I was wondering about anyone with expereince with OTR...I haven't heard anything about it still as of yet. do you know if they hve to tell me somethine before my ALJ hearing or not?

Finz, like I said I was only answering the initial post. They asked for anyone that had gone through the process and I answered. With brief details. You must not have read what I wrote because you are referring to knee replacements.... Knee replacements are out of the question for me. I have gone to 5 top orthopedic doctors in 2 different states and not one single doctor will touch me. I have a blood clotting disorder plus active MRSA that they can not get to go away. I am told that an infection to the bone or blood stream could be fatal. Same reason I can't get a spinal block for RSD and back problems. So it isn't just as easy as replace your knees and feel better. 2 different pain management doctors have turned me away for spinal blocks. I had a c-section 2 years ago and the skin on my stomach is still hanging open because of MRSA as well as gash on my shin. Which I got from falling from bad knees giving out on me. Also ended up in the hospital from falling with a concussion and was knocked unconscious for 30 minutes.
This which I am still treating with a neurologist for short term memory loss from the fall. So the answer is not that simple. SSD has all the medical records on file and I have read every page. They have MRI reports, CT scans, Lab results, ER visits, Hospital admissions, EEG reports from memory loss. All this with favorable RFC's. And was still turned down. Not to mention I had to turn in a 2 page list of current medications that I am taking right now.... Oh yes I said 2 pages... And guess what they still turned me down.

50 mg of Oxycontin daily
10 mg of Oxycodone Daily
40 MG of Prozac Daily
3 mg of Ativan Daily
600 MG of Neurontin Daily
30 MG of FLexeril Daily
100 MG of Lebetalol Daily
150 MG of Seroquel Daily
40 MG of Protonix Daily
1500 mg of Metformin Daily
1200 mg Of Bactrum Daily
225 MG of Lyrica Daily
3 Lidoderm Patches Daily
Albuterol For Asthma
Bactraban cream for MRSA site 4 times a day
150 mg of Meclizine Daily
The doctor also had an ointment mixed in a pharmacy with ketamine, lidocane, gabapentin and 3 other medications included--- this to be applied 4 times a day.
I also have to take prescription Vitamin D
2400 MG of Motrin daily
And I am currently taking an asprin to help thin my blood in place of the coumidan I had to stop for 6 weeks to have a special protein test. Which I am normally on 9 mg of coumidan daily.

All this and they expect you to be able to function and do a job.

So yes I have a right to be upset. And then and when I try to give my feedback to someone else and I am spoken to like you stated " a newbie". it is highly offensive. I make me feel as if my experience doesn't have weight in this group nor does it matter.

As this thread seems to be getting off track, I am bumping up the original post.

We would appreciate if this remains on topic going forward please. Thanks.

I had the same situation nicd, my lawyer filed for a on the record decision and I never heard a word about it. I don't know if they send a letter to my lawyer and he just did'nt send it to me, or they just don't send anything unless your approved, with everything I have read that is rare. My very first hearing took almost 2 years. I was denied, appealed to the appeals council, remanded back to the same judge, denied again, and it is now at the appeals council. I wish you the best of luck with your hearing, be honest and tell the judge exactly what you can and cannot due, and what prevents you from doing it. IE: pain, range of motion, zoned out because of meds. Anything that limits you in everyday life. Good Luck.

I was approved by otr but I was 55 when I was approved, took one year to receive my Ssdi, I also had close to a a 40 year work record also. I Los meet a blue book listing 4.12b. So if you don't meet a listing and are young and have a short work record, it's hard to get a otr. If you are young the all wants to see you face to face. A senior attorney at the odar approved me.