Court Opinion

ID: 4200258
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-30 20:01:22.153652+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:46:54.917349
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                            FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        AUG 30 2017
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                        U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

DAVID L. BELCHER,                               No.    14-36005

                Plaintiff-Appellant,            D.C. No. 3:13-cv-05517-BHS

 v.
                                                MEMORANDUM*
NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting
Commissioner Social Security,

                Defendant-Appellee.

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                     for the Western District of Washington
                   Benjamin H. Settle, District Judge, Presiding

                           Submitted August 21, 2017**

Before:      NELSON, TROTT, and SILVERMAN, Circuit Judges.

      David Belcher appeals the district court’s decision affirming the

Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of Belcher’s application for

supplemental security income under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. We have

      *
             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).
jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo, Ghanim v. Colvin, 763

F.3d 1154, 1159 (9th Cir. 2014), and we affirm.

      The ALJ provided specific and legitimate reasons supported by substantial

evidence for rejecting Dr. Ogilvie’s June 2010 opinion. The opinion was

inconsistent with Dr. Ogilvie’s own treatment records and clinical findings and

with Belcher’s daily activities. Id. at 1161-62.

      The ALJ gave germane reasons supported by substantial evidence for

rejecting Ms. Biggerstaff’s March 2011 opinion. Ms. Biggerstaff’s opinion was

inconsistent with medical records and Belcher’s activities, and was inadequately

explained. See Turner v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 613 F.3d 1217, 1223-24 (9th Cir.

2010); Carmickle v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 533 F.3d 1155, 1164 (9th Cir.

2008); Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1218 (9th Cir. 2005).

      The ALJ provided several clear and convincing reasons for finding that

Belcher’s pain and symptom testimony was not credible. Belcher’s testimony was

inconsistent with the objective medical evidence and his daily activities, and

Belcher’s neck problems were not linked to a medically determinable impairment.

See Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1113 (9th Cir. 2012); Ukolov v. Barnhart,

420 F.3d 1002, 1004-05 (9th Cir. 2005).

      The ALJ gave a germane reason supported by substantial evidence for

rejecting the lay testimony of Ms. White. Specifically, her testimony was

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inconsistent with the medical record. See Bayliss, 427 F.3d at 1218.

      The ALJ erred by not specifically asking the Vocational Expert (VE)

whether her testimony was consistent with the Dictionary of Occupational Titles

(DOT). See Massachi v. Astrue, 486 F.3d 1149, 1152-53 (9th Cir. 2007).

However, the error was harmless because there was no conflict between the VE’s

testimony and the DOT. Id. at 1153 n.19.

      Finally, we decline to remand for the ALJ to consider the new evidence

submitted to and considered by the Appeals Council. The new evidence is part of

the record, see Brewes v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 682 F.3d 1157, 1163 (9th

Cir. 2012), and supports the ALJ’s decision.

       AFFIRMED.

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