FILED U.S. COURT OF AP PEALS ELEV ENT HC IR C UIT MAY 31 , 2006 THOMAS K. KAHN 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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_________________________ ( M ay 31, 2006) B efo re A N D E R S O N , B IR C H an d H U L L , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: F orr e s tM i l l e ra ppe a l s the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s or de ra f f i r m i ng the2

C om m i s s i one r ’ s de ni a l of hi s a ppl i c a t i on fordi s abi l i ty i ns ur a nc e be ne f i t s , 42 U . S . C . § 405( g) . A f

t e rr e vi e w , w e va c a t e a nd r e m a nd.

I . B AC KG RO UN D W e f i rs tre vi ew M i l l er ’ s m edi ca l hi st ory a nd then the A dm i ni stra t i ve L aw J u d g e ’s ( “A L J ” ) d e c is io n . A . M i l l e r ’ s Te s t i m o ny I n hi s a ppl i c a t i on fors oc i a l s e c ur i ty be ne f i t s , M i l l e ra l l e ge d tha t , a s of S e p te m b e r1 3 , 1 9 9 8 , h e w a s d is a b le d d u e to o s te o a r th r itis a n d a llie d d is o r d e r s in h is k n e e c a u s e d b y a n in ju r y a t w o rk . A tthe adm i ni stra t i ve heari ng , M i l l er , w ho w as forty- si x years ol d, t es t i fi ed atl ength as fol l ow s. M i l l erl as tw orked as apri son g uard and p re vi ou sl y had pe r for m e d c ons tr uc t i on w ork fors e ve r a l e l e c tr i c a l c om pa ni e s a nd a tt e nde d tr a de sch o o l . M i l l er’ s k n ee h ad b een cau si n g p ai n i n h i s l efth i p an d b ackfo r th e p ast m on th and a hal f thatw as so se vere att i m es thathe coul d n otw al k. H e a l w ay s had p ai n i n h i s k n ee, ev en w h en i tw as n o tb eari n g w ei g h t , an d i tal m o stal w ays s w e l l e d. M i l l e rc oul d s t a nd onl y fora boutf i ve m i nut e s , c oul d w a l k l e s s tha n 100 fe e t , a n d wa s u n s u r e a s t o h o w l o n g h e c o u l d s i twi th o u tc h a n g i n g p o s i t i o n s . He bel i eved he coul d n otperform a s i t -dow n j ob beca use he had t o l i e dow n w henever hi s l e g “ ga ve out . ” T ha tty pe of pa i n oc c urr e d a tl e a s tonc e aw e e k a nd l a s t e d for3

t w o t o thr e e da y s . H e a t i ng pa ds , i c e pa c ks a nd pa i n m e di c i ne r e l i e ve d the pa i n, but s le e p w a s d if

f ic u lt d u e to th e p a in in h is k n e e , h ip , a n d b a c k . A s t o h i s d ai l y act i v i t i es, M i l l er co u l d l i fta sack o f g ro ceri es o n so m e d ays and d ri ve a c ar . H i s gi rl fr i end u sual l y t oo k car e of hou se ho l d cho re s a nd grocery s h o p p in g , b u t M ille rs o m e tim e s p r e p a r e d h is o w n m e a ls . M ille rp a id h is o w n b ills . Hi s m a i n p r o b l e m wa s g e tt i n g i n a n d o u to f th e b a th tu b , b u th e u s e d as h o we r . He had p robl em s gett i ng dres se d b utcoul d d o i thi m se l f. H e a tt ended chu rc h o nce a m o n th , b u t w a s u n a b le to p a r tic ip a te in m o s t o f h is h o b b ie s d u e to h is k n e e p a in . M ille ro c c a s io n a lly u s e d ac a n e to w a lk . B . M i l l er ’s M ed i cal H i st ory A ft erM i l l eri nj ured hi s knee by s t eppi ng i n a ho l e a tw ork, he sa w D r. Ja m es P ri ce , an ortho pedi c s peci al i st , i n S ept em ber 199 8. D r. P ri ce di agno se d M i l l er w i th a l i gam entt ear a nd perform ed ar throscopi c s urgery i n O ct ob er19 98 . D r. P ri ce sa w M i l l erm ore than t w enty ti m es bet w ee n 1 99 8 and A ug ust20 01 . D r. P ri ce ’ s not es i nd i ca t ed thatM i l l erre peat edl y e xp re ss ed i nt er es ti n a t ot al kn ee re pl ac em entsurger y, bu tD r. P ri ce i nform ed hi m thatthi s s ho ul d b e al as tre sort tre atm entdu e t o h i s y ou ng age. D r. P ri ce on l y s aw M i l l eron ce i n 2 00 2 and on ce in 2 0 0 3 . O n A u g u s t 1 8 , 2 0 0 3 , D r . P r ic e o p in e d th a t M ille rw a s p e r m a n e n tly di s a bl e d, tha the c oul d notl i f tm or e tha n t e n pounds , a nd tha the c oul d s t a nd or4

