FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC U IT JUNE 28, 2007 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

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S o c ia l S e c u r ity , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lle e .

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_________________________ ( Ju n e 28, 2007) B efo re W IL S O N , P R Y O R an d F A Y , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:2

C hery l M . R ee ves app ea l s the di stri ctcourt ’ s a ff i rm ance of the S oci al S ec uri ty A dm i ni stra t i on ’ s ( “ S S A ”) deni al of supp l em ent al se curi ty i ncom e ( “ S S I” ) pa y m e nt s , 42 U . S . C . § 1383( c ) ( 3) , a nd di s abi l i ty i ns ur a nc e be ne f i t s ( “ D I B ” ) , 42 U . S . C . § 405( g) . O n appe a l , R e e ve s a r gue s tha tthe S S A ’ s de t e rm i na t i on, a c t i ng thr ough a n a dm i ni s tr a t i ve l a w j udge ( “ A L J ” ) , tha tR e e ve s w a s notdi s abl e d w a s not s u p p o r te d b y s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e b e c au s e th e A L J d id n o t: ( 1 ) e v a lu a te p r o p e r ly and g i ve du e w ei gh tt o the m edi ca l evi dence of re cord; and (2) consi der her s ubj e c t i ve c om pl a i nt s of pa i n a nd f

a t i gue . W e di s a gr e e w i th R e e ve s a nd f i nd no e rr o ri n th e d i s tr i c tc o u rt ’ s a f f i rm a n c e o f

th e S S A’ s d e t e rm i n a t i o n . T h u s , we a f f i rm. I . Ba c k g r o und R e e ve s f i l e d a n appl i c a t i on f

orS S I a nd D I B on O c t obe r3 a nd 23, 2002, r e s pe c t i ve l y , a l l e gi ng adi s abl i ng c ondi t i on c om m e nc i ng on J ul y 19, 2002. T he S S A de ni e d he rappl i c a t i on i ni t i a l l y a nd on r e c ons i de r a t i on. R e e ve s r e que s t e d a nd w a s g r a n te d ah e a r in g b y a n A L J . ( A ) A dm i ni s t r a t i v e H e a r i ng A t th e tim e o f

th e h e a r in g , R e e v e s w a s a5 7 - y e a r - o ld h ig h s c h o o l g r a d u a te w ho had w orked i n the l aund ryroom of a hot el fr om 19 90 un t i l 20 02 . R ee ves t e s t i f i e d tha the rj ob r e qui r e d he rt o c ol l e c tl aundry , m ove i tthr oughoutthe3

bu i l di ng i n a pu sh-c art , and sort , w as h, dry, and fol d the l aund ry . S he had t o l i ft a nd c a rry appr oxi m a t e l y 20 pounds dur i ng he rj ob, a nd s he r e m a i ne d i n ahot lau n d ry r o o m f

o rs ix h o u r s p e rd a y w ith f e w o p p o r tu n itie s to s it d o w n . W ith re gard t o h erdai l y a ct i vi t i es , R ee ves s t at ed thatshe had no tdri ven a carsi nce 2002, buttha ts he s w e ptthe ki t c he n, putthe c l othe s i n the w a s hi ng m a c hi ne , a nd l oa de d the di s hw a s he r . W he n s he di d thos e a c t i vi t i e s , s he ha d t o l i e dow n f or30 m in u te s a f

te rto r e g a in h e rs tr e n g th . I f s h e c o o k e d , s h e h a d to h a v e ac h a irn e x t to he rs o tha ts he c oul d s i tdow n. S he a l s o a tt e nde d c hur c h tw i c e pe rm onth a nd w e nt t o the groceryst ore once or tw i ce per m on th, bu ton l y w i th a com pani on . R ee ves i ndi c a t e d tha ts he w a s unabl e t o e xe r c i s e , buttha ts he l i s t e ne d t o the r a di o, r e a d, a n d w a tc h e d te le v is io n . A s t o the phy s i c a l pr obl e m s tha tpr e ve nt e d R e e ve s f r om w orki ng, s he t est i fi ed th atsh e h ad n o stren g th , h ad t o l ay d o w n an d restsev eral t i m es p er d ay, a nd ha d ave ry l ow e ne r gy l e ve l . S he a l s o e xpe r i e nc e d pa i n a l l ove rhe rbody every dayand she w as un abl e t o st and for l on g p er i od s of t i m e. S he had b al ance prob l em s and she c ou l d n otsl ee p w i tho utthe ai d o f asl ee pi ng pi l l . S he had t o l ay d o w n fo r 3 0 m i n u t es atl east5 o r 6 t i m es p er d ay. S h e ex p eri en ced trem o rs, p r im a r ily in h e rle g s an d h a n d s , th a t b e g a n w h e n s h e w a s d ia g n o s e d w ith th y r o id prob l em s i n 2 00 2, bu tno ne of her doct ors had ever gi ven h era r ea son for her4

