Qualifying With The Blue Book
Every application for SSDI is reviewed during the Disability Determination Process, or DDS. During this process, a reviewer will look over your case and see if it fulfills the requirements for benefits laid out in the Social Security Blue Book. The Blue Book, which can be viewed online, contains a list of all disabilities that qualify for Social Security.
For example: if you are looking to see if your inflammatory arthritis qualifies for benefits, you would see section 14.00 – Immune System Disorders. Under this section is outlined four different qualifications for inflammatory arthritis to receive benefits. Either
- There is persistent inflammation or deformity of your major joints,
- There is inflammation or deformity of your joints along with organ systems,
- There is an inflammation or deformity of the spine and/or its surrounding organs, or
- There are repeated manifestations of inflammatory arthritis which limit your movement, social functioning, and daily life.
Overall, the Social Security Administration is more likely to qualify you for benefits the more severe your impairment is. If your arthritis is consistent, untreatable, severely debilitating, and/or prevents you from earning a living for more than one year, then the chances you will receive benefits are high.If you do not meet the standards outlined in the Blue Book there may still be another way to qualify.
Moderateva Disability Rating: 10%
If during your examination the VA doctor finds;certain qualifying criteria, you;may be assigned a VA disability rating of 10%. The qualifying criteria are as follows:
- Your weight-bearing line is over your big toe
- You experience pain upon manipulation or;when using the foot
- You have inbound bowing of the Achilles tendon
Disability Benefits For Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Social Security Disability Lawyers: OC, Riverside & San Bernardino
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
What is Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome?
Tarsal tunnel syndrome in the foot is somewhat like carpal tunnel syndrome in the hand. Both conditions are due to compression of a nerve. In the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s the median nerve as it crosses the wrist, and in TTS it’s the posterior tibial nerve as it crosses behind the inside of the ankle.;
Symptoms
Just like in carpal tunnel syndrome, symptoms of TTS include pain, numbness, and tingling in the foot, heel, sole, and sometimes into the medial aspect of the ankle and even up into the lower part of the calf. The pain is often burning, but it can be sharp, sudden and severe.
Walking and standing aggravate the pain. Resting helps, but in some patients there is considerable pain while sitting and at night.
What Causes Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome?
Tarsal tunnel syndrome can be caused by any condition that compresses the tibial nerve as it passes through a bony canal at the ankle called the tarsal tunnel. Any space occupying lesion, such as cysts , lipomas , or schwannomas can cause TTS.
Trauma, injury, inflammation, arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and other conditions can predispose a person to develop tarsal tunnel syndrome. Patients with flat feet are predisposed to TTS because fallen arches stretch the tibial nerve.
Diagnosis
X-rays, imaging studies, and electromyography , with nerve conduction testing help to confirm the diagnosis.
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Seek Va Compensation For Onychomycosis
If your feet hurt for any reason, you need to get to the underlying reason why. If youre a veteran suffering from;onychomycosis, you may be able to trace this condition back to your time in service.
In addition to learning the VA disability rating for your foot pain, its also important to perform further research on VA ratings for skin conditions, especially those listed under diagnostic code;7813.
When youre ready to start assembling records, completing statements and creating your claim, were here to help. Our experienced team of VA disability attorneys can help make sure your claim is accurate and complete before you file, helping to improve your chance of acceptance.;
To learn more about how our services work or to discuss your claim today, feel free to;contact us;at any time.;
Talk to Us About Your Claim:;
Foot And Ankle Injuries
Injuries to feet or ankles, including sprains and fractures, can occur in a variety of ways. Unfortunately, the result of these injuries may be a disability that keeps you from being able to do the work you were hired by a federal agency to perform.
If you have suffered a foot- or ankle-related injury, you may qualify for federal disability retirement benefits if the condition impacts your ability to do your job.
Contact Harris Federal to learn more. Our firm works with federal employees throughout the U.S. We can provide a free consultation that will help you to understand your eligibility and the process of seeking benefits you have earned.
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Dr Fenton Of Wwwfootlawcom Discusses Disability And Foot Pain
Sincerely,Shaira G
Disability Insurance coverage can be provided for in usually one of three ways: through Workers’ Compensation; through Social Security Disability; or through a private disability insurance plan . Each method has different requirements in order to qualify for disability. These will be discussed below.
What all of these methods share in common is that the patient’s physician, whether a podiatrist, orthopedic surgeon, or other physician, must certify that the person is disabled. This is probably the most difficult hurdle for most people to overcome, and judging by your letter, it is the area that has given you the most frustration.
Unfortunately, most physicians do not consider a person with plantar fasciitis to be disabled. Most physicians view the condition as a treatable condition in which the patient can continue to walk.
