Allen v. Astrue, No. 6:2010cv00035 - Document 25 (W.D. Va. 2011)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Michael F. Urbanski on August 4, 2011. (sfc)

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LERKSOFFI U % DYT X UU W I THE UNI S N TED TATESDI CT COURTC STRI A LN o j qv TY o j k FOR TH E W ESTER N DISTRICT O F V I G I I R N A F D U LYNCHBURG DI S ON VI I RO BERT D .A LLEN, Akg gj z j gj JUL . DUD , LERK BY: DEP CLE Pl ntf , ai if C i lActon N o.6: vi i 10cv00035 V. M I A EL J.A STRU E, CH Com m i i ssoner ofSoci Securiy, al t By: Hon.M i chaelF.U rbanski Unied St esD itri Judge t at s ct D ef endant . M EM O R AN DUM O PI ION N Pl ntf Rob tD. ln(( ln'brugh t sa tonf rviw o teCommisone o ai if er Ale E e ' o t hi ci or e e f h Al ) si r f SocilSe urt s(s a c iy' ûcommiso r'de ii de nghi cai f dia lt i ur cebe ft s ine' cson nyi s l m or s biiy ns an neis ) (( B' unde t SocalSe urt Ac (heû t'.Ale wa ij e i amot c ea i n i : ' D1 ) r he i c iy tt 1 ' ln s nurd n Ac ) orycl ccde t n 2000 and hasfied t l hree Dl applcatonssnce t tm e,al ofw hi have been de ed. A len B i i i hat i l ch ni l di notadm i s r i y appealeiherofhi fr tt deni s,and t s case concer hi t r d nitatvel t s is wo al hi ns s hid de a f diabiiy be ft . Alen a a e hi t r de a t a Adm i sr tve La J ni l or s lt ne is l ppe l d s hid ni l o n ni ta i w udge (: ',whof t tt s mefcsa dcamsweei ve i t t r a plc to a i :ALJ' ) ound ha he a a t n li r nvol d n he hid p iain s n t eari adm i sra i decii he ler nit tve sons. As s t A LJdi ised t appealon adm i sr i r uch, he sm s he nitatve es j iaagounds a di no c ve ah a i udc t r , nd d t on ne e rng.TheApp al Coun lafr dt ALJ' es ci fime he S deci i and A len br son, l oughts ti f alcour . ui n eder t I t saton,Ale c le stea nitai rsjdiaafndi c tndi t the n hi ci ln halnge h dmi srtve e u ct i ng, one ng ha wase tted t a he rng ora l as a op t t t r vi w t a m i s r tve r c d i hi t r n il o ai t t t n poruniy o e e he d nit a i e or n s h ee a iainst s ewhehe teALJpr rya ida nitai r j c t.Ale as pplc to o e t rh opel pple dmi srtve es udiaa ln lo cont endst t A LJ' dim isaloft appealw ihouta heari vi at due pr hat he S s s he t ng ol es ocess. Se ton405g)o Til 42oft Unie Stt Co a horz sj ca rviw oft ci ( f te he td aes de ut ie udiile e he Commiso rsde a ofs i sc iybe e is Matov. e, F. 1 ,l 6(t Ci. sine ' nil ocal e urt n ft. sr Apfl270 3d 71 7 4h r 2001.4 U. C.j405g)as saest tS nyi vi alatran fnald iinoft ) 2 S. ( lo tt ha û ndi du , fe y s ecso he a Comm isi ofSoci Securt m ade afera heari t w hi hew as a pary ...m ay obt n a s oner al iy t ng o ch t ai rviw ofs hde ii byci la ton. 4 U. C.j405() Seton405( ofTil 42oft ee uc cson vi ci ' 2 S. ' g . ci h) te he Unie SttsCo saesdg ofndi offc o de sono t Commisone ofSocal td ae de tt dnj i ngs at r cii f he si r i Securiy shal be r ewed by any per ti t l evi son, rbunal orgover ent agency exceptasher n , nm al ei prvi d. 4 U. C.j405h) o de ' 2 S. ' ( . TheCommiso rmove t dimisAle sa alagui t c tlc s j c sine s o s s ln' ppe , r ng he our a ks ube t matrj iditonb a eAle ne rrc i dafna de sonatraheai