(SS) Razaqi v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. Introduction

12 Plaintiff Ali Razaqi (“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 United States 16 Magistrate Judge. See Docs. 22, 23. After reviewing the record the Court finds that substantial 17 evidence and applicable law support the ALJ’s decision. Plaintiff’s appeal is therefore denied.

II. Factual and Procedural Background2

19 On February 20, 2018 Plaintiff applied for disability insurance benefits alleging disability 20 as of April 15, 2014 due to diabetes mellitus, acute necrotizing pancreatitis, recurrent epigastric 21 hernia, depressive disorder, anxiety, and chronic pain syndrome. AR 15, 18. The Commissioner 22 denied the application initially on May 30, 2018, and on reconsideration on August 2, 2018. AR 23 107–11; 113–19. Plaintiff requested a hearing which was held before an Administrative Law Judge 24 (the “ALJ”) on December 19, 2019. …