MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER AFFIRMING DECISION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY

JOHN E. McDERMOTT, Magistrate Judge.

PROCEEDINGS

On August 23, 2011, Fentress Smith ("Plaintiff" or "Claimant") filed a complaint seeking review of the decision by the Commissioner of Social Security ("Commissioner") denying Plaintiff's application for Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") disability benefits. The Commissioner filed an Answer on November 28, 2011. On April 9, 2012, the parties filed a Joint Stipulation ("JS"). The matter is now ready for decision.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), both parties consented to proceed before this Magistrate Judge. After reviewing the pleadings, transcripts, and administrative record ("AR"), the Court concludes that the Commissioner's decision should be affirmed and the case dismissed with prejudice.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff is a 47 year old male who applied for SSI benefits on March 30, 2007, alleging disability beginning July 16, 2003. (AR 16.) Plaintiff has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since March 30, 2007, the application date. (AR 18.)

Plaintiff's claim was denied initially and on reconsideration on November 15, 2007. (AR 16.) Plaintiff filed a timely request for hearing on January 10, 2008. (AR 16.) Plaintiff appeared and testified at hearings held before Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") Joseph D. Schloss on May 18, 2009, and November 16, 2009, in San Bernardino, California. (AR 16.) Claimant was represented by counsel at both hearings. (AR 16.) Medical expert Dr. Arthur Lorber and vocational expert ("VE") Corinne Porter also appeared and testified at the November 16, 2009, hearing. (AR 16.) The ALJ issued an unfavorable decision on February 11, 2011. (AR 16-26.) The Appeals Council denied review on July 5, 2011. (AR 1-5.)

DISPUTED ISSUES

As reflected in the Joint Stipulation, Plaintiff raises the following disputed issues as grounds for reversal and remand:

STANDARD OF REVIEW

Under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), this Court reviews the ALJ's decision to determine whether the ALJ's findings are supported by substantial evidence and free of legal error. Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1279 (9th Cir. 1996); see also DeLorme v. Sullivan, 924 F.2d 841, 846 (9th Cir. 1991) (ALJ's disability determination must be supported by substantial evidence and based on the proper legal standards).

Substantial evidence means "`more than a mere scintilla,' but less than a preponderance." Saelee v. Chater, 94 F.3d 520, 521-22 (9th Cir. 1996) (quoting Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401 (1971)). Substantial evidence is "such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Richardson, 402 U.S. at 401 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

This Court must review the record as a whole and consider adverse as well as supporting evidence. Robbins v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 466 F.3d 880, 882 (9th Cir. 2006). Where evidence is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, the ALJ's decision must be upheld. Morgan v. Comm'r of the Soc. Sec. Admin., 169 F.3d 595, 599 (9th Cir. 1999). "However, a reviewing court must consider the entire record as a whole and may not affirm simply by isolating a `specific quantum of supporting evidence.'" Robbins, 466 F.3d at 882 (quoting Hammock v. Bowen, 879 F.2d 498, 501 (9th Cir. 1989)); see also Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 630 (9th Cir. 2007).

THE SEQUENTIAL EVALUATION

The Social Security Act defines disability as the "inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or . . . can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months." 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A). The Commissioner has established a five-step sequential process to determine whether a claimant is disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920.

The first step is to determine whether the claimant is presently engaging in substantial gainful activity. Parra v. Astrue, 481 F.3d 742, 746 (9th Cir. 2007). If the claimant is engaging in substantial gainful activity, disability benefits will be denied. Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 140 (1987). Second, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment or combination of impairments. Parra, 481 F.3d at 746. An impairment is not severe if it does not significantly limit the claimant's ability to work. Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1290 (9th Cir. 1996). Third, the ALJ must determine whether the impairment is listed, or equivalent to an impairment listed, in 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, Appendix I of the regulations. Parra, 481 F.3d at 746. If the impediment meets or equals one of the listed impairments, the claimant is presumptively disabled. Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 141. Fourth, the ALJ must determine whether the impairment prevents the claimant from doing past relevant work. Pinto v. Massanari, 249 F.3d 840, 844-45 (9th Cir. 2001). Before making the step four determination, the ALJ first must determine the claimant's residual functional capacity ("RFC").1 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(e). The RFC must consider all of the claimant's impairments, including those that are not severe. 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.920(e), 416.945(a)(2); Social Security Ruling ("SSR") 96-8p. If the claimant cannot perform his or her past relevant work or has no past relevant work, the ALJ proceeds to the fifth step and must determine whether the impairment prevents the claimant from performing any other substantial gainful activity. Moore v. Apfel, 216 F.3d 864, 869 (9th Cir. 2000).

