The Loop Newspaper - Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide

Question: My rheumatologist just told me I have connective tissue disease. He is sending me out for more testing to determine what I have. I have not been able to work since 2017 due to severe...

Question: I am 33 years old and have had migraine headaches since I was 16. I have had MRI's of my brain, I've taken medication, I've even tried acupuncture. I still get migraine headaches two to...

Question: I have a hearing coming up in the next several months. I am very worried that I won't be prepared or worse yet, Social Security will not have all of my records. Can you tell me what I need...

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Lyme Disease is caused by a bacterial infection resulting from the bite of a tick that is very small and often escapes...

Fibromyalgia is now a recognized medically determinable impairment by Social Security. I will talk about the symptoms of fibromyalgia and how these symptoms relate to a Social Security Disability or...

Sjögren's syndrome is an immune-mediated disorder of the exocrine glands. Involvement of the lacrimal and salivary glands is the hallmark feature, resulting in symptoms of dry eyes and dry mouth, and...

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a serious skin disease that tragically is often misdiagnosed. Because HS usually begins as pimple-like bumps on the skin, many victims (and doctors, too) think their c...

Huntington disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by progressively worsening motor, cognitive, behavioral and psychiatric symptoms. HD is caused by a mutation...

Question: I am a 53 year old man with severe diabetes. I have such bad neuropathy in my feet and hands that I can barely walk. In fact, most of the time I have to use a cane in my dominant hand and...

Tourette's syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes involuntary physical movements or vocal sounds. These actions may include kicking, facial tics, sudden jerking movements, shouts, grunts, or...

Many of us will experience anxiety or panic attacks during our lives, both of which have symptoms that can mimic heart diseases like atrial fibrillation - an irregular heart beat. Symptoms...

Social Security requires that a person applying for benefits has the sole responsibility to prove they are disabled. Never rely on the Social Security doctors for a diagnosis or a disability rating....

I often get calls asking about whether someone should to use an attorney or an advocate. My short answer is "there is no difference." Attorneys and advocates both represent claimants the same way and...

Most folks file for Social Security Disability because they are physically unable to work. But for some, it's not the work that poses a threat, but the risk of blood clots or unstoppable bleeding....

What is the definition of disability used by Social Security? Under the Social Security Act, "disability" means, "inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically...

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease, which is a disorder characterized by the body not recognizing itself, causing it to attack its own tissues and cells. Graves' disease most often affects the...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is diagnosed by blood tests and X-rays. There is a specific blood test for the disease called rheumatoid factor, which is most often used. There are also specific doctors, rh...

Benefits for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. If you suffer from a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which is dysautonomia, you may qualify for Social Security...

In humans, the adrenal glands sit right at the top of the kidneys. The main function of these glands is to produce a number of hormones that regulate a multitude of body functions. Addison's disease...

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is typically classified as an environmental illness. The cause can include exposure to physical, biological, or chemical compounds. Some examples are gas fumes,...

Social Security identifies a traumatic brain injury (TBI) under Listing 11.18. A TBI may result in neurological and mental impairments with a wide variety of post-traumatic symptoms and signs. The rat...

Starting March 17, 2014, veterans who have a VA compensation rating of 100% permanent and total (P&T) may receive expedited processing of applications for Social Security disability benefits. What do...

How did Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR) come about?  In 1980, legislation created a requirement that SSA conduct CDRs every 3 years for beneficiaries whose impairment(s) were not considered...

Avascular necrosis, or bone death (osteonecrosis), happens when an area of the bone does not get enough blood supply. Avascular necrosis causes small breaks throughout the bone structure that can...

In a fairly large percentage of cases, a person filing for disability benefits with the social security administration (in either the social security disability program or the SSI program: claims in...