(SS) Galvan v. Commissioner of Social Security

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 DARCY MARIE GALVAN, No. 1:23-cv-00169-DAD-SCR 11 Plaintiff, 12 v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 13 MARTIN O’MALLEY, Acting Commissioner of Social Security,1 14 Defendant. 15

16 17 Plaintiff seeks judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security 18 (“Commissioner”), denying her application for disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) under Title 19 II of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 401-34, and supplemental security income (“SSI”) 20 under Title XVI of the Social Security Act (the “Act”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 1381-1383f. For the reasons 21 that follow, the undersigned recommends that Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment be denied 22 and that the Commissioner’s cross-motion for summary judgment be granted. 24 Plaintiff applied for DIB and SSI on January 25, 2019. Administrative Record 25 (“AR”) 297.2 Plaintiff alleged the disability onset date was March 1, 2012. AR 297, 306. The 26 1 Martin O’Malley became the Commissioner of Social Security on December 20, 2023. 27 Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Martin O’Malley is substituted as the defendant in this suit. 28 2 The AR is electronically filed at ECF No. 11-1 and 14-1. 1 applications were disapproved initially (AR 141, 146), and on reconsideration (AR 154, 160). On 2 May 21, 2020, administrative law judge (“ALJ”) Sanya Hill-Maxion presided over a hearing on 3 plaintiff’s challenge to the disapprovals. AR 50-81 (transcript). The hearing was continued to 4 obtain additional evidence. A second hearing was held on August 20, 2020, and a third hearing 5 on August 12, 2021. AR 35-49, 1073-1119 (transcripts). Plaintiff was present and testified at all 6 three hearings. She was represented by an attorney at the hearings. AR 35, 50, 1073. David 7 Peterson, Ph.D., a medical expert, and Jane Colvin-Roberson, a vocational expert, also testified. 8 On February 2, 2022, the ALJ issued an unfavorable decision, finding plaintiff “not 9 disabled” under Sections 216(i), 223(d), and 1614(a)(3)(A) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 10 § 1382c(a)(3)(A). AR 15-29 (decision). On December 12, 2022, the Appeals Council denied 11 plaintiff’s request for review, leaving the ALJ’s decision as the final decision of the 12 Commissioner of Social Security. AR 1-3 (decision). 13 Plaintiff filed this action on February 2, 2023. ECF No. 1. The parties’ cross-motions for 14 summary judgment, based upon the Administrative Record filed by the Commissioner, have been 15 fully briefed. ECF Nos. 15 (Plaintiff’s summary judgment motion), 17 (Commissioner’s 16 summary judgment motion), 19 (Plaintiff’s reply). 18 Plaintiff was born in 1971, and was 47 years old when she filed her application, and 48 19 years old at the time of the first hearing. AR 58. Plaintiff has a high school education and 20 attended two years of junior college. AR 42, 58. She alleged disability based on bipolar disorder. 21 AR 342. Plaintiff stated she had last worked in 2012, and stopped working due to worsening 22 mental health issues. AR 338, 342. In 2012, she was working as a cashier at Lowe’s and testified 23 she quit because she was “having some troubles with other coworkers.” AR 58. 25 The Commissioner’s decision that a claimant is not disabled will be upheld “if it is 26 supported by substantial evidence and if the Commissioner applied the correct legal standards.” 27 Howard ex rel. Wolff v. Barnhart, 341 F.3d 1006, 1011 (9th Cir. 2003). “‘The findings of the 28 Secretary as to any fact, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive . . ..’” Andrews 1 v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 1995) (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 405(g)). 2 Substantial evidence is “more than a mere scintilla,” but “may be less than a 3 preponderance.” Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1111 (9th Cir. 2012). “It means such relevant 4 evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Richardson v. 5 Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971) (internal quotation marks omitted). “While inferences from 6 the record can constitute substantial evidence, only those ‘reasonably drawn from the record’ will 7 suffice.” Widmark v. Barnhart, 454 F.3d 1063, 1066 (9th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted). 