The claimant bears the burden of proving steps one through four, consistent with the general rule that at all times the burden is on the claimant to establish his or her entitlement to benefits. Parra, 481 F.3d at 746. Once this prima facie case is established by the claimant, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to show that the claimant may perform other gainful activity. Lounsburry v. Barnhart, 468 F.3d 1111, 1114 (9th Cir. 2006). To support a finding that a claimant is not disabled at step five, the Commissioner must provide evidence demonstrating that other work exists in significant numbers in the national economy that the claimant can do, given his or her RFC, age, education, and work experience. 20 C.F.R. § 416.912(g). If the Commissioner cannot meet this burden, then the claimant is disabled and entitled to benefits. Id.

THE ALJ DECISION

In this case, the ALJ determined at step one of the sequential process that Plaintiff has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since March 30, 2007, the date Plaintiff applied for SSI disability benefits. (AR 18.) Based on a previous application filed on November 30, 2004, Plaintiff was found disabled with an onset date of November 1, 2004, due to a disorder of the back. (AR 16.) Subsequently, he was incarcerated from November 2005 to March 28, 2007, and his entitlement to SSI disability benefits ceased. (AR 16.) The alleged onset date for this application is March 30, 2007. (AR 579, 590.)

At step two, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff has the following medically determinable severe impairment: degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spine. (AR 18. )

At step three, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff does not have an impairment or combination of impairments that meets or medically equals one of the listed impairments. (AR 18-19.)

The ALJ then found that the Plaintiff has the RFC to perform light work except for the following limitations:

(AR 19.) In determining this RFC, the ALJ also made an adverse credibility determination. (AR 19.)

At step four, the ALJ found that Plaintiff is unable to perform any of his past relevant work as a driver/loader/unloader and bus driver, which all required exertion beyond the assessed RFC. (AR 24.) Based on the testimony of the VE, however, the ALJ did find there were other jobs existing in significant numbers in the national economy that Plaintiff can perform, including hand packager, mail clerk and cashier. (AR 25.)

Consequently, the ALJ concluded that Claimant was not disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act since March 30, 2007, the date Claimant's application for Supplement Security Income disability benefits was filed. (AR 26.)

DISCUSSION

The ALJ decision must be affirmed. The ALJ properly rejected the opinions of Dr. Nasir and Dr. Styne. The ALJ properly discounted Plaintiff's subjective symptom testimony.

The ALJ's RFC is supported by substantial evidence. The ALJ's non-disability determination is supported by substantial evidence and free of legal error.

I. THE ALJ'S RFC IS SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

Claimant alleges disability due to neck and back pain. (AR 19, 20, 21.) The ALJ assessed the Claimant with an RFC for light work with some limitations. (AR 19.) All three issues raised by Plaintiff concern the ALJ's RFC. The ALJ's RFC, however, is supported by substantial evidence.

An RFC is not a medical determination but an administrative finding or legal decision reserved to the Commissioner based on consideration of all the relevant evidence, including medical evidence, lay witnesses and subjective symptoms. See SSR 96-5p; 20 C.F.R. § 1527(e). In determining a claimant's RFC, an ALJ must consider all relevant evidence in the record, including medical records, lay evidence, and the effects of symptoms, including pain reasonably attributable to the medical condition. Robbins, 466 F.3d at 883.

A. The ALJ Properly Rejected The Opinions And RFC Assessments Of Dr. Nasir And Dr. Styne

Plaintiff's first two challenges to the ALJ's RFC are that the ALJ improperly rejected the opinions of treating physician and pain management specialist Dr. Nasir and consulting examiner Dr. Styne. The Court disagrees.

1. Relevant Federal Law

In evaluating medical opinions, the case law and regulations distinguish among the opinions of three types of physicians: (1) those who treat the claimant (treating physicians); (2) those who examine but do not treat the claimant (examining physicians); and (3) those who neither examine nor treat the claimant (non-examining, or consulting, physicians). See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527, 416.927; see also Lester v. Chater, 81 F.3d 821, 830 (9th Cir. 1995). In general, an ALJ must accord special weight to a treating physician's opinion because a treating physician "is employed to cure and has a greater opportunity to know and observe the patient as an individual." Magallanes v. Bowen, 881 F.2d 747, 751 (9th Cir. 1989) (citation omitted). If a treating source's opinion on the issues of the nature and severity of a claimant's impairments is well-supported by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques, and is not inconsistent with other substantial evidence in the case record, the ALJ must give it "controlling weight." 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527(d)(2), 416.927(d)(2).

