(SS) Maldonado v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. INTRODUCTION

19 Plaintiff Jose Maldonado (“Plaintiff”) seeks judicial review of a final decision of the 20 Commissioner of Social Security (the “Commissioner” or “Defendant”) denying his application for 21 disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) under Title II of the Social Security Act (the “Act”). (Doc. 22 1). The matter is currently before the Court on the parties’ briefs, which were submitted, without 23 oral argument, to the Honorable Sheila K. Oberto, United States Magistrate Judge.1

II. BACKGROUND

26 Plaintiff was born on June 9, 2019. (Administrative Record (“AR”) 241). He filed a claim

1 The parties have consented to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Magistrate Judge. (See Doc. 10). for DIB on December 2, 2019, alleging a disability onset date of November 14, 2017. (AR 24). Plaintiff later amended his alleged onset date to December 2, 2019. (AR 24). In his application, he alleged disability based on his “ankle problem, varicose veins, knee problem, back problem, and high blood pressure.” (AR 249). Plaintiff has a 11th-grade education and previous work experience in restaurants and retail. (AR 250). A. Relevant Evidence of…