What to document for Stroke
Organize disability evidence for neurological deficits, therapy, speech, mobility, cognition, and recovery records.
| Evidence area | What makes the record more useful |
|---|---|
| Neurological Deficits | Document neurological deficits with dates, source records, and a short explanation of why it matters to the current disability issue. |
| Therapy | Show the history of therapy, response, side effects, and whether the treatment changed day-to-day function. |
| Speech | Document speech with dates, source records, and a short explanation of why it matters to the current disability issue. |
| Mobility | Connect mobility to specific activities and work demands instead of using a conclusion without examples. |
| Cognition | Document cognition with dates, source records, and a short explanation of why it matters to the current disability issue. |
| Recovery Records | Put recovery records in date order and identify what question the record helps answer. |
How Stroke 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 Stroke
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 neurological deficits records cover the period SSA is reviewing?
- Do the records explain therapy with enough detail to show frequency or severity?
- How does recovery records affect the claimant's past job duties or reliable attendance?
- What recent record has not yet been added to the disability file?