Opinion ID: 526117
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Psychological Impairment

Text: 11 The ALJ found that Matthews suffered from mild situational depression but that this impairment was not severe enough to preclude her from working. Matthews asserts that the ALJ erred in assessing the severity of her psychological impairment without any evidence to support this finding and that the Secretary should have ordered a consultative psychiatric examination. The regulations, however, do not require the Secretary or the ALJ to order a consultative evaluation of every alleged impairment. They simply grant the ALJ the authority to do so if the existing medical sources do not contain sufficient evidence to make a determination. 20 C.F.R. Sec. 416.917(a); Conley v. Bowen, 781 F.2d 143, 146 (8th Cir.1986) (per curiam); Landsaw v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 803 F.2d 211, 214 (6th Cir.1986). Thus, the issue is whether the record contained sufficient medical evidence for the ALJ to make an informed decision as to Matthews' alleged mental impairment. 12 We believe the ALJ did not err in evaluating Matthews' psychological complaints without ordering a consultative exam. Matthews did not allege that she was disabled due to any mental impairment. The only evidence in the record indicating any emotional problems is her testimony that she suffers from nerves and the fact that Dr. Harmon prescribed Triavil, an anti-depressant medication. In Dozier v. Heckler, 754 F.2d 274 (8th Cir.1985) (per curiam), this Court held that it was reversible error for an ALJ not to order a psychiatric or psychological examination to evaluate a claimant's anxiety. In that case, however, a consulting physician had found that the claimant suffered from chronic anxiety. Id. at 276. In this case, neither Dr. Harmon nor Dr. Harrington mentioned any emotional impairments in their correspondence or reports. Furthermore, neither of the consultative physicians, Dr. Ash or Dr. Neu, noted any anxiety during their examination of Matthews. Based on the minimal evidence in this record, we agree with the district court that Matthews did not meet her burden of establishing a claim for disability due to a mental impairment and that the ALJ did not need to order a consultative examination to reach this conclusion.