# BYRD v. KIJAKAZI

> District Court, M.D. North Carolina · August 21, 2023

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10254370

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, M.D. North Carolina
- **Decided:** August 21, 2023
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA

WILLIAM B., )
Plaintiff,
v. 1:22CV86
KILOLO KIJAKAZI,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security, )
Defendant.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND RECOMMENDATION
OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff Willam B. (“Plaintiff’) brought this action pursuant to Section 205(g) of the
Social Security Act (the “Act”), as amended (42 U.S.C. § 405(g)), to obtain judicial review of a
final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying his claim for Disability
Insurance Benefits (“DIB”) under Title IT of the Act. The parties have filed cross-motions
for judgment, and the administrative record has been certified to the Court for review.
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Plaintiff filed an application for DIB alleging disability onset in September 2019. (T'r. at
21, 326.)! His application was denied initially (Tr. at 228-39, 248-51) and upon reconsideration
(Ir. at 240-47, 257-61). Thereafter, Plaintiff requested an administrative heating de novo
before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). (Tr. at 262-63.) On February 17, 2021, Plaintiff,
along with his attorney, attended the subsequent telephonic hearing, at which Plaintiff and an

impartial vocational expert testified. (Tr. at 21, 194.) Following the hearing, the AL]
concluded that Plaintiff was not disabled within the meaning of the Act (Tr. at 33), and on
December 3, 2021, the Appeals Council denied Plaintiffs request for review of that decision,
thereby making the AL]’s conclusion the Commissioner’s final decision for purposes of
judicial review (Tr. at 1-7).
I. LEGAL STANDARD
Federal law “authorizes judicial review of the Social Security Commissionet’s denial of
social security benefits.” Hines v. Barnhart, 453 F.3d 559, 561 (4th Cir. 2006). However, the
scope of review of such a decision is “extremely limited.” Frady v. Harris, 646 F.2d 143, 144
(4th Cir. 1981). “The courts ate not to try the case de novo.” Oppenheim v. Finch, 495 F.2d
396, 397 (4th Cir. 1974). Instead, “a reviewing court must uphold the factual findings of the
AL] if they ate supported by substantial evidence and were reached through application of the
correct legal standard.” Hancock v. Astrue, 667 F.3d 470, 472 (4th Cir. 2012) (internal brackets
and quotation omitted).
“Substantial evidence means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept
as adequate to support a conclusion.” Hunter v. Sullivan, 993 F.2d 31, 34 (4th Cir. 1993)
(internal quotation omitted). “It consists of more than a mere scintilla of evidence but may
be somewhat less than a preponderance.” Mastro v. Apfel, 270 F.3d 171, 176 (4th Cir. 2001)
(internal brackets and quotation omitted). “If there is evidence to justify a refusal to direct a
verdict were the case before a juty, then there is substantial evidence.” Hunter, 993 F.2d at 34
(internal quotation omitted).

“In reviewing for substantial evidence, the court should not undertake to re-weigh
conflicting evidence, make credibility determinations, or substitute its judgment for that of the
[AL]].” Mastro, 270 F.3d at 176 (internal brackets and quotation omitted). “Where conflicting
evidence allows reasonable minds to differ as to whether a claimant is disabled, the
responsibility for that decision falls on the ALJ.” Hancock, 667 F.3d at 472 (internal brackets
and quotation omitted). “The issue before [the reviewing court], therefore, is not whether [the
claimant] is disabled, but whether the ALJ’s finding that [the claimant] is not disabled 1s
supported by substantial evidence and was reached based upon a cortect application of the
relevant law.” Craig v. Chater, 76 F.3d 585, 589 (4th Cir. 1996).
In undertaking this limited review, the Court notes that “[a] claimant for disability
benefits beats the burden of proving a disability.” Hall v. Harris, 658 F.2d 260, 264 (4th Cir.
1981). In this context, “disability” means the “inability to engage in any substantial gainful
activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be
expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous
period of not less than 12 months.” Id. (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A)).?
“The Commissioner uses a five-step process to evaluate disability claims.” Hancock,
667 F.3d at 472 (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4), 416.920(a)(4)). “Under this process, the
Commissioner asks, in sequence, whether the claimant: (1) worked during the alleged period