Where a treating doctor's opinion is not contradicted by another doctor, it may be rejected only for "clear and convincing" reasons. Lester, 81 F.3d at 830. However, if the treating physician's opinion is contradicted by another doctor, such as an examining physician, the ALJ may reject the treating physician's opinion by providing specific, legitimate reasons, supported by substantial evidence in the record. Lester, 81 F.3d at 830-31; see also Orn, 495 F.3d at 632; Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 957 (9th Cir. 2002). Where a treating physician's opinion is contradicted by an examining professional's opinion, the Commissioner may resolve the conflict by relying on the examining physician's opinion if the examining physician's opinion is supported by different, independent clinical findings. See Andrews v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 1995); Orn, 495 F.3d at 632. Similarly, to reject an uncontradicted opinion of an examining physician, an ALJ must provide clear and convincing reasons. Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211, 1216 (9th Cir. 2005). If an examining physician's opinion is contradicted by another physician's opinion, an ALJ must provide specific and legitimate reasons to reject it. Id. However, "[t]he opinion of a non-examining physician cannot by itself constitute substantial evidence that justifies the rejection of the opinion of either an examining physician or a treating physician"; such an opinion may serve as substantial evidence only when it is consistent with and supported by other independent evidence in the record. Lester, 81 F.3d at 830-31; Morgan, 169 F.3d at 600.

2. Analysis

The medical evidence in this case is in conflict. The ALJ's RFC for light work with limitations was based on two complete orthopedic evaluations by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bunsri Sophon, the opinions of two reviewing State agency reviewers, the opinion of testifying medical expert Dr. Arthur Lorber, and considerable MRI testing and other objective medical evidence. The ALJ rejected the opinions of Dr. Nasir and Dr. Styne, both of whom wrote that Plaintiff was disabled. The ALJ is responsible for resolving conflicts in the medical evidence, Andrews, 53 F.3d at 1039, and the ALJ's interpretation of the evidence if reasonable should not be second-guessed. Rollins v. Massanari, 261 F.3d 853, 857 (9th Cir. 2001.) Here, the ALJ's interpretation of the medical evidence is reasonable and supported by substantial evidence.

Dr. Sophon's first report was April 24, 2007. (AR 348-52.) Despite Plaintiff's claims of low back and neck pain, Dr. Sophon found him in no acute distress. (AR 348-49.) There was no evidence of tenderness or muscle spasm in the cervical spine, or thoracic and lumber spine. (AR 350.) Range of motion was within normal limits, except for the lumbar spine. (AR 350, 351, 352.) Straight leg raising was negative. (AR 350.) He opined Plaintiff could lift 100 pounds and had no limitations in sitting, standing, walking, or bending. (AR 352.) Based on this report, two State agency reviewing physicians Dr. J. Hartman and Dr. Keith Wahl determined that Plaintiff could perform heavy work. (AR 24, 247-48, 347, 355-59.)

Dr. Sophon performed another complete orthopedic evaluation dated August 11, 2009. (AR 520-25.) Again, he found Claimant in no acute distress (AR 521), and no evidence of tenderness or muscle spasm in the cervical spine or thoracic and lumbar spine. (AR 522.) Straight leg raising was negative. (AR 522.) There was non-painful restriction of motion of both the cervical and lumbosacral spine. (AR 524.) Plaintiff would be able to lift 50 pounds, and is restricted to sitting, standing, and walking six hours out of an eight hour workday. (AR 24.)

At the November 16, 2009, hearing, medical expert Dr. Arthur Lorber, who reviewed the entire medical evidence of record, testified. (AR 579-83.) Dr. Lorber made specific reference to an April 3, 2009, MRI that found minimal degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. (AR 583, 557.) He also discounted a June 14, 2004, MRI showing significant disc dessication as invalid because of patient motion. (AR 24.) Relying on the opinions of Dr. Sophon and the two State reviewing physicians and MRI radiological evidence, Dr. Lorber found that Plaintiff could perform a limited range of light work activities. (AR 579-83.) Dr. Lorber indicated Claimant may occasionally bend, stoop, crouch, and kneel, and should not crawl, balance, work at heights or with vibration, or climb ladders. (AR 583.) The ALJ adopted Dr. Lorber's RFC assessment. (AR 19.)

