Causes and Treatments for Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration, the number one cause of blindness in the Western world, currently affects about 10 million people in the U.S. alone. Although the average age of vision loss as a result of macular degeneration is 65 (thus it’s other common name, age-related macular degeneration), the age of onset can be as young as 40. Symptoms of this disease include blurred or distorted vision and blind spots.

Macular degeneration occurs when the RPE cells, which send messages to light-sensitive cells in the macula, are damaged. Without the support of RPE cells, the macula cells die, and the retina is no longer able to function.

There are two types of macular degeneration, wet and dry. Dry macular degeneration progresses more slowly than wet, and is the most common form of this disease. About 85% of all macular degeneration cases are the dry type, in which the RPE cells gradually die out and vision loss is gradual as well. Treatment for this type of macular degeneration is typically preventative—patients must avoid smoking, and a diet high in nutrients that support macular health is recommended. Green leafy vegetables and fish oil are good for healthy eyes, as are certain vitamin supplements.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when blood vessels form under the macula and cloud vision, causing rapid, permanent blindness. Lucentis, a drug that prevents new blood vessels from forming, became available in 2005 for treatment of wet macular degeneration. Patients who take Lucentis for 1 to 2 years are almost always able to stop the progression of this disease (96% of those who used Lucentis found that their condition did not worsen over time) and many people who took Lucentis reported that this drug actually improved their vision.

There is no cure for macular degeneration, but anyone experiencing changes in vision should immediately consult an ophthalmologist. Treatment of this disease is most successful when patients are diagnosed early before there is major damage to the macula.








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Is it Easier to get Social Security Disability if you are a Veteran?

Not necessarily. Currently, the social security admininstration makes the claim that cases that have been identified as being connected to veterans will be expedited through the system. However, I have to wonder, as a former disability examiner, how effective that can even be. Why?

1. Records have to be requested and received before a decision can be made on any social security disability case. There's no way around that. That's how you make a disability decision. And, invariably, record gathering is always the largest time-component in case processing.

2. The definition of disability for social security disability is still the same as it has always been. It has not been altered to accomodate veterans. And that definition of disability is very different than the one used by the military/va system where partial awards are granted. In the social security disability system, a claimant must be found to be 100 percent disabled and unable to perform work (either their past work or at some form of other work) at the substantial gainful activity level. In other words, in the SSA system, it is all or nothing.

Considering these two facts, I have to wonder just how much you can expedite a claim that has been submitted for a service member. However, the answer to the question is: no, it is not easier to get social security disability if you are a veteran. However, if you are a veteran who has been given a 100 percent disability rating, you probably do have a very good chance of being awarded social security disability benefits.










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How Long can it Take to get an SSD Hearing (social security disability)

Depending on where you live in the country, it can take 1-2 years after you request a social security disability hearing. It takes a long time, in general, to get a hearing date after a hearing has been requested because the system is heavily backlogged. And it takes longer in certain parts of the country because some areas have greater backlogs.

Two years is an exceedingly long time to wait. And during this time it is very likely that most claimants will suffer irreparable financial harm. That, unfortunately, is just the logical and expected outcome of having to go through a social security disability appeal process that takes years.

An article in the Lawrence Journal detailed the situation in Kansas where in Kansas city it can take an average of 719 days to get a hearing, yet in wichita it can take an average of 516 days---an incredibly long amount of time, but far less by comparison.

Because it takes so long to get a hearing date, claimants who are filing for disability should keep the following in mind:

1. If you get denied for disability, always appeal your claim and do it in a timely manner. Timely means within the 60 day timeframe (actually,its 65 since SSA gives you five days for mailing). Failing to meet the appeal deadline can mean having to start over with a new claim.

2. Don't just file an appeal timely, file it quickly. Meaning: as soon as you get a notice of denial, send in your appeal within a week. Waiting just adds more time to your case.

3. Get representation if you are requesting a hearing or have already requested a hearing. The need for representation can be debatable at the lower levels (application for disability and request for reconsideration). However, at the hearing level, it is very very unwise to appear unrepresented. And doing so can effectively throw away one's chance of winning benefits. And, as we've said, hearings take a long time to get to...too long to finally appear at one not having properly prepared.

4. Do not, under any circumstances, aside from medical emergency, miss your hearing date. This last one should be self-explanatory.








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How to find the "best" attorney for Social Security Disability?

