HOLLOWAY

v.

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY

KILOLO KIJAKAZI,¹ Acting Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant. /

OPINION AND ORDER2

I. Status

Dicena Holloway (“Plaintiff”) is appealing the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration’s (“SSA(’s)”) final decision denying her claims for disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) and supplemental security income (“SSI”). Plaintiff’s alleged inability to work is the result of degenerative disc disease, arthritis of the right shoulder, arthritis in the lower back, fibromyalgia, and

On March 15, 2019, Plaintiff protectively filed applications for DIB and SSI, alleging a disability onset date of June 5, 2017 in the DIB application and June 23, 2016 in the SSI application.³ Tr. at 320-24 (DIB), 325-31 (SSI). The alleged onset disability date was later changed for both applications to

December 22, 2018, on which date Plaintiff’s “condition got worse.” Tr. at 393 (emphasis omitted). The applications were denied initially, Tr. at 152-62, 174, 176, 178, 234-40 (DIB); Tr. at 163-73, 175, 179, 181, 241-47 (SSI), and upon reconsideration, Tr. at 182, 184-203, 224, 226, 249-61 (DIB); Tr. at 183, 204-23,

227, 229, 262-74 (SSI).⁴ On August 20, 2020, an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) held a hearing, during which he heard from Plaintiff, who appeared with a nonattorney representative, and a vocational expert (“VE”).5 See Tr. at 123-51 (hearing transcript); Tr. at 230, 232 (appointment of representative documents). At the time of the hearing, Plaintiff was forty-six (46) years old. Tr. at 125

Regulations; (4) can perform past relevant work; and (5) retains the ability to perform any work in the national economy. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920; see also Simon v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin.,⁷ F. 4th 1094, 1101-02 (11th Cir. 2021) (citations omitted); Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F. 3d 1232, 1237 (11th Cir. 2004).

The claimant bears the burden of persuasion through step four, and at step five, the burden shifts to the Commissioner. Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 146 n.5 (1987). Here, the ALJ followed the five-step inquiry. See Tr. at 33-48. At step one,

the ALJ determined that Plaintiff “has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since December 22, 2018, the alleged onset date.” Tr. at 33 (emphasis and citation omitted). At step two, the ALJ found that Plaintiff “has the following severe impairments: degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine;

Appendix 1.” Tr. at 40 (emphasis and citation omitted). The ALJ determined that Plaintiff has the following residual functional capacity (“RFC”): [Plaintiff can] perform sedentary work as defined in 20 [C.F.R. §§] 404.1567(a) and 416.967(a) except she can frequently operate foot controls with her left lower extremity and frequently pus[h] and pull, reach in all directions, handle and finger with her right dominant upper extremity. [Plaintiff] can frequently balance and stoop; occasionally kneel, crouch, crawl and climb ramps and stairs but never climb ladders, ropes or scaffolds. She can never work in loud or very loud environments; must avoid concentrated exposure to extreme heat, extreme cold, wetness, vibration, pulmonary irritants such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases and poor ventilation and workplace hazards such as moving machinery, moving mechanical parts and unprotected heights. [Plaintiff] requires the use of a cane to ambulate effectively, for balancing while standing still and to transfer between sitting and standing. Tr. at 41-42 (emphasis omitted). At step four, the ALJ relied on the VE’s hearing testimony and found that Plaintiff “is unable to perform any past relevant work” as a “childcare worker” and a “babysitter.” Tr. at 46 (some emphasis and citation omitted). The ALJ then proceeded to the fifth and final step of the sequential inquiry. Tr. at 46-47. After considering Plaintiff’s age (“42 years old . . . on the alleged disability onset date”), education (“at least a high school education”), work experience, and RFC, the ALJ relied on the VE’s testimony and found that “there are jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy that [Plaintiff] can perform,” such as “Document preparer,” “Tube operator,” and “Stuffer.” Tr. at 46-47 (some emphasis omitted). The ALJ concluded Plaintiff “has not been under a disability . . . from December 22, 2018, through the date of th[e D]ecision.” Tr. at 48 (emphasis and citation omitted).

III. Standard of Review

This Court reviews the Commissioner’s final decision as to disability pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3). Although no deference is given to the ALJ’s conclusions of law, findings of fact “are conclusive if . . . supported by ‘substantial evidence.’” Doughty v. Apfel, 245 F. 3d 1274, 1278 (11th Cir. 2001) (citing Falge v. Apfel, 150 F. 3d 1320, 1322 (11th Cir. 1998)). “Substantial evidence is something ‘more than a mere scintilla, but less than a preponderance.’” Dyer v. Barnhart, 395 F. 3d 1206, 1210 (11th Cir. 2005) (quoting Hale v. Bowen, 831 F. 2d 1007, 1011 (11th Cir. 1987)). The substantial evidence standard is met when there is “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Falge, 150 F. 3d at 1322 (quoting Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971)); see also Biestek v. Berryhill, 139 S. Ct. 1148, 1154 (2019); Samuels v. Acting Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 959 F. 3d 1042, 1045 (11th Cir. 2020) (citation omitted). It is not for this Court to reweigh the evidence; rather, the entire record is reviewed to determine whether “the decision reached is reasonable and supported by substantial evidence.” Cornelius v. Sullivan, 936 F. 2d 1143, 1145 (11th Cir. 1991) (citation omitted). The decision reached by the Commissioner must be affirmed if it is supported by substantial evidence—even if the evidence preponderates against the Commissioner’s findings. Crawford v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 363 F. 3d 1155, 1158-59 (11th Cir. 2004) (per curiam).

