Chronic Diseases (Heart, Kidney, Liver)

Chronic Diseases (Heart, Kidney, Liver) Information from Disability Lawyers

Millions of Americans currently deal with chronic diseases and ailments that impact their overall quality of life and ability to function. When suffering from a chronic disease or health condition prevents you from working, you may be able to get disability compensation paid to you to help cover your living expenses.

After being diagnosed with a chronic disease, you may be able to file a claim for disability benefits. Whether you are interested in receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration or filing for disability compensation through a private insurance policy, it is highly recommended that you have a skilled disability lawyer from Edelstein Martin & Nelson, LLP by your side throughout the legal process.

Our team has decades of experience helping people across the nation file for the disability benefits that they need. If you are interested in seeking benefits for a chronic illness that you have been suffering from, contact our law firm for a consultation to get started.

What are Chronic Diseases?

Chronic diseases can include any ongoing condition that impacts a person’s health. There are multiple types of chronic diseases that exist. Some of the most common include:

• Lou Gehrig’s Disease: This progressive disease is known to destroy nerve cells in both the spinal cord and the brain. This can result in the loss of muscle movement and an array of other debilitating symptoms. People who suffer from Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS, continue to lose the ability to use their arms, legs, and other muscles. Unfortunately, ALS has no cure and will ultimately lead to the person passing away.
• Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia: Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is progressive. This disease can lead to behavioral changes, memory problems, difficulties thinking, impaired judgment, and disorientation. People who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease experience symptoms that continue to worsen over time. Unfortunately, this debilitating condition can severely impact the quality of a person’s life.
• Arthritis: Arthritis is a term that is used to encompass over 100 diseases and conditions that impact a person’s joints. They also included conditions that affect the surrounding tissues and other connective tissues, such as ligaments and tendons. Millions of people across the United States have been diagnosed with arthritis. People who suffer from this condition lose the ability to do things that they enjoy. Unfortunately, it can also have an impact on a person’s ability to work and earn an income.
• Cancer: There are more than 100 different diseases that are considered to be cancer. Unfortunately, all of these conditions began with abnormal cells in the body growing out of control. People who have been diagnosed with cancer often have malignant tumors that spread to various parts of their body. Although there are several treatments available to help prolong life and improve quality of life, there is no cure for this disease.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): COPD is a group of severe lung diseases that impact a person’s ability to breathe. People who suffer from COPD experience less airflow through the airways to and from their lungs. This can make it incredibly difficult to breathe. Statistics show that COPD is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, affecting approximately 15.7 million adults.
• Crohn’s Disease: Crohn’s disease and colitis are two of the most common chronic gastrointestinal diseases that people can suffer from. Unfortunately, these conditions can be incredibly debilitating and result in overwhelming pain and suffering. People who are diagnosed with this chronic condition often require ongoing medical attention. In some cases, patients have to go through repeated surgeries and suffer significantly in their everyday life.
• Cystic Fibrosis: Cystic fibrosis is a severe disease that results in the body creating sticky and thick mucus. This mucus generally clogs the lungs and can lead to severe infections. Unfortunately, cystic fibrosis can also block multiple major organs within the digestive system and cause severe health issues. Cystic fibrosis is generally inherited.
• Diabetes: Diabetes is a severe condition in which the body cannot control its blood glucose levels. When the blood sugar levels go too high, it can result in severe dizziness, kidney failure, coma, or even death.
• Kidney Disease: Chronic kidney disease occurs when a person’s kidneys lack the ability to filter blood how they are supposed to. People who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease or have a family history of kidney disease are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with this chronic illness.
• Heart Disease: Every year, approximately one out of every five deaths in the United States is attributed to heart disease. Heart disease can be incredibly debilitating and cause an array of health problems for sufferers. People who suffer from heart disease may experience strokes, breathing problems, and a variety of other debilitating health problems.
• Liver Disease: Chronic liver disease involves the progressive deterioration of the liver’s ability to function. This generally lasts for a period of six or more months and can result in problems with the detoxification of harmful products and substances. Chronic liver disease can be fatal and often requires ongoing medical care.

These and other chronic conditions can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to work or maintain a decent quality of life. If you have been diagnosed with a chronic condition, you may be able to file a disability claim for benefits. Seeking guidance from a skilled disability lawyer can help to ensure you have all of the evidence that you need in support of your claim for benefits.

