Opinion ID: 604320
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Pain as Disability

Text: 11 Bowen further claims that he is disabled due to pain, namely pain in his back and in his thighs. He equated the severity of the pain in his thighs either with being struck with a baseball bat or being hit with a strong electrical discharge from a 12 volt automobile battery. However, a claimant's subjective complaint of pain, by itself, does not establish disability. See Taylor v. Heckler, 765 F.2d 872, 876 (9th Cir.1985). Instead, the claimant must produce medical evidence of an underlying impairment that is reasonably likely to be the cause of the alleged pain. See Bunnell v. Sullivan, 947 F.2d 341, 343 (9th Cir.1991) (en banc) (citing Cotton, 799 F.2d at 1407). 12 Nothing in Dr. Tohidi's records, including results from various MRIs and CT scans, reveals any abnormality in Bowen's recovery or offers any evidence of an underlying impairment that is reasonably likely to be the cause of his alleged pain. Similarly, neither Dr. Zaayer nor Dr. Aldridge could detect any medical evidence to support Bowen's subjective complaint of pain. Moreover, the ALJ rejected Bowen's pain testimony, particularly his testimony regarding the severity thereof, as wholly incredible, 3 especially considering that Bowen testified to incredibly severe pain (The [ALJ] notes that if the claimant truly had such strong pain, he probably would lose consciousness. He may even have cut his leg off if he had an ax.), that Bowen took little or no pain medication for such severe pain, that Bowen seemed to alter his testimony in order to make his condition appear more severe ([Bowen's] testimony appeared to be a deliberate effort to make his condition seem to be more severe than it actually is.), that Bowen was able to complete four law school correspondence courses while in such severe pain, and that Bowen had a motive for secondary gain ([T]he claimant is required to file for disability insurance benefits by his insurance company.). 13 Because Bowen has not produced medical evidence of an underlying impairment that is reasonably likely to be the cause of the alleged pain, and considering the ALJ's credibility determination regarding Bowen's pain testimony, we conclude that substantial evidence supports the ALJ's conclusion that Bowen is not prevented by pain from performing light and sedentary forms of substantial gainful employment. 4