Specific Impairments

A 24 year old claimant with high school education and no relevant past work history alleged disability based on intellectual disability.  Initially and on appeal after the hearing, the SSA denied her application when the ALJ held that she could perform jobs as a poultry hanger, a machine…

Claimant is an Iraq was veteran deemed by the VA to have service connected PTSD.  Other diagnoses include major depression, long history of alcohol dependence, cirrhosis and esophageal varices. The ALJ denied the claim at Step V denial giving more weight to the ME and DDS…

 SSA denied dual applications for SSI and SSDI benefits for a younger individual (at the time of the AOD) with HS education and PRW as a truck driver, logger, and laborer. After a video hearing ALJ Thomas Merrill denied both applications and held that the applicant retained an RFC for…

SSA finalized the rules for evaluating endocrine disorders that the Agency proposed in 2009 (74 FR 66069, December 14, 2009).  In view of the recent medical developments in early diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disorders SSA concluded that most such disorders do not reach listing-level severity…

Credit-as-True Rule, Pain Evaluation Remand for a new hearing was appropriate when the ALJ failed to properly evaluate the claimant

This notice contains important information related to a recently certified class action lawsuit against SSA on behalf of SSDI/SSI beneficiaries with visual impairments. Federal District Court encourages potential class action members to contact the plaintiffs' counsel with comments and…

This notice is an addition to the previously issued notification about a class action lawsuit of visually impaired SSI/SSDI beneficiaries and/or rep payees against SSA. The notice must be posted in all SSA district offices from November 14, 2008 to January 16, 2009.

American Council of the Blind v. Astrue

Comments due by October 14, 2008

Comments due by October 14, 2008

The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)updated Savvy Consumer’s Guide to Hearing Loss. The new guide serves as a reference tool specifically for individuals who have lost all or much of their hearing during their teenage or adult years. Topics include the impact of…

The Social Security Administration (SSA) issued a ruling on April 30, 1999 which for the first time stated that CFS can be classified as a "medically determinable impairment" under SSA rules. This ruling provides guidance to disability claims processors for applying SSA policy to…

The American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) is the medical specialty society representing physicians practicing in the field of Pain Medicine. AAPM website presents current and relevant clinical information in pain medicine today.

Published at 71 Fed. Reg. 44431 (8/4/06). Comments due by 10/2/06. Available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2006-08-04/content-detail.html. Affected are the Immune System Disorders Listing, 20 CFR Pt. 404 Subpart P Rules 14.00 and 114.00. The immune system listings, including the HIV/AIDS…

Links to Axis I and Axis II Disorders.

Leading 1st Circuit Social Security case on pain and the factors to be considered in analyzing pain in the disability determination process.

TO: Individuals with disabilities, advocates, disability-rights leaders, and parents.FROM: Troy Justesen, Associate Director for Domestic PolicySSA has published a notice of intent to update and revise the rules that we use to evaluate mental disorders of adults and children who apply for, or…

Website for looking up specialty certifications of doctors.

Form used by SSA (DDS doctors and ALJs) in assessing mental impairments. The form, which was revised in 2001 after the revision of the mental impairments listings, tracks the mental impairment listings.

The purpose of this Ruling is to clarify SSA policy on the evaluation of symptoms in the adjudication of claims. No symptom or combination of symptoms can be the basis for a finding of disability, no matter how genuine the individual's complaints may appear to be, unless there are medical signs…

This Ruling supersedes Social Security Ruling (SSR) 95-5p. The purpose of this Ruling is to clarify when the evaluation of symptoms, including pain, under 20 CFR 404.1529 and 416.929 requires a finding about the credibility of an individual's statements about pain or other symptom(s) and its…

SSR 99-2p EFFECTIVE/PUBLICATION DATE: 4/30/99 SSR 99-2p: POLICY INTERPRETATION RULING TITLES II AND XVI: EVALUATING CASES INVOLVING CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME (CFS) PURPOSE: To restate and clarify the policies of the Social Security Administration for developing and evaluating title II and title…

Because a determination whether an impairment(s) is severe requires an assessment of the functionally limiting effects of an impairment(s), symptom-related limitations and restrictions must be considered at this step of the sequential evaluation process, provided that the individual has a medically…

Website for finding doctors in Mass.

A younger individual with high school education and past relevant work as an exterminator, receptionist, school-bus driver, and a customer-service agent filed a an application for SSDI benefits alleging disability due to depression, serum negative rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches, and…

The materials are assembled for Duke Law Students working in the AIDS Legal Project, as well as the general public