asrquie b 42 te urs ci ec us ln ve e eve i l cii fe rng e rd y U. C. 405( . S. j g) 1. (f ef n ane tlis eh r i tev x d rc rigo eo teefc u o j dca rve t' u d l na su ee s h e e ,e u rn n fh fe t p n u iile iw -h u d r 2U. C. 4 5g o teg mmiso e'la p iaino a miitaiers u iaat n e 4 S. j 0 ( ) f h co sin rs p lcto f d nsrtv e j dc t o d nyas alsc iycli ' McGo nv. rs 66 F. 60, ( hCi.1 ) Ast e oci e urt am. ' wç Hari, 6 2d 64 4t r 981. he Fo t Cic tpli yhedi Mc we adititco tha j rs cint deemi whehe urh rui anl l n Go n, src ur s uidito o tr ne t r teCo si e ' ap iai ofa nitai r j c t wa c rc. h mmison rs plc ton dmi srtve es udiaa s ore t gqhe dititc tha j iditon t deer ne,asa o it, ' I src our s urs ci o t mi pprprae wheh rsj c t ha pr ryb na ple o whehe ,ho ter e udiaa s opel ee p id, r t r t ugh rs j diat mi t pr ry ha b e a id, t cl m ha e u c a gh opel ve e n pple he ai s ne rhe es be n r op ne Se Fa ly v. Calf no, 599 F. ve t l s e e e d. e re ia 2d ( 61 608& n. ( hCi.1 1 I t st co tsmpl e r ss 60 , 4 4t r 979 . n hi he ur i y xecie isi rnt uiditont d tr n isownj iditon.Te s& t nhee j rs ci o eemie t urs ci xa Pa fc Ra l a v.Gul.Col a & Sa t Fe Raiw a , 27 U . cii iw v f or do na l y 0 S. 266,27 ( 9 . l t c r deemi st tj iditon e ss 4 1 27) f he ou t tr ne ha urs ci xit et rbe a ea nitai rsj diaawasno prpe l a id, ihe c us dmi srtve e u c t t o ry pple or be aus t de e c a m ha be n e t e f r aly or b l ga c e he ni d l i s e ih r o m l y e l i i ton rope d,i ma t n ofc rej cal rviw t mplcai e ne t y he ou s udiily e e he ( Commisone 'lfna de ii de ngt cli si rs i l cson nyi he am. 666 F. at66. 2d The ne tq ton t be r s ve i w h t rt co tha s fc e i or a i x uesi o e ol d s e he he ur s uf i i nt nf m ton t d tr newhehe t Co si erprpe l a ida nitai rsj c t t Ale s o eemi t r he mmison o ry pple dmi srtve e udiaa o ln' t r a iai Th Fo t Cic trco z dt tdgl sma welrquiet tt e ie hid pplc ton. e urh rui e gnie ha sthi y l e r ha he ntr a i sr tve r o d be m a a pa toft diti tco tr c d, no ne es a iy. l t dm nita i ec r de r he src ur e or but t c s r l f he i iy ofcl m sort f ofr dentt ai he act eopeni i ot rwie a entasa m aterof l fom t ng s he s ppar t aw r he dit c courtr d,t de er i i m ay ofcour e be m ade on t tbasi ' l srit ecor he t m naton s ha s.' d. The Com m i i ssonerhasatached t ism oton t dim i sa D ecl aton ofPaulHal t ot i o s s ar i se, Actng Chi ofCourtCase Pre aton and Reviw Br i ef par i e anch 2 oft Of i ofAppelat he fce le Opeai , fceo DiabiiyAdudiaina Re e SocalSe urt Admi srto The rtons Ofi f s lt j c to nd viw, i c iy nitain. Hale de l r to pr vi esc rai lm ie i o ma i n r ga di A len' t e a i a i ns s c a a i n o d e t n i t d nf r to e r ng l s hr e pplc to . Accor ng t t Hale D ecl aton,A len fied an applcaton f D l beneft on di o he s ar i l l i i or B is N ovember20,2002,alegi diabiiy begi ng Sept ber 10,2000. A len' cl m ed l ng s lt nni em l s ai diabiiy s em sf om a m ot cycl acci nti w hih he l thi l tl Exhi t2 t t H ale s lt t r or e de n c os s ef eg. bi o he s D e l r ton i t Com m i s o r s l terda e M a c l 2003, nyi Alen' be ft cl i . c