Langfried v. Apfel ( 2000 )

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 99-50949
(Summary Calendar)
BARBARA LANDFRIED,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
KENNETH S. APFEL, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,
Defendant-Appellee.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
(98-CV-729-SS)
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May 24, 2000
Before POLITZ, WIENER, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Plaintiff-Appellant Barbara Lynn Landfried has appealed the
magistrate judge's judgment affirming the Commissioner's decision
denying her applications for disability insurance benefits and
Supplemental Security Income ("SSI"). In reviewing such denials,
we must determine whether substantial record evidence supports the
Commissioner and whether the proper legal standards were used in
evaluating the evidence. Villa v. Sullivan, 895 F.2d 1019, 1021
(5th Cir. 1990). Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla,
but less than a preponderance; it is such relevant evidence as a
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that
this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except
under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.
Id. at 1021-22. In applying this standard, we may not reweigh the
evidence or try the issues de novo but must review the entire
record to determine whether substantial evidence exists to support
the Commissioner’s findings. Id. at 1022.
The Social Security Act defines “disability” as the “inability
to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any
medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be
expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected
to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months.”
42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). The Commissioner determined that,
although Landfried was unable to perform her past relevant work as
a medical assistant and child-care worker, she could perform other
work. See Muse v. Sullivan, 925 F.2d 785, 789 (5th Cir. 1991)
(explaining sequential analysis); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920.
Two administrative hearings were held. After the first, the
administrative law judge ("ALJ") determined that Landfried was
capable of sedentary work. That decision was vacated by the
Appeals Council and the case was remanded to a different ALJ for
consideration of evidence related to a recommended surgical
procedure and to determine the extent of Landfried's limitations
related to her psychological depression. The second ALJ determined
that Landfried was capable of a modified range of light work. For
the first time, Landfried argues in this appeal that the Appeals
Council's remand was limited to consideration of evidence related
to the surgery and to consideration of her psychological
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limitations. Landfried argues that the second ALJ was bound by the
first ALJ's finding that Landfried was limited to sedentary work
and that the second ALJ exceeded the scope of the remand in
determining that Landfried could perform a modified range of light
work.
The regulations governing the administrative and judicial
review process for Social Security determinations are contained in
20 C.F.R. §§ 404.900 and 416.1400. Those regulations require a
Social Security claimant to exhaust administrative remedies before
the claimant may seek judicial review in federal court.
§ 404.900(a) & (b); § 416.1400(a) & (b). The administrative
exhaustion requirement is jurisdictional. Paul v. Shalala, 29 F.3d
208, 210-11 (5th Cir. 1994); Muse v. Sullivan, 925 F.2d 785, 791
(5th Cir. 1987); Harper v. Bowen, 813 F.2d 737, 739, 743 (5th Cir.
1987). If the claimant fails to raise a particular issue in the
Appeals Council, the federal courts do not have jurisdiction to
review the claim. Paul, 29 F.3d at 210.
We may review the decision if the "claim of error is 'an
expansion of the general rationale proffered in support of the
appeal' to the Appeals Council." McQueen v. Apfel, 168 F.3d 152,
155 (5th Cir. 1999) (quoting Paul, 29 F.3d at 210). We may waive
the exhaustion requirement if the claim at issue is a
constitutional challenge collateral to a substantive claim of
entitlement to benefits. Bowen v. City of New York, 476 U.S. 467,
83-85 (1986). Neither of these circumstances are present in the
instant case. Even if we were to assume that a constitutional
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argument is raised, we could not consider it: Issues raised for
the first time in this court in a Social Security case are not
considered. See Chaparro v. Bowen, 815 F.2d 1008, 1011 (5th Cir.
1987); James v. Bowen, 793 F.2d 702, 704 (5th Cir. 1986).
