If you have carpel tunnel syndrome, the SSA’s Blue Book can help you by listing out what medical evidence you need in order to support your claim for Social Security benefits. Carpel tunnel syndrome is often work related as it is known to be due to repetitive motions such as typing and long-term exposure to the vibrations from electric hand tools.

The main symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome are pain in the arm and hand including numbness or pins and needles which can spread to the shoulder. The symptoms make it difficult to complete everyday tasks without assistance.

How the Blue Book Can Help You Medically Qualify with Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

The Blue Book is compiled by the Social Security Administration (SSA) which lists medical conditions which are eligible to receive social security disability benefits. If an applicant’s condition is so severe that they are diagnosed as totally and permanently disabled and are unable to cope with normal life including going to work the disability assessor will refer to the Blue Book listings to work out if an applicant is eligible to receive disability benefits.

The medical condition including carpel tunnel syndrome should be expected to persist for at least twelve months or until death takes place. However, it is still difficult to qualify for disability benefits with carpel tunnel syndrome because it isn’t listed separately in the Blue Book. Also over a period of time with treatment many victims improve which means they wouldn’t qualify for disability benefits.

However, with the right documentation, a victim of carpel tunnel syndrome may still qualify for disability benefits.

What Medical Evidence Do I Need to Win a Carpel Tunnel Syndrome Claim?

The more evidence you provide describing your Carpel Tunnel Syndrome on your application, the higher chance you may have to qualify for disability benefits.

The sorts of evidence to include in your application are the following:

• your physician’s physical examination notes that show you physical state has deteriorated due to carpel tunnel syndrome;
• results of nerve conduction tests that show your present nerve function;
• results of surgery as in 90 percent of cases surgery offers some relief from the symptoms;
• residual function capacity (RFC) test results recorded by your physician after tasks you have been asked to perform such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, or pushing.

Check out the Blue Book to make sure you have all the medical evidence you need for your claim.

Help Filing for Disability Benefits with Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

A lawyer may be able to assist in helping you with your application for disability benefits with carpel tunnel syndrome, especially when it comes to using information provided in the Blue Book. The lawyer can make sure you have all the right evidence to prove the debilitating effects of carpel tunnel syndrome so that your application is not denied.

Additional Resources

• Social Security Application Process for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Tests Needed to Apply with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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