After defendant-appellant Union Security Insurance Co. (“Union”) denied plaintiff-appellee Charles Green’s claim for long-term disability benefits (“LTD benefits”), Green filed a complaint against Union pursuant to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq. The district court granted summary judgment in Green’s favor finding Union had abused its discretion in denying benefits to Green. Union appealed, challenging the district court’s summary judgment order. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We find the district court improperly determined Union abused its discretion when it ultimately denied Green’s LTD-benefits claim.
I.
In November 2000, when he was thirty-five years old, Green began working as a light industrial warehouse worker for Andersen Distribution, Inc. (“Andersen”). Previously, Green had obtained a GED in 1985 and had worked as a light industrial and warehouse worker for at least eight years. When he started working at Andersen, Green began participating in Andersen’s LTD-benefits disability plan, pursuant to Group Policy No. G 4,015,784 (“Policy”), which Union insured. Under the Policy, participants are eligible for LTD benefits if they are “disabled.” The
• during the first 24 months of a period of disability (including a qualifying period), an injury, or sickness, or pregnancy requires that you be under the regular care and attendance of a doctor, and prevents you from performing at least one of the material duties of your regular occupation; 2 and
• after 24 months of disability, an injury, sickness, or pregnancy prevents you from performing at least one of the material duties of each gainful occupation 3 for which your education, training, and experience qualifies you. 4
The Policy gave Union “sole discretionary authority to determine eligibility for participation or benefits and to interpret the terms of the Policy” and required Green to “furnish whatever items [Union] decide[s] are necessary as proof of loss or to decide [Union’s] liability.”
On February 20, 2001, Green stopped working at Andersen citing physical pain as preventing him from being able to work. Steven Rettinger, M.D., who was Green’s primary care physician, examined Green and noted the cause of Green’s pain seemed consistent with fibromyalgia. Despite this diagnosis, Dr. Rettinger anticipated Green would be able to return to work at some point and discussed with Green “how he needs to take control of his own life and call his place of employment so that he can get off disability and back to work.”
In November 2001, Green submitted an LTD-benefits claim to Union. In support of his claim, Green attached an Attending Physician Initial Statement of Disability completed by Dr. Rettinger, which stated Green suffered from chronic back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, and tremor. According to Dr. Rettinger, Green .was unable to perform any physical work and needed a sedentary work position due to these conditions. After conducting its review, Union found Green eligible for LTD benefits under the Policy’s own occupation definition and began paying LTD benefits to Green on February 6, 2002.
Soon thereafter, Union began investigating whether Green qualified for LTD benefits under the Policy’s any occupation definition. Union requested Green undergo a functional capacity evaluation (“FCE”) to be performed by Healthsouth, which took place on February 20 and 21, 2002. The FCE acknowledged Green had several musculoskeletal deficits but ultimately concluded he “demonstrate^] the ability to perform sedentary work for an eight hour day.” The Healthsouth FCE stated Green was capable of “lifting in the sedentary category of work” and could tolerate walking, climbing stairs, bending and twisting at the trunk, reaching overhead, reaching forward, and sitting.
In April 2002, Union sent a letter to Green encouraging him to apply for Social Security Disability Benefits (“SSD benefits”). Green submitted a claim for SSD benefits, but the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) initially denied the claim because Green’s “condition was not severe enough to keep [him] from working.” Also in April 2002, Union referred Green to its Vocational Services department. In an interview with a Vocational Services employ
In May and July 2002, Green submitted supplemental reports from Dr. Rettinger to Union regarding Green’s condition. In assessing Green’s work capabilities, Dr. Rettinger wrote that Green could not sit or stand for extended periods and that he was incapable of doing minimal manual labor due to his neck and back pain. He also wrote Green was not a candidate for physical therapy. However, Dr. Rettinger continued to recommend vocational rehabilitation for Green.
On August 26, 2002, Union’s rehabilitation counselor, Julie Finnegan, conducted a Transferable Skills Analysis (“TSA”) with Green to help' identify potential occupations into which Green could transition. Finnegan determined Green’s medical conditions and work experience qualified him to work in several sedentary jobs. Finnegan believed suitable work could be found locally for Green at his Schedule Amount wage rate ($7.54 per hour). Thereafter, Union engaged an outside consultant, Brenda Umholtz, to conduct a Labor Market Survey (“LMS”). Umholtz identified ten potential employers with positions available at or above Green’s Schedule Amount wage rate for which Green was qualified and physically able to perform. Umholtz wrote that positions were “readily available” for which Green was qualified, that Green would not require vocational training to obtain a position paying between $8.00 and $10.00 per hour, and that “[e]mployers appeared very flexible and willing to accommodate someone with [Green’s] restrictions.”
