thats what the lady making a decision on my short term disability claim told me today after a 3 month battle to get any money from them....WHAT??!!!...OMG I am so tired of this mess.......
Posted by 22dreams (Member # 17846) on :
Florence,
You know she was talking out of an orifice other than her mouth, right?
I think lyme patients, and probably others (FM, CFS) have a tendency to receive disability based on their level of impairment, no matter what the diagnosis or diagnoses may be.
They seem to want to measure impairment and don't necessarily look at the Named Diagnoses so much(?).
i.e. my sister, although granted because of lyme, was really granted for the evaluation of her Encephalopathy diagnosis (yes, from lyme).
and cognitive impairment as demonstrated via the govt's psychiatrist who met with, interviewed and, I think, tested her(sorry, I can't remember exactly coz of lymebrain). Plus her LLMD's and LL neuro's backup documentation.
combined with fatigue, dystonia, dysautonomia etc. All severely restricting ability to perform most jobs in most environments for any length of time.
Despite that, she was told that it's rare to be granted SSDI the first time out.
Yet, by some miracle, she was granted SSDI the first time out although it was a prolonged process.
I do believe someone in her process at social security did say to her that they've seen more and more people come through applying and being granted for their disabilities from LD.
Maybe it depends on what state you're in. or if the applicants focus on the impairment and other diagnoses more often than mentioning lyme. If they even know they have it.
Anyway, I hope it turns out well for you regardless of this.
[ 12-04-2009, 08:22 PM: Message edited by: 22dreams ]
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
I got it, though it was long before I had a Lyme dx, and have been on LTD from the same company since the STD ran out. They've been paying me for over 8 years now!
Posted by the flim-flam man (Member # 23310) on :
I contracted Lyme while in service. I have copies of my medical records showing where I visited sick call with the flu-like symptoms, the rash and subsequent joint pain. TOTALLY mis- diagnosed by the medic/corpsman. The flu in August?... The rash was chocked up to an allergic reaction to cough syrup that was given to me for the flu. Been trying to service connect the Lyme for EIGHT years....no end in sight.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by 22dreams:
I think lyme patients, and probably others (FM, CFS) have a tendency to receive disability based on their level of impairment, no matter what the diagnosis or diagnoses may be.
They seem to want to measure impairment and don't necessarily look at the Named Diagnoses so much(?).
Yes, very important! Make a list of everything you are unable to do or have difficulty doing because of your disease.
THAT's what you get disability on.
Posted by Florence1 (Member # 22960) on :
I'm just talking about short term from my job not social security.....i have been "off sick"....for 12 weeks....and i haven't had any money from them......havent even thought about the SS road yet......
Posted by peacemama (Member # 17666) on :
My friend, who has "CFS" and "Fibro" was denied the first time and in her reconsideration she wrote a letter (separate sheet of paper) talking about all the things she can't do on her bad days.
She got it.
I am working on the reconsideration for my son, age 13. All docs wrote reports saying he is a mess. (The independent medical examiners times 2) and he still didn't get it. I did my appeal for myself and my younger son. Still waiting. Legal aid will help me if I get denied a second time, which is great.
Good luck to you.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Well, how about double blind - back in the days when no one knew Lyme existed, all these sick people were getting disability. Everyone found out much later they had actually gotten disability for Lyme disease. So, even with NO knowledge of Lyme, it puts people on disability. Tell her that.
Posted by LymeNetPerson (Member # 23588) on :
Sorry you are having trouble with that. Can you go with the affects of Lyme Disease if you can't get them to open their minds on how awful this disease is? Sometimes in the battles with idiocracies the words in the war of words part of the battle needs to be changed for victory until someone makes a great landmark case out what should really have happened.
Posted by LymeNetPerson (Member # 23588) on :
Hi, sorry they misdocumented it and made things worse. I have a similar story if it helps you and I think that much needs to be done for them to take Lyme Disease things seriously and competently.
About twenty years ago CT base doctors said I could not have the rash because they did not see it and so they would not document even that I said I had it so it went ignored. I did not know at the time rash and the fever had anything to do with the tick that bit me, which they also knew about.
The last year or so, several people asked me about how I was feeling and I would tell them. The inevitable reply was sounds like Lyme disease but you weren't bitten by a tick and didn't have a rash... but I did of course in CT about twenty years ago.
As I understand things, if you are retiring the time frame for the symptoms and bite is what is needed instead of it being directly service related. If it is retirement disability you are working on you should get an advocate to help you with that.
Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :
Ha,here in Ohio it doesent matter if you have terminal brain cancer they turn you down 2 times.
I was in the post office one day, a long line I was in as usual.
Getting boored quick ,I said to every one (I am buying a sweat shirt with a giant swastica on it and label the arms on it Social Security dissability determination.
The lady behind me looked surprised and told me, she had one kidney working only 30 percent,she was waiting for a trans plant and got turned down twice!!! By Social security.
The lady at the HIT foundation told me her son has terminal brain cancer and got turned down twice,at the hearing the judge got mad at the ohio social security disability determination people and accused them of hoping he would die and they would not have to pay hin social security.
My brother in law works with a guy ,who has seisures so bad he cant drive,he works part time as a dish washer.
Ohio social Security determination has turned him down twice.
They are hurting and killing thousands of people.
I think if they think you will die quicker homeless and laying on the street and try to bancrupt you.