Pederson v. Commissioner Social Security Administration

MEMORANDUM

Carla Pederson appeals the judgment of the district court affirming the Commissioner’s final decision that Pederson was not disabled and was not entitled to disability benefits. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . The district court’s decision is reviewed de novo. Orn v. As-true, 495 F.3d 625, 630 (9th Cir.2007). We affirm.

Pederson first argues that the Administrative Law Judge erred by not finding degenerative disc disease to be a “severe impairment” at step 2 of the five-step sequential analysis used to determine whether a claimant is disabled. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520 . This argument is unpersuasive. Pederson was never diagnosed with degenerative disc disease by any doctor. Moreover, the ALJ’s step 2 determination made no practical difference because the ALJ did not stop after step 2, as other impairments were found severe. Pederson’s limitations were covered by the hypothetical ultimately presented to the vocational expert.

Pederson’s second argument, that the ALJ improperly rejected medical source opinions from treating and examining physicians, also fails. The ALJ satisfied the requirement to provide “specific and legitimate reasons supported by…