UC team studies link between Parkinson's disease and depression

It has been proven in past studies that depression and Parkinson’s are oftentimes paired together. Scientists have been unable to determine whether depression is present initially and somehow leads to Parkinson’s disease, or whether Parkinson’s disease is predisposed for depression. Some wonder whether those diagnosed with Parkinson’s develop depression due to being ‘down’ about having the disease, while others wonder whether depression then aggravates and influences the progression of Parkinson’s disease. The big question is: How are Parkinson’s disease and depression linked?

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder of the central nervous system. The disease impairs motor skills and speech, and involves the death of dopamine-producing cells within the brain. Since dopamine plays a role in depression, there are many questions about the connection between depression and Parkinson’s disease.

A team of researchers from the University of Cincinnati have been working toward an answer to these questions since 2005. The team is lead by Kim Seroogy, PhD, a professor of neurology and director of the Selma Schottenstein Harris Lab for Research in Parkinson's at the James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, and James Herman, PhD. , the director of the university's neuroscience graduate program and a professor of psychiatry.

Their first grant was a $14,000 grant from the Sunflower Revolution Encore in 2005. After that, they received a $50,000 grant from the David Phinney Foundation, with interim grants of nearly $20,000 from the Parkinson's Disease Support Network of Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Their recent work is funded by a five-year $1.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The studies that will follow this grant will be done using Parkinson’s disease induced rodents. Some will have depression first, then Parkinson’s disease, and vice versa, as well as a combination of the two. They will put them in stressful situations (extreme cold, crowded spaces) and test their reactions to gain insight into the questions: Does depression or Parkinson’s disease come first, and how can we use this information for new treatments?

In pilot studies they have already found that rodents with Parkinson’s disease and stress-induced depression show an acceleration of dying dopamine cells in the brain. They also found that stress added to movement issues and seemed to further exacerbates impaired limbs.

They will also be studying whether or not antidepressants affect Parkinson’s disease and how, as well as whether or not antidepressants can protect the brain from Parkinson’s disease. There are no definitive studies or long-term evaluations on antidepressants and Parkinson’s disease.





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After-Death Communication for Grieving PTSD Patients

It may seem a little 'hokey and new age', but induced after-death communication (IADC) is showing a high percentage of positive results for many patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that develops due to traumatic life experiences such as violence, rape, death, physical injury or extreme psychological trauma. It has also been recognized in the past as shell shock, traumatic war neurosis, railway spine or post-traumatic stress syndrome.

It is a quite severe emotional reaction to trauma and results in the patient not only remembering an event, but constantly reliving it to the degree that they have nightmares, flashbacks, fight or flight response, anger, rage, sadness, fear and extreme anxiety. Those with the disorder will oftentimes go to great lengths to avoid any life experiences that will trigger PTSD.

PTSD also shows biological changes in the brain and body, such as a low secretion of cortisol and high secretion of catecholamine in urine. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious disease that causes significant impairment in functioning in social or occupational settings and affects all areas of life.

Before 1987, exposure therapy (talk therapy) was the standard therapy used to help those with PTSD, but after 1987 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was introduced. EMDR was coined by psychologist Francine Shapiro and has changed the face of PTSD therapy. It involves putting the brain into the REM (rapid eye movement) state that happens during deep sleep and dreaming. Somehow, through rapid eye movements back and forth, patients are able to process and integrate their experiences while fully awake. EMDR has been used successfully since 1987.

So, what about after-death communication?

Dr. Allan Botkin had been using EMDR in his practice when he decided to make a few technical changes to the therapy. When he did, his patients begin seeing amazing results in their healing – and reporting that they were seeing and communicating positively with those who had 'passed on'. They reported healing conversations and seemed to drop most, if not all, of their PTSD symptoms.

At first Dr. Botkin was skeptical and wondered if his patients were hallucinating or perhaps getting worse, but over the years he has found that his therapy 'Induced After-Death Communication' (IADC) is a very successful therapy for those that need grief and trauma healing. He has collected years of data proving the success of his therapy and has written a book on the subject. He has also reported a statistic of 70 percent recovery for his patients using the technique.

While some people may not believe in 'after-death communication' (ADC), Dr. Botkin himself has decided not to take a stand on the issue. Whether or not one believes in ADC seems to be irrelevant during therapy and Dr. Botkin has said that he does not think his patients are dreaming, hallucinating, fantasizing or imagining…though he will not say whether he thinks they are actually in touch with the spirit world. He feels his neutral position allows him to help his patients without influencing their experience of the therapy.




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Social Security Disability Topics

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Social Security Disability and Medication
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Disability and Back Pain

Many individuals suffering from chronic back pain find that their condition severely limits their ability to work, but are not sure if they can collect disability benefits based on this condition (back pain) alone, or if they need a more definitive diagnosis, such as osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, etc.

If you file for social security disability (SSD) on the basis of back pain, a disability examiner will first evaluate your medical records to determine if your symptoms meet the criteria for any musculoskeletal conditions listed in the social security book of impairments, or blue book. However, even if the examiner in your case determines that your impairment does not meet the criteria of any listings in the blue book, you might still be eligible for disability benefits.

This is because the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not evaluate claims based on a specific medical diagnosis, but instead awards benefits to those with impairments that prevent them from participating in substantial gainful activity (SGA).

Currently the SSA has set the SGA amount for non-blind individuals at $940 per month, so if you can provide solid medical documentation to support your claim that your back pain prevents you from earning at least that amount, you may very well qualify for disability benefits.

If your back pain is not the result of a musculoskeletal condition listed in the SSA blue book, there are two other ways in which you can still qualify for SSD or supplemental security income (SSI) benefits: 1) A disability examiner or judge can decide that your symptoms are equal in severity to those of a musculoskeletal condition that is listed in the social security book of impairments (referred to as equaling a listing), or 2) A disability examiner or judge can decide that your symptoms limit your residual functional capacity (your ability to perform work-related tasks) to the point that you are no longer able to earn a living wage (see SGA amount above).

The good news is that most applicants who are awarded social security disability or SSI for back pain do not meet a listing in the blue book. The not-so-good news is that those who fail to meet a listing must qualify for a medical vocational allowance in order to win benefits, and a medical vocational allowance is awarded only to those who can demonstrate that their condition prevents them from performing not only their current job, but any past jobs, and any other work to which they may be suited (based on age, education, physical or mental limitations, etc.). Needless to say, many disability applications are denied based on a disability examiner’s decision that you are still able to perform other work.

