1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MANNY SANTIAGO CABEJE, Case No. 1:22-cv-00489-HBK 12 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, DENYING 13 v. DEFENDANT’S CROSS-MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, AND 14 KILOLO KIJAKAZI, REMANDING CASE TO COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL OF SOCIAL SECURITY 1 15 SECURITY, (Doc. Nos. 13, 15) 16 Defendant. 17 18 19 Manny Santiago Cabeje (“Plaintiff”) seeks judicial review of a final decision of the 20 Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner” or “Defendant”) denying his application for 21 disability insurance benefits under the Social Security Act. (Doc. No. 1). The matter is currently 22 before the Court on the parties’ briefs, which were submitted without oral argument. (Doc. Nos. 23 13, 15-16). For the reasons stated, the Court orders this matter remanded for further 24 administrative proceedings. 25 I. JURISDICTION 26 Plaintiff protectively filed for disability insurance benefits on October 8, 2019, alleging an
27 1 Both parties have consented to the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §636(c)(1). (Doc. No. 9). 28 1 onset date of August 21, 2019. (AR 210-13). Benefits were denied initially (AR 62-69, 83-87), 2 and upon reconsideration (AR 71-81, 89-93). Plaintiff appeared before an Administrative Law 3 Judge (“ALJ”) on May 24, 2021. (AR 35-61). Plaintiff was represented by counsel, and testified 4 at the hearing. (Id.). On June 28, 2021, the ALJ issued an unfavorable decision (AR 12-34), and 5 on March 21, 2022 the Appeals Council denied review (AR 1-6). The matter is now before this 6 Court pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1383(c)(3). 7 II. BACKGROUND 8 The facts of the case are set forth in the administrative hearing and transcripts, the ALJ’s 9 decision, and the briefs of Plaintiff and Commissioner. Only the most pertinent facts are 10 summarized here. 11 Plaintiff was 50 years old at the time of the hearing. (See AR 253). He graduated from 12 high school. (AR 43). He lives with his wife. (AR 42-43). Plaintiff has work history as a 13 highway maintenance worker. (AR 43-44, 52-53). Plaintiff testified that he had back surgery in 14 2017, and another back surgery in 2018, but the pain is getting worse. (AR 44). He experiences 15 pain in his lower back and left leg, and numbness at the “bottom” of his leg. (AR 44-45). 16 Plaintiff reported that he walks twice around his house two or three times a day, but he must rest 17 every 10 minutes; he has to lie down 3 times a day for 30-45 minutes at a time; and he elevates 18 his feet 3-4 times a day for 30 minutes each time. (AR 46-49). He testified that it is “hard” to lift 19 one gallon of milk because of lower back pain, and he experiences numbness and tingling in his 20 leg “all the time.” (AR 46, 48-49). Plaintiff testified that he doesn’t take “stronger” pain 21 medication because it causes dizziness and stomach pains. (AR 50-51). 22 III. STANDARD OF REVIEW 23 A district court’s review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is 24 governed by 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The scope of review under § 405(g) is limited; the 25 Commissioner’s decision will be disturbed “only if it is not supported by substantial evidence or 26 is based on legal error.” Hill v. Astrue, 698 F.3d 1153, 1158 (9th Cir. 2012). “Substantial 27 evidence” means “relevant evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a 28 conclusion.” Id. at 1159 (quotation and citation omitted). Stated differently, substantial evidence 1 equates to “more than a mere scintilla[,] but less than a preponderance.” Id. (quotation and 2 citation omitted). In determining whether the standard has been satisfied, a reviewing court must 3 consider the entire record as a whole rather than searching for supporting evidence in isolation. 4 Id. 5 In reviewing a denial of benefits, a district court may not substitute its judgment for that of 6 the Commissioner. “The court will uphold the ALJ's conclusion when the evidence is susceptible 7 to more than one rational interpretation.” Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1038 (9th Cir. 8 2008). Further, a district court will not reverse an ALJ’s decision on account of an error that is 9 harmless. Id. An error is harmless where it is “inconsequential to the [ALJ’s] ultimate 10 nondisability determination.” Id. (quotation and citation omitted). The party appealing the ALJ’s 11 decision generally bears the burden of establishing that it was harmed. Shinseki v. Sanders, 556 12 U.S. 396, 409-10 (2009). 