(SS) Carbajal v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. Introduction

12 Plaintiff Guadalupe Esparza Carbajal (“Plaintiff”) seeks judicial review of a final decision 13 of the Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner” or “Defendant”) denying her application 14 for 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. 22, 25, 26. 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 January 9, 2017 Plaintiff applied for benefits alleging disability as of December 13, 21 2015. AR 240–41. The Commissioner denied the applications initially on April 25, 2017, and on 22 reconsideration on December 13, 2017. AR 92, 104. Plaintiff requested a hearing which was held 23 before an Administrative Law Judge (the “ALJ”) on October 24, 2019. AR 33. On November 5, 24 2019 the ALJ issued a decision denying Plaintiff’s application. AR 12–32. The Appeals Council

1 The…