Angel Mattson v. Carolyn W. Colvin

MEMORANDUM

Angel Mattson appeals the denial of her application for Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”). The administrative law judge (“ALJ”) found that while Mattson had some severe physical and mental impairments, she could still perform a limited range of light work. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we reverse and remand to the Social Security Agency for calculation of benefits.

In general, the opinion of a treating physician is afforded more weight than that of a non-treating physician. Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 631 (9th Cir.2007); Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir.1995) (“As a general rule, more weight should be given to the opinion of a treating source than to the opinion of doctors who do not treat the claimant.”). Even if a treating physician’s opinion “is contradicted by another doctor’s opinion, an ALJ may only reject it by providing specific and legitimate reasons that are supported by substantial evidence.” Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1216 (9th Cir.2005).

Dr. Margóles, Mattson’s treating physician, diagnosed Mattson with severe degenerative disc disease at L5-S 1, C5-7 with foraminal narrowing, and arthrosis in C2-4;…