Wait time Kentucky

[newdawn]

Did you have any letters from your doctor or psychiatrist that were in support of your decision to file for SSDI?

It's important any letters be a persuasive letter about your disability - but is not always easy to get a doctor to cooperate. You might have to keep doctor shopping until you find one who is willing to do a persuasive letter.

In my opinion, best case scenario is a lawyer tailoring a short or long answer questionnaire to a claimant's specific impairment(s) for one or more of his/her doctors to complete. Or the lawyer may have a short answer questionnaire they use regularly for either physical or mental impairment claims. My lawyer/local disability firm was not so good as to create a personally tailored questionnaire but they at least had a stock short answer questionnaire their firm uses for mental health cases. This is not a check-the-box type of questionnaire and required full and complete sentences. However, it was direct and to the point about relevant issues (things related to functioning and the ability to work and earn SGA on a regular basis) and did not require more than 30 minutes to a hour for each doctor to fill out (from what I could tell).

In my opinion there is no need for "doctor shopping" unless the claimant feels they are not getting appropriate/helpful treatment from his/her current doctors and/or if the doctor is writing really crazy things down about the claimant (for whatever reason) with no basis in reality. It is of course preferable to have at least one doctor willing to fill out forms your lawyer might have for them and "go to bat" for you so-to-speak, but if you have a good treatment team, their records are solid, and your lawyer thinks you have a strong case, I can't see "doctor shopping" just for the purposes of getting a persuasive letter being a good idea.

[VET76]

Thank you all for.your kind words

First, my medical conditions that were claimed for my disability is PTSD,,which includes nigjtmares, panic attacks,deptesseion,anxiety,irrationalitissolation with two episodes of suicide ideation which put me in a outpatient program in texas.

I also had a level 2 fusion on my neck two years ago, with the loss of most range of motion, carpal tunnel and also pending a lower back surgery which the VA is hesitant to do. I still have loss of feelings in both hands ,also due to carpal tunnel and my messed up cervical. I am also on a breathing machine for my sleep apnea and migraines.

I had my last doctor and most recently my current VA counselor telling me that I cant work, maybe he will write a letter. He just wrote me a second recommendation letter for a service dog, i will also see a local psychiatrist in addition to the VA counselor..they have a hard time getting me as much as they would like to.

So in short, I have back problems..but I would not have filed for disability for.it..this is mainly because of my PTSD. It is hard to function normal for me.in society, always feel being watched, panic attacks in crowds and being afraid to go to sleep because of what I might dream makes life hard. I am completely disconnected and isolated from anyone, this is not to make stuff up or make it sound pitiful, it's just the truth. I cant sit for very long without daydreaming, getting really bad headaches and can not concentrate.  There is more I could write about it..but I think you get the picture..i take pills for all of it...two times a day 7 pills..i am tired of it..that's where also the dog would come into play.

As far as the denial letters..they did not mention PTSD, just a paragraph that I suffer from depressions, but not severe enough to preclude me from work. With my back it says I suffer from back problems that preclude me from walking far and cant bend or lift heavy objects..or something like that...I threw them away. I dont understand how they determine I have episodes of depressions when I have hundreds of pages of treatment records and a VA psychiatrist diagnosing me total socially and occupationally impaired without any expected improvement in the future.

I have access to my medical records and could go through them...its over 2000 pages and will take.some time. My Attorney keeps telling me not to worry and that he is sure I will get a favorable decision by the judge...even the DDS examiner I talked to on the phone after they asked for some.records told me that he cant give me an answer over the phone but he has not seen anyone with my conditions being turned down..although he said th ey have no leniency and have to be by the book when making decisions.

This is all very stressful..I am grateful that I get continues care by the VA and have my disability compensation as.well as.my military retirement, so I still can support myself. I can only.imagine how someone will get.lost in the system without the financial and even worse the medical support i still receive. However, i again by no means asking for too much, I am not lazy nor afraid to work..I just can not and when medical professionals tell me that I should not and can not..then i will follow their advice.

Paragraph breaks added by newdawn to make reading easier.

[VET76]

What form is that what the doctor should gill out if I may as?

[Just Me]

Thank you for your service. Are you currently seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist? If I missed this, I apologize. The reason I ask is if you are only currently seeing a counselor. It sounds like the CE is for a diagnosis. Only a M.D. or psychologist can make a diagnosis.

[VET76]

I have seen two psychiatrist ifor treatment n the past who diagnosed me with PTSD and a VA psychiatrist who determined 100% disability on the VA compensation exam. Since I have retired from the service I have been getting treatment by a licensed social worker at the local VA outpatient clinic. I am also waiting on the approval from my private insurance to see a local psychiatrist in addition to it.