This question was asked recently in a forum. A majority of the responders, including one disability examiner (not me) stated that disability representation was unnecessary.

Well, I'm a former disability examiner. I would agree that most claimants will not need disability representation at the initial claim or reconsideration level. However, that's "most". There is a percentage of claimants who may benefit from representation if they have difficulty with memory or other impairments which may affect their ability to complete certain tasks, such as returning forms, going to scheduled consultative exams, and filing a disability appeal in a timely manner.

As an examiner, I routinely saw cases in which individuals had clearly filed for disability more than a dozen times without ever once trying to appeal (I've seen "unique numbers" as high as 24, meaning the individual had possibly--I say possibly because concurrent SSD, SSI cases count more than once--been denied up to 23 times without ever once filing an appeal).

My guess is that these individuals somehow had the notion that filing a new claim was synonymous with appealing. And, in fact, I've heard claimants practically say as much. Which is unfortunate, because if you keep filing new claims, the odds are good that you will keep getting denied for disability time and time again. And by filing new claims over and over, you'll never get your case to the level of a disability hearing before an administrative law judge, which is where claimants who have been denied for disability on an initial claim will have their best chance of later being approved.

Representation, in instances like this, may not be a bad idea, i.e. for some it can be an excellent idea.








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Hypothyroidism Symptoms

You may have a problem with your thyroid and not even know it; the symptoms are easily overlooked. While many people think of their thyroid as being linked to their metabolism, it is actually responsible for a variety of other major body functions, not just metabolism. The thyroid is a small, two-inch, butter-fly shaped gland located in the front of the neck that is responsible for secreting the thyroid hormone. This hormone does control your metabolism, but it also controls bone density, heart rate, mood, body temperature, alertness, and many other important body functions.

Hypothyroidism is the most common issue that people have with their thyroid. It is marked by an insufficient amount of the thyroid hormone being produced; the issue can be identified with a simple blood test and treated with medication. Hypothyroidism can be developed due to certain medications or it can be genetic. Symptoms are oftentimes overlooked, including feeling cold, dry skin, fatigue, and weight gain.








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Dystonia in the Eyes?

What if your eyes were experiencing such horrible spasms that you couldn’t open them – for days? What if your doctors had no idea what was causing this to happen to you? What if you could be struck with these spasms at any time, forcing you to live blindly for days at a time? It’s hard to imagine, but according to one recent article, that is exactly what happened to Janet Chaston, a 75 years old woman who lives in the UK.

It took Janet’s doctors over two years to finally figure out that she had a neurological condition known as dystonia. Dystonia is a little known disease, even though over 40,000 people in the UK suffer with it. It is characterized by involuntary spasms and muscle contractions that can happen in different parts of the body. In Janet’s case, it was her eyes. She now receives botox injections every couple of months to help keep her eye muscles relaxed and lessen her symptoms and it seems to be helping.

For more information on dystonia, you may wish to visit the mayo clinic page on dystonia or dystonia-foundation.org.









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Can You Win Disability Without Going to a Hearing?

Yes, of course. And a very large percentage of applicants for social security disability and/or SSI disability do win their cases without the need for requesting a disability hearing.

Statistical data indicates that, on a national level, roughly thirty to forty percent of all disability claimants win their claim for disability at the initial level (this varies substantially depending on your actual state of residence). At this level, most individuals meet or equal a listing in the disability impairment handbook or are a clear-cut medical vocational allowance (generally these individuals are approaching advanced age 50-54 or are advanced age 55-older). Medical vocational allowances, for those who are unaware, are approvals that are rendered based on a consideration of a claimant's residual functional capacity (your medical records are evaluated to determine what you can and cannot do), work history, and other considerations such as age and level of education.

If you initial disability claim is denied you must appeal your disability denial to continue the disability process. Just a piece of advice here, many individuals are so discouraged when their initial disability claim is denied that they do not appeal their denial. But remember, sixty to seventy percent of all initial disability claims are denied and, of those who decide to file a disability appeal (and a second appeal, if necessary), a sizable percentage are eventually awarded benefits.

What should you do if your disability claim is denied? Not wait any appreciable length of time before getting your appeal started. Though social security allows a lengthy timeframe (60 days plus an additional 5 days for mailing) for filing a disability appeal, waiting means simply putting more time between you and potentially receiving disability benefits.