8 Although this court cannot substitute its discretion for that of the Commissioner, the court 9 nonetheless must review the record as a whole, “weighing both the evidence that supports and the 10 evidence that detracts from the [Commissioner’s] conclusion.” Desrosiers v. Secretary of HHS, 11 846 F.2d 573, 576 (9th Cir. 1988); Jones v. Heckler, 760 F.2d 993, 995 (9th Cir. 1985) (“The 12 court must consider both evidence that supports and evidence that detracts from the ALJ’s 13 conclusion; it may not affirm simply by isolating a specific quantum of supporting evidence.”). 14 “The ALJ is responsible for determining credibility, resolving conflicts in medical 15 testimony, and resolving ambiguities.” Edlund v. Massanari, 253 F.3d 1152, 1156 (9th 16 Cir. 2001). “Where the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, one of 17 which supports the ALJ’s decision, the ALJ’s conclusion must be upheld.” Thomas v. Barnhart, 18 278 F.3d 947, 954 (9th Cir. 2002). However, the court may review only the reasons stated by the 19 ALJ in his decision “and may not affirm the ALJ on a ground upon which he did not rely.” Orn 20 v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 630 (9th Cir. 2007); Connett v. Barnhart, 340 F.3d 871, 874 (9th Cir. 21 2003) (“It was error for the district court to affirm the ALJ’s credibility decision based on 22 evidence that the ALJ did not discuss.”). 23 The court will not reverse an erroneous decision if the error was harmless. In this context, 24 an error is harmless only when it is “clear from the record that an ALJ’s error was 25 ‘inconsequential to the ultimate nondisability determination.’” Robbins v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 466 26 F.3d 880, 885 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Stout v. Commissioner, 454 F.3d 1050, 1055 (9th Cir. 27 2006)); see also Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2005). 28 2 A claimant is “disabled” if she is “unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by 3 reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to 4 result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less 5 than twelve months.” 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(A); see also Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 140 6 (1987). 7 The Commissioner uses a five-step sequential evaluation process to determine whether an 8 applicant is disabled and entitled to benefits. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4), 416.920(a)(4); 9 Barnhart v. Thomas, 540 U.S. 20, 24-25 (2003) (setting forth the “five-step sequential evaluation 10 process to determine disability” under Title II and Title XVI). The following summarizes the 11 sequential evaluation: 12 Step one: Is the claimant engaging in substantial gainful activity? If so, the claimant is not disabled. If not, proceed to step two. 13 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(i), (b); 416.920(a)(4)(i), (b). 14 Step two: Does the claimant have a “severe” impairment? If so, 15 proceed to step three. If not, the claimant is not disabled. 16 Id., §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), (c); 416.920(a)(4)(ii), (c). 17 Step three: Does the claimant’s impairment or combination of impairments meet or equal an impairment listed in 20 C.F.R., Pt. 404, 18 Subpt. P, App. 1? If so, the claimant is disabled. If not, proceed to step four. 19 Id., §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(iii), (d); 416.920(a)(4)(iii), (d). 20 Step four: Does the claimant’s residual functional capacity make him 21 capable of performing his past work? If so, the claimant is not disabled. If not, proceed to step five. 22 Id., §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(iv), (e), (f); 416.920(a)(4)(iv), (e), (f). 23 Step five: Does the claimant have the residual functional capacity 24 perform any other work? If so, the claimant is not disabled. If not, the claimant is disabled. 25 Id., §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(v), (g); 416.920(a)(4)(v), (g). 26 The claimant bears the burden of proof in the first four steps of the sequential evaluation 27 process. