Ronald Katt v. Michael Astrue

MEMORANDUM

Ronald Katt appeals the district court’s judgment affirming the Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of Katt’s application for disability insurance benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act. Katt alleged disability due to injuries sustained when he fell through a roof while working as a self-employed contractor in November, 1989. At Step 2, the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) found that the evidence failed to establish the existence of a medically determinable impairment that could reasonably have been expected to produce Katt’s symptoms prior to December 31, 1989, Katt’s last date of eligibility for Title II benefits.

This is Katt’s second appeal to this court. In his first appeal, we remanded for the ALJ to call a medical expert to provide testimony regarding the onset date of Katt’s disability. We stated that if the medical testimony was not helpful, the ALJ should explore lay evidence. Katt v. Astrue, 225 Fed.Appx. 455 (9th Cir.2007). On remand, the ALJ properly followed that order. The expert reviewed all of the medical records and information in the record, and he concluded that there was no evidence that Katt had been disabled prior to his last…