Scientists say the new medical device is implanted under the skull and sends electrical impulses deep into the brain.

Dr. Helen Mayberg from the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA, lead a group of scientists for the study and discovered that 41% responded to the treatment and 20%  went into remission after just six months.

The trial consisted of patients with bipolar disorder along with those with severe depression. It continued an earlier study conducted by Dr. Mayberg, the first to demonstrate that deep brain stimulation can help individuals with major depressive disorder.

In the most recent trial, participants received single-blind stimulation for four weeks (patients did not know if the DBS system was on or off), followed by active stimulation for 24 weeks.  Individuals were evaluated for up to two years following onset of active stimulation. A total of 17 patients were enrolled in the study.

The scientists found 41% responded to the treatment.  Eighteen percent were able to reach remission in the first 24 weeks.  These rates improved greatly as stimulation continued.

After two years of active stimulation 92% responded in some way to the treatment; 58% were in remission.

Individuals who achieved remission in the study did not experience an impulsive relapse. Rates were similar between depressed and bi-polar patients – neither had a manic episode during treatment.

Deep brain stimulation has already been shown to help patients with chronic pain and Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Mayberg says she and her colleagues are still refining this intervention. She says  she wants to learn how this treatment works and why.

The study was published online by Archives of General Psychiatry.
By: South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer Pete Strom

The study said people taking the pill everyday had decreased levels of a brain protein known to lead to a rise in the risk of dementia.

Scientists discovered that vitamin B also slowed mental decline in older people who have slight problems with their memory.

In Britain, more than 800,000 people suffer from dementia and the number is projected to double within a generation, but previous drug trials have been unsuccessful.

The study says about 16% of people over 70 are thought to suffer from mild cognitive impairment and about half develop dementia, usually within five years of the diagnosis of a cognitive impairment.

The research stated that dementia could be treated with a food supplement rather than by taking complicated medicines.

The study took place at Oxford University and included more than 250 people including individuals with mild cognitive impairment who were aged 70 years or older.

They were given vitamin B pills or a placebo on a regular basis over a two-year period.  Vitamin B is found naturally in food such as beans, meat, wholegrains and bananas.

Taking the vitamin supplement appeared to help maintain mental processes, such as planning, organizing and recalling information.

An earlier study showed B vitamins slowed the rate of brain shrinkage compared with a group receiving a placebo.

Dr Carrie Ruxton of the Health Supplements Information Service told the Daily News:

 ’The findings from these two reports should be of interest to clinicians.’

By: South Carolina Social Lawyer Pete Tsrom

Social Security eligibility.

People born in 1946 will hit what the Social Security Administration considers the full retirement age, at which time they are eligible to claim the full amount of Social Security they are entitled to. Boomers who claimed their Social Security early are receiving a reduced payout.

Wait and get more.

You can increase your monthly Social Security payments by even more if you wait to claim your benefits until the age of 70. If you are healthy, it makes sense that you wait until later to claim your benefits. You will receive more money per month and the money will continue at a higher rate for the rest of your life.

Claim twice.

Those who are married, or those who were married for at least 10 years, are eligible for Social Security payments based on their employment record or payments equal to up to 50 percent of the higher earner’s benefit. Baby boomers who are of full retirement age can even claim both of these types of payments at separate times. A 66-year-old retiree may sign up to get spousal payments and delay receiving his or her own retirement benefit. A retired worker who uses this approach between the ages of 66 and 70 will get higher monthly payments after age 70 due to waiting to claim plus four years of spousal payments.

Work without penalty.

If you work and claim Social Security payments at the same time before you reach age 66, part or all of your Social Security benefits will be withheld temporarily. Social Security recipients under age 66 who earn more than $14,640 in 2012 will have 50 cents of each dollar above that limit subtracted from their Social Security payments. The year you turn 66, the earnings limit changes to $38,880 and the amount withheld is reduced to 33 cents for each dollar earned.  The earnings limit disappears once you turn age 66.

Remember Medicare.

Individuals born in 1946 should have signed up for Medicare in 2011. Retirees can sign up for Medicare starting three months prior to the month they turn 65. It’s imperative to sign up for Medicare as soon as you are eligible because premiums could rise by 10 percent for each 12-month period that you wait to enroll. People who are still working and are covered by a group health insurance plan through their job must sign up within eight months of leaving the job to evade the penalty.

