1 FILED IN THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT 2 EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON Apr 21, 2026 3 SEAN F. MCAVOY, CLERK
4 5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 6
7 JULIE V.,1 No. 1:25-cv-3165-EFS
8 Plaintiff, ORDER REVERSING THE 9 v. ALJ’S DENIAL OF BENEFITS, AND REMANDING FOR 10 FRANK BISIGNANO, MORE PROCEEDINGS Commissioner of Social Security, 11 Defendant. 12
13 Plaintiff Julie V. asks the Court to reverse the Administrative 14 Law Judge’s (ALJ) denial of Title 2 benefits. Among other arguments, 15 she contends the ALJ erroneously failed to give some res judicata effect 16 17
18 1 For privacy reasons, Plaintiff is referred to by first name and last 19 initial or as “Plaintiff.” See LCivR 5.2(c). 20 1 to a prior ALJ’s residual functional capacity (RFC) finding. The Court
2 agrees. As is explained below, a prior ALJ found Plaintiff limited to 3 performing a range of sedentary work because of degenerative disc 4 disease and limitations resulting from spinal surgery. The instant ALJ
5 reviewed the period beginning one day later, reported evidence of 6 continuing limitations from the same spinal issues, assessed additional 7 severe impairments, and recognized worsening impairments, yet found
8 Plaintiff more capable. The ALJ did so despite the requirement that he 9 give at least some res judicata consideration to the prior ALJ’s RFC 10 findings absent relevant new and material evidence. The ALJ’s
11 decision and the record do not present material evidence that would 12 justify not considering the prior RFC whatsoever. Therefore, the ALJ 13 consequentially erred, warranting remand for further proceedings.
14 I. Background 15 Before she filed the instant claim, Plaintiff filed a claim for Title 2 16 benefits in July 2015.2 Adjudicating that claim, ALJ Glenn Meyers
18 2 See AR 145. An ALJ adjudicated an even earlier claim and found her 19 not disabled from October 1, 2009, through March 24, 2014. AR 80–88. 20 1 found Plaintiff not disabled from March 25, 2014, through March 28,
2 2018.3 ALJ Meyers found Plaintiff had the severe impairments of 3 lumbar and cervical degenerative disc disease, status post lumbar and 4 cervical surgical intervention, depressive disorder, and anxiety
5 disorder.4 ALJ Meyers found Plaintiff had the RFC to perform 6 “sedentary work” as defined in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(a) except she could 7 frequently use her upper extremities to handle, finger, feel, and reach
8 at or below shoulder level; never reach overhead; occasionally stoop 9 and crouch; and never squat, crawl, kneel, or climb.5 ALJ Meyers’ RFC 10 also provided Plaintiff would be off-task 8% of the time; absent from
11 work once per month; and capable of engaging in unskilled, repetitive, 12 routine tasks in two-hour increments.6 Based on this RFC, ALJ Meyers 13
14 15
16 3 AR 162–63. 17 4 AR 149. 18 5 AR 151. 19 6 AR 151–52. 20 1 found Plaintiff could adjust to three “sedentary/unskilled” jobs and was
2 therefore not disabled.7 This Court affirmed.8 3 Plaintiff filed her instant Title 2 application for benefits in July 4 2021, alleging disability preventing her from working beginning
5 October 1, 2010, which she later amended to January 27, 2020, based 6 on the intervening nondisability decisions.9 The Administration denied 7 her claim initially and upon reconsideration, after which ALJ Mark
8 Triplett (“the ALJ”) held a hearing and issued a written decision.10 9 First, the ALJ reported Plaintiff’s claim history and determined 10 that the relevant period for the instant claim was March 29, 2018—the
11 day after the prior nondisability period—through December 31, 2021— 12 the date late insured.11 The ALJ reported the following regarding the 13 effect of the prior nondisability finding:
15 7 AR 162. 16 8 AR 109–41. 17 9 AR 44, 355. 18 10 AR 14, 37, 205, 218. 19 11 AR 17. 20 1 In the instant case, the claimant has an additional burden as a result of the previous final decision on her prior 2 application. Prior to determining whether or not the claimant is disabled under the Regulations, it first mu[st] be 3 determined whether or not a presumption of non-disability continues under Chavez v. Bowen, 844 F.2d 691 (9th Cir. 4 1988).
