Opinion ID: 486459
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Failure of Appeals Council to Review the Record Adequately

Text: 23 The Appeals Council has a duty to review the entire record only if the additional evidence submitted is new and material. See 20 C.F.R. Sec. 404.970(b) (1984). The materiality of new evidence is a question of law reviewed de novo by this court. See Booz v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 734 F.2d 1378, 1380 (9th Cir.1984). In order for this court to remand the case, Gamer must show that the new evidence is material and that there was good cause for the failure to incorporate the evidence into the record in the initial proceeding. See Cotton, 799 F.2d at 1409; 42 U.S.C. Sec. 405(g). The materiality requirement is met if the new evidence bears directly and substantially on the matter. Key v. Heckler, 754 F.2d 1545, 1551 (9th Cir.1985). There must be a reasonable possibility that the new evidence would have changed the outcome of the Secretary's determination had it been before him. Booz, 734 F.2d at 1380 (quoting Dorsey v. Heckler, 702 F.2d 597, 604-05 (5th Cir.1983). 24 Gamer submits that three medical reports and a report from the California Department of Rehabilitation, all of which were submitted after the decision of the ALJ was rendered, are material and that the Appeals Council erred by failing to review the record de novo. He also alleges that the Appeals Council erred by failing to state the standard of review it applied. The evidence submitted by Gamer does not, however, meet the standard of materiality articulated by the Ninth Circuit.The medical reports raise no new medical problems and fail to show that any of the earlier reports were in error. The rehabilitation report shows that Gamer is completely disabled, but gives no reasons for its findings. The decision of the district court is affirmed on this issue.CONCLUSION 25 The Secretary erred by failing to make specific findings concerning Gamer's claims of pain. The Secretary also erred by asking hypothetical questions which excluded some of Gamer's medical problems. The regulations do not, however, require a finding of disability because of Gamer's age. Nor did the Appeals Council err by concluding that the evidence submitted subsequent to the hearing was not material. 26 Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for a new hearing. Costs are awarded to the claimant.