Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, refers to several diseases affecting the lungs and breathing airways. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are two frequently diagnosed lung diseases commonly associated with COPD.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 16 million people have difficulty breathing because of COPD and countless millions of people have it without being diagnosed by medical professionals. COPD cannot be cured, but there are treatments available that control the symptoms.
If you have COPD with symptoms that make you unable to perform the activities required for your job, you may be eligible for COPD disability benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programs. Even though the Social Security Administration (SSA) approves fewer than one-third of SSI and SSDI disability claims, you can improve your chances with the assistance of a COPD disability benefits lawyer.
COPD is a chronic lung condition associated with obstructed airflow that makes it difficult to inhale and exhale. In addition to breathing difficulty, other symptoms of COPD include:
Anything that irritates the lungs and bronchial passages, including smoking cigarettes, can cause or aggravate COPD.
In order to qualify for disability benefits through SSI and SSDI, you must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that makes you unable to perform activities typically required for work. Typical work activities that can be affected by COPD include:
Your impairment(s) must be long-term to qualify for benefits. The impairments must have lasted or be expected to last for at least one year or be expected to cause death.
Some medical conditions have been identified by the Social Security Administration as severe enough to meet its definition of disability. It lists the qualifying conditions for different systems of the body in its Listing of Impairments. Section 3.02 of the listings includes chronic respiratory disorder.
Medical documentation that includes a diagnosis by a physician is required to support a claim for benefits due to COPD disability. Your medical records should include the following:
You must follow the treatment plan as prescribed by your physician. If you do not follow a course of treatment outlined for you, your claim for COPD disability benefits will be denied.
If your medical condition does not meet the listing requirements, your disability lawyer can pursue other ways of proving that you are disabled because of COPD. One method is proving that your condition prevents you from doing the type of work you did in the past or doing other types of work consistent with your education, training, skill level and age.
Improve your chance of success by working with an experienced COPD disability benefits lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC. Our disability lawyers work with your physicians to ensure a coordinated effort that includes the medical evidence required to prove your claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.