w a l k forl e s s tha n one houri n a n e i ght - hourw ork da y , butc oul d s i tw i thout r e s tr i c t i on. D r . P r i c e f

ur the ropi ne d tha tM i l l e rc oul d nots qua t , t w i s t , orc l i m b, a n d c o u ld o n ly o c c a s io n a lly ( o n e to th r e e h o u r s d a ily ) b e n d o rp u s h a n d p u ll. A ft erhi s 199 8 surgery , M i l l erw as re fe rr ed t o p hysi ca l therapy bu tw as di sc harged i n F ebruary 19 99 af t eratt endi ng on l y f

i ve of t w el ve sc hedu l ed a p p o in tm e n ts a n d fa ilin g to r e s c h e d u le h is la s t c a n c e lle d a p p o in tm e n t. D u r in g h is ph ys i ca l therapy se ss i on s, M i l l ert ol er at ed the st ati on ar y bi cy cl e, gym squat s, heel r a i s e s , qua d s e t s , ha m s tr i ng c ur l s , a nd s tr a i ghtl e g r a i s e s . M i l l e rc om pl a i ne d of pai n, bu tw as gett i ng a bi tstrong erw i th the exerc i se s. A N ov em ber 199 8 report fr om the ph ys i ca l therapi st s i nd i ca t ed thatM i l l erw as a c hron i c s m ok erw ho had s m o k e d th r e e p a c k s p e rd a y fo rth e p a s t tw e n ty y e a r s . O n O ct ob er31 , 20 01 , a s t at e a gency, no n-exam i ni ng ph ys i ci an as se ss ed that M i l l er ’ s abi l i ty t o p ush and pu l l i n h i s l ow erextre m i t i es w as l i m i t ed and that M i l l e rc oul d oc c a s i ona l l y l i f tt w e nty pounds , f

r e que ntl y l i f

tt e n pounds , s t a nd or w al k and si tfor abo utsi x h ou rs of a w orkd ay . O n F ebruary 11 , 20 02 , D r. R ob er t W illin g h a m , J r ., an o n - e x a m in in g p h y s ic ia n , a s s e s s e d th a t M ille rc o u ld oc c a s i ona l l y l i f

tt w e nty pounds , f

r e que nt l y l i f

tt e n pounds , s t a nd orw a l k a nd s i tfor a b o u t s ix h o u r s o f

aw o rk d a y , a n d h a d n o lim ita tio n s in h is a b ility to p u s h a n d p u ll. O n January 27 , 20 03 , D r. Je ff re y F ri ed, an ortho pedi c s urgeon , exam i ned5

