Opinion ID: 3160361
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Crawford’s Nurse Practitioner

Text: Patrick Drummond, a nurse practitioner, treated Crawford in January of 2010 and concluded that Crawford had the maximum capacity to lift less than ten pounds frequently, could stand or walk for a total of two hours in a normal workday, and -4- could sit for a total of eight hours during a normal workday. Drummond also opined that Crawford could never climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, or reach, but he could occasionally handle, finger, feel, see, hear, and speak. Crawford claims that the ALJ wrongly rejected Drummond's opinion. We disagree. First, to establish a disability or impairment, the Social Security Administration requires evidence from acceptable medical sources. 20 C.F.R. § 416.913(a). Such acceptable medical sources include licensed physicians, licensed or certified psychologists, licensed optometrists, licensed podiatrists, and qualified speechlanguage pathologists. Id. In addition to evidence from the acceptable medical sources listed in paragraph (a) of this section, [the Commissioner] may also use evidence from other sources . . . . Id. § 416.913(d) (emphasis added). Other sources include nurse practitioners, physicians' assistants, chiropractors, educational personnel, and social welfare agency personnel, among others. Id. Thus, Drummond, as a nurse practitioner, was not an acceptable medical source. Id. § 416.913(a). As such, the ALJ had the option, within his discretion, to consider Drummond's opinion so long as it was not wholly inconsistent with other opinions from Crawford's treating physicians. This nuance, discussed below, highlights the major problem with Drummond's opinion and is the primary reason the ALJ correctly gave less weight to his medical opinion. Second, the ALJ did not err by failing to rely on Drummond's medical opinion because of the great weight of evidence to the contrary. An ALJ may 'discount or even disregard the opinion of a treating physician where other medical assessments are supported by better or more thorough medical evidence, or where a treating physician renders inconsistent opinions that undermine the credibility of such opinions.' Goff v. Barnhart, 421 F.3d 785, 790 (8th Cir. 2005) (quoting Prosch v. Apfel, 201 F.3d 1010, 1013 (8th Cir. 2000)). If an ALJ may discount a treating physician's opinion for inconsistencies, an ALJ may certainly discredit a nurse practitioner's inconsistent opinion. Drummond's opinion stated that Crawford was -5- unable to lift or carry ten pounds but could walk or stand for up to two hours per day and sit for up to eight hours a day. This assessment directly conflicts with statements made by Crawford on the record. Crawford stated on numerous occasions, including on his Social Security Administration Function Report, that he could carry between ten and fifteen pounds. Medical evidence on the record also discredits Drummond's allegation that Crawford could never reach, climb, balance, or stoop. Crawford attested to his ability to reach in his function report and by admitting he can perform normal activities associated with daily living. Specifically, the evidence shows that Crawford can dress himself and is mobile enough to do some chores around the house such as cook simple meals, sweep, and mop. Moreover, most of the medical records from licensed physicians unambiguously state that Crawford has a normal gait and can balance enough to stand and walk without assistance. For example, in 2007, Dr. Gholson, one of Crawford's treating physicians, explicitly stated that the claimant did not have a disability that prevented him from engaging in gainful activity. Finally, the ALJ considered the parts of Drummond's opinion that were consistent with other medical opinions. The ALJ found that Crawford had a maximum RFC to stand or walk for no more than two hours and sit for six hours. These findings come directly from Drummond's January 2010 evaluation. Drummond's analysis on the other issues, however, was appropriately left out as discussed above. Therefore, the ALJ correctly considered all evidence on the record, including Drummond's opinion, and correctly gave each medical opinion the appropriate weight. The ALJ properly considered Crawford's impairments supported in the record. Thus, the ALJ did not err in rejecting the inconsistent parts of Drummond's medical opinion.