Decoding Evidence Your Social Security Disability Case – Three Things Your Administrative Law Judge May Learn from Your Medical Records
When a person is disabled from working on a permanent basis, they may be interested in obtaining important Social Security Disability benefits to help them financially to survive while they are unable to work. For some Social Security Disability benefits applicants, especially those who are at an advanced age, meet a Social Security Disability listing, and who have serious permanent medical impairments that prevent them from even doing activities of daily living, let alone hold down gainful employment, the application process may be simple, and they may get benefits granted to them at the initial application stage. For the vast number of Social Security Disability benefits applicants, however, obtaining important benefits may require more steps. Indeed, many Social Security Disability benefits applicants are denied benefits at the initial application stage, and must appeal their denial and attend a Social Security Disability hearing in front of an administrative law judge. At the hearing, the administrative law judge will review the evidence in the case to determine whether the applicant meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of disabled or not.
Medical records are a critical piece of evidence in your Social Security Disability case, but what type of information can a Social Security Disability administrative law judge learn from these documents about your case? To help disabled individuals and Social Security Disability applicants better understand how medical records may be used in their case, we answer that question here.
Your Medical Impairment
The first thing that the administrative law judge in your case may learn from your medical records is what your diagnosis is. In order to obtain Social Security Disability benefits, an applicant must meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of “disability,” and to do so they must have a diagnosed medical impairment. As such, the medical records in your Social Security Disability case are a critical piece of evidence that helps the administrative law judge understand your case.
How Long Your Medical Impairment is Expected to Last
Social Security administrative law judges are also interested in how long your medical impairment is expected to last. The doctor’s prognosis of your serious medical impairment helps the administrative law judge determine whether your medical impairment is “permanent.” A Social Security Disability applicant must have an impairment that is permanent (or that will lead to death), in order to meet the criteria for receiving Social Security Disability benefits.
Your Limitations
Medical records also often contain important notes and details about a Social Security Disability applicant’s activities of daily living and their limitations. Your doctor may include notes about what you have told them that you can and cannot do, and what your limitations are when it comes to movements, such as sitting, standing, bending, twisting, and other important movements for functioning and working. It is a good idea to review your medical records to get a sense of what is in them, prior to your Social Security Disability hearing.
Getting Legal Help with Your Social Security Disability Administrative Law Hearing
Social Security Administrative hearings can be daunting, and knowing how to best prepare and understand the evidence in your case can help you obtain Social Security Disability benefits due to you. If you are in need of legal assistance with your Social Security Disability case or Social Security Disability hearing, do not hesitate to get help today. The experienced Social Security Disability lawyers at Nationwide Disability Law are here to help disabled individuals get important Social Security Disability benefits due to them. Contact Nationwide Disability Law and speak to an experienced lawyer about your case now.
