ORDER

KENDALL J. NEWMAN, Magistrate Judge.

Plaintiff seeks judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security ("Commissioner") denying plaintiff's application for Disability Insurance Benefits ("DIB") and Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") under Titles II and XVI, respectively, of the Social Security Act ("Act").1 In his motion for summary judgment, plaintiff principally contends that the Commissioner erred by finding that plaintiff was not disabled from September 30, 2005, the alleged disability onset date, through the date of the final administrative decision. (ECF No. 15.) The Commissioner filed an opposition to plaintiff's motion and a cross-motion for summary judgment. (ECF No. 18.) Thereafter, plaintiff filed a reply brief. (ECF No. 20.) For the reasons that follow, the court grants plaintiff's motion for summary judgment in part, denies the Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment, remands the action for further proceedings under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), and enters judgment for plaintiff.

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff was born on July 26, 1963, has a limited eleventh grade education, is able to communicate in English, and previously worked in various positions in the construction industry.2 (Administrative Transcript ("AT") 25, 53, 75-78.) On July 10, 2006, plaintiff applied for DIB and SSI, alleging that he was unable to work as of September 30, 2005, due to a heart condition, spinal condition, fainting spells, arthritis, bilateral rotor cuff surgery, heat exhaustion, high and low blood pressure, seizures, and depression. (AT 14, 75-78, 161.) On March 29, 2007, the Commissioner determined that plaintiff was not disabled. (AT 14, 79-83.) Upon plaintiff's request for reconsideration, the determination was affirmed on July 23, 2007. (AT 14, 88-94.) Thereafter, plaintiff requested a hearing before an administrative law judge ("ALJ"), which took place on December 10, 2009. (AT 14, 47-71.)

In a decision dated May 13, 2010, the ALJ determined that plaintiff had not been under a disability, as defined in the Act, from September 30, 2005, through the date of that decision. (AT 14-26.) The ALJ's decision became the final decision of the Commissioner when the Appeals Council denied plaintiff's request for review on January 20, 2012. (AT 1-6.) Thereafter, plaintiff filed this action in federal district court on March 14, 2012, to obtain judicial review of the Commissioner's final decision. (ECF No. 1.)

II. ISSUES PRESENTED

Plaintiff has raised the following issues: (1) whether the ALJ erred in not finding plaintiff's shoulder impairments to be severe at step two of the sequential evaluation process; (2) whether the ALJ improperly weighed the medical opinion evidence; (3) whether the ALJ improperly discounted plaintiff's credibility and subjective complaints; and (4) whether the ALJ erred in failing to obtain testimony by a vocational expert.3

III. LEGAL STANDARD

The court reviews the Commissioner's decision to determine whether (1) it is based on proper legal standards pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), and (2) substantial evidence in the record as a whole supports it. Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1097 (9th Cir. 1999). Substantial evidence is more than a mere scintilla, but less than a preponderance. Connett v. Barnhart, 340 F.3d 871, 873 (9th Cir. 2003) (citation omitted). It means "such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 630 (9th Cir. 2007), quoting Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2005). "The ALJ is responsible for determining credibility, resolving conflicts in medical testimony, and resolving ambiguities." Edlund v. Massanari, 253 F.3d 1152, 1156 (9th Cir. 2001) (citation omitted). "The court will uphold the ALJ's conclusion when the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation." Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1038 (9th Cir. 2008).

IV. DISCUSSION

A. Summary of the ALJ's Findings

The ALJ evaluated plaintiff's entitlement to DIB and SSI pursuant to the Commissioner's standard five-step analytical framework.4 As an initial matter, the ALJ found that plaintiff met the insured status requirements for purposes of DIB through December 31, 2010. (AT 16.) At the first step, the ALJ concluded that plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since September 30, 2005, plaintiff's alleged disability onset date. (Id.) At step two, the ALJ determined that plaintiff had the following severe impairments: chronic lumbar degenerative disc changes predominantly at L4-5, degenerative right hip osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain, and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood. (Id.) However, at step three, the ALJ determined that plaintiff did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that meet or medically equal an impairment listed in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. (Id.)