You need to request a reconsideration appeal. Your disability claim will be sent "back down" to the same state disability agency for another medical determination, however a different disability examiner will review your record and request any medical updates that you provided in your reconsideration request. Although it is somewhat rare for a disability claimant to win their disability benefits at this level of the disability process (only about 15 percent win their disability), it is another stepping stone in the disability process. And a very important one. Because you cannot get your case to the disability hearing level without first going through the reconsideration appeal phase.

However, returning to the question with which we started, can you win your social security disability without going to a hearing? The answer to this question is that, depending on the state in which you live, between 40 and 50 percent of all disability claimants win their disability benefits without ever going to a hearing.









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More Women than Men Have Migraines

No one knows why, but women are about three times more likely to have migraines than men. The fact that the rates of migraines in the sexes is about equal until puberty leads some researchers to conclude that migraines may be somehow linked to hormone levels, an idea that is further supported by recent research showing that the frequency and severity of migraines in women is affected by pregnancy.

Unfortunately, no one knows exactly how pregnancy hormones will affect migraines in individual women. There is no consistency—research has shown that about one-third of pregnant women find their migraine pain decreases, while two-thirds experience an increase. It is also harder to help relieve migraine pain in pregnant women, as many drugs normally prescribed are off limits before, during, and after pregnancy (if nursing) because they can harm the baby.

After pregnancy, pain levels in migraine patients return to normal, whatever that is. And for many women that is pretty awful. Migraines can cause extreme light, smell, and sound sensitivity, as well as pain that is so violent it induces vomiting. More than just a bad headache, a migraine can last for days on end, and eventually lead to disability and loss of employment.

The Wasser Pain Management Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital sees between 800 and 1000 patients a years, 70% of which are women. The Centre employs the use of prescription drugs and alternative therapies such as biofeedback and relaxation techniques. The latter treatments can be especially helpful to pregnant and nursing women, as well as for those who are trying to conceive, for whom medications are not an option.









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More Than Cholesterol Affects The Heart

Heart disease is at an all-time high and most people think it’s because of their cholesterol. The spotlight has certainly been put on cholesterol and cholesterol lowering drugs – statins. While these drugs can lower low-density lipoproteins (LDL, otherwise known as bad cholesterol), that is not the end of the story when it comes to cholesterol and heart disease. Unbeknownst to many, people with normal cholesterol can have a heart attack. It happens all the time. While their cholesterol may be normal, their stress may be extremely high, causing coronary artery spasms.

In addition to coronary artery spasms, there are other factors that can influence heart disease. Most people do not know that there are two different sizes of LDL cholesterol, and the two different types mean two different things. One type of LDL is large and soft, and it passes right through the arteries without much of an issue. The other type is small and hard, and this type of LDL cholesterol is known to get stuck very easily within the coronary arteries

You can’t control the type of cholesterol your body produces, it is hereditary. Yet you can affect what happens to your type of cholesterol once it is produced. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as keeping your weight down, eating a healthy, low glycemic diet, exercising on a regular basis, and keeping your stress levels down can decrease your chances of heart disease.









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Will Social Security Award Me Disability if I Have Not Been to The Doctor?

If you apply for benefits, Social Security will have to obtain some sort of objective medical evidence in order make a disability determination. If you have never been seen by a doctor for a particular medical condition (or conditions), or you have simply not been seen in the last three months, you can still apply for disability benefits through one or both of the disability programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSD a.k.a. social security disability and SSI a.k.a. supplemental security income).

Generally, Social Security would like to have a twelve month medical history to evaluate, including medical treatment notes within the last three months in order to make a medical disability determination. If this is not possible, Social Security will obtain the results of a consultative examination (typically referred to by claimants as a "social security medical exam") or examinations to address your alleged disabling condition or conditions. If necessary, Social Security will schedule both medical, mental, and specialty consultative examinations in an effort to obtain objective medical information.

The important thing to remember about these consultative examinations is that they are one time examinations...sometimes performed by physicians who may not specialize in the medical area of your disabling condition.

Additionally, these consultative examinations often do not very last long, and, as a result, many disability applicants feel they are not thorough with regard to addressing the pain and limitations caused by their impairment(s).

However, if you think about it, how could a one-time consultative examination be truly evaluative of the effects of an individual’s condition? Answer: it can't. And this fact is quite plain and obvious to every disability examiner who schedules exams for claimants.