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1512(a), 416.912(a) (“In general, you have to prove to us that you are 28 1 blind or disabled”); Bowen, 482 U.S. at 146 n. 5. However, “[a]t the fifth step of the sequential 2 analysis, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to demonstrate that the claimant is not disabled 3 and can engage in work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy.” Hill v. 4 Astrue, 698 F.3d 1153, 1161 (9th Cir. 2012); Bowen, 482 U.S. at 146 n.5. 5 V. THE ALJ’s DECISION 6 The ALJ made the following findings: 7 1. [Step 1] The claimant has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since March 1, 2012, the alleged onset date (AR 18). 8 2. [Step 2] The claimant has the following severe impairments: 9 bipolar I disorder and bereavement (AR 18). 10 3. [Step 3] The claimant does not have an impairment or combination of impairments that meets or medically equals the severity of one of 11 the listed impairments in 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 (AR 19). 12 4. [Preparation for Step 4] After careful consideration of the entire 13 record, the undersigned finds that the claimant has the residual functional capacity to perform a full range of work at all exertional 14 levels. However, the claimant is able to perform simple and repetitive tasks and have occasional contact with the general public 15 and frequent contact with supervisors and coworkers. (AR 20). 16 5. [Step 4] The claimant is unable to perform any past relevant work. (AR 27). 17 6. [Step 5] The claimant was born [in] 1971 and was 40 years old, 18 which is defined as a “younger individual” on the alleged onset date. (20 CFR §§ 404.1563 and 416.963) (AR 27). 19 7. [Step 5, continued] The claimant has at least a high school 20 education (AR 27). 21 8. [Step 5, continued] Transferability of job skills is not material to the determination of disability because using the Medical-Vocational 22 Rules as a framework supports a finding that the claimant is “not disabled,” whether or not the claimant has transferable job skills (See 23 SSR 82-41 and 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2) (AR 27). 24 9. [Step 5, continued] Considering the claimant’s age, education, work experience, and residual functional capacity, there are jobs that 25 exist in significant numbers in the national economy that the claimant can perform (AR 27). 26 10. The claimant has not been under a disability, as defined in the 27 Social Security Act, from March 1, 2012 through the date of the ALJ’s decision. (AR 28). 28 2 Plaintiff alleges that the ALJ erred by (1) not providing clear and convincing reasons for 3 discounting Plaintiff’s testimony regarding her mental dysfunction; (2) improperly evaluating the 4 medical opinions of consultative examiner psychologist Jacklyn Chandler, Ph.D., psychiatric 5 nurse practitioner Ebele Mbeledogu, and State agency psychiatrist J. Collado, M.D. ECF No. 15 6 at 7-8. 7 A. The ALJ Adequately Supported the Decision to Discount Plaintiff’s Testimony 8 The ALJ discounted Plaintiff’s testimony regarding the intensity, persistence, and limiting 9 effects of her mental dysfunction. Evaluating the credibility of a plaintiff’s subjective testimony 10 is a two-step process: First the ALJ must “determine whether the claimant has presented objective 11 medical evidence of an underlying impairment which could reasonably be expected to produce 12 the pain or other symptoms alleged.... In this analysis, the claimant is not required to show that 13 her impairment could reasonably be expected to cause the severity of the symptom she has 14 alleged; she need only show that it could reasonably have caused some degree of the 15 symptom.” Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1014 (9th Cir. 2014) (internal citations omitted). 16 Objective medical evidence of the asserted pain or fatigue itself is not required. Id. (internal 17 citations omitted). 18 Second, if the ALJ does not find evidence of malingering, the ALJ may only reject the 19 claimant’s testimony by offering “specific, clear and convincing reasons for doing 20 so.” Id. (internal citations omitted). While an ALJ’s credibility finding must be properly 21 supported and sufficiently specific to ensure a reviewing court the ALJ did not “arbitrarily 22 discredit” a claimant’s subjective statements, an ALJ is also not “required to believe every 23 allegation” of disability. Fair v. Bowen, 885 F.2d 597, 603 (9th Cir. 1989). In weighing a 24 claimant’s credibility, an ALJ may consider, among other things, inconsistencies either in the 25 claimant’s testimony or between her testimony and her conduct, claimant’s daily activities, her 26 work record, and testimony from physicians and third parties concerning the nature, severity, and 27 effect of the symptoms of which claimant complains. Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 958-59 28 (9th Cir. 2002). “If the ALJ’s credibility finding is supported by substantial evidence in the 1 record, [the court] may not engage in second-guessing.” Id. at 959. 2 Plaintiff testified that she was unable to work due to depressive episodes and insomnia. 3 AR 61. She described having trouble concentrating and poor memory. AR 62. She stated that 4 sometimes her depression caused her to isolate from other people. AR 63. At the first hearing, 5 she testified she stopped working because she “was having some troubles with other coworkers.” 6 AR 58. At her second hearing, she stated she stopped working because she was “having trouble 7 with bipolar.” AR 43. She testified that her condition “ebbs and flows” and that she would miss 8 too much time at work to resume employment. AR 1080. Plaintiff testified that she believed her 9 condition had gotten worse after her partner died in November 2016. AR 65. At the third hearing 10 in August 2021, she stated that the past year had been “really terrible” because her mother had 11 died and she had attempted suicide. AR 1083. 12 The ALJ considered and summarized Plaintiff’s testimony. AR 21. The ALJ found that 13 plaintiff’s medical impairments “could reasonably be expected to cause the alleged symptoms; 14 however, the plaintiff’s statements concerning the intensity, persistence, and limiting effects of 15 these symptoms are not entirely consistent with the medical evidence and other evidence in the 16 record for the reasons explained in this decision.” AR 26. The ALJ gave at least three adequate 17 reasons for discounting Plaintiff’s testimony. 18 First, the ALJ discounted Plaintiff’s subjective testimony because it was inconsistent with 19 the objective medical evidence. AR 21 (“the objective findings in this case fail to provide strong 20 support for the claimant’s allegations of disabling symptoms and limitations.”). An ALJ must 21 consider the objective medical evidence along with other evidence when evaluating the reliability 22 of symptom testimony. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529(c)(4), 416.929(c)(4); see also Smartt v. Kijakazi, 23 53 F.4th 489, 498 (9th Cir. 2022) (“When objective medical evidence in the record is inconsistent 24 with the claimant’s subjective testimony, the ALJ may indeed weigh it as undercutting such 25 testimony.”) (emphasis in original). In this case, mental status examinations frequently revealed 26 objective findings that were within normal limits. For example, Plaintiff testified to difficulties 27 with concentration and poor memory, but the ALJ cited to several findings in the medical record 28 where concentration was good and memory intact. AR 22, citing 506, 522, 524, 526, 528-29. 1 These records cited by the ALJ are from 2019 and 2020 and indicate Plaintiff was doing well. 2 AR 506 (medication “effective in controlling her symptoms” and “can function well now”); 522 3 (“anxiety under control and she has good mental function”); 526 (Plaintiff is “doing well,” denies 4 anxiety, mood swings, and suicidal ideation, is helping mother with cooking, laundry, and 5 driving); 528 (Plaintiff is “doing well,” and “mental function is good,” she “denies anxiety, 6 depression”). The ALJ reasonably concluded that Plaintiff’s alleged symptoms were somewhat 7 inconsistent with the objective medical evidence. 8 Second, the ALJ found that Plaintiff’s symptoms were often well controlled with 9 medication. AR 21-24. The ALJ noted that in 2012 Plaintiff reported “doing fine and well with 10 medication.” AR 22 citing 446-47. The ALJ found that “[i]n 2019 and 2020, treatment notes 11 stated that the claimant’s medication was effective in controlling her symptoms including her 12 anxiety and stabilizing her mood.” AR 22 citing 506, 522, 524, 530. The ALJ also observed that 13 the consultative examiner Dr. Chandler found that “claimant’s psychiatric symptoms appeared to 14 be mostly controlled by medication.” AR 24. The effectiveness of medication is relevant to the 15 evaluation of a claimant’s symptom testimony. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529(c)(3)(iv); 16 416.929(c)(3)(iv). An ALJ may reject a claimant’s allegations based on “evidence suggesting 17 that [the claimant] responded well to treatment” for the mental impairment(s) at issue. Crane v. 18 Shalala, 76 F.3d 251, 254 (9th Cir. 1996). Impairments that can be effectively controlled with 19 medication are not disabling for the purpose of determining eligibility for Social Security 20 benefits. Warre v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 439 F.3d 1001, 1006 (9th Cir. 2006). 21 The ALJ also recognized and discussed times when Plaintiff was hospitalized, such as 22 July 2020, when she presented “with a great amount of stress, exhaustion, and depressive 23 symptoms.” AR 22. Plaintiff’s mother had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Id. 24 Plaintiff returned to the hospital the next month reporting suicidal ideation after her mother 25 passed away. AR 22, citing 818. The ALJ noted that after discharge from the hospital in August 26 2020, Plaintiff was no longer feeling suicidal, her mental status examination was generally 27 normal, and she was doing better and coping well. AR 23, citing 1008 (Plaintiff reports “doing 28 better and coping well”). 1 The ALJ also discussed Plaintiff’s hospitalization in January/February 2021. AR 23. The 2 ALJ found that after the hospitalization in February 2021, Plaintiff “repeatedly reported not 3 experiencing symptoms and feeling good.” AR 24, citing 838, 840, 850, 884. Records support 4 the ALJ’s conclusion. In April 2021, Plaintiff reported she was “feeling great about life,” and 5 that her medications continued to work. AR 884. She further stated that grief counseling had 6 been helpful and although she still experienced depression, she was able to maintain her activities 7 of daily living independently. AR 884. In May 2021, Plaintiff reported that she was not feeling 8 depressed and that she was managing her mental health by keeping herself busy and improving 9 her social functioning. AR 850. She was encouraged by her provider “to continue utilizing 10 healthy coping skills such as walking her dogs and doing arts and crafts.” AR 850. At a June 17, 11 2021 visit, Plaintiff presented as “cheerful” and was “friendly and cooperative.” AR 840. 12 Plaintiff again reported that engaging in social activities made her feel better. AR 840 (“The 13 client expressed that engaging in social activities such as going to the zoo and fruit picking at a 14 farm with peers has helped her not feel depress.”). 15 The waxing and waning of symptoms is a feature of bipolar disorder. Attmore v. Colvin, 16 827 F.3d 872, 878 (9th Cir. 2016). And while isolated incidents of improvement are not 17 sufficient on their own to show overall symptom reduction or effacy of medication, here the 18 record reflects that the ALJ reasonably concluded that the broader context reflected symptom 19 improvement with medication. See Attmore, 827 F.3d at 877 (stating an ALJ may not “pick out a 20 few isolated instances of improvement,” but may choose examples indicative of a “broader 21 development”). The ALJ reasonably considered this body of evidence as a whole, including both 22 Plaintiff’s hospitalizations and the numerous reports spanning several years which indicated 23 Plaintiff’s symptoms were well controlled with medication, when discounting Plaintiff’s 24 allegations of debilitating mental health symptoms. 25 Third, the ALJ found that Plaintiff’s activities of daily living were “not limited to the 26 extent one would expect, given her complaints of disabling symptoms.” AR 21. The ALJ noted 27 that Plaintiff was able to “navigate public transportation, drive a car, dress and groom herself, 28 shop in stores, maintain a friendship, and do simple household chores such as washing dishes, 1 doing laundry, and preparing meals.” AR 21. An ALJ may discount a claimant’s subjective 2 symptom testimony when the limitations described are inconsistent with a claimant’s activities of 3 daily living. See Ahearn v. Saul, 988 F.3d 1111, 1117 (9th Cir. 2021) (finding that claimant’s 4 daily activities which included playing video games, watching TV, using library computer, using 5 