Which Medical Records Are Best for Winning My Social Security Disability Claim?
If you’ve put some work into learning how to make your SSDI application as strong as possible, you likely already know the importance of in-depth medical records. The more medical evidence you have backing up your claim, the easier it is for the SSA to understand your disability and its limitations.
Knowing which types of medical records to include in your application can help you make your application even more comprehensive. We can help. Call The Dansby Law Firm at 334-326-6449 to set up a consultation with our Alabama SSD attorneys.
Diagnostic Records
Proof of an official diagnosis can help you demonstrate your disability and its duration. The right diagnostic records can also explain the severity of your condition. Include records like laboratory tests, imaging studies, and specialized scans that demonstrate the extent of your impairment. Diagnostic records prove the most basic part of your claim: that you have a qualifying impairment and how long you have had it. This may make it easier to prove that you meet the qualifications of your condition as listed in the SSA Blue Book.
Treatment Records
The right treatment records can outline the treatments you’ve undergone and how your condition has or has not responded to different treatments. In addition, treatment records over a period of time can give insight into how your condition has worsened and caused you further limitations.
You may want to get records showing the prescription medications you have been on and how your body has responded to different medication courses. Physical therapy records can highlight your efforts to manage your condition and whether or not this type of treatment has led to any improvement in your overall condition. Surgical reports can help the SSA better understand the invasive care you’ve needed and how your body has recuperated afterward.
One of the main benefits of providing treatment records is how they show your efforts to manage your condition and remain in the workplace. The SSA prefers to see applicants who have done everything in their power to manage their disability and keep working, rather than those who have not sought any medical care before applying for benefits. Thorough treatment records show both your commitment to your health and your ability to comply with your doctor’s treatment plan.
Examination Reports
An important part of your medical documentation is your disability’s change or progression over time. Examination reports provide objective observations about your disability, range of motion, perceived pain, limitations, and symptoms. They play a key role in helping the SSA figure out an applicant’s residual functional capacity (or RFC), which shows them how much of your ability to work remains.
There are many types of examination reports that may be useful in your SSDI application. They include physical examinations conducted by your various physicians, psychological evaluations, and functional capacity evaluations.
Clinical Observations and Notes
Few people understand your disability as well as your medical care team. Their clinical observations can go a long way in helping the SSA get a full picture of your disability and how it affects your ability to work. Your care team may provide progress notes over the course of your condition, objective observations of your symptoms and their frequency, and notes on how you respond to different treatment options. These records can help highlight what your day-to-day experience is like with your condition.
Continuation of Care
If you have a disability that warrants SSDI benefits, you’re likely thinking about long-term management of your condition. Records documenting your ongoing care and the ever-changing scope of your care may be useful as the SSA assesses your application. Referral notes may explain why you need to see different specialists, and notes from follow-up visits may outline the progression of your condition. Your records may also show preventative care measures you have taken to minimize the worsening of your condition.
Get the Help You Need with Your Disability Case—Call The Dansby Law Firm
Having the right medical records for your SSDI application in Alabama can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim. Our team is here to help you pursue the benefits you are entitled to. Call The Dansby Law Firm at 334-326-6449 or get in touch online to schedule a consultation with our team of SSDI attorneys.
