(SS) Rivera-Herrera v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. Introduction

12 Plaintiff Miguel Rivera-Herrera (“Plaintiff”) seeks judicial review of a final decision of the 13 Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner” or “Defendant”) denying his applications for 14 disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income pursuant to Titles II and XVI, 15 respectively, of the Social Security Act. The matter is before the Court on the parties’ briefs which 16 were submitted without oral argument to the Honorable Gary S. Austin, United States Magistrate 17 Judge. See Docs. 19, 20, 21. After reviewing the record the Court finds that substantial evidence 18 and applicable law support the ALJ’s decision. Plaintiff’s appeal is therefore denied.

II. Factual and Procedural Background2

20 On September 30, 2016 Plaintiff applied for benefits alleging disability as of August 15, 21 2016 due to diabetes, vision loss, hearing loss, shaking and high cholesterol. AR 303–314, 408. 22 The Commissioner denied the applications initially on March 30, 2017 and on reconsideration on 23 September 6, 2017. AR 139–43, 146–50. 24 Plaintiff requested a hearing which was held before an Administrative Law Judge (the

1 The parties…