Opinion ID: 2765321
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Concentration, Persistence, or Pace

Text: Ms. Perez-Leeds argues that the ALJ’s conclusion that she has moderate difficulties in concentration, persistence, or pace is not supported. In reaching this conclusion, the ALJ noted Dr. Sadek’s assessment that she “demonstrates functional restriction because of pervasive developmental disorder NOS, especially in the area of maintaining attention.” Admin. R. at 15. But the ALJ also noted Ms. Perez-Leeds’s testimony that she could use a computer to access the internet and carry on correspondence via email; read magazines; and seek and receive unemployment benefits. The ALJ properly acknowledged Dr. Sadek’s opinion, but reasonably concluded that Ms. Perez-Leeds had demonstrated only moderate difficulties in this functional area. Ms. Perez-Leeds contends that “other evidence not mentioned by the ALJ indicates that [she] had marked limitations in concentration, persistence, or pace.” Aplt. Br. at 12. She refers to her receiving “assistance and accommodation from her mother in her past work”; her former employer’s ordering a psychological evaluation from Dr. Snow; and Dr. Sadek’s opinion that she “could not organize a job search on her own or attain employment without the assistance of others” and “that she required at least twice as much time as her peers to complete tasks.” Id. at 13. But the ALJ did refer to this evidence in the decision. For example, the ALJ recognized Ms. Perez-Leeds’s testimony that “she receives help from her mother on a relatively frequent and consistent basis.” Admin. R. at 16. The ALJ also noted that “Dr. Snow -9- examined the claimant, and reported that her employer was concerned about her job performance involving clerical duties in his law office.” Id. at 17. Finally, the ALJ discussed Dr. Sadek’s report but concluded that his opinion “apparently overstates the claimant’s limitations” and is inconsistent with Ms. Perez-Leeds’s own testimony. Id. Ms. Perez-Leeds ends this section with the conclusory assertion that the evidence noted above “indicate[s] a marked rather than moderate limitation in concentration, persistence, and pace.” Aplt. Br. at 13. Our role, however, is not to reweigh the evidence, see Lax, 489 F.3d at 1084, and Ms. Perez-Leeds has not shown that the ALJ committed reversible error in finding that she had only a moderate limitation in this functional area. In sum, substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s conclusion that Ms. Perez-Leeds did not demonstrate that she satisfied the listing requirement of having marked limitations in two of the three identified functional areas. The ALJ properly found Ms. Perez-Leeds not disabled at step three.