Neal ex rel. Walker v. Barnhart

• Decision Date: 27 April 2005
• Docket Number: No. 04-1358.,04-1358.
• Parties: Tawanna NEAL, by her next friend, Evelyn M. WALKER, Appellants, v. Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of Social Security, Appellee.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit

405 F.3d 685

Tawanna NEAL, by her next friend, Evelyn M. WALKER, Appellants, v. Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of Social Security, Appellee.

No. 04-1358.

United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.

Submitted: November 19, 2004.

Filed: April 27, 2005.

Janice E. Rutledge, Iowa City, IA, for appellant.

Gary L. Hayward, Asst. U.S. Attorney, Des Moines, IA (Rhonda Norcross-Kempker, Office of Regional Counsel, Social Security Admin., Kansas City, MO, on the brief), for appellee.

Before SMITH, BEAM, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.

SMITH, Circuit Judge.

I. Introduction

Evelyn Walker ("Walker"), on behalf of her daughter, Tawanna Neal ("Neal"), appeals the Commissioner's denial of supplemental security income ("SSI") benefits made under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1381 et seq., after Neal was found to be no longer disabled. The district court¹ found that substantial evidence supported the decision of the Commissioner. We affirm.

II. Background

Walker filed an initial application for SSI benefits for Neal under Title XVI on September 5, 1995, and alleged a disability onset date of October 10, 1989. Neal alleged disability due to a mental impairment that resulted in an inability to follow directions, slow learning, and slow developmental skills. The medical record supported a finding of disability. Dr. Stana J. Michael ("Dr.Michael"), Ed.D., administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) in November 1995. Neal obtained a verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) score of 76, a performance IQ score of 58, and a full scale IQ score of 65. Dr. Michael diagnosed Neal with mild mental retardation based on those scores. However, Dr. Michael opined that Neal's scores were low indications of her abilities and noted that Neal's verbal IQ score was within the borderline intellectual functioning range. Dr. Michael also observed that Neal's "performance score was much weaker and in this area she tended to give up rather easily."

The Commissioner reviewed Neal's continued eligibility for benefits in 1997 following enactment of 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(C)(i) which created new standards describing qualifying disabling conditions. Neal missed an assigned consultative examination and the Commissioner terminated her benefits. After filing requests for reconsideration, a hearing was held with a disability hearing officer, who determined that Neal's disability had ceased. Following a hearing, an administrative law judge ("ALJ") ruled that Neal was not under a "disability" as defined in the Social Security Act and the Appeals Council denied a request for review.

During the administrative hearing, Walker testified that Neal went to bed and arose on her own and ate breakfast without assistance. While Neal sometimes required help buttoning her clothing and styling her hair, Neal showered and dressed herself without assistance. Neal also rode the bus both to and from school on her own. Walker testified that Neal earned an "A" in her regular physical education class, enjoyed art, and performed well at drawing-which she spent a considerable amount of time doing. However, Neal was unable to ride a bicycle or cook when unattended. Neal's grandmother, Bessie Johnson ("Johnson"), also testified on Neal's behalf. Johnson testified that Neal had once jumped into the deep end of a pool and required assistance due to her inability to swim.

Dr. Roger L. Parks ("Dr.Parks"), Psy.D., administered the WISC-III to Neal on December 12, 1997. Neal obtained a verbal IQ score of 46, a performance IQ score of 49, and a full scale IQ score of 45. Dr. Parks opined that those scores did not accurately reflect Neal's cognitive abilities. Dr. Parks stated that Neal was cooperative, but not sufficiently motivated during the administration of the WISC-III. According to Dr. Parks, Neal gave up easily on difficult items and may have intentionally given up on more simple items. Dr. Parks also diagnosed Neal with mild mental retardation because, based on the statements of Neal's mother, he suspected that Neal's cognitive abilities fell within the mentally deficient range.

Neal's special education teacher, Jeanie Wade ("Wade"), completed a school activities questionnaire on September 30, 1998. Wade stated Neal had good motor and communication skills, although Neal sometimes did not understand directions or ask for help. Neal's school psychologist, Sally Hartman ("Hartman"), performed a psychological assessment of Neal in April 1999, which included another WISC-III examination. The results of the WISC-III showed a full scale IQ score of 72, a verbal IQ score of 82, and a performance IQ score of 66. Hartman opined that Neal functioned within the low average range intellectually.

