Disability attorneys Gregory Dell and Stephen Jessup discuss several challenges a claimant may face when making a claim for long term disability benefits due to Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is often diagnosed based on MRI findings which show lesions on the brain. A disability insurance company often will not dispute a diagnosis of MS, but rather the issue becomes, how is MS preventing you from doing your job? MS is a progressive disease and you may have MS for 10-12 years without having any problems working, but then the symptoms worsen as the disease progresses and you become unable to continue to function at work. In order for you to be approved for disability benefits, you must prove to the disability insurance company that you have documented physical limitations resulting from MS that prevent you from performing the duties of you occupation. Or, if the MS is affecting your cognitive function, it is important to undergo the proper testing (such as neuropsychological testing) to demonstrate that the cognitive impairments that prevent you from doing your job are in fact caused by the physical MS disease, as opposed to a psychological disorder, such as depression. Whether the work limitations are physical or cognitive, is it crucial to have a cooperative treating physician who is properly documenting your symptoms, limitations and the progression of your MS.