(SS) Guzman v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 1:2021cv01039 - Document 23 (E.D. Cal. 2023)
Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS Regarding Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment signed by Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe on 07/28/2023. Referred to Judge Thurston; Objections to F&R due within Fourteen-Days. (Flores, E)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 PORFIRIO LEON GUZMAN, 12 Case No. 1:21-cv-01039-JLT-BAM Plaintiff, 13 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT v. 14 KILOKO KIJAKAZI, Acting Commissioner of Social Security,1 15 Defendant. 16 (Docs. 20, 22) FOURTEEN-DAY DEADLINE 17 18 19 INTRODUCTION Plaintiff Porfirio Leon Guzman (“Plaintiff”) seeks judicial review of a final decision of the 20 21 Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner”) denying his application for supplemental security 22 income under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. The matter is currently before the Court on 23 Plaintiff’s motion for summary and the parties’ briefs, which were submitted, without oral argument, 24 to Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe, for issuance of findings and recommendations. 25 26 27 28 1 Kilolo Kijakazi became the Acting Commissioner of Social Security on July 9, 2021. Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Kilolo Kijakazi is substituted for Andrew Saul as the defendant in this suit. 1 1 Having considered the briefing and record in this matter, the Court finds that the decision of 2 the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) is supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole 3 and based upon proper legal standards. Accordingly, this Court will recommend denying Plaintiff’s 4 motion for summary judgment, denying his appeal, and affirming the agency’s determination to deny 5 benefits. 6 FACTS AND PRIOR PROCEEDINGS 7 Plaintiff protectively filed an application for supplemental security income on August 14, 8 2017. AR 26, 322-27.2 Plaintiff alleged that he became disabled on February 7, 2004, due to 9 neuralgia, migraines, depression and anxiety, and cervical and facial pain. AR 349. Plaintiff’s 10 applications were denied initially and on reconsideration. AR 229-33, 238-42. Subsequently, Plaintiff 11 requested a hearing before an ALJ. Following a hearing, ALJ Rebecca LaRiccia issued an 12 unfavorable decision on April 8, 2020. AR 20-36, 41-48. Thereafter, Plaintiff sought review of the 13 decision, which the Appeals Counsel denied, making the ALJ’s decision the Commissioner’s final 14 decision. AR 6-8. This appeal followed. 15 Hearing Testimony 16 On March 3, 2020, ALJ LaRiccia held a telephonic hearing. Plaintiff did not appear, but was 17 represented by attorney, Melissa Proudian. Robin Cook, an impartial vocational expert, also appeared. 18 AR 43, 45. 19 The ALJ elicited testimony from the VE regarding hypothetical questions. For the first 20 hypothetical, the ALJ asked the VE to assume a hypothetical individual of Plaintiff’s age, with a high 21 school education, and no past relevant work experience. This individual could perform work at the 22 medium range of physical exertion. He could lift and/or carry 50 pounds occasionally, 25 pounds 23 frequently, could stand and/or walk six hours, could sit six hours in an eight-hour workday, could not 24 engage in constant flexion of the neck, and must avoid concentrated exposure to fumes, odors, dust, 25 gases, poor ventilation, and perfumes. This individual could understand, remember, and carry out 26 27 References to the Administrative Record will be designated as “AR,” followed by the appropriate page number. 2 28 2 1 simple instructions that could be learned in 30 days or less through demonstration and could maintain 2 concentration, persistence, and pace through those simple instructions for two-hour intervals, after 3 which he would need a ten-minute break that could be accommodated by normal morning, afternoon, 4 and lunch breaks. The VE testified that such an individual could perform work in the national 5 economy, such as kitchen helper, dining room attendant, and cook helper. AR 45-46. If this 6 individual was occasionally off task up to one-third of the workday, then there would not be any 7 competitive work available in the national economy. The VE testified that once an employee reaches 8 approximately 15% off task, this becomes intolerable to employers. AR 46-47. 9 10 In response to questions from Plaintiff’s attorney, the VE testified that an absenteeism rate of three days or more per month would be sufficient to preclude all employment. AR 47. 