The simple answer to this question is that you can send as many doctor letters to Social Security as you like. The real question here is...will the letter you send help your disability claim? The quality of a doctor's letter does count in Social Security disability. By this I mean, a simple letter stating "my patient is disabled and cannot work" will not help your disability claim. Consequently, it does not matter how many of your treating doctors send this type of letter.
So what type of doctor's letter will improve your chances of winning your disability? Most Social Security disability determinations are made based upon the medical information garnered from your treating medical sources. In fact, Social Security regulations require that medical evidence from treating medical sources be given more weight because they most likely provide a clearer picture of your disabling impairment or impairments.
If your treating doctor, or doctors, are willing to provide you with a letter, you should request that the letter address your medical history, diagnosis, treatment methods and your response to treatment, laboratory and clinical findings, as well as a detailed statement. Your doctor's statement should include an opinion as to what you are able to do in spite of your disabling condition or conditions. The opinion must be corroborated by objective medical evidence.
If you have a physical impairment (s), your doctor should address your ability to do physical activities that might affect your ability to perform work activity such as sitting, walking, standing, lifting, carrying, or even speaking, hearing, or your ability to travel.
If you have a mental impairment (s), your treating doctor might address your ability to follow instructions, ability to remember or understand instructions, respond appropriately to supervisors and/or coworkers, or even your ability to withstand work pressures.
If you provide letters from your treating physicians, make sure that they provide Social Security with a good picture of your condition or conditions, your limitations, and your ability to perform work activities. It always important to remember that Social Security disability is not based upon your particular impairments so much as it is based upon your ability to perform work activity in spite of the limitations that your impairment, or impairments, cause you. Doctor statements can really help your disability claim if they are provide Social Security with necessary information about your disability.