Having said that, though, examiners are nevertheless required to send claimants to exams when sufficient or recent medical evidence is lacking in a a file and more information is needed to get a case ready for a decision to be rendered.

So, will Social Security award you disability if you have not been to a doctor? The simple answer to this question is that, of course, there is a possibility you will be awarded disability benefits if you have not been to a doctor and you are seen by a consultative physician who deems you to be disabled in the examination report they submit.

But, in my experience as a disability examiner, I found that very few disability claims are won based strictly on the findings of a CE (consultative examination). It is possible...just not likely. If you truly want to have a chance of being awarded disability benefits, try to seek some objective treatment for your medical or mental conditions prior to filing for disability. That way even if Social Security chooses to send you to an examination you will at least have some other objective medical evidence in your file.

What will a Social Security Disability Doctor Report to the Social Security Administration?

As I've said several times in this post, "Social Security Doctors" (I put this phrase in parentheses because docs who perform consultative exams do not work for social security---the docs who do work for social security are actually unit medical consultants who work in case processing units with disability examiners in agencies usually referred to as "DDS", or disability determination services) perform "one-off" medical and/or mental evaluations for Social Security.

In my experience as a former disability examiner, I have seen Social Security consultative examination doctors note various things they observed prior to performing their examinations. For instance, in one consultative examination report I received it was noted that the doctor had observed the claimant in the parking lot of the building walking with no limp and without the aid of the cane...that he came limping in on.

In essence, there is no pat answer as to what might be included in a consultative exam report. But what every claimant needs to realize is that the doctor who conducts the exam may be gathering information before a claimant even realizes it.

And, it goes without saying, some of them are biased against the federal disability programs. And this bias really works against claimants who feel feel embarrassed over the fact that they are in the position of filing for disability in the first place, and, thus, tend to minimize their symptoms when being seen by the doctor conducting the consultative exam.

If your disability consultative examination addresses a mental impairment, the doctor may note an individual's mood, eye contact, ability to deal with questions, if the individual was oriented as to time and place, or even the results of mental testing (i.e. intelligence quotient (IQ) or memory testing) when making their report to the Social Security Administration.

Now, beyond this, what information is collected by an individual who conducts a consultative exam for social security?

If you attend a consultative examination to address physical impairments, the Social Security disability doctor will note general findings such as: blood pressure, basic neurological responses, height and weight, heart rate, breathing, physical examination of abdomen, ability to lift legs straight up, etc.

If an individual is alleging some type of joint or back problem, the doctor will most likely perform a range of motion examination in addition to the more basic components of a physical examinations.

Social Security disability doctors make a written report of all that they observe as well as any objective medical information garnered from the consultative examinations. It was my experience that Social Security doctors who evaluated musculoskeletal problems often did not mention how much pain an individual experienced while trying to perform the range of motion evaluation, or just did not mention how much pain an individual experienced during the evaluation at all.

If your examination is a mental evaluation, the Social Security doctor generally includes the results of any objective testing such as IQ or memory testing, along with more subjective observations as to your mental status and mood in their written report.

In addition, the psychiatrist or psychologist generally makes a notation as to whether or not you are capable of completing simple routine repetitive tasks in spite of mental conditions.









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Social Security Disability May be From Several Impairments, Not Just One

Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income disability are based upon residual functional capacity rather than specific mental and/or physical impairments. In fact the very definition of Social Security disability states that an individual must not have been able to perform substantial work activity for a 12 month timeframe and that the individual expects to be unable to perform substantial work activity due to a severe medical and/or mental impairment, or impairments. Meaning that disability is not necessarily based on having one impairment or several impairments, but, rather, on how the impairment or impairments limits an individual's ability to work.

Brief aside: To answer what is often an inevitable question: No, you do not need to have been disabled for 12 months before filing for disability as SSA examiners can review your medical evidence and make a projection as to whether or not a claimant's state of disability will eventually last at least 12 months.

Many individuals win Social Security disability on the basis of multiple impairments, because multiple severe impairments are often likely to render an individual unable to perform work activity. An individual may have several impairments that would not by themselves result in a finding of disability by Social Security. However, if the combined limitations of the impairments severely restrict an individual’s residual functional capacity (what an individual can do in spite of the limitations imposed upon them by their mental and/or medical condition or conditions) they may still be found disabled by Social Security.

That being said, most individuals with multiple impairments find that it may take a little longer to win disability benefits, versus an individual whose impairment very clearly satisfies the requirements of a listing in the disability evaluation handbook.

