(SS) Adriana F. Munoz v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. Introduction

12 Plaintiff Adriana Munoz (“Plaintiff”) seeks judicial review of a final decision of the 13 Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner” or “Defendant”) denying her 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. 18, 27. After reviewing the record the Court 17 finds that substantial evidence and applicable law support the ALJ’s decision. Plaintiff’s appeal is 18 therefore denied.

II. Factual and Procedural Background2

20 On August 7, 2017 Plaintiff applied for disability insurance benefits alleging disability as 21 of August 2, 2017. AR 173–178. The Commissioner denied the application initially on October 22 17, 2017 and on reconsideration on January 31, 2018. Plaintiff requested a hearing which was held 23 before an Administrative Law Judge (the “ALJ”) on February 5, 2020. AR 33–55. On February 24 25, 2020 the ALJ issued a decision denying Plaintiff’s application. AR 19–28. The Appeals 25 26 1 The parties consented…