(SS) Valladares v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. Introduction

12 Plaintiff Reyes Carrasco Valladares appeals the decision of the Commissioner of Social 13 Security denying his application for disability insurance benefits under Title II of the Social 14 Security Act.1

II. Factual and Procedural Background

16 On August 4, 2021, Plaintiff applied for disability insurance benefits. The agency denied 17 the application initially and on reconsideration. The ALJ held a hearing on October 17, 2023. AR 18 54–76. The ALJ issued an unfavorable decision on December 1, 2023. AR 17–40. The Appeals 19 Council denied review on July 2, 2024 (AR 1-9) and this appeal followed.

III. The Disability Standard

21 Under 42 U.S.C. §405(g), this court has the authority to review the Commissioner’s denial 22 of disability benefits. Reversal is appropriate when the ALJ’s findings are based on legal error or 23 unsupported by substantial evidence.” Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1097 (9th Cir. 1999). 24 Substantial evidence is that which could lead reasonable minds to accept a conclusion. See 25 Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971). It is more than a scintilla but less than a 26 preponderance. See Saelee v. Chater,…