Robinson v. Sullivan, 91-2433

• Decision Date: 12 February 1992
• Docket Number: No. 91-2433,91-2433
• Citation: 956 F.2d 836
• Parties: , Unempl.Ins.Rep. (CCH) P 16463A, 2 NDLR P 232 Corkie R. ROBINSON, Appellant, v. Louis W. SULLIVAN, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Appellee.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit

Page 836

956 F.2d 836

36 Soc.Sec.Rep.Ser. 377, Unempl.Ins.Rep. (CCH) P 16463A,

2 NDLR P 232

Corkie R. ROBINSON, Appellant, v. Louis W. SULLIVAN, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Appellee.

No. 91-2433.

United States Court of Appeals Eighth Circuit.

Submitted Dec. 13, 1991.

Decided Feb. 12, 1992.

Julie Frank, Omaha, Neb., argued, for appellant.

Daniel Morris, Asst. U.S. Atty., Omaha, Neb., argued, for appellee.

Before JOHN R. GIBSON, Circuit Judge, FRIEDMAN, ^* Senior Circuit Judge, and MAGILL, Circuit Judge.

MAGILL, Circuit Judge.

Appellant Corkie R. Robinson appeals the denial of his claims for Social Security disability insurance benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits. Robinson, a butcher by trade, filed his claim on December 9, 1987, alleging he had been unable to work since August 16, 1984, because of back and neck injuries sustained when he was twisted among beef carcasses at a processing plant.

Robinson's initial claim and his motion for reconsideration were denied. He sought and was granted a hearing before an administrative law judge, who disallowed Robinson's claim. The Appeals Council rejected Robinson's request for review, making the ALJ's determination the final decision of the Secretary. Robinson filed suit in federal district court challenging the Secretary's decision. The district court ¹ found that the ALJ's denial of benefits was supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole. We affirm.

I.

Robinson asserts three errors on appeal: (1) the ALJ improperly discredited Robinson's claim that pain related to his physical injuries renders him disabled; (2) the ALJ failed to account for Robinson's non-exertional impairments and, therefore, erroneously applied the Medical-Vocational Guidelines without eliciting testimony from a vocational expert; and (3) the ALJ erred in failing to find Robinson disabled because Robinson is in need of retraining.

Our review of the agency decision is limited to whether there is substantial evidence on the record as a whole to support the Secretary's decision. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (1988); Russell v. Sullivan, 950 F.2d 542, 544 (8th Cir.1991). This requires us to do more than merely parse the record for substantial evidence supporting the Secretary's decision. We also must consider evidence in the record that detracts from the weight of the decision. Substantial evidence is less than a preponderance, but enough so that a reasonable mind might find it adequate to support the conclusion. Therefore, if it is possible to draw two inconsistent positions from the evidence and one of those positions represents the agency's findings, we must affirm the decision. Cruse v. Bowen, 867 F.2d 1183, 1184 (8th Cir.1989).

Robinson testified at his October 7, 1988, administrative hearing that he was then forty-four years old, had a ninth grade education, and had last worked on August 16, 1984. Robinson stated he experiences severe back and neck pain, testicle pain, pain in his hip joint, and pain and tingling in his right leg. He takes Motrin for his back pain, and Cipro ² for his testicle infection.

Robinson testified that he has difficulty lifting more than ten pounds, walking more than one block, standing for more than ten minutes, sitting for more than fifteen minutes, and alternating standing and sitting for more than twenty-five minutes; has decreased grip strength; and has difficulty stooping, bending, climbing, and reaching. He testified that pain forces him to lie down two to three times every day for a total of two to three hours. He said his days consist of driving his daughter to school, watching television and lying down. He testified that he is unable to contribute to housework. Robinson's wife, Jewel, also testified and corroborated the testimony as to his limitations and restrictions.

After reviewing the testimony and medical evidence, the ALJ followed the sequential evaluation process set forth at 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520 and 416.920 (1991). ³ The ALJ specifically found that Robinson was afflicted with the following severe impairments: (1) cervical and lumbosacral strain; (2) epididymitis; (3) bone scan evidence of mild kyphoscoliosis with nonuniformity of upper lumbar vertebral body; and (4) mild scoliosis of the lumbar spine and moderate diffuse bulging at L4-5 and L3-4 with probable small central disc protrusion.

Further, the ALJ found that Robinson's impairments did not singly or in combination medically equal any of the impairments qualifying a person for disability under the Guidelines. 20 C.F.R. § 404, Subpart P, App. 1 (1991). The ALJ, however, determined that Robinson would be unable to perform his past relevant work as a butcher. Nevertheless, the ALJ found that Robinson had the residual functional capacity to perform the full range of light and sedentary work. ⁴ Therefore, the ALJ ruled that Robinson was not disabled.

