Burkhart v. Bowen, 87-3930

• Decision Date: 07 September 1988
• Docket Number: No. 87-3930,87-3930
• Citation: 856 F.2d 1335
• Parties: , Unempl.Ins.Rep. CCH 14153A Rodney BURKHART, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Otis R. BOWEN, Defendant-Appellee.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit

Page 1335

856 F.2d 1335

23 Soc.Sec.Rep.Ser. 30, Unempl.Ins.Rep. CCH 14153A

Rodney BURKHART, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Otis R. BOWEN, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 87-3930.

United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit.

Argued and Submitted July 12, 1988.

Decided Sept. 7, 1988.

Marilyn K. Odell, Eugene, Or., for plaintiff-appellant.

Richard H. Wetmore, Asst. Regional Counsel, Dept. of Health and Human Services, Seattle, Wash., for defendant-appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.

Before GOODWIN, Chief Judge, ALARCON and FERGUSON, Circuit Judges.

FERGUSON, Circuit Judge:

Rodney Burkhart ("Burkhart") appeals the district court's order affirming the decision of the Secretary of Health and Human Services ("Secretary") to deny Burkhart disability insurance and supplemental security income ("SSI") benefits. Burkhart argues that the Secretary applied an improper legal standard and that the Secretary's decision is not supported by substantial evidence. We reverse and remand for vocational testimony.

I.

Burkhart was 44 years old when he applied for disability and SSI benefits in June, 1985. He had been a truck driver for over 20 years.

In July, 1979, Burkhart visited Dr. Norris-Pearce, a neurologist, to complain of blurred vision. Dr. Norris-Pearce summarized his pertinent findings as left papilledema, weakness of the left sixth cranial nerve, questionable weakness of the left wrist extensors and a nuclear brain scan within normal limits.

In February, 1980, Burkhart saw Dr. Anderson, a neurological surgeon, who diagnosed retrobulbar neuritis.

In March, 1980, Burkhart saw Dr. Myers, who performed a complete neurological examination. Dr. Myers found all testing to be within normal limits--including an EEG--and diagnosed optic (retrobulbar) neuritis in remission. He also opined that there did not appear to be any evidence of multiple sclerosis.

Four months later, another physician, Dr. Johnson agreed with the diagnosis of optic neuritis. In a detailed report Dr. Johnson summarized the testing which had been done, the test results, and Burkhart's medical history. He also noted Burkhart's complaints of occasional chest pain, shortness of breath, edema in his hand, continued impaired vision, depression and headaches. He opined that "[f]or the present he is considered unemployable because of his visual defect until acuity can be proven to be present at satisfactory levels."

Dr. Johnson continued to see Burkhart for monthly visits until March, 1981. At that time he again reviewed Burkhart's condition and concluded that, overall, there had been little change. He wrote that the optic neuritis was probably associated with multiple sclerosis, and that Burkhart had continuing neck pain. The diagnosis in January, 1981 had been depression, tension sufalgia, cervical myositis, probable multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis. Dr. Johnson had prescribed medication for depression and muscle spasms at that time. One week later the neck pain and depression had improved, but by February both symptoms were back. By March, 1981, however, Dr. Johnson wrote that vision was improved with bifocals, and that the depression and neck spasms showed improvement.

In April, 1981, Dr. Patterson, a neurologist, described the findings of a neurological exam and then summarized his overall impression of "[p]ast history of left optic neuritis, now improved with good visual acuity at the present time." Dr. Patterson also noted Burkhart's complaints of hand numbness.

The following month, however, a different physician, Dr. Harper diagnosed optic neuritis with legal blindness and, without explanation or documentation of any clinical findings, concluded that it was untreatable. Dr. Harper reiterated his diagnosis in November, 1983, again without any explanation.

Burkhart applied for SSI on May 31, 1983. His claim was denied on August 11, 1983, and he did not appeal.

In September, 1984, Dr. Calhoun, an opthalmologist, performed an eye examination which revealed "[Burkhart's] visual acuity is best corrected to 20/20 in each eye." Dr. Calhoun's impression was that Burkhart had old optic neuritis in the left eye, proptosis in left eye of undetermined etiology, hyperopia and astigmatism with presbyopia and plepharitis. Dr. Calhoun also indicated that he had previously seen Burkhart in February, 1980.

Burkhart filed for both disability insurance and SSI benefits on June 25, 1984.

He claimed that he had been disabled since February 2, 1984 due to legal blindness and multiple sclerosis. Burkhart's claim was denied on December 5, 1984. He did not appeal.

