There are millions of people across the country with disabilities. The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes hundreds of different conditions that qualify for disability benefits, but those conditions must be severe for a disability claim to be approved.
If you are a dealing with a medical condition that is keeping you out of work, you may qualify. Here is a closer look at qualifying for disability benefits with carpal tunnel.
Blue Book Listing
Carpal tunnel can be disabling. There is no listing in the Blue Book for carpal tunnel, but it can be a symptom of a disease with an impairment listing.
For example, possible listed conditions that could cause or that are related to carpal tunnel include scleroderma, lupus, kidney disease, arthritis, and diabetes.
If you have one of those conditions, you can qualify by meeting the criteria for one of those listings.
Otherwise, you may qualify through a medical vocational allowance. This approach takes your age, work history, educational background, transferrable skills, and medical conditions all into consideration.
Tests that may help your disability claim for carpal tunnel include thumb weakness test by measuring your ability to raise your thumbs toward the sky when hands are flat on a table, or a Phalen’s test that checks for symptoms when your hands dangled off of a table with the back of your hands touching one another and fingers pointed to the ground, or a pressure provocation test that applies pressure over the carpal tunnel to check for shock or tingling.
Applying For Disability Benefits
During the initial review, about two-thirds of disability claims are denied. Some of the more common reasons for claims being denied include:
- Technical problems with the application
- Disqualification based on the medical information
- Insufficient work history for SSDI benefits
- Not meeting the financial criteria for SSI benefits
Enlisting the help of a disability lawyer can help you maneuver the claims process. An attorney will know if your condition qualifies and if you have enough evidence to back up your claim.
How It Could Affect You And Your Family
Dealing with a medical disability affects you but your family as well. You can suffer financial strain, be unable to do seemingly routine or basic tasks without the help of others, suffer emotionally and mentally because of your health condition, feel unable to engage in many activities that once brought you happiness, and you will fall short in providing the necessary income for your family to thrive and survive.
Get Your Claim On Track
If you are unable to work and earn a living because of carpal tunnel, a disability attorney may be able to help you get your claim on track.
A lawyer will review the details of your claim, help you gather supporting evidence and documentation, and prove your claim. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form to share the details of your carpal tunnel disability claim today.