M i l l erand w as the exam i ni ng , no n-tre ati ng ph ys i ci an i n the ca se . D r. F ri ed op i ned th a t M ille rc o u ld o c c a s io n a lly lif t am a x im u m o f

f if ty p o u n d s a n d f

r e q u e n tly lif

t a m a xi m um of

t e n pounds , c oul d s t a nd orw a l k forthr e e hour s i n a n e i ght - hour w o rk d a y , a n d c o u ld s it w ith o u t im p a ir m e n t. D r . F r ie d a d v is e d th a t M ille rs h o u ld a voi d w orki ng on une ve n t e rr a i n due t o i ns t abi l i ty a nd tha thi s pa i n m e di c a t i on co u l d affect hi s al ert n ess. O n J une 24, 2003, D r . J a m e s T i s on, M i l l e r ’ s pr i m a r y c a r e phy s i c i a n, e xa m i ne d M i l l e ra nd s t a t e d tha tM i l l e rha d ac hr oni c uns t abl e r i ghtkne e a nd chroni c pai n, w hi ch precl ud ed gai nful em pl oym ent . O n A ug ust15 , 20 03 , D r. T i son o pi ned thatM i l l erhad si gn i fi ca ntfunct i on al l i m i t ati on s due t o h i s r i gh tkn ee w h ic h r e q u ir e d f

r e q u e n t m e d ic a tio n fo rp a in r e lie f , a n d c o n c lu d e d th a t th is w o u ld prec l ud e hi m fr om em pl oym entthatre qu i re s m anual dext er i ty a nd al er t ness . D r. T is o n c o n c lu d e d th a t M ille rw o u ld r e q u ir e k n e e r e p la c e m e n t s u r g e r y in o r d e rto r e tu r n to “f

u n c tio n a l c a p a c ity .” I n s um m a r y , a l l the doc t or s e s s e nt i a l l y a gr e e d tha tM i l l e rc oul d s i tw i thout r e s tr i c t i on, butdi s a gr e e d a boutthe e xt e ntt o w hi c h M i l l e rc oul d s t a nd, w a l k, a nd l i ft . B oth tre ati ng ph ys i ci ans, D r. P ri ce and D r. T i son, det er m i ned thatM i l l erw as di sabl ed. S peci fi ca l l y, D r. P ri ce op i ned thatM i l l ercoul d l i ftno m ore than t en pounds a nd c oul d s t a nd orw a l k l e s s tha n one hourada y . T he t w o non- e xa m i ni ng6

ph ys i ci ans c on cl ud ed thatM i l l ercoul d l i ftt w enty pou nd s occ as i on al l y a nd t en pounds f r e que nt l y , a nd s t a nd orw a l k s i x hour s ada y . T he one e xa m i ni ng, nontr e a t i ng phy s i c i a n opi ne d tha tM i l l e rc oul d l i f tam a xi m um of

f i f ty pounds o ccasi o n al l y an d t en p o u n d s freq u en t l y, an d co u l d st an d o r w al kth ree h o u rs a d ay. C . T h e A L J’ s D e c i s i on W e out l i ne the fi ve-s t ep process the A L J m ustfol l ow i n revi ew i ng an ap p li ca ti o n fo r s o cial se cu rity d isab il ity b en ef it s. A n A L J m u st ev alu ate M il ler’s c l a i m w i th r e s pe c tt o the s e f i ve c r i t e r i a , s e tfor th i n 20 C . F . R . § 404. 1520: 1 . Is M i l l er p erfo rm i n g su b st an t i al g ai n fu l act i v i ty? 2 . D o e s M ille rh a v e as e v e r e im p a ir m e n t? 3. D oes M i l l erhave a s ever e i m pai rm entthatm ee t s or e qu al s al i st ed im p a ir m e n t? 4. C a n M i l l e rpe r for m hi s pa s tr e l e va ntw ork? 5. B as ed on M i l l er ’ s a ge, educati on , and w ork exp er i ence , ca n M i l l erperform o th er w o rko f th e so rtfo u n d i n th e n at i o n al eco n o m y? I n th i s c a s e , th e ALJ fo l l o we d th e f i v e s t e p p r o c e s s . As fo rth e f i r s ts t e p , th e ALJ c onc l ude d tha tM i l l e rha 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 o n setd at e o f h i s al l eg ed d i sab i l i ty. A s fo rth e s e c o n d s te p , th e A L J fo u n d th a t M ille rs u f fe r e d f r o m p o s ttr a u m a tic a r th r itis in h is r ig h t k n e e a n d th a t M ille rn e e d e d ato ta l k n e e r e p la c e m e n t.The AL Jalso found that Miller’s alleg ation of alc ohol abuse a s a “severe ” and disa bling 1 imp airment w a s n ot s ub stanti ate d b y thee videnc ebe c aus ehis alc oh ol u seonthewe ekend s did not affect his capacity