Every case and situation is different.  To find out the answer, call one of our social security disability lawyers for a free case review. 803.252.4800

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) – is caused by a simple hit blow to the head, or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the brain’s normal function and damages it.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are not like other injuries.  Unfortunately, because many of the symptoms of “mild” to “moderate” traumatic brain injury go unnoticed; many severe injuries are not detected.  The injury commonly avoids detection on hospital imaging equipment, including the emergency room.

People who suffer from traumatic brain injury need aggresive legal representation if a case is going to be pursued. Brain injury litigation is very complex and unique. It requires lawyers that are experienced and familiar with the medical and legal issues involved.

Depending on your case and situation, you may be entitled to a personal injury lawsuit.  You could also be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance.  Call us Right Now for free to find out. 803.252.4800

By: Pete Strom, South Carolina Social Security Lawyer

South Carolina Social Security Lawyers

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are approximately 20.8 million children and adults in the United States (or 7% of the population) who suffer from diabetes.

While approximately 14.6 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes, another 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

If your diabetes is not under control, it can certainly affect your daily living activities and prevent you from working. In the event that you are unable to control your diabetes, you may be entitled to social security benefits if your diabetes results in:

• Retinopathy – visual impairment
• Neuropathy – problems using the hands, fingers, legs, and feet
• Acidosis – diabetes condition when the blood sugar is not under control.

Apply Now

You need to apply for Social Security Disability benefits as soon as you and your doctors agree that you have an injury that will prevent you from working. Unfortunately, many people have to wait for a while to see what happens with their medical condition and treatment.

Talk With Us About Your Injury

The best way to learn about SSD and SSI after an accident is to talk with one of our Social Security Disability Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm. 803.252.4800 Call us for free and find out if you are eligible to receive benefits.

By: South Carolina Social Security Lawyer Pete Strom

Filing a Social Security Appeal in Federal District Court

If the Appeals Council does not find in your favor, the next step is to file suit in Federal District Court. We will review your case to determine if this is appropriate for your claim. In order to protect your rights, it is essential that you contact us immediately so that we will have a sufficient amount of time to evaluate your case and determine how to proceed.

Our experienced Social Security Disability Attorney formerly worked for a United States Magistrate Judge reviewing social security cases and understands what kinds of errors that federal judges look for when reviewing your social security disability case.

As disability lawyers at Strom Law Firm, we have represented hundreds of Social Security claimants in South Carolina and see every case through to resolution. While your attorney’s role depends on the particular facts of your case, a Social Security disability attorney at the Strom Law Firm can take charge of the following concerns

Free Consultations • Flexible Appointments • Se Habla Español

By: South Carolina Social Security Attorney Pete Strom

 When an Accident at Home Leads to a Disability

The Strom Law Firm represents people who have been injured in accidents at home or on another’s property. These can include

• slip-and-fall accidents,
• falls down stairs,
• injuries from falling objects and
• animal attacks.

It does not matter how you were injured.  If that injury prevents you from working, we can help. We win SSD and SSI benefits for hundreds of clients every year so that they can take care of their families.

Other Accidents

Under the Social Security Administration’s criteria, it does not matter what type of accident you have been involved in, you can still file a Social Security Disability claim. We can help individuals injured in any of the following types of accidents:

• Swimming pool accidents
• Construction site accidents
• Defective drugs & products
• Car Accidents caused by dangerous road conditions
• Drunk driving accidents
• Orthopedic Injuries
• Surgeries
• Sleep Disorders
• Cancers
• RV and ATV accidents
• Attacks in parking lots, hotels, malls and other places

Accidents can lead to many different types of injuries, injuries that will prevent you from working.

Talk With Us About Your Injury

The best way to learn about SSD and SSI after an accident is to talk with one of our Social Security Disability Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm. 803.252.4800 Call us for free and find out if you are eligible to receive benefits.

By: Pete Strom, South Carolina Social Security Disability and Personal Injury Attorney.

Social Security Administration’s
Disability Qualifying Test

To determine whether you qualify for Social Security disability benefits, try our guide step-by-step guide below. If you still have questions about your eligibility for Social Security benefits in South Carolina, please contact our South Carolina Social Security Disability Attorneys at 888-490-2847.

1. Are you working?

If you are working and your earnings average more than $1,180 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled. If you are not working, proceed to question 2.

2. Is your condition “severe”?

Your condition must interfere with basic work-related activities such as sitting, standing, walking, concentrating, or maintaining persistence and pace for your claim to be considered.

