Pond v. Saul ( 2023 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
KRISTEN JEANNINE POND,
Plaintiff,
v. Case No. l:21-cv-912 (RCL)
KILOLO KIJAKAZI,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff Kristen Jeannine Pond brings this action challenging a Social Security
Administration determination that she is ineligible for disability insurance benefits pursuant to 42
U.S.C. § 405(g). Before the Court are Ms. Pond's Motion for Judgment of Reversal, ECF No. 15,
and defendant Commissioner of the Social Security Administration's ("Commissioner" or "SSA")
Motion for Judgment of Affirmance, ECF No. 20. Upon consideration of the parties' briefing, the
Administrative Record ("AR"), including the Administrative Law Judge's ("ALJ") decision, and
the applicable law, this Court will DENY Ms. Pond's motion, GRANT the SSA's motion, and
AFFIRM the SSA's determination regarding Ms. Pond's ineligibility for benefits.
I. BACKGROUND
The Court will begin by reviewing the statutory and regulatory scheme, followed by Ms.
Pond's relevant medical history, and then the procedural history of this case.
A. The Statutory and Regulatory Scheme
Under the Social Security Act, an individual who is "disabled" is eligible to be paid benefits
by the Social Security Administration. 42 U.S.C. § 1382. "An individual shall be considered
disabled" if the individual is "unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any
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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."
Id. § 1382c(a)(3)(A). To make a disability determination, "an ALJ gathers evidence, holds a
hearing, takes testimony, and performs a five-step legal evaluation of the claimant using that
evidence." Davis v. Berryhill, 272 F. Supp. 3d 154, 158 (D.D.C. 2017). Under this five-step,
sequential inquiry, the ALJ determines whether:
(1) the claimant is presently engaged in substantial gainful activity; (2) the claimant
has a medically severe impairment or impairments; (3) the claimant's impairment
is equivalent to one of the impairments listed in the appendix of the relevant
disability regulation; (4) the impairment prevents the claimant from performing her
past relevant work; and (5) the claimant, in light of her age, education, work
experience and Residual Functional Capacity ("RFC"), can still perform another
job that is available in the national economy.
Id. (citing 20 C.F.R. § 416.920).
The claimant bears the burden of proof at steps one through four of the inquiry. See
Callahan v. Astrue, 786 F. Supp. 2d 87, 89 (D.D.C. 2011). The burden of proof shifts to the SSA
at step five. Id. If the ALJ finds that the individual is not disabled at any step, the ALJ will make
a determination at that time and will not move onto the next step. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4). If
the ALJ finds that the individual can adjust to other work based on her age, education, and RFC
assessment, she is not disabled under the Social Security Act. Id. §§ 404. l 520(h), 416.920(h).
B. Factual Background
Ms. Pond alleges that she became disabled in June 2015 at the age of 43 due to a number
of ailments. AR 49, 52, 70-71. Ms. Pond stated that her condition worsened in January 2017
following a motor vehicle accident. AR 55. Starting in 2015, Ms. Pond met with a variety of
medical professionals about her health. Only some of those professionals' medical opinions are
implicated in the ALJ's decision. One professional was Dr. Ranjeev Pandarinath, an orthopedic
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surgeon, whom Ms. Pond consulted in August 2017 about a possible total knee replacement. AR
428-30. Another was Ms. Sara Franks, a psychotherapist, who observed Ms. Pond in August and
December 2018. AR 550-58. In mid-January 2019, Ms. Pond met with Dr. Scarlet Jett, a
psychologist, who gave Ms. Pond a consultative examination for psychiatric symptoms. AR 562-
67. That same month, Ms. Pond met with Dr. Gemma Nachbahr, an SSA psychological consultant,
for a mental functional capacity determination. AR 70-76. In May 2019, Ms. Pond visited Dr.
Nancy Heiser, an SSA medical consultant, for another mental capacity determination. AR 95-98.
And from approximately 2018 through 2019, Dr. Stella Jefferies, a nurse practitioner, evaluated
and treated Ms. Pond for a variety of ailments, including knee and back pain. AR 642-79.
As of 2019, Ms. Pond's activities of daily living included: cooking (two to six times per
week), cleaning (two to three times per week), grocery shopping (one to three times per week),
doing laundry (three to six times per month), and bathing (up to two times per week). AR 572. Ms.
