What to document for Migraine
Organize disability evidence for frequency, treatment, triggers, emergency visits, and absence records.
| Evidence area | What makes the record more useful |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Document frequency with dates, source records, and a short explanation of why it matters to the current disability issue. |
| Treatment | Show the history of treatment, response, side effects, and whether the treatment changed day-to-day function. |
| Triggers | Document triggers with dates, source records, and a short explanation of why it matters to the current disability issue. |
| Emergency Visits | Track emergency visits over time: frequency, duration, recovery time, and how it changes reliable activity. |
| Absence Records | Put absence records in date order and identify what question the record helps answer. |
How Migraine affects work function
Describe function in concrete terms that match this condition and the person's actual work history. Useful records may address reliability, pace, attendance, safety, physical tolerance, communication, concentration, or adaptation depending on the symptoms documented in the file.
- Use examples from treatment records and daily activity rather than a diagnosis label alone.
- Identify how often a limitation occurs and how long recovery takes.
- Separate limitations caused by this condition from other impairments when the records allow it.
- Explain treatment gaps, side effects, or inconsistent findings instead of ignoring them.
SSA medical sources for Migraine
The Listing of Impairments is one part of disability evaluation. A claim can also turn on the combined medical record, residual functional capacity, past work, and other steps in Social Security's evaluation process.
Questions before an appeal or hearing
- Which frequency records cover the period SSA is reviewing?
- Do the records explain treatment with enough detail to show frequency or severity?
- How does absence records affect the claimant's past job duties or reliable attendance?
- What recent record has not yet been added to the disability file?