13 IV. FIVE-STEP SEQUENTIAL EVALUATION PROCESS 14 A claimant must satisfy two conditions to be considered “disabled” within the meaning of 15 the Social Security Act. First, the claimant must be “unable to engage in any substantial gainful 16 activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be 17 expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period 18 of not less than twelve months.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). Second, the claimant’s impairment 19 must be “of such severity that he is not only unable to do his previous work[,] but cannot, 20 considering his age, education, and work experience, engage in any other kind of substantial 21 gainful work which exists in the national economy.” 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(2)(A). 22 The Commissioner has established a five-step sequential analysis to determine whether a 23 claimant satisfies the above criteria. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(i)-(v). At step one, the 24 Commissioner considers the claimant’s work activity. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(i). If the 25 claimant is engaged in “substantial gainful activity,” the Commissioner must find that the 26 claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(b). 27 If the claimant is not engaged in substantial gainful activity, the analysis proceeds to step 28 two. At this step, the Commissioner considers the severity of the claimant’s impairment. 20 1 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). If the claimant suffers from “any impairment or combination of 2 impairments which significantly limits [his or her] physical or mental ability to do basic work 3 activities,” the analysis proceeds to step three. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). If the claimant’s 4 impairment does not satisfy this severity threshold, however, the Commissioner must find that the 5 claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(c). 6 At step three, the Commissioner compares the claimant’s impairment to severe 7 impairments recognized by the Commissioner to be so severe as to preclude a person from 8 engaging in substantial gainful activity. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iii). If the impairment is as 9 severe or more severe than one of the enumerated impairments, the Commissioner must find the 10 claimant disabled and award benefits. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(d). 11 If the severity of the claimant’s impairment does not meet or exceed the severity of the 12 enumerated impairments, the Commissioner must pause to assess the claimant’s “residual 13 functional capacity.” Residual functional capacity (RFC), defined generally as the claimant’s 14 ability to perform physical and mental work activities on a sustained basis despite his or her 15 limitations, 20 C.F.R. § 404.1545(a)(1), is relevant to both the fourth and fifth steps of the 16 analysis. 17 At step four, the Commissioner considers whether, in view of the claimant’s RFC, the 18 claimant is capable of performing work that he or she has performed in the past (past relevant 19 work). 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iv). If the claimant is capable of performing past relevant 20 work, the Commissioner must find that the claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(f). If 21 the claimant is incapable of performing such work, the analysis proceeds to step five. 22 At step five, the Commissioner considers whether, in view of the claimant’s RFC, the 23 claimant is capable of performing other work in the national economy. 20 C.F.R. § 24 404.1520(a)(4)(v). In making this determination, the Commissioner must also consider 25 vocational factors such as the claimant’s age, education, and past work experience. 20 C.F.R. § 26 404.1520(a)(4)(v). If the claimant is capable of adjusting to other work, the Commissioner must 27 find that the claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(g)(1). If the claimant is not capable 28 of adjusting to other work, analysis concludes with a finding that the claimant is disabled and is 1 therefore entitled to benefits. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(g)(1). 2 The claimant bears the burden of proof at steps one through four above. Tackett v. Apfel, 3 180 F.3d 1094, 1098 (9th Cir. 1999). If the analysis proceeds to step five, the burden shifts to the 4 Commissioner to establish that (1) the claimant is capable of performing other work; and (2) such 5 work “exists in significant numbers in the national economy.