For this reason it is extremely important for those filing for disability based on back pain to provide a complete work history to social security, detailing not only titles held at past jobs, but the specific duties performed in each position—you do not want the disability examiner assuming you are qualified to perform tasks (other work) for which you have no prior experience or ability.




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Enzyme Responsible for Bone Deterioration in Rheumatoid Arthritis

A new study has determined an enzyme that could be responsible for bone deterioration in rheumatoid arthritis. The enzyme, Smad Ubiquitin Regulatory Factor 1 (Smurf1), was found to be in charge of two main proteins that drive bone-building and therefore could cause bone loss.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects around 1.3 million Americans. It is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, swelling, pain and deformity of joints. In later stages it can also cause bone loss due to enzymes digesting bone and cartilage. This often causes more pain and loss of movement. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic disease, which means it does not go away and can affect other parts of the body. The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown.

The study, which was published in an August issue of The Journal of Biological Chemistry, was held by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center with the goal of helping to create drugs to the reverse the process of thinning bones related to rheumatoid arthritis. They were already aware that an overproduction of the immune system chemical called TNF alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha) decreases osteoblasts, which are bone-building cells. While fully aware that this happens and causes bone thinning, scientists have been unaware of how or why the osteoblasts were decreased by the TNF alpha chemical.

For the experiment they used mice and found that TNF alpha has an effect on osteoblasts through the Smurf1 enzyme. They also found that the Smurf1 enzyme turns off two bone building proteins and solved the mystery of why TNF alpha affects the osteoblasts in the way that it does.

Because of the study, it is now known that Smurf1 signals the proteins and causes the damage that happens during overproduction of TNF alpha. This new information will enable scientists to begin working on creating drugs that can shut down Smurf1 and stop bone thinning.

The study also found that mice with less Smurf1 had thicker bones. This poses the question to whether shutting down Smurf1 would also help with different forms of osteoporosis. There is much more work to be done and more research to be performed, but this new information is certainly exciting the medical world.


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Social Security disability and assets
Getting a Disability Lawyer in Kentucky

Early Treatment for Hepatitis C Restores Immune Response

A new study found that patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) who received early treatment were likely to develop an immune response against HCV and eradicate the virus in a rapid way. The study was funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Fonds d la recherché en santé du Québec, led by Dr. Naglaa Shoukry and Dr. Julie Breneau, and accompanied by researchers the Institut national de la santé et de la recherché scientifique (Montréal branch).

The researchers for the Canadian study followed a group of high-risk intravenous drug users, before and after exposure to Hepatitis C virus. They are hoping that new developments could lead to new treatments of the disease. The study proved that treating the disease within the first few months of an infection could act in a similar way to spontaneous eradication, by developing a rapid poly-functional immune response to the disease. Early treatments lead to a production of multiple anti-viral mediators.

Hepatitis C virus is transmitted through infected blood and a major infection can lead to cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.
In the United States, most HCV infections are spread through intravenous drug use. Although Hepatitis C damages the liver, over 80 percent of those with the disease have no symptoms. It is estimated that nearly 4 million people in the United States have the disease. Unfortunately, nearly 75 percent of those who contract the disease go on to develop chronic Hepatitis C.

The study findings are quite significant and may be able to slow down or stop those with the disease from developing a chronic form of the disease with early treatment.

The anti-viral drug ‘pegylated interferon alpha’ is the only approved drug for HCV, though nearly one-fourth of patients eradicated the infection without treatment. If it is administered during chronic infection it is only 50 percent successful, but when caught and treated early the success rate jumps from 50 percent to 90 percent.

For reasons unknown, the disease can spontaneously disappear without treatment and does quite often. With early treatment, the immune response against HCV can be restores and natural eradication can take place.





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Filing for Social Security disability- what to bring when you apply

Gene research for Bipolar Disorder

A new study has turned up two genes that may give new insights into the cause of bipolar disorder. The study took data from more than 4,000 people from American, British and Irish decent with bipolar disorder and analyzed their genomes by a gene chip. This gene chip notices genetic changes along the genome and finds common variations of DNA units – known Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs), pronounced ‘snips’. Some scientists believe that SNPs may predispose people to disease.

The scientists took this SNP information and compared it to the SNPs of a large group of people who were not affected by bipolar disorder. Their goal was to see if there were any SNPs that have a strong involvement with the disorder. What they found was two genes that stood out in a few cases of bipolar disorder, leading them to believe that they may have some information about the biology of the disease.

The researchers, led by Nick Craddock of Crardiff University in Wales and Pamela Klar of the Massachusetts General Hospital, used graphs and visuals to show their results. The results were shown online at Nature Genetics on August 17th, 2008. In their graphs it shows the two SNPs that topped the graph at the level of significance. There was another third SNP that came close, but did not rank as high as the other two.

The researchers studied the genes that the SNPs occurred in and found the first to be an obscure gene named Ankyrin-G. It helps anchor proteins in the cell membrane. The second SNP was from a gene that is part of the ion channel which allows calcium to go in and out of the nerve cells.

The study also proved that there are no genes that have a huge affect in the disease, since these two SNPs were barely ranked in the ‘significance’ category. Due to this, there are plans for another larger study. They are hoping to identify enough common genes to help discover major biological pathways leading to the disorder. If possible, they may be able to create new treatments to help those suffering from bipolar disorder.




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Non-Invasive Therapies For Back Pain

Back pain is a common occurrence for many. The cause can range from muscle strain injury, herniation and degenerative disc disease to spondylolisthesis and osteoarthritis. Most back pain is cured through natural means within a two week to three month period. If the pain is due to muscle strain, as most back pain is, then the only way to heal is to wait for blood to carry nutrients and healing properties to the muscles. Fortunately, the muscles have an exceptional blood supply and are usually self-healing. It is estimated that around 50 percent of those with back pain will get natural relief within a couple weeks and nearly 90 percent will find relief within a three month time period.

If pain does not subside within a reasonable amount of time, pain medication or surgery can be an option. Unfortunately, pain medication can be highly addictive and surgery does not always remedy the problem. Surgery usually has long recovery times also, which requires patients to take off work and forgo daily activities.

Since back pain is such a common issue for many Americans, there have been quite a few new therapies popping up to address these issues. Less addictive pain medications and minimally invasive procedures, such as Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty, have recently been introduced to the market, allowing those with severe back pain to get relief without huge surgical procedures.