to work. Miller does not challeng e this finding on a ppeal. Theref

ore, he has abandoned the issue. SeeAllstate Ins. Co. v. Swann, 27 F.3d 1539, 1542 (11th Cir. 1994) (“I ssues that clea

rly arenot desig nated in the initial brief ordinarily areconsidere d abandone d.”). 7 T h e A L J d e te r m in e d th a t th is w a s a“s e v e r e ” im p a ir m e n t. 1 A s for the thi rd st ep, the A L J c om pare d M i l l er ’ s i m pai rm ent s t o the l i st ed i m pa i r m e nt s . A l though the l i s ti s t oo vol um i nous t o r e c i t e he r e , the purpos e of the lis tin g s is to “s tr e a m lin e [ ] th e d e c is io n p r o c e s s b y id e n tif y in g th o s e c la im a n ts w hos e m e di c a l i m pa i r m e nt s a r e s o s e ve r e tha ti ti s l i ke l y the y w oul d be found d i s a b l e d r e g a r d l e s s o f

th e i rv o c a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d . ” Bo w e n v . Y u c k e r t , 4 8 2 U . S. 1 3 7 , 1 5 3 , 1 0 7 S . C t. 2 2 8 7 , 2 2 9 7 (1 9 8 7 ). T h e A L J c o n clu d ed th at M il ler’s i m p ai rm en t s d i d n o tm eeto r eq u al an y o f th e l i st ed i m p ai rm en t s. A s forthe four th s t e p, the A L J found tha tM i l l e r ’ s r e s i dua l f unc t i oni ng capaci ty ( “ R F C ”) w as for “ l i gh tw ork as he has no l i m i t ati on s i n si tt i ng , and can st and and w al k three ho urs c om bi ned. ” T he A L J l i m i t ed M i l l ert o u nski l l ed w ork du e t o the si de ef

fe ct s of pai n m edi ca t i on . A vo ca t i on al expert(“ V E ”) t es t i fi ed tha tba s e d on a n R F C forl i ghtw ork, M i l l e rw a s unabl e t o pe r for m hi s pa s tr e l e va nt w ork. I n de t e r m i ni ng M i l l e r ’ s R F C , the A L J found tha tM i l l e r ’ s “ a c t i vi t i e s of d a ily liv in g a r e n o t c r e d ib le w ith h is a lle g a tio n s o f d is ab ility ” a n d th a t “[ h ]is de s c r i pt i on of

di s a bl i ng pa i n a nd s y m pt om s i s nots uppor t e d by hi s tr e a t i ng or8

exam i ni ng source s. ” N ot abl y, al tho ug h D r. P ri ce and D r. T i son con cl ud ed that M i l l e rw a s “ pe r m a ne nt l y di s a bl e d” orpr e c l ude d f r om ga i nf