public transport, shopping, preparing meals, and socializing constituted substantial evidence to 6 support the ALJ’s decision). Here, substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s decision. Plaintiff 7 reported to Dr. Chandler in 2019 that she was able to complete such daily activities. AR 491. In 8 September 2020, Plaintiff reported her mental function as good and that she was going to a 9 friend’s house on weekdays, Monday through Friday, to help her friend with children’s virtual 10 learning. AR 1002. She reported she was recently in contact with her brother, and living with her 11 sister. Id. The ALJ could reasonably find such activities inconsistent with Plaintiff’s allegations 12 of disabling symptoms. 13 For the reasons described above, the court finds that the ALJ did not err in discounting 14 plaintiff’s testimony because she provided specific, clear, and convincing reasons for doing so. 15 B. The ALJ Did Not Commit Reversible Error in Assessing the Medical Opinions 16 Plaintiff asserts that the ALJ did not properly evaluate the medical opinion of examining 17 Dr. Chandler, the opinion of treating nurse practitioner (NP) Mbeledogu, or of non-examining 18 State agency psychiatrist J. Collado, M.D. ECF No. 15 at 15-22. With respect to medical 19 opinions, new regulations apply to claims filed on or after March 27, 2017, which changed the 20 framework for evaluation of medical opinion evidence. Revisions to Rules Regarding the 21 Evaluation of Medical Evidence, 2017 WL 168819, 82 Fed. Reg. 5844-01 (Jan. 18, 2017); 20 22 C.F.R. § 404.1520c. The new regulations provide that the ALJ will no longer “give any specific 23 evidentiary weight ... to any medical opinion(s)” but instead must consider and evaluate the 24 persuasiveness of all medical opinions or prior administrative medical findings from medical 25 sources and evaluate their persuasiveness. Revisions to Rules, 2017 WL 168819, 82 Fed. Reg. 26 5844, at 5867-68; see 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520c(a) and (b), 416.920c(a) and (b); see also Woods v. 27 Kijakazi, 32 F.4th 785, 787 (9th Cir. 2022) (“For claims subject to the new regulations, the former 28 hierarchy of medical opinions—in which we assign presumptive weight based on the extent of the 1 doctor’s relationship with the claimant—no longer applies. Now an ALJ’s decision, including the 2 decision to discredit any medical opinion, must simply be supported by substantial evidence.”). 3 The factors for evaluating the persuasiveness of a physician opinion include 4 supportability, consistency, relationship with the claimant (including length of the treatment, 5 frequency of examinations, purpose of the treatment, extent of the treatment, and the existence of 6 an examination), specialization, and “other factors that tend to support or contradict 7 a medical opinion or prior administrative medical finding” (including, but not limited to, 8 “evidence showing a medical source has familiarity with the other evidence in the claim or an 9 understanding of our disability program’s policies and evidentiary requirements”). 20 C.F.R. §§ 10 404.1520c(c)(1)-(5), 416.920c(c)(1)-(5). Supportability and consistency are the most important 11 factors, and therefore the ALJ is required to explain how both factors were considered. 20 C.F.R. 12 §§ 404.1520c(b)(2), 416.920c(b)(2). 13 The Ninth Circuit has confirmed that the new regulatory framework eliminates the 14 “treating physician rule” and displaces the longstanding case law requiring an ALJ to provide 15 “specific and legitimate” or “clear and convincing” reasons for rejecting a treating or examining 16 doctor’s opinion. Woods, 32 F.4th at 792. Still, in rejecting any medical opinion as unsupported 17 or inconsistent, an ALJ must provide an explanation supported by substantial evidence. Id. In 18 sum, the ALJ “must ‘articulate ... how persuasive’ [he or she] finds ‘all of the medical opinions’ 19 from each doctor or other source ... and ‘explain how [he or she] considered the supportability 20 and consistency factors’ in reaching these findings.” Id. (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520c(b), 21 404.1520(b)(2)). 