Many people apply for Social Security disability benefits because they are in pain, exhausted, dizzy, weak, or unable to function normally. These symptoms may be very real and very serious.
But symptoms themselves are not enough to win a disability case.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) must be presented with medical proof of the condition that is causing these debilitating symptoms.
That goes beyond self-reported complaints. The SSA is looking for a Medically Determinable Impairment, or MDI.
Let’s Start At The Beginning: Understanding Symptoms
A symptom is something a person feels or experiences that is a change from normal. Symptoms are very personal and individual, and it is only the person with the condition who can attest to the symptoms and how severe they are.
Examples of symptoms include:
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Numbness
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Brain fog
- Seizures
These symptoms may affect your daily life and ability to work, but self-reported symptoms alone don’t provide enough evidence for Social Security to grant disability benefits. The SSA still needs to know what medical condition is causing those symptoms.
It Starts With a Diagnosis
When you begin to experience symptoms, you should go to your doctor, who will examine you, run tests, and look at your medical history. Once the doctor has an understanding of what is going wrong, they will be able to diagnosis your condition, and put a name to your medical issue.
From this diagnosis, your doctor will create a treatment plan. This is the next step in your medical journey, but it is still not enough to guarantee a claim of disability.
To qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you will need to have medical proof to back up the physician’s diagnosis. If the diagnosis can be supported through medical evidence (like X-rays, lab results, and clinical tests), then it qualifies as a Medically Determinable Impairment (MDI).
What Is a Medically Determinable Impairment?
A Medically Determinable Impairment is a medical condition that has been diagnosed by an acceptable medical source using medical evidence. In simple terms, it is the proof that there is an actual medical condition causing the symptoms that are keeping you from working. This is an important part of what the SSA is looking for to make their decision on whether or not to allow disability benefits.
What Are The Differences Between Symptoms, Diagnosis, and MDIs?
Let’s look at some examples to better understand the differences in all these terms.
Case One: Joe Smith
- Back pain is a symptom, which is preventing Joe from working.
- Degenerative disc disease is the diagnosis that Joe received from his physician.
- X-rays, MRIs, CT Scans, and neurological exams are the medical evidence that support the diagnosis.
With all of these together, Joe can file for disability with the Medically Determinable Impairment of degenerative disc disease.
Case Two: Jane Jones
- Fatigue is a symptom, which is preventing Jane from working.
- Multiple Sclerosis is the diagnosis that Jane received from her neurologist.
- MRIs, Spinal Taps, and neurological exams are the medical evidence that support the diagnosis.
With all of these together, Jane can file for disability with the Medically Determinable Impairment of Multiple Sclerosis.
My Doctors Can’t Figure Out What Is Wrong!
This situation happens more often than people realize. A person may be genuinely suffering and unable to work. They may see multiple specialists. They may go through months or even years of testing. But, their doctors may not be able to determine the physical cause of the symptoms.
The problem is that if doctors cannot identify a Medically Determinable Impairment, Social Security often will not move forward with evaluating limitations, restrictions, or disability in a disability claim.
That does not mean the person is faking their symptoms. It simply means that Social Security requires medical evidence showing a diagnosable medical condition so that they can evaluate the case.
If you are struggling with serious symptoms but still do not have a diagnosis, continuing medical treatment and testing may be critical to strengthening your disability claim.
Why Medical Evidence Matters
Social Security relies heavily on medical records, testing, imaging, examinations, and diagnoses from acceptable medical sources. This is the key to being able to prove that a medical condition exists, and that it is preventing you from working.
- Medical evidence must be:
- Objective: Factual, measurable data and clinical findings that can be independently verified by healthcare professionals.
- Repeatable: Healthcare professionals must be able to run the tests or imaging again to check for errors and verify the results.
- Scientifically Proven: Evidence based and standardized within the medical community.
- Examples of medical evidence may include:
- Imaging and Scans: X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds
- Laboratory Work: Blood tests, urine tests, and tissue biopsies
- Clinical Measurements and Tests: Heart rate, blood pressure, and measured ranges of motion
- Neurological Examinations
- Mental Health Evaluations
- Physical Examinations
The stronger the medical evidence, the easier it is for Social Security to understand what condition exists and how it affects your ability to work.
The Bottom Line
To qualify for disability benefits, you must be able to prove a Medically Determinable Impairment, which is supported by medical evidence and comes from an acceptable medical source.
If your health keeps you from working, you deserve a fair shot at disability benefits. At Disability Advocates, we help people understand their rights and avoid costly mistakes.