Landfried argues that the discrepancy between the two ALJ
decisions with respect to her residual functional capacity shows
that the Commissioner's determination that she was capable of
performing a limited range of light work is not supported by
substantial evidence. This argument is without merit. A finding
that Landfried has the residual functional capacity for sedentary
work is not tantamount to a finding that Landfried does not have
the residual functional capacity for a modified range of light
work. See Houston v. Sullivan, 895 F.2d 1012, 1015-16 (5th Cir.
1989).
Landfried contends that the Commissioner erred in finding that
her psychological impairment was not severe and constituted only a
minimal limitation on her ability to perform work activities.
Landfried argues that the ALJ's finding is "contrary to the great
weight of the evidence," but she misstates the standard. Again,
we must affirm the Commissioner's finding when it is supported by
substantial evidence. See Villa, 895 F.2d at 1021.
"An impairment can be considered as not severe only if it is
a slight abnormality having such minimal effect on the individual
that it would not be expected to interfere with the individual's
ability to work, irrespective of age, education or work
experience." Stone v. Heckler, 752 F.2d 1099, 1101 (5th Cir. 1985)
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(internal quotation marks and brackets omitted). In determining
that Landfried's mental condition was not severe, the ALJ applied
the Stone standard. The ALJ noted the "absence of evidence of
sustained treatment for depression or that depression has
interfered with activities of daily living, social functioning, or
mental functioning for sustained periods." Landfried made only two
visits to a therapist for psychological reasons, and the
consultative examiner concluded that Landfried's work capacity
would be limited only during stressful periods. The Commissioner's
finding that Landfried's depression was not severe is supported by
substantial evidence.
Landfried also contends that the ALJ should have obtained the
testimony of a mental health expert. As this issue was not
presented to the Appeals Council, it has not been exhausted so we
have no jurisdiction to consider it. See Paul, 29 F.3d at 210-11.
Moreover, Landfried does not state what additional information
would have been gleaned from such testimony. See Kane v. Heckler,
731 F.2d 1216, 1220 (1984).
Landfried asserts additionally that the ALJ's finding that she
is capable of a modified range of light work is not supported by an
explicit evaluation linking the finding with objective evidence.
"Light work" is defined as requiring the ability to lift no more
than 20 pounds and up to 10 pounds frequently." 20 C.F.R.
§§ 416.967(b) & 404.1567(b). "Even though the weight lifted may be
very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal
of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the
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time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls."
§§ 404.1567(b); 416.967(b).
The ALJ found that Landfried's combination of impairments, at
all times relevant to her decision:
allowed lifting up to 20 pounds occasionally and
intermittently; lifting up to ten pounds frequently;
pushing and pulling weights commensurate with lifting;
standing/walking two of eight work day hours; sitting six
of eight work day hours; occasional and intermittent ramp
and stair climbing; occasional and intermittent bending,
stooping, kneeling, and crouching; and no climbing
ladders, ropes or scaffolds.
Landfried's non-severe mental depression limited her to work that
did not require more than a "good" ability or "satisfactory"
ability to deal with work stresses and to behave in an emotionally
stable manner. Based on these findings, the ALJ determined that
Landfried had a residual functional capacity for a modified range
of light work. The reports of Drs. Dorsen, Ross, Cain, and Taylor
provide ample support for this conclusion.
Landfried argues that the Commissioner failed to consider
adequately her subjective complaints of pain and depression.
“[P]ain may constitute a non-exertional impairment that limits the
range of jobs a claimant otherwise would be able to perform.”
Fraga v. Bowen, 810 F.2d 1296, 1304 (5th Cir. 1987). As pain alone
can be disabling, the ALJ must give consideration to the claimant’s
subjective complaints of pain; and the ALJ has a duty to make
affirmative findings regarding the credibility of the claimant’s
assertions regarding pain. See Scharlow v. Schweiker, 655 F.2d
645, 648-49 (5th Cir. 1981) (reversing decision of Commissioner
because ALJ failed to rule on credibility of claimant’s subjective
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complaints of pain). The Commissioner has discretion to determine
the disabling nature of the claimant’s pain. Wren v. Sullivan, 925
F.2d 123, 128 (5th Cir. 1991). Pain constitutes a disabling
condition only when it is “constant, unremitting, and wholly
unresponsive to therapeutic treatment.” Falco v. Shalala, 27 F.3d
160, 163 (5th Cir. 1994) (internal quotation marks omitted).