The myriad of treatment options, many of which are delineated on www.heelspurs.com, demonstrates that there is no “silver bullet” cure. Unfortunately, most physicians see the myriad of treatments as steps that a patient must go through in the treatment of the disease. The rationale being that as long as there is a treatment option available that has not yet been tried, then there is a possibility that the condition can be “cured.”
If a physician does certify the person as being disabled, then the legal process can begin.
1. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DISABILITY
2. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION DISABILITY INSURANCE
https://www.footlaw.com
Who Can Qualify For Disability Benefits
Individuals suffering from uncontrolled diabetes or related symptoms like peripheral neuropathy or poor vision that impacts their ability to work are given consideration in disability applications or Supplemental Security Income benefits. Diabetic neuropathy is given consideration within that listing.
However, there are conditions in which diabetes goes uncontrollable because the patients dont follow their doctors prescription. In such cases, these patients will not qualify for the disability benefits under failing to comply with treatment orders.
The Social Security Administration has defined an inventory of disabilities that shows you how harsh a disease should be to comply for disability benefits. Although diabetes is not regarded to be part of the listing yet individuals who have type 1 and type 2 diabetes with one or more of the following:
Diabetic Retinopathy- A medical condition that damages the retina often leading to blindness. When you are suffering from this condition or have poor & blurred vision, you may qualify for disability benefits under this listing.
Diabetic Nephropathy-When you have urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence and your kidney no longer performing the normal functionalities and requiring dialysis then you can qualify for disability benefits under this listing.
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How Long Does It Take To Stop Improving
You generally won’t be considered for permanent disability benefits until your treating doctor says you’ve reached a plateau in your recoverymeaning that your condition isn’t expected to improve further with more treatment, at least in the near future. In workers’ comp lingo, this is usually called “maximal medical improvement” , or sometimes “permanent and stationary.”
The amount of time it takes to reach MMI can vary widelyanywhere from a month to a few years after you were first hurt or became ill. The nature of your injury or illness will have the biggest impact on how long it takes. Even if you don’t completely heal from a broken legfor instance, if you continue to have trouble walking on uneven surfacesyour condition will probably stabilize more quickly than if you got cancer from on-the-job exposure to toxic chemicals. But other factors can play a role too, including the medical treatments that are available and whether the insurance company has been dragging its feet on approving surgeries or other expensive procedures.
Some states, like Texas, assume that employees have reached MMI when they’ve been getting temporary total disability benefits for a period of time .
Symptoms For Veterans With Flat Feet Va Disability Claim
Circulatory capacity is often diminished as we age, resulting in the pooling of blood and fluid. Older Veterans may notice swelling in the limbs, particularly in the feet, due to decreased circulation.
The lowered blood flow to the feet can cause irritation in the fascia and individuals may notice pain after activities such as walking or stretching.;
The above are some of the most common causes of plantar fasciitis and any of them may have been experienced in your military service.
There are also other factors that could contribute to uncomfortable inflammation in the foot; youre a Veteran looking to file a VA claim, it is important to understand the history of your complaint and the potential origin of your ongoing plantar fasciitis.
Depending on the severity of your diagnosis, your plantar fasciitis symptoms may vary from day to day, or foot to foot.
They may become more intense depending on the activities of your day or the weather outside. For example, cooler weather can often increase tightness in our muscles, which can result in a flare up in plantar fasciitis symptoms during the winter months.
Also, sometimes a low-quality orthopedic insert may contribute to more Veterans having a flat feet VA disability.
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Qualifying Physical Disorders For Social Security Disability Benefits
The Disability Law Office of Jeffrey S. Lichtman, LLC, represents people in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area, eastern and south-central Pennsylvania, central and southern New Jersey, Delaware and southwestern Florida who need SSDI benefits because they cannot work due to physical impairments, illnesses and injuries . As a lawyer with more than three decades of experience handling SSDI and SSI claims, I know that many types of physical disabilities can qualify you for SSDI and SSI benefits. These include:
Can I Get Social Security Disability For My Knee Pain
Yes, you can. There are two ways to get Social Security Disability for your knee pain. The first way is to show that you meet Social Securitys specific listing on knee pain and the second way is to show that due to your physical restrictions there are no jobs available in the US economy which you would be able to do on a full time basis. I will discuss both methods of getting disability benefits for your knee pain below. However, its worth noting that youre more likely to win your case by showing there are no jobs available than by meeting a listing because the requirements of listings are often so exact that most people do not meet them.
