Lucus v. Saul, No. 18-3285 (8th Cir. 2020)
Annotate this CaseThe Eighth Circuit reversed the district court's order affirming the ALJ's denial of plaintiff's application for disability benefits. The court held that the ALJ's error in failing to provide good reason for giving plaintiff's treating psychiatrist's opinion limited weight was not harmless error. In this case, the failure to comply with SSA regulations is more than a drafting issue, it is legal error. Furthermore, the court cannot determine whether the ALJ would have reached the same decision denying benefits, even if the ALJ had followed the proper procedure for considering and explaining the value of the psychiatrist's opinion. Accordingly, the court remanded for further administrative proceedings and for reconsideration of plaintiff's claims.
Court Description: [Kobes, Author, with Shepherd and Grasz, Circuit Judges] Civil case - Social Security. The ALJ's failure to provide good reasons for giving claimant's treating physician's opinion limited weight was not a harmless error, and the matter is remanded for further administrative proceedings.
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