Opinion ID: 427393
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Application of substantial evidence standard

Text: 7 This appeal raises the question whether the district court should have applied the substantial evidence standard if the ALJ applied an improper legal standard. We find that the ALJ made erroneous statements of fact, but we conclude that this was harmless error in the context of this case and that the ALJ applied the proper legal standard when considering the vocational factors. 8 The ALJ stated that Diorio was closely approaching advanced age. This is incorrect; Diorio's age at the time of the hearing, 61, closely approaches retirement age. 20 C.F.R. Sec. 404.1563(d) (1983). Additionally, the ALJ considered Diorio's job as an assembler in contravention of the regulations that prohibit consideration of any job held more than 15 years ago. 20 C.F.R. Sec. 404.1565(a) (1983). These are harmless errors, however. The ALJ actually applied Diorio's vocational factors on a section of the grids for those closely approaching retirement age; presumably he misspoke when he used the phrase closely approached advanced age. Also, the ALJ should have classified Diorio as skilled or semi-skilled on the basis of his railroad work alone; consideration of the assembling job did not change the categorization. Furthermore, under the regulations, one considers vocational factors only after determining that the claimant suffers a severe impairment. 20 C.F.R. Sec. 404.1520(c) (1983); see Lofton v. Schweiker, 653 F.2d 215, 217 (5th Cir.1981) (Unit A). The ALJ found no severe impairment. Consequently his analysis of vocational factors is irrelevant. Whether Diorio can perform his past work is also irrelevant. See id.