Pinegar v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration

MEMORANDUM

Patrick Pinegar appeals the district court’s order affirming the Commissioner’s decision denying his application for Supplemental Security Income. We review de novo the district court’s order affirming the denial of benefits. Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1038 (9th Cir.2008). We may reverse the Commissioner’s decision only if it is not supported by substantial evidence or is based on legal error. Robbins v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 466 F.3d 880, 882 (9th Cir.2006). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

Pinegar claims that the ALJ did not properly characterize and weigh the opinions of his treating physicians and his Global Assessment of Functioning scores. Under the “treating physician rule,” a treating physician’s opinions are entitled to great weight, and may only be rejected if the ALJ provides “specific and legitimate reasons supported by substantial evidence in the record.” Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir.1996) (quoting Murray v. Heckler, 722 F.2d 499, 502 (9th Cir.1983)) (internal quotation marks omitted). But most of the “opinions” Pinegar claims the ALJ did not properly credit are nothing more than notes summarizing Pinegar’s…