Koengeter

I. INTRODUCTION

20 On November 22, 2019, Plaintiff Nathan K. filed a Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 21 § 405(g) seeking judicial review of a decision by the Commissioner of Social Security 22 denying his application for disability insurance benefits. Dkt. No. 1. The parties filed 23 Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment and Plaintiff filed a Reply. Dkt. Nos. 17, 19, 22. 24 For the reasons set forth below, the Court DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary 25 Judgment and GRANTS Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment. 26 / / 27 / / 28 II. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND On April 15, 2015, Plaintiff filed an application for disability insurance benefits alleging disability beginning on April 28, 2014. AR 189-190.1 The Commissioner denied Plaintiff’s claim initially on July 7, 2015 (AR 71-76), and on reconsideration on September 15, 2015 (AR 78-83). At Plaintiff’s request, the ALJ held a hearing on December 8, 2017 (AR 42-47), but, because Plaintiff’s counsel had recently withdrawn, Plaintiff did not testify until the second hearing on July 31, 2018 (AR 48-69). On August 10, 2018, the ALJ issued a decision denying Plaintiff’s…