Can I Receive Social Security Disability Payments for My Respiratory Disorder?

 Posted on May 24, 2022 in Social Security Disability Medical Conditions

Trouble breathing can seriously affect your ability to gain or retain gainful employment. The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers a number of respiratory disorders severe enough to qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. Based on the severity of your respiratory condition, how long you have had it, how long it is expected to last, and your response to treatments, you could be entitled to SSD benefits.

Understanding Respiratory Disorders

Respiratory disorders are categorized as those which make it difficult for air to move out of the lungs (obstruction), challenging for air to move into the lungs (restriction), or interfere with gas exchange in the lungs (diffusion). These include some very common breathing disorders and some which are rarer. They can either impact you for your entire life or have a later onset.

Examples of respiratory disorders include:

• Asthma
• Bronchiectasis
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema
• Chronic pulmonary hypertension
• Cystic fibrosis
• Lung transplants
• Pulmonary fibrosis and pneumoconiosis
• Respiratory Failure

In addition to the conditions listed above, other conditions affecting the respiratory system, including lung cancer and neuromuscular and autoimmune disorders which impact the lungs, may also be evaluated.

To document and assess the severity of the respiratory disorder, the SSA will evaluate your medical history, physical exam finding, x-ray or computerized tomography imaging, pulmonary function tests, including spirometry, DLCO tests, ABG tests, and pulse oximetry, other relevant lab tests, the treatments you are prescribed, and how you respond to them. Depending on your condition, not all of the tests may be necessary. Each disorder has its set of qualifications, including how often you have symptoms, whether your symptoms require you to seek hospitalization, your overall physical condition, your breathing capacity, and the results of the tests above.

Contact a Chicago Social Security Disability Attorney

It can feel like a long process with onerous requirements to receive the Social Security Disability benefits that you are eligible for. At Pearson Disability Law, LLC, we are here to help you document your condition and successfully complete any other part of the application process. We can help you increase your chances of being approved for disability benefits. If you are suffering from a respiratory disorder or any other physical or mental condition which prevents you from gainful employment, contact an Illinois SSDI qualifying conditions lawyer today. Call our office at 312-999-0999 today for your free consultation.

Source:

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/3.00-Respiratory-Adult.htm