5 A claimant may rebut the presumption by showing a “changed circumstance” affecting the issue of disability with 6 respect to the adjudicated period – e.g., a change in the claimant’s age category, an increase in the severity of the 7 claimant’s impairment(s), the alleged existence of an impairment not previously considered, or a change in the 8 criteria for determining disability.
9 After a thorough review of the record, the undersigned finds the claimant has rebutted the presumption of continuing 10 non-disability. The record includes new evidence submitted after the prior ALJ decision that is material to the severity 11 of the claimant’s medically determinable impairments and results in a finding different from the finding made in the 12 prior decision. The continuing presumption of nondisability has been rebutted by an alleged worsening of her 13 impairments, new impairments not previously considered, and changes in the way we evaluate musculoskeletal 14 impairments.12
15 Next, the ALJ carried out the five-step sequential evaluation 16 process for determining whether a claimant is disabled, ultimately 17 18
19 12 AR 18. 20 1 finding Plaintiff not disabled.13 In doing so, the ALJ found Plaintiff’s
2 alleged symptoms were “not entirely consistent” with the medical 3 evidence and other evidence.14 As to the medical opinions, the ALJ 4 found:
5 • the reviewing opinions of Gordon Hale, MD, and Charles 6 Murphy, MD, persuasive; 7 • the consultative examining opinion of Marquetta Washington,
8 ARNP, partially persuasive; and 9 • the treating opinions of Betsy Kean, PA, and Craig Whittlesey, 10 MD, not persuasive.15
11 As to the sequential disability analysis, the ALJ found: 12 • Plaintiff met the insured status requirements through 13 December 31, 2021.
15 13 AR 18–31. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)–(g). 16 14 AR 23–24. As recommended by the Ninth Circuit in Smartt v. 17 Kijakazi, the ALJ should consider replacing the phrase “not entirely 18 consistent” with “inconsistent.” 53 F.4th 489, 499, n.2 (9th Cir. 2022). 19 15 AR 28–29. 20 1 • Step one: Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful
2 activity since March 29, 2018, through her date last insured of 3 December 31, 2021. 4 • Step two: Plaintiff had the following medically determinable
5 severe impairments: degenerative disc disease; right shoulder 6 degenerative joint disease; obesity; and carpal tunnel 7 syndrome.
8 • Step three: Plaintiff did not have an impairment or 9 combination of impairments that met or medically equaled the 10 severity of one of the listed impairments.
11 • RFC: Plaintiff had the RFC to perform “light work” as defined 12 in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(b), except she can occasionally climb 13 ramps and stairs, but never climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds;
14 occasionally balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl; tolerate 15 occasional exposure to workplace vibration and hazards; 16 frequently, but not constantly, reach with the right, dominant,
17 upper extremity; occasionally reach overhead with the right, 18 dominant, upper extremity; and cannot lift any weight above 19 shoulder height with the right, dominant, upper extremity.
20 1 • Step four: Plaintiff had no past relevant work.