tre m ors or s peci fi ca l l y a ss oci at ed the tre m ors w i th the thyroi d i ss ues. S he al so had tr o u b le c o n tr o llin g h e rb la d d e r . T he A L J s t at ed thatR ee ves’ s r es i du al funct i on al capaci ty ( “ R F C ”) i ncl ud ed th e f o l l o w i n g l i mi t a t i o n s : ( 1 ) l i mi t e d t o me d i u m o rl i g h tw o rk ; ( 2 ) c o u l d c l i mb oc c a s i ona l l y , butne ve ron ar ope , l a dde r , ors c a f f ol d; ( 3) ha d t o w e a rc orr e c t i ve l en ses fo r v i si o n ; (4 ) co u l d n o tw o rkaro u n d h azard s su ch as d an g ero u s m ach i n ery; a n d ( 5 ) w a s b e s t s u ite d f o rs im p le w o rkw ith o u t p r o lo n g e d in te rp e r s o n a l c o n ta c t. T h e V o c a tio n a l E x p e rt ( “V E ” ) te s tif ie d th a t ap e r s o n w ith s u c h aR F C c o u ld p e r f o rm w o rka s alau n d ry lab o r e r . (B ) R el evan t M ed i calE vi d en ce F r om M a y 6 thr ough O c t obe r31, 2002, R e e ve s s oughttr e a tm e ntf r om T h o m p s o n C o m m u n ity M e n ta l H e a lth u n d e rD r s . H a n y E liaan d K e n n e th A z a r . O n he rf i r s tvi s i tt o D r . E l i a , R e e ve s w a s di a gnos e d w i th pa ni c a tt a c ks , de pr e s s i ve di sorder , and arthri t i s, and w as pres cr i bed Z ol oftand K l on op i n. In M ay20 02 , D r. E l i a d i ag n o sed R eev es w i th p an i c att ack s, d ep ressi v e d i so rd er, arth ri t i s, hypothy r oi di s m , a nd e s s e nt i a l tr e m or s . D r . E l i aobs e rve d tha tR e e ve s ha d “ f i ne tre m ors i n h erup per e xtre m i t i es . ” O n a subsequentvi si tt o D r. E l i a, R ee ves rep o rt ed th at , i f sh e d i d n o tt ak e h er K l o n o p i n , sh e d ev el o p ed trem o rs. O n A u g u st 8, 20 02 , R ee ves c om pl ai ned t o D r. E l i a of gai ti nst abi l i ty, m uscl e a ches , fa t i gu e,5

and j erki ng m ov em ent s i n h erarm s. D r. E l i a not ed thatR ee ves had se en her pri m ary c ar e physi ci an, D r. S usan L and, re gardi ng tho se i ss ues and that , af t er com pl et i ng vari ou s t es t s, D r. L and recom m ended thatR ee ves r eturn t o w ork. D r. E l i af ur the rnot e d tha t , dur i ng the e xa m i na t i on, R e e ve s ’ s ga i tw a s s l ow a nd un st ea dy, she had di ff

i cul ty s i tt i ng and st andi ng , and she had l ost20 po un ds. In O c to b e r2 0 0 2 , D r . A z a rf o u n d th a t R e e v e s ’s g a it h a d im p r o v e d , b u t th a t s h e s till su ffered fro m sl eep l essn ess, fat i g u e, m o o d d i so rd er seco n d ary t o m ed i cal i l l n ess, pani c a tt ac ks, m yocl on us, and h ypothyroi di sm . In F ebruary20 03 , D r. A zar com pl et ed a m ent al i m pai rm entqu es t i on nai re on R ee ves’ s behal f. D r. A zar di agno se d R ee ves w i th m oo d d i sorderse cond ary t o h erm edi ca l i l l ness . H e f urther concl ud ed thatR ee ves “ w as a har d w orker. H ow ever , she c ou l d n otcont i nu e a ft er she s t art ed experi enci ng debi l i t at i ng ph ys i ca l sy m pt om s w hi ch caused her depres si on . ” R e e ve s w a s tr e a t e d a tthe M e di c a l C ol l e ge of G e or gi af

r om 2001 thr ough 2003. I n J ul y 2002, a n x- r a y of R e e ve s ’ s he a d r e ve a l e d tha ts he ha d m i l d a tr ophy f o rh e ra g e a n dn o a c u te p r o c e s s . I n D e c e m b e r2 0 0 2 , D r . L o e b l, arh e u m a to lo g is t, exam i ned R ee ves due t o h ercom pl ai nt s of w ea kn es s, depres si on , and p ai n. D r. L oe bl not e d tha tR e e ve s pr e vi ous l y ha d be e n e xa m i ne d i n ne ur ol ogy a nd ha d aA p os itiveRom bergsign o c cur s when, “with f e e t a pp ro ximate d, thepatient s tand s with 1 eyes open a

nd then closed; if c losing the eyes incre ases the unste adiness, a loss of proprioceptive control is indicated, a

nd the sign is positi ve.” S TEDMAN ’ S M ED I CA L D I C TI ONAR Y 16 19 (2 6th ed.) ( 1995). A “re stingtremor”is de fine d a s “ a c oa rs e , r hy thmic[tremor] . . . usually c on fine d to 2 ha nd s and fo re arm s, that a

