Getting Benefits Faster

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007

It is true that in order to obtain Social Security Disability (“SSD”) benefits you only need one treating physician to support your application. However, with only one supporting medical source it may take you several levels of appeals, possibly including having to go to federal court, to secure SSD benefits.

One of my client’s with neck, back and shoulder impairments had his application approved in only four months. The claimant is being treated by a neurologist, which is an appropriate specialist for his impairments. However, if I had only submitted medical evidence from the neurologist, it is unlikely that the application would have been approved so quickly.

I obtained medical reports from the claimant’s family doctor and chiropractor. Although not a specialist, because of the family doctor’s long term treatment of the claimant’s overall health, he was familiar with the claimant’s medical status, which rendered that doctor’s functionality assessment significant. And while the chiropractor is not a medical doctor, the frequency of his treatment rendered his opinion regarding the severity of the claimant’s condition important. Additionally, I referred the claimant to a rheumatologist and a physiatrist, whose opinions corroborated those of the other treating medical sources.

Thus, instead of presenting one medical opinion to support the claimant’s application, I submitted five. Since most estimates are that it typically takes a year or two to secure SSD benefits, the additional medical support obviously was instrumental in securing the rapid approv

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