There’s a good discussion of the treatment of treating physician opinions, including the duty to articulate reasons for the weight given such opinions, in Watkins v. Barnhart350 F.3d 1297 (10th Cir. 2003). Judge Baldock, for the Court, discusses Social Security Ruling 96-2p:
The agency ruling contemplates that the ALJ will make a finding as to whether a treating source opinion is entitled to controlling weight. In this case, the ALJ obviously did not give Dr. Rowland’s opinion controlling weight, but he did not articulate a reason. A finding at this stage (as to whether the opinion is either unsupported or inconsistent with other substantial evidence) is necessary so that we can properly review the ALJ’s determination on appeal.