pp e arswh en th elim

bsarere laxed , a

nd dis a pp e arswith ac tiv elim

b movements.” S TEDMAN ’ S M ED I CA L D I C TI ONAR Y 1844 (26th ed.) ( 1995). 6 n o rm a l n e u r o lo g ic a l e x a m in a tio n w ith th e e x c e p tio n o f ap o s itiv e R o m b e r g s ig n . 1 I n J a nua ry 2003, D r . W a l t e rM oor e , a l s o arhe um a t ol ogi s t , e xa m i ne d R e e ve s a nd fo u n d th ath er m u scu l o sk el et al syst em w as “ [e] ssen t i al l y w i th i n n o rm al l i m i t s, e x c e p t f o rm u ltip le te n d e rtr ig g e rp o in ts , e s p e c ia lly in th e u p p e rs h o u ld e rg ir d le and h erarm s. ” D r. M oo re further det erm i ned thatR ee ves e xh i bi t ed an abno rm al R om berg si gn “ w here [s he] es se nt i al l y has the se nsat i on of fa l l i ng backw ar ds. ” D r. M oo re no t ed thatR ee ves had been di agno se d w i th fi brom ya l gi a, bu tthather ab n o rm al R o m b erg si g n d i d n o tfi tth e cl i n i cal d i ag n o si s o f fi b ro m yal g i a. T h u s, D r . M oor e r e c om m e nde d tha tR e e ve s unde r go ane ur ol ogi c a l e xa m i na t i on. D ur i ng a n e x a m in a tio n in A p r il 2 0 0 3 , D r . M o o r e n o te d th a t R e e v e s c o m p la in e d o f p a in and fat i gu e and appeare d t earf ul and anx i ou s. D r. M oo re foun d thatR ee ves had t ot a l body t e nde rne s s a nd “ e vi de nc e of ar e s t i ng tr e m or w hi c h appe a r [ e d] t o be 2 sy m m etri ca l and i m prov e[ d] w i th i nt ent i on . ” S ever al st at e a gency non -e xam i ni ng ph ys i ci ans provi ded res i du al funct i on al cap aci ty assessm en t s o f R eev es i n 2 0 0 3 . F i rst , i n F eb ru ary 2 0 0 3 , a p sych i atri st7

re po rt ed on R ee ves’ s m ent al funct i on al capaci ty and i nd i ca t ed thatshe w as m ode r a t e l y l i m i t e d i n the f ol l ow i ng a r e a s : ( 1) he rabi l i ty t o m a i nt a i n a tt e nt i on a nd concentra t i on for e xt ended p er i od s; (2) herabi l i ty t o m ai nt ai n a no rm al w ork-day w i tho utan un re as on abl e num ber of i nt errupt i on s due t o h erpsyc ho l og i ca l l y- base d s y m pt om s ; ( 3) he rabi l i ty t o i nt e r a c tappr opr i a t e l y w i th the ge ne r a l publ i c ; a nd (4 ) h erab il ity to se t rea li stic g o als a n d p lan s. N ex t, a p h ys ician re v iew ed R ee v es ’s phy s i c a l f

unc t i ona l c apa c i ty , f

i ndi ng tha ts he c oul d: ( 1) oc c a s i ona l l y l i f tup t o 50 pounds ; ( 2) f

r e que nt l y l i f

tup t o 25 pounds ; ( 3) s t a nd orw a l k w i th norm a l br e a ks f orappr oxi m a t e l y 6 hour s i n a n 8- hourw ork- da y ; a nd ( 4) oc c a s i ona l l y c l i m b. T he ph ys i ci an concl ud ed thatR ee ves s ho ul d h ave had “ no prob l em s per form i ng no rm al w ork [w i th] the re stri ct i on s out l i ned [abov e] . ” I n an add i t i on al m ent al funct i on al c apa c i ty a s s e s s m e nt , aps y c hi a tr i s tm a de s i m i l a rf i ndi ngs t o thos e f

ound i n the F e b ru a ry 2 0 0 3 m e n ta l a s s e s s m e n t. In N ov em ber 200 3, R ee ves und erw enta neurol og i c e val uat i on by D r. Joel G r e e nbe r g. D r . G r e e nbe r g obs e rve d tha tR e e ve s w a s a nxi ous , de pr e s s e d, a nd o c c a s io n a lly te a r f

u l, a n d h a d atr e m o rth a t w o r s e n e d d u r in g th e e x a m in a tio n , a no rm al gai t , and an absentR om berg’ s s i gn . D r. G re enberg det erm i ned thatR ee ves had: (1) ahi st ory of f

i brom ya l gi a; (2) a nx i ety and depres si on ; and (3) no evi dence of neurol og i c abn orm al i ty. H e not ed thatR ee ves m ayhave been “ di sabl ed by her8

psyc hi atri c s ym pt om s” and thatshe m ayhave had “acom po nentof fa t i gu e w hi ch [w as ] no tapparenton neurol og i c e val uat i on . ” B as ed up on hi s m edi ca l e xa m i na t i on, D r . G r e e nbe r g f ound tha tR e e ve s ha d the f ol l ow i ng l i m i t a t i ons c onc e rni ng w ork- r e l a t e d a c t i vi t i e s : ( 1) R e e ve s c oul d c l i m b onl y oc c a s i ona l l y or in f r e q u e n tly ; a n d ( 2 ) h e rs ig h t w a s lim ite d . In M ay20 04 , af

t erher a dm i ni stra t i ve heari ng , R ee ves und erw enta genera l m edi ca l consul t at i ve exam i nat i on by D r. Is m ae l H ernand ez . D r. H ernand ez no t ed thatR ee ves app eare d anx i ou s, depres se d, and t earf ul . H e f urther observed that R e e ve s ha d “ e vi de nc e of ar e s t i ng tr e m orw hi c h appe a r [ e d] t o be s y m m e tr i c a l a nd im p r o v e [ d ] w ith in te n tio n .” H e a ls o f o u n d th a t aR o m b e r g s ig n w a s ab s e n t. D r . H e rna nde z m a de the f ol l ow i ng c onc l us i ons r e ga r di ng R e e ve s ’ s he a l th: T h is p a tie n t is d is ab le d b y h e rp s y c h ia tr ic s y m p to m s . P s y c h ia tr ic eval uat i on re gardi ng di sabi l i ty m aybe veryapprop ri at e. P at i entw as d ia g n o s e d a t th e M e d ic a l C o lle g e o f G e o r g iao f

