Sciatica may be considered a disability if it is severe and prolonged enough to meet the legal and medical definition. However, most sciatica cases are considered acute and resolve relatively quickly with physical therapy, rest, medication, or lifestyle changes.
It’s tough to convince someone who has experienced serious sciatica pain that their condition is not debilitating. If your pain is preventing you from performing your essential job functions, it may be worth your time to evaluate whether or not you qualify for disability benefits.
Or, you may have already applied and been denied. If so, reach out to our team. We have over 120 years of combined legal experience, and disability is all we do. Call today for your free consultation and get the help you need from our Long Term Disability lawyers.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica refers to pain that travels along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the hips and down both legs. It is usually caused by compression or irritation of the nerve due to conditions such as a herniated disc.
Symptoms may include sharp pain, tingling, or numbness in the affected leg. Sometimes it is accompanied by weakness. While sciatica is often extremely painful and can interrupt your ability to perform daily activities, including your job, it isn’t considered a disability in and of itself.
Sciatica typically responds to conservative treatments as prescribed by medical professionals and often resolves within a few weeks. However, in cases where symptoms persist despite treatment or result in significant functional limitations, sciatica may qualify you for disability benefits.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 562-9830
When Does Sciatica Qualify for Long Term Disability?
Sciatica may qualify for Long Term Disability benefits if it significantly impairs your ability to perform the duties of your occupation.
To be eligible, you typically must:
- Provide objective medical evidence of your condition
- Be involved in ongoing treatment by a qualified healthcare provider
- Have functional limitations such as difficulty sitting, walking, or lifting
- Show that the condition prevents you from performing your job, or any job
Each Long Term Disability policy has its own criteria for qualification, which your employer can provide. If you face pushback, consider reaching out to an attorney who works with disability benefits.
When Does Sciatica Qualify You for Social Security Disability?
To qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, sciatica must be severe enough to meet how Social Security defines disability.
This typically means:
- Your condition has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
- You are unable to engage in substantial gainful activity.
- Your medical records show nerve root compression, limited spinal motion, muscle weakness, or sensory loss.
While sciatica itself is not listed as a standalone condition, it may qualify under a listing related to an adult musculoskeletal disorder if it prevents all work.
Can Sciatica Qualify for Veterans’ Disability Benefits?
You may be eligible for VA benefits if your sciatica is connected to your time in the military. That means the condition must have begun while you were on active duty, or developed as a result of another service-connected condition, such as a back injury.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) typically rates sciatica under nerve conditions, with disability ratings based on the severity of symptoms such as pain, numbness, and functional impairment. If your application for a service-connected disability was denied, our legal team may help.
What if Your Claim for Sciatica Disability Is Denied?
If your claim is denied, you still have options. Long Term Disability insurance, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs all have specific instructions to follow to appeal a decision.
The first step is to hire a disability denial attorney who can:
- Review your denial letter and explain why your claim was rejected
- Identify errors made in the original decision
- Gather and submit additional medical evidence or documentation
- Obtain supportive opinions from treating physicians
- Work with your doctors to obtain detailed statements about your limitations
- File an appeal within the required deadline
- Ensure all paperwork is completed accurately and submitted on time
- Handle communication with the insurance company or government agency
- Build a strong legal argument for your appeal
- Represent you at hearings, if necessary
Working with a knowledgeable attorney who deals with disability claims can give you a stronger chance of succeeding with your appeal.
Get Help With Your Sciatica Disability Claim
Sciatica is not automatically considered a disability, but it can be if it is serious enough to prevent you from performing your essential job functions and does not respond to treatment. Usually, sciatica is a painful but treatable condition that resolves in weeks.
Because of this, many sciatica disability claims are initially denied. You have the right to contest a denial by an insurance company, the VA, or the Social Security Administration. Our legal team can help.
For over 30 years, Marc Whitehead & Associates has helped injured people get the benefits they deserve and have earned. Call today to schedule your free consultation and discuss your sciatica disability claim.
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