In conflict with the above evidence, Plaintiff's treating physician Dr. Nasir opined that Plaintiff was unable to work because of migraine headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, leg pain, and anxiety. (AR 21.) A pain management specialist, Dr. Nasir prescribed Motrin 800, Vicodin, Soma, and Xanax. (AR 395.) Treatment has included nerve blocks and joint injections. (AR 391-92, 416.)

The ALJ rejected Dr. Nasir's opinion for specific, legitimate reasons supported by substantial evidence. First, the ALJ found that Dr. Nasir's opinion was not well supported by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory techniques. (AR 21, 22.) An ALJ may reject a treating physician's opinion if it is brief, conclusory and unsupported by objective medical evidence. Batson v. Comm'r, 359 F.3d 1190, 1195 n.3 (9th Cir. 2004). The ALJ cited MRIs and X-rays in 2009 indicating only mild/moderate radiological findings of degenerative changes in the back and neck. (AR 20, 22, 388, 389.) An X-ray of the lumbar spine dated April 6, 2006, found only mild spondylosis. (AR 20, 22, 511-12.) An electromyography showed only mild radiculopathy. (AR 20, 22, 441.) Plaintiff points to no MRI or radiological findings to the contrary. Indeed, Dr. Nasir only cites to unspecified MRI reports in past medical records, none of which support disability. (AR 413, 423.) Plaintiff argues that the MRI findings do not erase Dr. Nasir's observations about pain but the ALJ's point is that the orthopedic and radiological evidence does not support either Plaintiff's alleged pain symptoms or Dr. Nasir's observations about Plaintiff's pain. Plaintiff has no answer to the ALJ's finding that Dr. Nasir's opinion is unsupported by objective medical evidence.

Second, the ALJ found Dr. Nasir's opinion "inconsistent with other substantial evidence of record," including Dr. Sophon, the State agency reviewers, Dr. Lorber and the MRI, and radiological evidence. Plaintiff does not dispute this evidence other than by reference to Dr. Nasir's conflicting opinion, which is not supported by the MRI and radiological evidence. Again, it is the ALJ that is responsible for resolving conflicts in the medical evidence, Andrews, 53 F.3d at 1039. The ALJ's interpretation of the evidence is reasonable and should not be second-guessed. Rollins, 261 F.3d at 857.

Third, Dr. Nasir prescribed a cane for Plaintiff, but he used it inconsistently (AR 19, 21), and Dr. Lorber was of the opinion that there was no objective medical evidence to support the use of a cane. (AR 23-24.) Numerous examinations indicated Plaintiff was "neurologically intact with normal gait, no uncoordination noted, no motor weakness in the extremities and no neurological impingement." (AR 24.)

Fourth, Dr. Nasir prescribed numerous narcotic pain medications for Claimant's musculoskeletal complaints that cause drowsiness and problems with concentration, focus, and mental acuity. (AR 20.) Dr. Lorber, however, opined that "the objective evidence does not support a degree of pain to substantiate the narcotics, i.e., no motor weakness, normal gait and the claimant is neurologically intact." (AR 24.)

Fifth, with regard to headaches, the ALJ found there was no evidence of a history of regular treatment for headaches. (AR 22.) Plaintiff does not say otherwise.

Sixth, Dr. Nasir stated that Plaintiff's pain causes depression, but the ALJ found that Plaintiff has received no mental health treatment and there is no longitudinal history of psychiatric impairment. (AR 22.) Plaintiff does not contend otherwise.

Plaintiff argues that the lack of objective evidence does not address or negate Dr. Nasir's pain observations (JS 13, 16) and notes that Dr. Nasir at all times found Claimant symptomatic with regard to pain. (JS 16.) Yet the ALJ discounted Plaintiff's credibility on basically the same evidence and for the same reasons that he rejected Dr. Nasir's opinion. (AR 19-20, 21-22.) An ALJ may discount a treating physician's opinion if it is not supported by objective medical evidence and is based on claimant's subjective complaints. Batson v. Comm'r, 359 F.3d 1190, 1195 (9th Cir. 2004).

