Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_14-cv-08128/USCOURTS-azd-3_14-cv-08128-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 863
Nature of Suit: Social Security - DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:405 Review of HHS Decision (SSID)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Kelly Joe Grubbs, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Carolyn W. Colvin, Commissioner of the

Social Security Administration, 

Defendant. 

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CIV 14-8128-PCT-MHB

ORDER

Pending before the Court is Plaintiff Kelly Joe Grubbs’s appeal from the Social

Security Administration’s final decision to deny her claim for supplemental security income.

After reviewing the administrative record and the arguments of the parties, the Court now

issues the following ruling.

I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Plaintiff filed an application for supplemental security income in April 2011, alleging

disability beginning April 20, 2011. (Transcript of Administrative Record (“Tr.”) at 62, 148-

57, 182.) His application was denied initially and on reconsideration. (Tr. at 32-41, 44-58.)

Thereafter, Plaintiff requested a hearing before an administrative law judge, and a hearing

was held on January 16, 2013. (Tr. at 6-31.) On February 25, 2013, the ALJ issued a

decision finding that Plaintiff was not disabled. (Tr. at 59-79.) The Appeals Council denied

Plaintiff’s request for review (Tr. at 1-5), making the ALJ’s decision the final decision of the

Commissioner. Plaintiff then sought judicial review of the ALJ’s decision pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 405(g).

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II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

The Court must affirm the ALJ’s findings if the findings are supported by substantial

evidence and are free from reversible legal error. See Reddick v. Chater, 157 F.3d 715, 720

(9th Cir. 1998); Marcia v. Sullivan, 900 F.2d 172, 174 (9th Cir. 1990). Substantial evidence

means “more than a mere scintilla” and “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might

accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401

(1971); see Reddick, 157 F.3d at 720.

In determining whether substantial evidence supports a decision, the Court considers

the administrative record as a whole, weighing both the evidence that supports and the

evidence that detracts from the ALJ’s conclusion. See Reddick, 157 F.3d at 720. “The ALJ

is responsible for determining credibility, resolving conflicts in medical testimony, and for

resolving ambiguities.” Andrews v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 1995); see

Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 750 (9th Cir. 1989). “If the evidence can reasonably

support either affirming or reversing the [Commissioner’s] conclusion, the court may not

substitute its judgment for that of the [Commissioner].” Reddick, 157 F.3d at 720-21.

III. THE ALJ’S FINDINGS

In order to be eligible for disability or social security benefits, a claimant must

demonstrate an “inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any

medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in

death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than

12 months.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). An ALJ determines a claimant’s eligibility for

benefits by following a five-step sequential evaluation:

(1) determine whether the applicant is engaged in “substantial gainful activity”;

(2) determine whether the applicant has a medically severe impairment or

combination of impairments;

(3) determine whether the applicant’s impairment equals one of a number of listed

impairments that the Commissioner acknowledges as so severe as to preclude the

applicant from engaging in substantial gainful activity;

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(4) if the applicant’s impairment does not equal one of the listed impairments,

determine whether the applicant is capable of performing his or her past relevant

work;

(5) if the applicant is not capable of performing his or her past relevant work,

determine whether the applicant is able to perform other work in the national

economy in view of his age, education, and work experience.

See Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 140-42 (1987) (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520,

416.920). At the fifth stage, the burden of proof shifts to the Commissioner to show that the

claimant can perform other substantial gainful work. See Penny v. Sullivan, 2 F.3d 953, 956

(9th Cir. 1993).

At step one, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful

activity since April 20, 2011 – the alleged onset date. (Tr. at 64.) At step two, she found that

Plaintiff had the following severe impairments: obesity, lumbar degenerative disc disease,

and major depressive disorder. (Tr. at 64-65.) At step three, the ALJ stated that Plaintiff did

not have an impairment or combination of impairments that met or medically equaled an

impairment listed in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 of the Commissioner’s

regulations. (Tr. at 65-66.) After consideration of the entire record, the ALJ found that

Plaintiff retained “the residual functional capacity to perform light work as defined in 20

CFR 416.967(b). He can frequently operate foot controls with the left lower extremity. He

can occasionally climb ladders, ropes, and scaffolds. He can frequently climb ramps and

stairs. He can frequently balance, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl. Left overhead reaching

is limited to occasional. He should avoid concentrated exposure to dangerous machinery

with moving mechanical parts and unprotected heights that are high or exposed. He is

limited to simple, routine and repetitive tasks. He is limited to occasional interaction with

others, including the public, co-workers and supervisors. He is unable to work in tandem

with others, but he can still be in the vicinity of others. He should be employed in a low

stress job, which the undersigned defines as work with only occasional decision-making

required, occasional changes in the work setting, and no fast-paced production rate

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 “Residual functional capacity” is defined as the most a claimant can do after

considering the effects of physical and/or mental limitations that affect the ability to perform

work-related tasks.