At the request of Neal's attorney, Dr. James A. Stehbens ("Dr.Stehbens"), Ph.D., a pediatric psychologist, performed a consultative psychological evaluation on February 26, 2001. The results of that evaluation revealed verbal and nonverbal IQ scores within the borderline range of intelligence. Dr. Stehbens diagnosed Neal with borderline intelligence and school learning delays.

On April 12, 2001, Dianne McBrien ("Dr.McBrien"), M.D., diagnosed Neal as a healthy child with borderline intelligence and learning disabilities. Dr. McBrien recommended that Neal continue with educational and psychological assistance.

Finally, Kris Baldwin ("Baldwin"), M.P.T., a physical therapist, evaluated Neal on April 12, 2001. Baldwin conducted an assessment of Neal's motor status, and opined that Neal had delays in her gross motor skills, but that she was functional in her environment and had good leg strength and normal range of leg motion. Baldwin stated that Neal's strongest area was bilateral coordination and that she was most challenged by activities that required balance and spatial awareness of her body. Baldwin stated Neal's gross motor skills could be improved with specific activities that challenged her balance, such as riding a bicycle and roller skating, although she would require large amounts of practice to learn how to do these activities. Neal was found to have very legible writing and it was suggested that an adjustment of her pencil grip would reduce pressure in her hand from writing. Neal was able to use a computer keyboard for her school work.

The ALJ found Neal had borderline intellectual functioning and a learning disability. However, the ALJ further found that Neal's limited mental functioning did not meet or medically or functionally equal the requirements for the Listing of Impairments. According to the ALJ, Neal had neither subaverage general intellectual functioning nor deficits in adaptive functioning. While the ALJ found that Neal had a marked impairment in acquiring and using information, Neal showed less than a marked impairment in moving about and manipulating objects, and had no limitation in attending and completing tasks, interacting and relating with others, caring for herself, her health or her well-being. The district court found that substantial evidence supported this decision and affirmed the ALJ.

III. Discussion

We review decisions of the Commissioner using the same standard as the district court. Howard v. Massanari, 255 F.3d 577, 580-81 (8th Cir.2001). By statute, "[t]he findings of the Commissioner of Social Security as to any fact, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive." 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). We have stated that

the Commissioner's determinations [will be upheld] if they are supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole. Substantial evidence is relevant evidence which a reasonable mind would accept as adequate to support the Commissioner's conclusion. In assessing the substantiality of the evidence, we must consider evidence that detracts from the Commissioner's decision as well as evidence that supports it. We may not reverse the Commissioner merely because substantial evidence exists supporting a different outcome.

Black v. Apfel, 143 F.3d 383, 385 (8th Cir.1998) (internal quotations and citations omitted). Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla of evidence. Nelson v. Sullivan, 966 F.2d 363, 366 n.6 (8th Cir.1992). It is "such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S.Ct. 1420, 28 L.Ed.2d 842 (1971) (quoting Consolidated Edison Co. v. NLRB, 305 U.S. 197, 59 S.Ct. 206, 83 L.Ed. 126 (1938)). Under this standard, we do not reverse the Secretary even if we, sitting as finder of fact, would have reached a contrary result; "[a]n administrative decision is not subject to reversal merely because substantial evidence would have supported an opposite decision." Baker v. Heckler, 730 F.2d 1147, 1150-51 (8th Cir.1984). We defer heavily to the findings and conclusions of the Social Security Administration. Howard, 255 F.3d at 580-581. We may also reverse the Commissioner's findings if the Secretary applies an erroneous legal standard. Ingram v. Chater, 107 F.3d 598, 601 (8th Cir.1997).

We apply a three-step analysis to childhood disability determinations. Pepper ex rel. Gardner v. Barnhart, 342 F.3d 853, 854 (8th Cir.2003). See also 20 C.F.R. § 416.924(a). We first determine whether the child is engaged in substantial gainful activity. 20 C.F.R. § 416.924(b). The second step requires a determination of whether the child's impairments are "severe." 20 C.F.R. § 416.924(c). Under this...