What Should You Not Tell a Disability Doctor?

January 29, 2024

When preparing for a medical evaluation with a disability doctor, understanding what not to share can be as crucial as being open about your health issues. The consultation is designed to determine eligibility for disability benefits, and providing clear and relevant information about your condition is key. Sharing unrelated personal stories or non-medical information can distract from the primary purpose of the visit, which is to focus on your medical disability issues and how they impact your daily life.

Certain remarks may inadvertently diminish the severity of your condition in the eyes of the evaluator. For instance, statements like “I’m fine” or downplaying pain can be misinterpreted as a sign that your condition does not severely affect you, leading to potential issues with your disability claim. It’s essential to be aware of how your words can be perceived and ensure they accurately reflect your experiences on days when your condition is at its worst.

Providing too much information or exaggerating symptoms can also be detrimental. Claiming to experience pain everywhere or describing all pain at the highest level possible should be avoided unless it is an accurate depiction of your situation. Exaggerating can cast doubt on your credibility and may lead to the disability doctor questioning the validity of your claim. It’s important to be precise and honest about the symptoms and their impact on your life during the assessment.

Understanding the Assessment Process

When an individual applies for Social Security Disability benefits, they may be required to undergo a medical assessment, commonly referred to as a Consultative Examination (CE). The CE is conducted to gather evidence about the claimant’s medical condition and its impact on their ability to work.

Key Points of the CE:

• It is performed by a physician contracted or approved by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
• The examination focuses on the claimant’s reported symptoms and medical conditions as documented in their application.
• The physician will evaluate the claimant’s medical history, conduct a physical examination, and may perform specific tests as necessary.

The purpose of the CE is not to provide medical treatment but to create an objective report that the SSA can use to make an informed decision on the claimant’s disability claim. The doctor assesses the severity of the disability, the limitations it causes, and whether these limitations prevent the claimant from performing any kind of work.

In California, as in other states, the claimant should approach the CE with the understanding that full transparency about their condition is crucial. However, it’s equally important to avoid exaggeration or minimization of symptoms. The claimant should be prepared to provide accurate descriptions of their symptoms and limitations.

Claimants should note the following actions to avoid:

• Do not speculate: Refrain from making guesses about the nature or cause of your symptoms.
• Avoid inconsistency: Ensure descriptions of symptoms are in line with the medical evidence provided in your application.
• Do not downplay: Articulate the full extent of your impairment candidly, especially on how it affects daily activities.

The outcome of this exam can significantly influence the final decision on the claimant’s eligibility for disability benefits. Therefore, it behooves claimants to understand the importance of the CE in the overall assessment process.

Specifics to Avoid Sharing

When preparing for a disability evaluation, it’s critical for an individual to communicate honestly without misrepresenting their condition. Certain details can be misconstrued and potentially jeopardize one’s claim.

Exaggeration of Symptoms

Exaggerating one’s symptoms can severely discredit their claim. Disability examiners are trained to detect inconsistencies and overstatements. Patients should describe their symptoms with precision, avoiding statements that may seem implausible or unsupportable.

Understatement of Capabilities

Conversely, understating abilities can be equally problematic. It is important for individuals to acknowledge the full extent of their daily activities accurately. They should not minimize their capacities to perform certain tasks if they are, in fact, able, as this can provide a misleading perspective on their condition.

Irrelevant Personal Information

Discussions should remain focused on medical issues directly related to the disability claim. Details about one’s personal life that do not impact their disability have no bearing on the evaluation and can lead to unnecessary distractions or confusion about the issues at hand.

Financial or Legal Motivations

Mentioning financial or legal incentives tied to the outcome of the claim can raise questions about the credibility of the disability. Individuals should keep the discussion centered on their medical condition and symptoms, rather than the potential benefits they might receive.

Navigating Questions About Previous Employment

When discussing previous employment with a disability doctor, it’s crucial for individuals to be factual and emphasize how their condition affects their ability to work. California residents, like those elsewhere, should come prepared to detail the specific duties of past jobs and why they can’t perform these tasks anymore due to their disability.

• Job Descriptions: Clearly outline past roles without embellishment.
• Physical Demands: Explain how your condition impacts the ability to perform tasks like lifting, standing, or sitting which may have been central to your previous job(s).
• Work-Related Limitations: Be specific about any work-related limitations; this helps establish the severity of your disability in the context of employment.

It is also important that individuals do not undermine their situation by speaking in generalities or appearing to minimize their disability. A statement like, “I managed somehow,” detracts from the reality of their limitations.

Directly related to work history, the individual should focus on:

• Changes in job performance
• Attendance issues due to their condition
• Specific tasks they can no longer perform

It is not necessary for individuals to disclose unrelated job details or compare themselves to others. The objective is to provide clear, concise information on how their disability has changed their work life. When a disability doctor inquires about previous employment during an evaluation, individuals must remember that their responses are integral to the outcome of their claim.