You’ve already filed your claim for Social Security disability benefits, but you just got a denial letter. Now what?
A denied SSD claim isn’t the end of the road. An experienced Social Security disability lawyer can help you appeal the denial of your claim.
Your appeal should include additional information that establishes your disability and the severity of your impairment. One vital piece of evidence is a medical source statement (MSS), which can explain your condition to the Social Security Administration (SSA) examiners in detail.
At Hardison & Cochran | Injury & Workers Comp Lawyers, we know how to gather information that may allow the SSA to make a favorable determination in a disability case. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with your SSD appeal.
What Is a Medical Source Statement in Social Security Disability Cases?
A medical source statement is a document from a healthcare provider outlining the functional limitations of a patient with a disability. These documents provide the SSA with specific information about what you can and cannot do because of your disabling condition.
According to the SSA, an acceptable medical source could be a:
- Licensed physician (medical or osteopathic)
- Licensed psychologist
- Licensed optometrist
- Licensed podiatrist
- Qualified speech-language pathologist
- Licensed audiologist
- Licensed advanced practice registered nurse, including certified nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, and clinical nurse specialist
- Licensed physician assistant
Each of these medical professionals can only provide information in their practice area, as it affects the patients they regularly see and treat. Medical source statement letters from these sources carry significant weight, particularly if they have seen you regularly, understand your conditions, and have documented your symptoms.
Your medical source statement could address different types of disabilities. For instance, you may have each of the following:
- A physical medical source statement can address your physical limitations.
- A mental medical source statement may outline your difficulties with concentration or social interaction.
- A specialty-specific medical source statement might be required if you have a condition such as fibromyalgia or migraines.
What Information Should Be Included in an Effective MSS?
The medical source statement your health care provider creates should include information such as your diagnosis, clinical notes, prescribed treatments, and any test results. It’s also vital that they thoroughly cover any specific functional limitations you have because of your disabling condition, such as:
- How long you can sit, stand, and walk
- How much weight you can lift and carry
- Whether you can bend, reach, kneel, crawl, climb, balance, or type
- Whether you can be exposed to fumes, noises, and other hazards
- Whether you need extra breaks
- Whether you need to rest, lie down, or elevate your legs
- Whether your hearing or vision is affected
- Whether you must avoid operating a vehicle or heavy machinery
- How long you can concentrate or communicate with others
- How often you must regularly miss work days
- How often symptoms would interfere with work
It also isn’t enough to just list these limitations. Your doctor must explain how the medical evidence supports their opinion and why those findings may prevent you from working.
How to Obtain a Strong Medical Source Statement in North Carolina
Your best opportunity to get a strong medical source statement in North Carolina is to ask your treating physician to complete one on your behalf. You can take a copy of the SSA’s physical residual functional capacity assessment form with you so your provider can use it as a guide when creating their MSS. Tell your doctor that you need the form to apply for Social Security disability benefits, and ask them to be as thorough as possible when discussing your case.
If you see more than one healthcare provider regularly, you can request that each of them complete a medical source statement on your behalf.
How Medical Source Statements Impact Your SSD Claim Decision
When you file an MSS with your Social Security disability application or appeal, you provide the SSA with information it requires to process your claim correctly. Although medical records are important, they cannot provide all the specific details about your condition that your treating provider can when they interpret those records. Some disabilities may result in limitations that are not easy to observe.
An MSS can add significant weight because it provides standardized, objective measures that make it easier for the SSA to understand how your disability affects your capacity to work. Without the information in the medical source statement, the disability examiner or medical consultants the SSA hires will come to their own conclusions regarding the disabling effects of your condition, and these professionals will likely be less than objective.
A medical source statement translates your medical records into a clear explanation of your work-related limitations that the SSA can rely on. Having a strong MSS may also improve your chances of SSD approval and help prevent you from having to testify about your condition in an administrative hearing.
Contact Hardison & Cochran | Injury & Workers Comp Lawyers for Help with Your North Carolina Disability Claim
If your claim for SSD benefits has been denied, you need an experienced Social Security disability lawyer to appeal that denial on your behalf. At Hardison & Cochran | Injury & Workers Comp Lawyers, we’ve been helping disabled people get the Social Security disability benefits they need for over 40 years.
In those four decades of practice, we’ve achieved outstanding results for our clients by securing millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Our clients have been generous in their praise about how we work and handle their cases. As former client Naomi Clayton said:
“Every time I call with a question or problem, I am able to talk with someone or I receive a prompt return call. You speak to me without any legal jargon so I understand what your answers are. It is rare to find a business that makes you feel you are a part of a team. Thank you for making me feel like a person instead of a number.”
— Naomi Clayton
When you come to our office, your initial consultation is free. We’ll listen to you, review your case’s status, and let you know how we can help you. If we take your case, you’ll always know what’s going on with your claim at every step. Our attorneys are here to be your advocates and will develop relationships with you. We want you to be a client for life.
When your Social Security disability claim has been denied, don’t hesitate. Contact Hardison & Cochran | Injury & Workers Comp Lawyers for your free initial consultation today.
*Each case is unique, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
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