Social Security disability cases often take a long time to resolve. It’s not unusual for an initial disability claim to take three to six months before it crosses a Social Security adjudicator’s desk. When claims do finally make their way to an adjudicator, they are usually turned down. Approximately, 70% of Social Security disability claims are initially denied, leaving the claimant with a choice of dropping the claim or going through the appeals process.
Once a claim is in the appeals process, it can take months for the claim to be resolved. Once in a while, a claim can even take several years to be accepted. Ultimately, some Social Security claims are never accepted.
Sometimes this is because the person truly doesn’t meet the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s definition of complete disability, but often it’s a matter of not having paperwork or medical forms filled out correctly. Many people are denied Social Security disability benefits who likely would have had their claims approved if they had only had competent representation by a Social Security disability lawyer.
Some Social Security disability claims, such as when a claimant has Systemic Degos Disease, fall into a special category which allows claimants who are obviously disabled to start receiving Social Security disability benefits considerably sooner. This special category, called Compassionate Allowances, is designed to flag claims in which the claimant has a condition which the SSA invariably accepts Social Security disability benefits.
Degos Disease, Systemic- Condition and Symptoms
Systemic Degos disease, sometimes called Kohlmeier Disease or Malignant Atrophic Papulosis is a rare disease which affects the blood vessels. Rather than inflaming the blood vessels, as many diseases do, Degos disease causes the blood vessels to become narrower and cause blockages in the small to medium sized arteries. This leads to a lack of adequate blood supply to the organs or limbs serviced by these blood vessels. The most common noticeable symptom that results from this are skin lesions.
Systemic Degas disease progresses in two stages. During the first stage, the only noticeable effect is usually the skin lesions. For this reason, Degos disease is often originally misdiagnosed as a skin disease and treatment is often referred to or sought from a dermatologist. In the second stage of Systemic Degas disease, other organs such as the eyes, liver, heart, and kidneys can be affected.
The second stage of Degas disease is usually characterized by weight loss, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Sometimes, lesions in the intestinal walls result, causing sepsis, which can be deadly.
Systemic Degos disease can affect men or women of any age, but young adult males are the most frequent victims. There are several treatments used for Degos disease, including immunosuppressants, anticoagulants, and antiplatelet drugs. There is a lack of definitive information regarding the effectiveness of these treatments. Those who suffer from Systemic Degos disease often die within three years of the onset of the second stage of the disease.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Degos Disease
Getting approval for a Social Security disability claim is easy if your paperwork is in order and contains everything the Social Security Administration needs to substantiate the fact that you do, indeed, have Systemic Degos disease. The main hurdle for the SSA is determining that you have Systemic Degos disease, which can be fatal, rather than Degos acanthoma, which appears similar to stage 1 Systemic Degos, but only affects the skin.
You will need to make sure that you fill out everything on the Social Security disability claim form. You will also want to make sure that your medical records include the date at which you first noticed the skin lesions. For many, this can be substantiated with the dermatologist’s report (which should be included). In many cases, lab tests which measure the composition of your blood will have been conducted. The results from any of these tests should be included. Finally, if your doctor has ordered CT scans or MRIs, the results of these tests should be included in your medical file.
Most people find it in their best interest to have a Social Security disability lawyer review their claim. Even if cases such as Degos disease, where your disability isn’t really in question (because it qualifies for a Compassionate Allowance), it’s still a good idea to have an experienced attorney review your case to make sure that everything is in order and that all of the necessary medical documentation is included. Statistics consistently show that claims which are filed with the help of a Social Security disability attorney are more likely to be accepted for a Compassionate Allowance.
Your Degos Disease, Systemic Social Security Disability Case
When you have a condition which is guaranteed to be approved by the SSA for Social Security disability benefits, it can be tempting to fore go having a professional look your claim over. After all, Degos disease qualifies for a compassionate allowance.
However, the one and only reason your claim would not be accepted right from the start is if there is something missing or wrong in the documentation. Doctors fill out their reports in a manner that is ideal for other medical professionals to review, but it’s not always the best way to fill out medical reports for Social Security disability purposes. Many cases that are initially turned down are turned down because a small detail is not recorded in a way that an adjudicator (who is generally not a health professional) can justify approving your claim.