11 Medical Record 12 The relevant medical record was reviewed by the Court and will be referenced below as 13 necessary to this Court’s decision. 14 The ALJ’s Decision 15 Using the Social Security Administration’s five-step sequential evaluation process, the ALJ 16 determined that Plaintiff was not disabled under the Social Security Act. AR 26-36. Specifically, the 17 ALJ found that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since August 14, 2017, the 18 application date. AR 29. The ALJ identified the following severe impairments: degenerative disc 19 disease, migraines, depression, and anxiety. AR 29. The ALJ determined that Plaintiff did not have 20 an impairment or combination of impairments that met or medically equaled any of the listed 21 impairments. AR 30-31. 22 Based on a review of the entire record, the ALJ found that Plaintiff retained the residual 23 functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform medium work, except that that he could lift and carry 50 24 pounds occasionally and 25 pounds frequently, could stand and walk about six hours, and could sit 25 about six hours in an 8-hour workday. He could not engage in constant flexion of the neck and must 26 avoid concentrated exposure to fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poorly ventilated areas, and perfumes. He 27 could understand, remember, and carry out simple instructions that could be learned in 30 days or less 28 through demonstration and could maintain concentration, persistence, and pace to those simple 3 1 instructions for two-hour intervals after which he would require a 10-minute break that could be 2 accommodated by normal morning, afternoon, and lunch breaks. AR 31-35. The ALJ found that 3 Plaintiff did not have any past relevant work, but with this RFC there were jobs in the national 4 economy that he could perform, such as kitchen helper, dining room attendant, and cook helper. AR 5 35-36. The ALJ therefore concluded that Plaintiff had not been under a disability since August 14, 6 2017, the date the application was filed. AR 36. 7 SCOPE OF REVIEW 8 Congress has provided a limited scope of judicial review of the Commissioner’s decision to 9 deny benefits under the Act. In reviewing findings of fact with respect to such determinations, this 10 Court must determine whether the decision of the Commissioner is supported by substantial evidence. 11 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Substantial evidence means “more than a mere scintilla,” Richardson v. Perales, 12 402 U.S. 389, 402 (1971), but less than a preponderance. Sorenson v. Weinberger, 514 F.2d 1112, 13 1119, n. 10 (9th Cir. 1975). It is “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as 14 adequate to support a conclusion.” Richardson, 402 U.S. at 401. The record as a whole must be 15 considered, weighing both the evidence that supports and the evidence that detracts from the 16 Commissioner’s conclusion. Jones v. Heckler, 760 F.2d 993, 995 (9th Cir. 1985). In weighing the 17 evidence and making findings, the Commissioner must apply the proper legal standards. E.g., 18 Burkhart v. Bowen, 856 F.2d 1335, 1338 (9th Cir. 1988). This Court must uphold the Commissioner’s 19 determination that the claimant is not disabled if the Commissioner applied the proper legal standards, 20 and if the Commissioner’s findings are supported by substantial evidence. See Sanchez v. Sec’y of 21 Health and Human Servs., 812 F.2d 509, 510 (9th Cir. 1987). 22 REVIEW 23 In order to qualify for benefits, a claimant must establish that he or she is unable to engage in 24 substantial gainful activity due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which has 25 lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. 42 U.S.C. § 26 1382c(a)(3)(A). A claimant must show that he or she has a physical or mental impairment of such 27 severity that he or she is not only unable to do his or her previous work, but cannot, considering his or 28 her age, education, and work experience, engage in any other kind of substantial gainful work which 4 1 exists in the national economy. Quang Van Han v. Bowen, 882 F.2d 1453, 1456 (9th Cir. 1989). The 2 burden is on the claimant to establish disability. Terry v. Sullivan, 903 F.2d 1273, 1275 (9th Cir. 3 1990). DISCUSSION3 4 Plaintiff first asserts that ALJ did not properly evaluate the medical evidence in developing the 5 6 RFC. Plaintiff also asserts that the ALJ erred by failing to provide clear and convincing reasons for 7 rejecting Plaintiff’s subjective complaints. 