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requirements.”1

 (Tr. at 66-72.) The ALJ determined that Plaintiff is unable to perform any

past relevant work, but that considering Plaintiff’s age, education, work experience, and

residual functional capacity, there are jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national

economy that Plaintiff can perform. (Tr. at 72-73.)

Therefore, the ALJ concluded that Plaintiff “has not been under a disability ... since

April 20, 2011, the date the application was filed.” (Tr. at 73-74.)

IV. DISCUSSION

In his brief, Plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred by: (1) failing to properly weigh

medical source opinion evidence; (2) failing to properly consider his subjective complaints;

and (3) failing to properly assess his residual functional capacity. Plaintiff requests that the

Court remand for determination of benefits.

A. Medical Source Opinion Evidence

Plaintiff contends that the ALJ erred by rejecting “treating provider opinions contrary

to case law and regulations.” Plaintiff appears to refer to the opinions of Physician’s

Assistant, Robert Nordman; Don Graber, M.D.; F.S. Gagliardi, M.D.; K.E. Apodaca, M.D.;

and Aileen Lee, Ph.D.

“The ALJ is responsible for resolving conflicts in the medical record.” Carmickle v.

Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 533 F.3d at 1164. Such conflicts may arise between a treating

physician’s medical opinion and other evidence in the claimant’s record. In weighing

medical source opinions in Social Security cases, the Ninth Circuit distinguishes among three

types of physicians: (1) treating physicians, who actually treat the claimant; (2) examining

physicians, who examine but do not treat the claimant; and (3) non-examining physicians,

who neither treat nor examine the claimant. See Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir.

1995). The Ninth Circuit has held that a treating physician’s opinion is entitled to

“substantial weight.” Bray v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 554 F.3d 1219, 1228 (9th Cir.

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2009) (quoting Embrey v. Bowen, 849 F.2d 418, 422 (9th Cir. 1988)). A treating physician’s

opinion is given controlling weight when it is “well-supported by medically accepted clinical

and laboratory diagnostic techniques and is not inconsistent with the other substantial

evidence in [the claimant’s] case record.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d)(2). On the other hand,

if a treating physician’s opinion “is not well-supported” or “is inconsistent with other

substantial evidence in the record,” then it should not be given controlling weight. Orn v.

Astrue, 495 F.3d 624, 631 (9th Cir. 2007).

If a treating physician’s opinion is not contradicted by the opinion of another

physician, then the ALJ may discount the treating physician’s opinion only for “clear and

convincing” reasons. See Carmickle, 533 F.3d at 1164 (quoting Lester, 81 F.3d at 830). If

a treating physician’s opinion is contradicted by another physician’s opinion, then the ALJ

may reject the treating physician’s opinion if there are “specific and legitimate reasons that

are supported by substantial evidence in the record.” Id. (quoting Lester, 81 F.3d at 830).

Since the “treating provider opinions” Plaintiff refers to were contradicted by other

examining and state agency physicians, as well as, other objective medical evidence of

record, the specific and legitimate standard applies.

Historically, the courts have recognized the following as specific, legitimate reasons

for disregarding a treating or examining physician’s opinion: conflicting medical evidence;

the absence of regular medical treatment during the alleged period of disability; the lack of

medical support for doctors’ reports based substantially on a claimant’s subjective complaints

of pain; and medical opinions that are brief, conclusory, and inadequately supported by

medical evidence. See, e.g., Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1216 (9th Cir. 2005); Flaten

v. Secretary of Health and Human Servs., 44 F.3d 1453, 1463-64 (9th Cir. 1995); Fair v.

Bowen, 885 F.2d 597, 604 (9th Cir. 1989).

