Opinion ID: 2765947
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Daily Activities Inconsistent with Testimony

Text: The ALJ noted, three single-spaced pages after the adverse credibility determination, in the midst of an analysis of medical sources, that “the claimant’s self-reports to the physical therapist do not indicate the degree of limitation suggested by the medical source statement, and indeed is inconsistent with the claimant’s testimony at [the] hearing.” Inconsistencies between a claimant’s testimony and the claimant’s reported activities provide a valid reason for an adverse credibility determination. Light v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 119 F.3d 789, 792 (9th Cir. 1997). But the ALJ did not elaborate on which daily activities conflicted with which part of Claimant’s testimony. The only mention found in the ALJ’s decision is five pages earlier, when summarizing Claimant’s testimony: “Although she testified she was unable to use a vacuum, she reported to the physical therapist that she did use the vacuum and was able to perform most housekeeping activities.”3 As to vacuuming, Claimant stated at the hearing in December 2009: 3 The latter part of this finding—concerning most household chores—is plainly consistent with Claimant’s testimony. She testified at the hearing, consistent with her reports to the physical therapist, that she can perform most household chores. BURRELL V. COLVIN 9 Vacuuming and I don’t get along well at this point. It hurts to do the stretching and pulling. I occasionally sweep with a broom and dustpan, wipe down the kitchen counters, sometimes load the dishwasher. It takes longer because I have to use my right hand to do it. The ALJ cited six worksheets that asked Claimant whether her impairments affected her ability to do chores such as, specifically, vacuuming. In those worksheets, which span the period March 2009 to June 2009, Claimant checked the box “Yes, Limited a little” five times, and she once checked the box for “Yes, Limited a lot.” Also in June 2009, the physical therapist reported, without elaboration, that Claimant “can push the vacuum.” Substantial evidence does not support the ALJ’s determination that there is a conflict concerning Claimant’s ability to vacuum. Claimant consistently reported to the physical therapist that she had trouble vacuuming, which is entirely consistent with her testimony at the hearing that stretching and pulling, which are required to vacuum, cause her pain. Claimant did not testify that she never could vacuum; she stated that vacuuming was difficult for her “at this point.” (Emphasis added.) Perhaps recognizing the flaw in the ALJ’s reasoning about vacuuming, the government declines to mention vacuuming. Instead, the government identifies other alleged inconsistencies between Claimant’s hearing testimony and her reported daily activities, such as knitting and lace work. But the ALJ did not identify those inconsistencies. “We are constrained to review the reasons the ALJ asserts.” Connett 10 BURRELL V. COLVIN v. Barnhart, 340 F.3d 871, 874 (9th Cir. 2003). Our decisions make clear that we may not take a general finding—an unspecified conflict between Claimant’s testimony about daily activities and her reports to doctors—and comb the administrative record to find specific conflicts. “General findings are insufficient; rather, the ALJ must identify what testimony is not credible and what evidence undermines the claimant’s complaints.” Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 834 (9th Cir. 1995). “To support a lack of credibility finding, the ALJ was required to point to specific facts in the record . . . .” Vasquez v. Astrue, 572 F.3d 586, 592 (9th Cir. 2009) (emphasis added) (internal quotation marks omitted). Here, the ALJ stated only—in passing and in a different section than the credibility determination—that Claimant’s selfreports were inconsistent in some unspecified way with her testimony at the hearing. That finding is insufficient to meet “our requirements of specificity.” Connett, 340 F.3d at 873.