Leonard L. RAY, Jr., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Otis R. BOWEN, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, Defendant-Appellee

Leonard L. Ray, Jr., appeals pro se the district court’s decision affirming the denial by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) of his application for Social Security disability insurance ben efits. The Secretary found that Ray was not disabled because he could perform his past work as a Certified Public Accountant.

Ray filed a claim for disability benefits on April 21, 1983. The Secretary denied Ray’s claim initially and upon reconsideration. On July 18,1984, at Ray’s request, a hearing was held before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The ALJ found that although Ray has a severe hearing impairment and a deformed left arm, he retained the capacity to perform his past relevant work as a CPA. The Appeals Council affirmed. Ray timely filed a complaint for review by the district court. The district court affirmed the Secretary’s decision. Ray timely appeals.

This court must affirm the Secretary’s denial of a disability claim if substantial evidence in the record as a whole supports his findings of fact, and if the Secretary has applied the proper legal standards. 42 U.S.C. § 405 (g); Jones v. Heckler, 760 F.2d 993, 995 (9th Cir.1985). Substantial evidence is…