Vertebroplasty is minimally invasive and helps to strengthen fractured bones or vertebrae in the spinal column that could be causing back pain. Vertebrates can be fractured due to osteoporosis, weakness caused by cancer or a host of other causes. To strengthen the bones or vertebrae, doctors inject the fractured bone with a cement-type mixtures that makes it stronger. They use image guidance to ensure precision, safety and limited surgical exposure, then they use a trocar (hollow needle) to go through the skin into the vertebral bone.

Kyphoplasty adds an extra step to vertebroplasty, by inserting and inflating a balloon in the patient’s vertebrae, before injecting the vertebrae with bone cement. Again, it is minimally invasive and works well for painful, progressive vertebral compression fractures, while also protecting from further fractures.

Both procedures only involve a tiny needle hole on the order of a few millimeters for the process to be accomplished and therefore allow a much shortened recovery time after treatment.



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Is ADHD Being Misdiagnosed?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is estimated to affect nearly 5 percent of the world’s population in children under the age of 19. The disease has been deemed a ‘disability’ in the United States, and since that time it has seen a 600 percent increase in the United States school system. Recently, an influential group of seven experts from different Universities urged the Federal Government in Australia against making ADHD a ‘disability’ and estimated that one in three children who were diagnosed with the disease were being misdiagnosed.

The experts come from Universities such as the University of Sydney and the University of Wollongong. In their submissions to the Federal Government they warned against allocating special funding of grants to schools based on the diagnosis of students and also stated there was no evidence of Ritalin having long term benefits. They believe that many of the children who are being diagnosis actually have learning disabilities. These powerful statements have been submitted to the Federal Government’s ADHD review panel and have the potential to rewrite the guidelines for ADHD diagnosis.

ADHD is a developmental disorder that is most commonly diagnosed in small children, either in the preschool or earlier years, though it is now being diagnosed more and more in adults. It is still not entirely understood, though it is thought to be genetic to some degree. It has also been estimated that nearly one-fifth could be due to toxic exposure or trauma.

There are three forms of the disease: ADHD-PI (primarily inattentive), ADHD-PH/I (primarily hyperactive/impulsive) and ADHD-C (a combined form of the condition). The most common treatment for ADHD is psycho stimulant medication. Oftentimes non-stimulant medication, antidepressants and mood stabilizer medications will help show signs of improvement. Treatment usually involves a variety of medications and adjustments, from behavior therapy and lifestyle changes to counseling and diet adjustments. Removing caffeine, chocolate, sugar and highly processed foods is also recommended by some doctors.

Unfortunately, many general practitioners are now diagnosing the disease. Many experts think that general practitioners are making the diagnosis too easily and prescribing Ritalin without thoughts to side effects. The team has called for multi-disciplinary psychologists, doctors and experts to replace general practitioners, making them the only ones who can diagnosis the disease. They believe that nearly 30 percent of children who are being diagnosed do not even meet the diagnostic criteria of the ADHD and think that nearly 90 percent of those diagnosed could be better served by receiving other treatment.

According to their statements, they strongly believe the disease is too complex for a general practitioner to diagnose. The experts stated that they don’t want to see funding for ADHD students, because it would take funding and teaching time away from students with significant disabilities, such as autism and cerebral palsy.


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Social Security Disability Topics

How to qualify for disability
To qualify for disability how many work quarters do you need?
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Who qualifies for disability benefits?
Anxiety and Panic attacks, can you qualify for disability?
Will you qualify for disability based on a heart attack?

Bipolar Therapy Choices and Trends

A new report, Treatment Algorithms in Bipolar Disorder, has found that over 52 percent of patients that are newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder are being prescribed antidepressants. They also found that the high numbers of prescribed anti-depressants that are coming from the first line of treatment are from primary care physicians. The report was created by Decision Resources, a leading research and advisory firm on healthcare and pharmaceutical issues. The report gives insight into therapy choices and prescribing trends.

The primary care physicians that were surveyed said they were in favor of Lexapro and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for bipolar disorder, with these statistics:

Bipolar disorder I with acute depression – 51 percent

Bipolar disorder II with acute depression, without hypomania – 52 percent

Bipolar disorder II with acute depression and hypomania – 46 percent

The report also stated that many primary care physicians were diagnosing quite differently than psychiatrists. Most primary care physicians are treating bipolar disorder with a monotherapy, although guidelines state that bipolar patients with depression should receive an antimanic first line.

The report also found that Lamictal from GlaxoSmithKline is the leading single-agent in therapy, whether it was first, second or third-line treatment. Eighteen percent of psychiatrists prefer Lamictal for first-line treatment, 13.8 percent prefer it for second- line treatment and 16.3 percent prefer it for third-line treatment. In particular, psychiatrists seem to prefer Lamictal for:

Bipolar disorder I with acute depression: 59 percent

Bipolar disorder II with acute depression, without hypomania: 61 percent

And many psychiatrists prefer Lamictal and Abbott’s Depakote ER as a combination therapy:

Bipolar disorder II with acute depression: 45 percent

Bipolar disorder II with hypomania: 32 percent

The report examined information such as drug usage by line of therapy, summary of U.S. medical practice, qualitative diagnosis, discussion of key freeform combinations by lines of therapy, product share within each line of therapy, progression of therapy from key first-line products, pathway to key therapies and qualitative analysis of two-year forecast.


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Social Security Disability and MS Multiple Sclerosis
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Facts about medicare

Gila Monster drug for those with Type 2 Diabetes

There's quite a stir in the medical community about Byetta, a drug that lowers blood sugar and can potentially help extend the lives of those with Type 2 diabetes. Byetta, also called exenatide, is an injectable drug that comes in a pre-filled pen with easy instructions and can be used with metformin, a sulfonylurea, or a thiazolidinedione, though the FDA may approve it for monotherapy. It is a synthetic version of a Gil monster (lizard) venom protein that supports the production and digestion of insulin. The drug is being joint marketed by the companies Amylin and Eli Lilly and was introduced in 2005.

Exciting the medical community is a new major clinical study called 'Accord', which found that those who took Byetta had a 75 percent lower chance of dying than those taking other drugs. The trial had 10,000 patients and although only 825 of the patients took Byetta, those who did showed a much healthier outcome. Even the company's marketing the drug were surprised by the findings.