ul e m pl oy m e nt , the A LJ d e t e r mi n e d th a t“ [ n ] o p h y s i c i a n s u p p o r t s d i s ab i l i ty ” a n d al i g h tw o rkRFC w a s s u p p o r te d b y D r . F r ie d ’s a s s e s s m e n t a s w e ll a s o th e rm e d ic a l a s s e s s m e n ts in th e r e c o r d . T h e A L J d e s c r ib e d M ille r ’s tr e a tm e n t h is to r y w ith D r . P r ic e , b u t d id n o t state w ith an y s p ec ificity th e w eig h t, if an y, g iv en to D r. P rice ’s o r D r. T iso n ’s a s s e s s m e nt s . T hus , the A L J fa i l e d t o e xpl a i n the w e i ghthe ga ve t o the tr e a t i ng p h ysi ci an s’ o p i n i o n s an d w h y h e rej ect ed th ei r co n cl u si o n s. A ts t e p f i ve , the A L J a s ke d the V E w he the rs om e one w i th M i l l e r ’ s l i ght R F C and add i t i on al spec i fi c w ork res tri cti on s w as capabl e of m aki ng a vocati on al a dj us t m e ntt o othe rw ork. T he V E opi ne d tha ts om e one w i th M i l l e r ’ s R F C a nd r e s tr i c t i ons c oul d w ork unde rthe l i ghtl e ve l a s a n e l e c tr i c a l a s s e m bl e rort a gge r , or unde rthe s e de nt a r y , uns ki l l e d l e ve l a s al e ns i ns e r t e r , t e l e phone or de rc l e rk, or hand as se m bl er . T he A L J then fou nd thatM i l l erw as no tdi sabl ed because there w a s w o rkin th e n a tio n a l e c o n o m y th a t h e c o u ld p e r fo r m . W e n o te , h o w e v e r , th a t th e A L J a ls o a s k e d th e V E w h e th e rs o m e o n e w ith M i l l e r ’ s s e l f- de s c r i be d l i m i t a t i ons , as e de nt a r y R F C a nd unabl e t o s us t a i n a co m b i n at i o n o f si tt i n g , st an d i n g , an d w al k i n g ei g h th o u rs a d ay an d fo rty h o u rs a w ee k o n a cont i nu i ng basi s, coul d p er form other w ork. T he V E op i ned that“Our review in a Social Security caseis the same as that of the district court.”Miles v. 2 Chater, 84 F .3d 1397, 1400 (11th Cir. 1996). “We may not decide thefac ts anew, reweigh the evidenc e, or substitute our judg ment for that of the [Commissioner].” Bloodsworth v. He ckler , 70 3 F .2 d 1 23 3, 12 39 (1 1thCir . 1 98 3) . Rather, wemus t defer to theCommis sio ner’ s de c isi onif it is supported by

substantial evidence . Id. “Substantial evidenc e is more than a scintilla, but less than a preponderance . It is such relevant evidenceas a reasona ble per son would acc ept as adequateto support a conc lusion.” Id. “If the Commissioner’s dec ision is s upported by substantial evidencewe must aff irm, even if theproof preponderates ag ainst it.” Miles, 84 F.3d at 1400. 9 s o m e o n e in th a t c o n d itio n w o u ld b e u n ab le to s u s ta in c o m p e titiv e e m p lo y m e n t. T he di s tr i c tc our ta f

f i r m e d the A L J ’ s de c i s i on, a nd M i l l e rt i m e l y a ppe a l e d. I I . DI S CUS S I ON O n a ppe a l , M i l l e ra r gue s tha tthe A L J ( 1) i m pr ope r l y e va l ua t e d the opi ni ons o f D r s . P r ic e a n d T is o n , a n d ( 2 ) im p r o p e r ly e v a lu a te d M ille r ’s te s tim o n y . W e di s c us s e a c h i s s ue i n tur n. 2 A . Ev a l ua t i o n o f

Phys i c i a ns ’ O pi ni o ns A s M ille rp o in ts o u t, D r . P r ic e o p in e d th a t M ille rw a s “p e r m a n e n tly d is a b le d ” a n d th a t M ille rc o u ld n o t lif t m o r e th a n te n p o u n d s , c o u ld s ta n d o rw a lk fo rle s s th a n o n e h o u rin a n e ig h t- h o u rw o rkd a y , a n d c o u ld s it w ith o u t r e s tr ic tio n . D r . P r ic e f

u r th e ro p in e d th a t M ille rc o u ld n o t s q u a t, tw is t, o rc lim b , a n d c o u ld o n ly occa si on al l y bend o r push and pu l l . D r. T i son al so op i ned thatM i l l er ’ s knee i nj ury

“ pr e c l ude d ga i nf

ul e m pl oy m e nt ” a nd hi s pa i n m e di c a t i on pr e c l ude d hi m f r om e m pl oy m e nttha tr e qui r e d m a nua l de xt e r i ty a nd a l e r t ne s s . T he s e tr e a t i ng p h ysi ci an s’ t est i m o n y m u stb e g i v en su b st an t i al o r co n si d erab l e w ei g h tu n l ess10

“ good c a us e ” i s s how n t o the c ontr a r y . C r a w for d v. C om m ’ rof S oc . S e c . , 363 F . 3d 11 55 , 11 59 (11th C i r. 20 04 ); se e a l so 20 C . F . R . §§ 40 4. 15 27 (d)( 2), 4 1 6 .9 2 7 ( d ) ( 2 ) .

