■Plaintiff Rachelle R. Daniels • brought this action , seeking review of the Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of her application for disability benefits. Complaint, filed Aug. 15, 2Q16 (Docket #4) (“Compl.”), Both Daniels and the Commissioner have now cross-moved for judgment on the pleadings, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c).
I. BACKGROUND
A.Procedural History
Daniels applied for disability insurance benefits on June 24, 2009. SSA Administrative Record, filed Nov. 14, 2016 (Docket # 11) (“R.”), at 146-47. The Social Security Administration denied Daniels’ application on August 27, 2009. R. 86-90. Daniels then requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) to review this denial, R. 98-99, and a hearing was held on June 4, 2010, during which Daniels was represented by an attorney, R. 36-79. In a December 10, 2010, decision, the ALJ found that Daniels was not disabled. R. 16-26. Daniels sought administrative review of the ALJ’s decision on December 23, 2010, R. 32, which was denied, R. 1-3.
On July 17, 2012, Daniels brought a federal civil action against the Commissioner of Social Security seeking review. See Complaint, dated July 13, 2012 (Docket # 1 in Daniels v. Astrue, 12 Civ. 5607). By stipulation of the parties, the case was remanded to the Commissioner. See Stipulation and Order, dated June 25, 2013 (Docket # 26 in Daniels v. Astrue, 12 Civ. 5507); Judgment, dated June 27, 2013 (Docket # 27 in Daniels v. Astrue, 12 Civ. 5507). The Commissioner then remanded the case to the ALJ who had issued the disability determination. R. 831-35; R. 737.
The ALJ held a second hearing on December 13, 2013, during which Daniels was represented by an attorney. R. 737-71. In a written decision dated June 3, 2014, the ALJ found that Daniels was disabled starting on April 11, 2012, but not before that date. R. 717-30. Daniels sought Appeals Council review of this decision on July 1, 2014. R. 881. Review was denied on June 21, 2016, making the June 3, 2014, ALJ decision the Commissioner’s final disability determination, R. 707-13. Daniels brought this action on August 15, 2016, to review that decision. Compl. at 1-4.
B. Daniels’ Medical Record
Daniels and the Commissioner have each provided a summary of the relevant evidence contained in the administrative record. See Pl. Mem. at 1-16; Def. Mem. at 2-25. The Court adopts the parties’ summaries, which do not conflict in any material way, as accurate and complete for purposes of the issues raised in this suit. We note further that neither party objected to the other party’s summary of the record, and the Court’s Order of November 15, 2016, had required the parties to make any such objections. Scheduling Order, filed Nov. 15, 2016 (Docket # 12), ¶ 5.
C. The Hearing Before the ALJ
At Daniels’ 2013 hearing, the ALJ confirmed with Daniels’ attorney that the record was complete. R. 740. Daniels’ attorney then gave an opening statement summarizing Daniels’ work history, the nature of her injuries, and the status of her limitations. R. 740-43. The attorney stated that Daniels was a corrections officer for New York City who retired in October 2007 after injuring her back and right leg on March 31, 2007. R. 740-41. She then worked for a children’s home where she sustained injuries to her left hand or wrist on June 28, 2008, and September 16, 2008. R. 741-42. She got another job “providing services to our military troops,” where she was in a “facility”
Daniels testified that her symptoms had worsened since the last hearing before the ALJ, which was held on June 4, 2010. R. 744. Daniels had no relief from the pain in her back and knee. See R. 745. She experienced pain “[mjost of the time,” in her neck, arms, lower back, and knees. R. 748. Further, Daniels had “no use of [her] left arm most of the time,” and her left hand' was “numb half the time.” R. 751. Daniels felt weak and had trouble sleeping because of the pain. R. 751-52. A surgery performed on Daniels’ knee brought no. relief, and injections only helped for “a brief moment” lasting “[m]aybe three[ or] four days.” R. 745. Similarly, physical therapy did not help Daniels’ condition. See id. With the help of her attorney, Daniels clarified that she had had “a partial medial meniscectomy to both [her] right and [her] left kneefc].” R. 746.
