What Are Typical Kinds of SSDI Cases?

Our firm handles many different kinds of disability cases. You can download our client intake forms by clicking on the link.  Feel free to mail or fax us your intake form for a free telephone case evaluation.  Here are a few  typical case areas and how we approach them:

1. Mental Health cases - Mental illness and mental health problems can  strike people of any age or background. I have found that Judges accept as  disabling cases involving long term, severe depression, schizophrenia, bipolar  syndrome and other mental illnesses. A key to winning this type of case is to  show extended treatment, even if the counseling is with a County Health  Department. Psychiatric hospitalizations and suicide attempts are seen as strong  evidence of a significant problem. In mental health cases, Social Security  usually refers the claimant to an independent psychologist for a consultative  evaluation. Psychologists, like judges, see ongoing treatment as evidence of a  long-standing problem.

2. Back pain cases - It has been my experience that judges expect to  see objective evidence of back pain, specifically MRI evidence of significant  disc herniation. X-ray evidence is usually not very helpful, and chiropractic  treatment is given very little weight. In addition to objective evidence, I have  found that judges like to see evidence that a claimant has tried to work through  his pain - evidence of unsuccessful work attempts can include employment records  or statements from ex-co-workers or supervisors.

3. Diabetes - Diabetes is a very common disease and many people are  afflicted. As such, I have found that in order to win a case based on diabetes,  we must show severe complications, such as vision problems, organ damage (i.e.  kidney or liver), and/or peripheral neuropathy (numbness and burning in hands  and feet). I usually look for clients who have suffered with diabetes for many  years and who have been unable to control their blood sugar despite compliance  with regular medical care.

4. Arthritis - Like diabetes, arthritis is very common in the  population. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is  commonly associated with getting older. In order to win an osteoarthritis case,  I look for older clients with significant deformity in their hands, feet, knees  or spine and regular medical treatment. Other forms of arthritis, such as  rheumatoid arthritis, often strike younger people, and are often more severe.  Rheumatoid arthritis cases are usually strong cases.

5. HIV/A.I.D.S. - The Social Security regulations provide that HIV  cases should be granted when lab reports show very low T-cell levels. My  experience has been that most judges view HIV cases somewhat liberally and will  grant benefits even if the lab reports do not demonstrate full-blown A.I.D.S.  Many HIV cases also involve depression, which can provide another theory for  recovery. Again, regular treatment and a supportive treating physician is very  helpful.

6. Intestinal, stomach, liver and kidney diseases - It has been my  experience that internal organ diseases often produce very significant work  activity limitations. For example, a person with irritable bowel syndrome might  be able to function at work for a time, but would not be able to maintain  employment because of frequent absences or excessive unscheduled breaks at work.  A record of regular medical treatment and written support from a treating  physician are necessary.