Blog posts

Tennessee Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Gerald Krasfur has long been known as the ALJ you want handling your disability hearing. He is widely known for approving the majority of appeals that come before him.

Unfortunately for those currently appealing denials of Social Security benefits in Mid-Tennessee, Mr. Krasfur has recently been placed on administrative leave. The exact details of his leave are unclear, but reports suggest that it was due to an incident of driving under the influence rather than anything related to his functions as an administrative law judge.

Many people make Social Security disability claims based in whole or in part on stress. Most are disappointed with the end result. Roughly 70% of all disability claims are denied initially. Those based on conditions which can be difficult to diagnose and quantitate can be especially hard to get approved.

Environmental impairments are conditions which cause it to be difficult or impossible for a person to tolerate conditions related to noise, light, chemicals, particular temperatures, air conditions, or other environmental conditions. They are considered non-exertional impairments by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to differentiate them from exertional impairments, which relate directly to a person’s ability to physically or mentally perform work.

May is recognized in the US and Canada as Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month. During the month of May, special effort is made to educate the general public about the effects of Tuberous Sclerosis (also known as TSC) and to raise funds to fund research into treatment options.

It’s a sign of the times. With unemployment continuing to hover dangerously close to 10%, more people are turning to Social Security disability claims in hopes of securing some semblance of a livable income. While some might cry foul, suggesting that some of these people are not truly disabled, that shows a lack of understanding regarding how unemployment rates and disability interact with each other.

May has been named National Neurofibromatosis Month in the US. The purpose of National Neurofibromatosis Month is to raise awareness of the disease and to raise funding for research into potential cures or treatments.

What is Neurofibromatosis?

There are actually three distinct genetic disorders which are characterized as Neurofibromatosis. These include:

In today’s divisive political scene, there doesn’t seem to be much agreement from opposite sides of halls of Congress. One thing that most representatives of both political parties can agree on, however, is that we need to speed up the disability process for disabled veterans and service members.

Rough times may be ahead for those who depend on Social Security disability benefits unless Congress and the government act fast. The most recent Social Security Trust Fund Treasurer’s report indicates that the Social Security Trust Fund allocated for SSDI and SSI recipients will run dry in three short years unless something significant is done to replenish it.

The US Senate recently passed a law which names the first week of April 2012 as National Asbestos Awareness Week. While April first through seventh is officially recognized by the US Congress, many recognize the entire month of April as a time to promote awareness and understanding of asbestos and the health conditions caused by prolonged exposure to it.

In a rare show of bipartisan solidarity, the US Senate has recently declared April 2012 “Parkinson’s Awareness Month.” It is hoped that by recognizing and drawing attention to this debilitating disease that we can improve treatments and the quality of life for those who suffer with Parkinson’s.