# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 5- 32 98

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The res a Kay

Agu in ig a

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el la nt

v.

Caro lyn W . Col vi n, Act in g C om m is si on er o f So ci al Secu rit y

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll ee

__ __ __ __ __ __
App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e So ut he rn Dis tri ct of I owa - Des M oi ne s

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Apri l 1 3, 2 01 6
Fil ed : Au gu st 15 , 20 16

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re WOL LMAN, BEAM, an d M URPHY, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

BEAM, Ci rcu it Ju dg e.

The res a A g ui ni ga ap pe al s th e di st ric t co ur t's de ci si on affi rm in g th e 1

Co m m is si on er's de ci si on to de ny Agu in i g a so ci al se cu rit y di sa bi li ty be ne fit s. W e
affi rm

.

The Hon or ab le Ch arl es R. W ol le

, Uni te d St at es D ist ri ct Judg e fo r th e So ut he rn 1
Dis tri ct of I owa

.I. BACKGRO UND

Agu in ig a, a 44 -y ear- ol d wom an (at th e ti m e of he r al le ge d on se t da te ), was in

a m ot or cy cl e acci de nt in Sep te m be r 20 07

, whe rei n sh e frac tu red h e r p e l v i s in si x pl aces , an d al so br ok e he r wris t. An MRI pe rfo rm ed in Ja nu ary 20 08 in di cat ed

bu lg in g di sc s in th e lu m

ba r an d cerv ic al reg io n at se ve ral di ffer e n t l o c a t i on s. Sh e

co m pl ai ne d of nu mb n e s s an d ti ng li ng in he r ex tre m it ie s in nu m ero us do ct or vi si ts

fo ll owi ng th e acci de nt

. Sh e sa w do ct or s fo r th es e co nd it io ns an d co m pl ai ne d of pa in

reg ul arl y in th e y ear fo ll owi ng th e acc i d e n t

. Non et he le ss , in th e fal l of 20 08

, Agu in ig a was di sc ha rg ed fro m ph y si cal th erap y aft er can cel li ng th ree ap po in tm en ts

an d no t res ch ed ul in g. Alt ho ug h sh e was tre at ed wit h st ero id in jecti on s fo r a ti m e, sh e
ul ti m at el y st op pe d th at tre at m en t, req u e s ti ng th at he r pa in be co nt ro ll ed wit h pa in

m ed ic at io ns

. Too

, sh or tl y aft er th e acci d e n t

, Agu in ig a ex pe rie nc ed ps y ch ol og ic al

pr ob le m s an d sa w m en ta l he al th pr act it io ne rs

. Howev er, sh e di d no t se ek m en ta l

he al th th erap y f

r o m J un e 20 08 un ti l Decem be r 20 08

. In th e fir st ha lf of 20 09

, sh e

sa w do ct or s for her bac k pai n and a li cen se d so ci al wor ke r fo r m en ta l he al th is su es

.

Agu in ig a fir st ap pl ie d fo r so ci al se cu rit y di sa bi li ty b en e f i t s in la te 20 07 , a nd

was de ni ed be ne fit s in it ia ll y on Ja nu ary 15

, 20 08

, an d on reco ns id erat io n on Ju ne 4,

20 08

. Agu in ig a di d no t ap pe al th e de ni al of be ne fit s aft er th is fir st ap pl ic at io n. 2

I ns te ad

, on May 12

, 20 09

, Agu in ig a fil ed a ne w ap pl ic at io n fo r di sa bi li ty be ne fit s,
al le gi ng an on se t di sa bi li ty da te of Apr il 28

, 20 09

. In la te Ju ne an d earl y Ju ly 20 09

, A gui nig a' s phy sic al an d m en ta l Res id ua l Fu nc ti on al Cap aci ty (RFC ) ev al ua tio ns w er e

pr ep ared by th e S o c ia l Secu rit y Adm in is tra ti on 's di sa bi li ty de te rm in at io n se rv ic es

. The ph y si cal as se ss men t i nd ic at ed so m e ex ert io na l li m it at io ns an d oc cas io na l

po st ur al li m it at io ns

. The m en ta l as se ss m en t in di cat ed Agu in ig a wou ld be m od erat el y
li m it ed in su st ai ne d co nc en tra ti on an d so ci al in te ract io n. Agu in ig a's ap pl ic at io n was

Th e sp eci fic s of th is in it ia l ap pl ic at io n fo r be ne fit s are no t in th e cu rren t 2
ad m in is tra ti ve reco rd be cau se , as be st we can te ll

, Agu in ig a di d no t ap pe al th e de ni al
of be ne fit s on reco ns id erat io n to an Adm in is tra ti ve Law Ju dg e (ALJ), an d th e de ni al
of th e fi rs t ap pl ic at io n t he refo re b ecame fin al

.

