Opinion ID: 1386650
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Migraine Evidence

Text: We first address Ms. Flaherty's claim that the ALJ erred in finding that her migraines were not severe. She relies on a report dated December 7, 2002, prepared by Dr. Van de Graaff following a consultative evaluation, as well as her own reports to various medical providers that headaches were among her complaints. Dr. Van de Graaff stated that Ms. Flaherty had limitations in her ability to hold down gainful employment secondary to her recurrent and severe migraines, which are not optimally treated at this time. R. Vol. I, at 273. The ALJ gave no weight to Dr. Van de Graaff's opinion that Ms. Flaherty's migraines were disabling because he did not have a treating relationship with her, he based his opinion on a single, subjective report given to him by Ms. Flaherty, and his opinion was not supported by the evidence of record. We conclude that the ALJ's reasons for not crediting Dr. Van de Graaff's opinion are in Accordance with the governing regulation and case law. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d) (listing factors to be considered when deciding the weight [to be given] to any medical opinion); White v. Barnhart, 287 F.3d 903, 908 (10th Cir.2001) (stating sufficient reasons to disregard physician's opinion included lack of support for findings, opinion was inconsistent with other medical opinions, and treatment relationship with claimant was relatively brief). The ALJ considered both Ms. Flaherty's reports to medical sources during the relevant period and her testimony at the hearing. R. Vol. I, at 54. He concluded that her claims of incapacitating migraines [were] not credible to the extent and severity alleged during the relevant period. Id. He noted that none of her treating sources diagnosed her with migraine syndrome and she had not been prescribed medication for migraine. These were appropriate factors for assessing credibility. See Barnett v. Apfel, 231 F.3d 687, 690 (10th Cir.2000) (discussing factors to evaluate credibility). Moreover, the mere presence of a condition is not sufficient to make a step-two [severity] showing. Williamson v. Barnhart, 350 F.3d 1097, 1100 (10th Cir.2003). To the extent Ms. Flaherty claims she could not afford treatment for her migraines, the record indicates that she had health insurance during at least part of the relevant period, R. Vol. I, at 188 (claimant reported that she had insurance as of July 2002), and she did not testify during the hearing that a lack of finances was the reason she did not receive treatment for her migraines. Therefore, we conclude that substantial evidence, supports the ALJ's determination that Ms. Flaherty's migraines were not a severe impairment. We note that even though he did not find this to be a severe impairment, the ALJ nevertheless considered her symptoms of headaches in his RFC determination. Id. at 54.