In her consideration of the objective medical evidence, the ALJ first addressed the

opinion of Physician’s Assistant, Mr. Nordman – giving little weight to his assessment. (Tr.

at 70.) Mr. Nordman completed a checkbox questionnaire, dated November 2011, in which

he assessed numerous moderate limitations in functioning. (Tr. at 460-61.) The form he

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filled out defined moderate as “claimant’s impairments affect but do not preclude ability to

function.” (Tr. at 460.) Three months later, he filled out an identical form that indicated

much more severe functional limitations. (Tr. at 462-63.) This form was co-signed by Dr.

Gagliardi. (Tr. at 463.) Ten months later, he filled out a similar form that indicated

Plaintiff’s limitations were even more extreme. (Tr. at 469-70.) This form was co-signed

by Dr. Graber. (Tr. at 470.)

The ALJ rejected the overall opinion of Mr. Nordman (as well as the opinions of Drs.

Graber and Gagliardi) finding that the opinion was “vague and imprecise” and lacked any

explanation or support for the assessed limitations. (Tr. at 70.) The ALJ also noted that the

opinion indicated a serious worsening in Plaintiff’s mental health symptoms over time, when

the treatment records failed to reflect such a decompensation. These were valid reasons for

affording the opinion of Mr. Nordman – and Drs. Graber and Gagliardi – little weight. “The

ALJ need not accept the opinion of any physician, including a treating physician, if that

opinion is brief, conclusory, and inadequately supported by clinical findings.” Chaudhry v.

Astrue, 688 F.3d 661, 671 (9th Cir. 2012); see Bray, 554 F.3d at 1228; Batson v. Comm’r

Soc. Sec. Admin., 359 F.3d 1190, 1195 (9th Cir. 2004) (“[A]n ALJ may discredit treating

physicians’ opinions that are conclusory, brief, and unsupported by the record as a whole ...

or by objective medical findings ... .”); Tonapetyan v. Halter, 242 F.3d 1144, 1149 (9th Cir.

2001) (“When confronted with conflicting medical opinions, an ALJ need not accept a

treating physician’s opinion that is conclusory and brief and unsupported by clinical

findings.”).

Next, the ALJ considered the opinion of Dr. Apodaca. (Tr. at 70-71.) In June 2012,

Dr. Apodaca completed a checkbox form in which she opined Plaintiff had an “extreme”

degree of physical impairment that would effectively preclude competitive employment. (Tr.

at 466-68.) This form also indicated that it was intended to supplement a narrative report,

but Dr. Apodaca provided no accompanying narrative and did not fill out the “Remarks”

section. (Tr. at 468.) The ALJ found the opinion deserved “little weight” because it was not

supported by Dr. Apodaca’s own treatment notes and provided little explanation for the

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conclusions on the checkbox form. (Tr. at 70-71.) Dr. Apodaca’s treatment notes document

largely unremarkable physical examinations, with no evidence of gait disturbance, poor

coordination, or bad posture. (Tr. at 70, 518, 523, 526, 530, 533, 536, 540, 543-44.) Thus,

the ALJ reasonably found that Dr. Apodaca’s own treatment notes did not support the

debilitating limitations she assessed on the checkbox form. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(3)

(“The better an explanation a source provides for an opinion, the more weight we will give

that opinion.”); Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1111 (9th Cir. 2012) (“We have held that

the ALJ may permissibly reject check-off reports that do not contain any explanation of the

bases of their conclusions.”); Batson, 359 F.3d at 1195.

As to Dr. Lee, who examined Plaintiff at the request of the state agency, the ALJ gave

“little weight” to her conclusions. (Tr. at 71.) Dr. Lee examined Plaintiff in February 2012.

(Tr. at 451-55.) Dr. Lee did not assess any specific functional limitations that were

incompatible with full-time work (Tr. at 454), but she stated that Plaintiff’s “lack of prior

vocational success coupled with his current depression and bodily pain renders him a poor

prospect at this point to succeed in any work environment” (Tr. at 453). The ALJ discounted

Dr. Lee’s opinion because her own examination results did not support her opinion and

because it was vague. (Tr. at 71.) Furthermore, Dr. Lee failed to assess any functional

limitations that would preclude employment. Rather, she made conclusory statements

regarding Plaintiff’s physical impairments and his “lack of prior vocational success.” (Tr.

at 453.) See McLeod v. Astrue, 640 F.3d 881, 884-85 (9th Cir. 2011) (recognizing doctors

lack the requisite vocational expertise to opine about employability); Bray, 554 F.3d at 1228;

Batson, 359 F.3d at 1195; Tonapetyan, 242 F.3d at 1149. “Internal inconsistencies” in a

medical opinion are a relevant factor for an ALJ to consider, and “[d]etermining whether

inconsistencies are material (or are in fact inconsistencies at all) ... falls within [the ALJ’s]

responsibility.” Morgan v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 169 F.3d 595, 603 (9th Cir. 1999).

