Clueless

Hello everybody,
I'm new to this forum, and just filed for SSDI last week. I have been doing a lot of searching online to see what information I can find, but from what I gather, everybody has a different experience.
I started out having depression back in 1991 and was treated for depression with Prozac. I cannot remember the doctor or even the office I went to, so I couldn't add that on the application. I then entered the military in 1993 and while in the ARMY, was diagnosed and then discharged for Borderline Personality Disorder. I had so many problems coping with life and have been having a hard time keeping a job for any length of time since being discharged from the military. With no job I couldn't afford any kind of treatment, and the medications I was taking while in the ARMY stopped after I was discharged. I did apply for medical care through the VA as I was rated with a 0% disability, but they always claimed I could only be seen for that medical condition. Well, long story short, when Obama Care kicked in, I received a letter from the VA main office telling me I'm covered for all my medical needs through the VA. Since going I have been able to get back into getting my Personality Disorder treated. During my intake, I was told I also have Chronic Adjustment Disorder due to PTSD / Depression, and mood disorder. Due to all this she charted that I do not have the ability to function in life. I was told to go to VSO to see about getting a rating for the PTSD and I haven't made it there mainly because of fear. I did apply for SSDI and put all these diagnosis down that I was told during my intake.
What I'm wondering is, will the Borderline Personality that I was diagnosed with while in the ARMY plus the new diagnosis's I just received be enough? I have no other treatments other than what I received while in the ARMY.
I had gone to the ER back in 98, but was told they couldn't help me since it was a psych issue, and sent me away.
I realize none of you can read the future, but I was wondering what you think my chances are with not much treatment. I am currently on medication and now seeing psychiatrists through the VA. Would it be good to get the paperwork myself from the VA and take it to the Social Security office?

Thanks for reading this!!

This is something I know a little bit about. The SSDI people are going to send you to their own doctors and go by what they say. Your past issues will help you with the doctors they send you to but it's all going to depend on what the doctors they have contracts with say. I will warn you, it is going to take a while. Be sure too that you never miss an appt they send you to. They get really ugly about that. Good Luck!

Social Security doesn't really care about what diagnosis you have. That's because there is someone out there with that exact same diagnosis who is holding down a job. This is true for every diagnosis you can think of. What they care about is your own level of functioning. What they also value is input from a doctor who might be supportive of you filing for disability.

You're kind of off to a bad start with this. I would strongly advise you to hook up with a lawyer. A law firm would have already gone about things a little different than how you have. It's not too late. I recommend those big disability law firms that advertise on TV. They have an office full of staff to make sure that your medical records go where they are supposed to go. That alone is why it's good to hook up with a disability law firm. They know what records are needed. You'll be guessing.

If you call a law firm now, they may say to call them back after you get denied. Or, possibly, they may take you now. They'll mostly be interested in what meds you are taking and if you have gotten treatment. If there is any kind of a day program you could get into, try to do that. The VA has PsychoSocial Rehab programs. Try to get into one. It would benefit you and show that you are getting treatment. Then ask your doctor and psychiatrist about whether they would assist you in getting SSDI. If they say yes, then you are half-ways there.

The main thing that the people at Social Security take an interest in is if you have a good paper trail of treatment. The discharge from the army helps. But get all the treatment you can.

Being fairly young is the one thing that is not in your favor. You may have to show a series of attempts to hold jobs that failed before they will take you seriously.

Thanks Rose for the information. I already expect it to be denied, so it won't come as a shock to me when it happens. When it happens, I will seek an attorney. Tomorrow I will take the paperwork in that I received from Social Security, and I have already requested my medical records that the VA has so far which states I am active in treatment, and states the medication I am on and states the diagnosis's that I have and states that I am not capable of functioning in life. This paperwork from the VA also lists all the treatment programs I am lined up to take. Thing is, I am relocating to Missouri, so I will get established with the programs there.
Social Security can see my past work history. I remember reading somewhere that if you can show the diagnosis and meet their criteria, you have a chance of getting it.
I guess time will tell if they give it or they don't. If by chance they don't, then I will take the next step. LOL, I'm 51 years old. I don't consider that being fairly young. My whole work history is a failed attempt at working.
Thank you for the information!!

Hi Jelly-Bean, and thank you for your response! I'm hoping if they send me to their physician, that all goes well. I'm ok financially (for now), so it's ok for however long it takes to get accepted. I really don't like this not knowing part.

I couldn't have dealth with disability without a lawyer. He took 25% one time on my back pay. I had my pdoc recommend a lawyer and she filled out paperwork to support my decision. I have all the illnesses you do, but my therapist told me bipolar is the only thing that will work. This varies in states and being a Vet is probably entirely different. You also had gaps in treatment if you were stationed on the front lines. A word of warning - ssdi is not enough money to live on with a single income. But, my medicare is awesome and on ssdi I can keep an inheritance or profit from my house that's on the market. This is not a steady income like renting out my house. For my employment history they went back 14 years and medical 3 years.

Okay, I somehow thought that you were recently discharged from the military. So you are older than I thought. The older you are the easier it is.

The main thing they want to see is that you have tried to work and have failed due to your psychological problems. Also, if you have any physical problems, include those as well. I think you will do better with the help of a law firm. It's not even the lawyers who do most of the work. It's the paralegals and clerks. But they know exactly what paperwork is needed. Keeping up with all of that is very hard for an individual alone.