Hey all,
New here and hoping for some insight, I applied for disability online about a month ago, I was contacted yesterday by the claim handler at DDS asking if I would be willing to go to a exam they schedule, of course I say yes and that's it, Well I did some reading and see that most times when they request this it's because your medical records are sparse or that your treating doctor has not responded in a timely manner, Well I just had an appointment this week with my doctor and she had asked me if I had applied yet(her sugestion that I apply), I thought it funny that DDS has not requested my medical records from her yet, anyway So I called the claim handler back and asked her if she had requested my records from my treating doctor and she said No, But that she would do so now. Is it me but should'nt she had done that before even thinking about a exam with there doctor, also from my reading is it not true that the prefered source for an exam your current treating doctor, and is it correct that I can request my doctor do the exam? Sorry for long post, any help or insight would be appreciated Thanks

you have to have one of there doctors do the exam,,, and remember this,, your dealing with a Govt. Agency,, do you really expect anything to go right?,, did your doc send in the evaluation forms from SSA,, they should have sent her something,, all of my doctors got evaluation forms to fill out,, and remember,, ANYTHING that changes call your caseworker and let them know so that its on record,,, I called mine everytime a prescription changed and the reason why,, flood them with paperwork

Thank you for the info and insight, I will update with them, and yes I don't expect things to go smoothly dealing with a government agency

that information is not correct. you do not have to have one of their doctors do the evaluation. you can have your doctor do it if they are willing to.

yes I was wrong,, here is a good link to check out on this subject

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/hepC/SS_CE.htm

In reality, the best way to do it is for you to send your medical records with your application, also any doctor's letters that support your limitations is a good idea. Consultive exams are always negative. They are so cursory as to be useless.
Respectflloy, Trudi

Thanks for the replies and info

You DO NOT have to see their assigned doctor, if you can find or already have a treating doctor who will do the exam. SS does not like to use your doctor for any exams (to get current info on u) but they must allow you to use your own. What they complain abt is that your doctor will not answer the ?'s they need answered in the way they want them answered. Get a Medical Source Statement form (mental &/or physical) & have the Dr fill it out or use as guideline in their report. If you can't pay for the exam but your Dr will do it tell the disability examiner this & they must consider them as a source.

I understand your problems dealing with dissability. I went ahead and went to all the doctors they wanted me to. I didn't care. I wanted and needed the dissability so badly I would indeed jump hoops. I had no health insurance and fell apart. In the end I did get the needed help but it was a very long process. The judge I saw at the end of the senerio was fantastic. It is just all the process leading up to it which is terrible. These government agiencies do not know what they are doing sometimes. The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. I write everything down and give them all the information they want. I keep copies of all communication too. Good luck with your journey. Ginnie

Thank you everyone for your replies, I will definatley be getting a medical source statement from my doctor and also requesting that my doctor do the exam, Is it normal for them to schedule a exam before they even request my records and information from my doctors? It seems premature to me, when they could get all the info they need or want from my doctor.