(SS) Vilavong v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. INTRODUCTION

19 On May 6, 2019, Plaintiff Khamphet Vilavong (“Plaintiff”) filed a complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) seeking judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (the “Commissioner” or “Defendant”) denying his application for disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) under Title II of the Social Security Act (the “Act”). The matter is currently before the Court on the parties’ briefs, which were submitted, without oral argument, to the Honorable Sheila K. Oberto, United States Magistrate Judge.1 26

1 The parties consented to the jurisdiction of a U.S. Magistrate Judge. (Docs. 8, 9.) 1 On January 21, 2015, Plaintiff protectively filed an application for DIB payments, alleging he became disabled on January 1, 2012 due to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, back pain, leg weakness, stomach infection, dizziness, loss of appetite, and trouble sleeping. (Administrative Record (“AR”) 61, 146–49.) Plaintiff was born on December 5, 1954 and was 57 years old as of the alleged onset date. (See AR 61.) Plaintiff graduated college in his native country of Laos, has…