Adrenal gland disorders can result in a bevy of symptoms that can have a significant impact on an individual's quality of life. These symptoms can interfere with the simplest of everyday tasks, making it impossible for individual's who are suffering from the condition to maintain full-time work activities. The resulting loss of income and lack of medical insurance makes the situation work, causing financial stress and added emotional burden. If you are suffering from an adrenal gland disorder and are unable to work due to the condition, Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income may be able to help. The following information will help you understand the Social Security Disability claim process and how the Social Security Administration reviews disability claims that are based on this diagnosis.
Adrenal Gland Disorders Condition and Symptoms
Your adrenal glands are small glands located at the top of each kidney. These glands are responsible for producing hormones that your body needs in order to survive, including cortisol and sexual hormones. When an adrenal gland disorder occurs, your body makes either too many hormones or too few. Diseases like Cushing's syndrome and Addison's disease are both the result of adrenal disorders.
The specific symptoms associated with an adrenal gland disorder will vary depending on the type of adrenal gland disorder that an individual is suffering from, and the severity of the condition. Common symptoms of adrenal gland disorders include hair loss on the scalp, hair growth on the body, high blood pressure, general fatigue and loss of muscle.
Treatment for an adrenal gland disorder will vary depending on the underlying cause of the disorder. If a tumor is responsible for the disorder, surgery may correct the problem. In other cases prescription medications can help. For some patients, the condition will not respond to treatment and doctors will focus on making the patient as comfortable as possible.
When an individual suffers from an adrenal gland disorder that causes severe symptoms and is not responsive to treatment, they should consider an application for Social Security Disability benefits.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Adrenal Gland Disorders
The Social Security Administration does recognize adrenal gland disorders as a disabling condition in its Blue Book of Medical Listings. According to Section 9.00B4, the Social Security Administration will try to evaluate an applicant's eligibility for disability benefits by comparing their symptoms to other published Medical Listings. For example, the use of the applicant's upper extremities will be evaluated under Section 1.00 of the Medical Listings. Adrenal-related hypertension or heart failure will be evaluated under Section 4.00, adrenal-related weight loss will be evaluated under Section 5.00 and mood disorders resulting from the adrenal disorder will be evaluated under Section 12.00.
Because adrenal gland disorders are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, it can be harder to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process. Because of this, you will want to provide the Social Security Administration with as much medical documentation as possible to prove that you meet one of the established Medical Listings. You should also be sure to fill out all of the claim forms properly, including the residual functional capacity forms. All of this information will help the adjudicator who reviews your file understand why you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits due to the limitations your condition places on you.
If you do not have enough medical evidence to prove that your adrenal gland disorder meets a Medical Listing in the SSA's Blue Book, you may be denied benefits during the initial stage of the application process. If this is the case, you will need to pursue a disability appeal in order to obtain the benefits you may be entitled to.
Adrenal Gland Disorders and Your Social Security Disability Case
Nearly 70 percent of all of the Social Security Disability claims received each year are denied by the Social Security Administration during the initial stage of the application process. If yours is among them, do not give up. Instead, consult with a Social Security Disability advocate or attorney as soon as possible. These professionals will help you begin the disability appeal process and will help you through each stage of your Social Security Disability appeal.
When you work with a Social Security Disability lawyer, the professional you hire will help you gather the evidence you need to prove your case to the Social Security Administration. They will also represent you before the administrative law judge at your disability hearing. Statistics show that applicants who attend the hearing with proper representation are more likely to be awarded benefits than applicants who try to represent themselves.
To learn more about filing for disability benefits with an adrenal gland disorder or to learn more about working with a Social Security Disability attorney or advocate, click here for a free evaluation of your SSD case.
