Many people who are struggling to maintain work are suffering from problems with their digestive system. Sometimes they are unable to do any work, and sometimes they are unable to sustain work. Social Security Disability considers a multitude of disorders including hepatic dysfunction, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, inflammatory bowel disease, short bowel syndrome, and malnutrition. What social security is interested in is the symptoms of those conditions and their effect on your day to day functioning. They will look at complications, such as obstructions.
Regarding inflammatory bowel disease, it includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The social security administration is looking for exacerbations and remissions of the disease including the frequency and duration of flare ups and period of relative remission. There is also a review of symptoms of obstruction, stenosis, fistulization, and perineal involvement. Other symptoms can include diarrhea, fecal incontinence, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, arthralgia, abdominal tenderness, palpable abdominal mass, or perineal disease. You may also suffer from weight loss. Many people with bowel issues also suffer from inflammatory arthritis or psoriasis.
Similar to all disability matters, in order to receive a favorable decision, we will need to have both testimony and medical evidence. It is important for you to gather information about your doctors, hospitalizations, medical procedures and surgeries, and medications. When we submit your application, we also submit the information about your treatment so that we can ensure all of your medical records are considered and your file is complete. Frequently, agents of the Social Security Administration must make a decision on an incomplete set of medical records. This greatly reduces the chances of a favorable decision and ultimately hurts your case. An experienced disability attorney will ensure your case is complete and the strongest argument about your symptoms can be presented to the agency.
Disability attorneys will submit evidence during your initial application and ensure that updates and explanations of your residual functional capacity are supplied to the deciding agent. We will submit a brief outlining the highlights of your case and the legal basis you should receive a favorable decision. The Law Office of Jonathan W. Cole will question you and the vocational expert in the hearing through the Office of Hearing Operations. These questions outline for the Administrative Law Judge the reasons your symptoms are preventing you from engaging in employment. Using an experienced lawyer more than doubles the chances of receiving a favorable decision on your claim. The average approval rating is 23% for unrepresented claimants, but with experienced counsel, the odds increase to 50%. The earlier you represent an attorney, the more complete your record will be and your rights preserved.
Jonathan W. Cole is an attorney providing legal services covering Estate Planning & Probate and Social Security Disability and Immigration. 
