The month of April marks National Asbestos Awareness Month. Asbestos is a group of naturally-occurring minerals that used to be used in the creation of certain building materials and brakes for vehicles. Some of the minerals that are included in the category of asbestos include chrysotile, amosite, tremolite asbestos, crocidolite, anthophyllite asbestos and actinolite asbestos. The minerals allowed the materials created to be resistant to heat and corrosion. However, exposure to these minerals can lead to a condition known as mesothelioma. It wasn’t until years after the use of asbestos that medical professionals discovered that the inhalation of the fibers could lead to serious disease of the lungs and other organs of the body. One of the serious, malignant conditions that the inhalation of asbestos can lead to is known as mesothelioma.
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer that involves the mesothelial cells of an organ of the body. The lungs are most commonly affected (known as pleural mesothelioma), but the heart or abdominal organs can be affected by mesothelioma as well. While the onset of mesothelioma is slow, once the condition develops it progresses rapidly. Mesothelioma, also known as asbestos lung cancer, is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. The condition is very serious and many of the individuals who suffer from mesothelioma are unable to continue working due to the symptoms of the condition and the symptoms associated with the necessary treatments.
When an individual suffers from mesothelioma, they may be able to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance. According to the Social Security Administration’s “Blue Book” Listing of Medical Impairments, an individual may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits if they can provide medical documentation showing that they are suffering from malignant mesothelioma of the pleura, malignant tumors that are metastatic to the pleura or malignant primary tumors of the mediastinum that have not been controlled by prescribed treatments.
If you are unable to work due to a case of mesothelioma, you should consult with a Social Security attorney prior to filing out a claim for disability benefits with the Social Security Administration. A Social Security Disability attorney will understand how to prove the severity of your mesothelioma and will know what medical records the SSA will need in order to prove your eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits.
Mesothelioma disability applicants can be approved during the initial stage of the application process, even though nearly 70 percent of initial disability claims are denied each year. The SSA’s Blue Book clearly outlines Mesothelioma as a qualifying condition for Social Security Disability eligibility. This does not mean, however, that all mesothelioma disability cases are automatically approved by the SSA. You will need to provide the SSA with the proper medical evidence in order to support your disability claim. This is why it is important to work with a Social Security Disability lawyer. An attorney can help you gather the necessary medical evidence, ensuring that there are no delays in the approval of your claim and that you are able to begin receiving benefits due to your case of mesothelioma as soon as possible.
