If the symptoms of your Crohn’s disease are so severe that you are unable to work, you may qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. The Houston disability benefits attorneys at Marc Whitehead & Associates have helped individuals all over the U.S. who suffer from Crohn’s Disease and other disabling conditions obtain the Social Security Disability benefits they deserve, even after their claims have been denied.
What is Crohn’s Disease?
The Social Security Administration classifies Crohn’s Disease as an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The condition causes inflammation to the digestive tract, which can result in a number of problems, including:
- Abdominal pain
- Inflammation
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Chronic diarrhea
- Bowel obstructions
- Malnutrition
- Weight loss
Crohn’s Disease affects men and women equally. The condition is most often diagnosed in persons between the ages of 20 and 30.
Crohn’s disease may involve the entire digestive tract. Obstruction, stenosis, fistulization, perineal involvement, and extraintestinal manifestations are common. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease depend on what segment of the digestive tract is being affected. These symptoms can include:
- Diarrhea
- Rectal bleeding
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Arthralgia
- Abdominal tenderness
- Palpable abdominal mass (usually inflamed loops of bowel)
- Perianal disease
- Malnutrition
- Weight loss
- Anemia
Complications caused by Crohn’s Disease can be quite severe:
- Bowel obstruction
- Ulcers
- Fistulas (ulcers that extend through the intestinal wall)
- Colon cancer
- Anal fissure
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Gallbladder disease
- Liver disease
- Skin disorders
- Malnutrition
- Anemia
Other body systems may be affected by Crohn’s Disease as well, including the eyes, gallbladder, kidneys, liver, skin, and joints. Crohn’s Disease can also cause delayed growth and sexual development among children.
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No Cure for Crohn’s Disease
The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is still unknown. Some research suggests that Crohn’s Disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by a virus or bacterium infection in the digestive tract. There also appears to be a genetic link to Crohn’s Disease. Some suspect an environmental link.
Treatments for Crohn’s Disease can include medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system suppressors, antibiotics, pain relievers, and anti-diarrheal medicine; feeding tubes to provide nutrition; and surgery to close any fistulas or other ulcers, drain abscesses, or remove damaged portions of the digestive tract. Unfortunately, the benefits of surgery are often temporary and the condition may recur at any time.
Despite these treatment options, the condition is not curable and recurrence may be a lifelong problem, even after surgical resection.
Qualifying for Social Security Disability Benefits Due to Crohn’s Disease
In order to qualify for disability benefits from the SSA, a claimant must provide specific medical evidence. This can include a biopsy, medically acceptable imaging, or operative findings that demonstrate obstruction of stenotic areas (not adhesions) in the small intestine or colon with proximal dilatation.
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Get Help Winning Crohn’s Disease Social Security Disability Claim
Submitting the proper documentation is crucial to convincing the SSA to approve your claim for Crohn’s Disease disability benefits. Many individuals have their claim rejected simply because they failed to supply the necessary information the SSA needed to make their decision.
Marc Whitehead is Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law by the National Board of Social Security Disability Advocacy. The law firm of Marc Whitehead & Associates has represented clients at all stages of the SSA disability benefits process, from assistance submitting an initial claim, to representing them at SSA Administrative hearings. This includes appealing a denial of disability benefits by the SSA.
If you need to apply for SSA disability benefits, or need to appeal a denial of benefits, call the law offices of Marc Whitehead & Associates without delay. We handle Social Security disability cases on a contingency basis; this means there are no upfront costs for our services and we only collect a fee after we’ve secured your benefits. Schedule a meeting to discuss your case with a leading Social Security disability lawyer by calling us at (800) 562-983.
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