2 • Step five: considering Plaintiff’s RFC, age, education, and work 3 history, Plaintiff could perform work that existed in significant 4 numbers in the national economy, such as production
5 assembler, sales attendant, and routing clerk, all classified as 6 “light” exertional jobs.16 7 Plaintiff timely requested review of the ALJ’s decision by the
8 Appeals Council, which denied review.17 Plaintiff now appeals to 9 district court.18 10 II. Standard of Review
11 The ALJ’s decision is reversed “only if it is not supported by 12 substantial evidence or is based on legal error”19 and such error 13
15 16 AR 20–30. 16 17 AR 1. 17 18 ECF No. 1. 18 19 Hill v. Astrue, 698 F.3d 1153, 1158 (9th Cir. 2012). See 42 U.S.C. § 19 405(g). 20 1 impacted the nondisability determination.20 Substantial evidence is
2 “more than a mere scintilla but less than a preponderance; it is such 3 relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to 4 support a conclusion.”21
5 6 7
8 20 Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1115 (9th Cir. 2012), superseded on 9 other grounds by 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a) (recognizing that the court may 10 not reverse an ALJ decision due to a harmless error—one that “is 11 inconsequential to the ultimate nondisability determination”). 12 21 Hill, 698 F.3d at 1159 (quoting Sandgathe v. Chater, 108 F.3d 978, 13 980 (9th Cir. 1997)). See also Lingenfelter v. Astrue, 504 F.3d 1028, 14 1035 (9th Cir. 2007) (The court “must consider the entire record as a 15 whole, weighing both the evidence that supports and the evidence that 16 detracts from the Commissioner’s conclusion,” not simply the evidence 17 cited by the ALJ or the parties) (cleaned up); Black v. Apfel, 143 F.3d 18 383, 386 (8th Cir. 1998) (“An ALJ’s failure to cite specific evidence does 19 not indicate that such evidence was not considered[.]”). 20 1 III. Analysis
2 Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred by not giving some res judicata 3 effect to the prior ALJ’s RFC findings, by not properly assessing 4 Plaintiff’s alleged symptoms, and by not properly assessing the medical
5 opinions. The Commissioner argues the ALJ reasonably declined to 6 give res judicata effect to the prior RFC, reasonably found Plaintiff’s 7 symptom allegations inconsistent with the evidence, and reasonably
8 evaluated the medical opinions. 9 A. Res judicata effect of prior ALJ findings: Plaintiff 10 establishes consequential error.
11 1. Standards 12 In Chavez v. Bowen, the Ninth Circuit held that because 13 principles of res judicata apply to administrative decisions, albeit “less
14 rigidly” than to judicial proceedings, a claimant must prove “changed 15 circumstances” to overcome the presumption of continuing 16 nondisability from a prior ALJ’s finding of nondisability.22 Even when
17 the claimant overcomes the presumption of continuing nondisability, 18
19 22 Chavez v. Bowen, 844 F.2d 691, 693 (9th Cir. 1988). 20 1 the prior ALJ’s “findings concerning the claimant’s residual functional
2 capacity, education, and work experience are entitled to some res 3 judicata consideration in subsequent proceedings.”23 In Chavez, the 4 claimant’s attainment of “advanced age” was a changed circumstance
5 precluding the application of res judicata to a prior ALJ’s nondisability 6 finding, but “[p]rinciples of res judicata” still “made binding the first 7 judge’s [RFC] determinations . . . .”24 The Ninth Circuit concluded, in
8 relevant part, “Because the second judge failed to afford preclusive 9 effect to the first judge’s determinations . . . his decision was not 10 supported by substantial evidence.”25
11 Following Chavez, the Social Security Administration issued 12 Acquiescence Ruling 97-4(9), directing adjudicators to apply Chavez to 13 claims in the Ninth Circuit.26 If the claimant rebuts the presumption of
14 continuing nondisability arising from a prior ALJ’s final decision, then 15
16 23 Id. at 694. 17 24 Id. 18 25 Id. 19 26 Acquiescence Ruling 97-4(9) (S.S.A. Dec. 3, 1997) 1997 WL 742758. 20 1 adjudicators “must adopt” the prior ALJ’s RFC finding, among other
2 findings, “unless there is new and material evidence relating to such a 3 finding.”27 For purposes of this Ruling, new evidence is “material” if it 4 “warrants a finding on residual functional capacity, education, work