Filing for Insurance Benefits for a Chronic Condition

The unfortunate truth is that a person suffering from a chronic medical condition often must receive ongoing medical attention. To qualify for Social Security disability benefits or insurance benefits through your insurance policy, you must first file a disability claim. The process of filing a claim is confusing and overwhelming for many. For this reason, having a disability lawyer by your side can make a big difference.

In general, you will need to provide medical evidence in support of your claim for your physical or mental condition. If you suffer from a chronic condition that impacts your everyday life, some of the evidence that you should present includes:

• Proof of ways the condition impacts your day-to-day life
• Medical evidence from your doctor, surgeons, or specialists who have provided you with medical care
• Medical evidence that indicates the severity of the chronic condition
• Evidence that specifies how long you have experienced the impairments
• Evidence that indicates how long you are expected to suffer from these specific chronic illnesses
• How your chronic condition impacts your ability to work

Chronic condition claims can be challenging to file. For this reason, it is in your best interest to seek legal counsel when filing for disability benefits due to your disabling condition.

Types of Disability Benefits You May Qualify For

There are several types of disability benefits available for people who have been diagnosed with chronic conditions. One of the most commonly sought-after types of benefits is those provided by the Social Security Administration. Disability claims filed for SSA provide individuals with the ability to receive either one of two benefits provided by the administration. These include:

• Social Security disability insurance benefits: for a person to qualify for SSDI benefits, they must suffer a disabling condition after working. A person needs to have enough work credits in order to be able to receive benefits for chronic conditions.
• Supplemental security income: if a person does not have a work history that qualifies them for Social Security disability benefits, they are able to apply for supplemental security income benefits through the Social Security Administration. These benefits are generally provided to people who have limited sources of income or no income at all.

In addition to benefits from the Social Security Administration, those who have a history of military service may be able to receive benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans’ disability benefits are available for those who have suffered a service injury while on active duty service or in the reserves.

Finally, a person may be able to seek disability benefits for a chronic illness through their long-term disability insurance policy. An employer-sponsored long-term disability insurance policy may be able to provide you with compensation equal to up to 70 percent of your income.

It is also important to note that you may be able to receive disability benefits from multiple sources. For example, if you qualify for veterans disability benefits, you may also be able to receive Social Security disability insurance benefits.

Seeking help from a knowledgeable disability lawyer can provide you with the best chance of getting the compensation you need for your chronic condition claims.

How a Disability Lawyer Can Help

When it comes to filing a claim for disability benefits for a chronic condition, it is important that you have legal counsel by your side. A skilled disability attorney will be able to provide you with assistance throughout the legal process. There are several benefits that come with hiring a skilled disability lawyer from our law firm to guide you through the process.

To begin, our disability lawyers are well-versed in handling these complex claims. Our decades of experience at Edelstein Martin & Nelson ensure that we will provide you with skilled legal guidance throughout the process to ensure you are able to get the benefits that you rightfully deserve.

Our disability attorneys can provide you with valuable assistance when it comes to gathering and organizing evidence. Our team knows what type of evidence is needed to present for a successful claim. We will do everything in our power to make sure that you have adequate medical evidence in support of your claim for disability benefits.

We can also help out with completing all of the paperwork needed to file your disability claims. We will also help you gather information regarding your medical condition, your work history, and the daily activities that your chronic illness impacts.

Our team will develop a strong case strategy on your behalf. We will meticulously analyze your unique situation and the severity of your disability. We will provide adequate evidence on how your chronic illness impacts your ability to work while highlighting the key aspects in support of your claim.

We will handle all of the communication on your behalf. We will serve as an advocate throughout the process and ensure that you are not taken advantage of by an insurance policy adjuster or anyone else involved in the process. We will also handle the communication with the Social Security Administration on your behalf and provide any additional information to them that they request. If needed, we will represent you in trial to help ensure you are able to receive a favorable outcome for your case. If your claim for benefits is denied, we will stand by you and guide you through the appeals process.

Although you are never required to hire an attorney, it is truly in your best interest to do so. Our team can provide you with invaluable legal guidance and services throughout the claims process to ensure you are able to get the benefits that you need to move forward.