Pond maintained an active driver's license. AR 50. She reported that sometimes she was too tired,
in too much in pain, or too depressed to engage in many recreational activities, but that she did
watch television, listen to music, and attend some events. AR 566, 572. Ms. Pond was able to
independently manage her finances, and her typical schedule involved caring for her teenaged
daughter and going to appointments. Id. She also walked her dog with the assistance of a cane. AR
55, 60. No medical professional prescribed use of a cane. AR 21.
Ms. Pond holds a bachelor's degree and has previously worked as an administrative
assistant, executive secretary, and waitress, among other positions. AR 30, 50-51. She has not
applied for another job since her work stoppage. AR 46.
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C. Procedural History
Ms. Pond filed an application for Title II Disability Insurance Benefits under the SSA on
September 25, 2017. AR 16. Ms. Pond alleged that her disability began on June 30, 2015 due to
fibromyalgia, ruptured discs, hypothyroidism, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome,
anxiety, clinical depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, kyphoscoliosis, arthritis, and sciatica.
AR 70-71. Ms. Pond's application for benefits was initially denied on January 28, 2019, and again
upon reconsideration on May 29, 2019. AR 105-08, 110-13. Ms. Pond requested and received a
telephonic hearing before an ALJ, which occurred on May 14, 2020. AR 43--63; AR 121-23. Ms.
Pond appeared, testified, and was represented by an attorney. Id. A vocational expert also testified
as to the jobs Ms. Pond could perform in the national economy. Id.
On June 9, 2020, the ALJ issued a decision determining that Ms. Pond was not disabled
because she could perform sedentary work that existed in the national economy. AR 16-32. Ms.
Pond appealed the decision, and the Appeals Council subsequently denied Ms. Pond's request for
review. AR 1-7. Ms. Pond then filed this action seeking review of the agency's decision. Compl.,
ECF No. 1. Specifically, Ms. Pond moved for a judgment of reversal, Pl.' s Mot., and included a
memorandum in support, Pl.'s Mem, ECF No. 15-1. The SSA moved to affirm the agency's
decision, Def.' s Mot., and submitted a memorandum in support of affirmance and in opposition to
reversal, ECF No. 21. Ms. Pond filed a combined opposition to the SSA's motion and reply in
support of her own motion. Pl.'s Reply, ECF No. 23. Both motions are now ripe for review.
II. LEGALSTANDARDS
A. Judicial Review of the ALJ's Disability Determination
The Social Security Act grants federal district courts jurisdiction over civil cases that
challenge the final decision of the SSA Commissioner. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The Court enters its
judgment upon the pleadings and transcript of the record. Id.; Igonia v. Califano, 568 F.2d 1383,
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1389 (D.C. Cir. 1977). In this way, "[a] district court sits in what is essentially an appellate role
when it reviews the Commissioner's disability determination." Grant v. Kijakazi, 619 F. Supp. 3d
128, 135 (D.D.C. 2022) (citing Smith v. Bowen, 826 F.2d 1120, 1121 (D.C. Cir. 1987)).
The Court's review of the ALJ's disability determination is limited to deciding whether the
ALJ correctly applied the relevant legal standards and whether substantial evidence supported the
ALJ's findings. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Butler v. Barnhart, 353 F.3d 992, 999 (D.C. Cir. 2004). "The
plaintiff bears the burden of demonstrating that the Commissioner's decision [was] not based on
substantial evidence or that incorrect legal standards were applied." Settles v. Colvin, 121 F. Supp.
3d 163, 169 (D.D.C. 2015) (alteration in original) (internal citation omitted). The substantial-
evidence standard is "highly deferential." Rosse/lo ex rel. Rosse/lo v. Astrue, 529 F.3d 1181, 1185
(D.C. Cir. 2008) (Kavanaugh, J.) (citing Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S. 552, 565 (1988)). "The
reviewing court may neither reweigh the evidence presented to it nor replace the Commissioner's
judgment concerning the credibility of the evidence with its own." Goodman v. Colvin, 233 F.