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1560(c)(2); 6 Beltran v. Astrue, 700 F.3d 386, 389 (9th Cir. 2012). 7 V. ALJ’S FINDINGS 8 At step one, the ALJ found that Plaintiff has not engaged in substantial gainful activity 9 since August 21, 2019, the alleged onset date. (AR 17). At step two, the ALJ found that Plaintiff 10 has the following severe impairment: degenerative disc disease with lumbar fusion. (AR 17). At 11 step three, the ALJ found that Plaintiff does not have an impairment or combination of 12 impairments that meets or medically equals the severity of a listed impairment. (AR 18). The 13 ALJ then found that Plaintiff has the RFC to 14 perform light work as defined in 20 CFR 404.1567(b) except he can lift twenty pounds occasionally and ten pounds frequently. He can 15 stand and/or walk about six hours in an 8-hour workday and he can sit for about six hours in an 8-hour workday. He can never climb 16 ladders, ropes, or scaffolds, but he can occasionally climb ramps and stairs and can occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl. 17 (AR 19). 18 19 At step four, the ALJ found that Plaintiff is unable to perform any past relevant work. 20 (AR 27). At step five, the ALJ found that considering Plaintiff’s age, education, work 21 experience, and RFC, there are jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy that 22 Plaintiff can perform, including: housekeeper, cafeteria attendant, and small-parts assembler. 23 (AR 28-29). On that basis, the ALJ concluded that Plaintiff has not been under a disability, as 24 defined in the Social Security Act, from August 21, 2019, through the date of the decision. (AR 25 29). 26 VI. ISSUES 27 Plaintiff seeks judicial review of the Commissioner’s final decision denying him disability 28 insurance benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act. (Doc. No. 1). Plaintiff raises the 1 following issues for this Court’s review: 2 1. Whether the ALJ properly considered Plaintiff’s symptom claims; and 3 2. Whether the ALJ properly considered the medical opinion evidence. 4 (Doc. No. 13 at 5-14). 5 VII. DISCUSSION 6 A. Symptom Claims 7 An ALJ engages in a two-step analysis when evaluating a claimant’s testimony regarding 8 subjective pain or symptoms. Lingenfelter v. Astrue, 504 F.3d 1028, 1035-36 (9th Cir. 2007). 9 The ALJ first must determine whether there is “objective medical evidence of an underlying 10 impairment which could reasonably be expected to produce the pain or other symptoms alleged.” 11 Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). “The claimant is not required to show that his impairment 12 could reasonably be expected to cause the severity of the symptom he has alleged; he need only 13 show that it could reasonably have caused some degree of the symptom.” Vasquez v. Astrue, 572 14 F.3d 586, 591 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks omitted). 15 Second, “[i]f the claimant meets the first test and there is no evidence of malingering, the 16 ALJ can only reject the claimant’s testimony about the severity of the symptoms if [the ALJ] 17 gives ‘specific, clear and convincing reasons’ for the rejection.” Ghanim v. Colvin, 763 F.3d 18 1154, 1163 (9th Cir. 2014) (internal citations and quotations omitted). “General findings are 19 insufficient; rather, the ALJ must identify what testimony is not credible and what evidence 20 undermines the claimant’s complaints.” Id. (quoting Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 834 (9th Cir. 21 1995)); Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 958 (9th Cir. 2002) (“[T]he ALJ must make a 22 credibility determination with findings sufficiently specific to permit the court to conclude that 23 the ALJ did not arbitrarily discredit claimant’s testimony.”). “The clear and convincing 24 [evidence] standard is the most demanding required in Social Security cases.” Garrison v. 25 Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1015 (9th Cir. 2014) (quoting Moore v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 278 26 F.3d 920, 924 (9th Cir. 2002)). 27 Here, the ALJ found Plaintiff’s medically determinable impairments could reasonably be 28 expected to cause some of the alleged symptoms; however, Plaintiff’s “statements concerning the 1 intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of these symptoms are not entirely consistent with the 2 medical evidence and other evidence in the record.” (AR 24). Plaintiff argues the ALJ failed to 3 provide clear and convincing reasons for discounting Plaintiff’s allegations of pain and physical 4 disfunction. (Doc. No. 13 at 11-14). The Court agrees. 