I received a seven page decision today based on my Administrative Law Judge hearing two weeks ago.
My SSDI application was "fully favorable" based on Chronic Lyme Disease being a severe impairment.
I applied 3 years and 3 months ago, and the favorable decision goes all the way back to the onset of my illness, 4 years and 2 months ago.
Everything in the letter is totally supportive of Chronic Lyme Disease and its devastating effects.
"Findings of Fact" state:
The claimant has the following severe impairment: Chronic Lyme Disease. The claimant has the following non severe impairment: depression." (who with Lyme doesn't????)
The Judge states:
"I find that the claimant's mental impairments are stable and have shown improvment with medication, hence, they are non severe impairments.
I further find that the claimant's most predominant symptoms are caused by the Lyme Disease, and therefore, the claimant's impairment of Lyme Disease is a severe impairment."
This was in Hartford, CT. I feel that this decision was very validating, not only for myself, but somehow for us all!!!
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
That is truly a positive report. I'm excited that you've shared it.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Thanks, Mike. I wish there were a way to use it to help others win.....like they do with Case Law.
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
Fantastic news.
Congrats Tracy you deserve it!!
Hugs, Melissa
Posted by Beverly (Member # 1271) on :
Congrats, so glad you got a good report.
Posted by Angelica (Member # 15601) on :
Congrats!
Posted by Lymeblue (Member # 6897) on :
Good Tracy
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
congrats. this is good news
getting approved for me was huge, that amount of money is such a relief.
the check youre getting for 4 + years backpay should help u tremendously.
congrats again!
derek
Posted by Alv (Member # 15192) on :
congrat that is really great news....
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Yeeeeeeee haawwwwwww!
You done good!!!!
I have shared your info with a couple of folks. If they can use it to help others.... might you be willing to share more privately?
Do let me know!
And GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!
But I always knew you were a winner.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
have TAXES DEDUCTED if you can for your lump sum check or whatever!! congrats.
you HAVE MEDICARE going back to 2 yrs. after start of your date too!
Posted by lymielauren28 (Member # 13742) on :
Yay! Good for you! You deserve it Tracy and I know it will help eleviate some of the stress in your life - congratulations!
Lauren
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Thanks so much everyone, and I'm more than happy to share if it can help anyone else.
My attorney developed a Lyme Disease Questionnaire which was completed by both my PCP and LLMD.
The decision is pretty clear that these questionnaires were the deciding factor. It made it very easy for the doctors to write reports thst highlighted my symptoms.
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Tracy,
Congratulations!
And thanks for sharing the news. This can only help others.
Posted by hopeandhealth (Member # 17605) on :
How long did it take you to get that? Does being married have anything to do with it?
Posted by hanginginthere (Member # 11685) on :
Tracy,
Congratulations!!! I was touched by your story in the 'what do your meds cost you' thread. If anyone deserves some success and encouragement, not to mention reward for a good fight, you do!
You're an inspiration to me to keep on going Posted by AZURE WISH (Member # 804) on :
Glad you were finally approved Tracy!! Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
It took me 3 years and 3 months to get approved, but that is longer than is typical. I hit some snags along the way that delayed my case; I think had I felt well enough to pursue it more aggressively, I could have been approved much sooner.
Being married has nothing to do with it. In fact my husband is currently trying to get disability as well, also a chronic lymie.
The wierd thing is, I'm feeling just so detached from this. I should feel ecstatic, and the thing that feels the best is not the money, but the validation of the report. I just keep reading it, feeling so validated.
The fact that I am about to get a windfall just doesn't compute. I guess it's because as much as it will be, it still won't be nearly enough to prevent me from needing to file bankruptcy, nor will it come even close to making my monthly mortgage payment.
Not to sound ungrateful, I'm incredibly grateful to get this. But in all honesty, I'd MUCH rather be working full time and be healthy.
On a good note, we'll have some money to invest in some things that can hopefully promote our health and recovery, such as exercise equipment, possibly an infrared sauna, maybe even a pool.
I guess I'm having trouble at this moment absorbing the reality that I'm disabled, and maybe realizing it's hard to be happy about money that is coming at such a cost.
Simply put, I'd give back every penny I have coming if I could just be healthy again.
I hope this makes sense. I'm very happy and very grateful. I just wish I could get a letter saying I'm going to be healthy again instead of one giving me thousands of dollars.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
I'm so glad to hear that you are approved Tracy!