5 experience or other finding required at a step in the sequential 6 evaluation process different than that made in the decision on the prior 7 claim.”28 Social Security Acquiescence Rulings are “binding on all
8 components of the Social Security Administration.”29 9 Ninth Circuit cases establish when a failure to give some res 10 judicata effect to a prior RFC finding may be harmless. In Stubbs-
11 Danielson v. Astrue, the claimant received disability benefits from 1986 12 to 1994 and applied for benefits again in 2002, which was denied.30 In 13 addition to recognizing that Chavez does not apply to a prior finding of
14 disability, the Ninth Circuit held that the ALJ did not improperly fail 15
16 27 Id. at *3. 17 28 Hearing, Appeals, and Litigation Law Manual (HALLEX) I-5-4-60. 18 29 Pinto v. Massanari, 249 F.3d 840, 845 n.3 (9th Cir. 2001). 19 30 539 F.3d 1169, 1171–72 (9th Cir. 2008). 20 1 to extend some res judicata consideration to “prior findings based
2 strictly on information already presented to the first judge” because 3 “[t]he entirety of the medical evaluations presented with respect to the 4 present application were conducted after [the claimant]’s 1984 initial
5 disability determination. These evaluations necessarily presented new 6 and material information not presented to the first ALJ.”31 7 In unpublished, nonbinding decisions,32 the Ninth Circuit found
8 that the ALJ did not err in failing to give some res judicata 9 consideration to a prior RFC, or any such error was harmless, when: 1) 10 the ALJ “properly found that the new evidence of [the claimant]’s
11 mental limitations was not material”33; 2) a 2020 RFC finding was 12 based entirely on evidence that post-dated a 2012 RFC finding and the 13 ALJ found that a specific Social Security Ruling was a change in law
15 31 Id. at 1173. 16 32 The Court discusses these cases only for their persuasive value, 17 recognizing harmless error is a case-by-case, fact-specific inquiry. See 18 Ludwig v. Astrue, 681 F.3d 1047, 1054 (9th Cir. 2012). 19 33 Reed v. Saul, 834 F. App’x 326, 328 (9th Cir. 2020). 20 1 impacting the RFC determination34; and 3) the second ALJ reasonably
2 interpreted the first ALJ’s RFC as effectively the same as the second 3 ALJ’s RFC.35 4 Other unpublished decisions also present circumstances when an
5 ALJ appropriately afforded res judicata consideration to a prior finding 6 or committed consequential error in failing to do so. In one, the ALJ 7 appropriately “adopted many of the prior ALJ’s findings in the
8 subsequent five-step sequential evaluation pursuant to Acquiescence 9 Ruling 97-4(9)” because “there were not material changes in [the 10 claimant]’s condition since the prior adjudication.”36 In another, the
11 Ninth Circuit found that “[b]ecause there is no evidence that the 12 limitations reflected in the 2011 Decision’s RFC findings improved, 13
14 34 Curtiss v. Kijakazi, No. 22-35371, 2023 WL 3918687, at *1 (9th Cir. 15 June 9, 2023) (unreported). 16 35 Nollen v. Kijakazi, No. 22-35953, 2023 WL 5567175, at *1 (9th Cir. 17 Aug. 29, 2023) (unreported). 18 36 Bauman v. O’Malley, No. 22-35881, 2024 WL 1427037, at *1 (9th Cir. 19 Apr. 3, 2024) (unreported). 20 1 they should have been considered in the formulation of the 2015
2 Decision’s RFC finding,” and reversed because it could not “determine, 3 based on the existing record, whether the ALJ would still have found 4 [the claimant] ‘not disabled’ if the RFC findings in the 2011 Decision
5 had been incorporated.”37 6 2. ALJ’s Reasons 7 As set out above, the ALJ found that Plaintiff rebutted the
8 Chavez presumption of continuing nondisability, explaining that new 9 evidence submitted after the 2018 ALJ decision “is material to the 10 severity of the claimant’s medically determinable impairments and
11 results in a finding different from the finding made in the prior 12 decision.”38 The ALJ further explained, “The continuing presumption of 13 nondisability has been rebutted by an alleged worsening of her
14 impairments, new impairments not previously considered, and changes 15 16
18 37 Drake v. Saul, 805 F. App’x 467, 468–69 (9th Cir. 2020). 19 38 AR 18. 20 1 in the way we evaluate musculoskeletal impairments.”39 The ALJ did
2 not address specifically any of the prior ALJ’s findings. 3 The ALJ explained the basis for Plaintiff’s RFC by, first, reciting 4 a chronology of the medical records and concluding, “Based on this