5 First, the ALJ asserts that “since his August 2018, [Plaintiff] has consistently reported a 6 70% or greater improvement in his pain and ‘manageable’ symptoms, with no more than 7 conservative care.” (AR 20-21 (similarly finding that Plaintiff “reports his pain is stable for 8 years, rated a two or three, and noticeable primarily at night after modified light duty construction 9 work. Here too, he reports his pain is manageable at the time of his alleged onset date with use of 10 Aleve and Norco, as needed, without reporting adverse side effects during his pain management 11 or primary care at the time or since, on review.”)). The effectiveness of treatment is a relevant 12 factor in determining the severity of a claimant's symptoms. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529(c), 13 416.929(c); see Warre v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 439 F.3d 1001, 1006 (9th Cir. 2006) 14 (conditions effectively controlled with medication are not disabling for purposes of determining 15 eligibility for benefits) (internal citations omitted); see also Tommasetti, 533 F.3d at 1040 (9th 16 Cir. 2008) (a favorable response to treatment can undermine a claimant's complaints of 17 debilitating pain or other severe limitations). Furthermore, evidence of “conservative treatment” 18 is sufficient to discount a claimant's testimony regarding the severity of an impairment. Parra v. 19 Astrue, 481 F.3d 742, 751 (9th Cir. 2007). However, symptom improvement should be 20 considered within the context of the “overall diagnostic picture.” Holohan v. Massanari, 246 21 F.3d 1195, 1205 (9th Cir. 2001) (“That a person . . . makes some improvement does not mean 22 that the person’s impairments no longer seriously affect her ability to function in a workplace.”). 23 In support of this finding, the ALJ repeatedly cites to the same treatment records: (1) a 24 March 2020 report of more than 80% improvement in symptoms after epidural injection, and a 25 subsequent May 2020 treatment note recommending additional epidural injections because 26 Plaintiff’s symptoms had returned; (2) a January 2020 report to Plaintiff’s primary care provider 27 that he maintained a ”healthy active lifestyle”; (3) a March 2020 treatment note from primary care 28 provider noting no symptoms of backache or sciatica and occasional use of Tylenol; (4) an 1 August 2020 report of 70% improvement of symptoms after additional epidural injections; and 2 (5) a January 2021 report of lumbar pain radiating to his legs, pain level 4-6 depending on activity 3 or weather, pain level of 3 with medication, and symptoms increased with prolonged sitting and 4 standing. (AR 20-22, 759, 804-05, 821-22, 827-29, 846). The Court’s review of these records, 5 however, indicate they also include evidence that supports Plaintiff’s symptom claims, including 6 “sharp, tingling, aching, discomfort, varying with activity, increasing with movement and pain,” 7 bilateral radiating pain worse in the left leg, numbness in left calf, intermittent weakness to left 8 lower extremity, pain to palpation to the mid lumbar spine, mild pain on flexion, 4/5 strength to 9 the left hip flexion and knee extension, and decreased sensation in the left lower extremity. (AR 10 759, 804, 846). 11 The ALJ also cites to a handful of additional treatment notes, in some cases dated well 12 before the alleged onset date, that upon further review do not appear to support a finding of 13 “consistent” improvement and only “manageable” symptoms across the entire adjudicatory 14 period. (See AR 20-22, 333 (noting Plaintiff had two surgeries and “continues to report problems 15 relating to lower back” amid process of medical retirement), 507 (Plaintiff reporting 80% 16 improvement after his first back surgery in 2018), 591 (noting only that Plaintiff underwent “redo 17 disckectomy, decompression, and fusion” surgery), 574 (noting Plaintiff reported 3 out of 10 pain 18 level with medications and noticeable 50% to 75% of the time, but also noting lumbar pain, 19 unable to touch toes, limited lumbar flexion and extension, and pain after prolonged sitting), 539 20 (reporting 2-3 out of 10 pain after second back surgery in February 2019, but also mild low back 21 and lower extremity pain). Rather, while selected records support the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff 22 rated his pain at a 3 on a 10 point scale “even without use of prescribed medications,” records 23 from the same timeframe regularly include pain ratings of 4-5 on a scale of 10 with medication 24 and a 6-7 without medication, and further note that symptoms are aggravated by lifting, changing 25 positions, pulling, pushing, carrying, sitting, twisting, bending, yard work and/or household 26 chores. (See AR 535, 541 (noting Plaintiff wants to go back to work), 543, 552, 567, 580, 653, 27 656, 659, 662, 665, 668, 674, 677, 680, 844, 846, 852, 859, 861, 863, 865, 867, 869, 871, 873, 28 878, 880). 