20 C.F.R. § 405.10 Medical and Vocational Expert System.
Title 20 - Employees' Benefits
(a) General. The Medical and Vocational Expert System is comprised of the Medical and Vocational Expert Unit and a national network of qualified medical, psychological, and vocational experts, which is overseen by the Medical and Vocational Expert Unit. These experts from the national network will assist Federal reviewing officials and administrative law judges in deciding claims. Medical and psychological experts from the national network may assist a State agency in determining disability when the State agency does not have the necessary expertise available to it. The Medical and Vocational Expert Unit also will maintain a national registry of vocational experts having qualifications required by the Commissioner who could provide vocational evidence at the initial level. (b) Network of medical, psychological, and vocational experts. From time to time, the Commissioner may establish qualifications that medical, psychological, and vocational experts must meet in order to join the network. Any medical, psychological, or vocational experts meeting those qualifications, including State agency medical or psychological consultants, may become part of the network. (1) Use of medical and psychological experts at the State level. (i) If a State agency requests assistance from us, the Medical and Vocational Expert Unit may assign, to the extent practicable, a network expert to a claim. (ii) If a State agency is unable to obtain expertise that the Commissioner requires to adjudicate claims involving particular impairments, the Medical and Vocational Expert Unit will assign a network expert to a claim. (iii) The medical or psychological expert so assigned will serve on the State agency's adjudication team as a medical or psychological consultant and will be deemed qualified as such under §§404.1616 and 416.1016 of this chapter. (2) Use of network experts at Federal level. Both Federal reviewing officials and administrative law judges may request evidence from a claimant's treating source, including requesting a treating physician to conduct a consultative examination. However, if they need additional medical, psychological, or vocational documentary or testimonial evidence to adjudicate a claim, they must use the Medical and Vocational Expert System. (3) Experts who provide evidence at your request. Experts whom you ask to provide evidence on your claim are not required to be affiliated with the network or meet the qualifications that we establish. (c) National registry of vocational experts. Vocational experts having the qualifications established by the Commissioner may be included in a registry that we will maintain. The registry will be maintained for and made available to State agencies.
Title 20: Employees' Benefits
PART 405—ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCESS FOR ADJUDICATING INITIAL DISABILITY CLAIMS
Subpart A—Introduction, General Description, and Definitions
§ 405.10 Medical and Vocational Expert System.
