Moon v. Saul, No. 2:2019cv00266 - Document 14 (E.D. Wash. 2020)

Court Description: ORDER GRANTING 10 PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT; denying 11 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. Case is closed. Signed by Judge Stanley A Bastian. (AY, Case Administrator)

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Moon v. Saul Doc. 14 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.534 Page 1 of 17 1 2 3 FILED IN THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 4 Jul 20, 2020 5 SEAN F. MCAVOY, CLERK 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 7 8 9 10 MELINDA M., Plaintiff, v. 11 ANDREW M. SAUL, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, 12 Defendant. No: 2:19-CV-00266-FVS ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 13 14 BEFORE THE COURT are the parties’ cross-motions for summary 15 judgment. ECF Nos. 10, 11. This matter was submitted for consideration without 16 oral argument. Plaintiff is represented by attorney Dana C. Madsen. Defendant is 17 represented by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey E. Staples. The 18 Court, having reviewed the administrative record and the parties’ briefing, is fully 19 informed. For the reasons discussed below, the Court GRANTS, in part, 20 Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 10, DENIES Defendant’s 21 Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 11, and REMANDS the case for ORDER ~ 1 Dockets.Justia.com Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS 1 ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.535 Page 2 of 17 additional proceedings consistent with this Order. JURISDICTION 2 3 Plaintiff Melinda M. 1 filed applications for Disability Insurance Benefits 4 (DIB) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) on March 16, 2017, Tr. 79, 94, 5 alleging disability since August 6, 2010, Tr. 196, 202, due to chronic obstructive 6 pulmonary disease (COPD), varicose veins, GERD, chronic allergies, digestive 7 issues, chronic constipation, major depression, sciatica, and chest pain, Tr. 226. 8 Benefits were denied initially, Tr. 119-25, and upon reconsideration, Tr. 129-34. 9 A hearing before Administrative Law Judge Jesse Shumway (“ALJ”) was 10 conducted on June 26, 2018. Tr. 32-69. Plaintiff was represented by counsel and 11 testified at the hearing. Id. The ALJ also took the testimony of medical expert 12 Lynne Jahnke, M.D. and vocational expert Jeff Tittelfitz. Id. The ALJ had called 13 the psychological expert Glenn Griffin, Ph.D. to testify, Tr. 181, but the ALJ did 14 not take his testimony at the hearing. Tr. 32-69. The ALJ denied benefits on 15 August 22, 2018. Tr. 15-25. The Appeals Council denied Plaintiff’s request for 16 review on June 3, 2019. Tr. 1-5. The matter is now before this Court pursuant to 17 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g); 1383(c)(3). 18 19 20 21 1 In the interest of protecting Plaintiff’s privacy, the Court will use Plaintiff’s first name and last initial, and, subsequently, Plaintiff’s first name only, throughout this decision. ORDER ~ 2 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.536 Page 3 of 17 BACKGROUND 1 2 The facts of the case are set forth in the administrative hearing and 3 transcripts, the ALJ’s decision, and the briefs of Plaintiff and the Commissioner. 4 Only the most pertinent facts are summarized here. 5 Plaintiff was 36 years old at the alleged onset date. Tr. 196. She completed 6 the eleventh grade in 1991 and received training as a certified nurse’s assistant. Tr. 7 43, 227. Plaintiff’s past work includes jobs as a certified nurse’s assistant, a 8 telemarketer, a sales representative, and a cashier/stocker. Tr. 227, 241. At 9 application, she stated that she stopped working on August 6, 2010, due to her 10 conditions. Tr. 226. STANDARD OF REVIEW 11 12 A district court’s review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social 13 Security is governed by 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The scope of review under § 405(g) is 14 limited; the Commissioner’s decision will be disturbed “only if it is not supported 15 by substantial evidence or is based on legal error.” Hill v. Astrue, 698 F.3d 1153, 16 1158 (9th Cir. 2012). “Substantial evidence” means “relevant evidence that a 17 reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. at 1159 18 (quotation and citation omitted). Stated differently, substantial evidence equates to 19 “more than a mere scintilla[,] but less than a preponderance.” Id. (quotation and 20 citation omitted). In determining whether the standard has been satisfied, a 21 reviewing court must consider the entire record as a whole rather than searching ORDER ~ 3 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS 1 2 ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.537 Page 4 of 17 for supporting evidence in isolation. Id. In reviewing a denial of benefits, a district court may not substitute its 3 judgment for that of the Commissioner. “The court will uphold the ALJ's 4 conclusion when the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational 5 interpretation.” Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1038 (9th Cir. 2008). 6 Further, a district court will not reverse an ALJ’s decision on account of an error 7 that is harmless. Id. An error is harmless where it is “inconsequential to the 8 [ALJ’s] ultimate nondisability determination.” Id. (quotation and citation omitted). 9 The party appealing the ALJ’s decision generally bears the burden of establishing 10 that it was harmed. Shinseki v. Sanders, 556 U.S. 396, 409-10 (2009). FIVE-STEP EVALUATION PROCESS 11 12 A claimant must satisfy two conditions to be considered “disabled” within 13 the meaning of the Social Security Act. First, the claimant must be “unable to 14 engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable 15 physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which 16 has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve 17 months.” 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A). Second, the claimant’s 18 impairment must be “of such severity that he is not only unable to do his previous 19 work[,] but cannot, considering his age, education, and work experience, engage in 20 any other kind of substantial gainful work which exists in the national economy.” 21 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(2)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(B). ORDER ~ 4 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS 1 ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.538 Page 5 of 17 The Commissioner has established a five-step sequential analysis to 2 determine whether a claimant satisfies the above criteria. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 3 404.1520(a)(4)(i)-(v), 416.920(a)(4)(i)-(v). At step one, the Commissioner 4 considers the claimant’s work activity. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(i), 5 416.920(a)(4)(i). If the claimant is engaged in “substantial gainful activity,” the 6 Commissioner must find that the claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 7 404.1520(b), 416.920(b). 8 If the claimant is not engaged in substantial gainful activity, the analysis 9 proceeds to step two. At this step, the Commissioner considers the severity of the 10 claimant’s impairment. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). If the 11 claimant suffers from “any impairment or combination of impairments which 12 significantly limits [her] physical or mental ability to do basic work activities,” the 13 analysis proceeds to step three. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). If the 14 claimant’s impairment does not satisfy this severity threshold, however, the 15 Commissioner must find that the claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 16 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). 17 At step three, the Commissioner compares the claimant’s impairment to 18 severe impairments recognized by the Commissioner to be so severe as to preclude 19 a person from engaging in substantial gainful activity. 20 C.F.R. §§ 20 404.1520(a)(4)(iii), 416.920(a)(4)(iii). If the impairment is as severe or more 21 severe than one of the enumerated impairments, the Commissioner must find the ORDER ~ 5 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.539 Page 6 of 17 1 claimant disabled and award benefits. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(d), 416.920(d). 2 If the severity of the claimant’s impairment does not meet or exceed the 3 severity of the enumerated impairments, the Commissioner must pause to assess 4 the claimant’s “residual functional capacity.” Residual functional capacity 5 (“RFC”), defined generally as the claimant’s ability to perform physical and 6 mental work activities on a sustained basis despite his or her limitations, 20 C.F.R. 7 §§ 404.1545(a)(1), 416.945(a)(1), is relevant to both the fourth and fifth steps of 8 the analysis. 9 At step four, the Commissioner considers whether, in view of the claimant’s 10 RFC, the claimant is capable of performing work that he or she has performed in 11 the past (past relevant work). 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(iv), 416.920(a)(4)(iv). 12 If the claimant is capable of performing past relevant work, the Commissioner 13 must find that the claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(f), 416.920(f). 