Opinion ID: 2804772
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Dr. Kaplan

Text: Dr. Kaplan is a physiatrist specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Sanborn first sought treatment from him on January 14, 2008, for pain relating to his 6 work injury of January 3, 2007. Dr. Kaplan reviewed Sanborn’s medical records and conducted a physical examination, after which he documented a “mild” restriction in cervical mobility, hamstring tightness, and musculature tenderness. App. 128. During the examination, Sanborn was “able to sit, stand, and walk without obvious limitation.” Id. Dr. Kaplan initially concluded that Sanborn was “disabled for work as a truck driver.” App. 129 (emphasis added). Two weeks later, Dr. Kaplan diagnosed Sanborn with cervical disc disease, herniated nucleus pulposus, carpal tunnel syndrome, and cervical root lesion, and thereafter prescribed a course of acupuncture treatment. App. 134. On February 20, Dr. Kaplan noted that Sanborn was “disabled for employment at this time,” though he did not specify whether Sanborn remained disabled only for purposes of his job as a truck driver, or for all purposes. App. 140. On March 5, Dr. Kaplan again observed that Sanborn “sits, stands, and walks without physical limitation,” but continued to conclude that Sanborn was “disabled for employment.” App. 144. On April 2, Dr. Kaplan stated that “[t]he therapy program has been helpful,” but then cited “ongoing pain,” “very limited” mobility, and “fatigue” as a basis for concluding that Sanborn “remains disabled for any and all employment at this time.” App. 153. Sanborn argues that the ALJ failed to explicitly consider all aspects of Dr. Kaplan’s clinical findings, and then improperly afforded “very little probative weight” to Dr. Kaplan’s assessment as to Sanborn’s residual functional capacity. App. 39. The record reveals, however, that the ALJ adequately considered Dr. Kaplan’s factual 7 findings, noted the areas in which she disagreed with his conclusions, and provided ample explanation for doing so. See id. Specifically, the ALJ rejected Dr. Kaplan’s final assessment on the grounds that it was “highly inconsistent” with his underlying clinical findings, which included the observation that Sanborn for the previous three months had been sitting, standing, and walking “without physical limitation.” Id. Dr. Kaplan made no effort to reconcile this finding with his April conclusion that Sanborn was disabled for purposes of “any and all employment.” He also failed to explain why Sanborn could not perform even light-duty work. In sum, we see nothing improper in the weight attributed by the ALJ to Dr. Kaplan’s conclusory statements regarding Sanborn’s disability status.