5 discussion of the medical evidence, a limitation on the claimant to a 6 light exertion level with restrictions on postural activities, reaching, 7 and exposure to environmental factors as found in this decision
8 adequately accounts for the claimant’s severe medically determinable 9 impairments.”40 The ALJ’s discussion of the medical evidence reported 10 the following medical treatment.41 Plaintiff had a lumbar spinal fusion
11 in April 2016 and a L4-5 decompression fusion in January 2017.42 She 12 had resulting severe pain that was treated throughout 2018 and 2019 13 with medication, epidural steroid injections, and physical therapy,
16 39 Id. 17 40 AR 24–27. 18 41 See id. 19 42 AR 642. 20 1 which had varying levels of relief.43 Physical examinations during this
2 time revealed limited cervical and lumbar spine range of motion, 3 diminished sensation in her left thumb, diminished but symmetric 4 upper extremity deep tendon reflexes, mild limited hip range of motion,
5 superficial tenderness of the lumbar region, and decreased sensation of 6 the right big toe.44 Physical examinations also revealed normal muscle 7 tone, strength, gait, ambulation, reflexes, and motor function.45
8 Plaintiff reported slipping on ice and falling down stairs in 9 January 2020, causing right shoulder pain.46 An MRI of her right 10 shoulder showed moderate partial thickness tearing and mild
11 acromioclavicular joint arthritis.47 Her primary care doctor assessed 12 her with partial tears of two shoulder tendons and did not think she 13
15 43 AR 576–89, 710–15, 740–73. 16 44 AR 711, 729, 744, 751, 772. 17 45 AR 640, 643, 704, 711, 720, 726, 729, 744, 751, 772. 18 46 AR 871. 19 47 AR 863. 20 1 had a surgically correctable problem.48 She was treated with pain
2 medication, injections, and physical exercises throughout 2020, with 3 varying levels of relief.49 4 Plaintiff reported more right shoulder pain after slipping in the
5 shower in May 2021.50 X-rays showed mild degenerative changes of the 6 acromioclavicular joint, thoracic spine, right shoulder, and lumbar 7 spine.51 Physical examinations in 2021, during which Plaintiff
8 continued taking pain medication and injections, revealed limited 9 range of motion in the right shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and 10 hip.52 Those same examinations revealed normal gait, muscle tone,
11 strength, grip, and ambulation.53 12 13
14 48 AR 861. 15 49 AR 854–56, 859, 865–68, 871–72. 16 50 AR 654. 17 51 AR 650–51. 18 52 AR 636–37, 647–48, 651, 655. 19 53 AR 636–37, 647–48, 651, 655. 20 1 Nerve studies in May 2021 revealed evidence of mild to moderate
2 bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).54 Plaintiff had carpal tunnel 3 surgery on the right side in August 2021, and on the left side in 4 October 2021.55 Postoperative notes reported routine healing, reduced
5 but intermittent pain, full elbow and finger range of motion, and 6 improved numbness and tingling.56 7 Next, the ALJ supported his RFC finding by explaining why
8 Plaintiff’s statements about the intensity, persistence, and limiting 9 effects of her symptoms were inconsistent with other evidence of 10 record, relying on the medical evidence reported above as follows:
11 [Plaintiff] . . . exhibited some limited cervical and lumbar spine range of motion, and at times limited right hip range 12 of motion, positive FABER, and/or decreased right big toe sensation . . ., but intact hip range of motion at other times . 13 . ., and otherwise often normal signs like unassisted ambulation, intact gait, intact sensation, negative straight 14 leg raise, 5/5 strength, and normal muscle . . . . Therefore, a restriction [to] a reduced light exertion level as found in this 15 decision is adequate to address her spinal issues and body habitus. Laboratory studies revealed bilateral CTS, but 16
17 54 AR 599, 602. 18 55 AR 615, 622. 19 56 AR 623, 625, 890–91. 20 1 surgery improved those symptoms and functioning, and even prior to that, despite positive Tinel’s and Phalen’s signs, she 2 generally was able to demonstrate upper extremity 5/5 strength and range of motion . . . . A restriction to a light 3 exertion level with restrictions on climbing and exposure to hazards and vibration, therefore are adequate to address her 4 history of CTS. She had a right shoulder injury, but surgery was not indicated, her symptoms and range of motion 5 improved with injection and medication, and she continued to show 5/5 strength . . . . Therefore, a restriction to a light 6 exertion level with restrictions on climbing, reaching, and exposure to environmental factors as found in this decision 7 are adequate to address her shoulder issues.57
