When you need help getting leukemia disability benefits, our attorneys can make a tremendous difference in your case.
We can help ensure your case has the highest possible chance of success. Call us today Toll Free at (800) 562-9830 for a free consultation. We handle cases nationwide.
Leukemia takes a heavy toll on thousands of American each year. People suffering from this form of cancer desperately need and count on disability benefits, whether they apply for long term disability insurance, Social Security Disability or Veterans disability benefits.
Leukemia is a cancer that targets the blood and bone marrow. In leukemia patients, the bone marrow creates abnormal white blood cells that grow out of control. These leukemia cells overtake the normal blood cells, causing infections, bleeding, and severe anemia.
Leukemia cells may also invade the lymph nodes and accumulate in other organs, interfering with normal organ function.
Leukemia symptoms include fever and flu-like symptoms, bone and joint pain, enlarged spleen, fatigue, weight loss, bruising and bleeding. Different types of leukemia are grouped according to acuteness and the type of white blood cell affected.
Claiming Leukemia Disability Benefits on a LTD Insurance Policy
We are aggressively prosecuting cases in which insurance companies are unfairly denying claims that should be honored.
Insurance companies often use underhanded means to deny and delay claims. They look for loopholes, attempt to defeat your claim based on a technicality, or use planned strategies designed to avoid paying claims, and even terminate benefits.
Marc Whitehead & Associates represent all types of leukemia disability claims involving Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and non-ERISA long term disability insurance.
Learn more about our in-depth work in these areas of law by visiting our practice areas:
Any denial by your insurance provider must be able to be legally defended and based upon proper medical evaluation and medical evidence. Most people who are denied will not know if or how they can fight back.
Whether you have long term disability insurance privately or through your employer, our attorneys can appeal your claim for disability benefits so you can secure the compensation so crucial to you and your family.
See how our attorneys can help you fight back and win disability benefits.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-562-9830
Social Security Claims for Leukemia Disability Benefits
The Social Security Listing of Impairments lists leukemia under Malignant Neoplastic Diseases listing 13.06 Leukemia. This outlines the criteria that qualify a leukemia patient for disability benefits. Social Security divides leukemia disability requirements into the acute and chronic forms:
Acute leukemia (including T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma) –
- You are considered to be disabled for at least 24 months from the date of your diagnosis or relapse. If you have a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, you will be considered disabled for 12 months following the date of surgery or 24 months from the date of diagnosis, whichever is later.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia –
- Accelerated or blast phase:
You will be considered disabled until at least 24 months from the date of diagnosis or relapse, or at least 12 months from the date of a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, whichever is later. - Chronic phase:
(a) You will be considered disabled until at least 12 months from the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplant. From that time forward, SSA will evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system.(b) Your leukemia continues to progress after initial therapy to inhibit or prevent the growth and spread of malignant cells or tumors.
Compassionate Allowance for Leukemia: Social Security Disability acts under an initiative to accelerate claims for undeniable and life-threatening disabilities. The following forms of leukemia are subject to a fast award of disability benefits:
- Acute Leukemia
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) – Blast Phase
- Leukemia treated by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
If your leukemia disability is not on the compassionate allowance list and you do not meet or equal the SSA Listing of Impairments for leukemia, you can still be found disabled. This requires showing the limitations from the disease, treatment, and medications and any other impairment secondary to the leukemia that disables you from doing your past work or most any other type of job.
If you have had trouble with any part of your claim for disability benefits, we can help. We can also help you in your initial application. Our attorneys are Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.
We will ensure that all medical documentation (such as blood count, bone marrow extraction results, medical imaging tests, and results of tests performed during chemotherapy) is complete and stated in a manner that shows the true nature of your leukemia disability.
Veterans Claims for Leukemia Disability Benefits
Veterans are wrongly denied disability benefits every day, or forced to suffer unconscionable months and years before they receive the compensation their country owes them. Many of the initial decisions issued by the VA are denials that are flawed.
The VA adheres to the Schedule for Rating Disabilities when determining the level of a veteran’s service-connected disability. Leukemia disability is listed under The Hemic and Lymphatic Systems as follows:
Leukemia: With active disease or during a treatment phase qualifies for a 100% rating. Otherwise, leukemia is rated as anemia or aplastic anemia, whichever would result in the greater benefit.
Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange and Other Herbicides: If you served in Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, the VA presumes that you were exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides. All chronic B-cell leukemias (including, but not limited to, hairy-cell leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia) are presumed by VA to be service-connected for such veterans.
Veterans Exposed to Radiation: If you participated in “radiation risk activities” as defined by the VA while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, all forms of leukemia (except for chronic lymphocytic leukemia) are presumed to be service-connected.
Evidence also supports that acute leukemia has been caused by exposure to certain toxins including benzene, which can be found in fuels, wastes and many other circumstances of military duty.
The Accredited Veterans Claim lawyers at Marc Whitehead & Associates are firmly committed to ensuring that each veteran they represent obtains the full disability compensation to which he or she is entitled. We have significant experience and success in appealing denied veterans’ benefits.
Call (800) 562-9830 today to learn more about the legal assistance we can provide to help you. There is no charge for your initial consultation.
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When we take on a case, it is because we believe in the merits of that case. Call our attorneys toll free at 800-562-9830 or request a Free Consultation with a lawyer to discuss your leukemia disability claim.
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