DaTscan

Tuesday, March 17th, 2020

I have posted about Parkinson’s Disease periodically. Periodically, I have also posted that disability claims handlers virtually always want to see objective diagnostic test data before approving benefits. A problem arises when medical impairments are normally diagnosed via clinical examination findings.

From a diagnostic perspective, Parkinson’s is a clinical diagnosis. Claims involving medical conditions like Parkinson’s, which are based on clinical exam findings, frequently get denied improperly for lacking “objective” medical support. Providing medical information from established sources like the Mayo Clinic or the Merck Manual regarding how medical impairments are diagnosed clinically is helpful, but these types of disability claims usually take longer to get approved.

MRI scanning appears normal for Parkinson’s, and thus it would hurt, rather than help the disability claim applicant. However, DaTscan imaging can confirm a diagnosis of Parkinson’s even if the clinical findings are not obviously apparent. In Parkinson’s, there is a steady loss of dopamine transporters in the brain, and a DaTscan can detect dopamine levels in the brain.

We represent a 63 year old former maintenance director from Old Bethpage with Parkinson’s whose disability application was just approved without a hearing. The claim was approved shortly after we submitted the claimant’s DaTscan, which was consistent with Parkinsonian syndrome.

Our office has been able to obtain SSD benefits for many other disability claimants quickly compared to the national averages. For the convenience of our Long Island clients, and potential clients, we have offices in both Nassau and Suffolk counties.

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