22 1. Consultative examiner Jacklyn Chandler, Ph.D 23 Dr. Chandler examined Plaintiff in April 2019, and opined that “based on reported 24 psychiatric history” she may have moderate to marked impairment in interacting with the public, 25 supervisors, and coworkers. AR 492. Dr. Chandler also opined: “At present, the claimant’s 26 psychiatric symptoms appear to be mostly controlled by medication.” AR 492. The ALJ 27 discussed Dr. Chandler’s examination findings in detail. AR 24. Dr. Chandler noted that 28 Plaintiff was currently taking medication for her mental health condition and it “was helpful in 1 reducing her symptoms.” AR 491. Plaintiff reported to Dr. Chandler that she was able to dress 2 and groom herself; take public transport and drive; perform household chores; prepare simple 3 meals; and go grocery shopping alone. AR 491. On mental status examination she was 4 cooperative, alert, and fully oriented. AR 491. Her intelligence was intact, concentration good, 5 and thought process and content was linear and logical. AR 491-2. Although Dr. Chandler 6 reported her concentration was “good” and attention “fair,” she also stated that Plaintiff had “mild 7 difficulty maintaining attention and concentration,” and that based on her reported psychiatric 8 history Plaintiff’s “ability to interact with the public, supervisors, and coworkers is likely to be 9 moderately to markedly impaired.” AR 491-92. 10 The ALJ found Dr. Chandler’s opinion to be partially persuasive. AR 26. The ALJ found 11 the opinion was supported by the report of examination, but it was also inconsistent with other 12 evidence of record, including the testimony, statements, and opinion of medical expert Dr. 13 Peterson. AR 26. 14 Dr. Peterson testified as a medical expert in the hearings before the ALJ. AR 35, 50, 15 1073. Dr. Peterson also completed a medical interrogatory in which he opined that Plaintiff 16 would have mild limitations in understanding, remembering, and applying information and in 17 concentrating, persisting, and maintain pace. AR 834. He also opined Plaintiff would have 18 moderate limitations in interacting with others and adapting or managing oneself. AR 834. Dr. 19 Peterson’s response to the interrogatory identified numerous mental status examinations (“MSE”) 20 of Plaintiff in the record with many findings that were within normal limits (“WNL”). AR 830- 21 31, see for example 396, 401, 406, 491-92, 506, 522, 524. The ALJ found Dr. Peterson’s opinion 22 persuasive. AR 25. The ALJ found it was supported by his testimony and notes upon review of 23 Plaintiff’s longitudinal medical history, and consistent with the evidence, including mental status 24 examinations. AR 25. 25 The ALJ reasonably found Dr. Chandler’s opinion to be partially persuasive. 26 2. Nurse Practitioner Ebele Mbeledogu 27 NP Mbeledogu was a treating provider for Plaintiff. She completed a one-page medical 28 source statement in November 2019, and noted that Plaintiff can become overwhelmed when 1 completing simple or complex tasks causing difficulties concentrating and paying attention. AR 2 520. She opined that Plaintiff had difficulty engaging with coworkers and the public, and that her 3 depression can cause her to isolate and miss work. AR 520. NP Mbeledogu believed Plaintiff 4 may miss 10 days of work per month due to her symptoms. AR 520. 5 The ALJ found this opinion was not persuasive. AR 26. The ALJ found that the opinion 6 was not supported by NP Mbeledogu’s own treatment notes, and it was inconsistent with the 7 opinion of Dr. Peterson. AR 26. The ALJ’s conclusion that the opinion was not supported by NP 8 Mbeledogu’s treatment notes is supported by substantial evidence. For example, NP 9 Mbeledogu’s note from a visit on April 21, 2021 states that Plaintiff “reports good appetite and 10 sleep. She reports good mental health. She states that her medications are effectively controlling 11 her symptoms at the current dose. She denies delusion, hallucination, SI, HI, depression, anxiety, 12 or mood swings.” AR 872. At a visit in November 2020, Plaintiff stated she “currently has no 13 concern” and denied depression or anxiety. AR 988. In September 2020, Plaintiff reported to NP 14 Mbeledogu that her medication was effectively controlling her symptoms. AR 1002. Plaintiff 15 reported her sleep and appetite were good, she had recently been in contact with her siblings, and 16 she was going to a friend’s house Monday through Friday to assist with virtual learning. AR 17 1002. Similarly, when NP Mbeledogu saw Plaintiff in December 2018, she noted she was 18 “responding positively” to medication, her sleep was good, her attention, concentration, insight, 19 and judgment were all good. AR 396. In March 2019, NP Mbeledogu wrote that Plaintiff’s 20 medication was effective in controlling her symptoms and she “can function well now.” AR 506. 