Diabetes Disability – Getting the Disability Benefits You Need
Millions of Americans are affected by diabetes. Disability claims filed by those who live with the disease are often denied benefits, even though the claimants are truly no longer able to work.
Our lawyers have helped hundreds of people across the country with diabetes to overturn claim denials and secure these indispensable benefits. If your claim was denied unfairly, call us for qualified assistance.
We can help you with claims for Social Security Disability, Veterans disability, or long-term disability insurance through private or employer-provided insurance plans.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-562-9830
About Diabetes Disability (Diabetes Mellitus)
For a person with diabetes, their body cannot regulate the blood glucose (sugar) in their body. Insulin is the main hormone used by the body to regulate sugar. A diabetic’s body does not make enough insulin, or cannot process the insulin produced by the pancreas.
Diabetes is a major cause of disability because it affects the entire body. It is identified with many serious complications and disabling symptoms.
If diabetes is not properly managed, the person has an increased risk of developing conditions such as hypoglycemia (high sugar) and diabetic ketoacidosis (dehydration from insulin deficiency). Disabling chronic conditions may develop, such as kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, and damage to the retina.
Diabetics also experience poor healing of wounds, and gangrene on the feet which may lead to amputation. People with diabetes also frequently suffer from diabetic neuropathy disability.
Your diabetes disability claim was rejected by your insurance company. What can you do?
Abundant court cases will attest that insurance companies are notorious for denying valid disability insurance claims. It is in your best interest to hire a disability insurance law firm that has the experience and the resources to deal authoritatively with nationwide disability insurance companies.
We have helped many disabled people, who are unable to work because of diabetes, successfully appeal denials and secure the benefits they deserve. Do not give up on your claim. Call 800-562-9830 for dedicated assistance today!
Our attorneys concentrate in disability law issues regarding private long-term disability policies, and employer group disability plans (referred to as ERISA disability plans).
The laws are significantly different for each type of claim, and not all attorneys are capable of practicing in these areas of law.
Our firm routinely works with complicated medical facts surrounding diabetes disability. We communicate with treating doctors and experts, and challenge insurance company physicians and other experts who seek to further their own interests.
You can learn more about winning your claim for long-term disability benefits for diabetes and other diseases by reading our free book, Disability Insurance Policies – how to Unravel the Mystery and Prove Your Claim.
Click to contact our disability lawyers today
Winning Social Security Benefits for Diabetes Disability Claims
As Social Security Disability attorneys, we realize that most people who have their claims denied become so discouraged and confused, they abandon their claim.
There are specific reasons why SSA will deny a claim. Your claim must prove one of two things:
- You must prove that your condition meets or equals the medical description of diabetes found in the Social Security Listing of Impairments. You will find diabetes listed under Section 9.00 – Endocrine Disorders, under B.5. Diabetes mellitus and other pancreatic gland disorders.
- Or, if your condition is not severe enough to meet or equal the SSA listing, you must prove that your condition causes significant functional limitations that disable you from working. In making this evaluation, SSA considers your age, education, work experience and “residual functional capacity.”
Social Security recently changed the requirements in their listing for Section 9.00. The section now states that you “meet or equal” a listing by showing that diabetes affects a specific area of your body. SSA then evaluates the affected body system. In other words, instead of being “found disabled” under Section 9.00 for diabetes disability, you must refer to other specific listings.
For example, hyperglycemia can cause long-term complications that affect various body systems:
With diabetic ketoacidosis, you may have disorders resulting from your treatment. SSA evaluates these conditions under the affected body system:
- cardiac arrhythmias – Section 4.00
- intestinal necrosis – Section 5.00
- cerebral edema and seizures – Section 11.00
- mood or eating disorders – Section 12.00.
With chronic hyperglycemia, long-term diabetes disability affects many body systems:
- diabetic peripheral neurovascular – Section 1.00
- diabetic retinopathy – Section 2.00
- coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease – Section 4.00
- diabetic gastroparesis – Section 5.00
- diabetic nephropathy – Section 6.00
- poorly healing bacterial and fungal skin infections – Section 8.00
- diabetic peripheral and sensory neuropathies – Section 11.00
- cognitive impairments, depression, and anxiety – Section 12.00
We can help you avoid mistakes and ensure that you have sufficient medical records, the correct and necessary input from your doctors, and the vocational evidence and proof of functional limitations to substantiate your disability claim for diabetes.
With proper preparation and skilled legal representation, many disability claims that are at first denied by Social Security can be approved at the Administrative Law Judge hearing. When needed, we can pursue you claim with the Appeals Council, and represent you in your appeal to federal court.
Do not give up. Ask for a free consultation about your diabetes disability claim with Marc Whitehead, Board Certified Social Security disability attorney.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
VA Disability Benefits for Diabetes
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs presumes that specific disabilities diagnosed in certain veterans were caused by their military service. For Vietnam veterans, diabetes mellitus (Type 2) is associated with exposure to Agent Orange, and is required to be at least 10% disabling under VA’s rating regulations. Basic requirements must be met, including:
- A medical diagnosis of diabetes
- Evidence of service in Vietnam
The VA refers to the schedule for rating disabilities when determining the level of a veteran’s service-connected disability. Diabetes is listed under The Endocrine System, and is rated according to loss of function and the effect on your ability to be employed.
If the VA denied you because they said your disability
- is not service connected,
- existed before service,
- isn’t severe enough,
Contact Marc Whitehead & Associates to be represented by an Accredited Veterans Claims Attorney. Our firm has represented veterans from across the country and we would be honored to represent you, no matter where you live.
If your veterans claim for diabetes disability is denied, do not lose hope. We can help you prove to the VA when and where you served, and that your diabetes is service-connected. If your claim was approved and you are not satisfied with the disability pay you were awarded, we can help secure the fair disability rating you deserve.
If you need help, or just want to ask a lawyer a question, please call our attorneys toll free at 800-562-9830 to discuss your disability case.
Call or text 800-562-9830 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form