Quote:
Originally Posted by finz
Tru dat, babyboomer !
Hi ironbutterfly,
Try not to be discouraged. The great majority are denied the first time around. It's great if the LTD people will have a lawyer assist you on the appeal. The lawyer should be aware of what kind of documentation SSA requires to find total disability.
Just going off what you mentioned here, where you explained his condition with "just" a diagnosis (you obviously weren't intending to give the "whole" story there), are you SURE his application was as thorough as it could be ? My first time around, I think I made a big mistake in giving more info about my diagnoses and treatments than about the impact they had. Is he able to get dressed and leave the house each day ? Does limited mobility mean he needs assistance getting out of a chair ? Does he need to lay down every few hours ? It's not about listing what's wrong with him, it's about explaining why those things make him unable to work.
Good luck !
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He had 8 verterbrae fused, with rods and screws back in June. He has prosthethic knee, 11 knee surgeries, severe arthritis in knees and spine, osteopenia, spondylisthesis and skin cancer (basal and squamous -27 surgeries so far for those).
We completed the adult function form where they ask about hygiene, going to store, driving, cooking, how you can walk, etc. He is able to take care of himself, drive, go to store, cook, do some laundry, and walk. I did stress that he can't sit or stand more then 2hrs...and that he has a life time limit of no more then 25# for lifting due to screws and rods. He does have a college degree and he is 54...He does not have any mental issues (not depressed), etc. We were honest in all that we put but there is no way he can work if he can't stand or sit more then two hours without pain.
I wonder if him having a degree had something to do with it. Although he never worked in his field of degree....he worked for 24hrs in a hard physically demanding job....
The letter did say they made the decision based on info received from his surgeon and from the rehab folks (rehab after his spinal fusion) in conjuction with his age, education, etc...
So just not sure what we did wrong to get denied.....