I have a claim coming up for a hearing where one of the claimant’s impairments is interstitial cystitis (IC). IC is a chronic bladder disorder characterized by pelvic pain. IC occurs ten times more frequently in women than men, and is often associated with other impairments, such as fibromyalgia.
In my research for this case, I…
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a basis for Social Security disability, and Social Security Ruling 99-2p sets forth the policy for evaluating disability claims involving chronic fatigue syndrome.
One of the problems with chronic fatigue syndrome is that no one really knows what causes it. However, the New York Times has a fascinating article today, entitled Is…
Fatigue is a frequently encountered symptom in Social Security disability claims. Fatigue can be a component of many conditions, including fibromyalgia and Lyme disease. Fatigue is often secondary to conditions involving chronic pain, because it is exhausting to be in pain all the time. Fatigue can also be secondary to severe depression. And of course, there is chronic fatigue…
Autism is certainly a basis for a Social Security disability claim, and there is a listed impairment for “Autistic disorder and other pervasive developmental issues” See Adult Listing 12.10 and Childhood Listing 112.10.
Typically we see autism as the basis for a childhood disability claim. However, we also see it quite a bit with a…
The First Circuit has a new memorandum decision which discusses fibromyalgia symptoms in the context of a Social Security disability claim.
In Johnson v. Astrue, 597 F.3d 409 (1st Cir. 2009), the Court heard an appeal of an ALJ’s denial of disability benefits. The ALJ in her decision discounted the opinion of Dr. Ali,…
Fibromyalgia is a medically determinable impairment, and can therefore provide a basis for a Social Security dsability claim.
However, many patients report that their doctors do not take fibromyalgia seriously. This was the topic of a recent fibromyalgia article in the Sacramento Bee, a California newspaper. Here is an excerpt:
Controversy swirls even as
…
When talking with Social Security disability claimants, I often hear a statement like "I can't work because I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder" (or degenerative disc disease, or fibromyalgia). The claimant makes the statement like the matter is settled. The reasoning seems to be: since there is a doctor's diagnosis of my impairment, my disability claim should…
Severe anxiety can certainly provide a basis for Social Security disability. Anxiety is among the SSA's listed impairments - please see listing 12.06.
I had a hearing last week for a claimant suffering from severe anxiety with agoraphobia. This claimant has been basically housebound by anxiety, and leaves the house only for doctor appointments. Her…
Lyme disease can certainly provide the basis for a successful Social Security disability claim. However, it can be a long road.
I saw a recent news story regarding a Connecticut man suffering from chronic Lyme disease, who is also struggling to have his Social Security disability claim granted. His story is all too common.
Chronic…
Severe depression or anxiety is often a component of a Social Security disability claim. For claims involving mental health, the Global Assessment of Functioning score assessed by your mental health provider can provide a convenient benchmark for the administrative law judge.
The GAF scale is Axis V of the multiaxial assessment used by mental health clinicians. The GAF score offers a…
