Toll-Free: (888) 234-5758
Phone: (954) 523-3870
DISCLAIMER: Please note that every case is different and these verdicts and settlements, while accurate, do not represent what we may obtain for you in your case.
Disabilities: Bipolar disorder and cognitive disorder
Notice of Decision: Fully Favorable
Administrative Law Judge: Dean W. Determan
Office of Disability Adjudication & Review (ODAR): Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida & Palm Beach County, Florida
FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
After careful consideration of the entire record, the undersigned makes the following findings:
1. The claimant has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since February 4, 2004, the alleged onset date (20 CFR 416.920(b) and 416.971 et seq.).
The claimant worked after the established disability onset date; however, this work was an unsuccessful work attempt.
2. The claimant has the following severe impairment(s): Bipolar disorder; Cognitive disorder; (20 CFR 416.920(c)).
3. The severity of the claimant's impairments meets the criteria of section 12.04 of 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 (20 CFR 416.920(d)).
In making this finding, the undersigned considered all symptoms and the extent to which these symptoms can reasonably be accepted as consistent with the objective medical evidence and other evidence, based on the requirements of 20 CFR 416.929 and SSRs 96·4p and 96-7p. The undersigned has also considered opinion evidence in accordance with the requirements of 20 CFR 416.927 and SSRs 96·2p, 96-6p and 06.3p.
The factors of listing 12.04 which claimant meets are highlighted below:
12.04 Affective disorders: Characterized by a disturbance of mood, accompanied by a full or partial manic or depressive syndrome. Mood refers to a prolonged emotion that colors the whole psychic life; it generally involves either depression or elation.
The required level of severity for these disorders are met when the requirements in both A and B are satisfied, or when the requirements in C are satisfied.
A. Medically documented persistence, either continuous or intermittent, of one of the following:
1. Depressive syndrome characterized by at least four of the following:
a. Anhedonia or pervasive loss of interest in almost all activities; or
b. Appetite disturbance with change in weight; or
c. Sleep disturbance; or
d. Psychomotor agitation or retardation; or
e. Decreased energy; or
f. Feelings of guilt or worthlessness; or
g. Difficulty concentrating or thinking; or
h. Thoughts of suicide; or
i. Hallucinations, delusions, or paranoid thinking; or
2. Manic syndrome characterized by at least three of the following:
a. Hyperactivity; or
b. Pressure of speech; or
c. Flight of ideas; or
d. Inflated self-esteem; or
e. Decreased need for sleep; or
f. Easy distractibility; or
g. Involvement in activities that have a high probability of painful consequences which are not recognized; or
h. Hallucinations, delusions or paranoid thinking; or
Continue to next page
Return to Case Results
Contact us for a FREE evaluation of your case
*The Law Office of LaVan & Neidenberg represents disabled people across the nation. Our firm advertises on television in: Miami-Dade County, Florida; Broward County, Florida; Palm Beach County, Florida; Fulton County, Georgia; and DeKalb County, Georgia. Click here to watch a television commercial.
Awarded: Confidential