f ib r o m y a lg iaw ith m ul t i pl e tr i gge rpoi nt s a nd m a y ha ve s l e e p di s or de r s a nd f a t i gue . T he p sych i atri c ev al u at i o n w i l l d et erm i n e i f h er “ fi b ro m yal g i a sym p t o m s” m ay b e p sych o so m at i c p ro b l em s. ( C ) A L J’ s D e c i s i on T he A L J f

i r s tde t e rm i ne d tha tR e e ve s ha d note nga ge d i n s ubs t a nt i a l ga i nf ul a c t i vi ty s i nc e the ons e tda t e of he ri m pa i rm e nt . T he A L J ne xtr e vi e w e d the m e di c a l e vi de nc e , s pe c i f i c a l l y : ( 1) D r . A z a r ’ s F e brua ry 2003 m e nt a l i m pa i rm e nt q u est i o n n ai re, n o t i n g th atD r. A zar h ad n o ttreat ed R eev es’ s p h ysi cal ai l m en t s;9

( 2) D r . M oor e ’ s A pr i l 2003 e xa m i na t i on; ( 3) D r . G r e e nbe r g’ s N ove m be r2003 ne ur ol ogi c a l c ons ul t a t i ve e xa m i na t i on; a nd ( 4) D r . H e rna nde z ’ s M a y 2004 c o n s u l t a t i v e e x a mi n a t i o n . W i th r e g a r d t o Re e v e s ’ s me n t a l i mp a i rme n t , th e ALJ d et erm i n ed th atth e ev i d en ce est ab l i sh ed th atR eev es h ad th e fo l l o w i n g l i m i t at i o n s: ( 1 ) m ild r e s tr ic tio n o f

a c tiv itie s o f

d a ily liv in g ; ( 2 ) m o d e r a te d if f ic u lty in m a i nt a i ni ng s oc i a l f

unc t i oni ng; ( 3) m ode r a t e de f i c i e nc y i n c onc e ntr a t i on; a nd (4 ) n o rep eat ed ep i so d es o f d eco m p en sat i o n . A s t o R eev es’ s p h ysi cal i m p ai rm en t s, the A L J f

ound tha t , ba s e d upon the m e di c a l e vi de nc e , R e e ve s s uf f e r e d f r om f i br om y a l gi a , “ a l though onl y by aque s t i onabl e hi s t ory , ” os t e oa r thr i t i s , a nd depres si on . T he A L J c on cl ud ed thattho se i m pai rm ent s w er e s ever e, bu tno tse vere e n o u g h to m e e t o rm e d ic a lly e q u a l alis te d im p a irm e n t. T he A L J w enton t o con si der w hether R ee ves r et ai ned the R F C t o p er form h e rp a s t w o rko ra n y o th e rw o rkin s ig n if ic a n t n u m b e r s in th e n a tio n a l e c o n o m y . In so do i ng , the A L J f

i rs tno t ed thatR ee ves t es t i fi ed thatshe had t o l i e dow n 5 or 6 t i m es p er d ay fo r a d u rat i o n o f atl east3 0 m i n u t es each t i m e, b u tth atsh e al so t est i fi ed th atsh e sw ep tth e k i t ch en , d i d so m e co o k i n g , d i d th e d i sh es an d l au n d ry, shop ped, and o cc as i on al l y w entt o chu rc h o r a t e outatre st aura nt s. T he A L J not ed “h o w a ll th is w o u ld b e im p o s s ib le if s h e tru ly w e r e f

la t o n h e rb a c ka s m u c h a s is c l a i m e d. ” T he A L J f

urthe ri ndi c a t e d tha tR e e ve s f a i l e d t o m e nt i on he rda i l y pa i n,10

w hi c h w a s a l l ove rhe rbody , unt i l s he w a s r e pe a t e dl y pr om pt e d by the A L J . T he A L J thus c onc l ude d tha tR e e ve s ’ s t e s t i m ony w a s notc r e di bl e orc ons i s t e ntw i th the m edi ca l evi dence. T he A L J a dd i t i on al l y not ed thatR ee ves’ s psy chi atri sti nd i ca t ed tha the rde pr e s s i on w a s due t o he rf i br om y a l gi a , buttha the rothe rphy s i c i a ns f o u n d “a n in te n tio n a l tr e m o r ” a n d n o p h y s ic a l lim ita tio n s d e s p ite h e rc o m p la in ts . N ext , the A L J f

ou nd thatthe no n-exam i ni ng ph ys i ci ans det erm i ned that R e e v e s c o u ld p e r f