Before proceeding to step four, the ALJ assessed plaintiff's residual functional capacity ("RFC"), finding that plaintiff was capable of performing sedentary work with additional limitations to simple repetitive tasks and limited public contact. (AT 18.) At step four, the ALJ found that plaintiff was unable to perform any past relevant work. (AT 25.) Finally, at step five, the ALJ determined, in reliance on the "Grids" (see 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2), that, considering plaintiff's age, education, work experience, and RFC, there were jobs that existed in significant numbers in the national economy that plaintiff could perform. (Id.)

Accordingly, the ALJ concluded that plaintiff had not been under a disability, as defined in the Act, from September 30, 2005, through the date of the ALJ's decision. (AT 26.)

B. Plaintiff's Substantive Challenges to the Commissioner's Determinations

1. Whether the ALJ erred in not finding plaintiff's shoulder impairments to be severe at step two of the sequential evaluation process

Under the Commissioner's regulations, an impairment or combination of impairments is deemed to be severe at step two if it "significantly limits your physical or mental ability to do basic work activities." 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 404.1521(a). As the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has explained, "the step-two inquiry is a de minimis screening device to dispose of groundless claims. An impairment or combination of impairments can be found not severe only if the evidence establishes a slight abnormality that has no more than a minimal effect on an individual's ability to work." Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1290 (9th Cir. 1996) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).

In this case, the ALJ provided no meaningful explanation as to why he found that plaintiff's shoulder impairments had no more than a minimal effect on plaintiff's ability to work. Although the Commissioner argues that plaintiff has offered no objective evidence regarding shoulder impairments apart from his subjective complaints, there are numerous references to plaintiff's prior rotator cuff surgeries in the medical records. (See, e.g., AT 267-70, 278, 321-24, 367, 413-14.) Even though consultative examiner Dr. R. Kelley Otani, to whose opinion the ALJ gave great weight (as discussed below), did not formally diagnose a shoulder impairment, he specifically found that plaintiff had limited range of motion in his shoulders. (AT 414-15.) Furthermore, consultative examiner Dr. Mustafa Ammar noted significant pain in both of plaintiff's shoulders with range of motion testing, and actually limited the amount of weight plaintiff could lift and carry in part based on plaintiff's shoulder pain. (AT 269-70.)5

However, even if the ALJ technically erred at step two by not finding plaintiff's shoulder impairments to be severe, such error may nonetheless be harmless if the ALJ proceeded to consider the effects of that impairment at subsequent steps. See Lewis v. Astrue, 498 F.3d 909, 911 (9th Cir. 2007). Because the court concludes, for the reasons discussed below, that the ALJ's evaluation of the medical opinion evidence was not supported by substantial evidence and that remand for further proceedings is required on that basis, it is unnecessary to definitively determine at this juncture whether plaintiff's shoulder impairments were appropriately considered in the sequential evaluation process. On remand, the ALJ will have an opportunity to perform a proper step two analysis with respect to plaintiff's shoulder impairments and consider any limitations relating to such impairments at subsequent steps, as appropriate.

2. Whether the ALJ improperly weighed the medical opinion evidence

Plaintiff primarily contends that the ALJ improperly relied on the opinions of the consultative examining physicians to reject the opinion of plaintiff's treating physician, Dr. David McKinney, with respect to plaintiff's physical limitations.6

The weight given to medical opinions depends in part on whether they are proffered by treating, examining, or non-examining professionals. Holohan v. Massanari, 246 F.3d 1195, 1201-02 (9th Cir. 2001); Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir. 1995). Ordinarily, more weight is given to the opinion of a treating professional, who has a greater opportunity to know and observe the patient as an individual. Id.; Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1285 (9th Cir. 1996).

