Case Name: Rachell N. SAENZ, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Michael J. ASTRUE, Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2010-01-06
Citations: 361 F. App'x 793
Docket Number: No. 08-17405
Parties: Rachell N. SAENZ, Plaintiff—Appellant, v. Michael J. ASTRUE, Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant—Appellee.
Judges: Before: O’SCANNLAIN, RAWLINSON and BEA, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 361
Pages: 793–794

Head Matter:
Rachell N. SAENZ, Plaintiff—Appellant, v. Michael J. ASTRUE, Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant—Appellee.
No. 08-17405.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Dec. 11, 2009.
Filed Jan. 6, 2010.
Ian Michael Sammis, Esquire, Ian M. Sammis, Esq., San Rafael, CA, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
Leo Rufino Montenegro, Assistant Regional Counsel, Social Security Administration Office of the General Counsel, San Francisco, CA, for Defendant-Appellee.
Before: O’SCANNLAIN, RAWLINSON and BEA, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Rachell N. Saenz appeals the district court's judgment entry of summary judgment in favor of the Commissioner. We review de novo the district court's grant of summary judgment. Moneada v. Chater, 60 F.3d 521, 523 (9th Cir.1995) (per curiam). We affirm if substantial evidence supports the ALJ's findings and the ALJ applied the correct legal standards. Id.
We conclude the ALJ properly discounted the opinion of Saenz's primary care physician, Dr. Fordham, because the ALJ provided "specific and legitimate reasons supported by substantial evidence in the record." Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir.1995) (internal quotation marks omitted). The ALJ noted Dr. Fordham's own treating notes reported Saenz's Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) was stable, and therefore did not support Dr. Fordham's conclusion that Saenz could not work. The ALJ properly credited the opinion of an examining pulmonary specialist as to the effects of Saenz's pulmonary disorder over that of Dr. Fordham, who is not a pulmonary specialist. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.927(d)(5). In addition, two other doctors concluded Saenz's medical records did not show residual effects from her LCH. We conclude that substantial evidence supported the ALJ's conclusion that Saenz could perform certain sedentary work.
Second, the ALJ did not improperly disbelieve Saenz's subjective complaints because he gave clear, convincing, and specific reasons for discrediting them. See Lester, 81 F.3d at 834. Specifically, he discredited Saenz's claims of debilitating eye pressure based on the opinion of an ophthalmologist who treated and examined Saenz. He discredited Saenz's claims of heart problems and other symptoms, including fatigue, tied to her LCH, based on the testimony of a cardiologist who testified based on her treating records that she exhibited no residual symptoms.
Third, we reject Saenz's claim the Appeals Council erred in refusing to review her case based on an additional retroactive medical source statement (MSS) from Dr. Fordham. When a claimant submits new evidence, the Appeals Council reviews the ALJ's decision if, in light of the entire record including the new evidence, the ALJ's decision is contrary to the weight of the evidence. 20 C.F.R. § 404.970(b). Here, the MSS report simply restated Fordham's opinion Saenz could not work, an opinion substantial evidence contradicts.
Fourth, the ALJ did not err by not further developing the record for an unrepresented claimant. The ALJ sufficiently developed the record to support his conclusion that Saenz could perform certain sedentary work. See Higbee v. Sullivan, 975 F.2d 558, 561 (9th Cir.1992).
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.