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You open your mailbox and find a denial of your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application. Despite the debilitating symptoms of your fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome that make working impossible, the Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn't believe you're disabled enough to qualify for benefits.
At Keefe Disability Law, our Boston Social Security disability appeals lawyers understand the unique challenges faced by individuals with invisible disabilities. We've successfully guided hundreds of Massachusetts residents through SSDI appeals by building compelling cases that clearly demonstrate how these conditions prevent substantial gainful activity.
Why Invisible Disabilities Often Lead to SSDI Denials
The Social Security Administration struggles to evaluate conditions that don't produce visible symptoms or objective test results. This creates significant hurdles for applicants.
Lack of Definitive Diagnostic Tests
Many invisible disabilities like fibromyalgia, migraine disorders, and some mental health conditions aren't easily confirmed with blood tests, X-rays, or MRIs. Instead, diagnosis often relies on reported symptoms.
Lack of Objective Medical Evidence
SSDI examiners are trained to look for quantifiable test results and measurable limitations. When your medical file lacks these types of concrete indicators, they may question the severity of your condition.
Intermittent or Inconsistent Symptoms
Your symptoms might fluctuate significantly from day to day. Someone with lupus or multiple sclerosis might have good days where they can function relatively normally, followed by flare-ups that leave them bedridden. This inconsistency can lead examiners to question the true impact of your condition.
Building Stronger Medical Evidence for Your SSDI Appeal
Creating a compelling SSDI appeal requires translating your invisible symptoms into concrete evidence that meets the SSA's standards.
Treatment Records
Consistent treatment records from acceptable medical sources (AMS) form the foundation of a strong appeal. Visit your healthcare providers regularly and ensure each visit documents your symptoms, limitations, and treatment. For example, if you suffer from chronic migraine headaches, maintain a daily symptom journal noting frequency, duration, and how each episode impacts your functioning.
Special Test Results
Specialized testing can provide objective evidence for invisible conditions. An applicant with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) can significantly strengthen their SSDI appeal with tilt table results that show dangerous heart rate increases upon standing.
Medical Specialists
Medical opinions from treating specialists carry substantial weight. Work with doctors who understand your condition and are willing to complete detailed forms about your specific functional limitations. A rheumatologist's assessment of how fibromyalgia affects your ability to sit, stand, and concentrate throughout a workday can be pivotal evidence.
Disability Journals
Daily activity logs provide crucial context. Document specific examples of activities you cannot complete or can only do with significant limitations. You may note that when you attempted to go grocery shopping, you had to leave after 15 minutes due to severe fatigue and dizziness.
Third-Party Statements
Friends, family members, or former coworkers who have observed your limitations can add credibility to your claims. A former supervisor who witnessed your declining ability to meet deadlines due to brain fog from long COVID can provide valuable perspective.
Failed Work Attempts
Failed work attempts demonstrate that you've tried to maintain employment despite your condition. If you've attempted to return to work but were unable to sustain it due to your symptoms, this unsuccessful attempt can actually strengthen your SSDI appeal.
The Administrative Law Judge Hearing
Your best opportunity for approval comes at the administrative law judge (ALJ) hearing, which comes after the initial reconsideration stage. This meeting with a judge allows you to explain your medical condition in your own words.
Preparation is essential. Your Boston disability lawyer will help you practice describing your symptoms without exaggerating or minimizing their impact. Be ready to explain specifically how your condition prevents you from working, using concrete examples.
A vocational expert can testify about whether someone with your limitations could sustain employment. Your attorney can craft hypothetical questions that accurately reflect your condition. They may ask, "Could a person who needs unscheduled 30-minute rest breaks four times daily maintain competitive employment?"
Don't give up if your initial application was denied. Many deserving applicants with legitimate invisible disabilities are initially rejected, especially those with conditions that aren't immediately apparent. Our Boston disability lawyers have helped hundreds of Massachusetts residents with invisible disabilities successfully appeal their denials.
Common Invisible Disabilities in SSDI Appeal Cases
Many invisible conditions can qualify for benefits when properly documented.
Long COVID
Long COVID symptoms include profound fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and post-exertional malaise. Document through specialized testing when possible and track how minimal exertion leads to days of incapacitation.
Chronic Pain Conditions
Fibromyalgia and similar pain disorders must be documented through consistent treatment with specialists. Explain how pain affects specific work functions, like how standing for 20 minutes causes pain that prevents concentration.
Mental Health Disorders
Mental health conditions require consistent treatment records from psychiatrists and therapists. Document specific examples of how your condition affects work-related abilities like concentrating, interacting with others, or handling stress.