a a i s he s i ne ' e t t d r h 3, de ng l s ne is a m l t s lter,t Com m isi n hi e t he s onernot t A len Ehad an above t knee am put i and ed hat l û he aton depr si ' butt Alen di notr pond t t ee l t s r es on,' hat l d es o hr eter eques i t he cont t s a e tng hat ad he t t a e y r ga di a m e ca e m i to As aco tq nc t Com m i s o rde e m i d t a g nc e r ng di l xa na i n. ns ue e, he s i ne t r ne h t he di notha e t e de e ne de t d i A le scl i a t tA le di no c d v he vi nc e d o ec de l n' a m nd ha l n d t oope a e i rt n ob a ni t t e d nce n e s r t e t bls hi c ai . Acc d ng t t H a s D e l r ton, t i ng h vi e ec s a y o s a ih s l m or i o he l e c a a i Ale di nota ln d ppealt sdeni . hi al A len Gl a second applca i forDl be hson O c ober10, 2007,whi w asdeni l ed i ton B nef t ch ed by t Com m i oneron M ar 6,2008. l t deni l t , t Com m i onernot t tAlen he ssi ch n he al eter he ssi ed ha l cl m ed diabiiy due t l t1 am put i and bi ardior and t hi dat l ti ur ai s lt o ef eg aton pol s der hat s e as ns ed was J 30,2006. Alen' cl m wasdeni f t f l i r une l s ai ed or he olow ng easons; The e de s s t your l t l w as am put t vi nce how hat ef eg a ed. H ow ever , w ih t us of a pr ry fte pr t s s yo a e a e t w a k t he e ope l it d oshe i , u r bl o l w ihoutcr ches or a cane. Alhough you experence pai you ar t ut t i n, e abl t s and and wal w ihi a nor alwor day. The evi e o t k tn m k dence s w s t t your c dii h no a f c e your a l y t ho ha on ton as t f e t d bii o t unde sa r m e be , c r t nd, e m r oope a e wih ot r or pe f m non l r t t he s r or ma daiy actvii l i tes. The evi dence s hows no ot condii whi her ton ch sgnii l lm is your abiiy t w or W e r i t your i fcanty i t lt o k. ealze hat condii keptyou fom doi t t ofwor t you have done ton r ng he ype k hat i t pas , but durng t tm e you wer i ur f di lt n he t i he i e ns ed or sabiiy b ne is your c ton di no ke p you f om doi l s e ft , ondii d t e r ng es demandi wor ng k. l your c ton ge s w o s a ke ps you f o wor ng,wrt , f ondii t r e nd e rm ki ie cal or vii any Soci Securiy of i about Glng a her l st al t fce i not a i i pplcaton. H ale D ecl,Ex.4. Accor ng t t Hal Decl a i A len di notappealt s deni . s . di o he se ar ton, l d hi al OnFe u r 20,20 Ale fld at r a plc to f DI b ne is HaleDec.Ex. br a y 09, ln ie hid p ia in or B e ft . s l, 5. Thi applcaton agai r er s i i n ef enced t Sept ber 2000 m ot cycl acci i w hi Alen he em , or e dent n ch l l thi l tl O n Apt 27,2009,t Com m i i os s ef eg. il he ssoneragai deni t cl m ,t stm e w rtng n ed he ai hi i ii t tûll i omai youga usdo no s w t tt r wa a y c ngei yourhe t ha ûthe nfr ton ve es t ho ha hee s n ha n alh bef e J 2006. Thi w asw he you l tm ett ear ngsr r entf r vi beneft .'' or une s n as he ni equiem or ecei ng is Ha s D e l, 7. Unlke hi ea le a plc to , le c le d t s d ni lup t e l e c . Ex. i s r i r p i a i ns A l n ha l nge hi e a h adm i sr i I nitatve adder. On June 30,2009,Alen' cl m was deni upon r l s ai ed econsder i f t i aton or he sam e r eason. Alen t appeal t deni t an ALJ,w ho deni A len' r