I understand how you feel. It sucks being disabled but yes, the validation is helpful.
Glad to hear that a judge has declared chronic lyme disease disabiling! I wonder if this information could be used with your insurance company to get treatment?
Perhaps you will be less likely to be turned down for lyme treatment via medicare health coverage. If you are turned down for anything related to lyme, I'd consider using this as leverage.
Terry
Posted by Mo (Member # 2863) on :
awesome tracy!
mo
Posted by Lymeindunkirk (Member # 7118) on :
Would you be able to post a copy of the blank questionare you talk about?
Posted by astriapage (Member # 17120) on :
I would also be interested in the questionaire-i am currently filing ssdi
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
What happened, were you in a lawsuit over Lyme???
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
No, no lawsuit....
They scheduled an appt during my first appeal with a doctor. I was too sick to go. I simply could not get out of bed. They agreed to reschedule, and sent me a new date. The same day, I received a denial letter.
So there was some paperwork snafu, that resulted in me having no way to fix it but to appeal yet again. There was well over a year wait for the hearing.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
T said.. "The fact that I am about to get a windfall just doesn't compute. I guess it's because as much as it will be, it still won't be nearly enough to prevent me from needing to file bankruptcy, nor will it come even close to making my monthly mortgage payment."
When I was approved I was actually angry. By the time it took I lost valuable time that I could have been treated, became totally disabled from being denied treatment and it took YEARS without anything before I got to that pont.
Like you, thankful for the conclusion of the case and the help....
I still felt "burned" and put through a wringer I've never been able to recover from.
I kept thinking to myself...
If ONLY they had done this sooner.
So yes, I was thankful... but it was a very bitter feeling because I KNEW I was sick and KNEW I needed treatment.... and I knew insurance and idiot ducks were the reason I was as bad as I was... and it wouldn't be reversed.
BUT.. the help is appreciated and I know you will feel less stressed after a while.
Still smiling for you!
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Glad to hear it worked out. It's just awful that we have to go through all of this to prove we are too ill to work.
When I applied for disability, I didn't know I even had Lyme. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I saw a psychologist for the state & based on my cognitive impairment he said I should qualify but I was rejected, twice.
They made me take all kinds of tests & fill out a huge amount of paperwork. Some of my doctors refused to comply with the paperwork. Many of them are fearful that the gov't will start harassing them - so, they denied that I was ill.
I had to get many Xrays with an old, antiquated machine. The tech screwed it up so I had to get them re-done. I was afraid that I might have been exposed to excessive radiation since the machine was so old. I don't even know why they needed them. You can't diagnose fibromyalgia that way.
During the period of time they are reviewing the case, you can't make any money. I waited over 2 years & they rejected me. Then, I found out that I actually had Lyme.
So, I guess I would have had to start over but if they rejected me for fibro - I don't see how I could be accepted with Lyme - especially since my diagnosis was clinical. My tests were negative for Lyme.
I just didn't have the energy to go through it all again. They sent me another 30-40 page form to fill out if I wanted to try a 3rd time... by this time I just gave up. I just couldn't wrap my head around going through filling out the forms again.
I was getting worse I my mind wasn't functioning properly. By this time, I decided to go to the Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Center.
This is when I found out that I actually had Lyme Disease. We blew $10,000 on going there. They gave me all kinds of supplements & IVs & by that time I had very little left for the abx... which was just the beginning.
I thought all I had to do was take some abx & I would be better... little did I know that the abx are just the start of it all.
In any case, I'm feeling alot better after using the infrared light. I just wish I didn't lose 10+ years of my life & all of my savings after working for over 25 years to get a diagnosis.
I'm really happy you got the disability, Tracy. We all lose so much going through this trying to fight for something that we paid into & worked for...
My story is a bit longer but I received no help from the "safety net" I thought we were supposed to have in this country. It's really sad that we have to fight so hard for help.
I'm sure there are many of us who have the same story as mine... some of us just fall through the cracks. It makes it so much harder to get well with all of the stress of fighting for acknowledgment, medical help, disbelieving family & friends, abandonment, loss of life savings, bankruptcy...
There is really something wrong with this system. Yet, there's money to bail out corrupt banks who come up with predatory lending schemes... There's money for AIG executives to go on retreat to a spa in CA that costs $250,000 after getting bailed out by NY State taxpayers.
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