In her own estimation, Daniels could only sit comfortably “[f]or about 30 to 40 minutes, before [she] start[ed] feeling a strain and irritability.” R. 752. Apparently Daniels’ treating physician said that surgery could not help this discomfort. Id. Daniels also said that she was in so much pain that she could barely walk, and would find herself limping, then “kneeling over” anytime she tried to walk long distances. See R. 752-53. Doctors diagnosed a “nerve condition” in Daniels’ fingers, which experienced “numbness and tingling.” See R. 753. Daniels also saw a physician, Dr. Na-sir, for headaches. R. 757.
Daniels attended continuing, recurrent ’ evaluative doctors’ appointments every six weeks with Drs. Cortez and 'Cabatu. See R. 755-56. Because Daniels’ knee condition worsened despite “surgeries and physical therapy, injections, all kinds of things over the years,” she had to see a new treating physician, Dr. Martin. See R. 757. In addition to these recurring problems, Daniels had a hysterectomy scheduled at the time of her hearing testimony because of “really bad” pain and discomfort from fibroids. R. 758. In order to manage the various causes of her pain, Daniels took Vicodin, which resulted in dizziness and drowsiness. See R. 763.
At the time of the hearing, Daniels was not working. R. 748-49. Daniels had worked on Rikers Island as a corrections officer, see R. 749-50, but had to stop because she was injured, R. 750. Afterward she began a job as a counselor. R. 750. Daniels testified that she lived with her ten-year-old son, who had ADHD, and that it was them “against the world,” see R. 746-47, 753-54, though at least one friend and Daniels’ other sons also helped her at times, see R. 747. Additionally, a neighbor would occasionally help with grocery shopping. R. 753. Daniels traveled to doctors’ appointments and was capable* of handling household finances. R. 754, 756. Daniels also testified about the conditions and requirements of her previous jobs. R. 759-62. Daniels is right-handed. R. 749. At the time of the hearing, Daniels had received her GED. Id.
' After completing examination of Daniels, the ALJ questioned a vocational expert (“VE”) about potential jobs available to Daniels in the national economy. The ALJ presented a hypothetical worker to the VE who had a “residual functional capacity ... to sit for 6 hours out of an 8-hour day, standing ánd walking 6 out of 8,” who could “[l]ift[ ] and carry[ ] 20 pounds occasionally, 10 pounds more frequently,” with “[o]nly occasional lower extremity push/ pull,” in a job requiring “[n]o ropes, ladders or scaffolds,” “[occasional stairs and ramps,” and “[n]o kneeling” or “crawling.” R.- 766. Additionally, this hypothetical worker could perform “frequent overhead
The ALJ then gave a-second hypothetical, with a worker who could sit "six out of eight” hours a day; could stand and walk “two out of eight” hours a day; was limited to- lifting and carrying ten pounds; could perform “no lower extremity .push/ pull activities”; could not use “ropes, ladders, scaffolds, stairs or ramps”; could occasionally balance and stoop, but could not kneel, crouch, or crawl; had the ability to perform “frequent overhead distance and directional reaching” as well as “frequent bilateral manual dexterity,” including “gripping, handling, dexterity and fingering.” See R. 767. The VE testified that such a worker could not perform any of Daniels’ past work, but that there were unskilled jobs within the national economy that such a person could perform, specifically: • (1) surveillance -system monitor, with 81,290 such jobs nationally; (2) identification/security clerk, with 139,200 such jobs nationally; and (3) telephone order clerk, with 208,800 such jobs nationally. R. 767-68. These jobs were not. exhaustive, but merely representative of the type of work a person with such a residual functional capacity could perform. See R. 768. The ALJ then changed the hypothetical to require all of the same limitations, but with the additional conditions that the worker would be off task for 15 percent of the workday and would miss two days of work per month. Id. The VE did, not believe there were any jobs nationally for such a worker. R. 768-69.