Sales of the drug are thought to reach nearly $700 million this year alone, though so far prescriptions are not as abundant as they had expected. At present the drug is taken by twice a day injections, though Amylin and Eli Lilly are working on a new formulation which would only require an injection once a week. It has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as of yet. Many doctors and patients do not like prescribing and taking the drug because it is an injectable.

Byetta is the first of its kind; a new class of medicines called incretin mimetics. This means it mimics the natural hormones in the body that lower blood sugar. Byetta does come with side effects. The most common is nausea, which can be moderate to severe, but typically subsides over time. There is also a chance of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), though the chances are much less than other diabetes medicines. It can also cause dizziness, diarrhea, nervousness, vomiting, headache and acid stomach. Many people also lose weight on the drug, typically a few pounds per year.

Although the 'Accord' study is very promising to the medical community, there will still need to be larger trials that would take the cardiac health and the death rates of the patients into question. The larger study will need to be with Byetta and placebos, instead of Byetta and other medicines. There is no current plan for this trial of as yet.

Many suspect that Byetta helps mortality rates due to weight loss and less chances of hypoglycemia.



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Positive Treatments for Lupus

Nearly 2 million Americans suffer from Lupus, an autoimmune disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack its own tissues because it cannot tell the difference between foreign substances, called antigens, and the body’s own tissues. Due to this confusion, the body creates antibodies against its own self, which causes inflammation, pain and damage in various parts the body, including the lungs, heart, joints, skin, brain, blood and kidneys. For some it is a mild disease and for others it is severe, even life threatening. It is estimated that more than 16,000 new diagnoses are made each year in the United States and more than 90 percent are women between the ages of 15-45, the childbearing years.

There are four different types of Lupus and within each type there are still no two cases that are exactly alike. The four types are: discoid, systemic, drug-induced and neonatal lupus.

Lupus used to be more fatal than it is today; today it can be treated and with proper treatment, patients can lead somewhat normal lives. Many think lupus has something to do with estrogen and estrogen receptors, though the connections still remains a mystery. Genetics are also at play with the disease and environmental factors are a play as well. Certain medications and even sunlight can trigger the illness.

The disease is most often characterized by achiness, joint pain and stiffness. Parts of the body may be swollen, such as the hands, due to inflammation. Patients may experience other symptoms, such as fever, sores in the mouth and nose, facial rash, swollen glands, chest pain, or simply fatigue. Since no two cases are alike and the symptoms are so varying, diagnose can be quite challenging. The American College of Rheumatology has a certain criteria that must be met to make the diagnosis of lupus. Patients must exhibit four of the eleven criteria, which are usually determined through urinalysis and blood tests.

Treatment for the disease has come a long way. The survival rate has dramatically increased. Some patients can use over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, some use the antimalarial hydroxychloroquine and others use corticosteroids.

Eating a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals, getting enough rest, avoiding direct sunlight and exercising on a regular basis can help control symptoms as well.





Social Security Disability Topics

The difference between social security disability and SSI
Can you apply for SSI for a learning disability ?
Is it hard to qualify for Social Security benefits if you have depression ?
How will Social Security find you disabled?
Social Security Disability and Medical Conditions

How Will Social Security Decide a Disability Case that's filed?

All Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases are decided based on the medical evidence supplied, either by the claimant or the claimant’s legal representative, to the social security administration. It can’t be stressed enough, really, how important it is for a claimant to take the time to put together a medical history that supplies all of the medical facilities at which he or she has received treatment, including names of treating physicians, addresses, and accurate phone numbers. This may take some extra time and calling around before filing the initial claim, but putting down that you received treatment “at the cardiac treatment center on the west side” is not really all that helpful to a disability examiner when it comes to tracking down your records. Do not be lazy in this respect—if you don’t provide accurate contact information to the examiner, you will delay your case for weeks, even months, or your treatment records may not be located at all, which could mean the difference between being awarded disability or being turned down altogether.

What types of medical evidence can help you win disability benefits? The answer to this question is, potentially anything and everything. Doctor’s notes, records of being admitted and discharged from hospitals and emergency rooms, and above all, any detailed statements from your treating physician that supply information as to your residual functional capacity (the actions you are able to perform despite your medical condition), will help a disability examiner or judge evaluate your claim. This goes for any disability claims made on the basis of mental conditions as well—any psychiatric records, admittance and discharge from medical facilities, evaluations, and treatment summaries provided by your psychiatrist are very important to your case.

How does a disability examiner (an employee of the state disability determination services agency who makes SSD/SSI decisions for the federal social security administration) use medical evidence to evaluate a claim? The examiner will look over all of the medical records and make notes on any medical diagnoses, lab reports, x-rays, CT scans, spirometry (pulmonary functioning) tests, etc., and decide if the records support the claim of an impairment, and if that impairment meets the criteria of a listing in the blue book (a manual that lists medical conditions that the social security administration deems potentially disabling). If the examiner determines that the claimant has a condition that is not listed in the blue book, or has a condition in the blue book but does not present with all of the symptoms required to be approved for that listing (it’s hard to meet all of the criteria necessary to qualify for a listing as they are very specific), then the examiner will decide if a medical vocational allowance should be granted to the claimant. The medical vocational allowance, or Med-voc, is awarded to those with documented medical conditions that, although not specifically listed in the blue book, still prevent an individual from engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA). Currently the SGA amount is $940 per month, so if your condition prevents you from earning more than that, you may qualify for a medical vocational allowance.

Medical vocational allowances often hinge on statements from a treating physician regarding a patient’s residual functional capacity as well as the physician’s opinion about your chances of recovery in the future, or the likely progression of your illness. If your physician backs up the claim that you cannot perform your current job, then the disability examiner, before awarding a medical vocational allowance, will try to determine if you could perform some past work, or other type of work. The examiner will use a vocational grid to make this determination, which is designed to ensure that examiners in all states take into consideration a claimant’s job skills, past work, education and age before suggesting other employment to which he or she may be suited.

When it comes to disability claims that are awarded on the basis of medical vocational allowances, a complete work history can be as important as complete medical history. Again, do not be lazy or cut corners when you supply your work history with your initial application. List not only past jobs and any titles you have held, but also your specific duties, so that there is no guesswork on the part of the examiner as to what you are or are not capable of doing. Also, list good contact information for your past supervisors so that they can confirm your employment and the capacity in which you acted while in your position.

If at any point in the process you have new information that is relative to your case, be it new test results, medication, treatments, or diagnosis, be sure to supply it to your social security office immediately so that a disability examiner will consider it when deciding your case.


