Many disabled individuals are hesitant to begin the process of applying for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (SSDI) due to a relatively low initial approval rate. Gathering proper documentation, understanding technical terminology, and identifying strengths relating to your case can make all the difference in whether your application is approved.
For these reasons, it is even more important to understand your particular health concern, as it may affect how your case plays out. Today, we will share how you can go about applying for SSDI benefits with emphysema.
Emphysema is a chronic disease affecting the lungs. As a type of chronic pulmonary disease (COPD), it is typically caused by sustained exposure to smoke or other air pollutants. While healthy lungs use tiny sacs to transfer carbon dioxide and oxygen in and out of the body, lungs affected by emphysema struggle to do so as those sacs begin to disintegrate. Because the tissue supporting the lungs disintegrates, the actual physical shape of lung begins to change.
This makes breathing increasingly difficult, with a person experiencing shortness of breath even with little physical activity. Other symptoms include wheezing, coughing, fatigue, as well as respiratory infections.
While emphysema does not yet have a cure, you can mitigate the progression if you avoid chemicals and smoke that would further damage the lungs. As of now, there are surgical procedures used to treat emphysema, but they have limited success. Instead of recommending surgery, physicians typically prescribe medications such as inhalers, steroids, and supplemental oxygen to treat the condition.
Qualifying for SSDI benefits is almost always a complex, lengthy process. However, if you suffer from severe emphysema, there is a chance that you may be approved for SSDI benefits if you meet the COPD criteria set out by the Social Security Administration (SSA). You could also qualify if your doctor has placed restrictions on your daily activities to the extent that you are no longer able to keep a job.
To ultimately determine if you qualify for the COPD listing, SSA will conduct a test called a spirometry test, which evaluates your lung function. The specific spirometry test required to assess emphysema will measure the amount of air you can force out while exhaling.
Even if you have taken the test before, the SSA will sometimes require that you undergo a new exam administered by one of their doctors during a consultative exam. It should be noted that approval for emphysema also requires that you submit chest x-rays or diagnostic imaging to the SSA, along with the spirometry test.
Even with all the proper documentation, it can be incredibly difficult to secure SSDI benefits. It may be in your best interest to enlist the assistance of a qualified Social Security Disability attorney who will not take “no” for an answer. Contact Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law today and let us fight for your benefits if you are suffering from emphysema or any other condition that makes it difficult or impossible to work.
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Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law