-2

-de ni ed in it ia ll y an d on reco ns id erat io n. Sh e ap pe al ed to th e ALJ, an d aft er fil in g he r

ap pe al

, vi a a Mar ch 26

, 20 10 le tt er fro m he r at to rn ey to th e ALJ, sh e m ov ed to reo pe n
he r pr io r (2 00 7) ap pl ic at io n, effe ct iv el y al le gi ng th at he r cu rren t on se t of di sa bi li ty

da te sh ou ld be th e da te of th e m ot or cy cl e acci de nt

, Sep te m be r 7, 20 07

. In cl ud ed wit h

th e at to rn ey 's le tt er to th e ALJ was a Mar ch 20 10 rep or t fro m a vo cat io na l ex pe rt who

op in ed th at Agu in ig a wou ld no t be ab le to ret ur n to he r pa st rel ev an t wor k as a m ai l

cl erk or in fo rm a t i on sp eci al is t, be cau se of he r ph y si cal an d m en ta l im pa irments

. W it ho ut ad dr es si ng he r m ot io n to reo pe n or ho ld in g a h eari ng , on Mar ch 30 , 2 01 0,

th e ALJ is su ed a fav or ab le de ci si on , award in g Agu in ig a be ne fit s with an on se t dat e

o f A p r i l 2 8

, 20 09

. The ALJ fo un d th at Agu in ig a ha d th e se ve re im pa irments of

ad jus tm en t/ m oo d di so rd er; an xi et y di so rd er; ch ro ni c pa in synd ro m e; se qu el ae of

m ot or cy cl e acci de nt ; s ta tu s p os t m ul ti pl e p el vi c an d s acra l fr act ur es , wit h l eft wris t

frac tu re ; de ge ne rat iv e ch an ge s of th e cerv ic al an d lu m ba r sp in e; an d ex og en ou s
ob es it y

. The A LJ de te rm in ed Agu in ig a ha d th e cap ab il it y of pe rfo rm in g se de nt ary

wor k e xc ep t t ha t h er ab il it y to pe rfo rm

sed en ta ry wor k was si gn ifi can tl y li m it ed by

he r m en ta l i m

pa irments

.

A g ui ni ga ap pe al ed th at fav or ab le ru li ng , al le gi ng th at th e ALJ sh ou ld ha v e

co ns id ered he r m ot io n to reo pe n an d aw a r d e d be ne fit s fro m th e on se t da te of
Sep te m be r 7, 20 07 . The Co m

m is si on er al so fil ed an un op po se d m ot io n to rem an d,

arg ui ng th at th e ALJ sh ou ld ha ve co ns id ered Agu in ig a's req ue st to reo pe n. On Mar ch

25

, 2 0 1 3

, th e di st ric t co ur t di rect ed th e App eal s Co un ci l to rem an d th e cas e to th e

ALJ to is su e a ne w de ci si on an d co ns id er th e en ti re rel ev an t pe rio d. Acco rd in gl y , th e App eal s Co un ci l va cat ed th e pr io r fav or ab le de ci si on , rem an de d, an d di rect ed th e

ALJ to ho ld a ne w h eari ng , a s ne ces sa ry , t o is su e a n ew de ci si on th at ad dr es se s th e

en ti re rel ev an t peri od , and to res ol ve whe th er or not Agu in ig a's or ig in al req ue st fo r

reo pe ni ng (to co ns id er t he ne w dat e) s ho ul d b e g ran te d.

In Sep te m

be r 20 13

, an ALJ (a di ffer en t ALJ th an th e on e who or ig in al ly

award ed be ne fit s wit ho ut a he a rin g) se nt Agu in ig a a no ti ce of he ari ng st at in g, "[a ]lth ou gh y ou were pr ev io us ly de te rm in ed to m eet th e di sa bi li ty req ui rem en ts as of

-3

-Apr il 28

, 20 09

, I wil l co ns id er whe th er y ou ha ve be en di sa bl ed at an y ti m e fro m th e

al le ge d on se t da te of Sep te m be r 7, 20 07 th ro ug h t he pre se nt ." The ALJ al so st at ed

th at if Agu in ig a di sa gr eed wit h th e is su es de si gn at ed fo r he ari ng , "you m us t tel l m e
in writ in g why y ou di sa gr ee." Agu in ig a di d no t write to di sa gr ee with th e is su es so
d es ig na te d, an d waiv ed he r rig ht to ap pe ar at th e he ari ng

. At th e he a r i n g o n

Nov em be r 4

, 2 01 3, th e Co m

m is si on er's vo cat io na l ex pe rt te st ifi ed bu t was on ly

ex am in ed by th e ALJ be cau se Agu in ig a's at to rn ey di d no t ap pe ar at th e he ari ng ei th er.