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AED’s Save Lives

Would you know the difference between a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest? Would you know to call the ambulance and administer an automated external defibrillator (AED) in both cases?

A recent story of an AED saving a life comes from Akron, Ohio. A 70 year old woman sat down in the aisle of the Giant Eagle on Waterloo Road because she felt dizzy, and then went unconscious. Most people would have thought she had a heart attack, but she actually had a sudden cardiac arrest. Fortunately, an officer was there and knew what to do. He quickly called for an AED, which the store happened to have and saved the woman’s life.

Although they may look the same, the differences between a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest are quite large. In a heart attack, the blood flow to the heart is obstructed, usually by a blood clot. Heart attack is sometimes the cause of cardiac arrest. In cardiac arrest the pump function ceases and the heart begins beating rapidly, until it stops. Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States. It is estimated that 90 percent of cardiac arrest cases end in death, killing more than 320,000 each year in the U.S.

In case of heart attack or cardiac arrest it is suggested that you call an ambulance, administer CPR and/or an automated external defibrillator (AED). Though the emergency care is the same, the follow-up care is quite different. When a cardiac arrest patient is treated within a minute or two, the survival rate is enormous, nearly 98 percent. If there is no treatment for around nine minutes, the patient usually dies.

What is an AED? An automated external defibrillator is a device used to analyze the patient’s heartbeat and administer a shock to restore normal heart rhythm in case of cardiac arrest. It is a portable, automatic microprocessor with electrodes and electrical circuitry that is applies a shock through adhesive electrode pads placed outside the body. The shock stuns the heart and allows it to resume normal activity.

Cardiac arrest can be fatal without the device. Many businesses have on on-site, such as office buildings, hotels, country clubs and airports. If you see someone having heart issues, find out if there is one available right away.

If medications do not help those with heart issues, sometimes a defibrillator will be surgically implanted near the heart to deliver an immediate shock if it starts beating to wildly. An AED should not be used if the patient has a pulse.




For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center





Social Security Disability Topics

The difference between social security disability and SSI
Apply for social security disability
What happens after I file my disability claim?
Social security definition of disability?
Can you speed up the Social Security disability process?

Being Determined Medically Disabled for Social Security Disability

Do not assume that because you have been diagnosed with a severe medical condition and received medical treatment for that condition you will be approved for social security disability (SSD) or SSI benefits, even if you have a mountain of medical records to back up your claim.

Why? Because, unfortunately, so many physicians do not understand the kind of evidence that disability examiners (who make decisions for the state disability determination services agency) and federal disability judges (who hear appeals for disability claimants denied benefits by the state) are looking for when deciding disability claims.

It is not uncommon for a physician to treat a patient’s symptoms for months, even years, without making any notations in his or her notes regarding the patient’s real physical or mental limitations. And, without a definitive statement regarding actions that the claimant can no longer perform; such as sitting for long periods of time, typing, lifting, concentrating, focusing on a computer screen, etc., a disability examiner or judge will have no way of determining if you are able to return to your job or perform another type of work.

Disability benefits are meant to provide financial support to those who can’t earn enough to get by. How much is enough? The Social Security Administration (SSA) sets a monthly amount, or standard living wage, known as the SGA (substantial gainful activity). Currently, for non-blind individuals, that amount is set at $940 per month for 2008, so you must be able to demonstrate that you cannot work in any job and that would pay you more than that amount. And the only way to demonstrate that you cannot work is to have your physician provide details about the tasks that, because of your impairment, you are no longer able to perform.

Even if you have a signed statement from your physician stating that you are “100% disabled,” or that you are “unable to work,” you will find your claim is likely to be turned down if the physician’s opinion does not detail exactly how your medical condition limits your daily living activities. So, if you are filing for SSD or SSI benefits, be sure to ask your physician to see a copy of your medical records so that you know exactly what’s in there. If you find no or little mention of your physical or mental limitations, ask your physician to provide you with a residual functional capacity (RFC) statement, listing exactly what types of physical or mental tasks someone with your medical condition can reasonably be expected to perform. You might even want to pick up an RFC form from your local Social Security office and bring it directly to your doctor’s office—it’s really that important.

Remember, all disability decisions are based on medical documentation, and if your medical records do not supply the necessary proof that, not only are you disabled but that you can no longer work, they will do nothing to further your claim for disability.




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Am I Eligible For Social Security Disability?

In order to be eligible for social security disability (SSD) or supplemental security income (SSI) benefits, you must demonstrate that you are a) physically or mentally disabled and b) are in financial need (unable to perform substantial gainful activity) as a result of your disability.

Those individuals applying for SSD must prove that their medical condition prevents them from earning a certain amount each month, defined by the social security administration as substantial gainful activity (SGA). As of this writing, in order to qualify for SSD benefits, a claimant must make no more than $940 per month, the current SGA amount. However, the SGA is adjusted annually by the social security administration to reflect cost of living increases/inflation.

To qualify for SSI, an applicant must demonstrate not only an inability to earn the current SGA, but must also prove that he or she has no more than two thousand dollars in assets, including any bank accounts, insurance policies, and property (other than their home). Potential SSI applicants are allowed to own only one car to get to and from work—any other vehicle is counted as an asset, and its value may prevent them from qualifying for disability benefits.

If you’re not sure if your financial status qualifies you for SSD/SSI benefits, the best thing to do is speak to claims representative (CR) at the social security office. The CR can review your assets and determine if you are qualified to receive either SSD or SSI (or both).

Assuming you qualify to receive disability benefits from a financial standpoint, your SSD/SSI case will be forwarded to a disability examiner for consideration. The disability examiner’s job is to determine if your medical condition is severe enough to prevent you from working enough to earn the current SGA. You will be granted disability benefits only if you can demonstrate, through medical records, that your impairment is severe enough to prevent you from working for 12 months or more. Detailed documentation of your condition by your treating physician is key here, and ideally will include a description of both your symptoms and how they prevent you from performing your job (or any other job to which you may be suited).

Of course, if your application for disability is denied by the disability examiner, you can appeal the decision. This appeal, also called a request for reconsideration or review, is decided by the same agency that considered the original application, the state disability determination services (DDS) agency. And, if your appeal is denied, you have the option of requesting a hearing before an administrative judge.