If your condition does not interfere with the above work-related activities, Social Security will find that you are not disabled. If your condition does interfere with basic work-related activities, proceed to question 3.

3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?

For each of the major body systems, Social Security maintains a list of medical conditions that are so severe, being diagnosed with one automatically qualifies you for disability. If your condition is not on the list, Social Security will have to decide if the illness or condition that you are suffering from is as severe as a medical condition that is on the list. If it is, you will be found disabled. If it is not, proceed to question 4.

4. Can you do the work you did previously?

If your condition is severe but not as severe as a medical condition on the list, then Social Security must determine whether it interferes with your ability to do the work you did in your most recent job. If it does not, your claim will be denied. If it does, proceed to question 5.

5. Can you do any other type of work?

If you cannot do the work you did in the past, Social Security must determine whether you are able to adjust to other work. Social Security considers your medical condition(s) and your age, education, past work experience and any transferable skills you may have. If you cannot adjust to other work, your claim will be approved. If you can adjust to other work, your claim will be denied.

If you have questions about whether or not you may be entitled to Social Security benefits, contact our South Carolina Social Security disability attorney today for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights.

By: South Carolina Social Security Lawyer Pete Strom

Social Security benefits are expected to increase by 3.6 percent next year, the first increase since 2009 for the one in five Americans who rely on government  disability programs and retirement.

The increased benefits will help more than 60 million people who have seen their retirement accounts decrease, home values drop and out-of-pocket medical costs rise in the years since their last raise.

MSNBC reported, starting in January 2012, 55 million Social Security recipients will get increases averaging $39 a month, or just over $467 for the year. In December, more than 8 million people who receive Supplemental Security Income, the disability program for the poor, will get increases averaging $18 a month, or about $216 for the year.

Max Richtman, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare said Although it does not sound like much, “For millions of American seniors already suffering in this economy and facing years of rising costs, shrinking returns on their savings and no cost-of-living increases, today’s COLA announcement lets them know there’s some relief around the corner.”

AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond stated the increase in benefits “underscores the importance of Social Security as the only guaranteed, lifelong and inflation-adjusted source of retirement income for most Americans.”

Click here to see if you qualify for disability.

Economists say increased Social Security payments should provide a realistic significant boost to consumer spending next year, which will help the economy. President Barack Obama is pushing for stronger measures, but he has not been successful getting Congress to agree.

The Social Security agency announced on Monday, the program will pay out $727 billion in benefits to retirees, disabled people, surviving spouses and children,  Monthly Social Security payments average $1,082, or about $13,000 a year.

By: South Carolina Social Security Lawyer Pete Strom

You Have the Right to Appeal — Again and Again

The procedures to challenge a Social Security disability benefits denial are very specific and a social security lawyer can help protect your rights.

Many claimants are often initially turned down after applying for Social Security benefits, despite suffering from a qualifying illness or disability.

The Social Security Disability Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm are dedicated to helping you receive the disability benefits that you deserve.

If your initial claim for Social Security disability benefits is denied, don’t take it too personally. It is estimated that 80-90% of applications for Social Security benefits are initially denied. With so many claim rejections, it’s become standard practice to appeal denied Social Security benefits. And we can help.

Next Steps After Being Denied Social Security Disability Benefits

There are four escalating steps to take after your disability claim is denied. These steps must be followed in order :

File for ReconsiderationRequest a HearingAppeal Hearing DecisionFile Suit in Federal Court

Get Ahead With Legal Help

Hiring a Social Security attorney will increase the likelihood that you will win your Social Security disability benefits claim. The Strom Law Firm, L.L.C., will discuss the circumstances of the case with you and give you an opinion of the merits of your claim. We personally review each claim at this stage of the process and will update your medical evidence for Disability Determination Services to ensure that your medical documentation reflects your disability.

You have a limited time period to appeal your denial of Social Security disability benefits or risk having to start the entire process over, so please contact our office (888-490-2847) as soon as possible.

Step 1: File for Reconsideration

The initial appeal of your denial is called a request for reconsideration. While another disability analyst may review your file, it is very likely that the same medical doctor who initially reviewed your claim to determine whether you are disabled will review it again. Unfortunately, less than 20% of claims filed for reconsideration are approved.

In the event your request for reconsideration is denied, you have the right to appeal your denial and request a hearing before an Administrative  Judge.

Click here to see the rest of the process.

By: South Carolina Social Security Lawyer Pete Strom