Addison’s Disease Disability Attorneys
Primary adrenal insufficiency or Addison’s disease is a rare condition affecting about one in 100,000 people in the United States. The disorder causes the adrenal glands to produce insufficient amounts of hormones essential for the body to function correctly.
Early symptoms of Addison’s disease can include weight loss and extreme tiredness, but symptoms can worsen over time and become life-threatening. A proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment can control the symptoms and complications of the disorder and allow you to work and live a normal life.
Qualifying for Addison’s disease disability benefits through the Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance programs depends on the severity of the symptoms. Navigating the Social Security Administration’s disability benefits claim process can be challenging and frustrating, but the Addison’s disease disability attorneys at GCC Law relieve you of the burden by fighting on your behalf.
Understanding The Causes And Symptoms Of Addison’s Disease
An understanding of Addison’s disease begins with the adrenal glands, which produce the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. Cortisol controls how your body responds to stress and helps maintain heart function, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and the immune system. Underproduction of cortisol can be life-threatening. No less important to health and well-being is aldosterone, a hormone affecting sodium and potassium levels in the blood.
Damage to the adrenal glands causes Addison’s disease. The most common cause of the damage is an autoimmune disease, but Addison’s disease may also be caused by the following:
- Tuberculosis, generally associated with harm to the lungs, can also damage the adrenal glands.
- Cancer that spreads to the adrenal glands.
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic condition present at birth.
- Certain types of medicines used in the treatment of cancer.
- Fatigue
- Fainting or dizziness when standing from a seated or prone position.
- Excessive sweating.
- Upset stomach accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea.
- Muscle cramping and weakness.
- Joint pain.
Depression, anxiety, and irritability may also be noted in a person with Addison’s disease.
If left untreated, the disease may worsen and result in acute adrenal failure with a person developing severe pain in the lower back, fever, fainting, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Without emergency treatment, a person experiencing acute adrenal failure may die.
Diagnosis And Treatment Of Addison’s Disease
Addison’s disease can be treated with medication, such as hydrocortisone or prednisone to stabilize a person’s hormone levels, but treatment cannot begin without a diagnosis. Your doctor will take a medical history before conducting a physical examination and ordering blood tests, CT scan, and MRI to aid in diagnosing the condition.
Does Addison’s Disease Qualify As A Disability Allowing You To Receive Disability Benefits?
The SSDI and SSI programs have different non-medical eligibility requirements. You become “insured” and eligible for SSDI benefits by paying Social Security taxes while working long enough and recently enough to satisfy the SSDI work requirements for eligibility.
SSI does not require a work history for eligibility. It is a needs-based program with income and resource limits. For example, the resources available to individuals may not exceed a value of $2,000. The resource limit for eligible couples is $3,000.
The programs use the same definition of disability to determine whether you qualify for benefits. You are disabled if you cannot work at a substantial gainful activity level because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment. The impairment or a combination of impairments must be expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.
Addison’s disease is an endocrine disorder in Section 9.00 of the listings of impairments. The listings contain medical conditions that are severe enough to cause disability, provided you meet the criteria for the listing.
Social Security evaluates adrenal gland disorders, including Addison’s disease, based on their effect on other parts of the body. For example, Addison’s disease could qualify you for benefits by meeting the criteria for any of the following listed conditions:
- Section 4.02: Chronic heart failure
- Section 4.05: Recurrent arrhythmias
- Section 5.08: Weight loss due to digestive disorder
- Section 12.06: Anxiety disorders
The experienced disability attorneys at GCC Law meticulously review the medical records and discuss your symptoms with you to determine the listed impairments or a combination of impairments that may allow you to receive disability benefits through Social Security for Addison’s disease.
Qualifying For Addison’s Disease Disability Without A Listing Impairment
If Social Security determines that you do not meet or equal a listed impairment, qualifying for Addison’s disease disability still may be possible based on your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC). RFC is a determination of the physical and mental limitations you have because of Addison’s disease. It assesses your ability to perform work activities, such as walking, sitting, standing, lifting, and carrying objects, despite the symptoms or complications associated with your medical condition.
Social Security uses an RFC form completed by you to make the assessment. GCC Addison’s disease disability attorneys work with you to ensure the form accurately and comprehensively details all of the work-related activities. For example, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms affecting your mental capacity can affect your ability to work.
Social Security uses RFC to determine your capacity to perform work you have done in the past or to adjust to other types of available work. If you cannot adapt to doing different types of work available in the national or regional economies, and cannot do work you did before, you could qualify for disability benefits through SSDI and SSI.
A GCC Law Addison’s Disease Disability Attorney Can Make A Difference
Disability claims for Addison’s disease are not easy to win, so give yourself the benefit of the skills, knowledge, and experience of a GCC Law Addison’s disease attorney. While you focus on your health, your attorney becomes your staunch advocate, fighting for the benefits you need. Whether filing an initial application or challenging an unfavorable decision through the appeal process, we’re on your side every step of the way. Learn more by contacting GCC Law Firm for a complimentary initial consultation.
Call Our Illinois Addison’s Disease Disability Lawyers Today
At GCC Law Firm, our Illinois Addison’s Disease disability attorneys provide personalized, solutions-driven legal advocacy for clients. If your SSDI or SSI claim has been denied in Illinois, we can help. Contact us to schedule a free and completely confidential initial consultation, please contact our law firm today.
Call (479) 340-0002.