The administrative law judge, or ALJ, will consider only the medical evidence (which you have supplied in your medical history), but at this level of consideration the claimant has the advantage of actually meeting, in person, the individual that will decide if he or she is eligible for social security disability benefits. The judge will also review the claimant’s work history to see if he or she is truly incapable of performing substantial gainful activity (earning a certain amount per month). If your case gets to this level of consideration, you are strongly advised to hire a disability attorney or non-attorney rep to advocate for you before a judge—claimants who have an attorney present their case have been shown, statistically, to be more likely to win in court than those who represent themselves.





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Early Detection for Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system and usually begins in young adulthood, but can be found at any age. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) plays a very important role in early detection of MS and is also revolutionary (much better than a CAT scan) in the ability to detect changes and damage that happen in the spinal cord and brain due to the disease.

MRI produces photos by using a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to produce images without X-rays. While it is the best way to diagnose the disease, there are still nearly 5 percent of MS sufferers who do not have lesions and do not show abnormalities on their MRI, making it less than perfect in detection and leaving negative results uncertain.

Recently, neurologists at the University hospitals of Heidelburge and Würzburg in Germany found a way to recognize inflammatory tissue damage in animals with MS using a new contrast medium in MRI – Gadofluorine M. For their study, they examined the spinal cords and brains of animals at varying stages of multiple sclerosis with both MRI and MRI with gadofluorine M.

Amazingly enough, they found that they were able to visualize 5 to 10 times more inflammation and lesions with gadofluorine M, in contrast to conventional MRI.

They are currently speculating that gadofluorine M accumulates in lesions in higher concentrations, therefore helping it to bring more MS lesions into vision.

The results of the animal-based tests are exciting for the medical community. Early detection will lead to early treatment, and early treatment will have a very positive effect for those with the disease.

For now, the tests were only held using animals, not humans, and there needs to be quite a bit more testing to get the new contrast medium approved for clinical practice. Further tests are being planned – preclinical and clinical – to determine whether on not it can be approved and hopefully, change the face of MS diagnosis, detection and treatment.




For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center








Social Security Disability Topics

The difference between social security disability and SSI
How long does it take to be approved for social security disability?
What options do you have after a social security disability claim has been denied?
Qualify for social security disability based on a heart attack
Process for approving a social security disability claim

Submitting a Social Security Disability Appeal on Time

The disability determination process is at best a “hurry up and wait” experience for most applicants. The average wait to receive a decision from the state disability determination services agency in charge of making disability decisions for the social security administration (SSA) is about 3 to 4 months. However, it can take 6 months to a year to find out if a claim is approved for benefits, depending on many factors, one of which is certainly a backlog of cases piling up on disability examiners’ desks across the country.

Sadly, those filing for social security disability (SSD) or SSI will find that SSA is not quite as understanding of claimants’ need for more time, particularly when it comes to filing a reconsideration appeal. Those who are turned down for disability have the option of appealing the disability examiner’s denial of benefits if they file an intent to appeal within 60 days. Those who miss this deadline must start all over again with a new claim, delaying a decision in their case by several months to a year.

Do many claimants really fail to file their appeal within the two-month period? Surprisingly, the answer to this is yes. While there are undoubtedly a variety of legitimate factors that contribute to the missed deadlines, you can make sure that your case doesn’t fall through the cracks and is decided as quickly as possible if you keep the following points in mind:

1. Do not procrastinate when you receive notification that your initial claim for disability has been denied. Upon receiving your denial notification, call the social security office immediately to let them know that you intend to file a reconsideration appeal, and ask that the necessary forms be sent to your mailing address. If your request for reconsideration appeal has been denied, then immediately call social security to request a hearing before an administrative law judge, and ask that any paperwork regarding this matter be sent to your mailing address.

2. Fill out any return your appeal paperwork as soon as you receive it. Some claimants get so dejected over being denied benefits that they begin to question if they want to continue with the process at all, and delay making a decision in this matter until the deadline has passed and it is too late. Remember, you can always decide not to go through with the appeal later, but if you miss the deadline, you have no choice but to give up or start over.

You have two months, or 60 days in which to get this paperwork in to Social Security, but the sooner you get it in, the sooner you will receive a decision on your appeal. You should always request your own appeals paperwork, even if you have hired a disability lawyer to do this for you, because you want to make sure that control of your case remains in your hands at all times. If for some reason you decide you do not wish to retain him or her any longer, you can file your own appeal and proceed without great inconvenience to the next level of consideration.

3. If you have retained the services of a disability lawyer or non-attorney representative (a non-attorney representative is someone who has prior experience in the disability system, such as a social worker or former disability examiner, claims rep, etc.) make sure that SSA has notified him or her of your intent to appeal. Although it’s your disability representative’s duty to take care of appeals deadlines for you, it never hurts to double-check—sometimes Social Security fails to notify the legal representative involved with a proceeding of its status, though technically they are required to do so.

In other words, the best way to make sure you do not miss a deadline is to avoid procrastination and to ensure that you yourself are aware of all important dates related to your case. Do not assume that SSA, your disability lawyer, or anyone else involved in your case will not make a mistake—it happens all the time. However, by staying on top of the status of your case, you can greatly lessen the chances that it will be one of those that fall through the cracks of the disability system.





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Social Security Disability Denied — The Reasons Why

If you have been denied social security disability (SSD) benefits, you are probably wondering what went wrong. Chances are, you are, or feel that you are, suffering from considerable physical or mental limitations as a result of your condition, or you would never have gone through the process of filing in the first place. You may feel, as many others do, that SSD denies as many claims as possible, regardless of the claimants’ physical condition, to save the federal government money.

While it is true that it is difficult to win social security disability benefits, the fact is that many applicants are not approved for disability benefits for two primary reasons: 1) they do not have sufficient medical documentation to back up their claim; and 2) they do not take full advantage of the appeals process if their initial application is denied.

Let’s look at the first reason most claims are denied; namely, lack of medical evidence. Many individuals who seek disability do not see a doctor for regular treatment of their condition. Not only does this put them at a disadvantage because they have few medical records or physician notes to back up the disabling nature of their condition, but it also limits the social security administration (SSA) disability examiner’s ability to make a determination in their case. All disability cases are decided, fairly or unfairly, on the basis of medical evidence. The more you have, the more your disability examiner must consider when making his or her determination, and the more likely you are to be approved for benefits. Of course, it is true that if you have not recently (within the past couple of months) seen a doctor your SSA claims examiner will send you for a consultative medical exam with a physician who has been hired by social security to perform examinations. Yet these exams are very brief and shed little light if any on the claimant’s physical limitations or symptoms. Their sole purpose is to give disability examiners a recent medical opinion on which to base their decisions, and they are a poor substitute for a visit to an impartial physician who will advocate for the claimant’s best interest.

