Is Your Diagnosis Important In A Social Security Disability Case?



Is Your Diagnosis Important In A Social Security Disability Case?


When you apply for social security disability, one of the things you have to prove is that your physical or mental condition is severe enough to restrict your ability to work for 12 continuous months.  That makes your diagnosis very important.  Do you think a judge would really think that a sprained ankle would keep you out of work for a year?

Your diagnosis also matters when the Social Security Administration looks to see if you automatically qualify for disability.  The SSA calls this meeting a listing.  A listing is when your diagnosis is on the list of the diagnoses that automatically qualify for benefits if you have certain symptoms that go along with the condition.

An example is spinal stenosis.  This is something that is common with a herniated disc in your spine.  If an MRI shows you have a disc herniation with spinal stenosis, and that causes nerve root compression, and this causes pain and limits your ability to bend over, and you have a loss of reflexes related to the nerve compression, then you might be an automatic qualifier.

Some of the listings are simpler – like the amputation of both hands.  That will get you approved automatically.

Your symptoms are pretty important too.  If you have a really bad sounding diagnosis, but no symptoms, then that condition is not limiting your ability to work.  This highlights the need to continue to see your doctors regularly so they can be documented in your medical records.  You also want to make sure the doctor requests all necessary testing so you can prove that your condition is severe.  MRI’s and EMG’s are tests that can help you prove the severity of your condition.

Your diagnosis matters, but the symptoms from that diagnosis matter even more.