In February 2003, Union had a psychologist on its staff, Patricia Neubauer, Ph.D., review Green’s records. In discussing Green’s condition, Dr. Neubauer stated Green’s “primary pain disorder relate[s] to both a general medical condition, fibromyalgia and migraines and has psychological factors that impact his pain complaints.” Dr. Neubauer suspected Green’s chronic pain condition was a psychological issue, but she stated she could not confirm this suspicion for lack of a psychological evaluation of Green to review. Dr. Neubauer and Union requested to have access to a psychological evaluation that Green underwent in connection with his application for SSD benefits, but Green did not provide this information. Union attempted to schedule a psychological evaluation of Green, but the two times the evaluation was scheduled (September 15 and October 22, 2003) Green did not attend, explaining his absence was due to illness.
On February 28, 2003, an SSA administrative law judge (“ALJ”) awarded Green SSD benefits, reversing the SSA’s initial determination. The ALJ determined Green had been “disabled” within the meaning of the Social Security Act due to “panic disorder/anxiety[,] depression^] chronic pain syndrome and fibromyalgia.” The ALJ based his finding on the opinions of Green’s treating physicians.
On October 31, 2003, Union denied Green’s application for LTD benefits, citing that Green did not meet the Policy’s any occupation definition, and therefore was not disabled. Based on the medical
Green administratively appealed Union’s decision on July 8, 2004. As part of its review of Green’s administrative appeal, Union began requesting additional information in August 2004. On August 30th, Patsy Maikranz, M.D., submitted a report to Union summarizing Green’s relevant medical history and concluding Green “appears to have the capacity to do sedentary work that would allow for position change hourly based on the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.”
On September 14 and 15, 2004, Union’s Investigative Services Unit conducted a two-day video surveillance of Green to observe his daily practices. On the first day, the investigator observed Green leave his house for approximately forty minutes to visit the doctor’s office and post office. On the second day, the investigator observed Green leave his house to run errands, which included pumping gas and making two trips to a cable television provider’s retail store, during which he loaded, unloaded, and carried VCR-sized boxes to and from the trunk of his car. After conducting the surveillance, Union presented the video recordings to Dr. Maikranz. Dr. Maikranz noted that Green was observed engaging in activities his treating physicians did not believe he could do, such as “grasping, handling and reaching.” Dr. Maikranz concluded that Green’s observed activities on September 14th and 15th were consistent with his performance on the Healthsouth FCE and were inconsistent with his treating physicians’ restrictions and limitations.
On November 4, 2004, psychologist Mike Jones, Ph.D., a Union employee, submitted a Behavioral Health Services Assessment regarding Green. In the assessment, Dr. Jones stated Green did not have “significant mental health symptoms” and suggested Green “might have another agenda regarding his lack of response to treatment.”
Union wrote to Green’s attorney to inform of Union’s intent to have Green undergo an independent medical evaluation (“IME”) with an occupational medicine specialist. An IME was eventually scheduled for January 26, 2005, with Chris Fevurly, M.D. After examining Green, Dr. Fevurly stated there were “no permanent restrictions or limitations” preventing Green from returning to work.
With the new information in hand, Union resubmitted Green’s file to Dr. Maikranz to review. On July 11, 2005, Dr. Maikranz issued a report to Union in which she concluded Green “appears to have the physical functional capacity to perform at least sustained sedentary work as long as he has the ability to change positions hourly and do bending, twisting, stooping and overhead work on no more than an occasional basis.” Union also obtained a Vocational Services General Assessment from Richard Hubbard, a Union employee, in which Hubbard reviewed the 2002 TSA and LMS studies completed for Green. Hubbard concluded after reviewing Dr. Maikranz’s report that Green was physically capable and qualified to obtain
On September 15, 2005, Union denied Green’s appeal upholding its prior decision that he did not meet the Policy’s any occupation definition of disabled. In making its decision, Union cited the findings of many of the medical professionals who examined Green, the 2002 Healthsouth FCE, the 2004 two-day video surveillance of Green’s activities, the 2005 IME performed by Dr. Fevurly, and the various vocational assessments Green had undergone. Union also cited a lack of cooperation by Green and some of his treating physicians, such as the failure of Dr. Rettinger to provide comments on the Health-south FCE when requested, the failure of Green’s attorney to provide medical records from the SSA’s evaluation of Green when requested, and the failure of Green to attend the psychological evaluations Union scheduled in Fall 2003. Upon review, Union concluded “there is no condition that limits Mr. Green from performing at least one of the material duties of each gainful occupation for which his education, training and experience qualifies him.”