21 She reported sleeping well, and less anxiety. AR 506. 22 The ALJ reasonably found NP Mbeledogu’s opinion to be not persuasive as the 23 limitations described were not supported by her own treatment notes. 24 3. State agency psychiatrist J. Collado, M.D. 25 Dr. Collado found that there was insufficient evidence prior to Plaintiff’s date last insured 26 (September 30, 2012) to make an assessment, but that Plaintiff was in 2019 able to sustain one to 27 two step instructions with limited contact with others. AR 88, 103. 28 The ALJ found this opinion to be partially persuasive. AR 26. The ALJ found there was 1 sufficient evidence to make a disability decision and that the evidence including the opinion of 2 Dr. Peterson was “most consistent with a finding that the claimant is able to perform simple and 3 repetitive tasks and have occasional contact with general public and frequent contact with 4 supervisors and coworkers.” AR 26. 5 The ALJ also cited to the prior administrative medical finding of State agency 6 psychological consultant, E. Murrillo, M.D., who found that Plaintiff could perform simple and 7 less complex tasks, can perform unskilled and semiskilled work only, cannot perform detailed or 8 skilled tasks, and can interact appropriately with others. AR 26 citing 112-137. The ALJ 9 explained that based upon the opinion of Dr. Peterson, the appropriate limitation for Plaintiff was 10 to simple and repetitive tasks, occasional contact with the general public, and frequent contact 11 with supervisors and coworkers. The ALJ is responsible for translating and incorporating clinical 12 findings into a succinct residual functional capacity. See Rounds v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 807 13 F.3d 996, 1006 (9th Cir. 2015). The ALJ reasonably evaluated the medical opinion evidence and 14 explained her findings. The ALJ’s decision is supported by substantial evidence. 16 Plaintiff alleged disability beginning in 2012. The record does not support that she was 17 disabled prior to her date last insured of September 30, 2012, and thus her DIB claim fails. 18 Plaintiff had the burden to prove disability. See Parra v. Astrue, 481 F.3d 742, 746 (9th Cir. 19 2007) (“The claimant bears the burden of proving steps one through four, consistent with the 20 general rule that at all times, the burden is on the claimant to establish entitlement to disability 21 insurance benefits.”) (cleaned up). In an attempt to meet that burden, Plaintiff relies more heavily 22 on incidences of hospitalization in 2020 and 2021. ECF No. 15 at 2. However, as set forth 23 above, evidence in that same time period showed that Plaintiff’s symptoms were often well 24 controlled with medication. Evidence of Plaintiff’s improvement with medication, Dr. Peterson’s 25 testimony and medical interrogatory, and Plaintiff’s numerous mental status examinations which 26 showed largely normal findings constitute substantial evidence supporting the ALJ’s non- 27 disability finding. Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above: 28 IT IS HEREBY RECOMENDED that plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 15) 1 || be DENIED, that the Commissioner’s cross-motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 17) be 2 | GRANTED, and that judgment be entered in favor of the Commissioner and the case closed. 3 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 4 | assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen days 5 || after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 6 || objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. /d.; see also Local Rule 304(b). Such a 7 || document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and 8 | Recommendations.” Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to 9 || appeal the District Court’s order. Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez 10 | v. Yist, 951 F.2d 1153, 1156-57 (9th Cir. 1991). 1] 12 | DATED: September 5, 2024 kmh 14 SEAN C. RIORDAN 15 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 15