Disability Medical Record Review for Alzheimer’s Disease

Disability Medical Record Review for Alzheimer’s Disease

Medical record review for attorneys is a valuable service for attorneys handling disability claims for Alzheimer’s patients.

MOS MEDICAL RECORD REVIEW 8956 E .101st Street , Suite H Tulsa, OK 74133 Phone: 1-800-670-2809

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Medical record review for attorneys is a valuable service for attorneys handling disability

claims

for

Alzheimer’s

patients.

Social

security

disability

applicants

with

Alzheimer’s disease can gain speedy access to SSDI because the Social Security Administration (SSA) has added early onset/younger-onset Alzheimer’s to its list of conditions. Just as for any other medical condition, the SSA would base its decision on a review of the applicant’s medical records. To speed up claims processing, attorneys representing applicants utilize the medical record review services a medical record review company would offer.

Reviewing the Medical Evidence for Alzheimer’s Disease A very debilitating disease, AD or Alzheimer’s disease is untreatable and worsens over a period of time ultimately leading to the death of the patient. It is estimated to affect more than 34 million people worldwide and is considered the most common type of dementia.

This condition is caused by a combination of factors that include genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors. Here are some of the important things the social security administration would be looking for. 

When analysing the medical records for proof of this condition, the SSA would be looking for evidence of memory loss, confusion, aggression, language problems, mood swings and irritability.



Signs of body function loss.



The relevant medical records would include those of lab tests, MRI, CT scans, and PET scans.



Physicians’ notes referring to damage and death to brain cells such as plaques and tangles constitute important evidence.

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Treatment notes showing therapy administered for depression and sleeplessness.

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Prescriptions for acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as Aricept, Razadyne, and the Exelon Patch, and the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine that can help treat the cognitive issues related to the disease.

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Discharge summaries from hospital stays.

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Physical therapy reports.

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In some requests, the results of a report issued by an independent physician who examines the patient at the request of the SSA.

www.mosmedicalrecordreview.com

1-800-670-2809

The treating physician has to clearly document how and to what extent the disability applicant is functionally limited.

Other aspects the SSA would take into consideration include information obtained from a person’s work history if he/she is an adult. When determining disability, the disability examiner would classify the applicant’s past work and determine the physical and mental demands of that work. The examiner would decide whether the applicant can return to that job and whether or not he/she can take up some other type of work. Benefits are awarded on the basis of the extent to which a condition causes functional limitations. The SSA wouldn’t grant benefits just because an applicant has a certain condition.

Why Disability Claims Are Often Denied Initially There are some reasons why a disability claim may be denied initially. The Administration does not make any attempt to obtain a statement from a claimant’s treating physician. At the hearing level though, the applicant’s disability attorney or representative makes it a point to obtain and present the physician’s statement to a judge. Another reason for an initial claim denial is that before the hearing level, the applicant doesn’t have the opportunity to explain how their condition prevents them from engaging in work. Neither does the disability attorney or representative have a chance to present the case on the basis of available evidence. During the initial levels, the disability examiner decides the case without meeting the claimant in person. But at the hearing level, it is possible to present an argument for approval of the claim based on medical evidence that has been obtained and submitted.

www.mosmedicalrecordreview.com

1-800-670-2809