SUMMARY ORDER
Brian Michael Camille appeals from the judgment of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York (Wolford, J.), dismissing Camille’s complaint challenging the denial of disabled adult child’s benefits under Title II and supplemental security income under Title XVI of the Social Security Act (the “Act”).
We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts, the procedural history, and the issues presented for review.
When considering a denial of disability benefits, we conduct a plenary review of the administrative record, and “focus on the administrative ruling rather than the district court’s opinion.” Moran v. Astrue, 569 F.3d 108, 112 (2d Cir. 2009) (quoting Kohler v. Astrue, 546 F.3d 260, 264-65 (2d Cir. 2008)). We must uphold the denial if “there is substantial evidence, considering the record as whole, to support the Commissioner’s decision and if the correct legal standards have been applied.” Burgess v. Astrue, 537 F.3d 117, 128 (2d Cir. 2008) (quoting Shaw v. Chater, 221 F.3d 126, 131 (2d Cir. 2000)); see also 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). “‘Substantial evidence’ is evidence that amounts to ‘more than a mere scintilla,’ and has been defined as ‘such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.’ ” McIntyre v. Colvin, 758 F.3d 146, 149 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S.Ct. 1420, 28 L.Ed.2d 842 (1971)).
Camille challenges the Administrative Law Judge’s (“ALJ”) residual functional capacity (“RFC”) finding as to Camille’s mental limitations. The ALJ found that Camille had the RFC “to perform medium work ... except that he is limited to simple routine and repetitive tasks; he requires low stress work, defined as' no production paced work, occasional changes to work setting, occasional use of judgment, and occasional decision making; he is limited to occasional and superficial interaction with coworkers and supervisors; he should have no interaction with the public; he should have no exposure to hazards; and he should have no more than frequent exposure to humidity, extremes in temperature, and wetness.” Certified Administrative R. (“R.”) at 53, He contends that this finding was not supported by substantial evidence, because the ALJ improperly weighed the medical opinion evidence, attributing “little weight” to the opinions of Camille’s treating psychiatrist, Dr. Da-wood, and “great weight” to the opinion of the State agency consulting psychologist, Dr. Kamin. We disagree.
Pursuant to the “treating physician rule,” Dr. Dawood’s opinion “as to the nature and severity of [Camille’s] impairment is given ‘controlling weight’ so long as it ‘is well-supported by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques and is not inconsistent with the other substantial evidence in [the] case record.’” Burgess, 537 F.3d at 128 (emphasis added) (quoting 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527[ (c) ](2)). “[T]he opinion of the treating physician is not afforded controlling weight where ... the treating physician issued opinions that are not consistent with other substantial evidence in the record, such as the opinions of other medical experts.” Halloran v. Barnhart, 362 F.3d 28, 32 (2d Cir. 2004) (per curiam) (citation omitted). If a treating physician’s opinion is not afforded controlling weight, the ALJ must consider certain factors to determine how much weight to give it, and should articulate “good reasons” for the weight given. Id.; see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2).
Substantial evidence supports the limited weight that the ALJ attributed Dr. Dawood’s opinions, because they were in conflict with content in that doctor’s own clinical notes,
and in conflict with the opinion of Dr. Kamin. R. at 55-57. Furthermore, each of the check-box forms Dr. Dawood completed specifically requested narrative explanation of any opined limitation — particulars he declined to provide. See R. at 291, 376-77, 385-86. Additionally, the ALJ specifically noted that Camille’s record of psychiatric treatment was “intermittent,” including a six-month gap between his first and second appointments with Dr. Dawood. R. at 55, 57. These constitute “good reasons” for the limited weight attributed. Halloran, 362 F.3d at 32 (factors include, inter alia, frequency of examination; the evidence in support of the opinion; the consistency of the opinion with the record as a whole; other factors that tend to support or contradict the opinion); see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(3) (“The better an explanation a source provides for an opinion, the more weight we will give that opinion.”). To the extent Camille argues that the ALJ was insufficiently explicit in articulating her rationale, we disagree. See Cichocki v. Astrue, 729 F.3d 172, 178 n.3 (2d Cir. 2013) (“An ALJ need not recite every piece of evidence that contributed to the decision, so long as the record ‘permits us to glean the ratio
nale of an ALJ’s decision.’ ” (quoting Mongeur v. Heckler, 722 F.2d 1033, 1040 (2d Cir. 1983) (per curiam))).