So, if you are unable to afford insurance or to pay out-of-pocket medical expenses, you must do the best you can with all of the resources at your disposal—free clinics, physicians who treat on a sliding-scale fee basis, and even trips to the emergency room. Any medical history that you amass on your own behalf will be more beneficial to your case than that provided by a physician hired by SSA.

Now, as previously stated, the second reason many SSA applicants do not receive benefits is that they are either unaware or unwilling to appeal their denial of benefits. This is really a mistake, and it’s so important to keep in mind if you are denied for disability benefits that you are well within the majority—nationwide, a whopping 70 percent of all disability claims are denied upon their initial application. However, about 15% of all of those who appeal their disability decisions to the social security disability office (called a request for reconsideration) are approved for benefits. If your reconsideration appeal is denied, should you give up? Absolutely not, because up to 60% of those who file a second appeal (a request for a hearing before a federal administrative law judge) are approved for benefits! In short, the more you appeal, the greater your chances of receiving benefits.

There is one other point to make when considering the reasons why disability claims are so often denied, and it probably bears mentioning, here: The social security impairment manual, commonly referred to as the “blue book.” The SSA blue book lists many physical and mental conditions which it recognizes as disabilities, and the criteria that must be met to prove that an applicant is suffering from a listing in the book. Does your medical condition have to be listed in the blue book in order for you to collect disability benefits for it? The answer is no, and in fact most disability benefits are awarded for conditions not listed in the blue book on the basis of a medical vocational allowance. In short, if you have a disabling condition that is serious enough to prevent you from earning a certain amount each month, and the condition is expected to last for at least twelve months, you could collect benefits provided you have the necessary medical documentation to demonstrate that your condition is both serious and ongoing in nature.

Which brings us back to square one: The only way to be sure of winning disability benefits is to provide enough medical documentation to prove your claim, and to keep fighting through the disability appeals system if you feel your claim has been wrongly denied.


For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center

Medical Records for Social Security Disability

Applicants filing for Social Security Disability (SSD) or SSI benefits can help to speed the disability determination process along by gathering their own medical records and submitting them along with their initial application, rather than supplying only the required medical history.

Not only will the disability examiner appreciate the fact that the applicant saved him or her time tracking down the records from sources listed on the medical history, but he or she will also be more likely to give priority to the case in which medical records are supplied. A disability examiners’ job performance is judged by the number of cases closed within a given evaluation period. Of course, if a case looks like it will take less time to complete examiners are more likely to work on it first so that they can have as many closed cases as possible on record when they come up for evaluation.

While it is definitely in an SSD/SSI applicant’s best interest to gather their own records at the initial social security disability application stage of consideration, this task is best left in the hands of a qualified legal representative, either a disability attorney or non-attorney claimant’s rep, if the case is being appealed. This is because, at the appeal level, it becomes necessary to focus on why the case was initially denied; i.e., what may have been lacking in the medical evidence, and what is needed to prove disability as defined by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Only someone with a legal background will know how to best frame a case so that it meets the SSA definition of disability, and what records are most relevant to the case. A good disability lawyer will not delay your case and rack up expenses by ordering copies of superfluous medical information that will do nothing to help you win benefits.

Also, physicians and clerks at medical facilities are more likely to respond quickly to a request for medical records when it is made by a legal professional rather than a patient. This is not really news to anyone—people respond to authority because it suggests the possibility of consequences if they do not.

Given the fact that statistics show claimants with legal representation are as much as 50 percent more likely to be awarded benefits from a disability judge, it only makes sense to make sure that you obtain legal counsel and put your attorney or legal rep in charge of your case, including gathering your medical records.


For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center

Creatine does not help those with COPD

Creatine is a nutritional supplement that is well-known for enhancing muscle strength and athletic performance. It is most known for improving short bursts of energy with high intensity exercising and is very popular among athletes. Recently, researchers decided to test Creatine to see if it could perhaps improve performance and strength for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a disease of the lungs. It is caused by prolonged exposure to lung irritants such as chemicals, dust, pollution and the most common cause, smoking tobacco. Because of these irritants, the airways become obstructed and the air sacs (alveoli) that fill up with air become floppy and hold less and less air, leaving the patient feeling short of breath.

COPD is a major cause of illness, cannot be reversed or cured, and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.

The study for COPD and Creatine was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study and in the end, it was not successful at proving any enhancement for COPD with Creatine. It did show evidence that that Creatine was successful in absorbing into the muscles of the COPD patients, but only a negligible change was shown in the Creatine group, as opposed to the placebo group.

The study involved 100 patients with COPD, with 80 of the patients actually completing the study. The study was seven weeks and was randomized, with some patients receiving 4 grams of Creatine and others receiving 4 grams of a placebo lactose supplement. While both groups showed significant improvements, there was no measurable difference between the two groups to prove that Creatine is helpful for those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The study was published by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in the first August issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Larger trials are being planned.


For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center




Social Security Disability Topics

The difference between social security disability and SSI
Social Security Disability Requirements
How to Claim Disability
Winning at a Social Security Disability Hearing
Are you allowed to work at all if you get Social Security disability or SSI ?

How to Win Social Security Disability

Sadly, individuals suffering from significant medical and/or mental conditions may not win their Social Security disability benefits. Unfortunately, it is not enough to have a severe impairment to win Social Security benefits. Both Social Security disability programs have rules and regulations that govern both disability and non-medical disability criteria that must be met in order to win Social Security or Supplemental Security Income.

There are so many things that an individual does not control during the Social Security disability claims process, so it is important to control the things that you are able to control.

Firstly, you need to acquire your medical records from your treating physicians, as it is important to know whether your physicians support your intention to file for disability. Many people are surprised to find what their physicians have written in notes about them. If your physician supports you decision to file for Social Security disability, perhaps he would write a detailed physician’s statement with regard to you condition, treatment, and prognosis to help you win your Social Security disability claim.

Secondly, you may wish to submit copies of your medical treatment records, as this may help expedite the processing of your disability claim. A word of caution here, make sure your medical treatment notes contain current treatment as well as past medical treatment. Social Security considers treatment within the last three months to be current.