o rm m e d iu m w o rk . I n lig h t o f R e e v e s ’s te s tim o n y th a t s h e c o u ld do hous e w ork, D r . G r e e nbe r g’ s a nd D r . H e rna nde z ’ s f i ndi ngs tha tR e e ve s ha d no ph ys i ca l l i m i t at i on s, and the no n-exam i ni ng ph ys i ci ans’ fi nd i ng s, the A L J a do pt ed the non- e xa m i ni ng phy s i c i a ns ’ a s s e s s m e nttha tR e e ve s c oul d pe r f orm m e di um w ork. T he A L J i nd i ca t ed thatR ee ves’ s R F C and l i m i t at i on s w er e: (1) occ as i on al clim b in g , b u t n ev ero n lad d er s, ro p es , o r s ca ff o ld s ( b as ed u p o n D r. G re en b er g ’s ex am i n at i o n an d m o d i fi ed b y R eev es t est i m o n y o n fat i g u e an d d i zzi n ess); (2 ) m u st w e a rc o rr e c tiv e le n s e s f o rv is io n ; ( 3 ) s h o u ld n o t w o rka r o u n d u n p r o te c te d h e ig h ts o rd a n g e r o u s m a c h in e s ( b a s e d u p o n h e rte s tim o n y o n d iz z in e s s ) ; ( 4 ) m ild to m od er at e pai n; and (5) bestsui t ed for s i m pl e w ork w i tho utprol on ged i nt erpers on al cont ac t(bas ed up on evi dence of m od er at e depres si on ). T he A L J det erm i ned that R e e ve s ’ s pa s tw ork a s al aundry w orke r , de f i ne d a s uns ki l l e d, m e di um l e ve l w ork, d id n o t r e q u ir e th e p e r f

o rm a n c e o f

w o rk - r e la te d a c tiv itie s p r e c lu d e d b y h e rR F C .11

T he A L J not ed thatthe V E ’ s t es t i m on y s up po rt ed thatconcl usi on and that R ee ves’ s c ou nsel ’ s quest i on s t o the V E i nv ol ved the as sum pt i on of l i m i t at i on s that w er e unp roven and no tpers uasi ve i n l i gh tof R ee ves’ s e xagg er at i on of her i m p ai rm en t s. T h u s, th e A L J d et erm i n ed th atR eev es w as n o tu n d er a “di sab i l i ty” a s d e f in e d in th e S o c ia l S e c u r ity A c t, a n d , a s s u c h , w a s n o t e n title d to D I B o rS S I . T he appe a l s c ounc i l de ni e d r e vi e w . T he di s tr i c tc our ta f f i rm e d the de c i s i on of

the C o m m is s io n e ro f

th e S S A ( “C o m m is s io n e r ” ) .

I I . D i s c u s s i on W e r ev iew a s o cial se cu rity ca se to d eter m in e w h eth erth e C o m m issio n er ’s deci si on i s s up po rt ed by subst ant i al evi dence and w hether the corre ctl egal s ta n d a r d s w e r e ap p lie d . L e w is v . C a lla h a n , 1 2 5 F .3 d 1 4 3 6 , 1 4 3 9 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 7 ) . T h e C o m m i ssi o n er’ s d eci si o n w i l l n o tb e d i stu rb ed “ i f, i n l i g h to f th e reco rd as a w hol e , i tappe ar s t o be s upport e d by s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e , ” w hi c h i s “ m or e tha n a s c in tillaa n d is s u c h r e le v a n t e v id e n c e a s ar e a s o n ab le p e r s o n w o u ld a c c e p t to s u p p o r t ac o n c lu s io n .” I d . a t 1 4 3 9 - 4 0 . A c la im a n t ap p ly in g f

o rd is ab ility b e n e f

its m u s t p r o v e th a t s h e is d is ab le d . 2 0 C .F .R . § 4 0 4 .1 5 1 2 ; M o o r e v . B a rn h a r t, 4 0 5 F .3 d 1 2 0 8 , 1 2 1 1 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) . T h e S o ci al S ecu ri ty R eg u l at i o n s o u t l i n e a fi v e-st ep seq u en t i al ev al u at i o n p ro cess f orde t e rm i ni ng w he the rac l a i m a nti s di s abl e d. 20 C . F . R . § 404. 1520; J one s v.12

A pfel , 19 0 F . 3d 12 24 , 12 28 (11th C i r. 19 99 ). F i rs t , the cl ai m antm ustshow that s h e h a s n o t e n g a g e d in s u b s ta n tia l g a in f u l a c tiv ity . J o n e s , 1 9 0 F .3 d a t 1 2 2 8 . S e c ond, s he m us tpr ove tha ts he ha s as e ve r e i m pa i rm e ntorc om bi na t i on of im p a irm e n ts . I n s te p th r e e , if h e rim p a irm e n t m e e ts o re q u a ls alis te d im p a irm e n t, she i s aut om at i ca l l y f

ou nd di sabl ed. If

i tdo es no t , she m ustm ov e on t o st ep four, w h ere sh e m u stp ro v e th atsh e i s u n ab l e t o p erfo rm h er p astrel ev an tw o rk . F i n al l y, i f the c l a i m a ntc a nnotpe r f orm pa s tr e l e va ntw ork, the n the bur de n s hi f t s t o the C o m m is s io n e rin th e f

if th s te p to s h o w th a t th e r e is o th e rw o rka v a ilab le in s ig n if ic a n t n u m b e r s in th e n a tio n a l e c o n o m y th a t th e c la im a n t is ab le to p e r f o rm . I d . (A ) A L J’s E va l u ati on of th e M ed i calE vi d en ce R e e ve s a r gue s on appe a l tha tthe A L J f a i l e d t o e va l ua t e a de qua t e l y the m edi ca l evi dence of re cord and t o art i cul at e the w ei gh the gave t o D r. A zar’ s, D r. Gr e e n b e r g ’ s , a n d Dr . He rn a n d e z ’ s o p i n i o n s . Re e v e s a l s o ma i n t a i n s th a tth e ALJ in c o rr e c tly f