8 A. RFC 9 Plaintiff contends that in developing Plaintiff’s RFC, the ALJ ignored substantial evidence, 10 failed to resolve material inconsistencies regarding Plaintiff’s physical strength, and failed to include 11 restrictions regarding Plaintiff’s capacity to appropriately interact with coworkers, peers, and the 12 general public. (Doc. 20 at p. 10.) An RFC “is the most [one] can still do despite [his or her] limitations” and it is “based on all 13 14 the relevant evidence in [one’s] case record,” rather than a single medical opinion or piece of 15 evidence. 20 C.F.R. § 416.945(a)(1) (“We will assess your residual functional capacity based on all of 16 the relevant medical in your case record.”). Indeed, “[t]he RFC need not mirror a particular opinion; it 17 is an assessment formulated by the ALJ based on all relevant evidence.” Ashlock v. Kijakazi, No. 18 1:21-CV-01687-GSA, 2022 WL 2307594, at *3 (E.D. Cal. June 27, 2022). “In making the RFC 19 determination, the ALJ considers those limitations for which there is record support that does not 20 depend on properly rejected evidence and subjective complaints.” Karl v. Kijakazi, No. 1:21-cv- 21 01576-SKO, 2023 WL 3794334, at *4 (E.D. Cal. June 1, 2023) (citing Batson v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 22 359 F.3d 1190, 1197 (9th Cir. 2004)). A reviewing court “will affirm the ALJ’s determination of [a 23 claimant’s] RFC if the ALJ applied the proper legal standard and [the] decision is supported by 24 substantial evidence.” Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1217 (9th Cir. 2005). 25 /// 26 27 28 3 The parties are advised that this Court has carefully reviewed and considered all of the briefs, including arguments, points and authorities, declarations, and/or exhibits. Any omission of a reference to any specific argument or brief is not to be construed that the Court did not consider the argument or brief. 5 1 Physical RFC 2 Plaintiff argues that the ALJ ignored or mischaracterized evidence regarding Plaintiff’s 3 severely diminished grip strength when developing the RFC and correspondingly failed to account for 4 any limitations in the ability to finger, grasp, and handle. (Doc. 20 at p. 10.) 5 To support this argument, Plaintiff first asserts that with respect to a consultative examination 6 on November 14, 2017, the ALJ falsely stated that Plaintiff had full strength in all extremities. 7 Plaintiff claims that the exam instead revealed severely diminished grip strength. (Id.) According to 8 the record, Dr. Rustom F. Damania completed a consultative examination on November 14, 2017. AR 9 521-25. Plaintiff’s grip strength with the use of Jamar Hand Dynamometer tested as follows: Right = 10 0, 0, 0 and Left = 5, 5, 0. AR 523. On physical examination, Plaintiff’s “[m]otor strength was 5/5 in 11 all extremities with good tone bilaterally with good active range of motion.” AR 524. Based on the 12 objective clinical findings, Dr. Damania opined that Plaintiff’s standing and walking capacity was 6 13 hours and his maximum sitting capacity was 6 hours. Plaintiff did not need an assistive device for 14 ambulation, and he could lift and carry 50 pounds occasionally and 25 pounds frequently. He did not 15 have any postural or manipulative limitations. He also did not have any visual, communicative, or 16 workplace environmental impairments. AR 525. In summarizing Dr. Damania’s opinion, the ALJ 17 indicated that on examination Plaintiff “had full strength in all tested extremities.” AR 33. The Court 18 finds this characterization by the ALJ consistent with Dr. Damania’s clinical finding of 5/5 motor 19 strength “in all extremities.” AR 524. Although Plaintiff faults the ALJ for failing to address the grip 20 strength findings, the ALJ found Dr. Damania’s evaluation and opinion persuasive, and that opinion 21 did not identify any handling, grasping, or fingering limitations resulting from the grip strength 22 testing. AR 34, 525. Plaintiff has not adequately challenged the ALJ’s evaluation of the 23 persuasiveness of the consultative examiner’s opinion. 24 Likewise, the ALJ found persuasive the prior administrative findings of the State agency 25 medical consultants, L. Bobba, M.D. and L. Ocrant. AR 34. Dr. Bobba and Dr. Ocrant both 26 considered Dr. Damania’s examination results and they also did not identify any handling or fingering 27 limitations based on Dr. Damania’s grip strength testing. AR 164, 167-69, 219-20. Of particular 28 relevance here, on reconsideration, Dr. Ocrant expressly considered and rejected the grip strength 6 1 findings, commenting: “Clearly the clt is exaggerating at the CE and giving poor effort. Witness the 2 grip strengths despite no atrophy or neurological deficits.” AR 220. Plaintiff has not challenged the 3 ALJ’s evaluation of the persuasiveness of the prior administrative findings, nor does Plaintiff mention 4 Dr. Ocrant’s determination relative to Dr. Damania’s grip strength testing results. 