8 Finally, the ALJ supported his RFC finding by assessing the 9 medical opinions and prior administrative medical findings.58 The ALJ 10 found the reviewing opinions of Drs. Hale and Murphy—who reviewed 11 the medical records in conjunction with the Administration’s initial 12 and reconsideration decisions, respectively—persuasive because their 13 opinions that Plaintiff could perform light work were consistent with 14 the objective medical evidence showing a history of spinal surgeries 15 with residual symptoms that were managed over time and normal 16 17
18 57 AR 27–28 (citations omitted). 19 58 AR 28–29. 20 1 physical examinations.59 The ALJ found the treating opinion of
2 orthopedic provider PA Kean not persuasive because her opinion that 3 Plaintiff would have a four-month restriction on using her left arm 4 post-surgery was unclear and not consistent with the evidence of
5 healing and improved symptoms.60 The ALJ found Dr. Whittlesey’s 6 treating opinion that Plaintiff could not work unpersuasive because the 7 opinion was given almost two years after the date last insured and was
8 not consistent with the evidence of record.61 The ALJ found ARNP 9 Washington’s opinion upon examination that Plaintiff could perform 10 light work partially persuasive because it was consistent with the
11 medical evidence, was given only five months after the date last 12 insured, and lacked reaching restrictions as opined by Drs. Hale and 13 Murphy.62
16 59 AR 28. 17 60 Id. 18 61 AR 29. 19 62 Id. 20 1 3. Analysis – Legal error
2 The ALJ committed legal error by not completely applying 3 Chavez and Acquiescence Ruling 97-4(9). The ALJ correctly stated and 4 applied the first part of those rules when he explained that a claimant
5 may rebut the presumption of continuing nondisability from a previous 6 final decision by showing changed circumstances and reasonably 7 determined that Plaintiff rebutted the presumption.63 But there is
8 another part to Chavez: even when Plaintiff presents a changed 9 circumstance precluding the application of res judicata to the prior 10 ALJ’s final nondisability decision, the prior ALJ’s RFC finding is still
11 entitled to some res judicata consideration absent new and material 12 evidence related to it.64 There is no indication—either explicit or 13 implicit—in the ALJ’s decision that he considered whether to give any
14 res judicata effect to the prior ALJ’s RFC finding. 15
16 63 AR 18. See Chavez, 844 F.2d at 693–94; Acquiescence Ruling 97-4(9) 17 (S.S.A. Dec. 3, 1997) 1997 WL 742758. 18 64 Chavez, 844 F.2d at 694; Acquiescence Ruling 97-4(9) (S.S.A. Dec. 3, 19 1997) 1997 WL 742758, at *3. 20 1 The ALJ’s explanation for how Plaintiff rebutted the Chavez
2 presumption further supports the ALJ seemingly not recognizing the 3 requirement that he give some res judicata effect to the prior RFC. The 4 ALJ first said, “The record includes new evidence submitted after the
5 prior ALJ decision that is material to the severity of the claimant’s 6 medically determinable impairments and results in a finding different 7 from the finding made in the prior decision.”65 But the ALJ was
8 referring to ALJ Meyers’ final nondisability finding, so the ALJ did not 9 here address whether he considered the preclusive effect of ALJ 10 Meyers’ RFC finding. Second, the ALJ said, “The continuing
11 presumption of nondisability has been rebutted by an alleged 12 worsening of her impairments, new impairments not previously 13 considered, and changes in the way we evaluate musculoskeletal
14 impairments.”66 Again, this refers only to ALJ Meyers’ final 15 nondisability decision, not ALJ Meyers’ RFC finding that was still 16 entitled to some preclusive effect. Nor could it sensibly refer specifically
18 65 AR 18. 19 66 Id. 20 1 to ALJ Meyers’ RFC because ALJ Meyers found Plaintiff to have a
2 sedentary-work RFC with more limitations than in the present light- 3 work RFC.67 “Worsening” and “new” impairments would not support 4 finding Plaintiff more capable.