“ T hi s C our tha s c onc l ude d ‘ good c a us e ’ e xi s t s w he n the : ( 1) tr e a t i ng phy s i c i a n’ s opi ni on w a s notbol s t e r e d by the e vi de nc e ; ( 2) e vi de nc e s uppor t e d a c ontr a r y f

i ndi ng; or( 3) tr e a t i ng phy s i c i a n’ s opi ni on w a s c onc l us or y ori nc ons i s t e nt w i th the doc t or ’ s ow n m e di c a l r e c or ds . ” P hi l l i ps v. B a r nha r t , 357 F . 3d 1232, 1240- 41 ( 11th C i r . 2004) . S oc i a l s e c ur i ty r e gul a ti ons a l s o pr ovi de gui de l i ne s for th e A L J to u s e w h e n e v a lu a tin g m e d ic a l o p in io n e v id e n c e . S e e 2 0 C .F .R . § 4 0 4 . 1 5 2 7 . T h e A L J co n si d ers m an y fact o rs w h en w ei g h i n g m ed i cal o p i n i o n s, i ncl ud i ng the exam i ni ng re l ati on shi p, the tre atm entre l ati on shi p, w hether a n opi ni on i s a m pl y s uppor t e d, w he the ra n opi ni on i s c ons i s t e ntw i th the r e c or d, a nd a doc t or ’ s s pe c i a l i z a t i on. S e e i d. § 404. 1527( d) . G e ne r a l l y , the opi ni ons of e xa m i ni ng phy s i c i a ns a r e gi ve n m or e w e i ghttha n non- e xa m i ni ng phy s i c i a ns a nd the opi ni ons of

tr e a t i ng phy s i c i a ns a r e gi ve n m or e w e i ghttha n non- tr e a t i ng ph ys i ci ans. S ee i d. § 4 04 . 15 27 (d)( 1)-( 2). T re ati ng source s are gi ven m ore w ei gh tbeca use th e s e s o u r c e s a r e lik e ly to b e th e m e d ic a l p r o fe s s io n a ls m o s t ab le to p ro v i d e a d et ai l ed , l o n g i tu d i n al p i ctu re o f yo u r m ed i cal i m p ai rm en t (s) and m ay bri ng a uni qu e per spec t i ve t o the m edi ca l evi dence that c a nnotbe obt a i ne d f

r om the obj e c t i ve m e di c a l f i ndi ngs a l one orf

r om11

r e por t s of

i ndi vi dua l e xa m i na t i ons , s uc h a s c ons ul t a t i ve e xa m i na t i ons o r b ri ef h o sp i t al i zat i o n s. Id. § 4 04 . 15 27 (d)( 2). If a tre ati ng source ’ s opi ni on on the nature a nd se veri ty of a n i m pa i r m e nti s w e l l - s uppor t e d by obj e c t i ve e vi de nc e a nd i s noti nc ons i s t e ntw i th the o th e rs u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e in th e r e c o r d , th e A L J is to g iv e it c o n tr o llin g w e ig h t. I d . I f th e A L J d o e s n o t g iv e atr e a tin g p h y s ic ia n ’s o p in io n c o n tr o llin g w e ig h t,

