(SS) Martinez Leal v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. Introduction

13 Plaintiff Monica Martinez Leal (“Plaintiff”) seeks judicial review of a final decision of the 14 Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner” or “Defendant”) denying her application for 15 disability insurance benefits pursuant to Title II of the Social Security Act. 16

II. Factual and Procedural Background1

17 On February 12, 2018 Plaintiff applied for disability insurance benefits alleging a disability 18 onset date of October 1, 2015. AR 70. The Commissioner denied the application initially on July 19 6, 2018 and on reconsideration on December 20, 2018. AR 120–36, 138–54. Plaintiff appeared 20 for an initial hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (the “ALJ”) on July 29, 2020 (AR 45- 21 84) after which the ALJ issued an initial unfavorable decision dated September 1, 2020 (AR 156- 22 80) which was subsequently vacated by the Appeals Council.2 AR 181–87. The ALJ held a second 23 hearing on September 8, 2021 (AR 85–119) and issued a second unfavorable decision (the operative 24 25 1 The parties are well informed about the administrative record including the medical, opinion and testimonial evidence 26 which will not be exhaustively…