Supp. 3d 88, 104 (D.D.C. 2017) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Put differently, a
district court will uphold the ALJ's decision as long as the ALJ builds a "logical bridge" between
the evidence and the ALJ's conclusions, enabling the Court to "assess the validity of the agency's
ultimate findings and afford a claimant meaningful judicial review." Lane-Rauth v. Barnhart, 437
F. Supp. 2d 63, 67 (D.D.C. 2006) (quoting Scott v. Barnhart, 297 F.3d 589, 595 (7th Cir. 2002)).
"If the ALJ is found to have applied the correct legal standards and met the substantial
evidence threshold, the reviewing court may grant the Commissioner's motion for an affirmance
of the disability determination." Grant, 619 F. Supp. 3d at 136 (citing Hicks v. Astrue, 718 F. Supp.
2d 1, 17 (D.D.C. 2010)).
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B. ALJ Review of Medical Opinion Evidence
. Under the applicable SSA regulations, ALJs are directed to "not defer or give any specific
evidentiary weight, including controlling weight, to any medical opinion[.]" 20 C.F.R.
§ 404.1520c(a). "When an ALJ decides not to give a treating source's medical opinion controlling
weight, the ALJ should consider the following factors-the length and frequency of the examining
relationship, the nature and extent of the treatment relationship, supportability, consistency,
specialization, and other factors." Bennett v. Saul, 18-cv-1745 (CKK), 2019 WL 5549815 at *8
(D.D.C. Oct. 27, 2019) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2)). The most significant factors are
supportability of the opinion and its consistency with respect to the rest of the record. See Davis,
272 F. Supp. 3d at 174. An ALJ properly explains the supportability factor by discussing "objective
medical evidence from an acceptable medical source," instead of merely reciting a medical
source's opinion of a claimant's limitation. Kyler v. Kijakazi, 19-cv-3334 (CJN), 2022 WL
1165859 at *3 (D.D.C. Apr. 20, 2022) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 416.929(a)). An ALJ properly explains
the consistency factor when the ALJ discusses how a medical source's opinion conflicts with other
evidence in the record, including the claimant's own activity report. See id. Courts review the
totality of an ALJ opinion to determine if the ALJ' s decision regarding a medical opinion should
be affirmed. See, e.g., Brown v. Saul, No. 18-1294 (RCL), 2020 WL 5653696 at *3 (D.D.C. Sept.
23, 2020) (internal citations omitted).
III. DISCUSSION
Ms. Pond does not dispute the ALJ's conclusions for steps one, two, or four of the disability
evaluation. She does, however, argue that the ALJ erred in two ways during the remaining steps.
First, she argues that the ALJ' s step-three decision was not supported by substantial evidence
because the ALJ improperly discounted certain medical opinions in concluding that Ms. Pond's
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impairments did not qualify her as "disabled" under the applicable regulations and because the
ALJ mischaracterized evidence in the record. Pl.'s Mem. at 23-30. Second, she argues that the
ALJ's step-five decision was not supported by substantial evidence because the ALJ did not
properly evaluate Dr. Jefferies's medical opinion in determining Ms. Pond's residual functional
capacity ("RFC"). Pl.'s Mem. 14-22. The Court finds Ms. Pond's arguments unpersuasive.
A. The ALJ's Determination That Ms. Pond's Impairments Were Not Medically
Equivalent to Impairments Listed in the Relevant Regulation Is Supported by
Substantial Evidence
The main thrust of Ms. Pond's motion takes issue at the ALJ's conclusion at step three of
the disability determination, that she did not meet or medically equal any of the impairments listed
by regulation, by insisting that the ALJ' s conclusion was not based on substantial evidence. Pl.' s
Mem. at 23-28. On the contrary, this Court's review of the record shows that the ALJ based the
determination on substantial evidence. Therefore, the Court affirms the ALJ' s step-three decision.
1. Statutory Criteria
20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, app. 1 § 12.04 describes the requirements for depressive,
bipolar, and related disorders. That section, in relevant part, describes each condition in three
paragraphs: (A) the medical criteria a claimant must meet through her medical evidence; (B) the
functional criteria an ALJ assesses in determining how a claimant's disorder limits her
functionality; and (C) the criteria the ALJ uses to evaluate "serious and persistent" mental
disorders. Id. § 12.01. For a claimant's condition to qualify as medically equivalent to a condition
listed in that section, the ALJ must conclude that the claimant satisfies the requirements of
Paragraph A and either Paragraph B or C. Id. § 12.20.