5 Plaintiff next asserts that the ALJ failed to account for a later examination in April 2019 that 6 reportedly was consistent with a loss of grip strength in the hands. (Doc. 20 at p. 10, citing AR 627.) 7 However, that examination identified an instance of decreased strength in the left upper extremity, not 8 grip strength. AR 627 (“Decreased strength on LUE--+3/5”). Here, the ALJ determined that exertional imitations beyond the medium level would not be 9 10 consistent with examination findings demonstrating the claimant to generally have normal strength. 11 AR 34, citing AR 474 (“Normal ROM, normal strength”), 524 (5/5 motor strength in all extremities), 12 543 (“normal strength”). As the ALJ correctly determined, Plaintiff’s treatment records generally 13 reflected normal strength and did not consistently document any ongoing decreased grip strength (or 14 even decreased extremity strength) findings on examination. See, e.g., AR 441-42, 474, 495, 499, 15 536, 542-43, 615, 619-20, 623, 631, 635-36, 639-40, 644, 650-51. 16 Based on the above, the Court finds that substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s RFC 17 determination relative to any grip strength restrictions or limitations in the ability to finger, grasp, and 18 handle. 19 Mental RFC 20 Plaintiff next argues that the ALJ erred in assessing mental health limitations and “failed to 21 account for significant restrictions in Plaintiff’s ability to interact socially.” (Doc. 20 at p. 11.) 22 Plaintiff contends that there is substantial evidence to support that he is unable to sustain socially 23 appropriate behavior. As examples, Plaintiff cites his reports to treatment providers that he had no 24 friends, and that he felt oppressed and like killing or harming someone. (Id. at p. 12, citing AR 504, 25 506.) Plaintiff also cites treatment notes indicating he struggled to maintain relationships and his 26 depression and anxiety were aggravated by social situations. (Id., citing AR 548, 643.) Based on this 27 evidence, Plaintiff complains that the ALJ failed to assess corresponding work-related restrictions in 28 the mental RFC and claims that the ALJ “relied almost exclusively on the fact that [Plaintiff] could 7 1 maintain eye contact to support her position that Plaintiff was not limited in this domain.” (Id.) The 2 Court disagrees. 3 While it is true that the ALJ noted Plaintiff’s “treatment records lack indications that the 4 claimant lacked proper eye contact or experienced much irritability during his appointments,” this was 5 not the sole basis for excluding any social interaction limitations from the RFC. AR 30. Rather, in 6 evaluating Plaintiff’s mental RFC, the ALJ found persuasive the prior administrative findings of the 7 State agency psychological consultants, Tawnya Brode, Psy.D, and Michael D’Adamo, Ph.D. AR 34, 8 169-170, 221-22.) These physicians both indicated that Plaintiff did not have social interaction 9 limitations, and explained, as to socialization specifically, that Plaintiff had sufficient ability to 10 maintain appropriate behavior in a context of ordinary social demands and public contact and was 11 capable of accepting instructions and responding appropriately to feedback from supervisors. AR 170, 12 222. Further, these physicians identified moderate limitations only in (1) the ability to carry out 13 detailed instructions, (2) the ability to maintain attention and concentration for extended periods; and 14 (3) in the ability to complete a normal workday and workweek without interruptions from 15 psychologically based symptoms and to perform at a consistent pace without an unreasonable number 16 and length of rest periods. AR 169-70, 221. The ALJ determined that “both physician’s findings that 17 the claimant does not experience moderate or greater impairments in other areas of mental 18 functioning, are consistent with the generally benign nature of the claimant’s mental status 19 examinations.” AR 34, citing AR 495 (normal psychiatric findings; appropriate mood and affect), 499 20 (normal psychiatric findings; appropriate mood and affect; normal insight and judgment); 506 21 (behavior within cultural norms, engaging, cooperative, intrusive; cooperative with examiner), 515 22 (cooperative, normal thought contents, insight, and judgment), 517, 519, 551, 553, 556, 558, 560, 562, 23 564, 573 (behavior within cultural norms, cooperative, intrusive; cooperative with examiner, 24 dominating, engaging), 579, 651. Plaintiff has not challenged the ALJ’s evaluation of the prior 25 administrative findings nor the generally benign nature of Plaintiff’s mental status examinations. 