Took me 2 years to get SSD. I was denied most of my back pay due to not seeing a specific doctor, even tho I had many health issues, many tests, surgeries & had seen several doctors. What SS wants is a paper trail that you have done everything to remedy your health problems. Very few get approved without a lawyer. SS sets a percentage that the lawyer gets from your back pay. The lawyer is only allowed to charge you for phone calls & copies. I saved myself the inflated legal charges for those by getting my own copies & giving them to my lawyer. The SS judge offered to cut me a deal....instant SS, but loose all but 4 months of my back pay. That was a good chunk of change to loose, but if I had not taken the deal I would have to wait another year & also be denied back pay anyway. Don't give up, but do get a lawyer, copies of all your medical records & medications.