Paragraph B, the only paragraph at issue here, lists the relevant mental functioning areas
as: (1) understand, remember, or apply information; (2) interact with others; (3) concentrate,
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persist, or maintain pace; and (4) adapt or manage oneself Id. § 12.04(B) (referencing id.
§§ 12.00E1-E4). The mental functioning areas are evaluated on a five-point scale ranging from
"no" limitation to "extreme" limitation. Id. § 12.00F(2). A claimant who does not have an
"extreme" limitation in one area of mental functioning will only qualify for benefits if she can
demonstrate a "marked" limitation in two such areas. Id. A "marked" limitation is defined as the
claimant's ability to function "independently, appropriately, effectively, and on a sustained basis"
in a given area is "seriously limited." Id. In contrast, a "moderate" or "mild" limitation is one in
which the claimant's ability to function is "fair" or just "slightly limited." Id.
2. ALJ's Findings
The ALJ concluded that Ms. Pond did not meet the Paragraph B criteria because she does
not experience an "extreme" limitation in any single mental functioning area nor a "marked"
limitation in two such areas. AR 20. Moreover, the ALJ determined that Ms. Pond experiences
only a "moderate" limitation in interacting with others and concentrating, persisting, or
maintaining pace, and a "mild" limitation in understanding, remembering, or applying information
and adapting or managing herself. 1 AR 20-21.
To reach the conclusion regarding Ms. Pond's "moderate" limitation in interacting with
others, the ALJ looked to the following pieces of evidence: "[Ms. Pond's] testimony describing
interactions with her prior employer, statements in her function report regarding issues getting
along with others, and the claimant's mental status examinations." AR 21. The ALJ discussed Ms.
Pond's mental status examinations from two medical professionals, Dr. Heiser and Dr. Nachbahr,
who concluded that Ms. Pond's "mental impairments resulted in moderate restrictions in
1
The ALJ also concluded that Ms. Pond did not meet the requirements for Paragraph C, AR 21, though Ms. Pond
does not dispute the ALJ' s conclusion regarding Paragraph C.
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... interacting with others." AR 23. Specifically, Dr. Heiser stated that, "[Ms. Pond] can interact
adequately with others to perform routine tasks with occasional interaction with the public" and
that her "[a]daptive skills are adequate." AR 97. Dr. Nachbahr added, "[Ms. Pond] appears
mentally capable of performing work-related activities which involve limited interaction." AR 81.
Reviewing all of this evidence, the ALJ found that "the mental status examinations in the record,
the consultative examination reports, and the claimant's statements generally support the degree
of impairment opined by Dr. Heiser and Dr. Nachbahr as of the date they issued their opinions."
AR 29. Importantly, the ALJ noted that Dr. Heiser's and Dr. Nachbahr's opinions differed from
other medical opinions in the record, particularly those of Ms. Franks, Dr. Jett, and Dr. Jefferies.
Id. However, the ALJ identified that opinions from Ms. Franks, Dr. Jett, and Dr. Jefferies appeared
to be "primarily based on the claimant's subjective allegations rather than the observations of the
claimant's functioning and mental status examinations throughout the record." Id. Accordingly,
the ALJ decided that the opinions of Dr. Heiser and Dr. Nachbahr were more persuasive than the
opinions of Ms. Franks, Dr. Jett, or Dr. Jefferies. Id. The ALJ supported this conclusion by noting
that, despite Ms. Pond's psychiatric diagnoses, "[t]he record documents she has prescription
medication to treat her psychiatric symptoms" and that "[n]othing in the evidence suggests that
this treatment is ineffective." AR 27.
To reach the conclusion regarding Ms. Pond's "moderate" limitation in concentrating,
persisting, or maintaining pace, the ALJ stated that "mental status examinations, mental health
records, and allegations in testimony and statements in function reports," as well as the medical
opinions of Dr. Heiser, Dr. Nachbahr, Dr. Jett, and Dr. Pandarinath, "support some limitation in
[Ms. Pond's] ability to concentrate, persist, and maintain pace" but that her "records do not
establish that her mental conditions are so severe as to result in either marked or extreme
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limitations in functioning." AR 21. Again, the ALJ noted that Dr. Heiser's and Dr. Nachbahr's
opinions conflicted with Dr. Jett's opinions regarding Ms. Pond's ability to concentrate, but that
the latter opinions were the product of Ms. Pond's subjective statements. AR 27, 29.
