Summary
determining that a mental impairment questionnaire submitted to the Appeals Council was not new because the doctor based her questionnaire responses on her earlier treatment of the claimant, and those treatment notes were already contained in the record and considered by the ALJ
Summary of this case from Belton v. ColvinOpinion
No. 5:12-CV-775-D
03-17-2014
JEFF E. SAUNDERS, Plaintiff, v. CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant.
ORDER
On February 14, 2014, Magistrate Judge Jones issued a Memorandum and Recommendation ("M&R") [D.E. 29]. In that M&R, Judge Jones recommended that the court deny plaintiff s motion for judgment on the pleadings [D.E. 22], grant defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings [D.E. 24], and affirm defendant's final decision. On February 28, 2014, plaintiff filed objections to the M&R [D.E. 30]. On March 14, 2014, defendant responded [D.E. 31].
"The Federal Magistrates Act requires a district court to make a de novo determination of those portions of the [magistrate judge's] report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made." Diamond v. Colonial Life & Accident Ins. Co. , 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005) (alteration in original) (emphasis and quotation omitted); see 28 U.S.C. §636(b). Absent a timely objection, "a district court need not conduct a de novo review, but instead must only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record in order to accept the recommendation." Diamond, 416 F.3d at 315 (quotation omitted).
The court has reviewed the M&R, the record, and plaintiff's objections. As for those portions of the M&R to which plaintiff made no objection, the court is satisfied that there is no clear error on the face of the record.
The court has reviewed de novo the portions of the M&R to which plaintiff objected. The scope of judicial review of a final decision regarding disability benefits under the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), is limited to determining whether substantial evidence supports the Commissioner's factual findings and whether the Commissioner applied the correct legal standards. See, e.g., Walls v. Barnhart, 296 F.3d 287, 290 (4th Cir. 2002); Hays v. Sullivan, 907 F.2d 1453, 1456 (4th Cir. 1990). Substantial evidence is evidence which a reasonable mind "might accept as sufficient to support a conclusion." Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971) (quotation omitted). It "consists of more than a mere scintilla of evidence but may be less than a preponderance." Smith v. Chater, 99 F.3d 635, 638 (4th Cir. 1996). This court may not reweigh the evidence or substitute its judgment for that of the Commissioner. See, e.g., Hays, 907 F.2d at 1456. Rather, in determining whether substantial evidence supports the Commissioner's decision, the court's review is limited to whether the Commissioner analyzed the relevant evidence and sufficiently explained her findings and rationale concerning the evidence. See, e.g., Sterling Smokeless Coal Co. v. Akers, 131 F.3d 438, 439-40 (4th Cir. 1997).
Plaintiff's objections restate the arguments made to Judge Jones. See [D.E. 23] 7-9. Essentially, plaintiff again attacks the ALJ's analysis of the formal functional capacity evaluation and the RFC, the ALJ's analysis of plaintiff's abilities, and the ALJ's analysis at step three and step five. However, both Judge Jones and the ALJ applied the proper legal standard. Moreover, substantial evidence supports the ALJ's analysis. See [D.E. 29], Accordingly, the court adopts the M&R and overrules the objections.
In sum, plaintiff's objections to the M&R [D.E. 30] are OVERRULED, plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings [D.E. 22] is DENIED, defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings [D.E. 24] is GRANTED, defendant's final decision is AFFIRMED, and this action is DISMISSED. The clerk shall close the case.
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JAMES C. DEVER III
Chief United States District Judge