Method 1 Listing: The listing for knee pain is located in the section on major dysfunction of a joint at listing;1.02. This listing is extremely specific and requires:
Gross anatomical deformity and chronic joint pain and stiffness with signs of limitation of motion or other abnormal motion of the affected joint, and findings on appropriate medically acceptable imaging of joint space narrowing, bony destruction, or ankylosis of the affected joint. With:
A. Involvement of one major peripheral weight-bearing joint , resulting in inability to ambulate effectively.
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Is Osteoarthritis In Feet A Disability
If you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and it has impacted your ability to work, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Osteoarthritis results in the gradual loss of cartilage from your joints. A tough tissue that provides the cushioning between the bones that form the joints, it is needed.
Neuropathy And Your Ability To Perform Sedentary Work
Peripheral neuropathy sufferers are often incapable of performing even sedentary work. Besides the fact that nerve damage can cause sitting for long periods of time to be very painful, the condition often affects fine motor skills, making it impossible to do many of the tasks required in sedentary jobs.
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Compensation And Pension Examinations For Foot Conditions
As mentioned above, service connection generally requires a medical nexus between a veterans disability and in-service event.; VA is more often than not going to order a Compensation and Pension examination as long as there is some suggestion that your current disability is related to service.; The VA examiner is going to focus on whether they believe your foot condition is due to your time in service.
Following the examination, the VA examiner will issue a favorable opinion that supports service connection or an unfavorable opinion that does not.; It is important for veterans to ask for a copy of the C&P examination.; VA is required to give veterans a copy upon request but will otherwise not provide one.
If a veteran disagrees with the VA examiners opinion regarding service connection, they can obtain an opinion from a private physician or treating doctor outside of VA and argue against the original examiners conclusions.
Within the C&P examination, the VA examiner will also determine the severity of your symptoms.; If service connection is granted, VA adjudicators will then assign a disability rating consistent with the examiners findings.
What Are The Symptoms Of Arthritis
Symptoms of arthritis include pain and stiffness in your joints, inflammation around the joints and limited joint movement. There are many different types of arthritis, each with different symptoms.
Its normal to experience aches and pains, especially if youve carried out strenuous activity. But if your symptoms are unexplained, dont go away within a few days or if they are impacting your day-to-day life, you should visit your doctor.
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Musculoskeletal System And Connective Tissue
The SSA reports that the largest category of diagnoses among disabled workers receiving disability benefits was diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. These disabilities, which represented 32.3 percent of the diagnoses, involve damage to ones nerves, muscles, tendons or ligaments. Examples of this type of disorder include:
- ArthritisAn individual with rheumatoid arthritis, a disorder of the immune system, must experience significant limits on his or her ability to work to qualify for benefits under this medical diagnosis. Rheumatoid arthritis is sometimes referred to as a connective tissue disorder.
- Back pain;Abnormal curvature of the spine may affect an individuals ability to walk as well as the function of other body systems. The intensity of back pain and the limitations on an individuals ability to function are considered in a disability diagnosis related to back pain.
- FibromyalgiaFibromyalgia is a complex syndrome in which a person has widespread pain in the joints, tendons, muscles and soft tissues that lasts for more than three months. Claims reviewers will try to assess whether there is adequate evidence to show that the condition limits a persons ability to perform any type of gainful work.
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy; RSD describes a range of symptoms that may occur from injury, diseases or surgery. RSD is characterized by intense burning or aching pain typically caused by trauma to a single extremity.
Social Security Will Consider Your Reports Of Pain As Long As There Is Some Evidence Of A Physical Or Mental Impairment
By Anne Fitzpatrick, Contributing Author
Chronic pain is ongoing or recurrent pain that continues longer than the usual course of acute illness or injury, or more than three to six months. Chronic pain may manifest in any area, including back pain, headaches, joint pain, or generalized muscle or nerve pain. It may be related to an injury or illness, or it may have no known cause. You may get diagnosed with a pain disorder such as chronic regional pain syndrome, somatoform pain disorder, or reflex sympathetic dystrophy , or a disorder that causes chronic pain, such as peripheral neuropathy, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, arthritis, or ilioinguinal neuralgia.
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Can You Do Any Other Type Of Work
If we decide you cannot do the work you did before, we consider your remaining ability to do other work considering your age, education and work experience. We assess these factors with your capacityto work to determine if you can be expected to adjust to other work that existsin the national economy.
We consider how many years of school you have completed and whether you have completed any type of special job training, trade or vocational school when we assess your ability to adjust to other work. However, absence of formal education does not necessarily mean you are uneducated or limited in your ability to adjust to work. We will consider strong evidence that your educational achievement is higher or lower than the last grade you completed.
We generally consider illiteracy and inability to communicate in English as an educational factor that limits an individuals ability to adjust to other work.
We consider your chronological age in combination with your residual functional capacity, education, and work experience. We will not consider your ability to adjust to other work on the basis of your age alone. In determining the extent to which age affects your ability to adjust to other work, we consider advancing age to be an increasingly limiting factor in your ability to make an adjustment to other work.