Green appealed the decision to Union’s Disability Claims Appeals Committee (“Appeals Committee”), the final level of administrative review. As an initial step, the Appeals Committee requested Hubbard complete a revised Vocational Service General Assessment. Hubbard submitted the revised assessment to the Appeals Committee on April 28, 2006, in which he stated Green would not be able to perform a private security job, but that he remained capable of performing a customer service position.
In connection with the final appeal, Green submitted several documents to Union. One of these documents was a letter from Dr. Rettinger. In the letter, Dr. Rettinger commented on the 2002 Health-south FCE Green underwent, stating that Green’s performance on the FCE was consistent with Dr. Rettinger’s evaluation of Green, but that this performance did not demonstrate Green could perform a sedentary job for eight hours per day five days per week. Green also submitted the psychological evaluation conducted by Gerald Vandenberg, Ph.D., in connection with Green’s 2002 SSD-benefits application. In summarizing Green’s mental state in 2002, Dr. Vandenberg wrote Green “seemed more dependent than depressed or seriously distressed” and “may be showing mild Dysthymic Disorder, but without significant dysfunction.
The Appeals Committee upheld Union’s denial of LTD benefits to Green on July 31, 2006. After reviewing the materials on file and the new materials Green submitted, the Appeals Committee determined Green had not met the Policy’s any occupation definition of “disabled” and determined Green had “sufficient functional capacity to perform sustained sedentary work activity as long as he is able to change positions hourly.” In support of its determination, the Appeals Committee cited the 2002 Healthsouth FCE and the 2004 video surveillance of Green. The Appeals Committee also considered Green’s TSA and LMS and determined Green was capable of working as a customer service representative, which is “sedentary in nature and allows for alternating sitting/standing and no lifting over 10 pounds.” With the Appeals Committee’s final administrative denial, Union closed Green’s claim for LTD benefits.
Green initiated this action on March 11, 2008. After granting leave for Green to conduct limited discovery regarding Union’s structural conflict of interest, the parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment. The district court denied Union’s
II.
A. Legal Standard
Union challenges the district court’s determination that Union abused its discretion when it denied Green’s LTD-benefits claim under the Policy’s any occupation definition for “disabled.” Union effectively concedes that Green suffers from fibromyalgia. However, Union argues that this condition has not rendered Green “disabled” under the Policy’s any occupation definition, i.e., incapable of performing at least one material duty of each gainful occupation for which Green’s education, training, and experience qualifies him.
We review a district court’s summary judgment ruling de novo, applying the same standard of review the district court used.
Midgett v. Wash. Group Int’l Long Term Disability Plan,
In reviewing for an abuse of discretion, the administrator’s decision should be reversed “only if it is arbitrary and capricious.”
Midgett,
B. Union Did Not Abuse Its Discretion
We find the district court improperly granted summary judgment in Green’s favor when it determined Union abused its discretion in denying Green’s LTD-benefits claim. Based on the record before Union, there was more than a scintilla of evidence supporting Union’s conclusion that Green’s condition did not render him “disabled” under the Policy’s any occupation definition. Union’s decision was supported by substantial evidence, and “a reasonable person
could
have reached a similar decision.”
Midgett,
First, the district court improperly discounted the 2002 Healthsouth FCE, which was conducted over a period of two days and concluded Green was capable of working in a full-time sedentary job. The district court assigned “limited value” to the Healthsouth FCE because Green’s symptoms were variable, which prevented
This court has stated an FCE “alone constitutes more than a scintilla of evidence” when the FCE concludes a benefits claimant does not meet an ERISA plan’s “disability” definition.
Jackson,
An FCE need not establish conclusively that a benefits claimant will be capable of working day after day, week after week, year after year. Rather its value is in objectively evaluating a person’s work capacities. In this case, an evaluation of Green over the course of two days in February of 2002 established that he was capable of working in a sedentary position, in contradiction to the other evidence Green submitted that tended to indicate he was disabled. The district court made no criticism of the methodology Healthsouth used in evaluating Green, and we see nothing in the record sufficient to question the accuracy of the Healthsouth FCE’s results. The Healthsouth FCE constitutes evidence in support of Union’s decision to deny LTD-benefits to Green.