To reach the conclusion regarding Ms. Pond's "mild" limitation in adapting or managing
herself and understanding, remembering, and applying information, the ALJ looked to statements
and representations made by Ms. Pond as well as medical opinions from Dr. Heiser and Dr.
Nachbahr, among other evidence. AR 22. Specifically, the ALJ noted that the "evidence shows
her judgment and insight remains intact," that "[s]he can perform household chores, care for a
minor child, operate a motor vehicle, and manage her personal affairs," and that her conditions
have not "required psychiatric hospitalization" nor do they "prevent her from remaining aware of
normal hazards and taking precautions." AR 27.
3. Analysis
Ms. Pond first argues that the ALJ's determination that she did not meet the functional
criteria in Paragraph B was not supported by substantial evidence because the ALJ did not
adequately consider a medical opinion by Dr. Jett, who opined that Ms. Pond experienced more
severe limitations in the mental functioning areas of interacting with others and managing herself
that the ALJ determined. Pl.'s Mem. at 23-25. The Court disagrees. The record reflects that the
ALJ, who is not required "to give a treating source's medical opinion controlling weight,"
expressly considered why Dr. Jett's opinion was not supportable or consistent with the record.
Bennett, 2019 WL 5549815 at *8.
Dr. Jett remarked that Ms. Pond experienced "marked limitations" in "interacting
adequately with supervisors, co-workers, and the public" and "moderate limitations in managing
[her]self." AR 566.
With respect to supportability, the ALJ determined that Dr. Jett's opinion on Ms. Pond's
level of mental functioning was only "partly persuasive." AR 21. The ALJ stated that he reached
this conclusion because Dr. Jett's opinion appeared to be based not on objective medical evidence
but instead based on Ms. Pond's subjective statements. Id. As the ALJ explained:
With regard to the opinion of Dr. Jett, ... the examiner appears to rely excessively
on the claimant's subjective allegations, which the evidence does not entirely
support. The evidence of record supports some restriction in psychiatric
functioning, but not to an extent to result in "marked" or "extreme" limitation.
While the record certainly establishes the existence of severe mental impairments,
the extent of the limitations assessed by Dr. Jett is not entirely supported substantial
evidence or consistent with other opinions in the record.
AR24.
The ALJ's conclusion regarding Dr. Jett's medical opinion was amply supported by the
record. The ALJ described how, even though Dr. Jett indicated that Ms. Pond exhibited poor
judgment and concentration, this observation reflected Ms. Pond's feelings and statements to Dr.
Jett, rather than Dr. Jett's own assessment. AR 27. Instead, the ALJ credited more heavily other
medical opinions in the record that relied on objective data. AR 29. Because the ALJ properly
relied on objective, rather than subjective, medical evidence, and adequately documented that
conclusion, the Court finds that the ALJ's determination of the supportability of Dr. Jett's
opinion-or lack thereof-was proper. See Kyler, 2022 WL 1165859 at *3.
Regarding consistency, the ALJ accurately observed that Dr. Jett's opinion was not
consistent with other evidence in the record. The ALJ remarked that Dr. Jett's report of Ms. Pond's
"intact recent and remote memory and average cognitive function" was not consistent with another
evaluation that reported her "poor concentration and unreliable memory function." AR 20-21.
Additionally, the ALJ explicitly contrasted Dr. Jett's report, which documented "extensive
psychiatric symptoms" and that Ms. Pond "demonstrated abnormality of mood, and affect" as well
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as "impaired attention and concentration," with other health records submitted by Ms. Pond dated
after her consultation with Dr. Jett which reported that she had full "judgment, insight, mood, and
affect" as well as documented her "deni[al] of psychiatric symptoms." AR 22. Ms. Pond responds
that Dr. Jett's report was, in fact, consistent with accounts by Dr. Jefferies and Ms. Franks. Pl.'s
Mem. at 25-26. But this Court is not permitted to "reweigh the evidence presented to it nor replace
the Commissioner's judgment concerning the credibility of the evidence with its own." Goodman,
233 F. Supp. 3d at 104. And Dr. Jett's conclusion that Ms. Pond experienced "no limitations" in
understanding, remembering or applying information was contrary to the other evidence in the
record, evidence which led the ALJ to conclude the Ms. Pond has a "mild" limitation in this area.
