Opinion ID: 808708
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Dr. Gordon’s consultative examination report

Text: The first opinion that Ms. Keyes-Zachary complains was not properly weighed is a psychological evaluation prepared by a consulting psychologist, Dr. Minor W. Gordon, Ph.D. Dr. Gordon concluded that she suffered from dysthymic disorder, mild to moderate; learning disabilities; and mild impairment at Axis IV. He gave her a GAF (Global Assessment of Functioning) score of 65.1 The ALJ discussed Dr. 1 The GAF is a 100-point scale divided into ten numerical ranges, which permits clinicians to assign a single ranged score to a person’s psychological, social, and occupational functioning. See American Psychiatric Ass’n, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 32, 34 (Text Revision 4th ed. 2000). GAF scores are situated along the following “hypothetical continuum of mental health [and] illness”: (continued) -5-  91-100: “Superior functioning in a wide range of activities, life’s problems never seem to get out of hand, is sought out by others because of his or her many positive qualities. No symptoms.”  81-90: “Absent or minimal symptoms (e.g., mild anxiety before an exam), good functioning in all areas, interested and involved in a wide range of activities, socially effective, generally satisfied with life, no more than everyday problems or concerns (e.g., an occasional argument with family members).”  71-80: “If symptoms are present, they are transient and expectable reactions to psychosocial stressors (e.g., difficulty concentrating after family argument); no more than slight impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., temporarily falling behind in schoolwork).”  61-70: “Some mild symptoms (e.g., depressed mood and mild insomnia), OR some difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., occasional truancy, or theft within the household), but generally functioning pretty well, has some meaningful interpersonal relationships.”  51-60: “Moderate symptoms (e.g., flat affect and circumstantial speech, occasional panic attacks) OR moderate difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., few friends, conflicts with peers or co-workers).”  41-50: “Serious symptoms (e.g., suicidal ideation, severe obsessional rituals, frequent shoplifting) OR any serious impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., no friends, unable to keep a job).”  31-40: “Some impairment in reality testing or communication (e.g., speech is at times illogical, obscure, or irrelevant) OR major impairment in several areas, such as work or school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood (e.g., depressed man avoids friends, neglects family, and is unable to work; child beats up younger children, is defiant at home, and is failing at school).”  21-30: “Behavior is considerably influenced by delusions or hallucinations OR serious impairment in communication or judgment (e.g., sometimes incoherent, acts grossly inappropriately, suicidal preoccupation) OR inability to function in almost all areas (e.g., stays in bed all day; no job, home, or friends).”  11-20: “Some danger of hurting self or others (e.g., suicide attempts without clear expectation of death; frequently violent; manic excitement) OR occasionally fails to maintain minimal personal hygiene (e.g., smears feces) OR gross impairment in communication (e.g., largely incoherent or mute).”  1-10: “Persistent danger of severely hurting self or others (e.g., recurrent violence) OR persistent inability to maintain minimal personal hygiene OR serious suicidal act with clear expectation of death.”  0: “Inadequate information.” (continued) -6- Gordon’s report at some length but never explicitly stated whether he found it persuasive or what weight he assigned to it. This alleged error in the ALJ’s decision did not, however, prejudice Ms. Keyes-Zachary, because giving greater weight to Dr. Gordon’s opinion would not have helped her. Dr. Gordon accompanied his report with a mentalmedical-source statement opining that she had “no limitation” or “no significant limitation” in every category relevant to work function. The ALJ noted this lack of limitations in Dr. Gordon’s opinion and developed a mental RFC consistent with Dr. Gordon’s findings in some areas but more favorable to Ms. Keyes-Zachary than Dr. Gordon’s findings in other areas.2 Cf. Allen v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1140, 1145 (10th Cir. 2004) (approving harmless-error analysis when “based on material the ALJ did at least consider (just not properly), we could confidently say that no reasonable Id. at 34 (emphasis omitted). 2 Ms. Keyes-Zachary’s reply brief argues that in his mental-medical-source statement Dr. Gordon actually found her less mentally restricted in the areas of activities of daily living, social functioning, and concentration, persistence and pace than the ALJ did in his decision. She complains that the Commissioner has “failed to explain this inconsistency.” Reply Br. at 7. Ms. Keyes-Zachary does not say how it could possibly benefit her to have the ALJ explain his failure to adopt the more unfavorable portions of Dr. Gordon’s opinion or how his failure to provide such an explanation is even error. See Chapo v. Astrue, 682 F.3d 1285, 1288 (10th Cir. 2012) (“[W]e are aware of no controlling authority holding that the full adverse force of a medical opinion cannot be moderated favorably [toward the claimant] unless the ALJ provides an explanation for extending the claimant such a benefit.”). -7- administrative factfinder, following the correct analysis, could have resolved the factual matter in any other way.”).