The ALJ also rejected the opinion of Dr. Styner, a consulting orthopedist who examined Plaintiff on June 17, 2009. (AR 22.) Dr. Styner's June 17, 2009, report and June 29, 2009, Multiple Impairment Questionnaire state that Plaintiff cannot work. (AR 22, 486-506.) The ALJ rejected Dr. Styner's opinion because it was inconsistent with the opinions of Dr. Sophon, the State agency reviewers, and Dr. Lorber and the radiological evidence previously discussed. (AR 22-23.) Again, the ALJ's interpretation of the evidence if reasonable should not be second-guessed. Rollins, 261 F.3d at 857.

The ALJ properly rejected the opinions of Dr. Nasir and Dr. Styner for specific and legitimate reasons supported by substantial evidence.

B. The ALJ Properly Discounted Plaintiff's Credibility

Plaintiff's final challenge to the ALJ's RFC is that the ALJ improperly discounted Plaintiff's subjective pain testimony. The Court disagrees.

1. Relevant Law

The test for deciding whether to accept a claimant's subjective symptom testimony turns on whether the claimant produces medical evidence of an impairment that reasonably could be expected to produce the pain or other symptoms alleged. Bunnell v. Sullivan, 947 F.2d 341, 346 (9th Cir. 1991); see also Reddick v. Chater, 157 F.3d 715, 722 (9th Cir. 1998); Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1281-82 & n.2. The Commissioner may not discredit a claimant's testimony on the severity of symptoms merely because it is unsupported by objective medical evidence. Reddick, 157 F.3d at 722; Bunnell, 947 F.2d at 343, 345. If the ALJ finds the claimant's symptom testimony not credible, the ALJ "must specifically make findings which support this conclusion." Bunnell, 947 F.2d at 345. These findings must be "sufficiently specific to permit the court to conclude that the ALJ did not arbitrarily discredit [the] claimant's testimony." Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d at 958; see also Rollins, 261 F.3d at 856-57; Bunnell, 947 F.2d at 345-46. Unless there is evidence of malingering, the ALJ can reject the claimant's testimony about the severity of her symptoms only by offering "specific, clear and convincing reasons for doing so." Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1283-84; see also Reddick, 157 F.3d at 722. The ALJ must identify what testimony is not credible and what evidence discredits the testimony. Reddick, 157 F.3d at 722; Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1284.

2. Analysis

In determining Plaintiff's RFC, the ALJ concluded that Plaintiff's medically determinable impairments reasonably could be expected to cause his alleged symptoms. (AR 19.) The ALJ, however, found that Plaintiff's statements regarding the intensity, persistence and limiting effects of his symptoms were not credible to the extent they are inconsistent with the ALJ's RFC. (AR 19.) Because there was no finding of malingering, the ALJ was required to provide clear and convincing reasons supported by substantial evidence to discount Plaintiff's credibility. Smolen, 80 F.3d at 1283-84. The ALJ did so.

First, the ALJ found that the objective medical evidence does not support disability. (AR 19-20.) An ALJ is entitled to consider whether there is a lack of medical evidence to corroborate a claimant's symptoms so long as it is not the only reason for discounting a claimant's credibility. Burch v. Barnhart, 400 F.3d 676, 680-81 (9th Cir. 2005). Here, the ALJ cited normal musculosketal examinations of other physicians like Dr. Sophon, and the mild MRI radiological findings. (AR 20.) Plaintiff does not dispute that there is objective medical evidence not supporting disability.

Second, the ALJ noted Claimant's inconsistent use of the cane prescribed by Dr. Nasir. (AR 19.) An ALJ may consider the failure to follow a physician's treatment regimen in evaluating credibility. Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 2008.)

Third, the ALJ discounted Claimant's credibility because he "can perform activities of daily living such as shopping, preparing simple meals and caring for his personal hygiene." (AR 20.) The ALJ also noted that Claimant also drives his grandchildren to school and drove himself to the consultative examination. (AR 20.) These activities are inconsistent with allegations of disabling pain. Daily activities inconsistent with alleged limitations are a valid basis for rejecting a claimant's credibility. Burch, 400 F.3d at 681.

* * *

The ALJ's RFC is supported by substantial evidence. The ALJ's non-disability determination is supported by substantial evidence and free of legal error.

ORDER

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is AFFIRMED and this case dismissed with prejudice.

LET JUDGMENT BE ENTERED ACCORDINGLY.