Social Security Disability Medical Records 

Medical evidence takes many forms for a Social Security Disability case (SSDI or SSI). These can include imaging reports, blood panels, mental health records, or doctor examination and treatment notes. In order to get a faster determination on your disability claim, you should try to eliminate or reduce the need for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to request additional medical information by presenting them with timely, precise, and adequate medical evidence. 

How Far Back Does Social Security Look at Records? 

Your medical records must be recent enough to be relevant to the medical condition you’re applying about. How recent will be decided by a medical consultant based on your particular disorder. Rapidly changing conditions require more up-to-date records than those that progress slowly or remain unchanged for years. While the SSA prefers records within the last six months, they will still take older records into consideration if they help provide a bigger medical picture. 

What Do My Medical Records Show? 

The SSA wants accurate records that describe your condition based on the values of acceptable medical resources. For example, a chiropractor’s notes will not be considered evidence because they are not a medical doctor. Also, if your doctor’s medical opinion is counter to objective evidence, the Social Security Administration (SSA) won’t consider it accurate.  

What Medical Records Are Considered Sufficient? 

Sufficient medical records are those with enough precise information from acceptable Dr. notes to let the SSA make a proper decision about the severity and nature of your medical condition. In other words, just a simple diagnosis won’t suffice. You’ll need to provide your doctors’ notes, lab tests, x-rays, etc., which prove your case. 

Also, you’ll need to submit “longitudinal” records, meaning records that provide a medical history rather than just notes from the time you applied for disability. This is especially important if you wish to receive retroactive disability benefits. 

Medical records should be typed, talk about every patient complaint, show examination results, treatment and response to treatment, and discuss future plans and prognosis. Sadly, the medical records most people turn in do not have enough information for the SSA to make an accurate decision. The SSA will not evaluate medical notes that are unreadable or scribbled, nor will they evaluate those that lack sufficient material about your condition. 

Understanding what to submit to the SSA for disability determination can be confusing. Having a lawyer on your side can help. The experienced attorneys at Jorgensen Law know what the SSA is looking for. We’ll work with you and your doctors to provide Social Security with the information they need to make an informed decision. Call us today at 1-888-855-2948 or contact us online to set up a free initial consultation.