As the ALJ noted, the mini-mental status examination was the only testing Dr. Lee

administered, and it indicated only a mild degree of cognitive impairment, by Dr. Lee’s own

account. (Tr. at 71, 454.)

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In sum, the Court finds that the ALJ properly weighed the medical source opinion

evidence, and gave specific and legitimate reasons, based on substantial evidence in the

record, for discounting the “treating provider opinions.” Therefore, the Court finds no error.

B. Plaintiff’s Subjective Complaints

Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred in rejecting his subjective complaints in the absence

of clear and convincing reasons for doing so.

To determine whether a claimant’s testimony regarding subjective pain or symptoms

is credible, the ALJ must engage in a two-step analysis. “First, the ALJ must determine

whether the claimant has presented objective medical evidence of an underlying impairment

‘which could reasonably be expected to produce the pain or other symptoms alleged.’ The

claimant, however, ‘need not show that her impairment could reasonably be expected to

cause the severity of the symptom she has alleged; she need only show that it could

reasonably have caused some degree of the symptom.’” Lingenfelter v. Astrue, 504 F.3d

1028, 1036-37 (9th Cir. 2007) (citations omitted). “Second, if the claimant meets this first

test, and there is no evidence of malingering, ‘the ALJ can reject the claimant’s testimony

about the severity of her symptoms only by offering specific, clear and convincing reasons

for doing so.’” Id. at 1037 (citations omitted). General assertions that the claimant’s

testimony is not credible are insufficient. See Parra v. Astrue, 481 F.3d 742, 750 (9th Cir.

2007). The ALJ must identify “what testimony is not credible and what evidence undermines

the claimant’s complaints.” Id. (quoting Lester, 81 F.3d at 834).

In weighing a claimant’s credibility, the ALJ may consider many factors, including,

“(1) ordinary techniques of credibility evaluation, such as the claimant’s reputation for lying,

prior inconsistent statements concerning the symptoms, and other testimony by the claimant

that appears less than candid; (2) unexplained or inadequately explained failure to seek

treatment or to follow a prescribed course of treatment; and (3) the claimant’s daily

activities.” Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1284 (9th Cir. 1996); see Orn, 495 F.3d at 637-

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 With respect to the claimant’s daily activities, the ALJ may reject a claimant’s

symptom testimony if the claimant is able to spend a substantial part of her day performing

household chores or other activities that are transferable to a work setting. See Fair, 885 F.2d

at 603. The Social Security Act, however, does not require that claimants be utterly

incapacitated to be eligible for benefits, and many home activities may not be easily

transferable to a work environment where it might be impossible to rest periodically or take

medication. See id.

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39.2

 The ALJ also considers “the claimant’s work record and observations of treating and

examining physicians and other third parties regarding, among other matters, the nature,

onset, duration, and frequency of the claimant’s symptom; precipitating and aggravating

factors; [and] functional restrictions caused by the symptoms ... .” Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1284

(citation omitted).

As detailed by the ALJ in her decision, Plaintiff alleges persistent back and feet pain

resulting in difficulty sitting and standing. (Tr. at 67.) He testified that he is unable to sit or

stand for too long due to back pain and “constant” spasms. His back and left shoulder pain

limits his ability to reach and lift, and he is unable to carry heavy things. He testified that he

is able to lift no more than eight pounds and can sit for no more than 30-45 minutes. He also

indicated that he is able to stand for no more than 15 minutes at a time, and can only walk

for 4-5 minutes. Plaintiff also alleged ongoing depression with psychosis, and described his

symptoms as “sadness” that sometimes prevents him from getting out of bed. He also noted

hallucinations and racing thoughts. (Tr. at 67.)

