Nadine Reed v. Larry G. Massanari, Acting Commissioner of Social Security

BERZON, Circuit Judge:

The Commissioner of Social Security determined that Nadine Reed is not entitled to disability benefits or supplemental security income. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the Commissioner on Reed’s challenge to that decision, and Reed appeals. We find that the Administrative Law Judge rejected for an improper reason Reed’s request for a consultative examination. We therefore reverse and remand for further proceedings.

I

Born in 1959, Reed was employed for almost a decade as a nurse’s aid, until poor health forced her to resign. She later worked for…