James Warren Simpson v. Andrew Saul

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

3 On January 19, 2016, Plaintiff filed an application for Supplemental Security Income benefits, alleging an inability to work since June 30, 2012, based on memory deficit due to brain tumor, knee pain, and ankle pain. [Joint Statement (“JS”) 2; Administrative Record (“AR”) 171-80, 209.] Plaintiff’s application was denied administratively, and an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) issued an adverse decision after a hearing. [JS 2; AR 40- 63, 119-21.] The ALJ found that Plaintiff suffered from medically determinable impairments but retained the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform the demands of past relevant work as a janitor. [JS 3-4; AR 19-39.] The Appeals Council denied Plaintiff’s request for review [AR 16- 18], rendering the ALJ’s decision the final decision of the Commissioner. The ALJ followed a five-step sequential evaluation process to assess whether Plaintiff was disabled under the Social Security Act. , 81 F.3d 821, 828 n.5 (9th Cir. 1995); 20 C.F.R. § 416.920. At step one, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since…