Guest guest Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 I called SSec & they set up a phone interview & sent me a packet of forms. I went online & filled out everything - I then dropped off all my medical copies of CTs, PFTs, etc at the local office. The interview took less than 30 min & all she did was review everything I had filled out. I interviewed on Fri - Nov 6 and received a phone call 6 days later on Nov 12 telling me I was approved. Of course I was shocked as well as my rep who called. I don't expect to start receiving anything for a few months yet. A tip: where it asks for your medications - that is where you put in your oxygen if you are using it. O2 is considered a medication as you need a prescription for it from your doc. Maggie 64 IPF-3/07-TX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 Thanks all of you for the information . I don't have copies of my medical tests so do they , the social security office , contact the doctors to get them ? All the pulmonogists I've seen are with the same group . I know when my doctor told me to file he said 50% don't get approved , I don't know if that's just Texas . W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 Everyone has different beliefs on how to approach it. However, my belief is to provide as much as possible up front so I do believe in letters from your doctors and copies of records with the applications. The letters give it quickly and the records give the support. Also, it doesn't just include your pulmonologists and you do want to include any conditions being treated by other doctors. You might go to social security's site and look and see how your PFT's compare to their charts but don't let it discourage you if they don't meet their requirements as there are other factors. The fact is that nearly 70% in Texas get disapproved on the initial application but that has come under huge criticism and is changing. Why the criticism? Because on appeal a huge portion have been getting approved. So, why go through the extra step for one that does qualify. The majority of appeals are going in the patient's favor. In other states more are approved up front and fewer then overturned on appeal. Pulmonary Fibrosis is approved better than many other conditions, however, because its diagnosed clearly by CT's, biopsies, PFT's. There is real clear information. That's another reason I don't like the percentages because they apply to all reasons for applying. Back and neck injuries, pain, mental illnesses and all " self diagnosed " type illnesses are much more difficult because you can't look at such objective information. Now, when the doctor is discouraging as yours was I do get worried about their effort toward supplying good information. They should be stating facts but then saying that they believe you have a strong case and they will help any way they can. Social Security will contact the doctors and many prefer to leave it to them to get all records and supply nothing but the forms directly. You may need to follow up with doctors as some offices are slow and some fast in responding. Doctors may not charge for copies or forms made or prepared for social security. > > Thanks all of you for the information . > I don't have copies of my medical tests so do they , the social security office , contact the doctors to get them ? All the pulmonogists I've seen are with the same group . > I know when my doctor told me to file he said 50% don't get approved , I don't know if that's just Texas . > > W. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 Thanks Bruce . I really appreciate help from you and the other people here . I'm going to try to stop worrying about it and just go ahead and file and see how it goes. I can always get a lawyer if it comes to that . W. > > > > Thanks all of you for the information . > > I don't have copies of my medical tests so do they , the social > security office , contact the doctors to get them ? All the > pulmonogists I've seen are with the same group . > > I know when my doctor told me to file he said 50% don't get approved > , I don't know if that's just Texas . > > > > W. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2009 Report Share Posted December 28, 2009 The table for restrictive diseases gives an objective number and those who come under that should have no problem qualifying. However, just because you don't meet those numbers, do not assume you won't qualify. There are many other factors that can be considered. But if you're 5'5 " and your FVC is 145 for example, then they cannot disapprove your application. There is also a table for obstructive diseases. The social security site is filled with information on the process. If you have other conditions look them up as well. Many times it is multiple factors. Some of us have gotten examined as well by social security doctors. In my case, I believe they actually strengthened my case even though I was fearful they would be negative. For instance, I had balance listed as a very secondary issue under my neurological conditions but their doctor was quite concerned with my balance problems and, in fact, recommended I see additional doctors at UTSW about it. (Example: he had me try the drunk driving walk straight line and I can't make the second step without falling, nor can I do the closed eyes standing things without swaying and falling). Our conditions are verifiable through PFT's and CT's and known medical information. So we generally have a much easier time with social security disability than the average. The difficult ones are those that can't be defined through simple tests such as back pain or mental illness. If we had no tests and all we could do was say we're short of breath then they wouldn't know whether to believe us or not. But we have tests that prove our condition. I really feel for someone who has severe debilitating back pain but no way other than their continued treatment and daily behaviors to try to prove it. > > , >  > Everyone has given you alot of advise. Everything below I took directly from the SS website. Whether we like to admit it or not we do have a fatal disease. For once we can use that to our advantage. >  > We consider you disabled under Social Security rules if, due to a