ptsd 80% Tdiu, Turned Down By Ssdi, What To Do Now?

[10thFO]

Well, I was turned down this week by SSDI. Interesting decision letter, as they state the evidence they used in the decision as my medical records that I provided for them from the VA. Not quite sure how they came to their conclusions as I tried to make it easy on them. Had even provided copies of the letter and evidence from the Regional Office Vocational Rehab program turning me down for enrollment for education or work, because according to my VA doctors I was "unable to work".

So not only was I receiving the TDIU, I also had applied and been turned down from the Voc Rehab. Also had Functional Ability reports that were used in that decision by my Primary Care Dr., Psychiatrist, and my Vet Center MSW. All stated that I was unable to work because of my back conditions, pain medications, and Severe PTSD. Also stated that I was unable to handle any stress.

So the SS says that according to my reports that I am able to take care of myself, and since I was a manager in the past for a couple years, that they feel I can do this work again. How nice of them, last time I checked Managerial work could be quite stressful. LOL.

I understand that I can file for a "Request for Reconsideration", in doing this should I just point out the inconsistencies and the fact that they didn't even look at the evaluations that were done stating that I was ineligible for Vocation Rehabilitation, and that any stress would send me into a worsened state of depression? Do I need to hire a lawyer for this or should I do that after they turn me down on that?

Any help would be appreciated on this.

[Sgt Mac]

What hapen to the Bill?

Why do they do this to Vets

Jump throu Loops the VA is the Govt, the SS is the Govt

Then Vote time tell some big song and dance on how they (non-Vets) are going to help us

The only one that will help us is a VET

Thank You

Sgt Mac

[SeattleShay]

I was approved for SSDI on my 2nd try and I did it all without an attorney...just a lot of eyestrain from reading the fine print.

I have been turned down by VA 4 times for the same injuries and diseases, all s/c.

Does something not seem right here?????????

The last "blow off" FROM VA, the rater called Dr Bash "just a radiologist" and ignored 2 other letters from local docs.

A waste of $2500.00 to Dr Bash, that I could ill afford and the SSA never saw the IME from Dr B when they rated me.

This is getting ridiculous !

[Chuck75]

Sounds like you will need to get an attorney and a VSO that knows what is what, then go to the next step in the process. What evidence did they use to ignore or refute Dr. Bash's IMO?

If there is no countering evidence, the VA failed to follow it's own regs and law.

I was approved for SSDI on my 2nd try and I did it all without an attorney...just a lot of eyestrain from reading the fine print.

I have been turned down by VA 4 times for the same injuries and diseases, all s/c.

Does something not seem right here?????????

The last "blow off" FROM VA, the rater called Dr Bash "just a radiologist" and ignored 2 other letters from local docs.

A waste of $2500.00 to Dr Bash, that I could ill afford and the SSA never saw the IME from Dr B when they rated me.

This is getting ridiculous !

[vaf]

My husband is rated 100% schedular and had to stop working in September due to physical problems that are service connected. He was just approved last week for SSDI (first application, he filed in September 2007), and he hired Binder and Binder (www.binderandbinder.com) in New York City to handle the claim, they specialize in SS claims. We found it a HUGE relief after filling out all of the paperwork to let Binder and Binder run with it. We are very pleased with them.

One of the great things about this firm is that they have additional forms and questionnaires for the applicant and the applicant's doctors to complete, and they try to get all this information up front -- they know what to ask, and how to format it so the SSA gets the full picture. They are kind, answered and returned our phone calls, and are very thorough. We hired them at the beginning of the process, because we believed that applicants with legal representation, overall, have a better chance of being reviewed based on the evidence than applicants without legal representation. They are very savvy when it comes to the SSA.

[Pete53]

That is a powerful recommendation. I see them advertise in Dallas on TV. Although Social Security for most is a lot easier to deal with than VA your method certainly takes away a lot of the worry associated with a claim.

Thanks for your post

[vaf]

My husband joked with me that I would have to act as an interpreter of sorts between him and the Binder and Binder rep, my being a New Jersey "Yankee" and the rep's thick Bronx accent, which I understood with no problem...

Unfortunately, we didn't have the same luck with the short-term and long-term disability claim my husband filed with Prudential. We have a different attorney for that, too bad the SSA attorneys don't handle ERISA claims outside of NY state.