NeuroTalk Support Groups - The Rest of Section E

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More later but for now . . . what is an 'AOD'? Oh yeah, probably alleged onset date? Is taking this 'crash-course' really gonna help me any? Instead of filling out the Function Report and getting it in the mail, I'm spending hours and hours reading about it . . . rather than doing it. I could see doing all the studying about it if I would have known six months ago I was going to be in this process . . . .It seems late too much to learn . . . to late in the game. This is why I hired an attorney. What ONE or TWO key things can you tell me about MY filling out my Function Report in a way that might improve my chances of getting approved first round? Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIT LOVE (Post 1153981)

Originally Posted by LIT LOVE View Post
I thought you said you had limitations for both sitting and standing? Was that something that you came up with on your own and not documented in your medical records?

In one of his summaries he wrote, "Patient had to stop after one hour of driving to get out of his car due to PN pain. He walked a bit and then return. No doc is going to take two hours to see if you can stand for an hour and then if you can sit for an hour. It's about creditably again.

He's documented your claims about limitations, that is not the same as setting restrictions himself or personally observing your limitations. (A patient with severe PN in their legs might be unable to walk without a cane or walker for example.) You're correct, no doc will take two hours to see if you can stand for an hour and then if you can sit for an hour. BUT, he can refer you for a FCE where someone will do those things and report the results back to him. In my case, I was able to prove my subjective complaints were not exaggerated by undergoing a FCE. A physical therapist was able to use water displacement to measure my swelling for example, which increased my pain, and started a cycle that continued escalating.

A diagnosis of the one of the Listed Impairments is not enough. You must be able to prove you meet the requirements through medical documentation as well. Anyone that meets those requirements will be severely disabled.

The requirements in the blue book for PN? Can we add my mental limitations with my PN and come up with me winning my case?

Not in my opinion considering your current medical documentation. You can ask your attorney this question--will your PN and mental impairments equal a Listed Impairment? If not, can you add any medical documentation during the next 1 month to be approved?

You might also be able to "Equal" a Listed Impairment with two or more disabilities.
Confused. I needed to give this stuff a break for now.
You doc's comments will certainly make it more difficult for you to receive an approval.
He has written comments that will help. Then he has written comments that will not. And he writes comments that contradict . . .i'll post some of his comments later. thank you for all your help.

SS will not give you the benefit of the doubt. You need an overwhelming amount of evidence to prove you qualify with or equal to a Listed Impairment. This would be difficult to do so soon after your AOD even without contradictions.

Another thing to consider overall about fast approvals and why it is a rare thing...

With all the ageing baby boomer’s and the somewhat slow economy... older workers aren't able to find jobs they can do anymore and many have some sort of physical or health limitations.. they are all applying for SSDI also..

So the system is overloaded and has to scrutinize every application very closely..
And there may be a funding issue at some point in the future due to so many applicants & people already on SSDI. And a smaller workforce paying into the system..

One of the main questions you need to ask yourself... could you do some other job??
- If it fit with what would work for you?
perhaps if it was less stressful, and not on your feet a lot, and less interactions with many people?
Not necessarily teaching again, but something that is a better fit for your conditions...

I think the FCE may help to maybe find what you could do as well as what you can’t do..

This is just from my reading this forum often over the many years...so just my impressions..:)

Quote:

Originally Posted by canifindagooddr (Post 1153989)

AOD does mean Alleged Onset Date.

Had we not gone through all this you would have not revealed several important things that will effect our advice. Can you absorb everything that has been explained? I don't know. I can do a better job with a final edit now, though.

And I did say upfront it would have been better for you to have done your homework upfront, before applying.

I hate to break it to you, but MOST SSI/SSDI attorneys don't get very involved in their clients cases until a few weeks (and LITERALLY sometimes half an hour) before their client's ALJ hearing. There are exceptional attorneys that are more hands on throughout the process, but that is rare. If you can't self advocate by learning the process, you put yourself at a great disadvantage. What if you go to your ALJ hearing and discover you don't have enough medical documentation? it's too late to do anything about it at that point. You have to hope your ALJ makes a technical error in his decision so as to give you an opportunity to appeal. If your lucky, the Appeal's Council will remand your case back for another ALJ hearing (usually to the same judge). Since that will take an additional 2 years of waiting, you might be 5 years into the process since you applied--and this pretty darn common.

I'm not sure I can give you any suggestions that will magically improve your odds of approval regarding the Function Report. I can edit out things that are glaring problems, but beyond that? If I were you my priority would be having a Functional Capacity Evaluation asap. It will provide some much needed answers, IMO. It is also, the only thing that may effect your Neuro's opinion about your ability to perform either your old job or any job.

Quote:

I hate to break it to you, but MOST SSI/SSDI attorneys don't get very involved in their clients cases until a few weeks (and LITERALLY sometimes half an hour) before their client's ALJ hearing. There are exceptional attorneys that are more hands on throughout the process, but that is rare.

This is so true and came as a big shock to me when I got an attorney after initial denial. So glad you mentioned this.

Super loved your entire post. You said everything that is seldom said but extremely beneficial to know.

Thanks Lit Love.