Lewis v. Callahan, 96-6815

Citation125 F.3d 1436
Decision Date29 October 1997
Docket NumberNo. 96-6815,96-6815
Parties, Unempl.Ins.Rep. (CCH) P 15796B, 11 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. C 657 Jackson LEWIS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. John CALLAHAN, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant-Appellee.
CourtUnited States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (11th Circuit)

George W. Harris, Tuscaloosa, AL, for Plaintiff-Appellant.

Gregory A. Bordenkircher, U.S. Attorney, Mobile, AL, Greg Bongiovanni, Mack Davis, Elyse Sharfman, Mary Ann Sloan, Neil Berenson, Office of General Counsel, Atlanta, GA, for Defendant-Appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama.

Before BIRCH, Circuit Judge, FAY, Senior Circuit Judge, and COHILL *, Senior District Judge.

FAY, Senior Circuit Judge:

In this appeal we review the district court's affirmance of the Commissioner's decision to award disability benefits to Claimant Jackson Lewis for the period of June 17, 1990, to November 12, 1992. Lewis argues that he continues to be unable to do any work due to a myriad of heart problems. The Commissioner found, however, that Lewis's health had improved and that by November 12, 1992, he could perform sedentary and non-stressful work. The only issue on appeal is whether substantial evidence supported this decision. Because we find that the Commissioner, acting through an administrative law judge (ALJ), failed to afford proper deference to the opinions of Lewis's treating physicians in coming to this decision, we reverse.

I.

Lewis was hospitalized on June 14, 1990 after a heart attack and was diagnosed with unstable angina, atherosclerotic heart disease, and ventricular trachycardia. Dr. Scott Pollak at Florida Hospital in Orlando, Florida recommended immediate bypass surgery. On July 3, 1990, doctors at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, performed successful quintuple coronary bypass graft surgery. Lewis was discharged on July 15, 1990. Lewis applied to the Social Security Administration for a period of disability, disability insurance benefits, and supplemental security income on June 27, 1990. Lewis alleged that as of June 17, 1990, he was disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act due to his heart problems, including coronary artery disease and a left ventricular aneurysm. His claim was denied, initially and at reconsideration, and again after a hearing in front of ALJ Rafe Cloe. The Appeals Council granted review of the ALJ's decision, however, and remanded the case for a supplemental hearing and further development of the record.

Lewis received his supplemental hearing in front of a different ALJ, Melford Cleveland, on April 22, 1993. The evidence before ALJ Cleveland consisted of hospital records, live testimony from Lewis and vocational expert Dr. Robert Griffin, and the medical reports and notes of Lewis's treating physicians, Dr. Jeffrey Anderson and Dr. Perry Timberlake, and of the Commission's consulting physicians, Dr. Maurice Fitz-Gerald, Dr. George Singleton and Dr. Santhi Das.

In the hearing before ALJ Cleveland, Lewis testified that he was 43 years of age with a tenth grade education. He stated that he last worked as a longshoreman, but had not worked since June 17, 1990. He testified that he became tired easily, requiring frequent naps, and became winded after walking short distances. He testified that he became tired from standing in place. He stated that he could lift twenty-five pounds without discomfort but that his doctors advised him not to lift more than ten pounds.

Lewis's doctors, Dr. Timberlake and Dr. Anderson, submitted their medical records and notes into evidence to substantiate his claim of disability. Dr. Timberlake, a general practitioner, reported on November 5, 1990, that Lewis was "severely disabled with a large ventricular aneurysm in his heart and severe coronary artery [disease]. He was very lucky to live through his coronary bypass surgery. He certainly is not able to do any gainful work" (emphasis in original). Dr. Timberlake completed a Physical Capacities Evaluation on August 30, 1991 in which he estimated Lewis's ability to engage in certain activities during an eight hour workday. Dr. Timberlake reported that Lewis could sit for two hours at any one time or four hours during the entire eight-hour workday, stand for one hour at a time or two hours during the entire day, and walk for one hour at a time or one hour during the entire day. He again completed a Physical Capacities Evaluation on November 1, 1992, and reported that Lewis could sit for five hours at one time or five during the entire day, stand for two hours at a time or two hours during the entire day, and walk for one-half hour at one time or one-half hour during the entire day.

