Are Social Security Disability Medical Exams Useful?
Generally speaking, Social Security consultative medical exams are not the most useful tool to evaluate an individual's functional ability. Consultative examinations are usually short one-time examinations performed by a physician who is paid by Social Security.
However, there are certainly disability claimants who find that a Social Security medical examination is useful. For instance, there are many disabled individuals who have no medical insurance and negligible finances; consequently they are unable to afford any kind of medical treatment. If you cannot afford medical treatment, Social Security will have no medical treatment records that address your disabling impairments. In a case where an individual has no medical treatment records, a consultative examination is certainly better than nothing.
Not all consultative examinations are preformed because an inindividual has no current medical treatment sources. Sometimes, disability examiners feel that treating source records need to be clarified, so they schedule a consultative examination with a specialist. Often these consultative examinations are scheduled with orthopedists or neurologists. And others are scheduled to address specific limitations. For example ,individuals with severe breathing problems may be sent to a pulmonary function test, or spirometry.
Although consultative examinations fill a need for those who do not have medical treatment sources, for most individuals consultative examinations do not result in an approval for disability benefits. Consequently, if possible it is good to have an established medical treatment history when filing for Social Security benefits.
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Social Security Disability Secrets
Social Security Disability Benefits Questions
Additional Entries
Disability Determination for Social Security Disability Benefits
Work and Social Security Disability
Qualifying for disability on the first application
Will Social Security Understand What My Medical Records Have to Say?
Social Security Disability and Medical Records
SSA Disability benefits
However, there are certainly disability claimants who find that a Social Security medical examination is useful. For instance, there are many disabled individuals who have no medical insurance and negligible finances; consequently they are unable to afford any kind of medical treatment. If you cannot afford medical treatment, Social Security will have no medical treatment records that address your disabling impairments. In a case where an individual has no medical treatment records, a consultative examination is certainly better than nothing.
Not all consultative examinations are preformed because an inindividual has no current medical treatment sources. Sometimes, disability examiners feel that treating source records need to be clarified, so they schedule a consultative examination with a specialist. Often these consultative examinations are scheduled with orthopedists or neurologists. And others are scheduled to address specific limitations. For example ,individuals with severe breathing problems may be sent to a pulmonary function test, or spirometry.
Although consultative examinations fill a need for those who do not have medical treatment sources, for most individuals consultative examinations do not result in an approval for disability benefits. Consequently, if possible it is good to have an established medical treatment history when filing for Social Security benefits.
Return to:
Additional Entries
Disability Determination for Social Security Disability Benefits
Work and Social Security Disability
Qualifying for disability on the first application
Will Social Security Understand What My Medical Records Have to Say?
Social Security Disability and Medical Records
SSA Disability benefits
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