“ [ t ] he A L J m us tc l e a r l y a r t i c ul a t e the r e a s ons forgi vi ng l e s s w e i ghtt o the opi ni on of atr e a t i ng phy s i c i a n, a nd the fa i l ur e t o do s o i s r e ve r s i bl e e rr or . ” L e w i s v. Ca l l a h a n , 1 2 5 F. 3 d 1 4 3 6 , 1 4 4 0 ( 1 1 th Ci r . 1 9 9 7 ) ; s e e a l s o 2 0 C. F. R. §§ 404. 1527( d) ( 2) , 416. 927( d) ( 2) ( r e qui r i ng the a ge nc y t o “ gi ve good r e a s ons ” for no tgi vi ng w ei gh tt o a tre ati ng ph ys i ci an’ s opi ni on ). H ow ever , w hen an i ncorrec t appl i ca t i on of the re gu l ati on s r es ul t s i n h ar m l es s e rr or because the corre ct a ppl i c a t i on w oul d notc ontr a di c tthe A L J ’ s ul t i m a t e f i ndi ngs , the A L J ’ s de c i s i on w i l l st and. S ee D i ori o v . H ec kl er , 72 1 F . 2d 72 6, 72 8 (11 th C i r. 19 83 ). W hi l e D r . P r i c e ’ s a nd D r . T i s on’ s opi ni ons r e ga r di ng di s abi l i ty a r e not b in d in g o n th e A L J , s e e 2 0 C .F .R . § 4 0 4 .1 5 2 7 ( e ) ( 1 ) , th e A L J m u s t c le a r ly a r t i c ul a t e the r e a s ons forgi vi ng l e s s w e i ghtt o the i ropi ni ons , a nd the A L J di d not a de qua t e l y do s o i n thi s c a s e . T he r e c or d r e ve a l s tha tboth D r . P r i c e a nd D r . T i s on w e r e “ tr e a t i ng phy s i c i a ns ” unde rthe r e gul a t i ons . T he A L J , how e ve r , di d notD e s p itethep hy s ic ian s ’ c o n c lu s io n s th at M il ler w a s dis ab le d , theALJ f

o u n dth at “ [n ]o 3 p hy s ic ians up p o rts dis ab ility [. ]” 12 r e fe r e n c e e ith e rp h y s ic ia n ’s c o n c lu s io n in h is d e c is io n . T h e o n ly r e fe r e n c e to 3 e ith e rd o c to ris th e A L J ’s r e c ita tio n o f th e fa c t th a t M ille rs a w D r . P r ic e in S ept em ber 199 8 w i th com pl ai nt s of knee pai n. Inst ea d, the A L J pri m ar i l y r el i ed o n th e e v a l u a t i o n o f

Dr . Fr i e d , a n e x a mi n i n g b u tn o n - tr e a t i n g p h y s i c i a n . Th e ALJ a l s o p r i m a r i l y u s e d th e e v a l u a t i o n b y Dr . F r i e d i n p o s i n g th e h y p o th e t i c a l t o th e VE a t th e h e a r in g . T h e r e fo r e , th e A L J c o m m itte d e rr o r . S e e L e w is , 1 2 5 F .3 d a t 1 4 4 0 . F urther, af

t ercare ful re vi ew of the re cord, w e are un abl e t o say the error w as h a r m le s s . B. M i l l e r ’ s Te s t i m o ny M i l l e ra l s o c ont e nds tha tthe A L J i m pr ope r l y di s c r e di t e d hi s ow n t e s t i m ony r e g a r d i n g h i s p a i n a n d a l l e g e d d i s ab i l i ty . I n e v a l u a t i n g M i l l e r ’ s t e s t i mo n y , th e ALJ r e l i e d on the non- tr e a t i ng phy s i c i a ns ’ a s s e s s m e nt s a nd di d nota ddr e s s the tr e a t i ng phy s i c i a ns ’ opi ni ons . T he r e for e , w e do nota ddr e s s M i l l e r ’ s t e s t i m ony i n l i ghtof ourde c i s i on t o r e m a nd thi s c a s e t o a l l ow the A L J t o pr ope r l y a ddr e s s the tr e a t i ng p h y s ic ia n s ’ o p in io n s . I I I . CONCL US I ON F or the abov e s t at ed re as on s, the j ud gm entof the di stri ctcourti s r ever se d and the ca se i s r em anded w i th i nstructi on s thati tbe re turned t o the C om m i ss i on er13

forf ur the rpr oc e e di ngs c ons i s t e ntw i th thi s opi ni on. RE V E RS E D A ND RE MAND E D.