“The Social Security Act comprises two disability benefits programs. ‘The Social Security Disability Lasurance
Program (SSDD, established by Title II of the Act as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 401 ef seg., provides benefits to
disabled persons who have contributed to the program while employed. The Supplemental Security Income
Program (SSI), established by ‘Title XVI of the Act as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 1381 ef seg., provides benefits to
indigent disabled persons. The statutory definitions and the regulations promulgated by the Sectetary for
determining disability, see 20 C.F.R. pt. 404 (SSDI; 20 CER. pt. 416 (SSI), governing these two programs ate,
in all aspects relevant here, substantively identical.” Craig, 76 F.3d at 589 n.1.

of disability; (2) had a severe impairment; (3) had an impairment that met or equaled the
requirements of a listed impairment; (4) could return to her past relevant work; and (5) if not,
could perform any other work in the national economy.” Id.
A finding adverse to the claimant at any of several points in this five-step sequence
forecloses a disability designation and ends the inquiry. For example, “[t]he first step
determines whether the claimant is engaged in ‘substantial gainful activity.’ If the claimant is
working, benefits are denied. The second step determines if the clatmant 1s ‘severely’ disabled.
If not, benefits are denied.” Bennett v. Sullivan, 917 F.2d 157, 159 (4th Cir. 1990).
On the other hand, if a claimant carries his or her burden at the first two steps, and if
the claimant’s impairment meets or equals a “listed impairment” at step three, the claimant is
disabled. Mastro, 270 F.3d at 177. Alternatively, if a claimant clears steps one and two, but
falters at step three, te., “[i]f a claimant’s impairment is not sufficiently severe to equal or
exceed a listed impairment,” then “the ALJ must assess the claimant’s residual functional
capacity (RFC’).” Id. at 179.2 Step four then requires the AL] to assess whether, based on
that RFC, the claimant can “perform past relevant work”; if so, the claimant does not qualify
as disabled. Id. at 179-80. However, if the claimant establishes an inability to return to prior
work, the analysis proceeds to the fifth step, which “requires the [Government] to prove that

3 “RFC is a measurement of the most a claimant can do despite [the claimant’s] limitations.” Hines, 453 F.3d
at 562 (noting that administrative regulations require RFC to reflect claimant’s “ability to do sustained work-
telated physical and mental activities in a work setting on a regular and continuing basis ... [which] means 8
hours a day, for 5 days a week, or an equivalent work schedule” (internal emphasis and quotation marks
omitted)). The RFC includes both a “physical exertional or strength limitation” that assesses the claimant’s
“ability to do sedentary, light, medium, heavy, or vety heavy work,” as well as “nonexertional limitations
(mental, sensory, or skin impairments).” Hall, 658 F.2d at 265. “RFC 1s to be determined by the AL] only after
[the AL]] considers all relevant evidence of a clatmant’s impairments and any telated symptoms (¢.2., pain).”
Hines, 453 F.3d at 562-63.

a significant number of jobs exist which the claimant could perform, despite [the claimant’s]
impairments.” Hines, 453 F.3d at 563. In making this determination, the ALJ must decide
“whether the claimant is able to perform other work considering both [the claimant’s RFC]
and [the claimant’s] vocational capabilities (age, education, and past work experience) to adjust
to a new job.” Hall, 658 F.2d at 264-65. If at this step, the Government cannot carry its
“evidentiary burden of proving that [the claimant] remains able to work other jobs available
in the community,” the claimant qualifies as disabled. Hines, 453 F.3d at 567.
IH. DISCUSSION
In the present case, the AL] found that Plaintiff had not engaged in “substantial gainful
activity” since his alleged onset date. The AL] therefore concluded that Plaintiff met his
burden at step one of the sequential evaluation process. (Tr. at 23.) At step two, the AL]
further determined that Plaintiff suffered from the following severe impairments:
obesity, affective disorder, anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD)
at 23.) The ALJ found at step three that none of these impairments, individually or in
combination, met or equaled a disability listing. (Tr. at 24-25.) Therefore, the AL] assessed
Plaintiffs RFC and determined that he could perform medium work with the following,
additional limitations:
no complex decision-making; no more than occasional changes tn work pace or
procedures; no sudden changes in work pace or procedures; sustaining attention
tn two-hour increments; occasionally interacti{ng] with the public, coworkers,
and supervisors; occasionally climbing ramps and stairs; frequently balancing,
stooping, kneeling crouching, and never climbing ladders, ropes, or scaffolds.
(Tr. at 25.) At step four of the analysis, the ALJ determined that all of Plaintiff's past relevant
work exceeded his RFC. (Tr. at 31.) However, the AL] found at step five that, given Plaintiffs