Most individuals who win disability on the basis of multiple impairments are allowed through medical vocational allowances. Medical vocational allowances are based on other factors such as age, education, and work skills, in addition to the physical limitations caused by an individual’s impairment or impairments (and which can be concretely rated by a physician). Since some of the decisional criteria of this type of allowance is subjective, an individual may have to appeal their claim to an administrative law judge hearing in order to be approved for disability benefits.

Consequently, if you have multiple impairments that when taken in totality prevent you from working you may be able to win Social Security benefits if you have the perseverance to continue your disability claim through to the administrative law judge hearing level (the majority of claimants who are eventually approved receive their award following a hearing).

Many individual’s suffering from multiple impairments become discouraged if they are denied for disability with Social Security (as an examiner, I was continually amazed at how often I came across cases where a claimant had been denied years earlier and had decided to give up without a single appeal), so they do not avail themselves of the Social Security disability appeals process. Recently, I came across a statistic that indicated that two thirds of those who attend a social security disability hearing win. That win-loss statistic seems to have been fairly consistent in the last few years. So considering that there is such a great chance for approval at the hearings appeal level, individuals with multiple impairments should certainly take the approach of A) not giving up on claims and B) pursuing a claim through the appeals process at least as far as the ALJ hearing level.






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Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability

In the United States a stroke occurs every 40 seconds, making it the leading cause of long term disability. While many Americans, nearly 780,000, suffer from a stroke every year, two-thirds of those patients require intensive rehabilitation and many never regain use of their arms. Now there is hope.

There’s a new arm brace device, called the Myomo e100 NeuroRobotic System™, which is helping stroke patients who have lost movement in their body due to partial paralysis. The device is a high-tech arm brace that is currently only being offered at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell metro-area hospital.

The Myomo helps patients through sensing electrical currents and impulses in the muscles that indicate the desire to move. When these impulses are felt, the Myomo then offers motorized assistance. The device is offering hope to stroke sufferers who thought they would never be able to regain use of their arms; the device is proving effective years after the stroke, and is changing the thought that stroke survivors could only benefit from rehabilitation a few months after the stroke.






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Face Pain and Trigeminal Neuralgia

Have you ever had a sudden, brief attack of pain in your face that only affects one side and keep reoccurring? If so, it sounds like you may have Trigeminal Neuralgia, a rare condition that is not harmful to one’s health, but can be uncomfortable to live with. The name comes from the nerve that is affected – the trigeminal nerve.

Trigeminal neuralgia usually affects the jaw, the cheek area or around the eye. Most people experience trigeminal neuralgia in the cheek, about half experience it in the eye, and nearly one-fifth experience pain around the eye; nearly 1 in 100 people who experience trigeminal neuralgia experience pain in the cheek, jaw, and eye. People with high blood pressure, those over 50, and women in general, are more likely to experience the condition.

The main cause of trigeminal neuralgia is unknown, though it is known that stroke, multiple sclerosis and a tumor pressing on the trigeminal nerve can cause the condition, though they are not very common causes.






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New Gel For Eye Problems Due to Graves’ Disease

Graves’ disease is caused by an overactive thyroid gland and can cause unusual eye conditions such as burning, double vision and watery eyes. It can also cause the tissues of the eyes to swell due to inflammation, creating a bulging effect on the eyes known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy. Up until now, radiation, surgery and some steroid medications have been used to help treat the eye conditions caused by Graves’ disease, but those treatments weren’t always effective for the cosmetic problem of bulging eyes. Now, there is a new choice for treatment: Restalyne.

Restalyne is a gel that was originally used to reduce lines and wrinkles in the face. It works by ‘plumping up’ the face where the wrinkles and lines were, creating a smooth effect. It’s a little bit like botox in the way it plumps things up and reduces wrinkles, but for Graves’ ophthalmopathy is works by filling out the tissues around the eyes, lessening the bulging effect.

Restalyne only lasts for a few months, so it is a temporary solution, not a one-time cure. Even though it is a temporary fix, it is bringing hope to those who have suffered with protruding eyes that made them self-conscious and affected their self esteem.








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Can Vitamin B1 Reverse Kidney Disease?

