Joanne filed a claim for SSDI on April 11, 2014.
Joanne’s claim was initially denied initially on August 20, 2014, and again upon reconsideration on October 24, 201. Joanne appeared at a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge in Seattle, Washington on September 22, 2015. Joanne was represented by John Chihak. A vocational expert appeared at the hearing and testified.
In order to prepare Joanne’s claim for her hearing, Chihak + Chihak obtained medical records from Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Valley Eye Center in Renton, and Advanced Foot & Ankle in Redmond.
During the hearing, Joanne testified that she had worked for the last 15 years at Wal-Mart. Joanne stated that she was forced to quit work in 2013 because of serious physical problems. Specifically, Joanne testified that her diabetes, arthritis, fractured ankle, and retinopathy made it impossible for her to work or even do day-to-day activities. Joanne reported that she was unable to walk more than a few hundred feet due to his symptoms and that she constantly had to use a cane. Given the progression of her condition, Joanne stated that she now lives with a roommate who has to help her with cooking, cleaning, and doing simple shopping.
The Administrative Law Judge also took testimony from a vocational expert. The vocational expert explained that Joanne had limitations that would not allow her to perform her prior occupation or any other occupation in the national economy. In her decision, the Administrative Law Judge concluded that the testimony of the vocational expert and the medical records obtained by Chihak + Chihak were consistent with a finding of disability. Joanne’s claim was approved.
