Arthritis
Arthritis Case study #1 – 47 year old female with past work as cashier, fast food worker and restaurant shift manager – claims disability based on inflammatory arthritis and associated depression.
Inflammatory arthritis case study #2 – 36 year old female with rheumatoid arthritis, blood clots, diabetes and cancer. This case will be approved by the judge.
Back Pain
Back Pain Case Study #1 – 53 year old woman with a long history of back pain. She had a long and consistent work history and the MRI reports showed significant disk involvement. She testified credibly and the judge announced a favorable decision.
Back Pain Case Study #2 – 41 year old female with chronic neck and back pain following a “roll over” car accident. Despite two surgeries, her level of pain has not diminished and she experiences severe depression as well.
Back Pain Case Study #3 – 61 year old male with 30+ year history of back pain. Following his retirement from a 15 year job due to excessive absences caused by pain, he tried conservative therapy and finally surgery. He still has numbness in his left leg and wears a back brace. This case resulted in a fully favorable bench decision.
Back Pain Case Study #4 – 46 year old female with early onset and severe degenerative disc disease. She has undergone surgery to fuse discs at three different levels and is currently on long term pain management using morphine.
Back Pain Case Study #5 – 47 year old male with herniated disc and spinal stenosis. The claimant never underwent surgery and is now treated with long term pain management.
Back Pain Case Study #6 – 54 year old female with back pain, knee pain and ankle pain, but no firm diagnosis
Back Pain Case Study #7 – 59 year old female with multiple herniated discs and surgical orders (but no surgery yet)
Back Pain Case Study #8 – 58 year old female with multiple herniated discs who underwent unsuccessful laminectomy and fusion and L2/3 and L3/4
Cancer
Leukemia Case Study #1 – 51 year old female with chronic myelogenous leukemia
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Case Study #1 – 50 year old woman with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a bulging disc in her neck, arthritis in her right foot, left knee and back, and urinary incontinence dating back 15 years. She also experiences symptoms of depression
Crohn’s & Colitis
Colitis Case Study #1 – 61 year old male with severe colitis, who died from his disease prior to his hearing. This case study includes the pre-hearing brief I used to present my argument to the judge.
Crohn’s Disease Case Study #2 – 64 year old female with Crohn’s Disease, resulting in frequent restroom breaks, and painful cramping, and complicated by cervical and lumbar issues
Constipation (chronic)
Constipation Case Study #1 – 39 year old female with chronic constipation caused by lack of urgency and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
Depression
Depression Case Study #1 – 47 year old female with past work as restaurant worker who experienced severe depression arising from chronic arthritis pain and side effects of medications.
Depression Case Study #2 – 49 year old male with past work as skilled grocery worker and as cable installer whose depression spiraled out of control after a serious pedestrian accident.
Depression Case Study #3 – 37 year old female with a GED and past work as a short order cook and car wash attendant. Her depression arises from childhood abuse and became disabling after a relatively minor physical work injury.
Depression Case Study #4 – 48 year old female with orthopedic and chronic pain problems complicated by severe depression.
Depression Case Study #5 – 57 year old female with college education and skilled work background claiming disability based on severe depression and diverticulitis.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia Case Study #1 – 47 year old female with solid work history who developed fibromyalgia after hysterectomy
Fibromyalgia Case Study #2 – 44 year old female who developed fibromyalgia after unsuccessful thyroid surgery
Fibromyalgia Case Study #3 – 62 year old female who developed fibromyalgia following gastric bypass surgery
Fibromyalgia Case Study #4 – 43 year old female who developed fibromyalgia after several serious car accidents
Grid Rules
Grid Rule Case Study #1 – 55 year old foreign born female with semi-skilled past work and foreign education
Grid Rule Case Study #2 – 52 year old female with badly treated back and neck issues that limited her capacity to no more than sedentary work.
Grid Rule Case Study #3 – 64 year old male with high school education, long work history but no transferable skills and consultative evaluation report limiting him to light work. Judge applied Grid Rule 202.02.
Grid Rule Case Study #4 – 63 year old male with 11th grade education and no work history, found disabled for medium and less work per Grid Rule 203.02. This is a rare instance of an individual meeting the grid for medium work – the first of my career!
Grid Rule Case Study #5 – 54 year old male with GED and long work history found disabled per Grid Rule 201.06.
Grid Rule Case Study #6 – 57 year old non-English speaking man with 7th grade education and unskilled/low end semi-skilled work background. My client was found disabled per Grid Rule 202.02.
Grid Rule Case Study #7 – 64 year old female who is working part time as a teacher was found disabled per Grid Rule 202.06 based on documented spine damage and credible testimony. This case study, from my GridRules.net site, includes the pre-hearing brief I submitted to the judge.
Heart Disease
Congestive Heart Failure Case Study #1 – 41 year old female with a college education, with moderate to severe congestive heart failure and significant medication side effects
Heart Disease Case Study #2 – 48 year old male with strong case but has medical record that minimizes symptoms. Here is how we dealt with this issue.
Congestive Heart Failure Case Study #3 – 61 year old female with congestive heart failure, experiencing fatigue, shortness of breath and excessive urination due to diuretic medications. Pacemaker helped fatigue but was uncomfortable. Claimant referred for heart transplant but not quite ready. Case approved on the record – pre-hearing brief posted here.
Leg and Knee Pain
Leg and Knee Pain Case Study #1 – 48 year old male with 8th grade education with knee pain and stiffness arising from long ago pedestrian accident, uncontrolled diabetes and depression.
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
PTSD Case Study #1 – 52 year old female with past work as a group home manager and a senior center manager who asserts disability based on PTSD arising from an extended period of sexual harassment that occurred 30 year previously when she was in the military.
PTSD Case Study #2 – 56 year old male with long skilled work history alleges disability based on PTSD, glaucoma and medication side effects.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia Case Study #1 – 48 year old college educated male with past work as a teacher alleging disability based on audio and visual hallucinations
Stroke
Stroke Case Study #1 – 38 year old male with past work as a grocery store assistant manager who suffered a stroke when an aneurysm in his brain began leaking. Post surgery he experiences chronic and severe daily headaches, excessive sleeping and depression.