age, education, work experience, RFC, and the testimony of the vocational expert as to these
factors, he could perform other jobs available in significant numbers in the national economy.
(I'r. at 32-33.) Therefore, the AL] concluded that Plaintiff was not disabled under the Act.
(T'r. at 33.)
Plaintiff now contends that the ALJ failed “to properly consider all of the probative
evidence” regarding his mental limitations. (Pl’s Br. [Doc. #18] at 5.) In particular, Plaintiff
argues that, in assessing his RFC, the ALJ erred by failing to perform a function-by-function
evaluation of evidence relating to Plaintiffs absenteeism, unscheduled work breaks, and the
extent to which he could interact with others, despite persuastve medical opinion evidence
suggesting greater limitations. As Social Security Ruling (“SSR”) 96-8p instructs, “[t]he RFC
assessment must first identify the individual’s functional limitations or restrictions and assess
his or her work-related abilities on a function-by-function basis,” including the functions listed
in the regulations. Social Security Ruling 96-8p: Titles I] and XVI: Assessing Residual
Functional Capacity in Initial Claims, SSR 96-8p, 61 Fed. Reg. 34474, 34475 (July 2, 1996).
“Only after such a function-by-function analysis may an AL] express RFC in terms of the
exertional levels of work.” Montoe v. Colvin, 826 F.3d 176, 179 (4th Cir. 2016) (quotation
omitted). Further, the “RFC assessment must include a narrative discussion describing how
the evidence supports each conclusion, citing specific medical facts (e.g., laboratory findings)
and nonmedical evidence (e.g., daily activities, observations).” SSR 96-8p, 61 Fed. Reg. at
34478. An AL] must “both identify evidence that supports his conclusion and build an
accurate and logical bridge from that evidence to his conclusion.” Woods v. Berryhill, 888
F.3d 686, 694 (4th Cir. 2018) Gnternal brackets, emphases, and quotation omitted).

The Fourth Circuit has noted that a per se rule requiring remand when the ALJ does not
perform an explicit function-by-function analysis “is inappropriate given that remand would
prove futile in cases where the AL] does not discuss functions that are ‘irrelevant or
uncontested.”’ Mascio v. Colvin, 780 F.3d 632, 636 (4th Cir. 2015) (quoting Cichockt v.
Astrue, 729 F.3d 172, 177 (2d Cir. 2013) (per curiam)). Rather, remand may be appropriate
“whete an AL] fails to assess a claimant’s capacity to perform relevant functions, despite
contradictory evidence in the record, or where other inadequacies in the AL]’s analysis
frustrate meaningful review.” Mascio, 780 F.3d at 636 (quoting Cichochi, 729 F.3d at 177).
The court in Mascio concluded that remand was appropriate because it was “left to guess
about how the ALJ arrived at his conclusions on [the claimant’s] ability to perform relevant
functions” because the AL] had “said nothing about [the claimant’s] ability to perform them
for a full workday,” despite conflicting evidence as to the claimant’s RFC that the ALJ did not
address. Mascio, 780 F.3d at 637.
Here, as set out above, Plaintiff challenges the AL]’s analysis of evidence relating to
Plaintiffs absenteeism, unscheduled work breaks, and the extent to which he could interact
with others during the workday. In making this challenge, Plaintiff specifically argues that
medical opinion evidence includes limitations in these areas but was not ultimately
incorporated in Plaintiffs RFC. Specifically, Plaintiff points to opinion evidence from his
ptimary care provider, Dr. Stephen Hux, who opined that Plaintiffs PTSD-telated panic
attacks and anger issues “have caused him to miss a lot of work and have created job stress
which have made him unemployable.” (Tr. at 30, 1454.) The AL] considered this opinion
evidence and also recounted numerous work excuses and FMLA forms provided by Dr. Hux,

