Client’s Situation: Benefits denied for fibromyalgia, a condition many doctors do not believe in.
Koszdin Outcome: Social Security benefits awarded after hearing. 
52 Year old woman awarded SSDI for fibromyalgia. – Maria was denied by the Los Angeles Social Security Administration Office. She worked for many years as an assembler. She developed fibromyalgia. Many doctors do not believe in fibromyalgia and many judges do not like to award benefits for this condition. Social Security benefits were awarded after the hearing with the help of our social security disability lawyer.
Client’s Situation: Insurance denied benefits for broken neck due to young age.
Koszdin Outcome: Social Security benefits awarded after hearing.
34 year old insurance sales person gets SSDI. – SSA denied Peter, a 34 year old insurance sales agent because he was young and SSA said he could do other work despite his fractured neck. Benefits were awarded after the hearing.
Client’s Situation: SSA Denied benefits even after two surgeries for back and neck pain.
Koszdin Outcome: SSDI benefits recovered after hearing.
Stephanie suffered from chronic back and neck problems. She had had two surgeries and needed another one. Because of her young age, Los Angeles Social Security Administration office said she could do other work. She had done some light work before. At the hearing, we argued that she could not do any other work due to her physical condition. She was awarded SSDI benefits.
Client’s Situation: Denied SSI benefits for chronic diabetes.
Koszdin Outcome: Awarded three years retroactive SSI benefits.
32 year old claimant win 3 years retroactive benefits. – John suffered from chronic diabetes which was grossly out of control. The Los Angeles Social Security office denied his claim because he was young and felt he could do other work. Also, he had a child who was already on SSI and lived with his wife who had applied and been denied. Naturally, Social Security looked at this claim with suspicion. We were able to get the medical records and witnesses to prove this this man was truly disabled and unable to do any type of work despite his young age. SSI benefits going back three years were awarded.
Client’s Situation: 51 Year old woman denied SSDI benefits for diabetes due to sedentary work.
Koszdin Outcome: Awarded SSDI benefits after hearing.
Woman 51 years old awarded SSDI despite a work history of sedentary work – Mary had two back surgeries and chronic diabetes. SSA said that since she worked as a secretary, she was denied SSDI benefits. At the hearing we produced a medical record and testimony that won her case.
Client’s Situation: Obese client denied SSI benefits due to sedentary work.
Koszdin Outcome: Benefits obtained after hearing.
320 lb woman age 48 awarded SSI despite history of sedentary work – Sally was a very obese lady which chronic diabetes, back, and knee complaints. SSA denied her benefits saying she could still do a sedentary job that she had held for six months. At the hearing, testimony and medical records proved her case.
Client’s Situation: 54 Year old homeless man denied benefits by SSA.
Koszdin Outcome: Benefits awarded despite history of drug use and no job history.
Johnny was a homeless 54 year old man in Los Angeles. He had a history of drug use and had never worked. His claim was denied by SSA. Benefits awarded despite history of drug use and no job history.
Client’s Situation: Homeless man with heart failure denied benefits twice.
Koszdin Outcome: Benefits awarded after proving change to client’s condition.
Homeless Man Age 39 awarded SSI. – George, who had suffered from bi polar disorder and had a heart attack and congestive heart failure was denied SSI at a hearing three years before. He reapplied and SSA denied him right away saying that he was filing the same claim that had been lost three years before. Benefits were awarded after the hearing because we were able to argue a major change in his condition.
Client’s Situation: Vietnam veteran denied benefits after SSA says problems were mild.
Koszdin Outcome: Benefits awarded after proving PTSD at hearing.
John served his country in Vietnam. One day, while on patrol, his friend and fellow soldier was blown to bits by a Viet Kong grenade. He replayed this scene in his mind for many years. He went from job to job until 2004, when he could no longer function. He was suffering from Post traumatic stress disorder. SSA denied his case saying that his problems were mild. Testimony and development of his case won him benefits at hearing.
Client’s Situation: Client with mental illness denied SSI benefits due to incomplete records.
Koszdin Outcome: SSI benefits awarded after testimony and additional records.
41 year old woman with mental illness wins SSI. – Thelma visited several county health clinics over the past few years. The Los Angeles Social Security office denied her claim. The records were not complete and Social Security denied her claim as a result. Her testimony as well as witnesses and additional records submitted won her case and she was awarded SSI.
