District Court decision with several finds, including a holding that a nurse practitioner working in conjunction with a physician is an acceptable medical source, because she acts as his agent and is entitled to the same considerations as a treating source. The ALJ should have provided the same specific and legitimate reasons for rejecting the nurse practitioner’s opinion that he would have provided to reject the opinion of a treating physician. The court also found that the ALJ improperly analyzed the plaintiff’s complaints of pain and remands for further development regarding the impact of the plaintiffs pain and mental condition on her ability to work.
Pryor v. Apfel, Civil No. 99-3015-HO (D Or. Jan. 19, 2000)
Arthur Stevens, III., Esq. Medford, OR