Opinion ID: 810965
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Dr. Lynn Johnson

Text: [2] Hill argues that the ALJ’s residual functional capacity determination failed to take into account an evaluation by Dr. Lynn Johnson, a psychologist who examined Hill on May 25, 2007. In her evaluation, Dr. Johnson found that Hill’s “combination of mental and medical problems makes the likelihood of sustained full time competitive employment unlikely.” (emphasis added). Hill correctly notes that the ALJ’s decision does not address this finding by Dr. Johnson. [3] In order to reject an examining physician’s opinion, “the ALJ has to give clear and convincing reasons. . . . Even if contradicted by another doctor, the opinion of an examining doctor can be rejected only for specific and legitimate reasons that are supported by substantial evidence in the record.” Regennitter v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 166 F.3d 1294, 1298-99 (9th Cir. 1999). [4] Here, the ALJ failed to provide Dr. Johnson’s statement any degree of review at all, and gave no reasons for doing so, let alone any clear and convincing reasons. See Matthews v. Shalala, 10 F.3d 678, 680 (9th Cir. 1993) (Although the ALJ “is not bound by the uncontroverted opinions of the claimant’s physicians on the ultimate issue of disability, . . . he cannot reject them without presenting clear and convincing reasons for doing so.” (internal quotation marks omitted)). [5] The Commissioner concedes that the ALJ’s decision does not address Dr. Johnson’s opinion that Hill’s “combination of mental and medical problems makes the likelihood of sustained full time competitive employment unlikely.” Nevertheless, the Commissioner argues that the ALJ’s failure to 12948 HILL v. ASTRUE consider Dr. Johnson’s opinion was harmless because an opinion that an individual cannot work is an opinion on an issue reserved to the Commissioner and, therefore, it is not binding. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d)(1) (“A statement by a medical source that you are ‘disabled’ or ‘unable to work’ does not mean that we will determine that you are disabled.”). We disagree. [6] Dr. Johnson’s statement that Hill would be “unlikely” to work full time was not a conclusory statement like those described in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d)(1), but instead an assessment, based on objective medical evidence, of Hill’s likelihood of being able to sustain full time employment given the many medical and mental impairments Hill faces and her inability to afford treatment for those conditions. Thus, the ALJ’s disregard for Dr. Johnson’s medical opinion was not harmless error and Dr. Johnson’s opinion should have been considered. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c) (“Regardless of its source, we will evaluate every medical opinion we receive.”).