Opinion
No. 12-55612 D.C. No. 2:11-cv-01211-SP
11-27-2013
WILLIE L. DURDEN, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant - Appellee.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
MEMORANDUM
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Central District of California
Sheri Pym, Magistrate Judge, Presiding
Submitted November 7, 2013
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
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Pasadena, California
Before: McKEOWN, GOULD, and BYBEE, Circuit Judges.
Willie Durden appeals the district court's judgment upholding an ALJ's denial of his Supplemental Security Income claim. We review the district court's decision de novo and will "disturb the denial of benefits only if the decision contains legal error or is not supported by substantial evidence." Tommasetti v. Astrue, 533 F.3d 1035, 1038 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 630 (9th Cir. 2007)). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We affirm.
Durden argues that the ALJ erred by using the "light work" section of the Medical Vocational Guidelines ("the Grids") because the ALJ did not take into account Durden's mental and social limitations as "required" by the Social Security Administration Program Operations Manual System ("POMS"). He also contends that the ALJ improperly considered a vocational expert's testimony.
Durden's arguments are without merit for three reasons. First, the POMS does not have the force and effect of law and, thus, does not impose judicially enforceable duties on the ALJ. Lockwood v. Comm'r Soc. Sec. Admin., 616 F.3d 1068, 1073 (9th Cir. 2010).
Second, the ALJ used the correct section of the Grids because the Grids only apply to exertional capabilities such as lifting, walking, or standing, 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2, § 200.00(e); 20 C.F.R. § 416.969a(b), and substantial evidence supports the ALJ's determination that Durden is physically capable of performing light work, as defined by 20 C.F.R. § 416.967(b). Moreover, the ALJ correctly determined that Durden, despite advancing age and limited education, has the ability to perform the full range of light work and is not disabled. See 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2, Rule 202.11.
Third, when a claimant has exertional and certain nonexertional limitations—as is the case here—an ALJ must consider a vocational expert's opinion when deciding whether the claimant's nonexertional limitations affect his ability to perform the full range of work within the claimant's exertional range. Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 960 (9th Cir. 2002); Hoopai v. Astrue, 499 F.3d 1071, 1076 (9th Cir. 2007) ("[A] vocational expert's testimony is required when a non-exertional limitation . . . significantly limit[s] the range of work permitted by the claimant's exertional limitation.") (internal citation omitted). Accordingly, the ALJ properly consulted a vocational expert to determine whether Durden's mental and social limitations prevented him from performing the full range of light jobs.
AFFIRMED.