Dr. Anderson, a cardiologist, treated Lewis at the time of his bypass surgery and continued to see him regularly thereafter. According to Dr. Anderson, Lewis "has known severe ischemic heart disease and he has had previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery and he has a known left ventricular aneurysm and prior demonstration of high grade ventricular dysrhythmia." Dr. Anderson also completed a Physical Capacities Evaluation, most recently on November 3, 1992. He reported that Lewis can sit for four hours at one time and during the entire day, stand for two hours at a time or during the whole day, and walk for one hour at one time or during the entire day. While Dr. Anderson noted that Lewis had been "doing better" since his surgery, "[i]n view of his documented cardiac problems I certainly would feel that he should qualify for disability and be declared completely disabled."

Several other doctors also examined Lewis on behalf of the Commissioner and submitted their reports into evidence. Dr. Fitz-Gerald, a family practitioner, performed a consultive examination of Lewis on May 28, 1991. He found a history of coronary artery disease and long-standing hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and a "history of ventricular aneurysm, repaired." He completed a Physical Capacities Evaluation and estimated that Lewis could sit, stand and walk for eight hours at a time or for eight hours during an eight hour workday.

Dr. Das, a psychiatrist, examined Lewis's mental state and found no disorder.

Dr. Singleton, who describes his practice as "direct patient care," performed a consultive examination on November 12, 1992. Dr. Singleton noted Lewis's history of heart disease and high blood pressure. He observed through x-ray that Lewis's heart was "quite enlarged" and reported a "dialated [sic] left ventricle which probably represents a ventricular aneurysm." Dr. Singleton also completed a Physical Capacities Evaluation and reported that Lewis could sit for four hours at one time or six hours during the entire day, stand for two hours at a time or four hours during the entire day, and walk for two hours at a time or four during the entire day. In concluding his report, Dr. Singleton stated "This man has been told repeatedly that he would never be able to work again but I believe if he could be trained to do some type of work in an office or where ever [sic] which did not require excessive physical activity he should be able to work as long as he is asymptomatic."

Finally, Dr. Griffin, a vocational expert, testified in front of ALJ Cleveland. He stated that if Lewis's testimony were credible, especially as to his need for frequent rest during the day, then he would be unable to engage in any work in the national economy. He also testified that the restrictions in the Physical Capacities Evaluations completed by Dr. Anderson and Dr. Timberlake would make him ineligible for even sedentary work because of his inability to sit, stand or walk for an entire eight hour work day. However, Dr. Griffin testified that if the ALJ found Lewis healthy enough to do entry-level sedentary work, there were many jobs available to him.

After reviewing the evidence, ALJ Cleveland issued his decision on December 14, 1993, awarding Lewis a closed period of disability, beginning on June 17, 1990 and ending on November 12, 1992. The following findings made by the ALJ are relevant to this controversy:

3. The claimant has the severe impairments of status post severe triple vessel coronary artery disease with quintuple coronary bypass grafting and longstanding hypertension controlled by medication; history of ventricular aneurism [sic], repaired; and possible stomach or duodenal ulcer. He does not have an impairment, or combination of impairment, which meets or equals the criteria of an impairment listed in Appendix 1, Subpart P, 20 CFR, Part 404.

* * *

5. The claimant, given his age, education, past work experience and residual functional capacity, was unable to perform his past relevant work or any other work which exists in the national economy from June 17, 1990, through November 12, 1992.

6. The medical evidence establishes that, as of November 12, 1992, there has been an improvement in the claimant's medical impairments, and that this improvement is related to his ability to work.

7. For the period beginning November 12, 1992, the claimant's testimony is credible only to the extent that it is consistent with a residual functional capacity for entry level sedentary work which requires no stress.

8. According to the testimony of the vocational expert, the claimant is still unable to perform his past relevant work. However, the vocational expert further testifies that, considering his age, education, past work experience and residual functional capacity, the claimant is able to perform a significant range of sedentary entry level work which exists in significant numbers in the national economy.

The Appeals Council declined Lewis's request for review making the ALJ's decision the final decision of the Commissioner. 1

Final decision in hand, Lewis filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the ...

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