which suggested that Plaintiff “would require intermittent absences ranging from two to six
days per month.” (Tr. at 30, 426, 427, 432, 437, 440, 443, 451, 463, 468.) However, the AL]
further noted that the excuses and forms themselves were “not medical opinions as defined
by Agency regulations.” (Tr. at 30.)
More importantly, the AL] explained, at length, his reasons for finding Dr. Hux’s
overall opinion only “somewhat persuasive,” including his determination that “Dr. Hux’s
opinion is unsupported by his own treatment of [Plaintiff], which reflects conservative
management.” (Tr. at 30.) In addition, the ALJ found that Dr. Hux’s opinion was “somewhat
inconsistent with [Plaintiffs] declination of treatment with psychiatrist Pugh and his numerous
reports at Daymark Recovery Services that his new medications and group counseling services
were providing significant improvement of his symptoms.” (Tr. at 30.) In fact, as recounted
in the ALJ’s decision, the record is replete with evidence demonstrating both Plaintiff's
resistance to psychiatric care and his eventual improvement with treatment. (See Tr. at 27-
28.) From 2015 to 2019, Plaintiffs only treatment for anxiety and PTSD came in the form of
vatious medications prescribed by Dr. Hux. (Tr. at 27, 529, 552, 565, 568, 586, 592.) Notably,
treatment records from this time document Plaintiffs reluctance to establish care with a
mental health professional. (Tr. at 523,581.) Plaintiff was eventually referred to an examining
psychiatrist, Dr. Raeford Pugh, in February 2019, but according to treatment notes, Plaintiff
“declined to participate in intensive outpatient programming” for PTSD and instead “stated
that he would find an individual therapist to work with.” (Tr. at 27, 1170.) Dr. Pugh provided
the phone number of the Mood Treatment Center, but Plaintiff never established care. (T't.
at 27, 836-37, 840, 1170.) Although Plaintiff was treated in the emergency room at least twice

in 2019 for anxiety symptoms and reported problems with anxiety at work, he continued to
work until November 2019, and received no specialized mental health treatment until August
2020, when he established care with Daymark Recovery Services. (Tr. at 27, 1460-84.) At that
time, he reported having panic attacks several times per week as well as depressive symptoms.
(Tr. at 28, 1463, 1473.) Plaintiff began both medication management and group therapy at
Daymatk, both of which he characterized as helpful. (Tr. at 28, 1475, 1479.) Notably,
[alfter beginning medication management (z.¢., Sertraline, Prazosin, Trazodone,
and Hydroxyzine) in October 2020, [Plaintiff] reported improvement in his
anger, anxiety, sleep, nightmares, and panic attacks. In fact, he reported sleeping
six-to-eight hours per night; no panic attacks in the last two weeks; and a
decrease in nightmares. He reported walking outside every day, playing video
games, speaking with his daughter on Skype, and watching television. In
October 2020, he was contemporaneously observed having a well-groomed
appearance, cooperative and calm attitude, normal speech, normal behavior,
logical and goal-directed thoughts, average intelligence, intact memories, and no
perceptual disturbances. In fact, the only abnormality was a guarded affect.
[Plaintiff] also reported that attending therapy group was helpful. His mental
health provider, Marlene Hnilica, PMHNP, continued the claimant on his
current medications. She also diagnosed PTSD, panic disorder, and a persistent
depressive disorder.
By January 2021, Nurse Practitioner Hnilica [found that Plaintiff] had
expetienced improvements in nearly all symptoms. She specifically noted [that
Plaintiff] had “good relief’ of his anxiety and that “many of his PTSD
symptoms have decreased.” [Plaintiff] continued to report that group therapy
was helping, decreased nightmares, improved irtitability/anger, and having only
residual depressive symptoms. Nurse Practitioner Hnilica increased Sertraline
from 75 milligrams to 100 milligrams and advised [Plaintiff] to follow-up
monthly. She noted that Wellbutrin may need to be added to improve
[PlaintifPs] low motivation and low energy. A contemporaneous exam
confirmed entirely normal findings, including the laughing at times, which was
an improvement from the only abnormality on the prior exam in October 2020
(.e., a guarded affect).
(Tr. at 28) (citations omitted) (citing Tr. at 1479, 1481, 1483). Nurse Hnilica also noted that
Plaintiff continued to serve as the “primary caretaker of his dementia-affected mother.” (Tr.

