Lopez
Lopez v. Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM **
Evelyn Yvonne Lopez appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment affirming the Commissioner’s denial of her application for supplemental security income. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review the district court’s decision in a social security case de novo. Morgan v. Comm’r of the Soc. Sec. Admin., 169 F.3d 595, 599 (9th Cir.1999).
The Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) provided specific, cogent reasons for his determination that Lopez was not credible. See id. The ALJ stated that there was evidence raising the possibility of malingering and that Lopez’s allegations regarding her impairments and limitations were not credible in light of the information found in the medical reports and other evidence in the record. The ALJ pointed to specific evidence in the record supporting these conclusions.
Additionally, the ALJ provided clear and convincing reasons for the rejection of the opinion of Lopez’s examining physician, Dr. Smolen, and those reasons were supported by substantial evidence in the record. See Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir.1996). As the ALJ stated, Dr. Smolen relied on Lopez’s assertions. However, the ALJ determined…