Acupuncture

According to the Mayo Clinic, acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body, which is most commonly used to treat pain. A report from an acupuncturist who is not a physician can help support an application for Social Security Disability (“SSD”) benefits by providing evidence concerning the severity of a medical condition.

I represent a 60 year old former social worker with orthopedic and mental impairments whose SSD application was approved in only four months yesterday. The notable difference between this and other cases with claimants who have similar conditions is that reports were submitted from an acupuncturist, physical therapist, and Rolfer in addition to supporting reports from physicians. 

Social Security Ruling 06-03p requires that reports from non-physicians be given some weight regarding how the severity of impairments affect a claimant’s ability to work if an acceptable medical source has already established the claimant has a medically determinable condition. Submitting the additional records and reports from the acupuncturist, physical therapist, and Rolfer explain the relatively rapid approval.