Opinion ID: 772957
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: IQ Scores

Text: 21 An ALJ may disregard a claimant's IQ score when it is derived from a one-time examination by a non-treating psychologist, particularly if the score is inconsistent with the claimant's daily activities and behavior. Clark v. Apfel, 141 F.3d 1253, 1255-56 (8th Cir. 1998). The Social Security regulations do not specify, however, which score the ALJ should disregard when there are differing scores from two apparently valid IQ tests. The issue here is whether the ALJ correctly disregarded the IQ score from a one-time examination by a non-treating psychologist apparently only because it is older - and significantly lower - than a later second score. 22 At least one court has suggested that the regulations require the ALJ to reach the opposite conclusion in this situation, rejecting the higher score. See Ray v. Chater, 934 F. Supp. 347, 350 (N.D. Cal. 1996). In Ray, the claimant had two IQ scores: a 72 on a 1993 test and a 67 on a 1995 test. The ALJ relied on the higher score with the result the claimant could not qualify for benefits under section 12.05(D). The Social Security regulations provide, however, that when more than one IQ score is reached from the test administered, such as the verbal, performance, and full scale IQs obtained from the tests in the Weschler series that Dr. Stevens used in this case, the Commissioner must use the lowest of these in conjunction with 12.05. 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, 12.00(D). The Ray court observed that this regulation might create an inference that when multiple I.Q. scores are available [from IQ tests administered a different times,] the Regulations prefer the lowest score, 934 F. Supp. at 350, and remanded to the Commissioner for further development of the record with regard to the claimant's mental condition. 23 The ALJ here neither addressed the discrepancy between Muncy's two IQ scores nor discussed what factors called into question the first score's validity. Instead, the ALJ apparently accepted the validity of the second test over the first and attributed the twenty-five point increase in Muncy's IQ to medical improvement. To discontinue a claimant's benefits because his or her medical condition has improved, the Commissioner must demonstrate that the conditions which previously rendered the claimant disabled have ameliorated, and that the improvement in the physical condition is related to claimant's ability to work. Nelson v. Sullivan, 946 F.2d 1314, 1315 (8th Cir. 1991) (citing 20 C. F. R. 404.1594(b)(2)-(5)). Whether a claimant's condition has improved is primarily a question for the trier of fact, generally determined by assessing witnesses' credibility. Id. at 1316. 24 The regulations define mental retardation as significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning with deficits in adaptive functioning initially manifested during the developmental period before age 22. 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1, 12.05. Mental retardation is not normally a condition that improves as an affected person ages. It is highly unlikely that an adult could gain twenty-five IQ points - a 42% increase - in six years. 25 Rather, a person's IQ is presumed to remain stable over time in the absence of any evidence of a change in a claimant's intellectual functioning. See, e.g., Branham v. Heckler, 775 F.2d 1271, 1274 (4th Cir. 1985) (absent contrary evidence, an IQ test taken after the insured period correctly reflects claimant's IQ during the insured period); Guzman v. Bowen, 801F.2d 273, 275 (7th Cir. 1986) (claimant had low IQ during onset of disability in 1979 rather than just when first IQ tested in 1982); Luckey v. Department of Health & Human Servs., 890 F.2d 666, 668-69 (4th Cir. 1989) (ALJ may assume claimant's IQ remained relatively constant in absence of evidence showing a change in claimant's intelligence functioning); Holmes v. Apfel, 1999 WL 731769,  (N.D. Ill. 1999) (IQ score presumptively reflects person's IQ throughout life, no matter how old the person was when test first administered); Ouellette v. Apfel, 2000 WL 1771122,  (D. Me. 2000) (absent contrary evidence, a person's IQ and/or the condition of mental retardation is presumed to have been approximately constant throughout his/her life). See also Sird v. Chater, 105 F.3d 401, 402 n.4 (8th Cir. 1997). The ALJ here cited no evidence demonstrating a dramatic upswing in Muncy's intellectual or adaptive functioning between 1988 and 1994, other than the higher second IQ score. Nor did the ALJ challenge the validity of the first IQ score as inconsistent with other evidence in the record. Muncy remains unable to read, write, manage his finances, or even fill out Social Security applications. He thus still appears to be dependent on his wife for many activities of daily living. 26 We therefore must remand this matter to the Commissioner for further analysis to resolve the twenty-five point discrepancy between Muncy's two IQ scores. The Commissioner is directed to enter specific findings detailing why Muncy's first IQ score should not be adopted as the controlling score. Should the Commissioner find after further analysis that Muncy's second IQ score is in fact the controlling score, the Commissioner is further directed to consider the effect of Muncy's borderline intellectual functioning as discussed in the following section.