Common Disabling Conditions

To receive Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, you must suffer from an injury or illness that will either keep you from working for at least 12 months or is terminal. Both physical and mental conditions can qualify for SSD benefits.

Our SSD attorneys can evaluate your case and, if you do qualify, can help you through the entire process, including filing for benefits as well as handling the application or judge denials.

These are examples of the many conditions considered disabling under SSD:

• ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can cause marked inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness as well as difficulty with time management, organization, and setting goals.
• Amputations – Despite the devastating nature of amputations, only certain types will meet approval for SSD benefits.
• Anemia – Affecting around 3.5 million Americans, this condition is the most common blood disorder in the U.S.
• Anxiety – Anxiety disorders are chronic in nature and affect a whopping 40 million American adults every year. Click here to learn more about what you need to know about anxiety and SSD.
• Arthritis – Arthritis is the No. 1 cause of disability in the U.S., affecting around 9 million Americans.
• Asthma – This chronic lung condition causes repeated fits of coughing and shortness of breath that can be utterly immobilizing and that can reduce your ability to work considerably.
• Autism – Autism spectrum disorders are serious developmental conditions, diagnoses for which have increased dramatically in recent years.
• Back and Neck Pain – Severe back and neck injuries and related conditions can result in chronic pain and total disability.
• Bipolar Disorder/Manic Depression – Bipolar disorder is a psychological condition that is marked by two phases: a manic phase and a depressive phase.
• Blindness – Regardless of the source of your visual impairment, if you’re completely or partially blind, you may be eligible for disability benefits.
• Blood Diseases – Blood diseases or disorders (e.g. anemia, hemophilia, blood clots, and blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma) come in many forms and affect millions of Americans.
• Cancer – Even if you’re unable to meet Social Security Administration’s specific listing criteria for cancer (e.g. breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, melanoma, bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, kidney cancer, endometrial cancer, leukemia, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, or liver cancer), you still may be able to receive approval for disability benefits if you are prevented from working by your condition.
• Chronic Fatigue – Chronic fatigue is different from occasional fatigue or tiredness related to exertion or lack of sleep; it does not improve with rest and worsens with physical and even mental activity.
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome – Symptoms of this condition can be treated, but there is no cure for this debilitating form of chronic pain.
• Degenerative Disc Disease – Degenerative disc disease is a common accompaniment of aging that refers to the degeneration of one or more of the intervertebral discs of the spine.
• Depression – Regular treatment for depression is important for improving your condition as well as for improving the chances of success in a disability claim. Click here to learn more about what you need to know about depression and SSD.
• Diabetes – Almost 26 million people in the U.S. have some form of diabetes or a related blood sugar condition (such as Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, uncontrolled sugars, and high A1C) and nearly 80 million are at risk of developing the disease.
• Epilepsy – The constantly looming threat of a seizure can restrict an epilepsy sufferer’s life enormously and may severely limit the individuals’ ability to complete basic work-related tasks. Click here to learn more about what you need to know about epilepsy and SSD.
• Fibromyalgia – Though the lack of objective criteria and tests to diagnose this condition can make winning disability benefits a challenge, our attorneys have successfully obtained SSD benefits for clients with fibromyalgia.
• Grand Mal Seizures – Grand mal epileptic seizures are characterized by intense body stiffening and shaking and a loss of consciousness.
• Heart Disease – A range of diseases fall under the category of heart disease, including arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart infections and diseases of the blood vessels.
• Hepatitis – Over 3 million people in the U.S. have Hepatitis C, but many can be unaware of their infection due to their lack of apparent symptoms.
• Herniated Discs – Herniated discs can cause extreme pain as well as weakness or numbness in the back, legs, neck and arms.
• HIV/AIDS – Living with HIV/AIDS can be extremely challenging, and many sufferers can qualify for SSD benefits.
• Learning Disabilities – Learning disabilities refer to a group of disorders that negatively affect the ability to acquire knowledge or skill.
• Lupus – Lupus is an autoimmune disease that disrupts the immune system so that the body attacks its own healthy tissues and organs.
• Lyme Disease – Commonly caused by a tick bite, this condition can have systemic effects, impairing musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and mental function.
• Intellectual Disability – Previously referred to as mental retardation, intellectual disabilities or intellectual development disorders affects around 1-3 percent of people in the U.S.
• Migraines – Though they may range in intensity, severe migraines can be virtually incapacitating and can significantly impair your ability to work.
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, and symptoms can vary widely depending on the areas of the nervous system that are affected. Click here to learn more about what you need to know about MS and SSD.
• Petite Mal Seizures – These are epileptic seizures marked by staring, subtle body movement and a brief loss of awareness.
• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) – RSD is a form of complex regional pain syndrome that usually affects an arm, hand, leg or foot.
• Repetitive Injuries – Continually overusing joints and muscles can result in chronic inflammation, nerve damage, and other signs of a repetitive stress injury (RSI) that may affect the shoulders, hands, knees, hips, and other areas of the body.
• Schizophrenia – Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder that affects about 1 percent of Americans and can make living a normal life almost impossible.
• Stroke – A stroke occurs when the brain is not receiving enough oxygen, typically as a result of decreased blood supply from the arteries that feed it. Strokes can cause hemiplegia (a form of paralysis), aphasia (difficulty using or understanding language), visual disturbances, and many other symptoms.