Nevland v. Apfel

• Decision Date: 14 February 2000
• Docket Number: No. 99-2364,99-2364
• Citation: 204 F.3d 853
• Parties: (8th Cir. 2000) JEROLD H. NEVLAND, APPELLANT, v. KENNETH S. APFEL, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, APPELLEE. Submitted:
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit

Page 853

204 F.3d 853 (8th Cir. 2000)

JEROLD H. NEVLAND, APPELLANT, v. KENNETH S. APFEL, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, APPELLEE.

No. 99-2364

United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Submitted: February 14, 2000

Decided: March 02, 2000

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota

Before Beam, J. Gibson Circuit Judges, and Pratt¹, District Judge.

Pratt, District Judge

Jerold H. Nevland appeals from the judgment of the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota which upheld the final decision of the Commissioner that he is not entitled to Social Security benefits based on disability.

Nevland filed an application for disability benefits in May 1996. AR at 91-93. After a hearing, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued a Notice of Decision - Denial on June 25, 1997. The ALJ found that, although Nevland is unable to do his past relevant work, he has the residual functional capacity (RFC) for work except that he is unable to lift more than ten to fifteen pounds at a time, or to work without being able to alternate between sitting and standing and/or walking in order to endure an eight-hour workday. AR at 24. Based on the testimony of a vocational expert, the ALJ found that Nevland can work at jobs such as order taker, telephone sales, and information clerk. Therefore, the ALJ held that Nevland is not disabled nor entitled to the benefits for which he applied. AR at 25.

Nevland stated, on a Disability Report, that he twice injured his left knee and was twice required to have surgery. He stated that he was in constant pain which required the use of medication and a cane. AR at 98.

MEDICAL EVIDENCE

The medical records establish that Nevland was hospitalized from September 27 to October 4, 1994 with an upper gastrointestinal bleed. On September 28, "he underwent a gastroscopy with Clo test and bicap of a duodenal ulcer." The bleeding ceased thereafter. AR at 132.

Nevland was seen on July 8, 1994 by Audrey Kazmierczak, MA, of the Employee Assistance Program at St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismark, North Dakota, on referral from his supervisor at the Post Office because of over-utilization of sick leave. AR at 162-63. During the intake interview, Nevland reported that 2-3 years prior thereto he had been treated for depression with Prozac and therapy. AR at 163. The therapist wrote that Nevland identified symptomatology consistent with depression. It was noted that Nevland would see a Dr. Roxas on August 16 and would return to see the therapist on August 26, 1994. AR at 162.

Nevland saw Dr. Roxas on August 16, 1994. AR at 202-05. Nevland reported that he had suffered from depression all his life. He also reported that he has "what appear to be mild episodes of panic attacks." AR at 202. After his mental status examination, Dr. Roxas diagnosed: dysthymia; possible panic disorder without agoraphobia; possible generalized anxiety disorder; and, rule out obsessive compulsive disorder. Dr. Roxas prescribed Zoloft. AR at 205.

When Nevland saw Dr. Roxas on September 14, 1994, he reported that he had been taking his son's Ritalin which seemed to help his ability to concentrate. During the initial interview, Nevland described problems with memory and concentration (AR at 202), and on September 14, Dr. Roxas diagnosed possible attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, residual type. The doctor added Ritalin to the medication regimen. AR at 201.

When he was seen October 12, 1994, Nevland reported to Dr. Roxas that he was doing very well. Nevland stated that his concentration had improved and that he was able to read and was able to complete most things. The doctor's diagnosis was dysthymia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, residual type. AR at 199. Nevland reported doing well when seen December 13, 1994 (AR at 197), January 19, 1995 (AR at 196), and April 26, 1995 (AR at 195).

On May 1, 1995, after he had injured his back, Nevland told Dr. Roxas that he felt more depressed. On this occasion, the doctor added possible adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features to the diagnoses. AR at 193. On August 16, 1995, Nevland had returned to work and was feeling quite well. AR at 192.

After he hurt his knee, Nevland told Dr. Roxas on March 6, 1996 that he was not doing well. The doctor prescribed Ambien to help Nevland sleep. AR at 190. When seen on May 10, 1996, Nevland was working in a light duty capacity but he reported that his mood and motivation were both down and that he was sleeping poorly. Nevland said that he felt stressed at work and was concerned that he might lose his job. Dr. Roxas added possible major depression, single episode, moderate, to the diagnoses. AR at 188.