“There must be clinical or laboratory diagnostic techniques which
show the existence of a medical impairment which could reasonably
be expected to produce the pain alleged.” Selders v. Sullivan, 914
F.2d 614, 618 (5th Cir. 1990).
Because the medical records did not substantiate Landfried's
subjective complaints, the ALJ was required to evaluate the
intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of Landfried's
symptoms to determine whether and how much Landfried's symptoms
limited her ability to work. SSR 96-7p, 1996 WL 374186, *1. This
inquiry requires a determination whether Landfried's subjective
complaints were credible. Id.
In determining the credibility of the individual's
statements, the adjudicator must consider the entire case
record, including the objective medical evidence, the
individual's own statements about symptoms, statements
and other information provided by treating or examining
physicians or psychologists and other persons about the
symptoms and how they affect the individual, and any
other relevant evidence in the case record.
SSR 96-7p, 1996 WL 374186, *1.
The ALJ's determinations of the weight and credibility of the
evidence "are entitled [to] considerable deference." Jones v.
Bowen, 829 F.2d 524, 527 (5th Cir. 1987). "While it is clear that
the ALJ must consider subjective evidence of pain, it is within his
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discretion to determine its debilitating nature." Id. (citations
omitted).
In considering the extent to which Landfried's subjective
symptoms of chronic back pain, stress, anxiety, and memory problems
reduced Landfried's residual functional capacity, the ALJ
concluded:
While some of the symptoms reported reasonably derive
from medically determinable impairments evidenced in the
record, the intensity, duration, and functional
limitations alleged by the claimant are not fully
credible and are not supported in the clinical records,
evidence of daily functioning, and evidence of symptom
management without prescribed medications.
In reaching this conclusion, the ALJ summarized the clinical
findings of Drs. Dorsen, Ross, Cain, and Taylor, with respect to
Landfried's back condition, and the clinical findings of Dr.
Hamilton, with respect to Landfried's depression. The ALJ
expressly discredited the opinion of Dr. Kyte that Landfried's
condition appeared to satisfy the criteria of § 1.05C of the
Listing of Impairments. The ALJ also considered Landfried's
testimony about the extent of her pain and limitations on her daily
activities caused by pain and depression. The ALJ made express
findings about the credibility of Landfried's subjective
complaints. Those findings were based on a review of the medical
records and Landfried's own testimony. The ALJ thus complied with
SSR 96-7p.
Landfried also asserts that the hypothetical question posed to
the vocational expert did not include all of her limitations,
specifically those related to depression, anxiety, and chronic
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pain. Accordingly, Landfried argues, the Commissioner has not
proved that there are jobs in the national economy that Landfried
is able to perform. In response to the ALJ's second hypothetical
example, stating exertional limitations that were relatively more
restrictive than Landfried's limitations, the vocational expert
stated that such a person would be able to pursue work as a
cashier, information clerk, and clerical worker. The ALJ further
limited this example to reflect that the hypothetical worker had a
"good ability to deal with work stresses and behave in an
emotionally stable manner," with "good defined as limited but
satisfactory." The vocational expert stated that such a person
would still be able to perform the three jobs listed. As was
previously noted, the ALJ's characterization of Landfried's pain
and depression as nondisabling is supported by substantial
evidence. Landfried's argument presupposes that those findings are
not supported by substantial evidence.
As the Commissioner's decision denying Landfried's claim for
disability benefits is supported by substantial evidence and no
violations of procedures or methodology are present, the magistrate
judge's judgment affirming the Commissioner's decision is
AFFIRMED.
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