Common Types of Disability and Showing Evidence of Your Disability

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Common Types of Disability and Showing Evidence of Your Disability

You are suffering from a disabling condition and you aren’t sure if you will be a candidate for long-term disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a list known as the “listing of medical impairments” that qualifies certain people with qualifying conditions for disability when certain conditions are met. This is very important to some because it is not uncommon to be denied for long-term disability and end up right at the very beginning again as you prove that your condition is worse than they could have imagined. Today we will look at some of these conditions and what you can do if you still don’t believe that you qualify.

List of Qualifying Conditions

What is covered under the list of impairments? Here are some of the most common conditions:

  • Musculoskeletal problems (back and joint problems)
  • Sense and speech issues (vision and hearing loss)
  • Respiratory illness (asthma and cystic fibrosis)
  • Cardiovascular conditions (chronic heart failure or CAD)
  • Digestive issues (liver disease or IBD)
  • Neurological disorders (multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, epilepsy)
  • Blood disorders (sickle cell disease)
  • Mental disorders (depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s)
  • Immune disorders (HIV/AIDS, lupus, kidney disease)

Some people whose conditions are not on the list may be worried about whether or not they will qualify or their claim will be taken seriously. The answer is, yes, you could still be eligible for benefits even if your condition is not on the Listing of Impairments. It must be deemed “medically determinable,” which means that your disease or disorder was assessed through clinical or laboratory testing.

It must also meet something known as RFC, or residual functional capacity. This means: What demanding activities can or can’t you do because of your medical limitations? Some aspects will be looked at, such as how much you can lift or carry, how well you cope with anxiety or depression, and whether or not you have environmental restrictions.

Showing Medical Evidence of Your Condition

Can you show that your condition has been supported by medical evidence? This is as easy as having documentation from your doctor. In fact, your physician or anyone who has treated you for your condition can be the best source for you in your case, because they are the people who will be able to help you prove that you are dealing with a real condition and that it is functioning on a high level. Medical evidence can include aspects like:

  • Examination by a physician
  • Treatment notes and reports
  • MRI and CAT scan reports
  • X-rays
  • Mental health records
  • Blood work that has been conducted

The medical evidence that you show in your case must be recent and show a time frame from when you became disabled to how your condition is functioning at the present time. This means that they would like to see if your condition is so severe that it prevents you from working a standard job.

Are you in need of an experienced long-term disability attorney who can help you receive benefits for conditions like back problems, speech problems, mental disorders, and more? Do you wonder if you will qualify for disability based on your disorder? At Edelstein Martin & Nelson, we want to hear from you. Call us as soon as possible about your case at 800-300-0909.