medical or mental condition: > * You cannot do work that you did before and we decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your condition(s), and > * Your disability is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death >  > For each of the major body systems, we maintain a list of medical conditionsthat are so severe they automatically mean that you are disabled. If your condition is not on the list, we have to decide if it is of equal severity to a medical condition that is on the list. If it is, we will find that you are disabled. If it is not, we then go to Step 4. >  > B. Chronic restrictive ventilatory disease, due to any cause, with the FVC equal to or less than the values specified in Table II corresponding to the person's height without shoes. (In cases of marked spinal deformity, see 3.00E.); > Table II > Height > without Shoes (centimeters) > Height > without Shoes (inches) > FVC Equal to or less than (L,BTPS) > 154 or less 60 or less 1.25 > 155-160 61-63 1.35 > 161-165 64-65 1.45 > 166-170 66-67 1.55 > 171-175 68-69 1.65 > 176-180 70-71 1.75 > 181 or more 72 or more 1.85 > or > C. Chronic impairment of gas exchange due to clinically documented pulmonary disease. With: > 1.Single breath DLCO (see 3.00Fl) less than 10.5 ml/min/mm Hg or less than 40 percent of the predicted normal value. (Predicted values must either be based on data obtained at the test site or published values from a laboratory using the same technique as the test site. The source of the predicted values should be reported. If they are not published, they should be submitted in the form of a table or nomogram); orDyane, 54, Phoenix, IIP 02 now NSIP 09, Breast Cancer, Psoriasis, Lipodermatosclerosis, Diabetes, and now a RA like autoimmune component, yadda yadda yadda. > > > " Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving is a pretty, well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, chocolate in one hand, Margaritas in the other, loudly proclaiming " Holy **** What a ride! " . " > > > > > > ________________________________ > From: toadwizard toadwizard@... > To: Breathe-Support > Sent: Sun, December 27, 2009 1:38:23 PM > Subject: Re: Disability interview > >  > Thanks all of you for the information . > I don't have copies of my medical tests so do they , the social security office , contact the doctors to get them ? All the pulmonogists I've seen are with the same group . > I know when my doctor told me to file he said 50% don't get approved , I don't know if that's just Texas . > > W. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2009 Report Share Posted December 28, 2009 Maggie Your PFT's could easily have done it for you but you have another factor working in your favor and that is your age. The fact is that you could have qualified for early social security retirement (but at less money) and are close to early retirement, so they look at it as only paying an extra year or so. Yours is a reason I recommend collecting your records and submitting them with the application. The PFT's and CT's speak for themselves. > > > From: Dyane Billings dyanebillings@... > Subject: Re: Re: Disability interview > To: Breathe-Support > Date: Monday, December 28, 2009, 9:40 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > , > > Everyone has given you alot of advise. Everything below I took directly from the SS website. Whether we like to admit it or not we do have a fatal disease. For once we can use that to our advantage. > > We consider you disabled under Social Security rules if, due to a medical or mental condition: > > You cannot do work that you did before and we decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your condition(s), and > Your disability is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death > > For each of the major body systems, we maintain a list of medical conditions that are so severe they automatically mean that you are disabled. If your condition is not on the list, we have to decide if it is of equal severity to a medical condition that is on the list. If it is, we will find that you are disabled. If it is not, we then go to Step 4. > > B. Chronic restrictive ventilatory disease, due to any cause, with the FVC equal to or less than the values specified in Table II corresponding to the person's height without shoes. (In cases of marked spinal deformity, see 3.00E.); > Table II > > > > > > > Height > without Shoes (centimeters) > > Height > without Shoes (inches) > > FVC Equal to or less than (L,BTPS) > > > 154 or less > > 60 or less > > 1.25 > > > 155-160 > > 61-63 > > 1.35 > > > 161-165 > > 64-65 > > 1.45 > > > 166-170 > > 66-67 > > 1.55 > > > 171-175 > > 68-69 > > 1.65 > > > 176-180 > > 70-71 > > 1.75 > > > 181 or more > > 72 or more > > 1.85 > or > C. Chronic impairment of gas exchange due to clinically documented pulmonary disease. With: > 1. Single breath DLCO (see 3.00Fl) less than 10.5 ml/min/mm Hg or less than 40 percent of the predicted normal value. (Predicted values must either be based on data obtained at the test site or published values from a laboratory using the same technique as the test site. The source of the predicted values should be reported. If they are not published, they should be submitted in the form of a table or nomogram); orDyane, 54, Phoenix, IIP 02 now NSIP 09, Breast Cancer, Psoriasis, Lipodermatosclerosis, Diabetes, and now a RA like autoimmune component, yadda yadda yadda. > > > " Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving is a pretty, well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, chocolate in one hand, Margaritas in the other, loudly proclaiming " Holy **** What a ride! " . " > > > > > > > > From: toadwizard toadwizard@... > To: Breathe-Support > Sent: Sun, December 27, 2009 1:38:23 PM > Subject: Re: Disability interview > > > > Thanks all of you for the information . > I don't have copies of my medical tests so do they , the social security office , contact the doctors to get them ? All the pulmonogists I've seen are with the same group . > I know when my doctor told me to file he said 50% don't get approved , I don't know if that's just Texas . > > W. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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