D. The ALJ’s Decision '
The ALJ partially granted and partially denied Daniels’ .application for,benefits in a written decision on June 3, 2014, finding that Daniels was disabled starting on April 11, 2012, but not before that date. R. 717— 30.
The ALJ began' by noting that Daniels met “the insured status requirements of the Social Security Act” through the date of- the hearing and had “not engaged in substantial gainful activity since the alleged onset date” of September 16, 2008. R. 719. The ALJ also found that Daniels had several “severe impairments” since September 16, 2008, including “degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees[,j and- median entrapment neuropa-thy.” Id. Further, the ALJ found an additional severe impairment that had only affected Daniels since April 11, 2012, namely “cervical radiculitis.” R. 719-20. Even with this additional severe impairment, however, the ALJ found that no “impairment or combination of impairments [met] or medically equaled] the severity of one of the listed impairments in 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1.” R, 720. In making this finding, the ALJ considered “Listing 1.04(A) (disorders of the spine),” “Listing 1.02(A) (major dysfunction.of a joint),” “Listing 11.08 (spinal cord . or - nerve root lesions, due to any cause),” and “Listing. 11.04(B) (significant and persistent disorganization of motor function in two extremities).” Id.
The ALJ then considered Daniels’ residual functional capacity and her ability to perform work, both before and after April 11, 2012. For both periods, the ALJ noted that Daniels was unable to perform any past relevant work, was a younger individual, and had at least a high school education. R. 728. Prior to April 11, 2012, the ALJ found that Daniels had the residual functional capacity
to perform light work ... with ability to sit six to eight hours, stand and. walk two hours out of an 8 hour, workday, lift*771 and carry 10 pounds except she cannot push or pull with the lower extremities, cannot climb ropes, ladders, scaffolds, stairs or ramps, she can occasionally balance or stoop, cannot kneel, crouch or crawl, but can, perform frequent overhead distance or directional reaching and frequent' bilateral manual dexterity tasks, including gripping, handling, dexterity and fingering. ;
R. 720-26. Based on this, the ALJ considered the Medical-Vocational Guidelines in conjunction with the testimony of the VE, and found that “there were jobs that existed in significant numbers in the national economy that the claimant could have performed” prior to April 11, 2012. R. 728-29. Such jobs were “Surveillance System Monitor,” “Identification/Security Clerk,” and “Telephone Order Clerk”.R. 729.
The ALJ’s residual functional capacity determination for Daniels as of April 11, 2012, and onward was different. While the ALJ determined that Daniels could “perform sedentary. work ... except limited to occasional bilateral manual dexterity and reaching tasks,” he found that Daniels “would be off task for approximately 15% of an eight-hour workday, and would miss two days of work per month.” R. 726-28. Because of the additional limitations starting on April 11, 2012, the ALJ concluded that there were “no jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy” that Daniels could have performed, beginning on that date. R. 729-30. Thus, Daniels “was not disabled prior to April 11, 2012, but became disabled on that date and ha[d] continued to be disabled through the date of [the ALJ’s] decision.” R. 730.
II. GOVERNING STANDARDS OF LAW
A. Scope of Judicial Review Under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g)
A court reviewing a final decision by the Commissioner “is limited to determining whether the [Commissioner’s] conclusions were supported by substantial evidence-in the record and were based on a correct legal standard.” Selian v. Astrue,
“Even where the administrative record may also adequately support contrary findings on particular issues,, the ALJ’s factual findings must be given conclusive effect so long as they are supported by substantial evidence.” Genier v. Astrue,
B. Standard Governing Evaluation of Disability Claims by the Agency
The Social Security Act defines the term “disability” as 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.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). A person will be found to be disabled only if it is determined that his “impairment or impairments are of such severity that he is not only unable to do his previous work but cannot, considering his age, education, and work experience, engage in any other kind of substantial gainful work which exists in the national economy.” Id. § 423(d)(2)(A).