Client’s Situation: SSDI benefits denied for injured construction worker.
Koszdin Outcome: SSDI benefits awarded after convincing job that client could not work.
48 year old man wins SSDI. – Jeffery worked in construction and injured his back and shoulder requiring fusion surgery. SSA denied him saying that although he could not do construction work, he could do other jobs. Testimony and records were presented which convinced the judge that he could not do any work. He won his case.
Client’s Situation: Benefits for chronic diabetes denied, LA SSO argued he could do lighter work.
Koszdin Outcome: SSI benefits awarded after proving client could not work.
48 Year old man which history of cocaine use awarded SSI. – Carl had chronic diabetes, congestive heart failure, and had a heart attack. The Los Angeles Social Security office denied him saying his conditions would get better and that he could do lighter work. The records also showed history of cocaine use. SSI Benefits were awarded after the hearing in which we proved that due to his multiple problems he could not do any work. He was found to be disabled under the social security law.
Client’s Situation: 50 Year old teacher with knee issues denied benefits.
Koszdin Outcome: Benefits awarded after securing proper documentation.
School worker wins SSDI after denial from Los Angeles Social Security Office. – Claimant was age 50 and had worked for a Los Angeles area school district for about 5 years part time. Claimant had bad knees and she was awarded benefits without a hearing. Getting the proper medical records to Social Security was important.
Client’s Situation: Client with back, neck and stomach issues seeking benefits.
Koszdin Outcome: Favorable decision issued after proving disability occurred while insured.
Client suffered from back and neck problems as well as a rare condition in which his stomach had an open wound and had weak stomach muscles. – Client was a under age 50 and had not worked in ten years. We had to prove that he had become disabled five years before the hearing (his date last insured) and obtained medical records and prepared the client to testify. A fully favorable decision was issued.
Client’s Situation: Client denied benefits after serious car accident.
Koszdin Outcome: Verdict overturned after appeal and further review of the records.
Client had a serious auto accident in which he had gone through the windshield of his car. – Client also had a history of substance abuse and was treated at county facilities where the medical records were not very helpful. Client was also under age 50. The case was denied by the Administrative Law Judge. The case was appealed to the Appeals Council which sent the case back to the Administrative Law Judge. The Judge reversed and granted benefits after further review of the records.
Client’s Situation: Client seeking reconsideration of current benefits.
Koszdin Outcome: Client awarded greater benefits and $40,000 in retroactive benefits.
Client last worked about 10 years before filing his claim for benefits. – He was granted supplementary security income, but we filed for reconsideration claiming that he should be granted Title II as he met the disability requirements as of his date last insured. Medical records from his workers’ compensation case were obtained and an “on the record” decision request was submitted. Claimant was awarded Title II benefits and obtained $40,000 in retroactive benefits.
Client’s Situation: Client with little objective symptoms seeking benefits.
Koszdin Outcome: Favorable decision issued after arguing legitimacy of neuropathic pain.
Client was under age 50 with very little in the way of objective symptoms. However, we were able to persuade the Administrative Law Judge through testimony, medical records, and functional statements, the claimant had legitimate neuropathic pain. A fully favorable decision issued.
Client’s Situation: Self-represented client unable to prove psychiatric problems were disabling.
Koszdin Outcome: New, favorable decision issued after proving disability.
Client had filed on her own and went to a hearing two years earlier in which client was issued an unfavorable decision that her back and psychiatric problems were not disabling. – Testimony, medical records, and functional statements were used to overcome the presumption of non disability due to the prior unfavorable decision and a new favorable decision was issued.
Client’s Situation: Benefits to released prisoner receiving mental health treatment denied.
Koszdin Outcome: Favorable decision issued after proving psychiatric condition.
Client had been released from prison two years earlier and was in psychiatric treatment at the parole outpatient facility and then at county mental health. – DDS felt the client could perform simple jobs and if there was disability it was due to drugs and alcohol. Medical records, testimony, and functional statements were used to prove that client was disabled due to a psychiatric condition and that claimant’s drug and alcohol use occurred in the past and no longer played a role in the impairment. A favorable decision issued.