Second, the district court also improperly determined the medical opinions of Drs. Parmet and Maikranz did not support Union’s denial of Green’s LTD-benefits claim because those opinions were based on the Healthsouth FCE. The district court’s conclusion that these opinions were based entirely or substantially on the Healthsouth FCE is not supported by the doctors’ reports. Each doctor reviewed Green’s entire medical record and concluded Green was capable of working in a sedentary job. While both doctors referred to the Healthsouth FCE in their conclusions, their reports do not indicate the FCE was given more weight than any of the other evidence in Green’s file. Given the utility of the Healthsouth FCE as an objective source of evidence regarding Green’s condition, it was proper for these doctors to base their conclusions in part on the Healthsouth FCE’s results. The district court should have determined Drs. Parmet’s and Maikranz’s opinions constituted evidence supporting Union’s decision.
Third, the district court improperly determined the two-day video surveillance Union conducted in September 2004 of Green’s activities did not support its decision to deny Green’s LTD-benefits claim. Like the Healthsouth FCE, the district court determined this evidence only established that Green was capable of performing sedentary work for a short period of time but did not establish that he could work a full-time job. During the surveillance, Union’s investigator observed Green
Like an FCE, video evidence need not establish conclusively that a benefits claimant can work full time. Rather, video evidence provides another form of objective evidence upon which an ERISA plan administrator may base its claims determinations. The use of video surveillance to observe a benefits claimant’s condition is reasonable.
Cusson v. Liberty Life Assur. Co. of Boston,
Fourth, the district court improperly discounted the findings of the vocational labor market studies that indicated Green could find gainful employment. The district court concluded “a reasonable person cannot have any confidence in Union’s labor market survey because of the way it has been repeatedly revised.” Neither the district court nor Green cite to any authority, and we find none in our review, standing for the proposition that a labor market study cannot constitute evidence supporting an ERISA plan administrator’s denial of benefits merely because it has been revised to eliminate certain jobs the study initially found a benefits claimant was capable of performing. Transferrable skills and labor market studies, like the ones Union conducted in this case, can constitute substantial evidence supporting a denial of benefits.
Ferrari v. Teachers Ins. & Annuity Ass’n,
Finally, beyond the evidence the district court discounted, there is other evidence in the record supporting Union’s decision. In an interview with a Union Vocational Services employee in April 2002, Green stated he could still fish and camp after the onset of his disability. Green’s treating physician, Dr. Rettinger, also repeatedly stated he anticipated
Although Green likely suffers from fibromyalgia, it does not automatically follow that this condition renders Green “disabled.”
See Coker v. Metro. Life Ins. Co.,
C. Union’s Structural Conflict of Interest
The fact that Union operates under a structural conflict of interest, as both plan administrator and insurer, does not warrant a finding that Union abused its discretion in denying Green’s claim. A plan administrator’s conflict of interest “ ‘should be weighed as a factor in determining whether there is an abuse of discretion.’ ”
Wakkinen v. UNUM Life Ins. Co. of Am.,
The conflict of interest ... should prove more important (perhaps of great importance) where circumstances suggest a higher likelihood that it affected the benefits decision, including, but not limited to, cases where an insurance company administrator has a history of biased claims administration.... It should prove less important (perhaps to the vanishing point) where the administrator has taken active steps to reduce potential bias and to promote accuracy, for example, by walling off claims administrators from those interested in firm finances, or by imposing management checks that penalize inaccurate decision-making irrespective of whom the inaccuracy benefits.
Glenn,
The importance of Union’s conflict is at or near the “vanishing point.” Although the district court ordered discovery on Union’s conflict of interest, the district court cited none of this disclosed information in concluding that Union’s conflict influenced its decision to deny LTD benefits to Green. Further, there is no other indication that Union has a history of biased claim decisions.
Although the SSA ultimately determined Green was disabled for the purposes of receiving SSD benefits, this determination was not binding on Union. The evidence presented to the SSA was different from the evidence before Union.
See Jackson,
III.
The district court’s order granting summary judgment for Green is REVERSED and the case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. 6
Notes
. Hereinafter the "own occupation definition.”
. The Policy defines "gainful occupation” as "an occupation in which you could reasonably be expected to earn at least as much as your Schedule Amount.” Green’s Schedule Amount was $1,306.67 per month (or $7.54 per hour).
. Hereinafter the "any occupation definition.”
. This court’s decision in
Morgan v. UNUM Life Ins. Co. of Am.,
. We need not address whether the district court abused its discretion in granting leave to Green to conduct limited discovery on Union's structural conflict of interest.
Cf. Werdehausen v. Benicorp Ins. Co.,