Someone diagnosed with Desmoplastic Mesothelioma may qualify for disability benefits under the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Compassionate Allowance program. The Compassionate Allowance program was formed by the SSA to address the needs of victims of severe medical conditions like Desmoplastic Mesothelioma. While people who are diagnosed with Desmoplastic Mesothelioma would normally qualify for disability benefits, the application process awaiting their ultimate approval can take quite some time. As such, the Compassionate Allowance program fast tracks their applications, making it so these individuals can be approved for the disability benefits they need while they’re suffering from this medical condition in a timelier manner.
While people who suffer from Desmoplastic Mesothelioma are eligible for the Compassionate Allowance program, they still need to be able to identify the symptoms of their medical condition in the SSA’s Blue Book—which is their list of eligible medical conditions that qualify for disability benefits.
What is Desmoplastic Mesothelioma?
Desmoplastic Mesothelioma (DMM) is a rare and highly lethal sub group of malignant mesothelioma and is often difficult to tell apart from reactive pleural fibrosis. DMM most commonly affects the victim’s pleura and, at times, the peritoneum as well as the pericardium. Like other types of mesothelioma, DMM is often linked to exposure to asbestos.
What is a Compassionate Allowance?
Compassionate allowances (CAL) are a way to identify medical conditions that meet Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) requirements for eligibility for disability benefits. These medical conditions typical include certain types of cancers, adult brain ailments, and several of the more rare severe medical conditions that affect children. Using the CAL helps the SSA reduce the waiting for reaching a disability determination for individuals with the most severe and life changing disabilities.
There are several medical conditions that commonly meet the SSA’s requirements for Social Security disability benefits (SSD) under Compassionate Allowances. Some of these conditions are listed below.
- Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma;
- Adult Onset Huntington Disease;
- Child Lymphoma;
- Child Neuroblastoma - with distant metastases or recurrent;
- Choroid Plexus Carcinoma;
- Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors;
- Dravet Syndrome;
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy- Adult;
- Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease;
- Edwards Syndrome (Trisomy 18);
- Eisenmenger Syndrome;
- Pericardial Mesothelioma;
- Peripheral Nerve Cancer - metastatic or recurrent;
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma;
- Peritoneal Mucinous Carcinomatosis.
In order to qualify for disability benefits for Desmoplastic Mesothelioma using the Compassionate Allowances set up by the SSA, you must meet the requirements in section 13.15 of the SSA’s Blue Book (the resource the SSA uses to explain what conditions qualify for SSD and how they qualify). The SSA will need to know how successful your treatment is and if your condition is deteriorating.
Medical Evidence for Desmoplastic Mesothelioma
To provide evidence you have Desmoplastic Mesothelioma, a sample of tumor tissue is collected from a biopsy for determining cell type and treatment options. A large biopsy is necessary for diagnosing Desmoplastic Malignant Mesothelioma because fibrous regions of this tumor may conceal cell variations that are important for an accurate diagnosis. The main feature of Desmoplastic Malignant Mesothelioma is a high concentration of fibrous connective tissue. These dense and fibrous areas can produce symptoms similar to pulmonary fibrosis, such as chest pain and a buildup of fluid in the lungs. The patient will typically experience shortness of breath as the primary symptom.
Get Help with Your Desmoplastic Mesothelioma Claim
Providing sufficient evidence to the SSA that proves you have been diagnosed with Desmoplastic Mesothelioma is essential if you want to qualify for disability benefits with Desmoplastic Mesothelioma under the Compassionate Allowances Program. However, finding and gathering the proper evidence is easier said than done. This is precisely where a Social Security Disability attorney can help. Working with such an attorney is a good idea because they can help you file a successful claim. Generally, people who work with Social Security Disability attorneys have better chances of getting approved for disability benefits.
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