Melody Ross v. Carolyn W. Colvin
Opinion
Opinion
MEMORANDUM
Melody Ross, on behalf of the estate of her son, Robert Ross, appeals the district court’s decision upholding the administrative law judge’s (“ALJ”) denial of her son’s application for supplemental security income benefits. For the reasons stated below, we affirm.
1. We review de novo the district court’s order upholding the ALJ’s denial of social security benefits. Howard ex rel. Wolff v. Barnhart, 341 F.3d 1006, 1011 (9th Cir.2003). On de novo review, we set aside a denial of benefits only if it is not supported by substantial evidence or is based on incorrect legal standards. Id.
2. The ALJ reasonably evaluated the medical opinions in the case record. The ALJ premised Mr. Ross’s residual functional capacity on the notes of Mr. Ross’s treating physicians, Dr. Patricia Calkin and Dr. Nora Norum, while expressly discounting the opinions of non-treating professionals. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.927 (c)(2); see also Ghanim v. Colvin, 763 F.3d 1154, 1160-61 (9th Cir.2014). The treatment notes indicated that Mr. Ross was abstaining from alcohol, experiencing no extended episodes of decompensation, and had not been hospitalized during the relevant time period.