A Georgia disability attorney explains the Social Security Administration’s symptom evaluation process

As a Georgia disability attorney, I want to hear about your symptoms. Are you in pain? Do you suffer from shortness of breath or fatigue or dizziness? Whatever your medical condition, it is your symptoms and the impact of those symptoms on your daily life that render you disabled and prevent you from working. The Social Security Administration also wants to know about your symptoms. The Social Security Administration evaluates your symptoms using a two-step analysis:

First step: review objective medical evidence

In considering a Georgia disability claimant’s symptoms, the Social Security Administration first evaluates the objective medical evidence. “Objective medical evidence” includes medical test results, lab reports, imaging studies, and doctors’ notes. It is the type of evidence typically found in medical records. The purpose of this review is to confirm that you have a “medically determinable impairment” that reasonably could be expected to cause your symptoms.

Second step: consider subjective evidence regarding the severity of symptoms

If a “medically determinable impairment” could be responsible for your symptoms, then the Social Security Administration will consider evidence of the severity of your symptoms. How intense are your symptoms? To what extent do your symptoms limit your daily activities? To answer these questions, the Social Security Administration considers all the relevant evidence in your case, including subjective evidence, to determine if the extent to which you claim to be disabled by your symptoms is consistent with the evidence as a whole. Subjective evidence includes your testimony at your Georgia disability benefits hearing and the testimony of witnesses called in your favor.

A Georgia disability attorney can help

As a Georgia disability attorney, I can help you present your strongest evidence—objective and subjective evidence—to the Social Security Administration decision-maker. The Social Security Administration requires a great deal of medical documentation. I will review all your medical records—from emergency room admissions to routine doctor and physical therapy visits—to see how well your symptoms are documented. In addition, I will help you be your own best advocate at your disability benefits hearing.

The most persuasive testimony includes a detailed discussion of how your symptoms make you feel (the nature, severity and intensity of your symptoms) and specific examples of how your symptoms impact your daily life (e.g., what do you have trouble doing now that you could easily do before you became disabled). I will guide you through your testimony, draw out significant details, and keep you focused on the important facts.

If you would like to talk with me about your Georgia disability benefits case, please complete the Free Claim Evaluation form to the right or contact me by phone or email.

Danny C. Griffin
Georgia disability attorney

E-mail me
Phone: 229-758-3943

173 South Cuthbert Street
Colquitt, Georgia 39837