On Decem

be r 23

, 20 13

, th e ALJ is su ed it s de ci si on an d fo un d Agu in ig a ha s th e
fo ll owi ng se ve re im

pa irments : deg en erat iv e di sc di se as e of th e cerv ic al an d lu m ba r

sp in e; res id ua ls of frac tu re an d fix at io n of th e le ft rad iu s; th e res id ua ls of sa cral an d

pe lv ic frac tu res ; ob es it y ; a m oo d di so rd er; an d an an xi et y di so rd er. Th e A LJ

,

ex pr es sl y no ti ng th at th e pe rio d of ti m e i t w as co ns id eri ng was fro m Sep te m be r 7,

20 07

, th ro ug h th e da te la st in su red

, Sep te m be r 30

, 20 13

, co nc lu de d Agu in ig a co ul d

no t pe rfo rm he r pa st rel ev an t wor k as a ge ne ral cl erk

, bu t ret ai ne d th e RFC to pe rfo rm
li gh t wor k, wit h ad di ti on al li m it at io ns , as a ret ai l m ark er, m ai l cl e r k

, an d co py

m ach in e op erat or

. Acco rd in gl y , Agu in ig a was fo un d to be no t di sa bl ed

. The di st ric t

co ur t affi rm ed th e ALJ's de ci si on

. Agu in ig a ap pe al s, arg ui ng th e di st ric t co ur t erre d
by f a i l i ng to ap pl y co ll at eral es to pp el to th e fir st ALJ's de ci si on award in g be ne fit s. Agu in ig a fu rth er fau lt s th e (s eco nd ) ALJ's ad ve rs e cred ib il it y fin di ng an d it s de ci si on

to di sc ou nt th e tr eat in g s ou rce p hysic ia ns ' op in io ns

.

II

. DISCUSS IO N

W e rev ie w th e di st ric t co ur t's de ci si on up ho ld in g th e de ni al of so ci al se cu rit y
be ne fit s de no vo , ap pl y in g th e sa m e st an da rd as th e di st ric t c o ur t to th e ALJ's

de ci si on –a ffi rm in g if su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce su pp or ts th e de ci si on an d if on th e who le

,

a reas on ab le m in d co ul d acce pt th e ALJ's de ci si on

. Ju sz czyk v. Ast ru e, 54 2 F.3 d 62 6,

63 1 (8 th Cir . 20 08 ).

-4

-Agu in ig a co nt e n d s t h e ALJ sh ou ld ha ve be en pr ecl ud ed fro m reco ns id eri ng

Agu in i g a ' s d i s ab il it y st at us po st -Ap ril 20 09

, be cau se in it s Mo ti on to Rem an d, th e

Co m m is si on er o n l y as ke d th e ALJ to de te rm in e whe th er it sh ou ld ha ve co ns id ered
Agu in i g a ' s mo t io n to reo pe n to ad d he r ne w o ns et da te

. The Co m m is si on er arg ue s
th e do ct rin e of co ll at eral es to pp el is who ll y in ap pl ic ab le to th is cas e be cau se th ere is

no fi n a l ju dg m en t to whi ch th e do ct rin e of co ll at eral es to pp el co ul d co nc ei va bl y

at ta ch

. See Gin te rs v Fraz ie r, 61 4 F.3 d 82 2, 8 26 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ) (s et ti ng fo rth th e
el em en ts req ui red fo r op erat io n of col la te ral es to pp el , th e fo ur th ele m en t bei ng th at

th e is su e so ug ht to be pr ecl ud ed m us t ha ve be en de te rm in ed by a va li d a n d fin al
jud gm en t). The Co m

m is si on er arg ue s th at t h e pr io r fav or ab le de ci si on Agu in ig a

wou ld li ke to be gi ve n pr ecl us iv e effe ct was act ua ll y va cat ed by th e App eal s Co un ci l.