IV. Discussion

Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred in evaluating her credibility and subjective complaints of pain. Joint Memo at 18-22. According to Plaintiff, the ALJ essentially relied on “boiler plate type language commonly found in Social Security decisions” and did not “provide explicit reasons for discounting

[Plaintiff’s] credibility.” Id. at 20, 21 (citations omitted). Responding, Defendant contends the ALJ adequately evaluated Plaintiff’s subjective complaints, and substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s findings. Id. at 22-28. “[T]o establish a disability based on testimony of pain and other symptoms, the claimant must satisfy two parts of a three-part showing: (1) evidence of an underlying medical condition; and (2) either (a) objective medical evidence confirming the severity of the alleged pain; or (b) that the objectively determined medical condition can reasonably be expected to give rise to the claimed pain.” Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F. 3d 1219, 1225 (11th Cir. 2002) (citing Holt v. Sullivan, 921 F. 2d 1221, 1223 (11th Cir. 1991)). “The claimant’s subjective testimony supported by medical evidence that satisfies the standard is itself sufficient to support a finding of disability.” Holt, 921 F. 2d at 1223. “In evaluating the intensity and persistence of a claimant’s symptoms,

the ALJ considers the entire record, including the objective medical evidence, the claimant’s history, and statements of the claimant and [his or] her doctors.” Belser v. Soc. Sec. Admin., Comm’r, No. 20-12121, 2021 WL 6116639, at *6 (11th Cir. Dec. 27, 2021) (unpublished) (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529(c)(1)-(2)). The

Regulations in effect at the time of the ALJ’s Decision provided that an ALJ “will” also consider other factors related to symptoms such as pain, including: (i) [The claimant’s] daily activities; (ii) The location, duration, frequency, and intensity of [the claimant’s] pain or other symptoms; (iii) Precipitating and aggravating factors; (iv) The type, dosage, effectiveness, and side effects of any medication [the claimant] take[s] or ha[s] taken to alleviate [his or her] pain or other symptoms; (v) Treatment, other than medication, [the claimant] receive[s] or ha[s] received for relief of [his or her] pain or other symptoms; (vi) Any measures [the claimant] use[s] or ha[s] used to relieve [his or her] pain or other symptoms . . .; and (vii) Other factors concerning [the claimant’s] functional limitations and restrictions due to pain or other symptoms. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529(c)(3)(i)-(vii). To reject the claimant’s assertions of subjective symptoms, “explicit and adequate reasons” must be articulated by the ALJ. Wilson, 284 F. 3d at 1225; see also Dyer, 395 F. 3d at 1210; Marbury v. Sullivan, 957 F. 2d 837, 839 (11th Cir. 1992).7 Here, the ALJ did not merely rely on boilerplate language. Rather, the ALJ initially recognized Plaintiff’s assertions of how her pain affects her, including allegations of constant body pain; limited physical activities (including sitting, standing, lifting, carrying, and walking); driving only with a family member; no heavy lifting; using a mobile cart at stores; no climbing stairs; migraines causing dizziness; swelling, tingling, and throbbing of the right hand; personal care challenges; drowsiness from medications; using a cane and walker; and limited daily activities. Tr. at 42-43 (citation omitted). The ALJ then found that Plaintiff’s “medically determinable impairments could reasonably be expected to cause some of the alleged symptoms”; however, Plaintiff’s “statements concerning the intensity, persistence and limiting effects

43.

The ALJ next discussed the medical evidence, finding it showed “conservative treatment” and did not show Plaintiff had “presented to an office visit or emergency department with intractable pain, nor has she required any inpatient treatment for any of her severe impairments.” Tr. at 44. The ALJ further found that Plaintiff’s “physicians report essentially normal physical examinations at office visits.” Tr. at 44 see also Tr. at 33-39 (summarizing medical evidence). The ALJ also found that the information provided by

Plaintiff contained “inconsistencies,” an indication that the information “may not be entirely reliable.” Tr. at 44. The ALJ pointed out that there were not any restrictions placed on Plaintiff by her physicians despite her allegations of disabling pain and symptoms. Tr. at 44. As to Plaintiff’s assertions of how her impairments affect her, the ALJ found Plaintiff’s “testimony . . . was out of proportion with the objective medical findings.” Tr. at 46. The ALJ concluded that Plaintiff’s “limitations alleged are neither consistent with nor well supported by the objective medical evidence.” Tr. at 46 (citation omitted). Plaintiff does not specifically challenge any of the above subjective complaint findings.* The ALJ adequately considered Plaintiffs subjective complaints, and the ALJ’s findings are supported by substantial evidence.

V. Conclusion

After a thorough review of the entire record, the undersigned finds that the ALJ’s Decision 1s supported by substantial evidence. Based on the foregoing, it 1s ORDERED: 1. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), as well as § 1883(c)(3), AFFIRMING the Commissioner’s final decision.

2. The Clerk is further directed to close the file.

DONE AND ORDERED in Jacksonville, Florida on September¹, 2022.

Verge Boo KAS

JAMES R. KLINDT

United States Magistrate Judge kaw Copies: Counsel of Record