In May, 1985, Dr. Harper again diagnosed optic neuritis and noted Burkhart's complaints of blurred vision, headaches, aggravated neuritis with stress, unpredictable periods of blindness. His opinion was that "I do not see [Burkhart] returning to work any time in the near future." The next month, however, Dr. Patterson noted that Burkhart's vision was 20/20 in the right eye, 20/25 in the left eye with eyeglasses and his impression was "[p]ast history of possible left optic neuritis, now improved with good visual acuity at present."

Burkhart again filed for benefits on May 15, 1985. Burkhart's applications were denied initially, and on reconsideration.

Burkhart's insured status for disability benefits expired on September 30, 1985. On October 10, 1985, Burkhart was admitted to Mercy Medical Center with myocardia infarction.

At Burkhart's request a hearing was held before an ALJ on November 19, 1985. Both Burkhart--who was represented by counsel--and his wife testified to Burkhart's vision problems. His wife also told of the pain that accompanied Burkhart's periods of blurred vision. The ALJ left the record open after the hearing to receive into evidence a letter from Dr. Harper. In the November 21, 1985 letter addressed to Burkhart's attorney, Dr. Harper wrote that Burkhart had been unemployable--in either heavy or sedentary work--since at least 1982 because of: optic neuritis probably caused by systemic atherosclerotic disease; bouts of unconsciousness and confusion; decreased visual acuity; vulnerability to stress which would cause vascular spasms and near stroke conditions known as transient ischemic attack; and "depression and memory changes" for several years possibly due to either a loss of self esteem or poor circulation.

The ALJ issued his decision denying Burkhart benefits on April 16, 1986. He concluded that there was not "good cause" to reopen the prior determination denying Burkhart benefits and, therefore, the current application was concerned only with disability since December 5, 1984. He then found that Burkhart was unable to return to his former work but that he was not disabled. Burkhart's request for review by the Appeals Council was denied. The district court affirmed the Secretary's decision on May 16, 1987. Burkhart timely appealed. We have jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 405(g) and 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1291.

II.

This court must uphold the Secretary's determination that a claimant is not disabled if the Secretary applied the proper legal standards and there is substantial evidence in the record as a whole to support the decision. Hoffman v. Heckler, 785 F.2d 1423, 1425 (9th Cir.1986). The entire record must be considered, weighing both the evidence that supports and detracts from the Secretary's conclusion. Martinez v. Heckler, 807 F.2d 771, 772 (9th Cir.1986).

The claimant must demonstrate that his or her disability is (1) the result of an abnormality that can be shown by medically acceptable laboratory or clinical diagnostic techniques and (2) expected to last for a continuous period of at least twelve months or result in death. Gallant v. Heckler, 753 F.2d 1450, 1452 (9th Cir.1984). Claimants must prove they became disabled prior to the expiration of their insured status. See, e.g., Lombardo v. Schweiker, 749 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir.1984).

III.

Burkhart argues that (a) the Secretary erred by not reopening Burkhart's prior determination denying benefits; (b) the Secretary failed to apply the proper legal standard regarding the weight given to the testimony of Burkhart's treating physician; (c) the Secretary erred by not considering Burkhart's complaints of pain and by not considering his impairments in combination. These contentions lack merit.

A.

Ordinarily, this court cannot review the Secretary's refusal to reopen a prior decision denying benefits. Califano v. Sanders, 430 U.S. 99, 107-08, 97 S.Ct. 980, 985-86, 51 L.Ed.2d 192 (1977). If, however, a claimant challenges the Secretary's decision on constitutional grounds, this court has jurisdiction. Id. at 108-09, 97 S.Ct. at 985-86.

Burkhart argues that his due process rights were violated when the ALJ questioned the credibility of Dr. Harper's November 21, 1985 letter because the letter had been solicited by Burkhart's counsel. He alleges that the ALJ's action denied him "his statutory right to counsel". This contention is wholly without logic or merit. The ALJ's comment was not only a permissible credibility determination given the evidence before the ALJ, it was also not the only reason the ALJ gave for rejecting Dr. Harper's statements. Since Burkhart's argument presents no colorable constitutional claim, he does not fall within the Califano exception.

Burkhart also argues that the prior determination must be reopened under the Social Security Disability Benefits Reform Act of 1984 ("the Act"). Under the Act any initial determination made after October 9, 1984 and before August 28, 1985 that a claimant is not disabled by reason of a mental impairment must be reconsidered under revised regulations. Pub.L. No. 98-460, Sec. 5(c)(1), 98 Stat. 1794, 1801-2 (1984); see also, Mazzola v. Secretary of H & HS, 795 F.2d 222, 524 (1st Cir.1986). Since Burkhart's initial denial was on December 5, 1984, he argues that the prior determination must be reopened. His contention lacks merit.

Burk...