Court Opinion

ID: 4222669
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-11-21 21:00:41.437721+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:47:50.915817
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       NOV 21 2017
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

DAVID VAN GILDER,                               No.    16-55338

                Plaintiff-Appellant,            D.C. No. 2:14-cv-05909-SP

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

                Defendant-Appellee.

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Central District of California
                     Sheri Pym, Magistrate Judge, Presiding

                          Submitted November 16, 2017**
                              Pasadena, California

Before: NGUYEN and HURWITZ, Circuit Judges, and SEEBORG,*** District
Judge.

      David Van Gilder appeals the district court’s affirmance of 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).
      ***
            The Honorable Richard Seeborg, United States District Judge for the
Northern District of California, sitting by designation.
Commissioner’s denial of his applications for Social Security Disability Insurance

Benefits and Supplemental Security Income. We affirm in part and remand in part.

      1. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) erred at step three by failing to cite

any evidence to substantiate her finding that Van Gilder’s impairment did not meet

or equal one listed in Appendix 1. 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, app. 1; see Lewis v.

Apfel, 236 F.3d 503, 512 (9th Cir. 2001). But, this error was harmless because the

ALJ found in her step-four analysis that Van Gilder could ambulate at least 100 feet

without assistance, and each listed impairment at issue requires that the applicant

have an “inability to ambulate effectively.” 20 C.F.R. pt. 404, subpt. P, app. 1.

      2. An ALJ must offer “specific, clear and convincing reasons” for rejecting a

claimant’s pain testimony. Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1281 (9th Cir. 1996).

The ALJ did so, finding that Van Gilder’s daily routine and sporadic treatment

history undermined his testimony. Gaps in medical treatment “may be the basis for

an adverse credibility finding” unless a claimant fails to seek treatment because of

inadequate funds, Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 638 (9th Cir. 2007), and the ALJ

noted that Van Gilder failed to seek treatment despite the availability of “reduced

pay or free treatment at any clinic.”

      Van Gilder argues that the ALJ erroneously relied on his unemployment

benefits and an accompanying declaration that he was able and willing to work.

Although a failed work attempt may not alone provide a clear and convincing reason

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for rejecting pain testimony, see Lingenfelter v. Astrue, 504 F.3d 1028, 1038 (9th

Cir. 2007), such evidence can be used, as here, to assess a claimant’s credibility, see

Bray v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 554 F.3d 1219, 1227 (9th Cir. 2009).

        3. The district court correctly found the ALJ’s failure to specifically address

the testimony of Van Gilder’s mother to be harmless error. The testimony was

consistent with the ALJ’s conclusions. See Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1115–

17 (9th Cir. 2012).

        4. The ALJ erred by failing to make specific findings connecting Van Gilder’s

residual functional capacity (RFC) to his past work. After determining a claimant’s

RFC, the ALJ must determine whether a claimant can perform the demands of his

previous employment or other jobs available in the national economy. 40 C.F.R.

§ 404.1545(a)(5); see Pinto v. Massanari, 249 F.3d 840, 844–45 (9th Cir. 2001).

The ALJ made no such specific findings. We therefore remand for the ALJ to make

specific findings regarding whether Van Gilder’s RFC allows him to perform his

previous employment or other jobs available in the national economy. 40 C.F.R.

§ 404.1545(a)(5). The ALJ should also make specific findings on whether Van

Gilder’s potential mental impairments prevent him from performing past relevant

work.

        5. Van Gilder also argues that his subsequent successful disability application

contains new, material evidence that warrants remand. Remand is required when

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the decisions granting and denying benefits are inconsistent, see Luna v. Astrue, 623

F.3d 1032, 1035 (9th Cir. 2010), and evidence submitted after the ALJ’s initial

decision can be considered if it “relates to the period on or before the ALJ’s

decision.” Brewes v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 682 F.3d 1157, 1162 (9th Cir.

2012). But, Van Gilder’s subsequent successful disability application did not

present new, material evidence relating to the period before the ALJ’s decision. The

subsequent disability finding notes that it did not adopt the previous decision because

Van Gilder’s condition subsequently worsened, and the subsequent application

presented evidence related to periods after the first determination.

         AFFIRMED in part; REMANDED in part. Each party shall bear its own

costs.

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