To evaluate a claim' of disability, the Commissioner is required to examine: “(1) the objective'medical facts; (2) diagnoses or medical opinions based on such facts; (3) subjective evidence of pain or disability testified to by the claimant or others; and (4) the claimant’s educational background, age, and work experience.” Mongeur v. Heckler,
Regulations issued pursuant to the Social Security Act set forth a. five-step process that the'Commissioner must úse in evaluating a disability claim. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4); see also Burgess,
C. The “Treating Source” Rule-
In general, the ALJ must give “more weight to medical opinions” from a claimant’s treating sources when determining if the claimant is disabled. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2); see also Halloran v. Barnhart,
If the ALJ does not give controlling weight to a treating physician’s opinion, the ALJ must provide “good reasons” for the weight given to that opinion or face remand. See Greek v. Colvin,
D.i Credibility.Determinations
“It is the function of the [Com-inissidner], not [the reviewing court], to resolve' evidentiary conflicts and to appraise the credibility of witnesses, including - the claimant.” Carroll v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs.,
When determining a claimant’s [residual functional capacity], the ALJ is required to take the claimant’s reports of pain and other limitations into account, 20 C.F.R. § 416.929; see McLaughlin v. Sec’y of Health, Educ. & Welfare,612 F.2d 701 , 704-05 (2d Cir. 1980), but is not required to accept the claimant’s subjective complaints without question; he may exercise discretion in weighing the credibility of the claimant’s testimo•ny in light of the other evidence in the record. Marcus v. Califano,615 F.2d 23 , 27 (2d Cir. 1979).
Genier,
At the first step, the ALJ must decide whether the claimant suffers from a medically determinable impairment that could reasonably be expected to produce the ■ symptoms alleged. 20 .C.F.R. § 404.1529(b). That requirement stems from the fact that subjective assertions of pain alone cannot ground a finding of disability. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529(a). If the claimant' does suffer from such • an impairment, at the second step, the ALJ must consider “the extent to which [the claimant’s] symptoms can reasonably be accepted as consistent with the objective medical evidence and other evidence” of record. Id. The ALJ must consider “[statements [the claimant] or others make about [his] impairment(s), [his] restrictions, [his] daily activities, [his] efforts to ■ work, or any other relevant statements [he] make[s] to medical sources during the course of examination or treatment, or to [the agency] during interviews, on applications, in letters, and , in testimony in [its] administrative proceedings.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1512(b)(3); see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529(a); S.S.R. 96-7p.
Genier,
'' The SSA has issued regulations relating to reports of pain or other symptoms affecting the ability to work by a claimant' for disability ' benefits. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1529(c). These regulations provide, inter alia,' that the SSA “will not reject [a claimant’s] statements about the intensity and persistence of [his] pain or other symptoms' or about the effect [his] symptoms have on [his] ability to work solely because the available objective medical evidence does not substantiate [his] statements.” Id. '§ 404.1529(c)(2). The regulations also provide that the SSA “will consider whether there are any inconsistencies in the evidence and the ex
Where an ALJ rejects witness testimony as not credible, the basis for the finding “must ... be set forth with sufficient specificity to permit intelligible plenary review of the record.” Williams ex rel. Williams v. Bowen,
III. DISCUSSION
Daniels challenges the ALJ’s disability determination on four grounds: (1) the ALJ erred in evaluating both record evidence and opinion evidence from treating physicians; (2) the ALJ improperly evaluated Daniels’ credibility; (3) the ALJ improperly evaluated Daniels’ residual functional capacity; and (4) the ALJ'erred in .his evaluation of the VE’s testimony, PL Mem. at 17, 21, 23, 25. We view the attack on the ALJ’s finding as to residual functional capacity as based on Daniels’ arguments regarding the.ALJ’s evaluation of the record, application of the "treating physician” rule, and evaluation of Daniels’ credibility. Thus, we do not address the residual functional capacity issue under a separate heading.
