Hi Mark....haven't posted much but I had to jump on this one. I was also denied benefits basically for the same reasons. Also because I have a couple of degrees didn't help my case because I could easily be employed sitting for a couple of hours and walking short distances or so they said. I didn't hire an attorney rather my car insurance company had hired a vocation rehab. specialist as my spoke person, basically I was forced into applying for benefits. I to was denied the the first time around however I appealed my case and won my first appeal.

At first I didn't want the benefits I thought I would return back to work. But after 3 years and with my benefits ending with my car insurance which paid me 85% of my lost wages for 3 years social security was looking pretty good. My appeals was in the process however the person who was hired to be my spoke person, well lets just say they really didn't do all that much. Remember this person was a rehab specialist and not an attorney. I don't remember who posted a link to a site that gave you social security secrets and how to win your benefits but I followed that site's suggestions and low and behold I won my first appeal.

The most important part is not only that you have RSD and all the other medical issues going on but you have to say your depressed. If your taking an anti depressant medication, appear depressed to your doctor and if he/she is documenting that they see depression then you should not have a problem with that area. Also, didn't you see someone for depression a while back?
I don't know about you but even still my medication makes me so tired I still require a nap during the day. My memory is for crap and don't even ask me a question the first hour after my morning does of methadone . I don't know how your sleeping patterns are at night but I only sleep 2-3 hours a night. This all has to be documented.

There is a form and I believe it is called a Residual functional capacity that you can get from social security. Of course this is a form that is considered a secret I believe. I got my form from the vocation rehab specialist after reading about it on the site about social security secrets. Its a real bit** that we have to do our own home work to win our own money isn't it? or even better pay someone to win the money for us.

The name of the link is called www.disabilitysecrets.com. I hope the site will help you, it helped me out. I did my homework and then told my voc rehab. specialist what we needed to do to win and we did. By the way I didn't have to pay him to go with me my auto insurance did. Social security will hold back 5 or 6 months from the date you applied just an FYI. If I can answer any other questions for you or help in anyway please do not hesitate to ask me okay? Jewells