1 Finally, Plaintiff argues his care was not conservative as he underwent two back surgeries, 2 and two epidural steroid injections during the relevant period, that provided only “temporary 3 relief.” (Doc. No. 13 at 13 (citing AR 751, 802); See Trevizo v. Berryhill, 871 F.3d 664, 677 (9th 4 Cir. 2017) (referring to even recommendation for surgery as “aggressive intervention”); Garrison, 5 759 F.3d at 1015 n.20 (expressing “doubt that epidural steroid shots to the neck and lower back 6 qualify as ‘conservative’ medical treatment”). Upon review of the record, the Court further notes 7 that, in February 2021, Plaintiff’s treating provider requested authorization for an MRI of his 8 lumbar spine because conservative care, which may include “NSAIDS, muscle relaxants, physical 9 therapy, chiropractic care and/or acupuncture,” had been “ineffective in resolving (or progression 10 has been below acceptable normal) [in] this case and an underlying pathology needs to be ruled 11 out.” (AR 845). For all of these reasons, the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s symptoms were 12 “manageable” with “conservative” treatment is not supported by substantial evidence. This not a 13 clear, convincing, and specific reason to reject Plaintiff’s symptom claims. 14 Second, the ALJ noted unremarkable imaging and examinations “suggests [Plaintiff’s] 15 symptoms are not as severe as he alleged at the hearing.” (AR 20-24). In support of this finding, 16 the ALJ cited to the December 2019 and March 2021 MRI imaging showing borderline stenosis 17 at L3-L4, mild disc protrusion at L3-L4 and L5-S1, causing moderate narrowing of the central 18 canal; and June 2019 examination findings of negative straight leg testing, full motor strength, 19 intact reflexes and sensations, and independent gait. (AR 20-22, 640, 800, 839-40). Plaintiff 20 argues the record does not support the ALJ’s finding that objective imaging and physical 21 examinations were “unremarkable”; rather, while not acknowledged in the ALJ decision, 22 objective findings from the relevant adjudicatory period include antalgic gait, limited lumbar 23 range of motion, lumbar tenderness, muscle spasms, reduced strength and sensation in the left 24 lower extremity, radicular symptoms in the left lower extremity, 2021 MRI findings of disc 25 protrusion with moderate narrowing of the central canal, and a December 2019 EMG showing 26 “abnormal findings” that “may be” S1 radiculopathy. (Doc. No. 13 at 13 (citing AR 326, 554, 27 562, 572, 574, 581, 594, 596, 644, 654, 657, 660, 663, 666, 672, 675, 681, 683, 839, 870, 874, 28 877, 879, 881)). The ALJ may not “cherry pick” aspects of the medical record and focus only on 1 those aspects that fail to support a finding of disability. See Ghanim v. Colvin, 763 F.3d 1154, 2 1164 (9th Cir. 2014). Moreover, regardless of whether the ALJ erred in finding Plaintiff’s 3 symptom claims were not corroborated by objective evidence, it is well-settled in the Ninth 4 Circuit that an ALJ may not discredit a claimant’s pain testimony and deny benefits solely 5 because the degree of pain alleged is not supported by objective medical evidence. Rollins v. 6 Massanari, 261 F.3d 853, 857 (9th Cir. 2001) (emphasis added)); Bunnell v. Sullivan, 947 F.2d 7 341, 346-47 (9th Cir. 1991); Fair v. Bowen, 885 F.2d 597, 601 (9th Cir. 1989). As discussed 8 above, the additional reasons given by the ALJ for discounting Plaintiff’s symptom claims were 9 not supported by substantial evidence. Thus, because lack of corroboration by the objective 10 evidence cannot stand alone as a basis for rejecting Plaintiff’s symptom claims, the ALJ’s finding 11 is inadequate. 12 The Court concludes that the ALJ did not provide clear and convincing reasons, supported 13 by substantial evidence, for rejecting Plaintiff’s symptom claims.2 On remand, the ALJ must 14 reconsider Plaintiff’s symptom claims. 