To evaluate whether an ALJ properly rejected a medical opinion, in addition to considering its source, the court considers whether (1) contradictory opinions are in the record; and (2) clinical findings support the opinions. An ALJ may reject an uncontradicted opinion of a treating or examining medical professional only for "clear and convincing" reasons. Lester, 81 F.3d at 830-31. In contrast, a contradicted opinion of a treating or examining professional may be rejected for "specific and legitimate" reasons. Lester, 81 F.3d at 830. While a treating professional's opinion generally is accorded superior weight, if it is contradicted by a supported examining professional's opinion (supported by different independent clinical findings), the ALJ may resolve the conflict. Andrews v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 1995) (citing Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 751 (9th Cir. 1989)). The regulations require the ALJ to weigh the contradicted treating physician opinion, Edlund, 253 F.3d at 1157,7 except that the ALJ in any event need not give it any weight if it is conclusory and supported by minimal clinical findings. Meanel v. Apfel, 172 F.3d 1111, 1114 (9th Cir. 1999) (treating physician's conclusory, minimally supported opinion rejected); see also Magallanes, 881 F.2d at 751. The opinion of a non-examining professional, without other evidence, is insufficient to reject the opinion of a treating or examining professional. Lester, 81 F.3d at 831.

In this case, on December 17, 2006, plaintiff underwent a consultative examination by board certified internal medicine specialist, Dr. Mustafa Ammar, who did not review plaintiff's prior treatment records. (AT 267-70.) Plaintiff chief complaints were noted to be back pain, shoulder pain, and right hip pain, and plaintiff also described a history of fainting episodes with heat, a heart attack, and a mild stroke resulting in residual problems with memory, focus, and concentration. (AT 267.) Plaintiff stated that he could not do anything at home and mostly watched television. (Id.) He further stated that he did not have a primary care physician, was not taking any medications, but took over-the-counter pain medications "[e]very now and then." (AT 268.) Upon a physical examination, Dr. Ammar observed that plaintiff had a normal gait, did not have problems taking off and putting on his shoes, and did not use an assistive device. (AT 268-69.) Motor strength, sensation, and reflexes were found to be normal in all extremities; a straight leg raising test rendered a normal result; and there were no muscle spasms or atrophy. (Id.) Dr. Ammar did note significant pain in both shoulders with range of motion testing, as well as decreased range of motion of the lumbar spine and hip joints. (AT 269.)

Dr. Ammar diagnosed plaintiff with a history of degenerative disease of the lower back with back pain; a history of bilateral shoulder pain status post surgical repair for rotator cuff injury; a history of right hip pain; and a history of mild heart attack and mild stroke with memory problems. (AT 270.) He opined that plaintiff could stand and walk for about 6 hours in an 8-hour workday (with more frequent breaks due to low back and right hip pain); sit for 6 hours in an 8-hour workday; lift and carry 20 pounds frequently and occasionally due to low back and shoulder pain; only occasionally bend, stoop, and crouch; and that plaintiff did not need an assistive device. (Id.)

On October 19, 2007, Dr. David McKinney completed a treating source statement and RFC evaluation form. (AT 321-24.) Based on a physical examination of plaintiff, a review of plaintiff's medical records, and plaintiff's surgical history, Dr. McKinney diagnosed plaintiff with lumbar stenosis and radiculopathy, coronary heart disease, bipolar disorder, and bilateral rotator cuff repair with chronic shoulder impingement, noting that plaintiff experienced symptoms of daily lumbar pain and pain with any overhead lifting. (AT 321.) He rated plaintiff's pain as 7 or 8 out of 10 chronically, and 9 to 10 out of 10 at worst, noting that plaintiff's pain complaints were credible and that plaintiff was at that time treated with medication, including 4-6 Vicodins per day, and lumbar spine epidural injections. (AT 324.)