Thirdly, you should cooperate fully with the disability examiner who handles your disability claim. You should always respond to requests for information promptly. Furthermore, you should attend all medical evaluations scheduled by the state disability agency. Failure to attend a medical evaluation may cause your disability case to be denied for failure to cooperate.

Fourthly, you should make sure to check the status of your disability claim to make sure a decision has not been made in your case. Social Security sends decisional notices through the US postal system; consequently there is a chance that your decisional letter could be lost in the mail.

Social Security disability claims have a sixty-five day appeal period that begins with the date on the disability denial letter, so it is imperative that you know if your disability claim has been denied so that you can file timely appeals.

Fifthly, you may wish to retain the services of an attorney or non-attorney representative to help with your Social Security disability claim should you be denied.


These are just some things you can do to help win your Social Security disability claim.

Since there are so many things that may affect the outcome of a Social Security disability claim, you should make sure you have done all you can do to help expedite you disability claim to a favorable decision.


For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center

How to Prepare For a Social Security Disability Hearing

The Social Security disability hearing is the last realistic hope of qualifying for Social Security disability benefits. In fact, if your disability claim is denied at the administrative law judge hearing, your representative is likely to advise you to begin the Social Security disability process again. Although administrative law judge hearings (Social Security disability hearings) can be appealed to the Appeals Council, there is only a small chance the administrative law judge’s decision will be reversed at this level. Consequently, most individuals begin the Social Security disability process again while waiting for a decision from the Appeals Council.

Considering the importance of the Social Security disability hearing, you can see how important it is to be prepared. So what can you do to be prepared for your Social Security disability hearing?

Generally, it is good advice for you to retain the services of an attorney or non-attorney Social Security disability representative prior to your hearing.

You may thinking why hire someone to represent me when I am so obviously disabled. Keep in mind; you must be able to prove that you are disabled according to the rules and regulations of Social Security disability. And since most individuals applying for Social Security disability have no idea what rules and regulations govern the Social Security disability process, it is advisable to retain the services of a Social Security disability representative who is familiar with those rules and regulations.

Now what can you do to help your representative better serve you? Firstly, you need to be present and timely for you hearing, as most administrative law judges do not look favorably upon tardiness. Once at the hearing, you need to be prepared to answer questions posed by your representative, the administrative law judge, or a vocational expert with regard to your condition or conditions, work history, or even how you feel as to how your medical and/or mental conditions have prevented you from working. If you prepare yourself for these types of questions and arrive on time, your representative will have a much better chance of helping you qualify for Social Security disability benefits.



For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center

List of Impairments for Social Security Disability

The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of impairments, titled “Disability Evaluation under Social Security.” This book lists impairments is used by just about every individual involved in the disability determination process, including the disability examiners who evaluate disability claims and appeals, the doctors who work for the state disability agency, and the administrative law judges (ALJs) who decide final hearing level appeals to disability claims that have been denied.

The List of Impairments book is blue, and so it is commonly referred to as the “blue book.” The blue book contains descriptions, or listings, of over 100 medical physical or mental impairments recognized by the SSA to be potentially “disabling,” and which may prevent an individual from working.

Listings in the blue book are separated by category: musculoskeletal, immune, special senses, cardiovascular, hemic-lymphatic, neurological, multiple body, skine, digestive, genitor-urinary, respiratory, endocrine, and neoplastic.

If the condition from which you suffer does not have a listing in the blue book, can you still be approved for disability benefits? The answer to that is, absolutely, if you have medical documentation, from a licensed physician, to back up your claim. In fact, many medical conditions commonly recognized today are not listed, including carpal tunnel, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia —even Manic Depressive Disorder is not listed, although Bipolar Disorder does have a sub-listing under Affective Disorders (12.04).

The Listing of Impairments is in place only to try to ensure that state disability examiners are using the same set of criteria to evaluate claims, and that there is at least some uniformity in the disability determination process; i.e., you cannot be denied benefits for a condition in Texas that would be approved in California. It also exists to provide definitions for terms and concepts that apply to the process, again to provide uniformity for what is a national program.

Actually, the majority of disability applicants who receive disability benefits are awarded those benefits for conditions not specifically listed in the blue book, in the form of a Medical Vocational Allowance, or Med-Voc. Med-Voc allowances are granted to disability applicants with conditions (or multiple conditions) that, while not listed in the SSA impairment manual, do prevent an individual from performing either their past work or any other work for which they may be otherwise qualified.

Again, as with all disability claims, a Med-Voc allowance will be awarded only to those with solid medical evidence, detailing the exact nature of the claimant’s symptoms and how those symptoms prevent him or her from performing their job duties.



For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center

New Instrument for Detecting Narrow Angle Glaucoma

Dr. Sanjay Asrani is a Duke University glaucoma specialist that is changing the face of glaucoma treatment and causing much excitement within the medical community. Up until now, narrow angle glaucoma was a very hard form of glaucoma to diagnose. It is a serious form of the disease that is three times likely to result in blindness, accounts for nearly 10 percent of all glaucoma cases and affects an estimated 6 million people throughout the world.

Narrow-angle glaucoma is an aggressive form of glaucoma that is caused by a build-up of fluid behind the iris. This can cause much damage to the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. It’s usually caused by patients having a shallow space between the cornea and the iris which becomes more restricted as one ages, blocking the channel that allows the fluid to drain. Narrow angle glaucoma is most prevalent in the elderly.

Though doctors know about narrow angle glaucoma, instruments only offer clues to the disease, because the optics of the eye do not allow sight into the angle of the eye that narrow-angle glaucoma affects. Until now.

Now there is a one-of-a-kind instrument, created by Duke engineering professor Joseph Izatt and a graduate student at Duke University that allows ophthalmologists to see inside the eye in the exact place that they need to: where the iris meets the cornea. He has studied the instrument’s competence on over 60 patients and has published his results in a peer-reviewed medical journal, Archives of Ophthalmology.

Early detection is the key to preventing narrow-angle glaucoma damage. If not detected beforehand, there will be a sudden increase in pressure which is very painful. The only warning signs are blurry vision and colored halos around lights, unless it is a severe case. In the case of an acute attack there may be nausea and vomiting accompanied by severe pain.

The instrument that allows doctors to detect the disease is similar to a video camera. It produces detailed digital images of the part of the eye that needs examining. As of yet, the instrument has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The medical community is very excited about the results of the instrument thus far. If approved it could also help detect eye cysts and help with eye surgery.

If the FDA approves the instrument, it will be on the market in about two years.


For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center