o u n d th a t th e p h y s ic ia n s h a d o b s e rv e d n o p h y s ic a l im p a irm e n ts because the evi dence ac tual l y s ho w ed thatthe ph ys i ci ans a l l foun d thatR ee ves s u f f e r e d f r o m ar e s t i n g tr e mo rth a ti mp r o v e d wi th i n t e n t i o n , a n d th a tth e ALJ m e r e l y m i s i nt e rpr e t e d tha tf i ndi ng t o m e a n tha tR e e ve s w a s f a ki ng ore xa gge r a t i ng h e rtr e m o r . S h e a s s e rts th a t th e A L J a ls o f a ile d to a d d r e s s h e rg a it in s tab ility .13

A c c o r d in g to th e S S A ’s r e g u la tio n s , it g e n e r a lly “g iv e [ s ] m o r e w e ig h t to opi ni ons f

r om y ourtr e a t i ng s our c e s , s i nc e the s e s our c e s a r e l i ke l y t o be the m e di c a l pr of

e s s i ona l s m os tabl e t o pr ovi de ade t a i l e d, l ongi tudi na l pi c tur e of y our m edi ca l i m pai rm ent (s ) and m aybri ng a uni qu e per spec t i ve t o the m edi ca l evi dence. ” 20 C . F . R . § 4 04 . 15 27 (d)( 2). Indeed, the A L J “ m ustspec i fyw hat w e i ghti s gi ve n t o atr e a t i ng phy s i c i a n’ s opi ni on a nd a ny r e a s on f orgi vi ng i tno w e i ght , a nd f

a i l ur e t o do s o i s r e ve r s i bl e e rr or . ” M a c G r e gorv. B ow e n, 786 F . 2d 1 0 5 0 , 1 0 5 3 (1 1 th C i r. 1 9 8 6 ). W i th reg ard t o sp eci al i st s, th e S S A “ g en eral l y g i v e[s] m ore w ei gh tt o the op i ni on of a s peci al i stabou tm edi ca l i ss ues r el at ed t o h i s or her a r e ao f s p e c i a l ty th a n t o th e o p i n i o n o f as o u r c e w h o i s n o tas p e c i a l i s t . ” 2 0 C. F. R. § 404. 1527( d) ( 5) . A ddi t i ona l l y , a n A L J “ m us tc ons i de rf i ndi ngs of

[ none xa m i ni ng] S t a t e a ge nc y m e di c a l a nd ps y c hol ogi c a l c ons ul t a nt s . . . a s opi ni on evi dence, exce ptfor the ul t i m at e det erm i nat i on abou tw hether y ou ar e di sabl ed. ” 20 C . F . R . § 4 04 . 15 27 (f )( 2)(i ). R e vi e w of

the r e c or d i ndi c a t e s tha tD r . A z a rf ound tha tR e e ve s ha d am ood di sorderthatw as se cond ary t o h erm edi ca l i l l ness , and that , w hi l e R ee ves had been aha r d w orke r , s he c oul d notc ont i nue he rw ork “ a f t e rs he s t a r t e d e xpe r i e nc i ng de bi l i t a t i ng phy s i c a l s y m pt om s w hi c h c aus e d he rde pr e s s i on. ” I n hi s de c i s i on, the A L J a cc urat el y det ai l ed D r. A zar’ s m edi ca l op i ni on s, bu tal so no t ed thatD r. A zar14

ha d nottr e a t e d R e e ve s ’ s a l l e ge d phy s i c a l i m pa i rm e nt s . T he A L J w e nton t o f i nd tha tR e e ve s s uf

f e r e d f r om m i l d t o m ode r a t e m e nt a l i m pa i rm e nt s a nd de pr e s s i on, a n d a ls o in c lu d e d R e e v e s ’s m e n ta l lim ita tio n s in its e x p la n a tio n o f h e rR F C . A cc o rd in g ly, th e A L J d idn o t rejec t D r. A za r’s o p in io n w ith re g ar d to R ee v es ’s m ent al l i m i t at i on s, bu tra ther di d n otac ce ptD r. A zar’ s opi ni on thather m ent al i mp a i rme n t s we r e c au s e d b y h e rd e b i l i t a t i n g p h y s i c a l i l l n e s s . I n s o d o i n g , th e ALJ no t ed that : (1) D r. A zar w as R ee ves’ s psy chi atri stand d i d n ottre ather physi ca l i m pa i rm e nt s ; ( 2) the phy s i c a l i m pa i rm e nt s , a s i de nt i f i e d by R e e ve s ’ s phy s i c i a ns w ho tre at ed her physi ca l ai l m ent s, di d n otl ea d t o a fi nd i ng thatR ee ves w as d is ab le d ; a n d ( 3 ) th e p h y s ic ia n s w h o tr e a te d R e e v e s ’s p h y s ic a l im p a irm e n ts det erm i ned thatsom e of herph ys i ca l prob l em s m ayhave been a re sul tof her m e nt a l i m pa i rm e nt s . T he r e f or e , de s pi t e R e e ve s ’ s a r gum e ntt o the c ontr a ry , the A L J g av e w eig h t t o D r. A za r’s o p in io n to th e e x ten t th at itco m m en ted o n R ee v es ’s m e nt a l c ondi t i on, butthe A L J r e j e c t e d tha topi ni on, w i th s uppor t i ng r e a s ons , t o the e x te n t th a t it m a d e f

