Mayo Clinic overviews Multiple Sclerosis as:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).
In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve filers and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body. Eventually the disease can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerves.
Signs and symptoms of MS very widely and depend on the amount of nerve damage and which nerves are affected. Some people with severe MS may los the ability to walk independently or at all, while others may experience long periods of remission without any new symptoms.
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, treatments can help speed recovery from attacks, modify the cause of the disease and manage symptoms.
Google defines Multiple Sclerosis:
A disease in which the immune system eats away the protective covering of nerves.
In MS, resulting nerve damage disrupts communication between the brain and the body. Multiple sclerosis causes many different symptoms including vision loss, pain, fatigue and impaired coordination. The symptoms, severity, and duration can vary from person to person. Some people may be symptoms free most of their lives, while others can have severe chronic systems that never go away. Physical therapy and medications that suppress the immune system can help with symptoms and slow disease progression.
Now Social Security Medical Listing 11.09 defines the requirements set for you to be found disable because of your multiple sclerosis as follows:
11.09 MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
- Disorganization of motor function in two extremities (11.00D1) resulting in extreme limitations (see 11.00D2) in the ability to stand up from a seated position, balance while standing or walking or use the upper extremities.
– OR –
- Marked limitation (see 11.00G2) in physical functioning (see 11.00G3a), and in one of the following.
- Understanding, remembering, or applying information (see 11.003b(i)); or
- Interacting with others (see 11.00G3b(ii)); or
- Concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace (see 11.00G3b(iii)); or
- Adapting or managing oneself (see 11.00G3b(iv)).
As you can see from the above physical it is disorganization of motor function in two extremities.
So, if you have disorganization of motor function in one extremity you do not meet Social Security Medical Listing.
Also, if your limitation is simply that you cannot sit or stand or more than 30 minutes at a time, this listing does not help you.
Here an experience attorney may use the fact that your doctor prescribed a cane or a walker as meeting part of this listing.
The first part of this medical listing is typical of Social Security Medical Listing in which the relay on the fact that doctors in their medical records focus on treatment, medication or therapies, and do not use the word extreme or the ability to stand up from a seated position or balancing, then they will prescribe a cane or walker and in special cases a wheelchair.
The second part of this medical listing is really the mental limitations caused by multiple sclerosis, which again they require that in your medical records appear the work marked limitation which they know doctors do not use in their medical records, doctors concentrate on your treatment result, and not in discussing your condition in each visit.
Also, this mental health evaluation is not in neurologist records since they concentrate in the physical aspects of your condition.
So, when you review your medical records, check if the above language is included or not, also even if it is the people who do initial applications and reconsideration do not understand the medical listings, and in their conclusions will say that you do not meet or equal the medical listings even if you do.
Finally, if the above mental health limitations do not make sense to you, do not feel bad, it is that the Social Security Administration uses similar mental health limitations in their requirements for depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, and autism, word by word even though they are different conditions that affect people differently.
In this claim for multiple sclerosis as for any other severe mental condition will require an attorney that not only understands your condition but that he or she assists you in understanding what medical evidence is needed to obtain your Social Security disability benefits. All I do is handle Social Security disability claims like yours, allow me to discuss your case and together reach a decision as how to go forwards with your claim.
Call me for a free phone or in person conference to discuss your claim at 407-894-4779.