14 If the claimant is incapable of performing such work, the analysis proceeds to step 15 five. 16 At step five, the Commissioner considers whether, in view of the claimant’s 17 RFC, the claimant is capable of performing other work in the national economy. 18 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(v), 416.920(a)(4)(v). In making this determination, 19 the Commissioner must also consider vocational factors such as the claimant’s age, 20 education, and past work experience. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(v), 21 416.920(a)(4)(v). If the claimant is capable of adjusting to other work, the ORDER ~ 6 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.540 Page 7 of 17 1 Commissioner must find that the claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 2 404.1520(g)(1), 416.920(g)(1). If the claimant is not capable of adjusting to other 3 work, analysis concludes with a finding that the claimant is disabled and is 4 therefore entitled to benefits. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(g)(1), 416.920(g)(1). 5 The claimant bears the burden of proof at steps one through four. Tackett v. 6 Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1098 (9th Cir. 1999). If the analysis proceeds to step five, 7 the burden shifts to the Commissioner to establish that (1) the claimant is capable 8 of performing other work; and (2) such work “exists in significant numbers in the 9 national economy.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1560(c)(2), 416.960(c)(2); Beltran v. Astrue, 10 700 F.3d 386, 389 (9th Cir. 2012). THE ALJ’S FINDINGS 11 12 Initially, the ALJ identified Plaintiff’s date last insured for DIB purposes to 13 be June 20, 2012. Tr. 17. At step one, the ALJ found that Plaintiff has not 14 engaged in substantial gainful activity since August 6, 2010, the alleged onset date. 15 Tr. 17. At step two, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had no severe impairments prior 16 to the date last insurance for DIB, and denied the DIB claim at step two. Tr. 17. 17 For the SSI claim, the ALJ found that Plaintiff has the following severe 18 impairments since her application date of March 16, 2017: obesity and varicose 19 veins. Tr. 18. At step three, the ALJ found that Plaintiff does not have an 20 impairment or combination of impairments that meets or medically equals the 21 severity of a listed impairment. Tr. 20. The ALJ then found that Plaintiff has the ORDER ~ 7 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.541 Page 8 of 17 1 RFC to perform light work as defined in 20 C.F.R. § 416.967(b) except she has the 2 following limitations: 3 4 5 6 7 She can stand and walk in combination for only two hours total in an eight hour workday, and only 30 minutes at a time; she can only occasionally operate foot controls, crouch, crawl, kneel, stoop, balance, and climb ramps and stairs; she can never climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds; she cannot have concentrated exposure to extreme cold or wetness; and she can have no exposure to vibrations or hazards, including unprotected heights and moving mechanical parts. Tr. 27. 8 At step four, the ALJ identified Plaintiff’s past relevant work as a telephone 9 solicitor, a door-to-door sales representative, and a cashier/checker, and found that 10 she is capable of performing her past relevant work as a telephone solicitor. Tr 23. 11 As an alternative to denying Plaintiff’s SSI claim at step four, the ALJ made a step 12 five determination that, considering Plaintiff’s age, education, work experience, 13 and RFC, there are other jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national 14 economy that she can perform, including electronics worker, office helper, and 15 small products assembler II. Tr. 24-25. The ALJ concluded that Plaintiff has not 16 been under a disability, as defined in the Social Security Act, from August 6, 2010 17 through the date of his decision. Tr. 25. ISSUES 18 19 Plaintiff seeks judicial review of the Commissioner’s final decision denying 20 her DIB under Title II and SSI under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. ECF 21 No. 10. Plaintiff raises the following issues for this Court’s review: ORDER ~ 8 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.542 Page 9 of 17 1 1. Whether the ALJ erred in weighing the medical source opinions; and 2 2. Whether the ALJ properly considered Plaintiff’s symptom claims. 