Court Opinion

ID: 3065174
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-14 22:29:31.17023+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:06:06.296689
License: Public Domain

FILED
                              NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           MAR 07 2013

                                                                        MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                     U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS

                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

ATSU OSSA ACOLATSE,                              No. 11-17563

                Plaintiff - Appellant,           D.C. No. 5:10-cv-02024-LHK

  v.
                                                 MEMORANDUM *
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner of
Social Security,

                Defendant - Appellee.

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Northern District of California
                        Lucy Koh, District Judge, Presiding

                             Submitted October 26, 2012 **

Before:         HUG, FARRIS, and LEAVY, Circuit Judges.

       Atsu Acolatse appeals pro se from a judgment of the district court affirming

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

            *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
       **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
insurance benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act. We have jurisdiction

under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

      We review de novo a district court’s judgment upholding the denial of social

security benefits. Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1038 (9th Cir. 2008). We

must affirm the denial of benefits unless it is based on legal error or the findings of

fact are not supported by substantial evidence. Valentine v. Comm’r Soc. Sec.

Admin., 574 F.3d 685, 690 (9th Cir. 2009).

      Acolatse failed to satisfy his burden of proving that his condition met or

equaled the regulatory criteria for section 6.02 of the Listing of Impairments,

before his insured status expired in December 1997. Sullivan v. Zebley, 493 U.S.
521, 530-31 (1990); Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 683 (9th Cir. 2005); 20

C.F.R. § 404.1526.

      The ALJ made specific findings based on substantial evidence and clear and

convincing reasoning in determining that Acolatse’s subjective statements

concerning the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of his symptoms before

December 31, 1997, were not entirely credible. Tommasetti, 533 F.3d at 1039;

Carmickle v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 533 F.3d 1155, 1160 (9th Cir. 2008).

The ALJ found Acolatse’s subjective statements inconsistent with his conservative

treatment history, clinical findings showing his kidney insufficiency was mild

                                           2                                      11-17563
during the relevant time, and exercise testing showing he was capable of light

exertion.

      The ALJ made findings based on substantial evidence setting forth clear and

convincing reasons for the weight he attributed to the medical opinions. Thomas v.

Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 956-57 (9th Cir. 2002). The ALJ discounted Dr.

Pomenya’s opinion that Acolatse was disabled before December 1997, because Dr.

Pomenya treated Acolatse conservatively, did not give his opinion until 2005, and

had no records from the relevant time. The ALJ discounted Dr. Lin’s opinion that

Acolatse could have been disabled before 1997, because Dr. Lin did not treat

Acolatse until 2004 and her opinion was speculative, unsupported by records, and

inconsistent with clinical findings showing minor renal insufficiency and good

exercise tolerance. The ALJ discounted the opinion of the Ghanaian traditional

healer for the same reasons, and because he was not shown to be an acceptable

medical source within the meaning of the regulations. The ALJ gave greater

weight to the opinion of the medical expert who reviewed the entire record and

concluded the laboratory test results, conservative treatment, and exercise tests

indicated that Acolatse retained the capacity for light exertion during the relevant

time. The ALJ’s findings set forth clear and convincing reasons and are supported

by substantial evidence. Thomas, 278 F.3d at 956-57.

                                           3                                    11-17563
      Acolatse is not entitled to a remand for consideration of new evidence. He

has failed to show that the new evidence is material or that there is good cause for

his failure to incorporate it into the record during the administrative proceedings.

42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Mayes v. Massanari, 276 F.3d 453, 462-63 (9th Cir. 2001).

      We reject Acolatse’s contention that the district court was biased.

      AFFIRMED.

                                           4                                    11-17563