Co ll at eral es to pp el an d res jud ic at a can ap pl y in cert ai n ci rcu m st an ces of so ci al

se cu rit y de te rm in at io ns , whe n th e is su e in vo lv es th e sa m e ev id en ce, an d th e sa m e

pe rio d of di sa bi li ty. See Ru ck er v. Ch at er, 92 F.3 d 49 2, 49 5 (7 th Ci r. 19 96 ) (h ol di ng
th at co ll at eral es to p p e l was no t ap pl ic ab le be cau se th e su bs eq ue nt ap pl ic at io n fo r
be ne fit s in vo lv ed a di ffer en t ti m e pe rio d an d a di ffer en t reco rd ); Hard y v. Ch at er, 64

F.3 d 40 5, 40 7 (8 th Ci r. 19 95 ) (s am e). Ci ti ng Ru ck er an d Hard y , Agu in ig a arg ue s by

ex te ns io n, th at be cau se he r ap pl ic at io n in vo lv es th e sa m e ev id en ce an d (p art of ) th e

s a me ti m e pe rio d as he r or ig in al ap pl ic at io n, th e or ig in al ALJ's fin di ng s sh o u l d b e

pr ecl us iv e. Howev er, in Hard y we no te d th at co ll at eral e s t o p p el ap pl ie s in so ci al

se cu rit y di sa bi li ty cas es on ly aft er a de ci si on ha s be co m e fi na l

. 64 F.3 d at 40 7.

Neit he r Hard y no r Ru ck er in vo lv es wha t ha s ha pp en ed he re– th e jud gm en t so ug ht to

be en fo rced (th e or ig in al ALJ de ci si on ) was v a c a t e d b efo re it be cam e fin al

. See

Atk in s v. Co m

m 'r, S o c

. Sec. Adm in

., 59 6 F. App 'x 86 4, 86 8 (1 1t h Ci r. 20 15 ) (p er

cu ria m ) (n ot in g th at co ll at eral es to pp el do ct rin e di d no t rev iv e a pr ev io us ly fav or ab le

ALJ d e c i s i o n th at ne ve r be cam e fin al be cau se th e App eal s Co un ci l va cat ed it ). To

th e ex te nt th a t Agu in ig a arg ue s th e App eal s Co un ci l de ci si on di d no t "v acat e" th e

ALJ's de ci si on , we di sa gr ee. In an or de r da te d Ju ly 9, 20 13

, th e App eal s Co un ci l ve ry
cl earl y st at es th at it "h ereb y va cat es th e fin al de ci si on of th e Co m m is si on er of So ci al

-5

-S e c u r i ty an d rem an ds th is cas e to an Adm in is tra ti ve Law Ju dg e fo r fu r t h e r

pr oc eed in gs co ns is te nt wit h t he ord er o f th e co ur t."

Nor do es th e la w-o f-t he -cas e do ct rin e rev iv e Agu in ig a's or ig in al ap pl ic at io n.
"'Th e la w of th e cas e do ct rin e pr ev en ts th e rel it ig at io n of a se tt le d is su e in a cas e an d

req ui res co ur ts to ad he re to de ci si on s m ad e in earl ie r pl ead in gs .'" Brac ht el v. Apf el

, 13 2 F.3 d 41 7, 41 9 (8 th Ci r. 19 97 ) (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. Bart sh

, 69 F.3 d 86 4, 86 6 (8 th Ci r. 19 95 )). The do ct rin e "ap pl ie s to ad m in is tra ti ve ag en ci es on rem a n d

. " Id

. Thu s, an ad m in is tra ti ve ag en cy is bo un d b y

an y fin di ng th at a di st ric t co ur t ren de rs

pr io r to rem an di ng a cas e fo r fu rth er co ns id erat io n. Id

. at 42 0. Si m il ar to th e

co ll at eral es to pp el is su e, ho wev er, no th in g in th is cas e was se tt le d fact or la w gi ve n
th e App eal s Co un ci l's va cat io n o f t h e or ig in al op in io n of th e ALJ. The ALJ was
fu rth er di rect ed to "[a ]ddr es s th e en ti re rel ev an t pe rio d" an d "i ss ue a ne w de ci si on ."

Acco rd in gl y , ne it he r th e do ct rin e of co ll at eral es to pp el no r la w of th e cas e ap pl ie s to Agu in ig a's cla im

.