3 Plaintiff’s briefing makes no challenge to the ALJ’s denial of the DIB claim at step 4 two. Therefore, the Court will only address the SSI claim. DISCUSSION 5 6 1. Medical Source Opinions 7 Plaintiff challenges the weight the ALJ assigned to the medical opinions in 8 the record. ECF No. 10 at 17-18. However, Plaintiff’s briefing is vague in terms 9 of the opinions she intends to challenge. She asserts that the “hypothetical 10 question given to the VE should have included the findings of doctors that have 11 examined [Plaintiff].” Id. at 18. The only providers who examined Plaintiff were 12 John Arnold, Ph.D. and Rogelio Cantu, M.D. Tr. 19, 23. Plaintiff did discuss the 13 opinion of John Arnold, Ph.D., when addressing Plaintiff’s symptom statements. 14 Id. at 15-16. Despite this limited briefing, the Court finds that the ALJ erred in his 15 treatment of the opinions from Dr. Arnold and Dr. Cantu. 16 A. John Arnold, Ph.D. 17 On February 21, 2017, Dr. Arnold completed a Psychological/Psychiatric 18 Evaluation for the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). 19 Tr. 381-85. He diagnosed Plaintiff with persistent depressive disorder, unspecified 20 anxiety disorder, and a rule out somatic symptom disorder. Tr. 383. He opined 21 that Plaintiff had a severe limitation in the ability to adapt to changes in a routine ORDER ~ 9 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.543 Page 10 of 17 1 work setting, a marked limitation in an additional four basic work activities, and a 2 moderate limitation in an additional six basic work activities. Id. The ALJ found 3 that the opinion is not persuasive or supported by the medical evidence for three 4 reasons: (1) the opinion is inconsistent with Dr. Arnold’s contemporaneous mental 5 status testing; (2) Plaintiff reported improvement in her depression by September 6 of 2017; and (3) the opinion predates the onset date of the SSI claim. Tr. 19. 7 Here, the ALJ used the incorrect standard when evaluating Dr. Arnold’s 8 opinion. The ALJ addresses the persuasiveness of the opinion and whether the 9 opinion is supported by the medical evidence, which is required under 20 C.F.R. § 10 416.920c(b). However, 20 C.F.R. § 416.920c(b) only applies to claims filed on or 11 after March 27, 2017. This case was filed on March 16, 2017. Tr. 94. Therefore, 12 the ALJ was required to evaluate the opinion in accord with 20 C.F.R. § 416.927 13 and weigh the medical opinions. Plaintiff failed to challenge the ALJ’s application 14 of 20 C.F.R. § 416.920c(b) to Dr. Arnold’s opinion. ECF No. 10. Typically, the 15 Court will not address issues that are not clearly raised in a Plaintiff’s briefing, but 16 in this case the ALJ’s unchallenged errors, especially those addressed below, could 17 not be overlooked, and a remand for additional proceedings is appropriate. 18 B. Rogelio Cantu, M.D. 19 On February 22, 2017, Dr. Cantu completed a Physical Functional 20 Evaluation form for DSHS. Tr. 372-79. Dr. Cantu diagnosed Plaintiff with 21 COPD, varicose veins, depression, and elevated blood pressure. Tr. 372-73. He ORDER ~ 10 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.544 Page 11 of 17 1 opined that Plaintiff was limited to sedentary work, which was defined as “[a]ble 2 to life 10 pounds maximum and frequently lift or carry lightweight articles. Able 3 to walk or stand only for brief periods.” Tr. 374. The ALJ did address this opinion 4 in accord with 20 C.F.R. § 416.927 and gave the opinion no weight because it was 5 from outside of the relevant period. Tr. 23. This is also a reason the ALJ gave for 6 not crediting Dr. Arnold’s opinion. Tr. 19 (“Additionally, this opinion was given 7 after the claimant’s date last insured and before her protective filing date and is 8 therefore given no weight because it [is]outside the two relevant periods.”). The 9 ALJ’s refusal to consider these opinions because they predate Plaintiff’s 10 11 application for SSI by one month is an error. To be eligible for SSI, a claimant must meet seven requirements under 20 12 C.F.R. § 416.202. A claimant must (1) be aged 65 or older, blind, or disabled, (2) 13 be a resident of the United States, (3) not exceed the income limit, (4) not exceed 14 the resource limit, (5) not have a drug or alcohol addiction that is material to the 15 disability, (6) not be a fleeing felon, and (7) file an application. 20 C.F.R. § 16 416.202. Based on the requirement that a claimant file an application to be eligible 17 for benefits, 20 C.F.R. § 416.202(g), ALJs have a practice of evaluating a 18 claimant’s SSI application as if the disability onset date is the date of application. 