in d in g s a s to R e e v e s ’s p h y s ic a l im p a irm e n ts . R e e v e s s e c o n d ly c o n te n d s th a t th e A L J d id n o t e x p la in th e w e ig h t, if a n y , it g a v e to D r . G r e e n b e r g ’s a n d D r . H e rn a n d e z ’s o p in io n s , n o rd id th e A L J c o rr e c tly i nt e rpr e tD r . G r e e nbe r g’ s f i ndi ngs . D e s pi t e R e e ve s ’ s a s s e r t i on, the r e c or d doe s not e s t abl i s h tha tthe A L J di d notc ons i de rthos e doc t or s ’ opi ni ons ori ndi c a t e the15

w ei gh ti taf

forded them . A s t o D r. G re enberg’ s opi ni on , the A L J not ed that D r. G re enberg foun d thatR ee ves had a r es t i ng tre m or, suff er ed fr om no ph ys i ca l i m pai rm ent s or neurol og i c abn orm al i ty, and thatshe w as di sabl ed fr om her ps y c hi a tr i c s y m pt om s . A r e vi e w of D r . G r e e nbe r g’ s m e di c a l e vi de nc e i n the r e c o r d c o n f

i rms th e ALJ ’ s i n t e rp r e t a t i o n o f Dr . Gr e e n b e r g ’ s o p i n i o n . Th e ALJ f u r th e rn o te d th a t D r . H e rn a n d e z ’s o p in io n w a s s im ila rto D r . G r e e n b e r g ’s , a f i ndi ng tha tthe r e c or d a ga i n s uppor t s . T hus , the A L J di d notm i s i nt e rpr e tthe o p in io n s o f

e ith e rD r . G r e e n b e r g o rD r . H e rn a n d e z . M o r e o v e r , r e v ie w o f

th e A L J ’s d e c is io n in d ic a te s th a t h e g a v e f u ll w e ig h t to D r . G r e e n b e r g ’s a n d D r . H e rn a n d e z ’s o p in io n s . W h ile th e A L J d id n o t e x p lic itly i nd i ca t e how he w ei gh ed tho se op i ni on s, he di d i nd i ca t e thathe ac ce pt ed them as true f a c t s . A ddi t i ona l l y , the A L J c ons i de r e d the opi ni ons of the non- e xa m i ni ng s t a t e a g e n c y me d i c a l c o n s u l t a n t s , s p e c i f i c a l l y , th a tRe e v e s c o u l d p e r f o rm me d i u ml evel w ork, i n con

j un ct i on w i th “ the fa ctthatbo th [D r. G re enberg] and [D r. H e rn a n d e z ] f

o u n d n o p h y s ic a l lim its .” T h e r e f o r e , th e A L J d id n o t r e

je c t o rf a il to affo rd p ro p er w ei g h tt o th e o p i n i o n s o f R eev es’ s treat i n g p h ysi ci an s, as th o se opi ni ons r e l a t e d t o R e e ve s ’ s phy s i c a l i m pa i rm e nt s . T he i s s ue tha tR e e ve s r a i s e s on ap p e a l is th a t th e A L J d id n o t c o n s id e rth o s e p h y s ic ia n s ’ o p in io n s a s th e y r e la te d to her m ent al i m pai rm ent s. T o the ext entthatthe A L J di sr egar ded D rs . G re enberg16

and H ernand ez ’ s opi ni on thatR ee ves’ s physi ca l i m pai rm ent s w er e are sul tof her m ent al i m pai rm ent s, thatdet erm i nat i on w as harm l es s bec ause , as es t abl i shed ab o v e , th e A L Ja lr e a d yh a d g iv e n w e ig h t to D r . A z a r ’s p s y c h ia tr ic a s s e s s m e n t in d e te rm in in g th a t R e e v e s ’s p s y c h ia tr ic im p a irm e n ts d id n o t a m o u n t to ad is ab ility . S ee D io rio v . H ec k ler, 7 2 1 F .2 d 7 2 6 , 7 2 8 (1 1 th C ir.1 9 8 3 ) ( A L J’s m i sc hara ct er i za t i on of cl ai m ant ’ s pas tw ork w as harm l es s e rr or because such c ha r a c t e r i z a t i on of

voc a t i ona l f

a c t or s w a s i rr e l e va ntw he r e the A L J f ound no s e v e r e im p a irm e n t) . L a s tly , R e e v e s a r g u e s th a t th e A L J f a ile d to a d d r e s s h e rg a it in s tab ility . Re v i e w o f