15 B. Medical Opinions 16 Plaintiff additionally challenges the ALJ’s evaluation of the medical opinion evidence, 17 including treating physician William Foxley, M.D., treating chiropractor Michael Houston, D.C., 18 and state agency reviewing physician L. Tanaka, M.D. (Doc. No. 13 at 15-23). Because the 19 ALJ’s consideration of the medical opinion evidence is at least partially dependent on a proper 20 evaluation of Plaintiff’s symptom claims, the Court declines to address these challenges in detail 21 here. (See, e.g., AR 25 (noting Dr. Foxley relied on “new subjective complaints” as opposed to 22 “unchanged medical evidence”), 27 (rejecting Dr. Tanaka’s opinion for the same unsupported 23 reasons given to discount Plaintiff’s symptom claims)). 24 The Court is constrained to note that the ALJ found Plaintiff’s representative “only 25 requested Dr. Foxley’s opinion [in November 2020] whether his limits would preclude the 26 2 The ALJ specifically noted that she “did not account for the claimant’s contentions he needs to lay down, 27 elevate his feet or walk with an assistive device, because his statements are not consistent with the record.” (AR 24). These “contentions” should be reconsidered on remand along with all of Plaintiff’s subjective 28 complaints for the reasons discussed supra. 1 claimant from work for a continuous period of six-months or more, rather than addressing the 12- 2 month durational issue involved in the claimant’s current disability claim.” (AR 26, 838). To be 3 found disabled, a claimant must be unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to an 4 impairment which “can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to 5 last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1505; see also 6 Chaudhry v. Astrue, 688 F.3d 661, 672 (9th Cir. 2012). Thus, it appears the Dr. Foxley’s 7 assessed limitations do not meet the Social Security Administration’s duration requirement. See 8 Daniel v. Kijakazi, 2023 WL 5956813, at *8 (Sept. 13, 2023) (“Because the limitation did not 9 meet the twelve-month duration requirement, [any] error in addressing the limitation is 10 nonprejudicial and therefore harmless error.”). Nonetheless, light of the of the need to reconsider 11 Plaintiff’s symptom claims on remand, as discussed in detail above, the ALJ must reevaluate all 12 relevant medical opinion evidence on remand. 13 C. Remedy 14 Plaintiff requests that the Court remand for further administrative proceedings. (Doc. No. 15 13 at 23). The Court finds that further administrative proceedings are appropriate. See Treichler 16 v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 775 F.3d 1090, 1103-04 (9th Cir. 2014) (remand for benefits is 17 not appropriate when further administrative proceedings would serve a useful purpose). Here, the 18 ALJ improperly considered Plaintiff’s symptom claims, which calls into question whether the 19 assessed RFC, and resulting hypothetical propounded to the vocational expert, are supported by 20 substantial evidence. “Where,” as here, “there is conflicting evidence, and not all essential 21 factual issues have been resolved, a remand for an award of benefits is inappropriate.” Treichler, 22 775 F.3d at 1101. On remand, the ALJ should reevaluate Plaintiff’s symptom claims, as well as 23 all relevant medical evidence, including medical opinions. If necessary, the ALJ should order 24 additional consultative examinations and, if appropriate, take additional testimony from medical 25 experts. The ALJ should conduct a new sequential analysis, reassess Plaintiff’s RFC and, if 26 necessary, take additional testimony from a vocational expert which includes all of the limitations 27 credited by the ALJ. 28 //// 1 Accordingly, it is ORDERED: 2 1. Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 13) is GRANTED. 3 2. Defendant’s Cross Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 15) is DENIED. 4 3. Pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C.§ 405(g), the Court REVERSES the 5 Commissioner’s decision and REMANDS this case back to the Commissioner of 6 Social Security for further proceedings consistent with this Order. 7 4. An application for attorney fees may be filed by separate motion within thirty (30) 8 days. 9 5. The Clerk shall enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff, terminate any motions and 10 deadlines, and close this case. 11 | Dated: _ September 25, 2023 Mihaw. □□□ foareh Yack 13 HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA 4 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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