Opinion ID: 565052
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence of Treating Physicians

Text: 15 Turley argues that the ALJ failed to accord deference to the opinions of his treating physicians as required under Eighth Circuit caselaw. See, e.g., Thompson v. Bowen, 850 F.2d 346, 349 (8th Cir.1988). The record indicates, however, that the ALJ accepted the medical opinions of the treating physicians, but simply refused to accept their other conclusions which were based, in part, on vocational factors. The ALJ acted properly. 16 The deference given to opinions of treating physicians is not unlimited. See, e.g., Ward v. Heckler, 786 F.2d 844, 846 (8th Cir.1986) (per curiam) (conclusory statements by treating physician not entitled to greater weight than any other physician's opinion). As with any expert witness, the treating physician's opinion is subject to criticism as being outside his or her area of expertise. Cf. Williams v. Pro-Tec, Inc., 908 F.2d 345, 348 (8th Cir.1990) (expert's lack of particular expertise in related area goes to weight of opinion). Here, the evidence failed to establish that either of Turley's treating physicians qualified as experts in vocational matters. As such, the ALJ properly discounted the portions of their opinions based on vocational matters.