Michael, I feel your pain every day. I've been to 3 federal hearings WITH disability legal representation in the past 8.5+ years. I've even had success with the lawsuit I filed against SSA May 5, 2016. Unfortunately, the ALJ chose to ignore the federal remand by a US District Court. Three times my medical records were IGNORED. US District Court said this is against the law! Appeal was filed Jan 17, 2018 and I'm probably not gonna survive the process. It takes anywhere from 12 - 18 months for the Appeals Council to get around to viewing your case due to the sheer numbers of cases in the ONE office in Falls Church, VA.

All 3 lawyers were very confident about my case based upon my medical records, etc. My current law firm has a very high disability success rate and they are very unhappy with the blatant bias the ALJ demonstrated in my most recent hearing (Dec 14, 2017). The fact that the decision was rendered in less than 10 days speaks volumes. The arrogance, sarcasm, & condescension displayed at the hearing and in the documented decision matters not. This particular ODAR office is notorious for denying mental health cases. In previous lawsuits against this office, the Feds point at the state and the state points at the Feds with nothing resolved. GOV wins and humans DIE.

We baby boomers DESERVE what we paid. Many of us have worked hard all our lives, lived within our means and chosen to be accountable for our actions! The lack of accountability in our society and especially in our government today is disappointing to say the least. The best I can do is keep fighting, though I want to give up every single day! Its hard to keep fighting when you've lost everything.

I've been homeless for 1 year and 38 days. I haven't worked since June 4, 2008. I owned my own home and never missed a mortgage payment in 19 years.....until I became homeless. My credit score had never been below 825 until I became homeless! I had the support of family and friends until I became homeless...just because I have a mental illness. I AM A SURVIVOR and I choose to keep fighting. Don't give up! Keep fighting the VA and SSA for your rights. They are counting on us to give up!