A. The ALJ’s Evaluation of the Record and Treating Physicians’ Opinions
Daniels asserts that the ALJ selectively picked “portions of [the treating physicians’]' opinions, and failed to analyze relevant portions,” and thus “fail[ed] to specify what portion of [each physician’s] opinion he was giving ‘great weight’ to.” See PI. Mem. at 18. We note, however, that an ALJ is not required to address every aspect of the record in his opinion or comb the record to “reconcile every conflicting shred of medical testimony.” See Miles v. Harris,
Daniels makes a.more specific challenge to the ALJ’s purported conclusion that Daniels’ “pain improved with treatment,” PI. Mem. at 18. While the ALJ’s 2010 decision contains statements of this kind, R. 19, 22, the decision at issue makes no statement in this regard—and indeed obviously finds that Daniels became disabled as of April 2012. Notably, the medical record contains copious notes prior to 2012 indicating that Daniels was improving with treatment. R. 427, 433, 456, 509, 563,. 566, 572, 606,1083.
As for treating-physician opinion evidence, the ALJ gave great weight to certain conclusions of treating physician Dr. Del Savio, as well as to the conclusions of Drs. Uhorchak and Cuartas, R. 726, and . some weight to the conclusions of Dr. Ca-batu, R. 725-26. The Court considers these
1. Dr. Del Savio
The ALJ gave “great weight,” R. 726, to a June 1, 2009, report of Dr. Del Savio, who, shortly after Daniels had “slammed” her left wrist in a car door, opined that Daniels could perform “light duty” work, as long as she did not use her left arm or hand, and that Daniels had a “25% temporary impairment.” R. 322-23. As the ALJ noted, Dr. Del Savio “provided [a]' detailed assessment” and “rendered ongoing care and described treatment and limitations with specificity.” R. 726. A May 24, 2010, report from Dr. Del Savio indicated no restrictions on sitting, standing or walking in an eight-hour day, nor in bending, but indicated some restrictions on lifting. R. 973-74. The ALJ rejected Dr. Del Savio’s purported conclusion that “the claimant could lift less than five pounds” on the ground it was based on “subjective complaints.” R. 726. In fact, in the record referred to, Dr. Del Savio did not find that Daniels could lift less than five pounds but instead found that Daniels could lift up to 20 pounds “frequently” and up to 50 pounds “occasionally.” R. 973. Thus, there is no need to determine whether the ALJ could properly give “little weight” to Dr. Del Savio’s purported conclusion that Daniels had restrictions on lifting weight of less than five pounds. Notably, even accepting Daniels’ subjective complaints, Dr. Del Savio opined that Daniels was not restricted in bending as of May 24, 2010. R. 974.
2. Dr. Uhorchak
The ALJ gave great weight to the conclusions of Dr. Uhorchak, R. 726, who, two months after Daniels’ 2009 knee surgery, opined that Daniels could'perform “[l]ight duty” work, with “[n]o prolonged walking,” “[n]o prolonged standing,” “[n]o bending or stooping,” “[n]o climbing,” “[n]o squatting or kneeling,” and “[n]o lifting over 201bs.” R. 435-36. As the ALJ noted, even these limitations were applicable for only “four weeks” beginning in October 2009. R. 726; accord R. 436. During a later visit, in August 2011, Dr. Uhorchak listed-no similar limitations. See R. 559-62. Daniels points to no reason why Dr. Uhorchak’s opinion was treated improperly by the ALJ. Daniels points to a February 2010 treatment note from Dr. Uhorchak that Daniels should not engage in “prolonged” walking standing or sitting. PI. Mem. at 18 (citing R. 462-63). But the note gave no definition of “prolonged” and specifically stated that Daniels was otherwise able to engage in “light duty” work. R. 463. ■
3.Dr. Cuartas
The ALJ gave “great weight,” R. 726, to Dr. Cuartas’s June 2010 opinion which concluded that Daniels could sit more than six hours, • stand four to six hours and walk four to six hours in a day, and could lift up to 20 pounds “frequently.” R. 518. While the ALJ did not mention this aspect of the opinion in his discussion of “weight,” the ALJ had previously noted that Dr. Cuartas had found a restriction on “bending.” R. 724; see R. 519 (checking form to note that Daniels had a restriction on “bending”). The ALJ found Dr. Cuar-tas’s opinion to support “a range of light work.” R. 726.
