Opinion ID: 506702
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Medical-Vocational Guidelines

Text: 13 Kellar contends that the ALJ failed to apply the medical-vocational guidelines (grids) properly. 14 The grids enable the Secretary to determine whether appropriate jobs exist in the national economy for various levels of functioning. See 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 2 (1985). Rule 202.18, applied by the ALJ, identifies claimants who, like Kellar, are younger (18-49 years), have a limited education, and have engaged in skilled or semiskilled work without transferable skills. The grids are applicable expressly to both exertional and nonexertional limitations. Cooper v. Bowen, 815 F.2d 557, 560 (9th Cir.1987); Razey v. Heckler, 785 F.2d 1426, 1430, amended 794 F.2d 1348 (9th Cir.1986). 15 We do not reach Kellar's claim that his combination of impairments is not addressed adequately by the grids. We note that this court has previously determined that 'if the grids fail to describe accurately a claimant's particular limitations, the Secretary may not rely upon the grids alone to show the availability of jobs for that claimant.'  Gonzalez v. Secretary of Health & Human Servs., 784 F.2d 1417, 1419 (9th Cir.1986) (quoting Bellamy v. Secretary of Health & Human Servs., 755 F.2d 1380, 1383 (9th Cir.1985)). 16 We must remand to the Secretary because he assumed that Kellar's alcoholism was not a limitation when applying the grids. First, the Secretary must undertake the Cooper inquiry set out above. Then the Secretary should apply the grids again, considering any nonexertional limitations due to Kellar's alcoholism. See Cooper, 815 F.2d at 560. 17 REVERSED AND REMANDED.