Sean Mohaghegh Gates v. Commissioner of Social Secruity

BACKGROUND

23 Plaintiff applied for disability insurance benefits in April 2015, alleging that 24 he became disabled on May 4, 2013. Plaintiff’s application was denied. 25 26 Plaintiff’s name has been partially redacted in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2(c)(2)(B) and the recommendation of the Committee on Court Administration and Case Management of the Judicial Conference of the United States. 28 (Administrative Record [“AR”] 91-96, 154-157.) On August 9, 2017, a hearing took place before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). Plaintiff, who was represented by counsel, and a vocational expert (“VE”) both testified. (AR 32-59.) In a decision dated November 17, 2017, the ALJ found that Plaintiff suffered from the following severe impairments: degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine; left rotator cuff injury; status-post right shoulder surgery in June 2012; status- post left knee surgery; and diabetes. (AR 22.) The ALJ concluded that Plaintiff retained the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform sedentary work with the following exceptions: He needed a cane to walk; could perform postural…