(SS) Avis Braggs v. Commissioner of Social Security

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 AVIS BRAGGS, No. 1:19-CV-1135-HBK (SS) Plaintiff, v. OPINION AND ORDER COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL

SECURITY,

15 Defendant. 16 17 18 Plaintiff seeks judicial review of a denial of Social Security disability benefits. (Doc. No. 1, or “Pl’s Initial Brief”). The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration filed the Certified Administrative Record of the proceedings. (Doc. No. 12 or “CAR”). The Commissioner filed its Opposition Brief to Plaintiff’s Initial Brief. (Doc. No. 21 or “Opposition”). Plaintiff filed a Reply. (Doc. No. 26, referred to as “Reply”). This case is ripe for review.1 I. Social Security Act Eligibility and the ALJ Decision A. Eligibility The law defines disability as the inability to do any substantial gainful activity by reason 27 1 Under Local Rule 302(c)(15) (E.D. Ca. 2019) and the parties’ voluntary consent, this action was referred to the undersigned Magistrate Judge. See Doc. Nos.…