Court Opinion

ID: 9487129
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 12:08:53.790539+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:52:06.633772
License: Public Domain

LOKEN, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in the court’s conclusion that the ALJ’s hypothetical did not adequately describe for the vocational expert the nature and effects of Tony Ray Smith’s severe mental impairment. The correct remedy when the administrative record is incomplete because the ALJ has asked a flawed hypothetical is to remand to the Secretary for further proceedings on the issue of the claimant’s residual functional capacity to work. See Totz v. Sullivan, 961 F.2d 727, 730-31 (8th Cir.1992); Stephens v. Secretary of H.E.W., 603 F.2d 36, 42 (8th Cir.1979); Behnen v. Califano, 588 F.2d 252, 255 (8th Cir.1978); Lewis v. Califano, 574 F.2d 452, 456 (8th Cir.1978). That is especially true in this case, where the record includes a post-hearing psychiatric report submitted by Smith to the Secretary’s Appeals Council that concludes:
At the present time, I feel that this man is functioning fairly well, that his medication is keeping his overt symptoms under control, and that he could indulge in gainful, productive activity to a limited degree. He has the residual functional capacity to perform gainful work at a menial level. I would recommend that he be referred to Vocational Rehabilitation.
I know of no case in which we have directed payment of benefits because the ALJ asked the vocational expert a flawed hypothetical. I dissent from that part of the court’s order.