th e ALJ ’ s d e c i s i o n r e v e a l s th a tRe e v e s c o rr e c t l y a s s e r t s th a tth e ALJ f a i l e d t o a ddr e s s e xpl i c i t l ythe e vi de nc e of he rga i ti ns t abi l i ty . I n l i ghtof the reco rd as a w h o l e, h o w ev er, th e A L J’ s o m i ssi o n i n th i s reg ard i s h arm l ess b ecau se th e m e d ic a l e v id e n c e is in c o n s is te n t c o n c e rn in g R e e v e s ’s g a it im p a irm e n t. S e e D io r io , 7 2 1 F .2 d a t 7 2 8 . W h ile R e e v e s r e g u la r ly c o m p la in e d o f g a it i nst abi l i ty, se vera l of her physi ci ans f ou nd her gai tt o b e norm al . F or i nst ance , D r. A za r r ep o rted th at R ee v es ’s g ait sh o w ed im p ro v em en t, an d D r. G re en b er g ’s e xa m i na t i on r e ve a l e d R e e ve s ha d anorm a l ga i t . F ur the rm or e , the r e por t s of the n o n - e x a m in in g s ta te a g e n c y p h y s ic ia n in d ic a te d th a t R e e v e s c o u ld s ta n d o rw a lk w ith n o rm a l b r e a k s f

o rap p r o x im a te ly s ix h o u r s in a n e ig h t- h o u rw o rkd a y .17

( B) R e e v e s ’ s C o m pl a i nt s o f Pa i n a nd Fa t i g ue R ee ves a l so ar gu es on appeal thatthe A L J e rr ed i n d i sr egar di ng her t e s t i m ony of

he rpa i n, f

a t i gue , a nd w e a kne s s . S he c ont e nds tha tthe A L J ’ s f i ndi ng tha ts he w a s abl e t o pe r f orm w ork a tam e di um l e ve l , a nd the A L J ’ s a dopt i on of the no n-exam i ni ng st at e a gency physi ci an’ s opi ni on , w as i n d i re ctcontra stt o h er te s tim o n y . W e h a v e e s tab lis h e d ath r e e - p a r t te s t th a t ap p lie s w h e n ac la im a n t a tte m p ts t o de m ons tr a t e di s abi l i ty thr ough he row n t e s t i m ony of pa i n orothe rs ubj e c t i ve sym p t o m s. H o l tv . S u l l i v an , 9 2 1 F . 2 d 1 2 2 1 , 1 2 2 3 (1 1 th C i r. 1 9 9 1 ). T h e t est r e qui r e s tha tthe c l a i m a nte s t abl i s h: ( 1) e vi de nc e of

a n unde r l y i ng m e di c a l c ondi t i on a nd e i the r( 2) obj ec t i ve m edi ca l evi dence thatconfi rm s the se veri ty of the al l eged pai n ari si ng fr om thatcond i t i on or (3) thatthe obj ec t i vel y det erm i ned m e d ic a l c o n d itio n is o f

s u c h as e v e r ity th a t it c a n b e r e a s o n ab ly e x p e c te dto g iv e r is e to th e a lle g e d p a in . I d. “ I f the A L J de c i de s nott o c r e di ts uc h t e s t i m ony , he m us ta r t i c ul a t e e xpl i c i ta nd a de qua t e r e a s ons f

ordoi ng s o. F a i l ur e t o a r t i c ul a t e the r e a s ons f ordi s c r e di t i ng s ubj e c t i ve pa i n t e s t i m ony r e qui r e s , a s am a tt e rof l a w , tha tthe t e s t i m ony be a c c e p te d a s tru e .” I d . ( c ita tio n o m itte d ) . A c a r e f ul r e vi e w of

the r e c or d r e ve a l s tha tthe A L J a r t i c ul a t e d r e a s ons f or di s c r e di t i ng R e e ve s ’ s t e s t i m ony , w hi c h r e a s ons a r e s uppor t e d by the a dm i ni s tr a t i ve18

hear i ng transcr i pt . S ee H ol t , 92 1 F . 2d at12 23 . T he qu es t i on no w becom es w h e th e rth e A L J ’s r e a s o n s w e r e a d e q u a te in lig h t o f th e th r e e - p a r t te s t. S e e H o lt, 92 1 F . 2d at12 23 . A s t o the fi rs tpartof the t es t , the re cord i nd i ca t es thatR ee ves s uf f e r e d f r om the unde r l y i ng m e di c a l c ondi t i ons of f i br om y a l gi a , a nxi e ty , a nd depres si on . H ow ever , the re cord do es no tsupp orta f i nd i ng thatthere w as o b je c tiv e m e d ic a l e v id e n c e th a t c o n f irm e d th e s e v e r ity o f

R e e v e s ’s p a in o rf

a tig u e . A c c or di ng t o the m e di c a l e vi de nc e , R e e ve s c om pl a i ne d of he rf a t i gue , a nd oc c a s i ona l l y he rpa i n, butnone of he rphy s i c i a ns e ve rdi a gnos e d he rw i th a m edi ca l cond i t i on thatsupp ort ed tho se sy m pt om s nor di d they e ver pres cr i be her m e di c a t i on f

orpa i n. A s s uc h, R e e ve s di d notm e e tthe thr e e - pa r tt e s tr e qui r e d by H ol t . T hus , the A L J di d note rri n di s c r e di t i ng R e e ve s ’ s s ubj e c t i ve t e s t i m ony reg ard i n g h er p ai n , fat i g u e, an d o th er sym p t o m s. I I I . C on c l u s i on I n l i ghtof

the f or e goi ng, w e c onc l ude tha ts ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e s uppor t s the A L J’ s f i nd i ng thatR ee ves w as no tdi sabl ed. T hu s, the di stri ctcourt ’ s a ff i rm ance o f th e C o m m i ssi o n er’ s d en i al o f D IB an d S S I p aym en t s i s AF F I RME D.