@BubonicPlague, having been through the process of getting awarded SSDI, I would like to comment.

Having a disability attorney is a good thing....Studies have shown that applicants with an attorney are more likely to get approval.

Also, the SSA is mainly interested in your most recent medical records, from the past year or two........The most important thing to SSA, is how your condition(s) affect your ability to work....It's not enough to just have a diagnosis----The condition must be so severe that you can't work at all, and are severely limited in performing many "activities of daily living".

Examples of "activities of daily living" include ability to drive, dress yourself, cook, go to grocery store, handle personal hygiene, do your laundry, pay bills. etc.

If you are in the reconsideration phase, and get turned down, you can still go to the hearing phase, where you go in front of a judge.......You actually have a better chance of being approved at the hearing phase, statisically speaking.

There could be a wait time for the hearing, though....Time to wait for a hearing can vary according to where you live.