Having reviewed the record along with the ALJ’s credibility analysis, the Court finds

that the ALJ made sufficient credibility findings and identified multiple clear and convincing

reasons supported by the record for discounting Plaintiff’s statements regarding his pain and

limitations. Although the ALJ recognized that Plaintiff’s medically determinable

impairments could reasonably be expected to cause the alleged symptoms, she also found that

Plaintiff’s statements concerning the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of the

symptoms were not fully credible. (Tr. at 67-70.)

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The ALJ first addressed Plaintiff’s activities of daily living finding that said activities

were not limited to the extent that would be expected if his allegations were fully credible.

(Tr. at 67.) “[I]f the claimant engages in numerous daily activities involving skills that could

be transferred to the workplace, an adjudicator may discredit the claimant’s allegations upon

making specific findings relating to the claimant’s daily activities.” Bunnell v. Sullivan, 947

F.2d 341, 346 (9th Cir. 1991) (citing Fair, 885 F.2d at 603); see Berry v. Astrue, 622 F.3d

1228, 1234-35 (9th Cir. 2010) (claimant’s activities suggested a greater functional capacity

than alleged). In May 2011, Plaintiff complained of increased back pain because he had been

doing yard work, including mowing the lawn and using a weed eater. (Tr. at 67, 254, 272.)

About a year and a half later, Dr. Graber noted that Plaintiff was performing chores around

the place he lived, even though he had recently experienced an exacerbation of mental health

symptoms after he stopped taking his medication. (Tr. at 67, 472.) In contrast, Plaintiff

testified that he was so impaired he could not stand for more than 15 minutes or walk for

more than 4 or 5 minutes at a time. (Tr. at 18, 67.) The ALJ reasonably found Plaintiff to

be less-than-fully credible in light of evidence he was performing household chores,

including yard work, during the alleged period of disability. While not alone conclusive on

the issue of disability, an ALJ can reasonably consider a claimant’s daily activities in

evaluating the credibility of his subjective complaints. See, e.g., Stubbs-Danielson v. Astrue,

539 F.3d 1169, 1175 (9th Cir. 2008) (upholding ALJ’s credibility determination based in part

of the claimant’s abilities to cook, clean, do laundry, and help her husband with the finances);

Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 680-81 (9th Cir. 2005) (upholding ALJ’s credibility

determination based in part on the claimant’s abilities to cook, clean, shop, and handle

finances).

Next, the ALJ discussed Plaintiff’s treatment history finding that his treatment has

been largely routine and conservative, and his impairments have responded well to treatment.

(Tr. at 67-68.) A conservative course of treatment is sufficient to discount a claimant’s

testimony regarding severity of an impairment. See Johnson v. Shalala, 60 F.3d 1428, 1434

(9th Cir. 1995) (evidence of “conservative treatment” is sufficient to discount a claimant’s

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testimony regarding severity of an impairment). Evidence that a claimant responded well to

such treatment also undermines allegations of disabling limitations. See Tommasetti v.

Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1040 (9th Cir. 2008). As the ALJ noted, Plaintiff’s back and shoulder

pain responded well to physical therapy treatment in 2011. (Tr. at 67-68, 253-66.) In August

2011, he told Lucia McPhee, M.D., that he was not performing any of the home exercises for

his back and shoulder. (Tr. at 379.) His physical therapy records are inconsistent with his

testimony that his back and shoulder were still significant, ongoing problems that prevented

him from working. (Tr. at 16-17.) Moreover, Plaintiff reported he did not need to use his

narcotic pain medication every day. (Tr. at 68, 286, 379.)

Plaintiff’s mental health also showed significant improvement after he initiated

treatment in April 2011. (Tr. at 69.) By June 2011, Mr. Nordman was noting that Plaintiff

was still “mildly anxious and depressed” and “[s]till depressed some,” but “much improved.”

(Tr. at 69, 286-87.) He had not experienced any hallucinations since he started taking

medication. (Tr. at 69, 287.) In January 2012, he reported he was happy with his medication

regiment and thinking about going back to work, even though he still had significant

depression and was unsure of his ability to handle the customer service aspects of his new

job. (Tr. at 69, 509-11.) In May 2012, he stopped taking all of his medications because he

did not believe they were helping. (Tr. at 69, 499.) As a result, he experienced

hallucinations and some increased paranoia. (Tr. at 69, 500.) However, he stabilized

immediately upon restarting his medication. (Tr. at 69, 501.) By October 2012, he was

“[d]oing better back on the meds,” which were “working well,” even though he had recently

had trouble with his pharmacy. (Tr. at 69, 481-85.) Dr. Apodaca described him as being

friendly and cooperative, displaying a normal mood and affect, being fully oriented, and

presenting as appropriately dressed, kept, and hygienic during her numerous treatment

sessions. (Tr. at 69, 273, 276, 280, 376, 518, 523, 526, 530, 533, 536, 540, 543.)

