Opinion ID: 164281
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Q. testing.

Text: An ALJ has the responsibility “in every case ‘to ensure that an adequate record is developed during the disability hearing consistent with the issues raised.’” Hawkins , 113 F.3d at 1164 (quoting Henrie v. United States Dep’t of Health & Human Servs. , 13 F.3d 359, 360-61 (10th Cir. 1993)); see also 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.944, 416.1444 (requiring ALJ to look fully into issues); Social Security Ruling 96-7p, 1996 WL 374186, at  n.3 (requiring ALJ to develop “evidence regarding the possibility of a medically determinable mental impairment when the record contains information to suggest that such an impairment exists”). This duty is heightened when the claimant proceeds pro se. See Henrie , 13 F.3d at 361. We agree with Mr. Sneed’s assertion that the heightened duty applies to this case. Throughout the administrative proceedings Kenneth Clason, Mr. Sneed’s friend, who is not an attorney, represented him. Also, Mr. Clason testified at the hearing on Mr. Sneed’s behalf. Although Mr. Clason had personal experience with Social Security disability matters because he had been receiving -4- benefits himself, he had previously helped another individual obtain benefits when he called the Social Security Administration seeking guidance, and he had completed some college courses in social work, he probably did not have knowledge of the Regulations, definitely had no prior experience with ALJ hearings, and asked Mr. Sneed very few questions at the hearing. Thus, we conclude Mr. Sneed did not have representation comparable to that of an attorney. Under the circumstances, the ALJ was required to take a more active role in developing the record. In developing the record, the ALJ “has broad latitude in ordering consultative examinations.” Hawkins , 113 F.3d at 1166. For further investigation to be required, however, there must be “some objective evidence in the record suggesting the existence of a condition [that] could have a material impact on the disability decision.” Id. at 1167. A claimant’s “[i]solated and unsupported comments . . . are insufficient.” Id. Mr. Sneed made minimal references to a possible low I.Q. in his requests for reconsideration and for an ALJ hearing. See Aplt. App., Vol. II at 87 (noting in request for hearing that I.Q. was not addressed), 144 (questioning I.Q. in reconsideration disability report), 150 (noting I.Q. is one reason for inability to work). Also, he relies on several isolated medical statements to support his claim that the ALJ should have ordered I.Q. testing. Dr. France, a psychologist who -5- conducted a consultative mental examination, indicated that Mr. Sneed may have a learning disability, has low-average intelligence, could not understand proverbs, could not spell “world” backwards, could not count by threes, could not repeat six and seven digits forward and made errors in computing change. Id. at 206, 207. Dr. Sullivan, who conducted a consultative physical examination, surmised that Mr. Sneed is probably mildly retarded. Id. at 210. Dr. Lawton, also a consultative physical examiner, suspected Mr. Sneed’s I.Q. is less than average. Id. at 169. And Dr. Rienschmiedt, a treating doctor, reported that Mr. Sneed is mentally slow secondary to a childhood brain injury. Id. at 267. The latter three doctors made no further assertions concerning intelligence. Other medical evidence from Dr. France, however, suggests that Mr. Sneed did not have a sufficiently low I.Q. to impact the disability decision. See generally 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527(d)(5), 416.927(d)(5) (giving greater weight to medical specialist’s opinion in area of specialty than to opinion of non-specialist). Dr. France also reported that Mr. Sneed had goal-directed language, good responses to spoken words, no gross thought disorder, good general information and long term memory, good judgment, full orientation, ability to give his history, fair abstract thinking, fair concentration and fair short term memory. Aplt. App., Vol. II at 206, 207. Significantly, neither Dr. France nor any other doctor recommended that Mr. Sneed undergo intelligence testing. -6- In addition, the Psychiatric Review Technique (PRT) and Mental Residual Functional Capacity Assessment (RFC) forms do not suggest Mr. Sneed’s I.Q. would impact the disability decision. The PRT form indicated that Mr. Sneed would have no restriction of activities of daily living; moderate difficulty in maintaining social functioning; mild difficulty in maintaining concentration, persistence or pace; and no repeated episode of decompensation. Id. at 226. The RFC form indicated that except for marked limitations in the ability to understand, remember and carry out detailed instructions, Mr. Sneed is not significantly limited in understanding and memory, sustained concentration and persistence, social interaction, or adaptation. Id. at 238-39, 250-51. Likewise, Mr. Sneed’s activities suggest he is not so mentally impaired that he cannot work. Although he cannot make change and can only write his name, he can read “somewhat,” id. at 45-46. He lives alone, takes care of his personal grooming, does some house cleaning, cooks, drives, attends church twice a week, shops twice a week, and visits friends. To the extent he does not do household cleaning, laundry or other tasks, he stated he lacks the incentive and interest to do so. See id. at 138. He testified that his main complaints were seizures, which he admitted are minor because his medications work for him, and depression. Id. at 39, 56. He did not indicate that he had had problems working due to his intelligence. Overall, the ALJ asked sufficient questions to learn of Mr. Sneed’s -7- alleged impairments and the impact they had on his activities. See Musgrave v. Sullivan , 966 F.2d 1371, 1375 (10th Cir. 1992). Furthermore, in reaching a decision, the ALJ did not ignore the intelligence evidence. Rather, the ALJ took into account the record evidence concerning Mr. Sneed’s asserted low intelligence when he posed hypothetical questions to the VE. The ALJ asked the VE to consider Mr. Sneed’s inability to make change and do basic math and his ability to understand and perform routine tasks and follow simple instructions. The isolated comments about Mr. Sneed’s possible limited intelligence, when viewed as part of the entire record, do not sufficiently raise a question about his intelligence. See Pierre v. Sullivan , 884 F.2d 799, 803 (5th Cir. 1989). The “few instances in the record noting diminished intelligence [did] not require that the ALJ order an I.Q. test in order to discharge his duty to fully and fairly develop the record,” id. , even under the heightened standard we apply here. Because the record before the ALJ contained sufficient evidence to evaluate Mr. Sneed’s mental impairments, the ALJ did not err in failing to purchase an additional consultative examination to test Mr. Sneed’s I.Q. Accordingly, we conclude that the ALJ did not fail to develop the record. And, contrary to Mr. Sneed’s assertion, the ALJ did consider any mental impairments in combination with his physical impairments. -8-