Darla Smith is a 51-year-old female who won SSDI benefits after her initial application and reconsideration were denied.  She worked as a server at various restaurants from 1993 to 2008. She also worked as an operations manager for a paint company in the summers of 2003 and 2004. Darla had severe heart problems, seizures requiring hospitalization, respiratory failure requiring intubation and other respiratory problems. Additionally, she had upper extremity issues, knee issues, and obesity.

In 2008, Ms. Smith had EKGs, which revealed premature ventricular complexes. An April 2010 EKG showed T wave abnormalities. She was hospitalized for nine days in May 2010 for seizure, chest pain, severely reduced left ventricular systolic function, and MRSA from an infected mass in her heart, a right atrial thrombosis. Ms. Smith retained Attorney Good to represent her in obtaining Social Security Disability benefits.

Ms. Smith’s initial application for Social Security benefits and her reconsideration were both denied. Ms. Smith filed for a Social Security Administrative hearing. Attorney Neil H. Good outlined to the Administrative Law Judge that Ms. Smith suffers from Takutsubo Cardiomyopathy, which is a stress induced heart failure. This causes her to have chronic chest pain and shortness of breath. She was hospitalized in May of 2010 for chest pain, left ventricular systolic function, severely reduced and MRSA from infected mass in her heart, a right atrial thrombosis and endocarditis.

Attorney Good further opined that Ms. Smith suffers from seizure disorders which also interfere with her vocational pursuits. In addition to the seizure disorders, Ms. Smith suffers from falls from dizziness and has alteration of awareness and loss of consciousness. She suffers from COPD, emphysema and asthma, with dizziness and shortness of breath, severe to the point where she required hospitalization. Ms. Smith also suffers from DVT, Peripheral Arterial Disease, and Peripheral Vascular Disease.

In addition to the cardiovascular, respiratory, and seizure disorders, Attorney Good further outlined that Ms. Smith has disorders of an upper extremity. She has right shoulder pain, with a partial tear of her right rotator cuff. Mr. Good outlined that in total, these maladies impeded Ms. Smith’s ability to work to the point in which any vocation would be impractical.

The Social Security Administration awarded Darla Smith Social Security benefits. They ruled that Ms. Smith was not able to perform her past relevant work. All of her physical disabilities impeded her ability to work to the point that Ms. Smith would not be able to work.

If you are suffering from similar medical conditions or have a disability/impairment that has rendered you unable to work, contact Neil H. Good online or call toll-free #(800) 419-7606 to schedule your free case evaluation to discuss your specific health condition and your SSDI eligibility.