There are a wide variety of respiratory disorders that can lead to disabilities related to breathing. Some respiratory diseases, like lung cancer, can be terminal. Others like asthma may go away with age. The Social Security Administration (SSA) only offers benefits for certain respiratory disorders. Find out if you may be eligible for disability benefits by talking to an experienced Pennsylvania individual disability insurance lawyer about your medical condition. 

Types of Respiratory Disorders

Respiratory disorders are made up of different types of diseases that negatively affect the lungs. Some of these lung diseases, like pneumonia and cancer, can be deadly. Other types of lung diseases, like asthma, can be managed with medications. 

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive long-term lung disease that can make breathing difficult. Common symptoms of COPD are wheezing, chronic coughing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath. To determine whether you have this disease, a doctor will likely order x-rays and an arterial blood gas test. Unfortunately, the lung damage from this disease is irreversible, but symptoms can often be managed with prescription medications. 

The scary thing about lung cancer is that symptoms are often so subtle that many people do not find out they have this type of cancer until serious stages have been reached. Symptoms to watch out for are chronic coughing, coughing with blood, wheezing, reoccurring pneumonia, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Different treatments are available depending on the stage of your lung cancer. Common treatments include surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Asthma can make it difficult to breathe without an inhaler to relieve the symptoms of chest tightness and shortness of breath. These symptoms can become deadly if the person loses access to an inhaler or medical intervention is not available. 

Disability Benefits for Respiratory Disorders

Amongst the types of respiratory disabilities listed by the SSA, asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, pneumoconiosis, cystic fibrosis, and lung cancers are eligible for disability benefits as long as certain conditions are met. To qualify for benefits, the SSA will require you to submit medical evidence of your respiratory disorder like medical records, medical history, and medical test results. 

Common examples of medical tests examined by the SSA are a spirometry test, DLCO test, imaging tests, ABG test, and a pulse oximetry test. Each of these tests is examined differently. Talking with a lawyer or your doctor may help you figure out what evidence you need to present to the SSA from the medical tests you were given to diagnose your condition. Lung transplants, asthma, and respiratory disorders like pulmonary hypertension are also evaluated differently than other disorders. 

Philadelphia Disability Lawyer

Talk to a Pennsylvania delayed insurance benefits lawyer if your disability benefits were significantly delayed or wrongfully denied despite evidence of your medical condition. All you have to do is contact Edelstein & Nelson at (800)- 300-0909 for a consultation today. We will work with you to figure out why your benefits were delayed or denied and can help you with the appeals process if necessary.