[newdawn]

For what it's worth, I was sent for a CE and I was seeing both a psychiatrist and psychologist. I'm guessing it was either because my psychiatrist had a slightly different diagnosis for me than my psychologist (even though the same symptoms were reported to both) or it was a last ditch attempt by DDS to try and get me approved because there was just not quite enough in my own medical records to push me over into an approval.

[VET76]

Good morning,
I assume that by CE you refer to the exams SSA sends you to. I was never invited to be seen by neither a psychiatrist or psychologist from SSA..I dont understand that they did not, if they would rely just on my medical records I really thought it would support my claim.

[newdawn]

Good morning,
I assume that by CE you refer to the exams SSA sends you to. I was never invited to be seen by neither a psychiatrist or psychologist from SSA..I dont understand that they did not, if they would rely just on my medical records I really thought it would support my claim.

My apologies. I knew you weren't sent for a CE as you did mention it in your first post. Somehow a CE got brought up either by Just Me first or someone else and I reflexively responded about my own experience, forgetting you weren't sent for one.

Not being sent for one of these exams just means SSA/DDS felt they had enough info from your own treating doctors to make a determination. If it makes you feel any better, in many (but not all) cases, getting sent for a CE is not all that helpful it seems from (at least from anecdotal evidence online. There are a few cases where it seems to help like (for example) for pulmonary lung function tests to be carried out according to SSA blue books standards, to confirm someone is so obese they can't ambulate effectively, etc. Every once in awhile it helps for a mental impairment claim, but it's just a one-time exam, a snapshot in time of how you're functioning and can tend to be rather perfunctory.

[VET76]

Understood,  thank you for your input, I was also advised to contact a VE from the VA to fill out a form stating that there are no jobs available to me due to my disabilities.  My status also changed to pre hearing review, its probably.nothing, bit at least it changed.

[VET76]

I wonder if someone could help me.out answering a question I have.
I talked to my attorney yesterday and he informed me that SSA determined that I could do sedetary work, lift less than 10lbs, sit for 6 out of 8hrs at work and like stand for 2hrs a day. He sent me a couple forms and asked me to have my Psychiatrist and my Neurosurgeon to fill out on my behalf. How would I approach them? I have been seeing the therapist at the VA who is a social worker for the last 7 months, the psychiatrist only twice. My attorney would like the psychiatrist to complete the form, but I dont feel I have that doctor/patient relationship established yet and dont want to look like someone who just wants her to fill out forms. Any suggestions? All this is just really stressing me out...thanks

[VET76]

So..this has not taken long AT ALL. I just received notification of my scheduled telephone hearing. From them receiving my appeal on 30 April to my hearing day is oy about 4 months...anyone think that could be a good sign?

[xshellybx]

First, thank you for your service and I'm sorry for all you have to go through. I don't know how people that have any kind of mental problems make it through this process. I have mild anxiety and I really felt like I was going to lose it some days. I was fortunate enough to get approved in 6 weeks on my initial. I didn't get sent to one of their Dr's either. I couldn't imagine having to deal with the stress and not knowing for months. From what I understand you can have a sever diagnosis and  excellent records but they have to be put in social security language. (If that makes sense)  Good luck and I hope you get your service dog I'm sure he's/she'd be a great help through this.

[SFVLance]

...anyone think that could be a good sign?

I don't think it's a good or a bad sign, BUT based on your previous posts, it seems as though you have a strong case anyway, so hopefully go in your favor.

Are you part of the Wounded Warrior program? I'm not that familiar with it, but I understand those claims are supposed to be expedited.

Good luck to you.

[VET76]

Thank you all for your well wishes, I was not part of the Wounded Warrior Program due to the fact that was retired due to length of service vs. medical retirement.  However, I I am rated 100% permanent and total disabled by the VA did request expedited service. I am absolutely nervous and and freaking out, I kinda just want this to be over with. The attorney is very reassuring, bit of course he dont know the outcome..he does emphasize though that he would not have taken my case and represent me if he did not think he could win the case. He also told me that he knows the judge who will be in charge and feels very good about it. I am kinda relieved that I can do this hearing over the phone, although..I think looking at the judge and he looking at the claimant makes it more.personal.

[SoIllPanMan]

I was wondering if you have had your hearing and how it went. I am also 100% SC PTSD. I am at the alj hearing stage and I am a big ball of mess. You’re claim sounds similar to mine with the exception of yours having more physical disabilities. So I’m asking, if it’s not too personal, have you had your hearing, how did it go, have you found anything out? My hearing is mid November. Thanks for anything you feel like talking about.