Opinion ID: 2783590
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Listings of Impairments

Text: Mr. Walters argues that the ALJ erred in concluding at step three that he did not meet or equal Listing 11.14 for peripheral neuropathies. See 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P. App. 1, § 11.14. “At step three, the ALJ determines whether the claimant’s impairment is equivalent to one of a number of listed impairments that the [Commissioner] acknowledges as so severe as to preclude substantial gainful activity.” Clifton v. Chater, 79 F.3d 1007, 1009 (10th Cir. 1996) (internal quotation marks omitted). Here, the ALJ determined that Mr. Walters did not meet Listing 11.14 (or others) “because no treating or examining physician of record has reported any of the necessary clinical, laboratory or radiographic findings specified [in the pertinent listings].” Aplt. App. Vol. 1 at 16. Mr. Walters argues that this explanation is inadequate. Mr. Walters contends that the 2002 EMG (before his claimed onset date) that revealed peripheral neuropathies, coupled with his subjective complaints of -6- numbness in his upper and lower extremities, demonstrates that he met the listing.1 In contrast, the February 2008 physical examination (after his claimed onset date) showed no pathological neurological signs. Aplt. App., Vol. 1 at 482. Listing 11.14 requires, among other things, “disorganization of motor function . . . in spite of prescribed treatment.” 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, § 11.14. Mr. Walters cites no evidence that he was prescribed treatment for peripheral neuropathies, let alone evidence that any prescribed treatment failed to improve his condition. Thus, evidence to establish the criteria for listing 11.14 is “simply not present in the medical record,” so the ALJ did not err in the step-three determination. Fischer-Ross v. Barnhart, 431 F.3d 729, 735 (10th Cir. 2005).