Sandra Ibette Dorado Barrientos v. Kilolo Kijakazi

District Court, C.D. California·Decided July 8, 2022·No. 2:20-cv-11359·Unknown

Opinion

Case 2:20-cv-11359-GJS Document 23 Filed 07/08/22 Page 1 of 13 Page ID #:1599

SANDRA B.,1 Case No. 2:20-cv-011359-GJS Plaintiff v. MEMORANDUM OPINION AND KILOLO KIJAKAJI, Acting ORDER Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant.

Plaintiff Sandra B. (“Plaintiff”) filed a complaint seeking review of the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security denying her applications for Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) and Childhood Disability Income Benefits. The parties filed consents to proceed before the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge (Dkts. 11, 12) and briefs addressing disputed issues in the case [Dkt. 20 (“Pltf.’s Br.”) and Dkt. 21 (“Def.’s Br.”).] The matter is now ready for decision. For the reasons discussed below, the Court finds that this matter should be

1 In the interest of privacy, this Order uses only the first name and the initial of the last name of the non-governmental party in this case. Case 2:20-cv-11359-GJS Document 23 Filed 07/08/22 Page 2 of 13 Page ID #:1600

remanded. Plaintiff filed applications for benefits on June 1, 2018, alleging disability beginning on July 19, 2006. [Dkt. 15, Administrative Record (“AR”) 184-186.] Plaintiff’s applications were denied at the initial level of review and on reconsideration. [AR 47-61, 92-103.] A hearing was held before Administrative Law Judge Diana J. Coburn (“the ALJ”) on March 18, 2020. [AR 33-46.] On April 1, 2020, the ALJ issued an unfavorable decision applying the five- step sequential evaluation process for assessing disability. [AR 17-28.] At step one, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since the alleged onset date. [AR 19.] At step two, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff has the following severe impairments: multiple sclerosis, obesity, and depression. [AR 19.] At step three, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff does not have an impairment or combination of impairments that meets or medically equals the severity of one of the impairments listed in Appendix I of the Regulations. [AR 20]; see 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1. The ALJ found that Plaintiff has the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform sedentary work, except:

she must never climb ladders ropes or scaffolds; she can occasionally climb ramps and stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl; she is precluded from exposure to unprotected heights and dangerous moving machinery; she can perform simple and routine tasks; and she can make simple work-related decisions.

[AR 22.] At step four, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff, who had not attained the age of 22 years old as of the alleged disability onset date, had no past relevant work. [AR 28.] At step five, the ALJ found that considering Plaintiff’s age, which meets the definition of a younger individual, and her education, work experience, and 2 Case 2:20-cv-11359-GJS Document 23 Filed 07/08/22 Page 3 of 13 Page ID #:1601

RFC, there are jobs that exist in significant number in the national economy that she can perform. [AR 28.] Based on these findings, the ALJ found Plaintiff not disabled through the date of the decision. [AR 28.] Plaintiff sought review of the ALJ’s decision, which the Appeals Council denied, making the ALJ’s decision the Commissioner’s final decision. [AR 1-6.] This action followed. Plaintiff raises the following issues challenging the ALJ’s findings and determination of non-disability: 1. Whether the ALJ properly evaluated the treating opinion of physician Margaret Burnett, M.D.; and 2. Whether the ALJ failed to properly evaluate Plaintiff’s testimony. Defendant asserts that the ALJ’s decision should be affirmed, or in the alternative, remanded for further development of the record if the Court finds the ALJ erred. Under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), the Court reviews the Commissioner’s decision to determine if: (1) the Commissioner’s findings are supported by substantial evidence; and (2) the Commissioner used correct legal standards. See Carmickle v. Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 533 F.3d 1155, 1159 (9th Cir. 2008); Brewes v. Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 682 F.3d 1157, 1161 (9th Cir. 2012). “Substantial evidence … is ‘more than a mere scintilla’ … [i]t means – and only means – ‘such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.’” Biestek v. Berryhill, 139 S. Ct. 1148, 1154 (2019) (citations omitted); Gutierrez v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 522-23 (9th Cir. 2014) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). The Court will uphold the Commissioner’s decision when “the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation.” See Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1110 (9th Cir. 2012), superseded on other grounds by 20 C.F.R. § 3 Case 2:20-cv-11359-GJS Document 23 Filed 07/08/22 Page 4 of 13 Page ID #:1602

404.1502(a). However, the Court may review only the reasons stated by the ALJ in his decision “and may not affirm the ALJ on a ground upon which he did not rely.” Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 630 (9th Cir. 2007). The Court will not reverse the Commissioner’s decision if it is based on harmless error, which exists if the error is “inconsequential to the ultimate nondisability determination, or if despite the legal error, the agency’s path may reasonably be discerned.” Brown-Hunter v. Colvin, 806 F.3d 487, 492 (9th Cir. 2015) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). A. The ALJ Improperly Evaluated Dr. Burnett’s Opinion The first issue in dispute is whether the ALJ properly evaluated the medical evidence. Specifically, whether the ALJ provided a sufficient justification, supported by substantial evidence, for finding that the treating neurologist’s opinion was not persuasive. For the reasons discussed below, reversal and remand for further administrative proceedings are warranted on this issue. Having found that remand is warranted, the Court declines to address Plaintiff’s remaining arguments. See Hiler v. Astrue, 687 F.3d 1208, 1212 (9th Cir. 2012) (“Because we remand the case to the ALJ for the reasons stated, we decline to reach [plaintiff’s] alternative ground for remand.”); see also Augustine ex rel. Ramirez v. Astrue, 536 F. Supp. 2d 1147, 1153 n.7 (C.D. Cal. 2008) (“[The] Court need not address the other claims plaintiff raises, none of which would provide plaintiff with any further relief than granted, and all of which can be addressed on remand.”). 1. Relevant Law “The ALJ is responsible for translating and incorporating clinical findings into a succinct RFC.” Rounds v. Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 807 F.3d 996, 1006 (9th Cir. 2015). In doing so, the ALJ must articulate a “substantive basis” for rejecting a medical opinion or crediting one medical opinion over another. Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1012 (9th Cir. 2014). Under prior Ninth Circuit law, an ALJ must 4 Case 2:20-cv-11359-GJS Document 23 Filed 07/08/22 Page 5 of 13 Page ID #:1603

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