Filing for Disability When You Have Multiple Impairments

Applying for Social Security Disability benefits can be challenging, especially when you’re dealing with multiple impairments. For residents in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Louisiana, it’s important to understand how the Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates claims involving more than one medical condition. Each impairment might not seem disabling on its own, but when considered together, they can significantly impact your ability to work. American Disability Action Group’s Arkansas & Nationwide Social Security Disability Attorneys are here to help you to navigate the process and secure the benefits you deserve
Understanding How the SSA Evaluates Multiple Impairments
The SSA considers all of your medically determinable impairments when deciding your disability claim, including physical, mental, and chronic conditions. For example, if you have arthritis and diabetes in Arkansas, the SSA will evaluate how the combination of these conditions affects your ability to perform work-related activities, such as walking, lifting, or concentrating.
Key points the SSA evaluates include:
- Severity of Conditions: Each condition must be medically documented and significantly limit your ability to perform basic work functions.
- Combined Impact: The SSA examines how your impairments collectively prevent you from working full-time.
- Residual Functional Capacity (RFC): The SSA assesses what level of work you can still do, if any, based on your impairments.
Step 1: Gather Comprehensive Medical Documentation
In Oklahoma, as in other states, detailed medical records are critical to proving your case. Since multiple impairments are evaluated collectively, it’s essential to gather documentation for each condition, including:
- Physician’s notes.
- Diagnostic test results (e.g., MRIs, X-rays, blood tests).
- Treatment history.
- Statements from specialists, such as physical therapists or psychiatrists.
Ensure that your doctors address how your conditions interact and collectively limit your daily functioning.
Step 2: Explain How Your Conditions Interact
For example, in Mississippi, if you suffer from chronic back pain and depression, it’s important to show how one condition exacerbates the other. Chronic pain might make it difficult to focus, while depression might reduce your ability to maintain a consistent treatment plan for your physical condition.
The SSA considers these interrelated effects, so providing detailed explanations through medical evidence and personal statements is crucial.
Step 3: Prove You Meet or Equal a Listing
The SSA’s “Blue Book” lists specific medical conditions that qualify for disability benefits. If you don’t meet a single listing in Tennessee, you might still qualify by showing your combined impairments equal the severity of a listed condition.
For instance, if you have moderate COPD and a heart condition, neither may meet a listing individually. However, together, they might equal the severity required for approval.
Step 4: Work with a Disability Advocate or Attorney
Navigating a disability claim involving multiple impairments is complex, especially in Texas, where cases often face long backlogs and higher scrutiny. A disability attorney can help by:
- Gathering medical evidence.
- Preparing and submitting paperwork.
- Representing you at hearings.
Step 5: Appeal If Necessary
Many initial claims are denied, but don’t lose hope. For residents in Louisiana, appealing a denial with the help of a knowledgeable advocate can significantly improve your chances of success. The appeal process includes reconsideration, hearings, and, if needed, federal court review.
How American Disability Action Group Can Help
If you’re living in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, or Louisiana and have multiple impairments preventing you from working, the American Disability Action Group is here to assist. We specialize in helping individuals navigate the complex disability claims process, ensuring that all your impairments are considered.
Contact us today to get the support you need.
Source:
ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/416/416-0945.htm#:~:text=(a)%20General%20—(1,still%20do%20despite%20your%20limitations.