Rose said he used to really enjoy his job, running a local donut shop called Diablo Donuts.

"I worked a lot too much," he said.

Now, he doesn't work at all, and his business has since closed.

He said his health began plummeting in 2024, first after injuries suffered during a car crash and then a traumatic brain injury.

Rose's ability to walk and talk, he said, is significantly impaired and impacts nearly every aspect of his life.

"It's affecting me like 100%. I can't do anything like I used to," said Rose, whose speech is limited. "And this is a nightmare."

So in April 2024, Rose applied for disability with the SSA, claiming several medical conditions including vascular insult to the brain, long-term chronic pain, and mental health disorders.

But many months later, he was denied. He

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