Servs. , 905 F.2d 1346, 1347 (10th Cir. 1990). Claimant bears the burden of proof
at step two to demonstrate an impairment or combination of impairments that
significantly limits her ability to perform basic work functions. See 20 C.F.R.
§ 404.1520(c); Hawkins v. Chater , 113 F.3d 1162, 1169 (10th Cir. 1997).
On appeal, claimant raises two arguments. First, she contends that the ALJ
wrongly discredited her complaints of pain and chronic fatigue because they were
“not confirmed by medical evidence.” Appellant’s Br. at 14. She argues that she
has established the required nexus between her medical condition and her alleged
non-exertional impairments, requiring an assessment pursuant to Luna v. Bowen ,
834 F.2d 161 (10th Cir. 1987). Our review of the agency’s decision indicates that
the ALJ did not simply reject these complaints because of a lack of medical
evidence. Rather, he noted that, during the three years prior to the expiration of
claimant’s eligibility for Social Security benefits on December 31, 1988, claimant
had sought medical treatment only rarely and that her complaints were unrelated
to her current allegations of disability. Appellant’s App., Vol. II, at 18-19.
Claimant’s statements to her physicians are evidence to be considered as a factor
in determining the credibility of her complaints, see SSR 96-7p, 1996 WL
-3-
374186, at *4. Further, we agree with appellee that the ALJ could rely on the
absence of any complaints implicating the non-exertional impairments she now
claims, cf. Luna , 834 F.2d at 165-66 (noting court’s reliance on claimants’
attempts to find relief for pain and regular contact with a physician).
Claimant also contends that the ALJ erred by failing to more fully develop
the record with regard to a 1994 diagnosis of connective tissue disease, which,
she claims, “obviously relates back to the 1980’s.” Appellant’s Br. at 17.
However, we agree with the ALJ that none of the record evidence demonstrates
the presence of any functional limitations resulting from this condition before
claimant’s eligibility ceased. Cf. Potter , 905 F.2d at 1348-49 (noting that even
where diagnosis is retrospective, relevant inquiry is whether claimant was actually
disabled prior to expiration of eligibility). Accordingly, the ALJ was not obliged
to obtain a consultative exam on this point. See Hawkins , 113 F.3d at 1167-69.
The judgment of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Oklahoma is AFFIRMED.
Entered for the Court
John C. Porfilio
Circuit Judge
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