Camille argues that it is “improper to reject a treating physician’s opinion solely based upon the treating physician’s own treatment notes.” Br. of Appellant at 32 (citing Balsamo v. Chater, 142 F.3d 75, 80 (2d Cir. 1998)). In Balsamo, the ALJ rejected the treating source’s opinion notwithstanding the lack of a contrary medical opinion. We held that “[w]hile an ALJ is free ... to choose between properly submitted medical opinions, he is not free to set his own expertise against that of a physician who submitted an opinion to or testified before him.” 142 F.3d at 81 (brackets omitted) (quoting McBrayer v. Sec’y of HHS, 712 F.2d 795, 799 (2d Cir. 1983)). Here, there was such a contrary opinion. The ALJ was permitted to consider Dr. Dawood’s treatment notes in weighing the opinions of Dr. Dawood and Dr. Kamin; and she was permitted to conclude that Dr. Kamin’s opinion was more reliable. See Diaz v.
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SUMMARY ORDER
Brian Michael Camille appeals from the judgment of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York (Wolford, J.), dismissing Camille’s complaint challenging the denial of disabled adult child’s benefits under Title II and supplemental security income under Title XVI of the Social Security Act (the “Act”).
We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts, the procedural history, and the issues presented for review.
When considering a denial of disability benefits, we conduct a plenary review of the administrative record, and “focus on the administrative ruling rather than the district court’s opinion.” Moran v. Astrue, 569 F.3d 108, 112 (2d Cir. 2009) (quoting Kohler v. Astrue, 546 F.3d 260, 264-65 (2d Cir. 2008)). We must uphold the denial if “there is substantial evidence, considering the record as whole, to support the Commissioner’s decision and if the correct legal standards have been applied.” Burgess v. Astrue, 537 F.3d 117, 128 (2d Cir. 2008) (quoting Shaw v. Chater, 221 F.3d 126, 131 (2d Cir. 2000)); see also 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). “‘Substantial evidence’ is evidence that amounts to ‘more than a mere scintilla,’ and has been defined as ‘such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.’ ” McIntyre v. Colvin, 758 F.3d 146, 149 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S.Ct. 1420, 28 L.Ed.2d 842 (1971)).
Camille challenges the Administrative Law Judge’s (“ALJ”) residual functional capacity (“RFC”) finding as to Camille’s mental limitations. The ALJ found that Camille had the RFC “to perform medium work ... except that he is limited to simple routine and repetitive tasks; he requires low stress work, defined as' no production paced work, occasional changes to work setting, occasional use of judgment, and occasional decision making; he is limited to occasional and superficial interaction with coworkers and supervisors; he should have no interaction with the public; he should have no exposure to hazards; and he should have no more than frequent exposure to humidity, extremes in temperature, and wetness.” Certified Administrative R. (“R.”) at 53, He contends that this finding was not supported by substantial evidence, because the ALJ improperly weighed the medical opinion evidence, attributing “little weight” to the opinions of Camille’s treating psychiatrist, Dr. Da-wood, and “great weight” to the opinion of the State agency consulting psychologist, Dr. Kamin. We disagree.
Pursuant to the “treating physician rule,” Dr. Dawood’s opinion “as to the nature and severity of [Camille’s] impairment is given ‘controlling weight’ so long as it ‘is well-supported by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques and is not inconsistent with the other substantial evidence in [the] case record.’” Burgess, 537 F.3d at 128 (emphasis added) (quoting 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527[ (c) ](2)). “[T]he opinion of the treating physician is not afforded controlling weight where ... the treating physician issued opinions that are not consistent with other substantial evidence in the record, such as the opinions of other medical experts.” Halloran v. Barnhart, 362 F.3d 28, 32 (2d Cir. 2004) (per curiam) (citation omitted). If a treating physician’s opinion is not afforded controlling weight, the ALJ must consider certain factors to determine how much weight to give it, and should articulate “good reasons” for the weight given. Id.; see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2).