26 The ALJ further determined that Plaintiff’s allegations of disabling psychiatric limitations were 27 not consistent with Plaintiff’s remarks that his anxiety improved with treatment (AR 33, citing AR 28 C13F [AR 613-53]). Consistent with this determination, the ALJ also found that Dr. Brode supported 8 1 her prior administrative findings by explaining that Plaintiff continued to find medical benefit for 2 anxiety. AR 34, 183. “[E]vidence of medical treatment successfully relieving symptoms can 3 undermine a claim of disability.” Wellington v. Berryhill, 878 F.3d 867, 876 (9th Cir. 2017); see also 4 Warre v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 439 F.3d 1001, 1006 (9th Cir. 2006) (“Impairments that can be 5 effectively controlled with medication are not disabling for the purpose of determining eligibility for 6 SSI benefits.”). In addition to the prior administrative findings, the ALJ also considered that Plaintiff’s 7 8 reported social limitations were not consistent with treatment notes describing Plaintiff as 9 cooperative.4 AR 33. As support, the ALJ cited Plaintiff’s treatment records, which consistently 10 revealed that he was cooperative. AR 442, 474, 506 (cooperative and engaging toward examiner; 11 behavior within cultural norms), 513, 515, 517, 519, 551; 556, 558, 560, 562, 564, 569, 573, 578. As 12 addressed below, an ALJ may properly consider a lack of supporting evidence when evaluating 13 subjective complaints. See Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2005). Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that the ALJ’s RFC determination is supported by 14 15 substantial evidence. To the extent Plaintiff suggests an alternative interpretation of the evidence, this 16 is not sufficient to establish reversible error. If the evidence “is susceptible to more than one rational 17 interpretation, it is the ALJ’s conclusion that must be upheld.” Ford v. Saul, 950 F.3d 1141, 1154 (9th 18 Cir. 2020), citing Burch, 400 F.3d at 679. 19 B. Symptom Testimony 20 Plaintiff maintains that the ALJ failed to set forth reasons, consistent with and supported by the 21 evidence, for discounting Plaintiff’s complaints of symptoms relative to his mental health impairments 22 and his physical impairments. (Doc. 20 at p. 14.) 23 24 25 26 27 28 Elsewhere in the decision, the ALJ considered that Plaintiff’s reports about social problems were contradicted by Plaintiff’s daily activities that require social interactions, such as shopping in stores. AR 30, 375 (shopping in stores), 376 (denying any problems getting along with family, friends, neighbors, or others). An ALJ may properly consider whether a claimant engages in daily activities 4 inconsistent with alleged symptoms. See Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1112–13 (9th Cir. 2012) (an ALJ may consider “whether the claimant engages in daily activities inconsistent with the alleged symptoms”), superseded by regulation on other grounds. 9 1 In deciding whether to admit a claimant’s subjective complaints, the ALJ must engage in a 2 two-step analysis. Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1014 (9th Cir. 2014); Batson, 359 F.3d at 1196; 3 SSR 16-3p. First, the claimant must produce objective medical evidence of her impairment that could 4 reasonably be expected to produce some degree of the symptom or pain alleged. Garrison, 759 F.3d at 5 1014. If the claimant satisfies the first step and there is no evidence of malingering, the ALJ may reject 6 the claimant’s testimony regarding the severity of her symptoms only by offering specific, clear and 7 convincing reasons for doing so. Id. at 1015. 8 9 Here, the ALJ found that Plaintiff’s medically determinable impairments could reasonably be expected to cause some of the alleged symptoms, but discounted his statements concerning the 10 intensity, persistence and limiting effects of those symptoms. AR 32. The ALJ was therefore required 11 to provide specific, clear and convincing reasons for discounting Plaintiff’s subjective complaints. 12 The Court finds that the ALJ provided specific, clear and convincing reasons to discount 13 Plaintiff’s subjective complaints regarding his physical and mental impairments. First, the ALJ 14 determined that Plaintiff’s physical allegations were not consistent with examination findings 15 demonstrating normal range of motion and normal strength. AR 33. Although lack of supporting 16 medical evidence cannot form the sole basis for discounting testimony, it is a factor that the ALJ can 17 consider. See Burch, 400 F.3d at 681. Here, for example, the ALJ cited an examination record 18 demonstrating that Plaintiff had normal range of motion and normal strength. AR 33, 474. The ALJ 19 also determined that Plaintiff’s complaints were not consistent with reports to his treatment providers 20 that lacked ongoing complaints of symptoms in his upper extremities. AR 33. 