Source: http://or.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20181030_0001628.DOR.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2020-01-24 08:41:00
Document Index: 265305819

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 404', '§ 423', '§ 404', '§ 404', 'art 404', '§ 404', '§ 404']

FindACase™ | Jean B. v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration
Jean B. v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration
DONNA JEAN B., [1] Plaintiff,
ARID. HALPERN Halpern Law Group, PC Attorney for Plaintiff
Plaintiff Donna B. seeks judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) in which she denied Plaintiff's application for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) under Title II of the Social Security Act.
Plaintiff filed an application for DIB on March 10, 2014, alleging a disability onset date of December 1, 2011. Tr. 133- 35.[2] The application was denied initially and on reconsideration. An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) held a hearing on August 22, 2016. Tr. 30-53. At the hearing Plaintiff was represented by an attorney. Plaintiff and a vocational expert (VE) testified.
The ALJ issued a decision on October 12, 2016, in which she found Plaintiff was not disabled before her December 31, 2012, date last insured and, therefore, is not entitled to benefits. Tr. 18-29. Pursuant to 20 C.F.R. § 404.984(d), that decision became the final decision of the Commissioner on August 29, 2017, when the Appeals Council denied Plaintiff's request for review. Tr. 1-6. See Sims v. Apfel, 530 U.S. 103, 106-07 (2000).
Plaintiff was born on September 15, 1955, and was 60 years old at the time of the hearing. Tr. 133. Plaintiff completed high school. Tr. 151. The ALJ found Plaintiff has past relevant work experience as a volunteer coordinator. Tr. 24.
Plaintiff alleges disability during the relevant period due to "degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, status post three lumbar surgeries; and right shoulder adhesive capsulitis." Pl.'s Brief at 1.
Except when noted, Plaintiff does not challenge the ALJ's summary of the medical evidence. After carefully reviewing the medical records, this Court adopts the ALJ's summary of the medical evidence. See Tr. 22-24.
The initial burden of proof rests on the claimant to establish disability. Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1110 (9thCir. 2012). To meet this burden, a claimant must demonstrate her inability "to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment 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). The ALJ must develop the record when there is ambiguous evidence or when the record is inadequate to allow for proper evaluation of the evidence. McLeod v. Astrue, 640 F.3d 881, 885 (9th Cir. 2011) (quoting Mayes v. Massanari, 276 F.3d 453, 459-60 (9th Cir. 2001)).
At Step One the claimant is not disabled if the Commissioner determines the claimant is engaged in substantial gainful activity. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(I). See also Keyser v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec, 648 F.3d 721, 724 (9th Cir. 2011).
At Step Three the claimant is disabled if the Commissioner determines the claimant's impairments meet or equal one of the listed impairments that the Commissioner acknowledges are so severe as to preclude substantial gainful activity. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a) (4) (iii) . See also Keyser, 648 F.3d at 724. The criteria for the listed impairments, known as Listings, are enumerated in 20 C.F.R. part 404, subpart P, appendix 1 (Listed Impairments).
If the Commissioner proceeds beyond Step Three, she must assess the claimant's residual functional capacity (RFC). The claimant's RFC is an assessment of the sustained, work-related physical and mental activities the claimant can still do on a regular and continuing basis despite her limitations. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(e). See also Social Security Ruling (SSR) 96-8p. "A 'regular and continuing basis' means 8 hours a day, for 5 days a week, or an equivalent schedule." SSR 96-8p, at *1. In other words, the Social Security Act does not require complete incapacity to be disabled. Taylor v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 659 F.3d 1228, 1234-35 (9th Cir. 2011) (citing Fair v. Bowen, 885 F.2d 597, 603 (9th Cir. 1989)).
At Step Four the claimant is not disabled if the Commissioner determines the claimant retains the RFC to perform work she has done in the past. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520 (a) (4) (iv). See also Keyser, 648 F.3d at 724.
At Step One the ALJ found Plaintiff did not engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) from her December 1, 2011, alleged onset date through her December 31, 2012, date last insured. Tr. 20.
At Step Two the ALJ found Plaintiff has the severe impairments of degenerative disc disease "status-post three lumbar surgeries (including two lumbar surgeries in December ...