Opinion ID: 810965
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dr. Kuka

Text: Dr. Kuka, a non-treating, non-examining medical consultant, testified at Hill’s hearing. Less weight is given to the opinion of a non-examining source than to an examining source. See Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830-31 (9th Cir. 1996). “The opinion of a nonexamining physician cannot by itself constitute substantial evidence that justifies the rejection of the opinion of either an examining physician or a treating physician.” Id. at 831. Hill argues that the ALJ ignored Dr. Kuka’s testimony that Hill was “markedly limited” at times when she was suffering panic attacks or manic episodes. But the ALJ clearly acknowledged this testimony, and based his decision in part on Dr. Kuka’s opinion that these severe panic attacks or manic episodes only occurred about two times a year for two or three days. HILL v. ASTRUE 12949 Nevertheless, Dr. Kuka failed to consider that Hill’s most recent panic attack, which occurred at the Dollar Tree store on March 7, 2008, kept Hill in bed for five days and out of work for about two weeks. Thus, Dr. Kuka’s conclusion that Hill’s most severe attacks lasted only two or three days was directly contradicted by the record. Dr. Kuka also noted that the medical records mention numerous panic attacks, sometimes daily and sometimes several times a week. When the ALJ asked if there was independent verification of this, Dr. Kuka replied that Hill’s panic attacks had been “observed on occasions but certainly not to the frequency that they’re reported[,] but then that’s normal too for therapist notes.” It makes sense that not every panic attack would be observed by Hill’s physicians, therapists, or counselors (or even family, friends, and co-workers), because these attacks would not always occur in their presence. There remains, however, a substantial amount of evidence in the record that Hill complained of anxiety and panic attacks, and some of those attacks were actually witnessed by Hill’s physicians, therapists and counselors.