What You Need to Know About Applying for Disability Benefits with Back Pain
There are many different medical conditions that can cause back pain. Some of the most common conditions like degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, and facet arthritis happen normally with aging or with wear and tear. Injury also frequently causes back pain due to damage of the spinal nerves. Injury may cause a herniated disc, nerve compression, spinal stenosis, or vertebral fracture. Back pain can even be caused by inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, spinal arachnoiditis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
Making the Case
It is important to show the Social Security Administration that you have a medical diagnosis that could reasonably be expected to produce your symptoms.
Your doctor’s notes and observations during medical examinations as well as diagnostic tests like x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and nerve conduction studies can show that you suffer from a condition of the spine that causes your pain.
Once you establish the medical cause of your back pain, you then need to show how your back pain limits your ability to work and limits your daily activities. This is why the opinion of your treating doctor about your functional capacity is sought to show how your back pain limits your ability to work and function. Statements from other treating providers such as nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, chiropractors, or physical therapistscan also show how your back pain limits your ability to work and function.
Disability adjudicators must carefully consider statements from your treating providers and will weigh the support ability and consistency of that opinion against the other medical evidence in your case.
Get a Disability Lawyer
Because there are so many back pain related disability claims, it is important to have a qualified representation to handle your Social Security Disability case.
American Disability Advocates specializes in the area of Social Security Disability law. With over 20 years of experience working exclusively on Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income cases, we have the experience required to get you the compensation you deserve.
Navigating the claims process can be frustrating and discouraging to claimants. Our legal team is ready to assist you to file your application for disability benefits online, develop the evidence in your file, and advocate aggressively for you before a Judge.
We offer a FREE case evaluation and can assist claimants at all stages of the claims process whether you have yet to file your initial application or you are waiting to go before an Administrative Law Judge to argue your case.