Daniels faults the ALJ with failing to give “controlling weight” to Dr. Cuartas’s opinion about bending, arguing that stooping is “a form of’ bending and that a “complete inability to stoop would significantly erode the unskilled sedentary occupational base,” resulting in a finding that Daniels was disabled. See Pl. Mem. at 19-20. But -the ALJ’s residual functional capacity détermination included a limitation
Daniels cites three cases to support her argument on this point: Burger v. Astrue,
The court in Sanders held only that an ALJ cannot simply say that treating-source opinions “áre generally consistent” when they are in fact not. See 506 Fed: Appx. at 77 (internal -quotation marks omitted). As relates to Dr. Cuartas’s opinion, Daniels does not show how it was inconsistent with other medical-source opinions. In fact, Daniels says that “Dr. Cuartas[’] opinion about forward bending/stooping was not ‘inconsistent’ with Dr. Uhorchak’s opinion.” PI. Mem. at 20. We agree, as did the ALJ, who included a stooping limitation in his residual functional capacity determination. Yet, Dr. Uhorc-hak found only a time-limited restriction on bending in 2009, and no restriction on bending whatsoever in 2011. R. 435-36, 559-62.. In Mercado, the ALJ had performed “no evaluation” of whether a treating physician’s opinions were inconsistent with other substantial evidence in the record.
In any event, Daniels’ argument is of significance only to the extent that restrictions on bending or stooping would render Daniels unable to perform even sedentary work. -However, one of the jobs that the YE found -in significant numbers in -the national economy—surveillance system monitor, R. 768—specifically required no stooping. Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 379.367-010 Surveillance-System Monitor,
4. - Dr. Cabatu
Between June 2008 and December 2009, and again from March to September 2011, treating physician Dr. Cabatu routinely' stated that Daniels suffered from a “[t]empbrary total disability.” R. 230, 232, 234, 236, 237, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 245, 247, 248, 251, 252, 253, 258, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 407, 408, 409, 410, 442, 449, 451, 545, 546, 549, 550, 552, 556. The ALJ discounted these opinions because Dr. Cabatu “described generally mild limitations and reported generally mild test findings.” R. 726. We do not find this to be error. Dr. Cabatu never noted any specific limitations, but rather listed test findings, as noted by the ALJ. See id. Further, we note that conclusory statements as to disability may be rejected by an ALJ, who is the ultimate decision maker as to whether a claimant is disabled. Snell v. Apfel,
Daniels argues that the ALJ improperly “omitted references” to Dr. Cabatu’s findings of “myofascial pain.”
B. The ALJ’s Credibility Determinations
On April 11, 2012, Dr. Cuartas reported that Daniels’ symptoms were “worsening” and were “severe.” R. 950-52. The ALJ found, however, that Daniels’ complaints about .the “intensity, persistence and limiting effects” of her symptoms were “not entirely credible prior to April 11, 2012.” R. 721.
