Medical Disorders and Social Security
Title II of the Social Security Act provides for payment of disability benefits to individuals “insured” under the Act. People qualify for this benefit through their individual contributions via the Social Security Tax paid on earnings over their working life. The funds paid by workers go to the Social Security Trust Fund. Certain disabled dependents of those who qualify for SSD (also known as SSDI or Social Security Disability Insurance), are also “insured” under the Act, and are entitled to SSDI benefits as well. The SSA is very specific in its criteria determining a qualifying disability. The agency delineates the following criteria in making their medical determination of a physical or mental impairment that qualifies:
- The impairment results from anatomical, physiological or psychological abnormalities
- Thee abnormalities can be shown by “medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques”
- Medical evidence has established physical or mental impairments, which consists of symptoms, signs, and lab findings
- Medical professionals have provided extensive medical information about the health condition or impairment.
Medical Disorders that Qualify for SSD Benefits
The SSA keeps an extensive list of impairments in determining adult disability, and a separate and extensive childhood listing of impairments, both containing medical criteria applying to the evaluation of adult and child impairment.
The evaluation for disability qualification involves a multi-step evaluation and determination process. While the list of specific medical disorders is extensive, the SSA lists the following impairment categories for adults:
Medical Disorders That Can Qualify For Social Security Disability
- Major dysfunction of a joint(s)
- Surgery to a major weight bearing joint
- Serious back injury
- Amputations
- Digestive system disorders
- Fractures of the pelvis, legs, or feet
- Facture of a hand or wrist
- Serious vision problems
- Serious hearing problems
- Speech loss
- Pulmonary/lung impairments
- Asthma
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Bronchiectasis
- Sleep related breathing disorders
- Chronic heart failure
- Ischemic heart disease
- Recurrent arrhythmias
- Symptomatic congenital heart disease
- Heart transplant
- Aneurysm of aorta or major braches of the heart
- Chronic venous insufficiency
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Gastrointestinal hemorrhaging
- Chronic liver disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Short bowel syndrome
- Liver transplantation
- Chronic anemia
- Mental disorders
- Neurological disorders
- Sickle cell disease
- Chronic thrombocytopenia
- Myelofibrosis
- Aplastic anemias
- Severe burns
- Epilepsy
- Central nervous system vascular accident
- Benign brain tumors
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cerebral palsy
- Spinal cord or nerve root lesions
- Multiple sclerosis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Aneroid poliomyelitis
- Myasthenia gravis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Peripheral neuropathies
- Pernicious anemia
- Brain injury
- Syringomyelia
- Malignant neoplatic diseases
- Skin cancer
- Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Many types of cancers
- HIV/AIDS
- Lupus
- Poliomyelitis
- Terminal illnesses
Do you Have a Medical Disorder that Qualifies for SSD Benefits?
The Social Security Disability claim process will determine if your medical disorder qualifies you for SSDI benefits, under the Social Security Administration’s policies and guidelines. The SSA relies heavily on medical evidence in its disability determination, and notes that each person filing for disability is responsible for providing medical evidence the fully establishes the existence of the impairment, and its severity.
SSD claims in Van Nuys or the rest of the San Fernando Valley will be processed through a local field office. This office works to verify eligibility requirements (nonmedical) such as the age, employment, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, and work history, just one aspect of a long, complex process. Medical evidence is gathered by the DDS (Disability Determination Services). As it may require many months before benefits begin to arrive, submitting medical evidence at the time of the application can be important. If your evidence of impairment is unavailable, or insufficient for the agency to make a determination, an examination will be arranged. This determination is made by a medical or psychological consultant and a “disability examiner.” This two-person team of adjudicators may decide to request further medical information. Essentially, you are facing a very extensive process of determination, and many people get help from an attorney.
Filing for benefits is a comprehensive process, and there is no guarantee you will be granted disability benefits, even if you provide all required documentation. If you believe you have a medical disorder that qualifies you for SSD benefits, or have been denied SSD benefits after filing a claim, it is important that you speak with an attorney who has a record of Social Security case results.
Social Security Lawyer Serving Van Nuys and the San Fernando Valley
Attorney Kenton Koszdin of Kenton Koszdin Law Office has an extensive history of success in helping people get the SSD benefits they need, and has an uncommon level of dedication to serving his clients. Use our online form or call our office for legal help you can trust to advocate for you.
