Opinion ID: 3013073
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: The Reskof Report

Text: Dr. David A. Reskof did a psychiatric evaluation on December 17, 1996. Beasich had gone to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for a job program, but reported that he could not obtain a decent job due to his recurrent seizures. Dr. Reskof determined that Beasich’s sexual drive had been reduced and that he had not had intimate interactions with women since he had been involved in an episode of sexual intercourse when he was a teenager and had a seizure during the experience. Beasich reported that he had difficulty sleeping and concentrating and had constant thoughts of suicide. Dr. Reskof found that Beasich had occasional episodes of flight of ideas and insomnia, and that he was angry, irritable and his judgment was impaired. Dr. Reskof’s diagnosis was that Beasich suffered from post traumatic stress disorder with features of anxiety and depression. Dr. Reskof placed Beasich on Prozac. 10. The Makhija Report 1 Dr. Cavaiola specified Beasich’s “Current GAF” without giving a numerical valuation. Tr. at 196. 11 On January 11, 1997, the SSA had Beasich examined by Dr. V.N. M akhija, a psychologist. Beasich reported that he felt paralyzed with stress and depression and indicated that he had felt depressed for many years. Dr. Makhija found that Beasich was inactive, worried excessively, and uncomfortable around people. Dr. Makhija also concluded that Beasich was withdrawn, anxious, depressed and suicidal. Beasich was diagnosed with dysthymic disorder, social phobia, borderline personality disorder, and post traumatic seizure disorder. 11. The D’Adamo Report On January 17, 1997, Dr. Michael D’Adamo, a medical expert for the Commissioner at the Disability Determination Service, performed a mental residual functional capacity assessment. It was determined that Beasich was able to understand, retain and execute simple directions. However, due to his social anxieties, he was equipped to do only “low contact work.” Tr. at 212. 12. The Cavaiola Report #2 On February 25, 1997, Dr. Cavaiola provided a supplemental report noting that Beasich had been approved by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for rehabilitation services. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation had referred Beasich to a job placement service, where he was given a job for 12 hours per week. Despite the effort, Beasich was limited in his ability to do work. The report noted that Beasich was taking Tegretol, Prozac, and a sleep medication on a regular basis. The final prognosis by 12 Dr. Cavaiola was that Beasich probably would not be able to work enough hours to be self-sufficient or self-supporting. 13. The Fugati Report On March 7, 1997, Dr. Douglas Fugati, a state agency psychologist, performed a psychiatric review technique and a mental residual functional capacity assessment. After considering all the medical evidence, it was determined through the psychiatric review technique that Beasich was disabled. The disability was established under listing 12.04 (affective disorders). The mental residual functional capacity assessment found marked limitations in his ability to understand detailed instructions, concentrate, complete a normal workday, get along with co-workers, respond to supervisor instructions, and respond appropriately to changes in the work setting. In addition, moderate limitations in numerous other mental capacity work requirements were found to exist. 14. Residual Physical Functional Capacity Assessment On March 10, 1997, a state agency physician performed a residual physical functional capacity assessment. It was determined that Beasich never should take part in work involving scaffolds, ladders or machinery. (b) Testimony Before ALJ Noorigian 1. Joseph Beasich Beasich testified before the ALJ on April 20, 1998. He testified that he had lived with his mother all his life, quit high school after tenth grade, while in school had been in 13 remedial classes, never had balanced a check book, and never had been able to get a driver’s license. He testified that after he quit high school he stayed home and “just lost it.” Tr. at 250. When asked specifically about the time period from when he quit high school up to 1988 Beasich stated that “it was a bad time” and that “[I] [j]ust started having seizures [and] lost all my friends.” Tr. at 257. He testified that from 1986 to 1988 “I was a wreck . . . back then I was a mess . . . . Mentally, physically, emotionally, my whole life was upside down. I went from being a popular, outgoing, athletic person to being a shut-in with no life whatsoever.” Tr. at 263-64. He testified that during the period from 1986 to 1988 he had trouble sleeping, his energy level was “lousy,” he “was depressed” and “didn’t want to do anything,” and he had temper problems. Tr. at 267, 16. When asked why he had not been treated for depression during that period Beasich explained that he did not think his mother could afford it and that he did not understand then what was happening to him. Beasich testified that when his seizures resumed, when he was approximately 16 years old, he would have one every two months, or one a month, but sometimes he would have two in a week. He described these as grand mal seizures with loss of consciousness, incontinence, injury to tongue and a recovery period of three to four days. He also testified that he had petit mal seizures with temporary loss of conscious perception, occurring one to three times a week. He explained that for several years he took his medication “on and off” because of the side effects of the medication. Tr. at 260-61. He 14 testified that he has had only a few jobs of short duration since his 1981 head injury. He obtained those jobs through special state placement programs or he did odd short stint jobs for friends. 2. Kathleen Mulligan Kathleen Mulligan, Beasich’s mother, also testified before the ALJ on April 20, 1998. She testified that Beasich has resided with her since birth, and that he had learning problems since the first or second grade. She testified that after the 1981 accident and the initial seizure Beasich’s behavior worsened substantially and that since the accident he had had a bad temper. She testified that when his seizures resumed, at approximately age 16, he would have a grand mal seizure approximately once a month. She testified that Beasich’s seizures were quite severe, at times rendering him helpless from fatigue for three to four days. Mulligan also gave a detailed account of the emotional and behavioral changes in her son resulting from his head injury in 1981. She testified that he transformed from a social and active teenager to an introvert who lost all of his hair and was afraid to leave his home or see other people and who had no control of his emotions. She explained that there was a period during which he took his medicine off and on because he thought “the medication was causing the problem when actually it was the seizure disorder itself and his emotional state that was causing the problems.” Tr. at 281. Mulligan also stated that she attempted to get help for her son prior to 1996 when Beasich began to receive extensive mental health treatment, but that he often refused to attend the 15 sessions.