(SS) Meza v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. Introduction

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

II. Factual and Procedural Background2

20 On June 29, 2018 Plaintiff applied for benefits alleging disability as of December 5, 2017. 21 AR 169–77. The Commissioner denied the applications initially on September 19, 2018, and on 22 reconsideration on December 21, 2018. AR 59–69; 71–82. Plaintiff requested a hearing which 23 was held before an Administrative Law Judge (the “ALJ”) on September 4, 2019. AR 37–55. On 24 September 24, 2019 the ALJ issued a decision denying Plaintiff’s application. AR 15–36. The

1 The parties…