Opinion ID: 3014598
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Impairments in Combination

Text: A benefits claimant may be disabled due to the effect of her impairments in combination. The ALJ must, therefore, consider the claimant’s impairments combined. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1523. In this case, the ALJ did so. He discussed the medical evidence at length and addressed at each stage of the analysis the import of Williams’ “impairments”. The ALJ’s hypothetical question to the vocational expert included limitations based on each impairment Williams has. This question therefore took account of Williams’ 4 impairments in combination. Nor do we see any reason to conclude that the ALJ should have considered differently or to a greater degree Williams’ combination of impairments. Williams argues that the ALJ should have given greater consideration to the “interrelationship” among her impairments, but she does not explain how this consideration would have differed from the one provided, and we do not understand how it should have. As the Commissioner points out, Williams’ treating physician, aware of all Williams’ impairments, noted on more than one occasion that she could perform the range of work found by the ALJ. Two state agency physicians reviewed the medical evidence of record and also concluded that Williams could perform at least that range of work. Given this, we cannot conclude that the ALJ failed to take account of the combined effect of Williams’ impairments or that for this reason the record lacks substantial evidence to support the non-disability determination. Accordingly, we will not reverse on this ground.