Daniels’ attack on this determination essentially consists of her view that there is'record evidence that supports her claims of pain and there exist reasons to credit her testimony. See PI. Mem. át 22-23 (“There was objective evidence of all of her impairments before the date that the ALJ found them disabling.”). The question for a court oh réview; however, is not if a claimant’s' Version of events is as’ equally supported by the evidence as an ALJ’s decision, but rather whether there is substantial evidence to support the ALJ’s conclusion. See Aponte,
Although hard to follow, Daniels appears to make arguments regarding her employment in 2011 when she worked as a food service worker. R. 761-62. The ALJ found that, although this work did not constitute “substantial gainful activity,” it was “consistent with greater ability than the claimant asserts,” R. 725. Daniels appears to assert that the Commissioner failed in her burden to show that this work constituted substantial gainful activity. See Pl. Reply at 9 (citing Copeland v. Colvin,
The Court finds no< other basis for rejecting the ALJ’s evaluation of Daniels’ credibility. Daniels attested that she cooked at least twice a week and 'could mop, though with difficulty, and went out “often” to the “park, grocery store[, and the] movies.” R. 172-73. The ALJ. also considered the fact that Daniels’ treatment for this period was conservative, consisting of “physical therapy, a knee brace and a TENS unit,” R. 725, which is .supported by the record, see, e.g., R. 427, 433-34, 544, 545, 546, 547. Moreover, the ALJ was correct that, at least for a time, Daniels responded well to arthroscopic surgeries. See R. 427, 434, 435, 563, 566, 590. Most critically in this case, the ALJ had before him opinions from treating physicians stating that Daniels was capable of “light duty” work with no or minimal restrictions on sitting, standing, walking, or lifting. See R. 323, 326, 354, 355, 518, 973.
Accordingly, there was substantial evidence to support the ALJ’s credibility determination.
C. The ALJ’s Treatment, of the VE’s ' Testimony
In what the 'Court views ah an argument related to how' the ALJ treated the record evidence—dealt with above in Section III.A—Daniels challenges the sufficiency of the ALJ’s hypothetical posed to the VE in-this case. PI. Mem. at 25-26. In particular, Daniels claims that the “ALJ’s hypothetical question [was] deficient [because] it fail[ed] to mention”-all of Daniels’ impairments. See id. at 25 (citation omitted). Daniels alleges-that the hypothetical the. ALJ presented to the VE should have included “references to forward bending/stooping”; the necessity that .Daniels be able “to sit and stand at will”; Daniels’ inability to use her left hand; as well as Daniels’ inability to maintain attention, concentrate, or maintain a competitive pace. See id. at 25-26.
Despite Daniels’ claims otherwise, the ALJ’s residual functional capacity determination—and the related hypothetical posed to the VE—for the time period prior to April 11, 2012, specifically referenced Daniels’ ability to only “occasionally ... stoop” and relatedly assumed that she could not kneel or crouch, R. 720; accord R. 767. Thus, any challenge based on the ALJ’s omission of this limitation is unsupported factually and must be rejected. Moreover—keeping in mind that we have already upheld the ALJ’s residual functional capacity determination—Daniels points to nothing in the record to support her contention that an at-will sit/stand option would be required for her' condition, let alone to challenge the ALJ’s evaluation of the treating sources and their opinions about sitting and standing. See generally Pl. Mem. at 26. The same is true for allegations about Daniels’ purported inability to use her left hand.
Finally, Daniels has. pointed to nothing in the record indicating that she had an
Daniels’ challenge regarding the vocational testimony is thus rejected.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Daniels’ motion for judgment on the pleadings (Docket # 15) is denied and the Commissioner’s motion for judgment on the pleadings (Docket #23) is granted. The Clerk is requested to enter judgment dismissing this case.
SO ORDERED.
Notes
. Notice of Motion, filed Jan. 17, 2017 (Docket # 15); Plaintiff's Memorandum in Support of Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings Under Rule 12(c) Fed R. Civ. P., filed Jan. 17, 2017 (Docket #16) ("PI. Mem.”); Notice of Motion, filed May 17, 2017 (Docket # 23); Memorandum of Law in Support of the Commissioner’s Cross-Motion for Judgment on
. Regulations that came into effect on March -27, 2017, slightly alter the prior "treating physician" rule, introducing the term "treating source.” See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(a)(2). The changes have no impact on this decision.
. Daniels claims that Dr. Uhorchak also diagnosed her with myofascial pain, See Pl. Mem. at 21; Pl. Reply at 8. However, she gives no ; citation to the record where Dr. Uhorchak makes such a finding and the Court has been unable to locate any diagnosis of myofascial pain other than that of Dr, Cabatu.