I agree that taken at face value, if spoken out or listed exactly like it is here, that's outrageous. However, I suspect it was more nuanced that than.
If the caller states one diagnosis, denied, then gives another diagnosis, denied, then lists another reason... it's not hard to fathom that the CMs have been trained specifically to watch for someone "fishing" for the acceptable reason(s), thinking that if they pile enough diagnoses/needs into the request that the CM will eventually relent and issue the
DAS. I've often suggested that people make a short bullet list of their primary concerns with a brief explanation so the individual doesn't get flustered and end up with a lot of back-and-forth.
I'm not saying the young man in that post was fishing or faking. But it's quite possible the way he phrased his request put the CM on the denial track, especially if listing diagnoses and not actual needs.