Dr. McKinney opined that plaintiff could occasionally lift 6-10 pounds to his chest and rarely lift 6-10 pounds overhead; rarely lift overhead with either hand/arm; stand/walk for 10-15 minutes at a time for 4-5 times a day; sit for 15 minutes at a time for a total of 8 hours in a day; and occasionally bend, but never climb, balance, stoop, crouch, crawl, or kneel. (AT 322-23.) In support of his assessment, Dr. McKinney relied on his physical examination, findings of nerve impingement of L3 and moderate to severe canal stenosis at L4-L5 as shown by a May 11, 2007 CT scan of the lumbar spine, findings of bilateral degenerative hip arthritis, and plaintiff's prior two rotator cuff repair surgeries. (Id.) Dr. McKinney also stated that plaintiff would have environmental restrictions with respect to heights, moving machinery, and humidity. (AT 323.) He opined that plaintiff's back pain would likely worsen. (AT 324.)

Finally, on March 25, 2010, plaintiff was evaluated for his orthopedic concerns by Dr. R. Kelley Otani, a diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. (AT 413-15.) Dr. Otani reviewed some of plaintiff's prior records, including Dr. Ammar's December 17, 2006 assessment; x-rays taken on April 13, 2007; and certain treatment notes from 2009. (AT 414.) Plaintiff reported that he was independent in terms of mobility and activities of daily living, but that he used a right-handed single point cane for long distances. (AT 413.) Upon physical examination, Dr. Otani found decreased lumbar lordosis, increased pain and sensitivity with axial loading and palpation of plaintiff's lumbar spine, and limited range of motion in plaintiff's shoulders and hips. (AT 414.) A straight leg raise test was positive on the right to 10 degrees and the left to 30 degrees, but plaintiff was able to "long sit" when distracted. (Id.) Plaintiff's tone, strength, nerves, touch, sensation, and reflexes were normal. (Id.) Dr. Otani observed that plaintiff had a slight antalgic gait, but was able to heel/toe/tandem walk, get up out of a chair and onto the examination table without difficulty, dress and undress without difficulty, and ambulate without any assistive devices. (Id.)

Dr. Otani diagnosed plaintiff with low back pain with degenerative disk disease (as shown by the x-rays); degenerative osteoarthritis in the hips, bipolar disorder, hypercholesteromia, and bilateral rotator cuff surgery (with the right shoulder in 1997 and the left shoulder in 2003). (AT 414-15.) He noted that plaintiff did not have focal neurologic findings or evidence of a radicular component with regards to his pain symptomatology, and observed that there were non-physiologic inconsistencies in the physical examination, with subjective complaints that appeared to be greater than the objective findings. (AT 415.) Dr. Otani opined that plaintiff could sit for 1 hour at a time for a total of 6 hours in an 8-hour day; stand for 45 minutes at a time for a total of 2 hours in an 8-hour day; and lift/carry 20 pounds occasionally and 10 pounds frequently. (Id.)

The ALJ, in according minimal weight to treating physician Dr. McKinney's opinion, primarily relied on the opinions of the consultative examiners, and in particular the opinion of Dr. Otani. (AT 24.) Because Dr. Otani and Dr. Ammar both personally examined plaintiff and conducted thorough evaluations based on their examinations, resulting in independent clinical findings, their opinions would ordinarily constitute substantial evidence. Andrews, 53 F.3d at 1041 (citing Magallanes, 881 F.2d at 751). The court also agrees, at least in part, that Dr. McKinney's severe limitations are not always fully supported by his examination findings. (AT 24.) Indeed, although Dr. McKinney assessed detailed restrictions, his assessment included little detail regarding the scope and findings of his physical examination. (AT 321-24.) Additionally, even though Dr. McKinney represented that he was plaintiff's treating physician, it appears that his assessment was actually based on a one-time evaluation of plaintiff. (AT 64-65, 321.) Given its brief and limited nature, Dr. McKinney's treatment relationship with plaintiff was therefore more comparable to that of a consultative examining physician.

Nevertheless, the court finds that the opinions of Dr. Otani and Dr. Ammar here cannot qualify as substantial evidence to support the ALJ's assessment of plaintiff's functional limitations, because these examiners did not have access to all of plaintiff's pertinent medical records, and in particular, the May 11, 2007 CT scan of plaintiff's lumbar spine on which Dr. McKinley heavily relied in his assessment. Unlike the April 13, 2007 x-rays and a December 10, 2007 lumbar spine MRI, which were reviewed by Dr. Otani and contained mostly mild to moderate findings, the May 11, 2007 CT scan of plaintiff's lumbar spine contained more severe findings. (AT 304-05, 397, 414.) In particular, that CT scan contained the following impression:

(AT 304.)

