Case Name: Kurt A. MUNDT, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. COMMISSIONER OF the SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, Defendant-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2007-06-14
Citations: 244 F. App'x 770
Docket Number: No. 06-35582
Parties: Kurt A. MUNDT, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. COMMISSIONER OF the SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, Defendant-Appellee.
Judges: Before: LEAVY, RYMER, and T.G. NELSON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 244
Pages: 770–772

Head Matter:
Kurt A. MUNDT, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. COMMISSIONER OF the SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 06-35582.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted June 5, 2007 .
Filed June 14, 2007.
James S. Coon, Esq., Sharon Maynard, Swanson Thomas & Coon, Portland, OR, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
Neil J. Evans, Esq., USPO — Office of the U.S. Attorney, Mark O. Hatfield, U.S. Courthouse, Stephanie Martz, Esq., Portland, OR, SSA — Social Security Administration Office of the General Counsel, Seattle, WA, for Defendant-Appellee.
Before: LEAVY, RYMER, and T.G. NELSON, Circuit Judges.
This panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Kurt A. Mundt appeals the decision of the district court affirming the Commissioner of Social Security's denial of Mundt's application for disability benefits under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. We review de novo to ensure that the decision was supported by substantial evidence and a correct application of the law. Roberts v. Shalala, 66 F.3d 179, 182 (9th Cir.1995).
Lay witness testimony as to a claimant's symptoms or how an impairment affects ability to work is competent evidence that the Secretary must take into account. Nguyen v. Chater, 100 F.3d 1462, 1467 (9th Cir.1996); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1513(d), 404.1545(a)(3). An ALJ may disregard such evidence only upon articulating reasons "that are germane to each witness." Dodrill v. Shalala, 12 F.3d 915, 919 (9th Cir.1993).
According to Mundt, the ALJ's reasoning for disregarding testimony regarding Mundt's lack of endurance — that the lay witnesses were not knowledgeable in medical or vocational fields — is insufficient because it merely reiterates the witnesses' lay status. However, the ALJ determined that Mundt's substance abuse, rather than his medical impairments, was the "major contributor to his moderate difficulties in maintinfing] concentration, persistence and pace." Substantial evidence supported this finding. Since lay witness testimony regarding symptoms is relevant only to the extent that the symptoms are linked to a medically determinable impairment, see 42 U.S.C. § 428(d)(1)(A); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1513(d), the ALJ did not err in not relying upon the lay testimony.
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.