at 28.) These records not only support the AL]’s rationale for finding Dr. Hux’s opinion only
“somewhat persuasive”; they independently provide evidence that, even if Plaintiffs
symptoms initially provided a basis for unscheduled work breaks and/or excessive absences,
his subsequent treatment and improvement rendered these limitations unnecessary.* The ALJ
summarized his reasoning as follows:
In short, the medical evidence reflects [that Plaintiff] was conservatively
managed through his primary care, who noted the claimant was resistant to
mental health treatment, and the claimant did not establish specialized care until
August 2020 through Daymark Recovery Services, as cited above. Once he
began his new medication regimen and counseling services by October [2020],
[Plaintiff] reported significant improvement, as cited above. In addition,
psychiatric exams and primary care examinations routinely revealed normal
mental status findings, less disturbances of mood and/or affect. ...

... [PlaintifPs] reports further erode [Plaintiff's] alleged degtee of limitation
(SSR 16-3p). For example, [Plaintiff] reported moving his mother into his home
and taking care of her because she has dementia. He also reported
independently performing his activities of daily living.
(Tr. at 31) (citation omitted). ‘Thus, the decision reflects that the ALJ considered and addressed
all of the evidence, including Dr. Hux’s opinion evidence, and to the extent Plaintiff relies on
the opinions and forms from Dr. Hux to contend that his panic attacks would result in work-
pteclusive absences and breaks, those opinions and forms were considered and rejected by the

4 Indeed, the medical records cited by the AL] reflect that in October 2020, Plaintiff reported he had not had a
panic attack for two weeks and could “take]] the hydroxyzine which helps when he feels one coming on.” (Tr.
at 1473-75). In January 2021 he confirmed he was having only “mini panic attacks” once or twice a week when
he felt anxiety coming on, but he took the hydroxyzine as needed for this with good relief, with no full-blown
panic attacks. (Tr. at 1481-83.) Plaintiff cites to medical records prior to and at the initiation of his mental
health treatment, but as noted above, the ALJ found that the record reflected significant improvement once he
had begun mental health treatment.
In addition, as noted by Defendant, the record reflects that at the time of the AL]’s decision in April 2021,
Plaintiff had not seen Dr. Hux since October 2019, so Dr. Hux’s opinions would not have reflected this
improvement with mental health treatment in 2020 and early 2021.

10

AL] in light of the record reflecting only conservative treatment, Plaintiffs tnitial refusal to get
mental health treatment, and Plaintiffs ultimate improvement once he obtained mental health
treatment, as discussed above. (Tr. at 27-28.)9 Ultimately, the AL]’s decision, as a whole,
sufficiently explained his reasons for not adopting Dr. Hux’s restrictions as part of the RFC
assessment.®
Plaintiffs second argument finds greater support in the record, but ultimately fails to
provide a basis for remand. As noted above, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff could
occasionally interact with coworkers, supervisors, and the public. (I'r. at 25.) Again citing
medical opinion evidence, Plaintiff now contends that the opinion evidence supports more
stringent social limitations. Notably, the ALJ summarized the State agency psychological
consultants’ findings as follows:
[Plaintiff] was limited to simple tasks with “minimal” demands relating to
supetvisors and coworkers, adapting to routine workplace changes, and never
interacting with the general public.
(Tr. at 30) (citing Tr. at 236, 244). This summary reflects the conclusion of the State agency
consultant at the initial review. (Ir. at 236) (“Claimant able to sustain the minimal demands
associated with relating adequately with supervisors/co-workers. Unable to interact
apptoptiately with the general public.”). The summary also generally reflects the conclusion