Diabetic nephropathy is a kidney disease that is found in those with type 2 diabetes. In the early stages of this kidney disease there is a high secretion of the protein albumin leaked into the urine. This is called microabuminuria, which is an important marker for kidney disease. Recently researchers at the University of Warwick have been curious as to whether taking large doses of thiamine could reserve this secretion, and therefore reverse kidney disease in type 2 diabetes patients in its early stages. Their curiosity paid off – research shows that thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, can reverse early diabetic kidney disease.

This article takes a look at the research leading to the discovery that vitamin B1 can help reverse early stage kidney disease by decreasing the albumin secretion by 41 percent. The article gives information about how many patients were in the study, how much thiamine was administered, how it was administered, the age of the patients, and whether or not placebos were used.

Vitamin B1 could reverse early-stage kidney disease in diabetes patients











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How to Claim Disability Benefits

The process of claiming disability benefits is pretty straightforward, regardless of if you are eligible for SSD (social security disability), SSI (supplemental security income), or both.

The first step is to call your local social security office and tell them that you want to file for disability. The social security administration (SSA) will schedule an appointment for you with a claims representative, and the interview can be conducted either in person or over the phone. Do not concern yourself at this point with which program you are eligible for (SSD or SSI)—social security determines that for you based on information you give them about your work history, total assets, etc. You will then be given forms to fill out, which will be passed on to a disability examiner at your state disability determination services (DDS), the agency that makes all disability decisions for the SSA.

The disability examiner will either approve or deny your claim based on the information in your medical records, so it’s very important to take your time compiling your medical history. This may seem tedious, especially when it comes to getting all of the correct names, addresses, and phone numbers for all of your treating physicians, and for any medical facility at which you have received treatment for your condition. However, if your medical history doesn’t include everything you can think of that might help a disability examiner understand all of your current limitations, you may be setting yourself up for an unfavorable outcome.

Other types of information that should be included in your medical history are dates of treatment, the results of any additional testing you have had performed, such as MRIs, CTs, Mental Exams, X-rays, etc. If you have collected any of your medical records yourself, or if you have any statements from your physician that support your claim for disability, send those in with your disability application as well.

After receiving all of your medical information, it takes (on average) about 3 months to receive a decision on your claim. However, it could take more or less time, depending on case backlogs in your area. If you have a disability attorney, he or she can call DDS to check on your claim periodically, and to help ensure that everything in your file is in order.

Keep in mind that a minority of initial applications for SSD/SSI are successful. Less than a third of them are approved, which means that most people that file for disability will have to file at least one appeal with DDS if they intend to continue their claim. At the appeal level, and in particular if a disability hearing is scheduled, it is a good idea to have a legal representative, either a disability lawyer or non-attorney rep, to help you claim disability benefits.










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Winning disability - how to win a social security disability claim

Multiple Sclerosis: Using the Optic Nerve to Estimate Inflammation

It is estimated that multiple sclerosis (MS) affects nearly 500,000 Americans. It is an unpredictable disease and up until now, it has been quite challenging to determine the effects of inflammation advance. Now, researchers are testing a process called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), which may be able to help them estimate damage to the optic nerve that will allow them to determine damage up to three months in advance.

The following article outlines this optical treatment which uses a series of rapid MRI (mirror resonance imaging) scans to track cell damage caused by water diffusion in the affected tissues. The article speaks with researchers on the subject, gives an in-depth look at the details of the study, and talks to researchers about going forward to assess MS attacks in the spinal cord and brain. According to the article, the study is still in process and patients will be assessed again in one year to determine longevity of results and predictions.

MRI Scans Can Predict Effects Of Multiple Sclerosis Flare-ups On Optic Nerve







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Long Term Disability Insurance Companies Just Really Suck

I read about Charles Tucker's battle with his disability insurance company in an ABC news article. Charles Tucker, who worked as an accountant, started experiencing fatigue, trembling, numbness in his extremities, and severe headaches. He saw a neurologist who stated that he has multiple sclerosis and is disabled and unable to work. Mind you, this statement as to his diagnosis and prognosis came from a treating physician, someone who had actually seen Tucker, provided treatment to him, and was qualified to rate his functional limitations.

Charles Tucker, not surprisingly, was denied by the long term disability insurance company whose doctor A) had never treated him, B) had never seen him.

If this sounds eerily familiar to how it works with social security disability, that's because there are strong similarities. In the social security disability system, a claimant's records are gathered and evaluated by a disability examiner who reviews them and then, after consulting with a doctor who actually works in the examiner's same processing unit, renders a decision on the claim.

