Opinion ID: 3134207
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Physical Therapist’s FCE

Text: Barry D. Brown, a physical therapist, performed two FCEs of Ms. Hays in August 2006 and October 2007. In the August 2006 evaluation, Mr. Brown assessed Ms. Hays as able to perform medium work; in October 2007, he assessed her as able to perform only sedentary work. Ms. Hays argues that the ALJ erred by assigning little weight to the October 2007 evaluation. We find no error. Physical therapists fall within the category of “other sources,” whose opinions may be considered to show the severity of a claimant’s impairment. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1513(d) & 404.913(d); SSR 06-03p, 2006 WL 2329939, at -2 (Aug. 9, 2006). An ALJ generally should explain the weight given to opinions from such sources. Keyes-Zachary, 695 F.3d at 1163. “[T]he factors for weighing the opinions of acceptable medical sources set out in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d) and § 416.927(d) apply equally to all opinions from medical sources who are not acceptable medical sources as well as from other non-medical sources.” Frantz v. Astrue, 509 F.3d 1299, 1302 (10th Cir. 2007) (internal quotation marks omitted). The ALJ gave little weight to Mr. Brown’s evaluations, noting that “they were based upon claimant’s presentation on those instances alone, the latter of which was marked by claimant declining to attempt some of the tasks.” Aplt. App., Admin. R. Vol. 3, at 646. Although some of the § 404.1527 factors weigh in favor of Mr. Brown’s evaluation, the ALJ was entitled to give it diminished weight because 8 he was not a treating source and saw Ms. Hays only twice, made assessments that were inconsistent with each other, and noted in his report her unwillingness to perform some of the functional ability tests. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2), (4), (6); see Keyes-Zachary, 695 F.3d at 1164 (finding ALJ was justified in relying on acceptable medical source rather than “other source”). We will not reweigh the evidence supporting the ALJ’s determination. See Wall, 561 F.3d at 1069.