The regulations require that a consultative examiner be given any necessary background information about the plaintiff's condition. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1517. Background information is essential because consultative exams are used to try to resolve inconsistencies or ambiguities in the evidence. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1519a(b). An opinion on a documented medical problem given after only a one-shot examination, without recourse to the plaintiff's available medical records, is not one which can generally be relied upon. This conclusion is especially true when the medical records contain results from important objective tests, such as the above-mentioned CT scan, which the treating physician used to support his opinion.

Although the May 11, 2007 CT scan was only performed after Dr. Ammar examined plaintiff on December 17, 2006, there is no indication that the CT scan results were somehow unavailable at the time of Dr. Otani's examination on March 25, 2010. The May 11, 2007 CT scan results, on which Dr. McKinney heavily relied in his assessment, were more severe than the other objective test results on which Dr. Otani relied, suggesting, for example, that there may be possible impingement of nerve roots. Dr. Otani and Dr. Ammar did not have access to the May 11, 2007 CT scan results, and it is unclear how these examiners would have weighed the potentially conflicting objective test results. Importantly, the court cannot independently determine whether and/or how review of those results would have changed Dr. Otani's and Dr. Ammar's opinions, if at all, with respect to plaintiff's functional limitations.

Accordingly, remand for a consultative evaluation by an examining orthopedic specialist, or other appropriate health professional, with full access to plaintiff's prior treatment records and objective test results, is necessary to adjudicate plaintiff's claims. Depending on the results of the consultative examination, the ALJ may also consider conducting a supplemental hearing with vocational expert testimony regarding any limitations found, if necessary.8

Plaintiff requests that the case be remanded for payment of benefits. However, an award of benefits is only appropriate where "no useful purpose would be served by further administrative proceedings," "the record has been thoroughly developed," and "there are no outstanding issues that must be resolved before a proper disability determination can be made." Varney v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 859 F.2d 1396, 1399, 1401 (9th Cir. 1988). Here, given the ambiguities and inconsistencies in the medical opinion evidence and objective test results, as discussed above, it is far from clear that plaintiff is in fact disabled. Portions of the record suggest that plaintiff's impairments may be satisfactorily controlled with medication. For example, on August 13, 2009, plaintiff apparently informed Dr. Jerry Waters, one of his treating physicians who did not submit a functional assessment, that he was "at least 80% better" and that his pain level was "very tolerable." (AT 351.) Treatment records from another treating physician, Dr. Htun Zaw Oo, between July and October 2009 likewise state that plaintiff's back pain was controlled with medication, that he had a nonantalgic gait, and indicate that he often did not use an assistive device during his appointments. (AT 374, 379, 381-82.) As the ALJ noted, there were also gaps in plaintiff's treatment during the alleged disability period. (AT 23.)

Therefore, the court finds that the better course of action is to remand the case for further proceedings as outlined above. Indeed, the court expresses no opinion regarding the weight ultimately to be given to any particular evidence on remand, and leaves it to the sound discretion of the ALJ to evaluate the record as a whole within the confines of the applicable law.

3. Other Issues

In light of the court's conclusion that the case should be remanded for further development of the medical opinion evidence, the court declines to address plaintiff's remaining issues regarding plaintiff's credibility and vocational expert testimony at this time. Upon remand, the ALJ will have an opportunity to consider whether his analysis regarding plaintiff's credibility should or should not be revised in light of further development of the record, and whether vocational expert testimony is appropriate, subjects on which the court expresses no opinion here.

V. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 15) is GRANTED IN PART.

2. The Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 18) is DENIED.

3. The action is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this order pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

4. Judgment is entered for plaintiff.

5. The Clerk of Court is directed to close this case and vacate all dates.

IT IS SO ORDERED.