You're struggling with several health issues that make working impossible. However, when you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you're denied because no single condition meets their eligibility requirements. The dedicated legal team at the Law Offices of Phillip M. Hendry understands how frustrating it is to deal with this situation. Fortunately, our knowledgeable SSDI lawyer can help you demonstrate how your combination of impairments equals a qualifying disability.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) must consider the combined effects of all your medically determinable impairments throughout the disability determination process. This means even if you don't meet a listing in the Blue Book, you can still receive benefits if the total limiting effects of your conditions prevent substantial gainful activity (SGA).
How The SSA Evaluates Multiple Impairments
When you claim multiple impairments, the SSA uses a special framework to determine their combined impact on your functioning. This assessment happens at two key points in the five-step disability evaluation process:
- At Step 2, when determining if your impairments are severe
- At Steps 4 and 5, when assessing your residual functional capacity (RFC)
The SSA must consider both severe and non-severe impairments to decide if together they significantly limit your physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. For example, moderate arthritis alone might not qualify, but when combined with depression, obesity, and diabetes, the total effect could equal a severe, disabling impairment.
Here are some common examples of conditions that may not qualify alone but could combine to meet disability standards:
- Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and migraines
- Asthma, sleep apnea, and obesity
- Digestive disorders, depression, and anxiety
- Degenerative disc disease, neuropathy, and carpal tunnel syndrome
The key is demonstrating how the symptoms and limitations from each condition interact to prevent you from maintaining full-time employment.
Medical Evidence for Multiple Impairment Claims
Thorough medical documentation is essential for any SSDI application, but it is especially critical when claiming multiple conditions. Your Louisiana SSDI lawyer will work with you to gather evidence demonstrating the full scope of your limitations, such as:
- Detailed clinical notes from your treating physician(s)
- Objective test results (MRIs, blood work, EMGs, etc.)
- Assessments from specialists for each condition
- Hospitalizations, surgeries, and treatment history
- Statements about your pain levels, fatigue, and side effects
- Medication lists with dosages and side effects
- Therapy notes (physical, occupational, psychological, etc.)
- Statements from family or friends who have witnessed your struggles
It's also helpful to keep a journal detailing your symptoms, limitations, and how your conditions interact to affect your daily life. For instance, perhaps your chronic pain makes it hard to concentrate, while your depression zaps your energy, leading to even worse joint pain from inactivity. These cumulative effects can be persuasive when describing why you can't sustain full-time work.
SSDI Denials and Multiple Impairments
If your initial multiple impairment claim is denied, don't give up. You have the right to appeal the decision and request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Having an experienced SSDI lawyer by your side can make all the difference at this stage.
At the hearing, your attorney can present a compelling picture of how your combined limitations impact your RFC. This could include:
- Calling medical and vocational experts to testify
- Cross-examining the SSA's witnesses
- Highlighting the most persuasive parts of your medical records
- Presenting a proposed RFC that matches your limitations
- Questioning you about your conditions and how they affect your daily activities
In many cases, an ALJ will find that the total effects of your impairments warrant a disability finding after hearing a well-prepared presentation of the evidence.
Get Help With Your SSDI Multiple Impairment Claim
Applying for SSDI benefits with multiple impairments can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to go it alone. At the Law Offices of Phillip M. Hendry, we specialize in handling complicated disability cases and know how to package your conditions for maximum impact.
As your dedicated SSDI lawyer, Phillip M. Hendry will:
- Gather the medical evidence needed to showcase why your unique combination of impairments equals a qualifying disability
- Develop a personalized theory for your case that highlights your most favorable evidence
- Prepare you for questioning at your hearing
- Represent you at all levels of appeal
- Fight for the maximum benefits you're entitled to
If you're struggling against the combined weight of several impairing conditions, let us use our experience and dedication to help you get the benefits you need.