19 See HALLEX I-2-6-58 (requiring ALJs to admit “[e]vidence dated on or after the 20 application date or protective filing date of a title XVI application claiming 21 disability”). However, this is inconsistent with the Regulations, which requires the ORDER ~ 11 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS 1 2 ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.545 Page 12 of 17 evidence in the case record to be complete: 5 Complete medical history means the records of your medical source(s) covering at least the 12 months preceding the month in which you file your application. If you say that your disability began less than 12 months before you filed your application, we will develop your complete medical history beginning with the month you say your disability began unless we have reason to believe your disability began earlier. 6 20 C.F.R. § 416.912(b)(ii). A claimant does not file an application on or before the 7 day she becomes unable to work. Instead, she becomes unable to work, and then 8 files an application. See Peter S. v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., Case No. 4:17-cv-05173- 9 JTR, 2019 WL 1567894 (E.D. Wash. Feb. 26, 2019) (“Logic dictates that a person 3 4 10 develops a medical impairment and then files an application for benefits, and not 11 that a person files an application for benefits then develops a medical 12 impairment.”); Rosalinda M. v. Saul, Case No. 1:18-cv-03077-JTR, ECF No. 17 at 13 2 (E.D. Wash. April 2, 2019); Joseph H. v. Saul, Case No. 1:19-cv-00137-JTR, 14 2020 WL 1557297 (E.D. Wash. April 1, 2020). Furthermore, 20 C.F.R. § 416.202 15 makes being disabled and filing an application two separate requirements that must 16 be met to be eligible for benefits. A claimant can conceivably meet the disability 17 requirement, but not meet all other six requirements under 20 C.F.R. § 416.202. 18 Social Security’s internal policy manual, the Program Operations Manual 19 System (POMS) defines the protective filing date as the earliest possible 20 Established Onset Date (EOD) for SSI claims, but acknowledges that the 21 adjudicator may need to consider medical evidence prior to the application to ORDER ~ 12 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.546 Page 13 of 17 1 determine severity and duration of a claimant’s impairments. POMS DI 2 25501.370. Social Security Ruling 18-1p states that “[b]ecause entitlement and 3 eligibility depend on non-medical requirements, the EOD may be later than the 4 date the claimant first met the definition of disability, and some claimants who 5 meet the definition of disability may not be entitled to benefits under title II or 6 eligible for disability payments under title XVI.” Therefore, limiting the review of 7 the evidence to the date of application and forward, thereby ignoring the claimant’s 8 alleged onset date of disability, is inconsistent with the Regulations and internal 9 agency policy. 10 Here, Plaintiff provided an onset date on her SSI application, Tr. 196 (“I am 11 disabled. My disability began on August 6, 2010.”), and she did not amend this 12 alleged onset date. The ALJ found that Plaintiff’s DIB and SSI claims resulted in 13 two distinct relevant periods with the DIB period being from Plaintiff’s alleged 14 onset of August 6, 2010 to her date last insured, June 30, 2012, and the SSI period 15 being from the date of application, March 16, 2017 through the date of his 16 decision, August 22, 2018. Tr. 17-18. In doing so, he rejected the opinion of Dr. 17 Arnold and Dr. Cantu because they were dated a month prior to Plaintiff’s 18 application for benefits. Tr. 19, 23. 19 Plaintiff cites a Ninth Circuit case from 1988, in asserting that “[a]n ALJ 20 may reasonably reject a medical opinion ‘because it is prior to the relevant time 21 period.’” ECF No. 11 at 7 citing Burkhart v. Bowen, 856 F.2d 1335, 1341 (9th Cir. ORDER ~ 13 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.547 Page 14 of 17 1 1988). However, recent Ninth Circuit holdings state that opinions that predate the 2 alleged onset date are of limited relevance. Carmickle v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. 3 Admin., 533 F.3d 1155, 1165 (9th Cir. 2008); See Pacheco v. Berryhill, 733 4 Fed.Appx 356, 360 (9th Cir. 2018) (“evidence that predates the claimant’s 5 application date but postdates the alleged onset date is pertinent to the alleged 6 period of disability”). 7 In conclusion, the ALJ failed to weigh the opinion of Dr. Arnold in accord 8 with 20 C.F.R. § 416.927. This alone is sufficient to justify a remand for benefits. 9 However, the ALJ further erred by rejecting Dr. Arnold’s and Dr. Cantu’s opinions 10 because they predated Plaintiff’s application for benefits. While benefits are not 11 payable prior to the SSI application date, 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.202(g), 416.501, the 12 ALJ shall not limit his consideration of evidence to only the period benefits would 13 be payable, 20 C.F.R. § 416.912(b)(ii), but he will consider the entire 14 unadjudicated period unless the onset date is amended by Plaintiff. 