Smith v. O' Malley

I. BACKGROUND

22 Plaintiff applied for Disability Insurance Benefits. AR 164-65.1 The Social Security 23 Administration denied the claim. AR 83-86. The Administration also denied plaintiff’s 24 claim upon rehearing. AR 88-92, 161-63. Plaintiff requested a hearing before an 25

27 The Court adopts the parties’ citations to the certified record in this matter. All other 28 Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). AR 99-100. Plaintiff, represented by counsel, appeared before the ALJ. AR 32-50. Plaintiff testified at the hearing, and the ALJ received testimony from a vocational expert. See id. After reviewing the documentary evidence in the record and hearing the witnesses’ testimony, the ALJ concluded plaintiff was not disabled. AR 28. The ALJ’s decision followed the five steps prescribed by applicable regulations under which the ALJ must sequentially determine (1) if the claimant is engaged in substantial gainful employment; (2) whether the claimant suffers from a “severe” impairment; (3) if any impairment meets or is medically equal to one of the impairments identified in the regulatory Listing of…