How to Get SSDI for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

If you’ve been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and it’s making it hard to work, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). But getting approved SSDI for EDS can be especially challenging, because it’s a complex and often misunderstood condition.

Here’s what you need to know about applying for SSDI with EDS, what kind of evidence the Social Security Administration (SSA) looks for, and how working with an experienced SSDI lawyer can give you a better shot at success.

What Is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?

EDS is a group of genetic connective tissue disorders that can affect your joints, skin, blood vessels, and internal organs. Common symptoms include:

  • Joint hypermobility or frequent dislocations
  • Chronic pain and fatigue
  • Fragile or stretchy skin
  • Slow healing or easy bruising
  • Digestive problems
  • Autonomic dysfunction (like POTS)

Some people with EDS can still work, especially if symptoms are mild. But for others, the condition causes daily pain, constant joint injuries, and overwhelming fatigue, making full-time employment nearly impossible.

How the SSA Views EDS

EDS is not listed by name in the SSA’s Blue Book, which can make approval more difficult, but not impossible. You’ll need to prove your symptoms are equal in severity to other conditions that are listed, like:

  • Disorders of the musculoskeletal system
  • Neurological impairments
  • Cardiovascular and digestive disorders
  • Chronic pain or fatigue conditions

Essentially, you can show through medical evidence, testimony, and more that your condition impacts you as much as anyone else with these severe symptoms.

You’ll also need to show that your condition is expected to last at least 12 months, and that it prevents you from performing any type of full-time, consistent work.

What Medical Evidence You’ll Need

Because EDS symptoms can vary and fluctuate, the more detailed your documentation, the better. The SSA wants to see objective evidence that supports your claim. This may include:

  • A formal diagnosis from a geneticist, rheumatologist, or other specialist
  • Treatment history, including medications, physical therapy, braces, mobility aids, and surgeries
  • Clinical notes showing joint instability, dislocations, and chronic pain
  • Specialist letters explaining how your condition impacts your ability to work
  • Records of related conditions like POTS, IBS, chronic migraines, or anxiety disorders

It also helps to include personal statements or a symptom diary that shows how your condition affects your day-to-day functioning—especially if it interferes with things like sitting, standing, walking, using your hands, or focusing for long periods.

Common Challenges in EDS Claims

Getting SSDI for EDS can be tough for a few key reasons:

First, the condition is rare and often misunderstood, even by medical professionals. And there’s no single test for EDS, so diagnosis and documentation must be very thorough.

In addition, symptoms fluctuate, which can make it hard to “prove” disability on paper.

And because of all of the above, it can be especially hard for doctors to write about your condition in a way that satisfies the SSA requirements.

This is why it’s so important to work with a lawyer who understands how to present complex or invisible conditions like EDS.

How an SSDI Lawyer Can Help

We understand that EDS is real, painful, and disabling, even if it doesn’t always show up on a test result. As an SSDI lawyer, I can help you:

  • Gather the right medical evidence and explain to your doctors exactly what SSA needs to see
  • Build a strong case by linking your symptoms to your actual work limitations
  • Prepare for a hearing if your claim is denied and represent you in front of a judge
  • Stay on top of deadlines and paperwork, so nothing slips through the cracks

You don’t have to take on this process alone—especially when you’re already dealing with daily pain, fatigue, and frustration.

Darrell CastleChoosing the Right Attorney to Get SSDI for EDS

As a Memphis SSDI lawyer, I’ve helped people with chronic and invisible illnesses get the disability benefits they need at some of the most challenging moments of their lives. I understand how hard it can be to explain a condition like EDS to people who don’t live with it—and I’m here to help make your case clear, strong, and successful.

Our award-winning disability team comes alongside you and fights for you every step of the way. We don’t make a penny unless and until we win your case. And even then, it’s limited by law to a small fraction of your past-due benefits. You keep every payment moving forward.

If you have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and can’t work, contact us today for a free consultation. Let us help you fight for the support you need.