Disability Lawyer Serving Orchard Park, West Seneca, Tonawanda, NY & Beyond

If you are suffering from fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, there is nothing worse than hearing someone say, “But you don't look sick.” People do not understand that crushing fatigue, feeling confused and spacey, and constant migrating pains are not visible to the eye. Unfortunately, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome do not show up on x-rays and there is not a definite test to efficiently diagnose these diseases. It is also widely believed that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia disability are the same disease process.

In order to get benefits from these diseases, you have to establish a diagnosis in accordance with Social Security’s Medical Standards.

Did you know that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) have different criteria for establishing a diagnosis for fibromyalgia and CFS?

The diagnosis of CFS can be made based on an individual's reported symptoms alone once other possible causes for the symptoms have been ruled out under the CDC. But Social Security has stated in SSR 99-2p that your inability to work must be due to a medically determinable impairment, the existence of which is established by medical signs and laboratory findings. Basically, that means that your reported symptoms may not be enough to prove that you suffer from CFS or fibromyalgia.