Carla Longerbeam v. Michael Astrue

MEMORANDUM

Carla Longerbeam appeals the denial of her application for disability insurance benefits under the Social Security Act. 42 U.S.C. § 423 . We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

We review de novo a district court’s decision to affirm an Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) denial of social security benefits. Edlund v. Massanari, 253 F.3d 1152, 1156 (9th Cir.2001).

The ALJ considered the testimony of Dr. Schorn, a non-examining physician, sufficiently. The ALJ was entitled to discount Dr. Sehorn’s opinion regarding Lon-gerbeam’s inability to sustain work, particularly because it was speculative and conflicted with the opinions of several other physicians who treated and examined Longerbeam. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527 (d); Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 957 (9th Cir.2002); see also Holohan v. Massanari, 246 F.3d 1195, 1202 (9th Cir.2001); Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir.1996). No further explanation of the weight given to Dr. Schorn’s testimony was required.

In addition, ample medical evidence supports the ALJ’s determination that Lon-gerbeam’s limitations do not rise to the level of a disability under the Social Security…