Reply #30: A thought...

[Waiting For Everyman]

See if your Congressman or Senator can expedite it for you. Since you have that kind of evidence you mentioned, IMO you have a good chance of winning the appeal, even without giving a cut to an attorney. Of course that's up to you, and I guess for most people it's mostly about lessening the chances of being turned down again. It might not make any difference though. Both SS and VA will turn people down (even twice) just to shake out those who will get discouraged and give up. It sucks, but that's pretty much built in to the way they do things "as a given".

With a Rep. or Sen.'s scrutiny on a claim though, they're more likely to back off and "do the right thing" without further delay.

P.S. If you don't have any Dem Reps. or yours aren't cooperative, give Sen. Mikulski's (D-MD) staff a call and tell them that, and maybe they can help or connect you to someone who will. (She used to be a social worker, and cares.)