W it h reg ard to th e m eri ts

, Agu i n i g a a r gu es th at th ere was no t su bs ta nt ia l

ev id e n c e t o su pp or t th e cu rren t ALJ's de ci si on be cau se he erro ne ou sl y ga ve he r an
ad ve rs e cred ib il it y fin di ng an d di sc ou nt ed t h e o p in io n of he r tre at in g ph y si ci an s. Agu in ig a po in ts to he r t r e a t men t wit h Kell y Kin ne y , a li cen se d so ci al wor ke r, an d

arg ue s th at th e ALJ di sc ou nt ed he r op in io n as no t bei ng a "t reat in g so ur ce" m ed ic al

op in io n be cau se sh e is a l i c e n s e d so ci al wor ke r. Agu in ig a co nt en ds th e ALJ

erro ne ou sl y di d no t co ns id er m or e rece nt ad m in is tra ti ve gu id el in es t h a t wou ld

co ns id er Kin ne y a "t reat in g so ur ce," ev en th ou gh th e cu rren t so ci al se cu rit y

reg ul at io ns do no t co ns id er a so ci al wor ke r as su ch

. S e e 20 C.F.R. 40 4.1 50 2 (d efi ni ng tre at in g s ou rces as m ed ic al pr act it io ne rs ). Agu in ig a ci te s So ci al Secu rit y

Ru li ng 06 -0 3p , w h i c h r eco gn iz es th at li cen se d cl in ic al so ci al wor ke rs are ha nd li ng

m or e ca s e s n o w th an in pr ev io us y ears an d th at th ei r op in io ns are "i m po rta nt an d

sh ou ld be ev al ua te d."

-6

-The reco rd in di cat es , ho wev er, th at th e ALJ di d, in fact

, co ns id er an d ev al ua te

Kin ne y 's op in io n. In de ed

, th e ALJ fo rm ul at ed Agu in ig a's RFC to refl ect th e

co nc en tra ti on an d st res s fact or s de sc rib ed by Kin ne y

. The ALJ di d di sc ou nt so m e of

Kin ne y 's op in io n ab ou t Agu in ig a's m ark ed li m it s on pe rfo rm in g wor k at a co ns is te nt

pa ce be cau se it fo un d th e reco rd di d no t su pp or t Kin ne y 's co nc lu si on s. W e fin d th ere

was su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce in th e reco rd to su pp or t th e ALJ's co nc lu si on s on th is po in t.

Agu in ig a ne xt arg ue s t h e A LJ ig no red th e op in io n of tre at in g so ur ce Dr.

Heim s, who op in ed t h a t A g u i n i ga co ul d no t ke ep up wit h th e de m an ds of a wor k

sc he du le

, an d of Dr. St ub bl efi el d, a tre at in g ph y si ci an who o p i n ed th at Agu in ig a's

an xi et y cau se s di f

f i c u l ty wit h fo ll owi ng th ro ug h an d th at ch ro ni c fat ig ue wou ld

im pa ir he r ab il it y to co nc en tra te at wor k. An ALJ m us t as si gn co nt ro ll in g weig ht to

a tre at i n g s o u r c e 's m ed ic al op in io n if it is "wel l-s up po rte d by m ed ic al ly acc ep ta bl e
cl in ic a l a n d la bo rat or y di ag no st ic te ch ni qu es an d is no t in co ns is te nt wit h

. . . ot he r

su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce." 20 C.F.R. § 40 4.1 52 7( c ) ( 2 ). Treat in g so ur ce op in io ns are

ge ne ral ly ent it le d t o su bs ta nt ia l weig ht

, bu t an ALJ m ay "jus ti fia bl y

di sc ou nt " s uc h

an op in io n when it is "i nc on si st en t or con tra ry to th e m ed ic al ev id en ce as a who le ."

Mar t is e v. Ast ru e, 64 1 F.3 d 90 9, 92 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ) (s eco nd pa ss ag e qu ot in g
Halv ers on v. Ast ru e, 60 0 F.3 d 92 2, 93 0 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 )). Fo r ex am pl e, an ALJ m ay
di sc ou nt a tre at in g so ur ce op in io n th at is un su pp or te d by tre at m en t no te s. Id

. at

92 5- 26

.

The ALJ th or ou gh ly co ns id ered Dr. St ub bl efi el d' s o p i n i o n, an d in fact sp en t

ne arl y two pa ge s s et ti ng fo rth th e o pi ni on an d t reat m en t n ot es of S tu bb le fie ld in it s
writ te n op in io n. The ALJ ga ve St ub bl efi el d 's op in io ns so m e weig ht whe re it was

warra nt ed , a nd di sc ou nt ed it when it was c on tra di ct ed by a lack of e vi de nc e or was

un de rm in ed by co nt rary ev id en ce in th e tre at m en t no te s. G i ve n th is

, th e ALJ

ap pr op ria te ly em

pl oyed Dr. St ub bl efi el d's op in io n. Se e id

.