The ALJ also noted that Plaintiff had a sporadic work history and left his last job for

reasons unrelated to his impairments. (Tr. at 68-69.) The fact that a claimant stopped work

for reasons other than his impairments is a valid reason credibility consideration. See Bruton

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v. Massanari, 268 F.3d 824, 828 (9th Cir. 2001). A “poor work history” is also a valid

credibility factor for an ALJ to consider. See Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 948, 959 (9th Cir.

2002) (upholding ALJ’s finding that claimant’s alleged symptoms related to a slip-and-fall

injury were not entirely credible because she had an “extremely poor work history” and “has

shown little propensity to work in her lifetime”). When Plaintiff initiated mental health

treatment in April 2011, he told the intake therapist he last worked for about a year and a half

as a shipping clerk, which he found “was an easy job” for him, until his employer requested

he take a second urinalysis test, at which point he quit. (Tr. at 68, 316.) The fact Plaintiff

left his last job over his employer’s drug-use policy, and not because his impairments

interfered with his ability to work, was a valid credibility issue. Furthermore, Plaintiff has

a very sporadic work history, and a history of heavy drug use from a relatively early age.

(Tr. at 68-69, 158-59, 320.)

Additionally, the ALJ found minimal objective evidence supporting Plaintiff’s

complaints of physical impairment. (Tr. at 68.) An ALJ may consider the objective medical

evidence when evaluating a claimant’s credibility, as long as it is not the only factor

supporting the credibility assessment. See Bray, 554 F.3d at 1227. An MRI taken in July

2011 revealed only mild spinal abnormalities. (Tr. at 68, 373-74.) X-rays taken the

following month revealed evidence of spina bifida occulta, which is a minimal abnormality

that typically produces no symptoms. (Tr. at 68, 243.)

Lastly, the ALJ also found that Plaintiff’s description of his depressive symptoms has

been vague and general. (Tr. at 69.) An ALJ may use ordinary techniques of credibility

evaluation, which includes consideration of the vagueness or specificity of the claimant’s

allegations. See Tommasetti, 533 F.3d at 1040.

In summary, the Court finds that the ALJ provided a sufficient basis to find Plaintiff’s

allegations not entirely credible. While perhaps the individual factors, viewed in isolation,

are not sufficient to uphold the ALJ’s decision to discredit Plaintiff’s allegations, each factor

is relevant to the ALJ’s overall analysis, and it was the cumulative effect of all the factors

that led to the ALJ’s decision. The Court concludes that the ALJ has supported his decision

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to discredit Plaintiff’s allegations with specific, clear and convincing reasons and, therefore,

the Court finds no error.

C. The ALJ’s Residual Functional Capacity Assessment

Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred by failing to properly assess his residual functional

capacity. Specifically, Plaintiff states, “[t]he opinions of all treating and examining

psychological providers - Robert Nordman, PA, Dr. Gagliardi, MD, Dr. Graber, MD, and A

Lee, PhD - all opine limitations that preclude substantial gainful activity. TR 453, 461-465,

TR 28-29 (vocational testimony). The ALJ erred in not including these severe limitation in

the residual functional capacity.”

The Court construes Plaintiff’s argument as an extension of the argument alleging that

the ALJ erred in failing to properly weigh medical source opinion evidence – which this

Court has already addressed. In any event, the Court finds that the ALJ’s residual functional

capacity assessment is supported by substantial evidence as she properly addressed both the

objective medical evidence of record and Plaintiff’s credibility in finding that Plaintiff

retained “the residual functional capacity to perform light work as defined in 20 CFR

416.967(b).” The Court finds no error.

V. CONCLUSION

Substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s decision to deny Plaintiff’s claim for

supplemental security income in this case. Consequently, the ALJ’s decision is affirmed.

Based upon the foregoing discussion,

IT IS ORDERED that the decision of the ALJ and the Commissioner of Social

Security be affirmed;

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment

accordingly. The judgment will serve as the mandate of this Court.

DATED this 24th day of September, 2015.

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