United States District Court, N.D. Alabama, Middle Division
MEMORANDUM OPINION
ABDUL
K. KALLON, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
Amey
Dudley brings this action pursuant to Section 405(g) of the
Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), seeking review
of the Administrative Law Judge's denial of disability
insurance benefits, which has become the final decision of
the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
(“SSA”). For the reasons explained below, the
court affirms the decision.
I.
Procedural History
Dudley
worked previously as an order processor until she stopped
working in August 2014 due to her alleged disability. R.
361-362. Dudley filed her application for Disability
Insurance Benefits (“DIB”) on August 19, 2014,
asserting a disability due to chronic back, neck, and knee
pain as well as anterior cruciate ligament
(“ACL”) reconstruction surgery, migraines, and
fluid around her heart. R. 200. After the SSA denied her
application, Dudley requested a formal hearing before an ALJ.
R. 127. Ultimately, the ALJ entered a decision finding that
Dudley was not disabled. Doc. 7-5 at 36. The Appeals Council
affirmed, rendering the ALJ's decision the final decision
of the Commissioner. R. 1. Having exhausted her
administrative remedies, Dudley filed this action pursuant to
42 U.S.C. §§ 1383(c)(3) and 405(g). Doc. 13.
II.
Standard of Review
First,
federal district courts review the SSA's findings of fact
under the “substantial evidence” standard of
review. 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c); Martin v.
Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1520, 1529 (11th Cir. 1990). The
district court may not reconsider the facts, reevaluate the
evidence, or substitute its judgment for that of the
Commissioner; instead, it must review the final decision as a
whole and determine if the decision is “reasonable and
supported by substantial evidence.” See
Martin, 894 F.2d at 1529 (citing Bloodsworth v.
Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th Cir. 1983)).
Substantial evidence falls somewhere between a scintilla and
a preponderance of evidence; “[i]t is such relevant
evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to
support a conclusion.” Id. (internal citations
omitted). If supported by substantial evidence, the court
must affirm the Commissioner's factual findings, even if
the evidence preponderates against the Commissioner.
Id.
Credibility
determinations are the province of the ALJ. Moore v.
Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1212 (11th Cir. 2005). However,
“[t]he testimony of a treating physician must
ordinarily be given substantial or considerable weight unless
good cause is shown to the contrary, ” and the failure
of the Secretary “to specify what weight is given to a
treating physician's opinion and any reason for giving it
no weight” constitutes reversible error. MacGregor
v. Bowen, 786 F.2d 1050, 1053 (11th Cir. 1986). Courts
have found good cause to discount a treating physician's
report when it is “not accompanied by objective medical
evidence, . . . wholly conclusory, ” or
“inconsistent with [the physician's] own medical
records.” Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436,
1440 (11th Cir. 1997); Edwards v. Sullivan, 937 F.2d
580, 583 (11th Cir. 1991). In contrast to the opinion of a
treating physician, “the opinion of a nonexamining
physician is entitled to little weight if it is contrary to
the opinion of the claimant's treating physician.”
Broughton v. Heckler, 776 F.2d 960, 962 (11th Cir.
1985).
Second,
federal courts review the SSA's conclusions of law de
novo, see Bridges v. Bowen, 815 F.2d 622, 624 (11th
Cir. 1987), and “[f]ailure to apply the correct legal
standards is grounds not for remand but, for reversal.”
Lamb v. Bowen, 847 F.2d 698, 701 (11th Cir. 1988).
No. presumption attaches to either the ALJ's choice of
legal standard or to the ALJ's application of the correct
legal standard to the facts. Id.
Finally,
reviewing courts have the power “to enter, upon the
pleadings and transcript of the record, a judgment affirming,
modifying, or reversing the decision of the Commissioner of
Social Security, with or without remanding the cause for a
rehearing.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (emphasis added).
III.
Statutory and Regulatory Framework
An
individual applying for DIB bears the burden of proving that
she is disabled. Moore, 405 F.3d at 1211. To
qualify, a claimant must show “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) and
416(i)(I)(A). A physical or mental impairment is “an
impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, or
psychological abnormalities which are demonstrated by
medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic
techniques.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(3).
Determination
of disability under the Act requires a five step analysis. 20
C.F.R. § 404.1520. Specifically, the Commissioner must
determine, in sequence:
(1) whether the claimant is doing substantial gainful
activity;
(2) whether the claimant has a severe impairment;
(3) whether the impairment meets or is medically equivalent
to one listed ...