UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

JO LEE EDEN,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

JOHN J. CALLAHAN, Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration,*

Defendant-Appellee.

No. 97-7011

(D.C. No. CV-95-257-B)

(E.D. Okla.)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT**

Before TACHA, MCKAY, and BALDOCK, Circuit Judges.

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously to grant the parties' request for a decision on the briefs without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Plaintiff appeals from the district court's affirmance of the Secretary's determination that he is not disabled and is, therefore, not entitled to disability benefits or supplemental security income benefits. On appeal, plaintiff argues that the administrative law judge (ALJ) failed to consider properly his mental impairments in combination with his other impairments to determine his residual functional capacity (RFC) when the ALJ failed to prepare a Psychiatric Review Technique (PRT) form. We review the Secretary's decision to determine whether the factual findings are supported by substantial evidence in the administrative record viewed as a whole and whether correct legal standards were applied. See Castellano v. Secretary of Health & Human Servs., 26 F.3d 1027, 1028 (10th Cir. 1994). Because we conclude the ALJ failed to apply correct legal standards, we remand for further proceedings by the ALJ to assess plaintiff's mental impairment in accordance with the regulations.

Plaintiff has made three prior applications for disability and SSI benefits.1 In this fourth case, plaintiff alleges disability due to pain in his right shoulder, leg and ankle, back problems, and limitations imposed by borderline intelligence and functional illiteracy. After holding an administrative hearing, the ALJ denied benefits. The ALJ determined that although plaintiff suffers from arthritis of the right ankle, bursitis of the right shoulder, tenderness in his low back, and an inability to read and write and he is unable to perform his past work, he retains the RFC to perform a full range of sedentary work, subject to his inability to read and write. Accordingly, the ALJ concluded plaintiff is not disabled and denied benefits at step five of the controlling five-step analysis. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520; 416.920.

Plaintiff argues the ALJ failed to evaluate his mental impairment of borderline intelligence as required by 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520a and 416.920a and failed to prepare a PRT form. In evaluating a mental impairment allegedly preventing the plaintiff from working, the ALJ must follow special procedures and prepare a PRT form. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520a; 416.920a; Cruse v. United States Dep't of Health & Human Servs., 49 F.3d 614, 617 (10th Cir. 1995); Andrade v. Secretary of Health & Human Servs., 985 F.2d 1045, 1048-49 (10th Cir. 1993). The ALJ failed to do so. Accordingly, remand is required for the ALJ to follow the special procedures and prepare the form as required by the regulations.

Because the ALJ must reconsider plaintiff's alleged mental impairment, we do not consider plaintiff's argument that the ALJ failed to fully present plaintiff's impairments to the vocational expert. After making the appropriate findings regarding plaintiff's mental impairment, the ALJ must then determine whether to obtain further vocational testimony.

Because the ALJ failed to apply the correct legal standards, the judgment of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma is VACATED. The action is REMANDED to the district court with directions to remand to the Commissioner for further findings by the ALJ, who is to reconsider the disability determination after properly assessing plaintiff's mental impairment.

Entered for the Court

Deanell Reece Tacha

Circuit Judge