l hen ed he al o ed l s eques f a hearng on t or i a nitai rsj c t grunds rasni a f lws dmi srtve e udiaa o ,e o ng s olo : The ques i t ef e becom es w hehe t s e f s and sam e ton her or t r he am act i ues ar i ved. The under i ss e nvol sgned has com par t evi ed he dence consder i r i ed n eachi t pr ous deci on wih t r atng t ng he evi si t hat el i o t cl m ant s cur ent cl m . Based on t s com parion, t he ai ' r ai hi s he under gned fnds t no new and mat i evi si i hat eral dence has bee n s it and t t e has been no c nge i sat e,r a i ubm ted hat her ha n t ut egul ton, r i orl pr ulng egal ecedentconcer ng t f sand i uesr ed upon ni he act ss ul i c eci wih t prviusy a j i td pei n onn ton t he e o l dudcae rod. Addii l as aleady sat t cl m ant s i ed s at tonaly, r t ed, he ai ' nsur t us expied prort t pr ousdeci on.Accor ngl t cl m ant' r i o he evi si di y, he ai s rght on t s e f t and on t s e i ues ar i ved and i s he am ac s he am ss e nvol t do ti ofr j c t a i . he crne es udiaa pples Ha s De l Ex.9. The A LJ SOr rofD im i s ldoe no ou lne t e de he c pa e i le c . ' de s sa s t ti he vi nce om r d n ma nghi a nitai r j c t d ciin,a arviwi co t nowa ofa c rani ki s dmi srtve es udiaa e so nd e e ng ur has y s eti ng whe he t e c a m son t t r a i ton a e i e t s m e r gar ng t pe i pro t J t r h li he hid pplca i r nde d he a e di he rod i r o une 30,2006,A len' dat l ti ur l s e as ns ed. TheA LJdoesaddr s i s t i det levi es n ubsantal ai dence i n A le sa i a i fom t pe i a t rJ 3 200 i l ng i onma i f om t tpe i l n' pplc ton r he rod fe une 0, 6, nc udi nf ton r ha rod t tA l w o ke i c tuc i asa c tac or W hie i m a w e lbe t c e t tA le ha l en r d n ons r ton on r t . l t y l he as ha l n pr esent t sam e evi ed he dence r di t perod prort hi dat l i ur i t ear i egar ng he i i o s e ast ns ed n he ler applcatonst he di on hi t r applcaton,t e i no w ay f t courtt det m i t on i i hat d s hid i i her s or he o er ne hat t e r c d be or t c ta t stm e. l o he wor , he c tdoe notha t f r i a h e or f e he our t hi i n t r ds t our s ve ç o e t be rc ds fiin t deemi t s o oft s c svecli f rsj iaapur e . e or ufce t o tr ne he c pe he uc esi ams or e udc t pos s' ' M cGow en,666 F. a 66. 2d t Ac o di y,a t Ale scam t tr j iaawasi o ry a ida t c r ngl s o ln' li ha es udct mprpe l pple the adm i sr i l ,t cour fndst t Com m isi ni tatve evel he t i hat he s oner' m oton t di m i i pr at e. By s i o s ss s em ur s at Or ,t Com m i i epar e der he ssoneri diect t f l w ih t cl k t adm i sra i t ans i s s r ed o ie t he er he nit tve r crpt ofA len' t ee DI applcatons s t t cour, onamoi f s l s hr B i i o hat he t ton or ummar j y udgme ,c n nt a rviw t r oda ma t j iditona deemi tonr uiedbyMcGowe a t whehe e e he ec r nd ke he urs ci l tr nai eq r n so t r a nitai r u c t wasprpe l a id. dmi srtve esj diaa o ry pple I l. Ale sduepr cesc le t t a plc to ofa nitai rsj c t ho ve, ln' o s halnge o he p iains dmi srtve e udiaa, we r ha no m e i an m us b dim i s d. s rt d t e s se Underesabls l i t scicui,t Comm isi m ay teatan i taldet m i i t ihed aw n