WHAT IS A MEDICAL SOURCE STATEMENT?

A Medical Source Statement (MSS) is a detailed opinion from one of the claimant's treating doctors which estimates restrictions in the ability to perform work-related activities:  sitting, standing, walking, lifting, stooping, reaching, etc.

This evidence is almost never obtained by Social Security during the decision-making process.  It must be obtained by the claimant or their attorney.  Your doctor's office will not have the form used for this evaluation.

In order for the MSS to be credible and effective, there are some criteria that should be met:

1)  The statement must be from an acceptable medical source:  a medical doctor (MD), a doctor of osteopath (DO), or a Physician's Assistant (PA).  A Podiatrist can provide a MSS for disorders of the feet and ankles only.  An optometrist may provide opinions about vision.  A licensed psychologist (not counselor or social worker) may provide opinions about mental health issues.  Nurse practitioners (CRNP) are not considered acceptable medical sources by Social Security.

2)  The statement should come from a medical provider (above) which has treated you and knows your medical condition(s) well.  The longer the doctor has treated you, the more credible his/her opinions will be.  The opinion of a doctor who has only examined you once may have very little persuasion.

3)  The statement must be detailed and provide specific limitation of function.  It must state how you are limited in such things as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, bending, use of arms, hands, feet, etc. 

(4)  The opinion expressed in the MSS must be supported by objective medical evidence in the patient's file.

6)  Very general statements from doctors that do not identify specific functional limitations are not useful.  For example, a doctor may write:  "This patient is totally disabled and in my opinion he is not able to engage in any type of substantial work."

This statement is not acceptable as evidence because it only draws a conclusion.  It does not explain why the patient is unable to work.  Also, the conclusion about disability is reserved strictly to the Commissioner of Social Security under law, and doctors may not make this decision about who is disabled and who is not.

7)  I strongly recommend that claimants trying to obtain a Medical Source Statement from their doctor obtain a blank form from an attorney or advocate.  The form will guide the doctor in providing the required information. Doctors who simply try to write letters in support of their patients rarely provide sufficient information.

My office supplies free forms that claimants may take to their doctor to complete.
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Gregory Forsythe
The Forsythe Firm
7027 Old Madison Pike, Suite 108
Huntsville, AL 35806
CALL US:  (256) 799-0297   "Free consultations"

Serving all of Alabama and Middle Tennesee - Locally

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