The ALJ further ruled that Robinson's subjective complaints of pain, as well as the testimony of Jewel Robinson, were not credible. Correspondingly, the ALJ gave no weight and consideration to pain as a non-exertional impairment limiting Robinson's residual functional capacity to perform light and sedentary work. The ALJ, therefore, relied exclusively on the Guidelines in determining Robinson's capacity to do work in the national economy.

A. Application of Polaski Factors

Robinson asserts the ALJ improperly applied the Eighth Circuit standard in discrediting his subjective complaints of pain. An ALJ may not reject a claimant's subjective complaints of pain solely on the basis of personal observations. Polaski v. Heckler, 739 F.2d 1320, 1322 (8th Cir.), supplemented, 751 F.2d 943 (8th Cir.1984), vacated, 476 U.S. 1167, 106 S.Ct. 2885, 90 L.Ed.2d 974 (1986), adhered to on remand, 804 F.2d 456 (8th Cir.1986), cert. denied, 482 U.S. 927, 107 S.Ct. 3211, 96 L.Ed.2d 698 (1987). Rather, the ALJ must make express credibility determinations and set forth on the record inconsistencies that lead to this conclusion.

The ALJ specifically must consider the claimant's prior work record, as well as observations by third parties regarding: (1) daily activities; (2) the duration, frequency and intensity of pain; (3) precipitating and aggravating factors; (4) dosage, effectiveness and side effects of medication; and (5) functional restrictions. Polaski, 739 F.2d at 1322. Credibility determinations must be supported by substantial evidence. Rautio v. Bowen, 862 F.2d 176, 179 (8th Cir.1988).

While there is little doubt that Robinson experiences pain, the question we must address is whether the pain is so severe that he cannot perform any light or sedentary work. Russell, 950 F.2d at 545. The record is clear that the ALJ considered the Polaski factors before finding Robinson's complaints of disabling pain exaggerated and not credible. We find that the ALJ's determination is supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole.

The ALJ first found that Robinson's work record was somewhat inconsistent after 1972. Robinson's vocational report shows that while he was not injured until 1984, he did not work at all from 1973 to 1977.

The ALJ also considered the duration, frequency and intensity of pain, as well as precipitating and aggravating factors. While Robinson claims his pain is constant and disabling, the record reveals that Dr. Saporta, the initial treating physician, reported that as a result of a request from the patient, he released Robinson to work on October 17, 1984, two months after the accident. Similarly, Robinson asked Dr. Kratochvil on May 9, 1985, to be allowed to return to work. Kratochvil released Robinson for work on May 13, 1985. Dr. Tribulato reported on December 11, 1985, that although Robinson should not return to heavy work, he was suitable for retraining for other employment. Robinson's vocational evaluator remarked on November 25, 1985, that Robinson's only medical restrictions were to seek lighter work.

Moreover, the ALJ found and the record reveals that Robinson made no complaints of neck pain between January of 1986 and February of 1988. When he was treated at the University of Nebraska Medical Center on March 6, 1988, he complained of pain associated with his testicles, but did not complain of neck pain.

The ALJ also considered the dosage, effectiveness and side effects of medication and treatment. All doctors who treated Robinson for back and neck pain prescribed conservative treatment, including physical therapy, muscle relaxants, heat and sound treatments, and pain relievers. The record reveals no evidence that Robinson sought more aggressive treatment. Robinson testified that pain relievers relieved his pain somewhat and only occasionally caused a slight queasiness in his stomach. The record also reveals that Robinson told Dr. Mathews at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in May of 1988 that Motrin helped his back pain, but he did not take it regularly. Moreover, Robinson told his vocational counselor in January of 1986 that he was not taking any pain medication.

Based on this evidence, the ALJ certainly could conclude that Robinson's treatment history as well as medical testimony of his treating physicians contradict his claims of disabling pain. See Thomas v. Sullivan, 928 F.2d 255, 259 (8th Cir.1991); Benskin v. Bowen, 830 F.2d 878, 884 (8th Cir.1987) (treatment by hot showers and taking doses of Advil and aspirin do not indicate disabling pain); Cruse, 867 F.2d at 1187 (minimal consumption of pain medication reveals lack of disabling pain); Rautio, 862 F.2d at 179 (failure to seek aggressive treatment and limited use of prescription medications not suggestive of disabling back pain).

Moreover, Robinson's requests to return to work belie the account of his daily activities. The fact that Robinson sought to return to work in October of 1984 and May of 1985 contradicts statements about his inability to perform housework. Robinson's testimony as to his daily...