Social Security Disability claims are won or lost on medical evidence. Your ability to provide timely and accurate medical documentation to the Social Security Administration (SSA) may make the difference between winning your claim or losing it. Therefore, it is critical that you ensure that all of your medical records are submitted for your Social Security claim.

While you do not have to submit all of your medical records personally, there are definite steps that you can take to help guarantee that all of your medical evidence arrives and makes it into your case record.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a medical guide, known as the Blue Book, to determine whether or not a condition is severe enough to warrant disability payments. The Blue Book is also often referred to as the Listing of Impairments.

Each condition in the Blue Book lists specific criteria and symptoms that you must have to be approved.

However, with thousands of variations of conditions, it is impossible to list them all in one place. Therefore, only the most common and severe impairments are listed in the Blue Book.

People worldwide who have been affected by AIDS are taking note of World AIDS Day, which falls on December 1st. Whether you’re an AIDS patient or someone who supports someone with the illness, it’s your chance to join together in the fight against AIDS and its precursor, HIV. It’s also a great time to remember those with AIDS who’ve died since the beginning of the epidemic.

Spinal Cord Injuries, Disability Benefits, and You

There are 17,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries each year. Each case is unique and affects the person’s life in a different way--for example, some people may have more limited mobility than others do based on how their injury occurred.

These injuries are most often a result of a car accident, but they can also occur due to falls and acts of violence. No matter how they happen, spinal cord injuries can alter a person’s life forever.

Lymphoma Social Security Disability Benefits and You

As far as holidays go, September 15th may not ring a bell to a lot of people, even though it’s a day used to spread awareness of a well-known condition. Every year on September 15th, the world celebrates Lymphoma Awareness Day.

It’s an attempt to help people understand this cancer of the lymphocytes (cells that fight off infection) so that people are better-equipped to diagnose themselves early and get themselves to a doctor.

Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, Social Security Disability Benefits, and You

In 2017, there were over 56,000 new cases of thyroid cancer in the U.S. and just over 2,000 deaths from it. Compared to other cancers, there hasn’t been a particularly dramatic change in the number of cases, but that doesn’t mean that people should ignore it. If anything, the fact that this cancer often flies under the radar makes it dangerous because people may be lulled into a false sense of security.

A good doctor is always necessary regardless of whether or not you apply for benefits. However, the Social Security system relies heavily on official medical evidence when determining disability. Without the help of a trusted physician, the application becomes extremely difficult.

Below are the top three reasons why working with a physician is necessary when applying for benefits.

There are thousands of diseases in the United States that still classify as uncured. While there are treatment options available for a majority of these disorders, scientists are working every day to find methods that may be able to cure them. However, recent studies show that that one specific source may hold the answers to a host of medical issues: cord blood.

In preparation for next month’s National Cord Blood Awareness Month, continue below to learn more about cord blood, why it is useful, and how you can help those with still-uncured disorders find the help they need.