To qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), your condition generally must keep you from engaging in substantial gainful activity for at least 12 months. COPD is evaluated under the medical criteria listed in Section 3.02 of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book, which describes chronic respiratory disorders.
If the symptoms of your COPD are so disabling that you are unable to work, you may qualify for benefits from the SSA, provided you meet the necessary medical criteria. Unfortunately, many claims for SSD benefits are rejected because an applicant fails to provide the SSA with the necessary medical evidence.
The Social Security Disability lawyers at Marc Whitehead & Associates offer legal guidance and support to those who have had their SSD claims for COPD benefits denied. Let our attorneys review your case. We can give you insights into the medical criteria required to qualify for SSD benefits for COPD and other topics relating to your situation.
What Is COPD?
COPD refers to a group of diseases that obstruct airflow in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the most common forms of COPD. Symptoms of COPD can include:
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Wheezing
- Sputum production
- Hemoptysis (coughing up blood from the respiratory tract)
- Use of accessory muscles of respiration
- Tachypnea (rapid rate of breathing)
- Respiratory infections
The attorneys at Marc Whitehead & Associates are familiar with the SSA’s medical criteria to qualify for SSD benefits for a COPD disability. If your claim for disability benefits has been denied, we can get to the root of the issue and, if warranted, help you contest the SSA’s original decision against you.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 562-9830
What Medical Criteria Are Needed to Qualify for COPD Disability Benefits from the SSA?
To receive Social Security Disability benefits for COPD, you will have to provide the Social Security Administration with medical evidence that documents and assesses the severity of your respiratory disorder. Below are some of the types of evidence that can support your case for benefits:
- Your medical treatment records and medical history
- Physical examination findings
- Results of CT scans, chest X-rays, and other imaging
- Results of spirometry, DLCO (lung diffusion), and other pulmonary function testing
- Results of arterial blood gas (ABG) studies and pulse oximetry
- Results of blood tests and other laboratory tests
- Descriptions of any prescribed treatments and your response to them
Pursue legal help if you’re wondering whether you are eligible for Social Security Disability benefits based on your COPD symptoms. The legal team at Marc Whitehead & Associates can explain whether you meet the medical criteria to qualify for SSD benefits for COPD. We also assist those who want to appeal a denied SSD claim.
How Bad Does COPD Have to Be to Get Disability?
You may qualify for SSD benefits for COPD if your disability prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity for at least a year. Based on the SSA Blue Book manual listing of impairments, the official respiratory listing for disability, your medical records will have to show specific high-level impairments. Such records may reflect any of the following:
- Low FEV1 scores from a spirometry test
- At least three hospitalizations within a 12-month period, each at least 30 days apart and each lasting 48 hours or more
- Regular need for a ventilator or a non-invasive machine like a BiPAP
- Poor results on blood gas tests or oxygen saturation tests during a walking test
The Marc Whitehead & Associates team can discuss the medical criteria that are necessary to qualify for SSD benefits for severe COPD. In addition, we can provide information about the timeline for getting these benefits and how to address any challenges that come up along the way.
How Long Does It Take to Get Disability for COPD?
It can take months or longer to get benefits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, even if you fulfill the medical criteria needed to qualify for them. Factors that can affect the SSA’s timeline for deciding on your claim include:
- Completeness of your medical records: Submitting clear FEV1 values or other pulmonary function test results and doctor’s notes can speed up the SSA’s review process.
- Meeting the SSA’s criteria: The SSA may approve your claim without delay if you’re dealing with severe symptoms that prevent you from working.
- Appeals: Even though COPD generally is one of the conditions that qualify you for disability, the SSA can deny your benefits request. In this scenario, you can appeal your claim denial, which can extend your claim’s timeline.
At Marc Whitehead & Associates, we want to help you get your disability benefits claim approved promptly. Our Social Security Disability attorneys can answer any questions you have about the medical criteria to qualify for COPD benefits for Social Security Disability. Or, if your claim was denied, we can help you file your appeal in alignment with the SSA’s guidelines.
Get Help Securing Your Social Security Disability Benefits for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
It can be difficult to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, regardless of whether you meet the medical criteria needed to be eligible for them. Thankfully, you have access to legal help as you go through the claims process or face the ramifications of a denial.
The Marc Whitehead & Associates team has 120 years of combined experience. We can teach you about the medical criteria that are needed for you to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits for COPD. Alternatively, if your claim for disability benefits for COPD was rejected by the SSA, we can help you appeal this decision.
Our Social Security Disability attorneys at Marc Whitehead & Associates have helped individuals across the United States obtain the benefits they need. We know exactly what medical criteria the SSA requires for a particular medical condition and can put together an argument that demonstrates the extent of your disability. Contact us today for more information.
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