AR 21. Thus, taken together, this analysis clearly shows that the ALJ met his burden of discussing
the consistency factor with respect to Dr. Jett's opinion. See Patricia T v. Kijakazi, 21-cv-1028
(GMH), 2022 WL 3583634 at *15 (D.D.C. Aug. 22, 2022).
Based on the entirety of the record, this Court finds that the ALJ properly discussed the
supportability and consistency factors bearing on Dr. Jett's medical opinion. Furthermore, based
on the ALJ' s determination with respect to those factors, the ALJ properly built a logical bridge to
the conclusion that the opinion was only partly persuasive. This conclusion was therefore
supported by substantial evidence. See Lane-Rauth, 437 F. Supp. 2d at 67.
Ms. Pond next argues that the ALJ's decision with respect to the Paragraph B criteria was
not supported by substantial evidence because the ALJ did not give due weight to opinions by Ms.
Franks or Dr. Pandarinath. Pl.' s Mem. at 29. This argument, like the previous one, is unavailing.
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As a threshold matter, Dr. Pandarinath, an orthopedic surgeon, did not evaluate Ms. Pond
or provide treatment related to Ms. Pond's mental health. 2 The only comment in his report
somewhat related to Ms. Pond's mood or behavior was the following: "[I]t is difficult to elicit
[medical] history from [Ms. Pond] and she is very somnolent." AR 428. This is not a medical
opinion about whether Ms. Pond meets the Paragraph B criteria. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527(a)(l),
416.927(a)(l) ("Medical opinions are statements from acceptable medical sources that reflect
judgments about the nature and severity of your impairment(s), including your symptoms,
diagnosis and prognosis, what you can still do despite impairment(s), and your physical or mental
restrictions.") Therefore, the ALJ was correct in not relying on or evaluating Dr. Pandarinath's
report with respect to the step-three analysis.
Ms. Franks, on the other hand, provided trauma counseling services to Ms. Pond. AR 550.
She relayed the diagnoses Ms. Pond reported to her, including "recurrent, chronic major
depression, depression due to physical illness, PTSD, anxiety and acute reaction to exceptional
stress, with an onset of early adolescence." Id. She also relayed Ms. Pond's allegations of poor and
unreliable memory as well as "becoming easily overwhelmed." AR 27. Ms. Franks concluded that
the "combination of [Ms. Pond's] physical and mental conditions limited her capacity to
concentrate, remember, and remain reliable and consistent at the time of the assessment." Id.Contrary to Ms. Pond's assertion, the ALJ explicitly discussed and considered the
supportability and consistency factors with respect to Ms. Franks' s opinion. AR 20-21. When the
ALJ viewed those opinions in the context of the whole record, the ALJ determined that the
opinions of Dr. Nachbahr and Dr. Heiser were more persuasive than Ms. Franks's opinion. As the
2
Dr. Pandarinath's report documented Ms. Pond's complaints of her knee pain and concluded that, given her weight,
age, and lifestyle, she was an "extremely poor candidate" for a total knee replacement. AR 430.
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ALJ described, Ms. Franks's medical opinion was not adequately supported because it "primarily
consists of a restatement of [Ms. Pond's] allegations of psychiatric limitations." AR 29. Similarly,
Ms. Franks's opinion was not consistent with the record demonstrating that Ms. Pond experienced
only "mild" limitations in memory. AR 20-21. Therefore, the ALJ's decision that Ms. Franks's
opinion was only partially persuasive, and thus not determinative of whether Ms. Pond met the
Paragraph B criteria, was supported by substantial evidence because the ALJ properly explained
the supportability and consistency factors. Kyler, 2022 WL 1165859 at *3.
Finally, Ms. Pond's claim that the ALJ mischaracterized her functioning report misses the
mark. Ms. Pond claims that her own statements about her limited social activities and difficulty
with authority, including a former employer, demonstrate more than just a "moderate" limitation
in interacting with others. Pl.'s Mem. at 26-27. Even if Ms. Pond's assertion is correct, the
functioning report, as discussed above, was only one of various sources explicitly mentioned by
the ALJ in making the determination that her limitation was only "moderate." Because substantial
evidence "requires more than a scintilla, but ... less than a preponderance of the evidence," the
Court finds that the ALJ's explanation of his conclusion was more than adequate. Butler, 353 F.3d
at 999. Thus, Ms. Pond has not demonstrated that the ALJ erred when characterizing and
evaluating her functioning report. See Settles, 121 F. Supp. 3d at 169.
