Ortega
Ortega v. Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM ***
Edith M. Ortega (“Ortega”) appeals a judgment affirming the Commissioner of Social Security’s decision denying Ortega’s claim for Supplemental Social Security Income disability benefits. She argues that the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) erred in rejecting the opinion of Dr. Aho, *608 the examining psychologist, in favor of Dr. Warner, the nonexamining medical expert. She also contends that the ALJ erred in rejecting the opinion of Dr. Floyd, Ortega’s treating physician. We agree.
Even though the opinions of Dr. Floyd (treating doctor) and Dr. Aho (examining doctor) were contradicted by the opinion of the nonexamining doctor, the ALJ could not reject them unless he provided specific and legitimate reasons supported by substantial evidence. Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830-31 (9th Cir.1995). The ALJ did not provide such reasons.
‘Where the Commissioner fails to provide adequate reasons for rejecting the opinion of a treating or examining physician, we credit that opinion ‘as a matter of law.’ ” Lester, 81 F.3d at 834 (quoting Hammock v. Bowen, 879 F.2d 498, 502 (9th Cir.1989)). When the ALJ presented the vocational expert with the hypothetical based on Dr.…