What is considered "medical evidence"?

Medical evidence refers to documentation or information that supports a medical claim or assessment, specifically originating from healthcare professionals who are qualified to evaluate and treat medical conditions. Records from healthcare providers are essential because they contain objective findings, diagnostics, treatment notes, and medical histories that are crucial for substantiating claims related to health issues. These records provide a professional perspective and are typically based on clinical evaluations, laboratory results, and other validated medical practices.

In contrast, photographs of the claimant may not provide clinical insights or a professional assessment of a medical condition. Documents from family members, while they might offer personal observations, lack the medical authority and rigor of formal healthcare documentation. Self-reported symptoms, while important in understanding a patient’s experience, do not constitute medical evidence on their own without corroborating details from a qualified provider. Hence, the strongest and most authoritative form of medical evidence is found in the records generated by healthcare providers.