Your Doctor, Your Medical Treatment and Your Records

Disability insurance companies do not normally take a claimant's statements at face value. They dig deeply into medical records looking for evidence they can use to deny a disability claim. It is important for you to keep this fact in mind throughout the claims and medical treatment processes.

At Roboostoff & Kalkin, we represent clients at all stages of the disability claims process. We provide comprehensive advice, representation and services designed to help people who are disabled get the benefits they deserve. Among the most important services we provide, one such is to help our clients work with their doctors to enhance the prospects of a successful disability claim.

For more information and a free consultation about your case, contact our firm.

Your doctor, your medical treatment and your medical records all play an important role in your disability claim.

As our client, Roboostoff & Kalkin will develop a customized plan designed to address these aspects of your claim and help you obtain disability benefits. A key element of that plan will be to help you correctly describe your symptoms to your doctor as they relate to your inability to do your job. We will also advise you how to avoid making statements or taking actions that could reflect poorly in your records. These steps can strengthen your medical record and enhance your communication with your treating physician, thus, making it easier to achieve success in the claims process.

A medical record consists of four major components commonly known as SOAP:

• Subjective statements made by you - for example, "My back hurts ..."
• Objective assessments made by your doctors - the results of diagnostic tests such as an MRIs, X-rays, orthopedic examinations and blood tests
• Assessment or diagnosis - your doctor's diagnosis
• Plan - the medical care and services that the doctor thinks can best address your problem as defined by the diagnosis

Of these four components, you can realistically influence only one - the subjective statements you make that describe your symptoms. It is critical that you do this in the proper way.

Attorneys Scott Kalkin and Constantin Roboostoff can advise you how best to explain your symptoms when your doctor inquires about your problems. This will also include statements you make to physical therapists, chiropractors and other medical professionals. As part of our firm's services, we can also advise you about how to respond to disability questionnaires and interviews and deal with possible video surveillance often used by disability insurance companies. This advice can mean the difference between a successful disability claim and one that fails.

Contact us for a free initial consultation with one of the lawyers at Roboostoff & Kalkin about a disability claim in Northern California: 877-374-7270.