What You Can Do To Help Your Medical Records Support Your Social Security Disability Claim
For those Social Security Disability claimants who have chronic medical problems, frequent doctor visits become the norm.
Most people are focused on treatment and pain management during these visits, rightfully so.
However, many claimants often forget that these doctor visits can be used to keep the physician informed of other important issues as well.
For example, if you have degenerative disc disease, you can use this time to let your doctor know if your pain is getting worse, or if you can no longer stand as long as you used to.
If you suffer from some form of pain every day, you may not think to discuss it with your doctor when you go see him for a cold or other acute problem.
Don't miss this valuable opportunity to help your medical records support your chronically disabling condition as well.
When submitting your claim for Social Security Disability benefits, and going through the approval process, medical evidence is necessary to prove your disability.
The medical records from your doctor's visits will eventually be submitted as evidence to help support your claim.
If you are visiting an internal medicine physician, he may ask you about each of your body systems (Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth/throat, Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Endocrine, Extremeties, Skin, Musculoskeletal and Neurologic).
Whatever your condition is, it will fall within one of the above categories.
Don't be afraid to tell your doctor about each one of the issues you are having, not just the specific one that brought you in to the office that particular day.
Use this time with your doctor to:
Furthermore, it is important to understand what is being written in your medical records.
If you are like most people, you may find that trying to read a medical record is like trying to read a foreign language.
This is an area that an attorney would be able to help in, someone with experience reviewing medical records will be able to explain your records to you and help you understand their relationship to your disability claim.
A good social security lawyer will also take care of ordering and reviewing all your medical records, contact your doctors to obtain records and reports that are consistent with SSA regulations, and gathering other important evidence.
The road to obtaining Social Security Disability benefits can be a long and challenging one.
There are some things that you as a claimant will have little control over in the process.
When it comes to your health, and to your claim for Social Security Disability benefits, being proactive may just make a difference.
Most people are focused on treatment and pain management during these visits, rightfully so.
However, many claimants often forget that these doctor visits can be used to keep the physician informed of other important issues as well.
For example, if you have degenerative disc disease, you can use this time to let your doctor know if your pain is getting worse, or if you can no longer stand as long as you used to.
If you suffer from some form of pain every day, you may not think to discuss it with your doctor when you go see him for a cold or other acute problem.
Don't miss this valuable opportunity to help your medical records support your chronically disabling condition as well.
When submitting your claim for Social Security Disability benefits, and going through the approval process, medical evidence is necessary to prove your disability.
The medical records from your doctor's visits will eventually be submitted as evidence to help support your claim.
If you are visiting an internal medicine physician, he may ask you about each of your body systems (Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth/throat, Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Endocrine, Extremeties, Skin, Musculoskeletal and Neurologic).
Whatever your condition is, it will fall within one of the above categories.
Don't be afraid to tell your doctor about each one of the issues you are having, not just the specific one that brought you in to the office that particular day.
Use this time with your doctor to:
- Manage all your health issues, both acute and chronic
- Get referrals to other appropriate doctors concerning your conditions
- Get whatever type of diagnostic testing that is recommended
Furthermore, it is important to understand what is being written in your medical records.
If you are like most people, you may find that trying to read a medical record is like trying to read a foreign language.
This is an area that an attorney would be able to help in, someone with experience reviewing medical records will be able to explain your records to you and help you understand their relationship to your disability claim.
A good social security lawyer will also take care of ordering and reviewing all your medical records, contact your doctors to obtain records and reports that are consistent with SSA regulations, and gathering other important evidence.
The road to obtaining Social Security Disability benefits can be a long and challenging one.
There are some things that you as a claimant will have little control over in the process.
When it comes to your health, and to your claim for Social Security Disability benefits, being proactive may just make a difference.