15 2. 16 Plaintiff challenges the ALJ’s treatment of her symptom statements. ECF 17 18 Plaintiff’s Symptom Statements No. 10 at 14-17. It is generally the province of the ALJ to make determinations regarding the 19 reliability of Plaintiff’s symptom statements, Andrews v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 20 1039 (9th Cir. 1995), but the ALJ’s findings must be supported by specific cogent 21 reasons, Rashad v. Sullivan, 903 F.2d 1229, 1231 (9th Cir. 1990). Absent ORDER ~ 14 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.548 Page 15 of 17 1 affirmative evidence of malingering, the ALJ’s reasons for rejecting the claimant’s 2 testimony must be “specific, clear and convincing.” Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 3 1273, 1281 (9th Cir. 1996); Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 834 (9th Cir. 1995). 4 “General findings are insufficient: rather the ALJ must identify what testimony is 5 not credible and what evidence undermines the claimant’s complaints.” Lester, 81 6 F.3d at 834. 7 The ALJ found Plaintiff’s “statements concerning the intensity, persistence, 8 and limiting effects of these symptoms are not entirely consistent with the medical 9 evidence and other evidence in the record for the reasons explained in this 10 decision.” Tr. 21. The evaluation of a claimant’s symptom statements and their 11 resulting limitations relies, in part, on the assessment of the medical evidence. See 12 20 C.F.R. § 416.929(c); S.S.R. 16-3p. Therefore, in light of the case being 13 remanded for the ALJ to readdress the medical source opinions in the file, a new 14 assessment of Plaintiff’s subjective symptom statements will be necessary. 15 CONCLUSION 16 The decision whether to remand for further proceedings or reverse and 17 award benefits is within the discretion of the district court. McAllister v. Sullivan, 18 888 F.2d 599, 603 (9th Cir. 1989). An immediate award of benefits is appropriate 19 where “no useful purpose would be served by further administrative proceedings, 20 or where the record has been thoroughly developed,” Varney v. Sec'y of Health & 21 Human Servs., 859 F.2d 1396, 1399 (9th Cir. 1988), or when the delay caused by ORDER ~ 15 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.549 Page 16 of 17 1 remand would be “unduly burdensome[.]” Terry v. Sullivan, 903 F.2d 1273, 1280 2 (9th Cir. 1990); see also Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1021 (9th Cir. 2014) 3 (noting that a district court may abuse its discretion not to remand for benefits 4 when all of these conditions are met). This policy is based on the “need to 5 expedite disability claims.” Varney, 859 F.2d at 1401. But where there are 6 outstanding issues that must be resolved before a determination can be made, and it 7 is not clear from the record that the ALJ would be required to find a claimant 8 disabled if all the evidence were properly evaluated, remand is appropriate. See 9 Benecke v. Barnhart, 379 F.3d 587, 595-96 (9th Cir. 2004); Harman v. Apfel, 211 10 11 F.3d 1172, 1179-80 (9th Cir. 2000). The Court finds that further administrative proceedings are appropriate. See 12 Treichler v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 775 F.3d 1090, 1103-04 (9th Cir. 2014) 13 (remand for benefits is not appropriate when further administrative proceedings 14 would serve a useful purpose). Here, it is not clear from the record that the ALJ 15 would be required to find a claimant disabled if all the evidence were properly 16 evaluated. Therefore, the Court remands this case for further proceedings 17 consistent with this Order. 18 On remand, the ALJ shall weigh the opinions of Dr. Arnold and Dr. Cantu, 19 and readdress Plaintiff’s symptom statements. In addition, the ALJ should 20 supplement the record with any outstanding medical evidence and take the 21 testimony of a psychological expert and vocational expert at remand proceedings. ORDER ~ 16 Case 2:19-cv-00266-FVS ECF No. 14 filed 07/20/20 PageID.550 Page 17 of 17 1 ACCORDINGLY, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 2 1. Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 10, is GRANTED, 3 in part, and the matter is remanded for further proceedings consistent 4 with this Order. 5 2. Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 11 is DENIED. 6 The District Court Executive is hereby directed to enter this Order and 7 provide copies to counsel, enter judgment in favor of the Plaintiff, and CLOSE the 8 file. 9 DATED this 20th day of July, 2020. 10 11 12 13 Stanley A. Bastian 14 United States District Judge 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ORDER ~ 17

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