Sanchez v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 86-5711
| Decision Date | 09 March 1987 |
| Docket Number | No. 86-5711,86-5711 |
| Citation | 812 F.2d 509 |
| Parties | , Unempl.Ins.Rep. CCH 17,207 Cristobal SANCHEZ, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Defendant-Appellee. |
| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit |
Martin Taller, Anaheim, Cal., for plaintiff-appellant.
Nancy E. Wever, San Francisco, Cal., for defendant-appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Before WALLACE, WIGGINS and KOZINSKI, Circuit Judges.
Cristobal Sanchez appeals from the district court's summary judgment denying him disability or supplemental security income benefits under the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 301-1397f. The district court held that substantial evidence supported the determination of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) that Sanchez was not disabled under 42 U.S.C. Secs. 423(d)(1)(A) and 1382c(a)(3)(A). Sanchez argues that the Secretary's decision lacks substantial evidence and that the district court erred in failing to remand to the Secretary for review of new evidence. We affirm.
In reviewing the denial of disability benefits, we will affirm if the Secretary's findings are supported by substantial evidence and the Secretary applied the correct legal standards. Allen v. Secretary of Health & Human Serv., 726 F.2d 1470, 1472 (9th Cir.1984). Sanchez bears the initial burden of establishing disability by showing that a physical or mental impairment prevents him from engaging in any of his previous occupations. Id.
In finding Sanchez could perform light work, the Secretary rejected the opinion of Sanchez's treating physician, Dr. Dannis, that Sanchez was disabled as a result of his back condition. The Secretary must explain why he has rejected uncontroverted medical evidence, but can resolve disputes in contradicted medical evidence. Vincent ex rel. Vincent v. Heckler, 739 F.2d 1393, 1395 (9th Cir.1984). Dr. Dannis's opinion was substantially contradicted. Two consulting physicians, an orthopedist and a neurologist, examined Sanchez and were of the opinion that his back condition was not so severe that he could not do light work. Dr. Dannis himself described Sanchez's condition as "limited in physical activities that would involve prolonged standing, walking, or bending." In finding Sanchez permanently disabled, Dr. Dannis relied on non-medical factors--Sanchez's age and lack of formal education making reentry into the job market difficult--which the doctor was not qualified to consider. There is substantial evidence that Sanchez is not disabled from performing light work.
The Secretary also found that Sanchez's light work restriction did not prevent him from working as a service station operator, one of his previous occupations. Because Sanchez was able to return to past work despite his disability, the Secretary found Sanchez failed to satisfy his burden of showing he was unable to return to a previous occupation. See Allen, 726 F.2d at 1472. Sanchez argues that there is no substantial evidence that his prior gas station work is light work. We disagree. The Secretary may determine the physical demands of former work by comparison to that generally required in the national economy for that work. Orlando v. Heckler, 776 F.2d 209, 215 (7th Cir.1985). As Sanchez described it, his former gas station work consisted of collecting money and pumping gas. The government classifies this type of work (automobile-service-station attendant) as light work. Employment & Training Admin., U.S. Dep't of Labor, Dictionary of Occupational Titles Sec. 915.477-010 (4th ed. 1977); Employment & Training Admin., U.S. Dep't of Labor, Selected Characteristics of Occupations Defined in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles 254 & app. A (1981).
Sanchez asks the court to remand for consideration of new evidence consisting of two psychological evaluations prepared after the Secretary issued a final decision denying benefits on the present application. The examinations were arranged as part of Sanchez's subsequent application in 1983 for social security disability benefits. Both reports state that Sanchez may have an organic brain disorder, manifested by memory loss and speech problems. In seeking remand, Sanchez must show that there is: (1) new evidence that is material, and ...
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