When you apply for disability from the Social Security Disability Insurance program, one sure way to maximize your chances of winning benefits is to meet the Social Security Administration’s definition for a specific type of disabling impairment. This is known as “meeting a Listing.” A listing is a predetermined set of medical criteria that is considered disabling if the claimant meets or equals all elements of the listing. If a claimant is not working and meets a listing, they do not have to prove they can’t work. They are automatically considered disabled.
One of the most common groups of impairments the SSA defines is disorders of the musculoskeletal system. These definitions are found in sections 1.2 through 1.8 of the SSA’s Listings of Impairments.
The definition for these types of disorders is fairly broad and encompasses a large number of issues. Some of the most common include things like:
- Bone or joint destruction or deformity
- Disorders of the spine
- Amputation
- Fractures
- Soft tissue injuries (including burns)
How Does Someone Get a Musculoskeletal Disorder?
There’s no one way to acquire a disorder of the musculoskeletal system. For some, their genes are to blame because the disorder is hereditary. Others may develop their particular disorder congenitally, which means that they were born with it or it appeared within their first month of life. And still others can start to suffer from a musculoskeletal disorder due to acquired pathological processes – in other words, it’s a disease that you just happen to catch.
How Do Musculoskeletal Disorders Become Impairments?
There are plenty of people with musculoskeletal disorders who can live full, happy lives with proper care. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for everyone, and something may cause a person’s disorder to become an impairment where they lose the ability to function normally.
How does this occur? Once again, there’s more than one culprit. Impairments can occur due to:
- Infections
- Toxic diseases
- Traumatic events
- Inflammatory processes
- Neoplastic diseases
- Developmental events
- Degenerative processes
- Vascular diseases
Whatever the reason behind the impairment, what it boils down to is that someone with a musculoskeletal disorder suddenly can’t live and work like a healthy person anymore. They’ve suffered from a “loss of function,” which is something we’ll discuss in far more detail in the next post.
If you’re suffering from an impairment stemming from a disorder of the musculoskeletal system, and you think you should qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, it’s vital that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Still not sure you’re eligible? Stay tuned for our next post and check out our free disability eBook.