Thanks Phil. I'm not sure I can help much but maybe you're having the same experience as I. Bear in mind that my appeal was for epilepsy.

I live near Buffalo and sometime after I started this with Legal Aid, I read several articles in The News. Buffalo is one of the districts for SS and the like and it turns out that only four judges are in the area and the average wait is 669 days after denial. I had no idea what I was in for. Mostly I spent time waiting and waiting. When I finally had my hearing in July...a video hearing...it was interesting. I think it pays to check in every now and then but here, it's a matter of the order in which your case is handled

One good thing is that the chances of overturning a denial is 60%. I'm not sure if that was comforting or not. Legal aid collected a lot of testimony letters from friends and relatives and reviewed the ones to send to the judge. I was surprised that they carry a little weight. That was all I could do until the decision. My only suggestion is to make sure you get people who have known you for some time to explain how this affects everything you do....especially people who have seen an attack.

I wish I had more to say and of course this is my experience in the Buffalo area only.

Good luck and let us know how things are going......I know how you feel. It was a close run thing.

Charlie