5 The Commissioner does not raise the argument specifically, but 6 the Court acknowledges the potential argument that the ALJ’s 7 reference to “new evidence submitted after the prior ALJ decision that
8 is material to the severity of the claimant’s medically determinable 9 impairments” implicitly shows that the ALJ understood that he “must 10 adopt” the 2018 RFC “unless there is new and material evidence
11 relating to such a finding.”68 But this argument fails because: 1) the 12 ALJ here was referring to ALJ Meyers’ final nondisability decision, not 13 ALJ Meyers’ RFC finding; 2) the ALJ’s next sentence, describing new
14 and worsening impairments, would contradict the ALJ referring to ALJ 15 Meyers’ more-limited RFC; 3) the ALJ never referenced ALJ Meyers’ 16 RFC; and 4) the ALJ never specified any “new and material evidence”
18 67 AR 151–52. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(a)–(b). 19 68 Acquiescence Ruling 97-4(9), 1997 WL 742758, at *3. 20 1 relating to a prior finding that Plaintiff was limited to sedentary work
2 with further unaddressed limitations. 3 The Commissioner contends the ALJ declined to give res judicata 4 consideration to the prior RFC because updated evidence showed
5 normal physical findings, noting that the ALJ pointed to reports from 6 April, May, June, and August 2021 reporting normal findings.69 7 Accepting this argument would constitute an improper post hoc
8 rationalization of the ALJ’s decision.70 Even though the failure to cite 9 specific evidence is generally not a sufficient indication that 10 the ALJ failed to consider it,71 agreeing with the Commissioner would
11 require the Court to improperly assume the ALJ considered whether to 12
13 69 ECF No. 12 at 19–20 (citing AR 636–38, 647–48, 651, 841). 14 70 Bray v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Adm., 554 F.3d 1219, 1226–27 (9th Cir. 15 2009) (recognizing that the ALJ’s decision must be analyzed based on 16 his reasoning and findings and “not post hoc rationalizations that 17 attempt to intuit what the adjudicator may have been thinking”). 18 71 Black, 143 F.3d at 386 (“An ALJ’s failure to cite specific evidence 19 does not indicate that such evidence was not considered[.]”). 20 1 weigh the prior RFC when he never mentioned it; assume the ALJ
2 knew that a prior RFC is entitled to some res judicata effect even when 3 the presumption of continuing nondisability is rebutted when he never 4 said so or made findings indicating such awareness; assume the ALJ
5 relied on some of the medical records as evidence to rebut the prior 6 RFC when he never said so; and assume some counterintuitive basis 7 for finding that “worsening” impairments and “new” impairments
8 supported finding Plaintiff more capable. 9 In sum, the record does not support that the ALJ considered ALJ 10 Meyers’ 2018 RFC absent new and material evidence related to that
11 finding as required by Chavez and Acquiescence Ruling 97-4(9). The 12 ALJ therefore erred. 13 4. Analysis – Consequential error
14 The ALJ’s error impacted the sequential analysis because the 15 ALJ’s decision does not discuss “new and material evidence relating to 16 [ALJ Meyers’ RFC] finding” that would justify giving it no
17 consideration, and considering it would affect the instant RFC 18 19
20 1 determination.72 The prior RFC related to the period ending only one
2 day before the period addressed by the instant decision.73 The prior 3 RFC addressed limitations caused by conditions that persisted in the 4 instant relevant period.74 RFC findings for a period ending one day
5 earlier and based on some of the same conditions would seemingly have 6 some weight to this ALJ because he partially credited ARNP 7 Washington’s opinion despite recognizing her examination was
8 performed five months after the relevant period.75 Evidence of new 9 impairments and limitations supported that Plaintiff was even more 10