Si m il arl y , th e ALJ se t fo rth Dr. Heim s's op in io n, al be it in m uc h m or e cu rs or y
fas hi on th an Dr. St ub bl efi el d's op in io n, be cau se no ne of Dr. Heim s's tre at m en t no te s

-7

-were su bm it te d by Agu in ig a in to th e ad m in is tra ti ve reco rd

. Non et he le ss , th e ALJ di d

gi ve so m e weig ht to Dr. Heim s's op in io n, and no te d th at th e op in io n was so m ewh at

co ns is te nt w i t h ot he r reco rd ev id en ce th at Agu in ig a ha s so m e ex ert io na l li m it s an d

li m it at io ns up on in te ract io ns wit h th e pu bl ic

. The ALJ's ut il iz at io n of Dr. Heim s's

op in io n was su pp or te d by su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce in th e reco rd

. See Mar ti se , 64 1 F.3 d

at 92 5- 26 ; Cl in e v. Co lv in

, 77 1 F.3 d 10 98

, 11 04 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ) (h ol di ng th at th e ALJ

is no t re qu ire d t o s co ur th e rec or d t o fi nd ad di ti on al su pp or t fo r th e o pi ni on ).

Fi na ll y , Agu in ig a arg ue s th e ALJ erro ne ou sl y as se s s e d h e r wit h an ad ve rs e
cred ib il it y de te rm in at io n by di sc ou nt in g he r su bjec ti ve co m pl ai nt s of pa in

. An ALJ

m ay di sc red it an y su bjec ti ve al le ga ti on s th at can no t reas on ab ly be ex pe ct ed to flo w
fro m an es ta bl is he d, m ed ic al ly de te rm in ab le im pa irment. 20 C.F.R. § 40 4.1 52 9( b)

. Onc e a cl ai m an t ha s de m on st rat ed t he ex is te nc e of an im pa irment th at co ul d

reas on ab ly be ex pe ct ed to pr od uc e th e a l l e g e d sym pt om s, th e qu es ti on be co m es
whe th er th e cl ai m an t's su bjec ti ve al le ga ti on s reg ard in g th e ex te nt of he r sym pt om s

are cred ib le

. See id

. §§ 40 4

. 1 5 2 8

, 40 4.1 54 5( e). The ALJ m us t co ns id er th e

co ns is te nc y of th e ev id en ce, an d co ns id er in fo rm at io n pr ov id ed by th e cl ai m an t, he r
do ct or s, an d ot he rs wit h kn owl ed ge of he r ci rcu m st an ces

. Id

. § 40 4.1 52 9( c); Po la sk i

v. Hec kl er, 7 39 F.2d 13 20 , 13 22 (8t h C ir. 1 98 4)

.

Here th e ALJ di sc ou nt ed Agu in ig a's su bjec ti ve al le ga ti on s fo r m an y reas on s:
sh e ha d no t so ug ht tre at m en t fo r so m e of th e co m pl ai ne d li m it at i on s, th e ob jecti ve

m ed ic al ev id en ce was in co ns is te nt wit h se ve ral of he r al le ga ti on s, th ere was a ge ne ral

l a c k of co ns is te nt m ed ic al tre at m en t, an d sh e se em ed to ret ur n to th e do ct or s o n l y
whe n sh e ne ed ed di sa bi li ty fo rm s fil le d ou t. The ALJ al so no te d Agu in ig a was no nco m pl ia nt wit h su gg es ti on s by he r own tre at in g ph y si ci an fo r th in gs li ke at te nd in g a

pa in cl in ic

. All of th es e reas on s de m on st rat e th at th e ALJ cl o se ly co ns id ered
Agu in ig a's cl ai m s an d th e ex te nt to whi ch th ey sq ua red wit h ev id en ce in th e reco rd

. Giv en th e fact th at Agu in ig a c h o se no t to at te nd th e he ari ng , th e ALJ was no t in a

po si ti on to as se ss he r cred ib il it y an y ot he r way th an it di d. Thu s, th ere is su bs ta nt ia l

ev id en ce t o s up po rt t he ALJ's ad ve rs e cre di bi li ty find in g.

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-II I. CONCLUSI ON

W e aff irm.

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