When he was seen on July 15, 1996, Nevland was on permanent total disability and he reported that he was keeping busy, and looking forward to giving his time to various activities or organizations that need his help. The stress of working had disappeared and he did not have to worry about finances. Nevertheless, Nevland said that he felt tired and fatigued and that it was hard to motivate himself. He also said that his concentration was not good. AR at 186.

On August 14, 1996, Nevland told Dr. Roxas that his mood was up and down, unrelated to any kind of stress, and that he was having more down days than before. Dr. Roxas noted that Nevland was walking with a cane but that his gait was steady. The doctor commented that Nevland did not appear to be overtly depressed. AR at 184. On October 4, 1996, Dr. Roxas had tried switching Nevland from Zoloft to Effexor. After an initial bad experience, however, Nevland discontinued the Effexor. Dr. Roxas explained that the symptoms were probably caused from withdrawing from the Zoloft. He was encouraged to begin the Effexor again. AR at 246. On November 5, 1996, Nevland reported that he was somewhat better and that he was tolerating the Effexor but that he still needed the Ritalin. AR at 245.

On January 23, 1997, Nevland told Dr. Roxas that he was not doing very well since he had stopped taking Ritalin. He said that it was hard for him to concentrate, that he was shaky, did not have energy, that he liked to sleep all the time, and that he felt down. Nevland appeared depressed to the doctor. Dr. Roxas observed that although Nevland was walking without a cane², his gait was steady. AR at 243. On February 27, 1997, Nevland told Dr. Roxas that he was doing better, that the Ritalin was helpful, that he had more energy, and that his mood was good. Nevland was planning to start working as a volunteer documenting the old houses in his town. He was also doing some work with stained glass and doing some work in his home. Nevland did not appear to be depressed and appeared to be in a good mood. AR at 241.

Nevland underwent physical therapy on March 14, 1995 because of low back and left leg pain. Nevland complained of constant shooting pain and spasms down his leg to his toes as well as "charlie horses" in his calf. Nevland reported that he had injured his back on January 24, 1995 while lifting a box that weighed 104 pounds. AR at 147. The physical therapist opined that Nevland showed possible signs of a bulging disc. AR at 148. According to a treatment note from John Botsford, M.D., dated June 1, 1995, Nevland had returned to full duties and was experiencing no further symptoms. AR at 150.

Nevland injured his left knee again on January 26, 1996 while moving equipment at work . Nevland reported that he had arthroscopic surgery on both knees some years before. AR at 150. A note from St. Alexius Medical Center dated March 14, 1996, states that the prior procedure had been done on April 15, 1994. AR at 152. A video arthroscopy of the knee on March 14, 1996, showed a probable torn meniscus versus articular cartilage erosion becoming more severe. C.P. Dahl, M.D. wrote, at the conclusion of the study: "I think there is a possibility that he may not be able to continue to perform the type of work that he is presently doing and needs to drift into a more sedentary type of occupation in the future." AR at 153. On March 18, 1996, Nevland underwent video arthroscopy, synovial biopsy, chrondroplasty of the patella and medial femoral condyle of his left knee. AR at 154.

Nevland was seen by Nowarat Songsiridej, M.D., on April 8, 1996, to rule out any rheumatic disease. AR at 167-69. Nevland told the doctor that he had no trouble with his joints with the exception of his left knee. AR at 167. Nevland reported that he was taking the medication Zoloft. AR at 168. Dr. Songsiridej opined that Nevland's problem was due more to mechanical injury than to residual from his history of rheumatic disease. AR at 169. An X-ray report of Nevland's left knee, dated July 18, 1996, showed "very minimal arthritic productive lipping medial aspect of the joint on the medial femoral condyle. The cartilage interval measures 4 MM which according to the AMA guidelines is within normal limits." AR at 176.

Nevland was seen by Paul E. Jondahl, M.D. July 24, 1996, complaining of fatigue, diarrhea, mild stomach aches and occasional blood in his stools. Nevland also reported "something protruding above his belly-button now along the line of his incision." The doctor ordered a flexible sigmoidoscopy and a barium enema. AR at 180. No abnormalities were noted from either procedure. AR at 177.

The only opinions expressed regarding Nevland's residual functional capacity are from doctors who completed forms for Disability Determination Services, but who had never examined him. These doctors opined that Nevland is capable of lifting 20 pounds occasionally, and 10 pounds frequently. In addition, they opined that he can stand and/or walk, as well as sit, for six hours per day. They also opined that Nevland can occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl. AR at 208-09 and 216-17. Other doctors who had never examined or treated him, opined that Nevland does not...