Opinion ID: 555131
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: delorme's back injury

Text: 16 DeLorme first asserts that he should have been found, as a matter of law, to meet the criteria establishing disability under the Listing of Impairments in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpt. P, App. 1. 12 There is no dispute that DeLorme suffered from pain and muscle spasm for a period of years, or that he suffers from degenerative disc disease. Doctors also repeatedly noted radicular pain. However, an independent review of the record does not clearly demonstrate a twelve-month period during which DeLorme experienced a significant limitation of motion in the spine. 13 Therefore, there is no twelve-month period in the record during which all the criteria in the Listing of Impairments are met. Dr. Quintero, who examined him for the Secretary, found a full range of motion in 1982; this finding interrupted the period during which other doctors had noted a limited range of motion. Although the treating physician's opinion is generally given greater weight, the non-treating physician's opinion provides substantial evidence on which the ALJ may rely when it is based on independent clinical findings. Miller v. Heckler, 770 F.2d 845, 849 (9th Cir.1985). Therefore, DeLorme cannot establish disability because of his back problem based on the criteria given in the Listing of Impairments.