12 72 AR 18. See Acquiescence Ruling 97-4(9) (S.S.A. Dec. 3, 1997) 1997 13 WL 742758, at *3; Stubbs-Danielson, 539 F.3d at 1173. 14 73 AR 17, 162–63. 15 74 AR 24–27, 151–52 (both ALJs assessing limitations based on the 16 same degenerative disc disease and the same post-spinal surgery); AR 17 576–89, 642, 710–15, 740–73 (treatment records for post-spinal surgery 18 pain management). 19 75 AR 29. 20 1 limited than in 2018.76 In light of these facts, the normal physical exam
2 findings and improvement post-CTS surgery discussed by the ALJ77 3 would not warrant finding Plaintiff less limited without at least 4 considering ALJ Meyers’ highly relevant RFC, so such evidence is not
5 material.78 6 Comparing this case to relevant Ninth Circuit cases discussing 7 harmless error supports finding the ALJ’s error consequential. First,
8 ALJ Meyers’ RFC was not so old as to be inconsequential.79 Second, 9 unlike in cases where the error was harmless, the ALJ here did not 10
11 76 AR 20 (assessing right shoulder degenerative joint disease, obesity, 12 and CTS as additional severe impairments); AR 650–51, 654, 861, 863, 13 871 (records of new shoulder injuries). 14 77 See AR 623, 625, 636–37, 640, 643, 647–48, 651, 655, 704, 711, 720, 15 726, 729, 744, 751, 772, 890–91. 16 78 See HALLEX I-5-4-60. 17 79 Cf. Stubbs-Danielson, 539 F.3d at 1173 (comparing RFC for a 2002 18 application to a disability determination in 1984); Curtiss, 2023 WL 19 3918687, at *1 (comparing 2020 RFC to a 2012 RFC). 20 1 even reference the prior RFC or provide a specific reason why it had no
2 effect.80 Instead, the most specific part of the ALJ’s explanation gave 3 reasons—“worsening” and “new” impairments—that would support 4 adopting parts of the 2018 RFC.81
5 5. Conclusion 6 A remand is warranted for the ALJ to give some res judicata 7 effect to ALJ Meyers’ 2018 RFC, or, if the ALJ does not, to explain
8 which specific records warrant giving no preclusive effect to any of ALJ 9 Meyers’ RFC findings. 10
12 80 See Reed, 834 F. App’x at 328; Curtiss, 2023 WL 3918687, at *1; 13 Nollen, 2023 WL 5567175, at *1. 14 81 See Drake, 805 F. App’x at 468–69 (reversing because no evidence 15 showed improvement since a prior RFC and the record did not support 16 finding the claimant not disabled if the prior RFC findings were not 17 adopted); Bauman, 2024 WL 1427037, at *1 (affirming the ALJ’s 18 adoption of a prior ALJ’s findings when there were no material changes 19 since the prior decision). 20 1 B. Symptoms and Medical Opinions: The Court finds these
2 issues moot. 3 Because remand is warranted, the Court need not address 4 Plaintiff’s arguments that the ALJ improperly assessed her reported
5 symptoms and the medical opinions. 6 IV. Conclusion 7 Plaintiff establishes the ALJ erred. The ALJ is to develop the
8 record and reevaluate—with meaningful articulation and evidentiary 9 support—the sequential process. On remand, the ALJ is to give ALJ 10 Meyers’ 2018 RFC findings some res judicata effect or explain which
11 records support not doing so pursuant to Chavez and Acquiescence 12 Ruling 97-4(9). 13 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
14 1. The ALJ’s nondisability decision is REVERSED, and this 15 matter is REMANDED to the Commissioner of Social 16 Security for further proceedings pursuant to
17 sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 18 19
20 1 2. The Clerk’s Office shall TERM the parties’ briefs, ECF
2 Nos. 10 and 12, enter JUDGMENT in favor of Plaintiff, 3 and CLOSE the case.
4 IT IS SO ORDERED. The Clerk’s Office is directed to file this
5 ||order and provide copies to all counsel.
6 DATED this 21* day of April 2026.
8 EDWARD F.SHEA Senior United States District Judge 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DISPOSITIVE ORDER - 31