21 In challenging the ALJ’s determination relative to his upper extremity strength, Plaintiff faults 22 the ALJ for relying only on a single record that pre-dates his application. (Doc. 20 at p. 14.) While 23 Plaintiff correctly notes that the ALJ cited a single treatment record demonstrating that Plaintiff had 24 normal range of motion and normal strength, Plaintiff likewise relies primarily on an isolated 25 treatment record showing decreased strength in the left upper extremity. (Id., citing AR 626). 26 However, this single record does not undermine the ALJ’s determination that the treatment record 27 lacked evidence of ongoing complaints of symptoms in Plaintiff’s upper extremities. It also is 28 apparent from the ALJ’s decision that she considered additional records demonstrating that Plaintiff 10 1 generally had normal strength. See AR 34, citing AR 474 (“Normal ROM, normal strength”), 524 (5/5 2 motor strength in all extremities), 543 (“normal strength”). Because the ALJ’s “path may reasonably 3 be discerned,” the Court will defer to the ALJ’s decision. See Wilson v. Berryhill, 757 F. App’x 595, 4 597 (9th Cir. 2019) (concluding court will defer to the ALJ’s decision). The only other records 5 referenced by Plaintiff are those from Dr. Damania’s consultative examination. (Doc. 20 at p. 14, 6 citing AR 523, 525.) Plaintiff again contends that the ALJ erred by mischaracterizing the evidence 7 regarding upper extremity limitations relative to Dr. Damania’s grip strength findings. As discussed 8 above, however, the Court has determined that the ALJ properly summarized Dr. Damania’s finding 9 that “[m]otor strength was 5/5 in all extremities,” AR 524, as “full strength in all tested extremities,” 10 11 AR 33. In addition to evidence regarding Plaintiff’s motor strength and range of motion, the ALJ 12 found that Plaintiff’s alleged walking difficulties were inconsistent with treatment records 13 demonstrating a normal gait. AR 33, citing Ex. AR 623 (“Gait – Normal.”), 627 (same), 631, 635, 14 639, 640 (“Gait – limp, left side, full weight bearing.”), 650-51 (“Gait – Normal.”). The ALJ also 15 found Plaintiff’s reported memory limitations were inconsistent with examinations demonstrating 16 intact memory findings. AR 33, citing AR 495 (“Memory – Normal.”), 499, 507 (fair), 515 (normal 17 cognition), 517 (same), 519 (same), 551, 553, 556, 558, 560, 562, 564, 574, 579, 651. The ALJ 18 additionally determined that Plaintiff’s reported social limitations were not supported by treatment 19 notes describing the claimant as cooperative, citing treatment records that consistently demonstrated 20 that he was cooperative. AR 33, citing AR 442, 474, 506 (cooperative and engaging toward examiner; 21 behavior within cultural norms), 513, 515, 517, 519, 551; 556, 558, 560, 562, 564, 569, 573, 578. 22 Next, the ALJ found Plaintiff’s allegations of disabling psychiatric limitations to be 23 inconsistent with his remarks that his anxiety improved with treatment. AR 33, citing Ex. C13F [AR 24 613-53]. Again, “evidence of medical treatment successfully relieving symptoms can undermine a 25 claim of disability.” Wellington, 878 F.3d at 876; see also Warre, 439 F.3d at 1006 (“Impairments 26 that can be effectively controlled with medication are not disabling for the purpose of determining 27 eligibility for SSI benefits.”). Plaintiff concedes that a review of the cited evidence “does in fact 28 reveal that Plaintiff reported improvement.” (Doc. 20 at p. 14.). He argues, however, that because the 11 1 ALJ credited this self-report, she also should have accepted his self-reports describing his symptoms. 2 The Court is not persuaded. “An ALJ is not required to believe every allegation of disabling pain or 3 other non-exertional impairment.” Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 635 (9th Cir. 2007) (citation omitted); 4 cf. Smartt v. Kijakazi, 53 F.4th 489, 499 (9th Cir. 2022) (explaining that Ninth Circuit has made clear 5 that “an ALJ is not required to believe every allegation of disabling pain, or else disability benefits 6 would be available for the asking, a result plainly contrary to the Social Security Act”) (citation and 7 internal quotation marks omitted). Next, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff’s allegations of disability were not consistent with the 8 9 infrequent and conservative nature of his medical care, which lacked inpatient psychiatric care or 10 invasive surgical interventions for his physical impairments. AR 33-34. An ALJ is permitted to 11 consider evidence of conservative treatment in evaluating a claimant’s subjective complaints. See 12 Parra v. Astrue, 481 F.3d 742, 750-51 (9th Cir. 2007) (finding evidence of conservative treatment 13 sufficient to discount claimant’s testimony regarding severity of impairment). In this case, Plaintiff 14 disagrees with the ALJ’s characterization of infrequent and conservative medical care, pointing to 15 evidence that he visited the emergency room on two occasions for heart palpitations, had been “in and 16 out of psychiatric care for over 40 years,” and he tried certain medications without relief. (Doc. 20 at 17 p. 15, citing AR 442, 473, 504, 616 (SSRIs). Plaintiff’s argument and evidence do not undermine the 18 ALJ’s conclusion regarding the conservative nature of his treatment. Plaintiff’s evidence of heart 19 palpitations predates the application date. AR 442 (April 2017); 473 (August 2016). The remainder 20 of Plaintiff’s argument generally affirms the ALJ’s conclusion as to the conservative (medications) 21 and inconsistent nature of his mental health treatment (“in and out of psychiatric care”).5 Plaintiff also appears to fault the ALJ for failing to consider Plaintiff’s report that his 22 23 medications, particularly Xanax, caused him excessive sleepiness. Plaintiff posits that it stands to 24 reason that an individual that requires medication … yet suffers from excessive sleepiness would have 25 significant deficits, and even confusion or memory loss…. (Doc. 20 at p. 15.) However, as the ALJ 26 27 28 5 Plaintiff has not cited evidence suggesting that any inconsistent mental health treatment was attributable to his mental illness. See Rivota v. Saul, No. 1:18-CV-01342-BAM, 2020 WL 1306985, at *6 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 19, 2020) (citing Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1114 (9th Cir. 2012). 12 1 noted and as discussed above, Plaintiff’s treatment records generally reflected intact memory and 2 cognition and benign mental status examinations. 3 Based on the above, the Court finds that the ALJ did not err in the evaluation of Plaintiff’s 4 subjective complaints. Even if one of the reasons for discounting Plaintiff’s subjective complaints was 5 invalid, any such error is harmless because the ALJ provided other valid reasons for discounting 6 Plaintiff’s subjective testimony. See Carmickle v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 533 F.3d 1155, 1161-63 7 (9th Cir. 2008) (finding that two invalid reasons to reject a claimant’s testimony were harmless error 8 where the ALJ articulated two other reasons supported by substantial evidence in the record); Molina 9 v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1115 (9th Cir. 2012) (“several of our cases have held that an ALJ’s error was 10 harmless where the ALJ provided one or more invalid reasons for disbelieving a claimant’s testimony, 11 but also provided valid reasons that were supported by the record”). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 12 13 Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that the ALJ’s decision is supported by substantial 14 evidence in the record as a whole and is based on proper legal standards. Accordingly, IT IS 15 HEREBY RECOMMENDED as follows: 16 1. Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment be denied; 17 2. Plaintiff’s appeal from the administrative decision of the Commissioner of Social Security be denied; and 18 19 3. The Clerk of this Court be directed to enter judgment in favor of Defendant Kilolo 20 Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, and against Plaintiff Porfirio Leon 21 Guzman. 22 These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District Judge 23 assigned to the case, as required by 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen (14) days after being 24 served with these findings and recommendations, the parties may file written objections with the 25 Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and 26 Recommendations.” The parties are advised that the failure to file objections within the specified time 27 may result in the waiver of the “right to challenge the magistrate’s factual findings” on appeal. 28 13 1 Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 2 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). 3 4 5 6 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: /s/ Barbara July 28, 2023 A. McAuliffe _ UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 14
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