Court Opinion

ID: 4521517
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-01 20:00:43.305385+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:25:15.527153
License: Public Domain

FILED
                           NOT FOR PUBLICATION
                                                                                 APR 1 2020
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                         MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                            U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

                            FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

GARY EVANSON,                                    No.   19-15283

              Plaintiff-Appellant,               D.C. No. 2:17-cv-01899-AC

 v.
                                                 MEMORANDUM*
ANDREW M. SAUL, Commissioner of
Social Security,

              Defendant-Appellee.

                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Eastern District of California
                    Allison Claire, Magistrate Judge, Presiding

                            Submitted March 25, 2020**
                             San Francisco, California

Before: GOULD, CHRISTEN, and BRESS, Circuit Judges.

      Gary Evanson appeals the district court’s decision affirming the

Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of his application for disability insurance

benefits. Reviewing de novo, we may set aside a denial of benefits only if the

      *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
      **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
decision of the administrative law judge (“ALJ”) is not supported by substantial

evidence, or if the ALJ applied the wrong legal standard. Molina v. Astrue, 674
F.3d 1104, 1110 (9th Cir. 2012). We affirm.

      1.     Evanson contends that the ALJ erred by failing to consider Evanson’s

combined impairments and subjective symptoms. However, the medical record

evidence indicated minimal to no objective symptoms or limitations due to

Evanson’s impairments, and the ALJ provided clear and convincing reasons for

discounting Evanson’s subjective reports about his limitations due to pain and

fatigue. See id. at 1112; Carmickle v. Comm’r, SSA, 533 F.3d 1155, 1161 (9th Cir.

2008). The existence of Evanson’s impairments alone is insufficient to establish

functional limitations or disability. See Matthews v. Shalala, 10 F.3d 678, 680 (9th

Cir. 1993). The ALJ did not err in failing properly to address mental impairments.

Evanson never asserted at the administrative level that he was disabled due to any

mental condition, and the medical record evidence does not support such an

assertion.

      2.     Evanson contends that the ALJ erred in determining that Evanson had

the residual functional capacity to perform medium level work and could perform

his past relevant work as a carpenter. However, as discussed above, the medical

record evidence indicated minimal objective symptoms or limitations due to

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Evanson’s impairments, and the ALJ properly discounted Evanson’s reports

regarding the extent of his subjective symptoms and limitations. Substantial

evidence supports the ALJ’s assessment of Evanson’s residual functional capacity.

Furthermore, the ALJ’s finding that Evanson performed past relevant work as a

carpenter at the medium work exertion level is supported by substantial evidence in

the record, including Evanson’s own descriptions of his work history

accompanying his application for benefits. The ALJ was not required to consult a

vocational expert in making the determination that Evanson could perform past

relevant work. See Crane v. Shalala, 76 F.3d 251, 255 (9th Cir. 1996). Substantial

evidence supports the ALJ’s conclusion that Evanson could perform past relevant

work as a carpenter at the medium work exertion level.

      3.    Evanson contends the ALJ erred by failing to apply the presumptive

disability standards at 20 C.F.R § 404.1562. These standards were inapplicable

given Evanson’s education level and past relevant work experience.

      AFFIRMED.

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