Substantial evidence supports the limited weight that the ALJ attributed Dr. Dawood’s opinions, because they were in conflict with content in that doctor’s own clinical notes,
and in conflict with the opinion of Dr. Kamin. R. at 55-57. Furthermore, each of the check-box forms Dr. Dawood completed specifically requested narrative explanation of any opined limitation — particulars he declined to provide. See R. at 291, 376-77, 385-86. Additionally, the ALJ specifically noted that Camille’s record of psychiatric treatment was “intermittent,” including a six-month gap between his first and second appointments with Dr. Dawood. R. at 55, 57. These constitute “good reasons” for the limited weight attributed. Halloran, 362 F.3d at 32 (factors include, inter alia, frequency of examination; the evidence in support of the opinion; the consistency of the opinion with the record as a whole; other factors that tend to support or contradict the opinion); see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(3) (“The better an explanation a source provides for an opinion, the more weight we will give that opinion.”). To the extent Camille argues that the ALJ was insufficiently explicit in articulating her rationale, we disagree. See Cichocki v. Astrue, 729 F.3d 172, 178 n.3 (2d Cir. 2013) (“An ALJ need not recite every piece of evidence that contributed to the decision, so long as the record ‘permits us to glean the ratio
nale of an ALJ’s decision.’ ” (quoting Mongeur v. Heckler, 722 F.2d 1033, 1040 (2d Cir. 1983) (per curiam))).
Camille argues that it is “improper to reject a treating physician’s opinion solely based upon the treating physician’s own treatment notes.” Br. of Appellant at 32 (citing Balsamo v. Chater, 142 F.3d 75, 80 (2d Cir. 1998)). In Balsamo, the ALJ rejected the treating source’s opinion notwithstanding the lack of a contrary medical opinion. We held that “[w]hile an ALJ is free ... to choose between properly submitted medical opinions, he is not free to set his own expertise against that of a physician who submitted an opinion to or testified before him.” 142 F.3d at 81 (brackets omitted) (quoting McBrayer v. Sec’y of HHS, 712 F.2d 795, 799 (2d Cir. 1983)). Here, there was such a contrary opinion. The ALJ was permitted to consider Dr. Dawood’s treatment notes in weighing the opinions of Dr. Dawood and Dr. Kamin; and she was permitted to conclude that Dr. Kamin’s opinion was more reliable. See Diaz v. Shalala, 59 F.3d 307, 313 n.5 (2d Cir. 1995) (“[T]he regulations ... permit the opinions of nonexamining sources to override treating sources’ opinions provided they are supported by evidence in the record.”); cf. Mongeur, 722 F.2d at 1039 (“[T]he opinion of a treating physician is not binding if it is contradicted by substantial evidence, and the report of a consultative physician may constitute such evidence.” (citation omitted)).
We cannot say that the ALJ erred in the application of the regulatory factors to Dr. Kamin’s opinion. Although the ALJ did not describe in detail her rationale, we can infer from the decision that she attributed “great weight” to the opinion because she found it most consistent with the record as a whole, including: Dr. Dawood’s treatment notes; treatment notes from Camille’s social worker (Patrice Goodrich); Camille’s daily activity reports; and Camille’s credible testimony. Cichocki, 729 F.3d at 178 n.3; see also Halloran, 362 F.3d at 31-32 (affirming ALJ opinion which did “not expressly acknowledge the treating physician rule,” but where “the substance of the treating physician rule was not traversed” (internal quotation marks omitted)). Furthermore, Dr. Kamin is a specialist and an Agency consultant (an “expert[ ] in the evaluation of the medical issues in disability claims under the Act,” SSR 96-6p, 1996 WL 374180, at *2 (July 2, 1996)), and his check-box opinions were supplemented by narrative explanation. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(3)-(6).
For substantially the reasons discussed above, and those explained in the district court’s opinion, the ALJ’s RFC finding was supported by substantial evidence, including: Dr. Kamin’s opinion; Dr. Da-wood’s treatment notes; the treatment notes of Ms. Goodrich; Camille’s daily activity reports; and Camille’s credible testimony.
For the foregoing reasons, and finding no merit in Camille’s other arguments, we hereby AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.