Sedentary, Light, Medium & Heavy Work – What Do These Terms Mean?

I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR 1 1/2 YEARS FOR MY HEARING AND NOW MY ATTORNEY SAY’S I’M ON A LIST OF 15 PEOPLE TO BE REVIEWED BY A JUDGE WITHOUT A HEARING,AM I GETTING THE RUN A ROUND OR WHAT DOES ANY-ONE KNOW ABOUT SUCH A LETTER?????? I’V BEEN A WAITRESS FOR 30 YEARS AND NOW SINCE I WAS PARILIZED IN THE HOSPITAL FROM A I.V. PLACEMENT,IN WHICH A BLOOD CLOT FORMED AND CRUSHED MY NERVES TO MY RIGHT THUMB AND INDEX FINGER AND CAN NO-LONGER BE A WAITRESS,DOCTOR SAYS I’M A 1 HANDED EMPLOYEE,SEDADARY AT THAT CAN ANYONE HELP ME????THANK YOU,MELODIE BOLBY

Hi Melodie – I am also on a list for on the record review by the end of the year = I have been waiting for a court date for 17 months and live in Florida – good luck to you

did you get your disabiltiy

I am 30% service connected from military. Will be applying for additionlal service connection (through VA) as my condition has worsened. On top of this I have my medical and job worksheet ready to file for social security disability for PTSD which my doctor deems me “permanently disabled”. This SSD appointment will be next week. Since I have not returned to work in 4 months I will be applying for Federal disability retirement as well as reopening and submitting a request that my previos OWCP claim be opened.(now that I have a doctor who deems my condtion “permanently disabled” In my 23 years of non-stop work I have never gone through so much beaurocracy. Could never imagine that when I became incapacitated that I would be needing to do all this. I can only hope and pray that my doctors diagnosis for PTSD and his conclusion (three page synopsis) get me through as well as my physical (service connected) disabilities. I advise anyone to undergo a Functional Capacity Exam which will reflect if you can/cannot do your job in accordance with DOL standards. Make sure you bring your JOB DUTIES AND REQUIRMENTS with you before the FCE. All my applications will be submitted next week. Any advise to me? Hope this helps someone.

Melodie,
All I can say is I was hoping to get a review without having to go to trial. From what I was told these paperwork reviews are usally done for a person who more then likely get disability based on documents alone. I applied for disability in Ohio in 2004 and did not get approved and get my first check until 2008. Be thankful it has only taken 1 1/2 years. Keep your chin up and good luck!!!

I had my hearing recently and had just received a denial. I was lacking medical records. I have updated medical records and I plan on getting my old medical records from Pa. My question is this, does anyone win their disability cases after they have been turned down. My attorney told me that no one wins once they have been turned down by the judge. My second question is, I was listed as being able to perform light duty work. I will be submitting medical evidence that due to a hernia ,I am not able to lift more than 10 pounds. I have zero stomach muscles and my hernia will never be able to be repaired if I develop another hernia. Will the appeals court reverse their decision my ability to perform light work. My attorney said the medical records concerning my hernia would have helped my case. I feel the hernia medical records would have helped my case. What are your thoughts.

Sue, I think that the hernia records would be relevant. As far as appealing, if you lose at the ALJ hearing level, you can and should look into filing an appeal with the Appeals Council. You should ask your attorney to refer you to an appellate specialist in your area. I sometimes file my own appeals to the Appeals Council but more often than not, I refer to my friend, attorney Stuart Barasch – if your attorney can’t help, you may want to give him a call.

I have two ruptured lower. Bac disc. No surgery requires yet. But my doc said that my permanent restriction is 70lbs. Does thhat. Mean I’m disabled or wht?

Got a letter after hearing from SS for appt to determine how much,they also owe me back pay for 18months what to say this will determine how much HELP!!!!!!!!

Dani, if your only limitations are a 70 pound lifting restriction, you will have an uphill battle to win Social Security disability. There are many, many jobs in the national economy that you could perform if this is your only work limitation.

I have a hearing coming up and a back injury (my lower lumbar is fused) I have DDD, along with facet joint arthritis. At my FCE I tested below sedentary, do u think this should pose an issue at my hearing?

Kim, if you have an FCE (functional capacity evaluation) that shows you have less than sedentary capacity, you have a good likelihood of winning. I would make sure to discuss the work activity issues that arise from your pain as well.

Thanks Jonathan, I won my hearing today.@jginsberg:

I have been been on long term disability( provided through the co.I was working for) for the past couple of yrs due to fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, severe migraines, cognitive impairment, & major anxiety/depression. I have applied for SSA and yesterday I got notice of my court date first of Aug.2012. Has anyone had any experience applying with fibromyalgia and/or the many debilitating conditions that come with it?

i have a tibia plateau frcture on my left knee .which results in a lote of pain .and the dr has released me to sedentary with restrictions . so my lawyer had me go around to see if i could find a job i have had over 70 differnt places say that they cant hirer me due to my limations on what i can do .. do i have a good diability case?

First, your condition needs to prevent you from performing a simple, entry-level, sit down type of job for 12 consecutive months. It does not matter that you did not get any job offers – the question is: if a job was made available to you, could you perform it? My thought is that you will need a treating doctor to support you by stating that as a result of pain and physical limitations you could not reliably perform any type of work and that your condition is not likely to improve for at least 12 months from the date of your accident.

my orthipedic dr said he didnt think i would be able to find anybody to hire me with these limations . accident was 2-19-11 . but my doctor work for work comp and can no longer see me until after my case is settled . and i have not been able to find another doctor to see me.

my doctor also said that in my release there was no more treatments were gonna help that still had moderant levels of pain and it will not get any better

Just had a functional capacity test. Came back with sedentary work. Can’t walk or stand for more than 2 hours in an 8 hour period. I worked in Day cares and Nursing homes my entire life I’m 52 what are my chances at disability? Do I need a lawyer?

Vicki, a couple of thoughts: first, what kind of functional capacity test did you take, and how does the test define “sedentary work?” Second, if you can perform sedentary work then, in theory, you would not be disabled for Social Security purposes….unless you fit within one of the “grid rules.” This is a case where a lawyer would be a good idea, in my opinion.