A spinal cord injury and disability can be devastating, but it does not have to ruin your life financially. You may be entitled to private or employer-sponsored disability insurance, as well as Social Security disability insurance benefits. Veterans may be eligible for VA disability compensation.
A spinal cord injury disability occurs when someone suffers from the loss of function, mobility or feeling in the body. As a victim of spinal cord damage, you have much at stake. It is likely you are rendered disabled to some degree, if not entirely.
Some who suffer from back and spine disorders can continue working, but many lose their ability to function in the workplace altogether.
The spine, also called the vertebral column or the spinal column, is a collection of flexible bones that surround the spinal cord.
The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that extend from the base of the brain down the center of a person’s back, to the waist. Nerves within the spinal cord carry nerve impulses – messages – to and from the brain to the rest of the body.
The brain and the spinal cord make up the Central Nervous System. When the spinal cord is injured, impulses from the brain can no longer travel through the damaged area, stopping the flow of information between the brain and certain parts of the body.
Causes of Spinal Cord Injury Disability
A spinal cord injury (SCI) can occur under a variety of circumstances. Common causes are car accidents, work-related accidents, sports accidents, and medical negligence or malpractice.
Spinal cord injury disability results in the following disabling conditions:
- Paralysis
- Quadriplegia (paralysis of all four limbs, also called tetraplegia)
- Paraplegia (complete paralysis of the lower half of the body)
- Loss of sensation
- Breathing Difficulties
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Bowel Dysfunction
- Bladder Dysfunction
These injuries change you and your family’s lives forever. You may require wheelchair access and other modifications to your home or vehicle, and around the clock care for many or all of your activities of daily living.
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Levels of Spinal Cord Disability
Spinal cord injuries are referred to as either complete or incomplete:
- A complete SCI is when the body has no function – the injured person is completely immobile – below the level of the injury, and both sides of the body are affected equally.
- An incomplete SCI means there is some functioning below the level of the injury. The injured person can feel parts of the body that are immobile, or they can move one limb more than another.
When Is Legal Help Needed in a Spinal Cord Injury Disability Claim?
Spinal cord disability claims are routinely challenged by long term disability insurance companies, Social Security and the VA
If you have applied for disability benefits and your claim has been turned down, do not give up. Ask a lawyer at our firm about your disability case. We know you are troubled and have many questions.
For instance, if you applied for SSDI, why was your claim denied? Applying for Social Security disability is one thing. Actually getting a claim approved is another.
In order for Social Security to approve a claim for a spinal cord injury disability, you must prove that you are no longer able to perform any functional duties related to the job you had before the injury. Then you must also prove that your spinal cord injury and disability prohibits you from performing any level of substantial work.
Regardless of the type of injury, the majority of Social Security disability claims are turned down. An attorney who is Board Certified in Social Security disability claims can offer exceptional representation.
Veterans who suffer injuries to the neck and spine may need a lifetime of medical care. Many additional causes can be responsible for these injuries to veterans, including explosions, training exercises, and heavy equipment and vehicle accidents.
Spinal cord injuries also lead to secondary effects that harm the hips and extremities. Veterans are able to make individual claims for each injured part of the body. As veterans claims attorneys, we are personally committed and qualified to represent disabled veterans at all levels within the VA disability system.
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If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, the disability attorney you choose can make a difference in your case.
Our attorneys are respected insurance claim negotiators and litigators who deal effectively with insurance companies. We have the knowledge and experience to work for anyone seeking SSDI, SSI or VA disability benefits.
Do not delay. For help with your disability claim, call 1-800-562-9830 or contact an attorney here. Our goal is to help you understand your case, answer all of your questions, and help you move forward with the most effective legal guidance. We represent clients nationwide.
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