Getting SSDI for a Respiratory Disorder

Social Security Disability for Respiratory Disorders: What to Know

If you’re living with a respiratory disorder, you know how difficult it can be to perform everyday activities like walking, working, or even just breathing comfortably. For some people, their condition makes holding a job impossible. And getting SSDI for a respiratory disorder can feel impossible, too.

Fortunately, you can absolutely get SSDI for a respiratory disorder with the right application and support.

Let’s explore how you can qualify for disability, what evidence you need, and how an SSDI lawyer can increase your chances of approval.

Respiratory Disorders That May Qualify for SSDI

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes a range of respiratory disorders that can qualify for SSDI, including:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A progressive condition that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
• Severe Asthma: Especially when frequent attacks require you to get medical intervention or hospitalization.
• Cystic Fibrosis: A genetic condition that causes lung infections and breathing difficulties.
• Pulmonary Fibrosis: Scarring of lung tissue that makes breathing difficult and worsens over time.
• Lung Cancer: Advanced or inoperable cases often qualify through the Compassionate Allowances program.
• Pulmonary Hypertension: High blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, which can lead to severe limitations in your physical activities.

These conditions can qualify for SSDI if you meet the other eligibility requirements, like age and work history.

How to Prove Your Respiratory Disorder Is Disabling

To qualify for SSDI, you need to show that your respiratory disorder prevents you from earning an income. This means you’ll need to provide comprehensive medical evidence showing the severity and persistence of your condition.

Key forms of evidence for respiratory disorders could include:

Pulmonary Function Tests

The SSA relies heavily on test results, including tests that measure your lung function. Examples include tests for forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO).

You can discuss these tests with your doctor and also see if there might be other tests that can show the severity of your disorder.

Medical Imaging

X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs can help show structural damage or the progression of your respiratory disorder.

Hospital Records

Keep any documentation of hospital visits, emergency room treatments, or hospitalizations. It will strengthen your claim to have proof you’ve received care for respiratory failure or complications.

Doctor’s Statements

Gather detailed statements from your pulmonologist describing your condition. Critically, they should also explain clearly how your condition limits your ability to work and complete daily activities.

Treatment Records

You’ll want to show you’ve followed all the prescribed treatments, including inhalers, oxygen therapy, surgeries, etc. However, as you’ll prove in the rest of your application, you continue to experience disabling symptoms that keep you from working.

Challenges in Getting Approved for SSDI

Getting approved for SSDI with a respiratory disorder can be challenging. The SSA requires both objective medical tests and detailed documentation of how the condition affects your ability to work, and a lot of people struggle to gather everything.

Here are some common challenges:

Insufficient Medical Evidence

If your test results or medical records don’t meet the specific criteria in the Blue Book, your claim could be denied. To fix this, you want to include any and all medical records. Request additional testing if needed, and get your doctors to write statements that back up your claim.

Inconsistent Treatment Records

Failing to follow your doctor’s prescribed treatments or missing appointments can hurt your credibility. You’ll want to show you’ve made an effort to treat your condition and that, despite your best efforts, it isn’t enough to get you back to work.

Denials for Mild or Controlled Conditions

If the SSA determines that your condition is manageable with treatment or doesn’t significantly limit your work abilities, they may deny your claim. However, they often mislabel a condition as manageable when it’s in fact severe and disabling.

This is why working with an SSDI lawyer can be so essential to building a strong case.

How an SSDI Lawyer Can Help

Navigating the SSDI process can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with a complex medical condition like respiratory illnesses.

Our experienced SSDI lawyers are here to help.

We make sure your application includes all the necessary medical evidence, including test results, treatment history, and doctor’s statements. With decades of experience, we know how to frame your case to show your condition meets or equals the SSA’s Blue Book listing requirements.

In addition, the SSA denies the majority of claims on the first try, and we make sure you don’t give up then and there. If the SSA denies your initial application, we’ll guide you through the appeals process, represent you at hearings, and fight for your benefits.

All of this, and we don’t get paid anything unless and until we win your case. Even then, it’s just a small fraction of your past-due benefits. You keep every dollar moving forward.

Our team is dedicated to providing personalized, compassionate legal representation to help you navigate the SSDI process. If you’re struggling with a respiratory disorder and need help applying for SSDI or appealing a denial, contact us today for a free consultation.

Let us help you breathe a little easier and secure the benefits you deserve.