* * *
The ALJ's conclusion that Ms. Pond did not meet the Paragraph B criteria was supported
by substantial evidence because the ALJ discussed the relevant factors when evaluating medical
opinions by Dr. Jett and Ms. Franks, appropriately considered the entire record, including from
other medical sources such as Dr. Pandarinath, and explained how Dr. Jett's and Ms. Franks's
opinions were inconsistent with the record and other medical opinions.
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B. The ALJ's RFC Determination Was Supported by Substantial Evidence
The rest of Ms. Pond's motion challenges the ALJ's step-five determination, that she can
still perform another job that is available in the national economy in light of her RFC, as
"unsupported by substantial evidence because the ALJ failed to properly evaluate the opinion of
[Dr.] Jefferies." Pl.'s Mem. 14. The Court disagrees.
This Circuit has defined the RFC as an assessment of "the claimant's uppermost ability to
perform regular and continuous work-related physical and mental activities in a work
environment." Butler, 353 F.3d at 1000 (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1545(a)(l), 416.945(a)(l)). After
reviewing the extensive record, the ALJ determined that Ms. Pond "has the residual functional
capacity to perform sedentary work." AR 21. The ALJ further determined that she "can
occasionally climb ramps and stairs; balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl," that she "can
frequently reach overhead bilaterally," that she "can perform simple, routine tasks, requiring no
more than occasional changes in the work setting, occasional judgment or decision-making, with
no production rate for pace of work," and that she "can tolerate occasional interaction with the
general public, co-workers, and supervisors." AR 21-22. Finally, the ALJ determined that Ms.
Pond "can never climb ropes, ladders, and scaffolds" and that she "must avoid concentrated
exposure to hazards, such as dangerous machinery and unprotected heights." Id.Ms. Pond claims that the ALJ' s RFC assessment of her physical abilities was not supported
by substantial evidence because the ALJ did not properly evaluate Dr. Jefferies's opinion, which
Ms. Pond contends establishes a much more limited RFC. Pl.'s Mem. at 16-18. Dr. Jefferies
opined that Ms. Pond could only "sit for one hour and stand/walk one hour in an eight-hour
workday," that she "would need to take unscheduled 15-minute breaks every two hours," and that
she "could occasionally lift and carry up to ten pounds in a competitive work situation." AR 752-
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53. Dr. Jefferies further indicated that Ms. Pond has an "extreme" limitation in all of the mental
functioning areas. AR 755-57.
The ALJ evaluated Dr. Jefferies's opinion, discussed the supportability and consistency
factors, and concluded that other evidence in the record was more persuasive and probative of Ms.
Pond's RFC. AR 29. Regarding supportability, the ALJ definitively concluded that Dr. Jefferies's
opinion on Ms. Pond's RFC was not supported by the record or even her own treatment notes. Id.As the ALJ explained, Dr. Jefferies' s assessment of Ms. Pond as possessing extreme physical
limitations "conflicts with the objective medical evidence that shows no more than moderate
impairment in function due to psychiatric impairments." Id. Additionally, according to the ALJ,
Dr. Jefferies's "opinion regarding [Ms. Pond's] ability to sit, stand and walk, and lift weight
conflicts with the physical examination findings throughout the relevant period, as well as the
claimant's testimony regarding what she can and cannot do." Id. Ms. Pond testified at the hearing
that she can drive, walk, run errands, do laundry, take care of her dog and daughter, and bathe on
her own. AR 28-29. The ALJ credited Ms. Pond's testimony in making the RFC determination
over Dr. Jefferies's opinion. And again, this Court may not disturb the ALJ's decision regarding
the weight of the evidence. See Goodman, 233 F. Supp. 3d at 104.
Thus, the ALJ's RFC determination was clearly based on substantial evidence.
IV. CONCLUSION
Ms. Pond has failed to demonstrate that the challenged ALJ decisions regarding her
ineligibility for disability benefits were not based on substantial evidence. Therefore, the Court
will DENY Ms. Pond' s motion for reversal, GRANT the SSA's motion for af:firmance, and
AFFIRM the ALJ' s decision.
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A separate order will issue.
SIGNED this ~ day of June, 2023.
Royce C. Lamberth
United States District Judge
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