hi r t he s oner r nii er naton whi i n a al d asa fna de son wih pr c us v efe t Se ,e. ,M cGo e 6 F. a ch s ot ppe e i l ci i t e l i e f c . e a. w n, 66 2d t 66,Le ne v. c r on,4 F. 1 ,1 42 ( h Ci.1 71 .I ii i t shol ng i t t . vi r Riha ds 43 2d 338 3 4t r 9 ) mplct n hi di s ha t i talde er i i even when nota he nii t m naton, ppeal com porswih t r r ent ofdue ed, t t he equiem s pr s. Thus A len onl r s a col abl cons iutonalcl m i he alegesspecii f st oces , l y aies or e tt i ai f l fc act hat suppor t cl m t gi ng t i taldet m i i pr usve efecti t s i t t he ai hat vi he nii er naton ecl i f n hi nsance w oul d vi at due pr s. See Cul t v.Sec' ofHealh & Hum an Servs. 859 F. 319,322ol e oces berson v t , 2d 24 ( hCi.1 )( vi prcusveefc t a nitai deemi tonsofpli ifspror 4t r 988 gi ng e l i fe t o dmi srtve tr nai antf' i cl m vi ae duepr e si lghtofh me alic ai oltd oc s n i er nt n ompee ea lc ofrprs nai ; tnc nd a k e e e tton) Shrd rv.Hars 6 F. 297, ( hCi.1 )(i ngt t i lgh o pl nifsme Gl ae ri, 3l 2d 302 4t r 980 fndi ha,n i t f aitf' n il lness,hew asdeprved ofdue pr i ocessw hen Com m isi deni pl ntf ssubsequentcl m s oner ed ai if' ai onteba i t tisorgi a nitaiedeemi tonprcude frh rr e .Alenha h ss ha t i nal dmi srtv tr nai e l d u te eviw) l s notmade a cl m ofm ent i ai al ncom pet ence oraleged any specii f st rai a col abl l fc act hat se or e c ns iutona cl m ,i t d g er l s esi t tgi ng pr c us ve e f c t hi p i r o tt i l ai nsea en aly ugg tng ha vi e l i fe t o s ro adm i statve det r i i w ihoutahearng vi at due pr ni r i e m natons t i ol es ocess. A len' cl m doesnotri l s ai se t t l sugges ed i Cul p orShr o he evel t n berton aderand m us be di m i ed f f l e t s a e a cl m . t s ss or aiur o t t ai 11 1. Fort erasns t Co si rsMoi t Dimis( t# 8 iDENI i pat hes e o ,he mmisone' ton o s s Dk. ) s ED n r a dGRANTED i par.Th Commisone' Motont Dimisf lc of u idito i n n t e s i rs i o s s or a k j rs cin s pe t e.Und M c rmaur er Gowe t c ur ha jrs ci t deemi wh t ra nitai r n,he o t s u iditon o tr ne ehe dmi srtve es 6 j c t wa pr e l a ple Be us oft lc o s ciiiyi t ALJSOr ro udiaa s op ry p id. ca e he a k f pe fct n he ' de f D im i s , heco ti r quie t r viw t a i sr tvet a c i sc e ni Ale st e s s al t ur s e r d o e e he dm nita i r ns rpt onc r ng ln' hr e ap iai t deemi whehe a mi srtv rsj di t wasprpe l a id.On ete plc tons o tr ne t r d nitaie e u caa o ry pple c h co tha t oppo t t t r vi w Ale st r e a i a i ,t co tw ilbe i a posto t ur s he runiy o e e l n' h e pplc tons he ur l n ii n o prpe l deer netesopeofAle ss c si cai f r j c t pur e .Att sme o ry t mi h c ln' uc e sve l ms or es udiaa poss he a tm e howe r A le sdue pr e sc ai m us be de e a he ha r ied no pr e ur i im iy i , ve , l n' oc s l m t ni d s s as oc d al nfr t rsng t a cons iutonall . ii o tt i evel A s ra e or s tng f t flng r r ent and a brefng schedul w ilbeent ed. epa t der eti orh ii equiem s ii e l er Ent ed: A ugus 4,20l1 er t / / 'w M -J /. &+ + Z Mi chaelF.Ur ki bans U nied St esD iti tJ t at sr c udge '

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