Zamora v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration

471 F. App'x 579

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: March 6, 2012
• Docket: 10-17787
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

MEMORANDUM *

Donna Marcelle Zamora appeals the district court’s affirmance of the administrative law judge’s denial of disability insurance benefits under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. We affirm the finding of Zamora’s residual functional capacity for work.

The ALJ properly determined Zamora’s residual functional capacity. Dr. Teran opined that Zamora could “frequently” lift and carry objects weighing less than ten pounds, could “occasionally” lift objects weighing ten pounds, and could lift up to twenty pounds on rare occasions. She further opined that Zamora was capable of standing or walking for approximately four hours per day. The ALJ’s determination that Zamora was capable of light work with a sit/stand option at will was therefore consistent with Dr. Teran’s medical assessment. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1567(b) (2011).

The ALJ also properly resolved ambiguities in Dr. Kalman’s opinion. See Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 750 (9th Cir.1989). Dr. Kalman opined that Zamora could not perform at a competitive pace but that she was nevertheless capable of following simple job instructions, satisfactorily maintaining her attention for two hours at a time, and sustaining an ordinary routine. These limitations are consistent with the ALJ’s residual functional capacity determination.

Finally, the ALJ did not err in discounting Zamora’s credibility due to her failure to attend either of two scheduled consultative evaluations. See Fair v. Bowen, 885 F.2d 597, 603 (9th Cir.1989).

AFFIRMED.

* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.