° To the extent Plaintiff also cites to the opinion evidence from the consultative examiner, Dr. Gray, the AL]
found that opinion persuasive and similarly noted that Dr. Gray’s “opinion regarding [Plainuff’s] prognosis of
improvement with therapy is consistent with [Plaintiffs] significant smprovement once establishing same and
specialized psychiatric care through Daymark Recovery Setvices in 2020 and 2021.” (Tr. at 29-30.)
Instead, in setting the RFC, the AL] relied on the opinions of the state agency physicians that Plaintiff could
sustain work activity with stress-related limitations, and the ALJ included restrictions to no complex decision-
making, no more than occasional changes in work pace or procedures, no sudden changes in work pace or
procedures, and only occasional interaction with the public, coworkers, and supervisors to address those stress-
related limitations. (Tr. at 25, 30-31.)
11

of the State agency consultant at the reconsideration level, although the conclusion on
reconsideration did not include any specific limitations regarding the general public. (Tr. at
243) (“[C]laimant retains the capacity to perform basic tasks and relate with others well enough
for routine workplace purposes.”). In any event, regardless of whether the consultants’
findings conflict with each other regarding interaction with the public, the initial State agency
restriction to no interaction with the general public remains at odds with the ALJ’s conclusion
that Plaintiff could occasionally interact with the public-(compare Tr. at 236, 244), raising some
question whether the ALJ overstated Plaintiffs ability to interact with the general public. That
discrepancy was not directly addressed by the ALJ. Moreover, on review of the administrative
hearing transcript, it does not appear that the ALJ included social restrictions of any kind when
questioning the vocational expert. (See Tr. at 220-25.) Fortunately, Plaintiffs attorney and
the expert later engaged in the following colloquy:
Q For those jobs that were mentioned, how much interaction is required
between coworkers?
A Let’s see, laundry laborer, a few—maybe occasional. Maybe
occasional for laundry laborer. So that person is basically in the laundry most
of the day. Now food service worker, that person could have contact with the
public and other coworkers, a food service worker, that could be frequent
contact with coworkets and maybe occasional contact with the public. Now,
dishwasher, there could be very little contact with the—no contact with the
public and maybe occasional contact with coworkers.
(Tr. at 225.)
Based on the above, the position of food service worker clearly exceeds the social
limitations included in the RFC, and the AL] did not include it as a representative occupation
at step five. (Ir. at 32.) The ALJ instead relied on the positions of dishwasher and laundry
laborer. (I't. at 32.) Notably, because the expert failed to define the level of public interaction
12

for the job of laundry laborer, there may be some question whether there is sufficient evidence
regarding Plaintiffs ability to perform this job. However, the job of dishwasher was defined
by the vocational expert as involving “no contact with the public and maybe occasional contact
with coworkers” and, even as a lone job title, is available in substantial numbers in the national
economy. (Tr. at 224-25.) Accordingly, the expert’s further testimony renders harmless both
(1) the ALJ’s error in questioning the vocational expert at step five, and (2) the ALJ’s error, if
any, in overstating Plaintiff's ability to interact with the public when formulating the RFC.
In a related argument, Plaintiff points to the State agency consultants’ use of the term
“minimal” as evidence that Plaintiff could only interact with co-workers and supervisors “less
than” occasionally. (Pl.’s Br. at 9.) However, the State agency consultants’ opinions stated, in
full, that Plaintiff was “able to sustain the minimal demands associated with relating adequately
with supervisors/co-workers,” indicating that Plaintiff could, in fact, relate “adequately.” (Tr.
at 236, 244.) Moreover, the psychological consultant on initial review noted that even with
Plaintiffs social interaction limitations, “[o]verall, on a mental basis, [Plainiff] retains the
capacity to perform basic tasks and relate with others well enough for routine workplace
purposes” (Tr. at 233), and the psychological consultant on reconsideration, April Strobel-
Nuss, PsyD, specifically explained that Plaintiff could “relate with others well enough for
routine workplace purposes” (I'r. at 243), again indicating that the consultants equated
“minimal” with at least “occasional” interaction. In short, the ALJ’s interpretation of
“minimal” is both a plain language reading of the opinions and consistent with the record as
whole. Finally, to the extent that the ALJ failed to communicate any social limitations to the
vocational expert, as discussed above, the expert’s later clarification that the job of dishwasher

13

only required “maybe occasional contact with coworkers” again renders the ALJ’s error
harmless at step five of the sequential analysis. (T'r. at 225.)
IT IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED that the Commissioner’s decision finding
no disability be AFFIRMED, that PlaintifPs Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. #17] be
DENIED, that Defendant's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings [Doc. #20] be
GRANTED, and that this action be DISMISSED with prejudice.
This, the 21st day of August, 2023.
/s/ Joi Flizabeth Peake
United States Magistrate Judge

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10254370. Public record. Not legal advice.