Neurological Disorders, Brain, Spinal Cord: Social Security Disability

The Social Security Administration organizes neurological disorders into the following sixteen categories:

• Convulsive Epilepsy
• Nonconvulsive Epilepsy
• Central Nervous Vascular Accident
• Brain Tumors
• Parkinsonian Syndrome
• Cerebral Palsy
• Spinal Cord or Nerve Root Lesions
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Anterior Poliomyelitis
• Myasthenia Gravis
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Peripheral Neuropathies
• Subacute Combined Cord Degeneration
• Cerebral Trauma
• Syringomyelia

If you are unable to work for at least twelve consecutive months due to a neurological disorder, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Call Freedom Disability Services today at (866) 761-5942 to begin your application or appeal your case if you have been denied in the past.

Convulsive Epilepsy

To be approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, either in an initial application or an appeal, the claimant is typically successful when their convulsive epilepsy (grand mal or psychomotor) is documented by a detailed description of a typical seizure pattern, including all associated occurrences. The seizures must occur more than once a month despite at least three previous months of prescribed treatment. The claimant must experience alteration of awareness or loss of consciousness and transient postictal manifestations of unconventional behavior that interferes with daily activity. Back to neurological disorders

Nonconvulsive Epilepsy

Claimants applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits with nonconvulsive epilepsy (petit mal, psychomotor, or focal) are most successful when their condition is documented by detailed descriptions of typical seizure patterns including all associated occurrences. The seizures must occur more than once a week despite three previous months of prescribed treatment. The claimant must also experience alteration of awareness or loss of consciousness and transient postictal manifestations of unconventional behavior that interferes with daily activity. Back to neurological disorders

Central Nervous System Vascular Accident

Claimants are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits with one or more of the following symptoms more than three months after the vascular accident:

• Sensory or motor aphasia resulting in ineffective speech or communication
• Significant and unrelenting disorganization of motor function in at least two extremities, resulting in disturbance of movements or gait and station Back to neurological disorders

Benign Brain Tumors

The Social Security Administration evaluates brain tumors based on their severity and the duration of impairment on daily activities and laboratory findings. If you are unable to work for at least twelve consecutive months due to your brain tumor, you will typically be approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Back to neurological disorders

Parkinsonian Syndrome

Claimants applying or appealing Social Security Disability Insurance benefits claims are typically approved when their condition includes the following symptoms:

• Significant rigidity
• Bradykinesia
• Tremor in at least two extremities

These symptoms must singularly, or in combination result in a sustained disturbance or dexterous movements, or gait and station. Back to neurological disorders

Cerebral Palsy

Claimants are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits when they demonstrate:

• An IQ of 70 or less
• Abnormal behavior patterns such as emotional instability or destructiveness
• Disorganization of motor function Back to neurological disorders

Spinal Cord or Nerve Root Lesions

Claimants with spinal cord or nerve root lesions, due to any cause, are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits with significant and persistent disorganization of motor function in at least two extremities resulting in sustained disturbance of dexterous movements, or gait and station. Back to neurological disorders

Multiple Sclerosis

Claimants with multiple sclerosis applying or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, or appealing a previous denial, are typically approved with documentation of the following:

• Visual or mental impairment
• Disorganization of motor function in at least two extremities
• Significant reproducible fatigue of motor function with substantial muscle fatigue due to repetitive activity. This must be demonstrated on a physical examination and result from neurological dysfunction in areas of the central nervous system recognized to be involved with the multiple sclerosis process. Back to neurological disorders

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal disease, which attacks nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. Eventually individuals with ALS lose their ability to move their arms, legs, ability to swallow, speak and breath. Claimants are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis established by clinical and laboratory findings. Back to neurological disorders

Anterior Poliomyelitis

Claimants applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits who suffer from Anterior Poliomyelitis are typically approved when their condition includes the following:

• Unintelligible speech
• Persistent difficulty breathing and swallowing
• Disorganized motor function Back to neurological disorders

Myasthenia Gravis

Claimants with Myasthenia Gravis are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits when their symptoms include the following:

• Significant motor weakness of muscles of extremities due to repetitive activity against resistance while on prescribed therapy
• Significant difficulty swallowing, breathing or speaking while on prescribed therapy Back to neurological disorders

Muscular Dystrophy

Claimants applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are typically approved when they suffer from muscular dystrophy with disorganization of motor function in at least two extremities resulting in sustained disturbance of dexterous movements, or gait and station. Back to neurological disorders

Peripheral Neuropathies

Claimants applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are typically approved when suffering from peripheral neuropathies with disorganization of motor function in at least two extremities resulting in sustained disturbance of dexterous movements, or gait and station. Back to neurological disorders

Subacute Combined Cord Degeneration

Claimants suffering with subacute combined cord degeneration with disorganization of motor function in at least two extremities resulting in sustained disturbance of dexterous movement, or gait and function are typically approved in their applications and appeals when their condition is not significantly improved by prescribed treatment. Back to neurological disorders

Degenerative Diseases not listed in other Categories

Common degenerative diseases not listed in other categories are diseases such as Huntington’s chorea, Friedrich’s Ataxia and spino-cerebellar degeneration with the following symptoms:

• Chronic brain syndrome
• Disorganization of motor function in at least two extremities resulting in sustained disturbance of dexterous movement, or gait and station. Back to neurological disorders

Cerebral Trauma

Claimants are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits if the effects of the accident prevent you from working any job for at least twelve consecutive months. Back to neurological disorders

Syringomyelia

Claimants applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are typically approved with documentation of the following symptoms:

• Significant bulbar signs
• Disorganization of motor function in at least two extremities resulting in sustained disturbance of dexterous movement, or gait and station. Back to neurological disorders

Remember, this is only a list of common mental disorders the Social Security Administration has predetermined severe enough to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. If you do not fall into one of these categories, but still feel your condition is disabling, call Freedom Disability Services today at (866) 761-5942 for a free evaluation by one of our Advocates. Our Advocates will provide you with further information about each category’s specific criteria and help determine if your condition is likely to result in a successful SSDI application.

The foregoing information is based on published materials from the Social Security Administration (“Disability Evaluation Under Social Security”). It is meant to serve as an introduction to some of the factors used by the SSA in evaluating cases. It is no way comprehensive. While Freedom Disability Services can help you prepare an effective application for benefits, only the SSA can determine whether or not you qualify. For more information call Freedom today at (866) 761-5942.

Share

Tweet