In the SSD system, the social security doctor is arguably the real decision maker because the examiner cannot close the case without a signed statement from his unit's medical consultant (the social security doctor). And this doctor effectively decides whether or not a claimant gets approved or denied for disability without A) ever providing treatment to a claimant and B) ever seeing a claimant. And this might be acceptable for claimants who do not have doctors. However, most claimants do have doctors and the problem is that these doctors are not consulted.

Now what do I mean by that? Well, the records from these doctors are gathered. However, 99 percent of all medical records say almost nothing about a claimant's functional limitations and whether or not they can engage in daily activities (which could include work activity). To actually get an "opinion" from a claimant's doctor, social security would need to send the doctor something known as an RFC form. This is a form on which the doctor can indicate exactly how his patient is limited and to what degree.

Social Security does not do this. Instead, they have their own doctor--who has never seen the claimant once--fill out an RFC form after reading the claimant's medical records. Not surprisingly, social security turns down 70 percent of all disability applications.

So, in a large way, the social security disability process is very similar to the long term disability process. However, I will say that the LTD process is much much worse. Why? Because private long term disability insurance companies have "profit motive". And this fact leads to unethical behavior, as in "taking someone's insurance premiums and then working overtime to make sure they never collect their benefits when they become disabled and unable to work".

I've said it before: Congress needs to regulate long term disability insurance companies to a much higher degree.








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Chronic Kidney Disease and Stomach Acid Induced Asthma

Doctor Paul G. Donohue is at it again. This time he answers questions about chronic kidney disease, acid reflux affecting asthma, and even answers a question that challenges one of his previous statements.

In this educational article Dr. Donohue explains the causes of chronic kidney disease, the five stages involved, and makes suggestions for controlling the disease to a husband who is concerned about his wife’s diagnosis. Chronic kidney disease affects nearly 20 million Americans and if not properly treated can lead to dialysis or kidney transplants.

In this informative ‘question and answer’ article, Dr. Donohue explains how stomach acid can induce asthma. He also talks about how medicine should be a first line of defense in a case of stomach acid induced asthma, followed only by surgery if medicine is unsuccessful.

Lastly, Dr. Donohue admits an editorial mistake in a previous article that discusses T-scores in relation to osteoporosis; a numerical value was misquoted, causing confusion in at least one interested reader.


Kidney disease diagnosis takes woman by surprise








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Is Winning Disability From Social Security Quickly Really Possible?

There is no denying that some disability claimants receive quick approvals from Social Security. “Quick” disability claim approvals generally involve disability claimants who have conditions that are likely to result in death (i.e. certain types of cancer, genetic disorders, etc), or conditions that meet or equal an impairment listing in the Social Security disability handbook. Most of these disability claims will be approved within thirty days, and those disability claimants who have a terminal condition may win disability benefits even sooner.

However, most disability claims take somewhat longer to receive a decision. In fact, most disability claimants who do not meet or equal a listing have to begin the Social Security disability appeal process to win their disability.

Why is this the case? Most disability claims do not meet or equal a listing, so other factors such as age, education, and residual functional capacity (what an individual is capable of doing in spite of the limitations caused by their disabling impairments) must be taken into consideration when making a Social Security disability medical decision. Social Security has a set of medical vocational guidelines that are used to help make Social Security disability decisions uniform across the country. These guidelines take into account an individual’s age, education, work history, and residual functional capacity. If an individual meets the criteria of a medical vocational guideline, they will most likely win disability benefits.

So why do so many disability claimants have to pursue their disability claims to the administrative law judge hearing level? The answer is a simple one. The medical vocational grid does not provide for an easy approval for disability claimants. Actually, most disability claimants do not meet the vocational grid criteria either.

Now the question is what makes the administrative law judge hearing appeal more productive for disability claimants? Administrative law judges have more flexibility in making their medical determinations, and they do not have other decision makers reviewing their decisions on a daily basis. Social Security disability examiners have unit physicians, case consultants, and unit managers reviewing their decisions. Consequently, fewer disability claims are won at the initial disability claim and reconsideration appeal level than the administrative law judge hearing.

So is winning disability from Social Security quickly possible? Yes, but generally the disability process is a lengthy process that takes a considerable amount of time if you do not have a terminal condition or you do not meet or equal a listing in the Social Security disability handbook.








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