Qualifying Conditions for Social Security Claims

Learn about the medical conditions that help you qualify for you to claim social security disability benefits.

  1. RQP Law
  2. Social Security Disability
  3. Qualifying Conditions

Medical Conditions

We’re often asked, “Does my condition qualify for disability benefits?” or “What conditions qualify for Social Security Disability?” Our answer is almost always: it depends. Like many areas of the law, Social Security Disability law rarely involves black-and-white, yes-or-no situations. Almost all applications fall into a gray area where they could be approved or denied. For example, one person with a specific back condition could be approved for benefits while someone with a very similar or even exact same condition could be denied based on other factors in their case such as age, education level, work history or how the condition limits them versus how it limits the other person.

Schedule a FREE consultation with our social security attorneys today.

Which Conditions Qualify for SSD Claims?

While there are no exact answer to which conditions qualify for Social Security Disability, we have compiled a list of common conditions that people CAN be approved for, assuming the facts line up and their case is presented properly by an experienced Social Security Disability attorney. Just because you’ve been diagnosed with one of these conditions, it doesn’t mean that you automatically qualify for benefits.

But with proper representation, you should have a good chance of being approved. While this list is quite long and detailed, it’s not exhaustive. Other conditions not listed can qualify you for disability benefits. On the flip side, just because you’ve been diagnosed with one of these conditions, it doesn’t mean you automatically qualify.

Musculoskeletal System Conditions

Spine conditions

 

  • Spinal stenosis
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Spinal spondylosis
  • Failed back syndrome
  • Herniated discs
  • Bulging discs
  • Radiculopathy
  • Compressed nerve root

Joint conditions:

 

  • Knee problems, including osteoarthritis, joint effusion, subluxation, knee replacement, failed knee surgery
  • Hip problems, including osteoarthritis, joint effusion, subluxation, hip replacement, failed hip surgery
  • Shoulder problems, including osteoarthritis, joint effusion, subluxation, frozen shoulder, failed shoulder surgery
  • Ankle injuries, including non-healing or non-union fracture, ankle replacement, failed ankle surgery
  • Wrist or elbow injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, arthritis of the wrist, arthritis of the elbow, non-healing fracture of the wrist or elbow

Other conditions:

 

  • Other non-union or non-healing fractures
  • Amputations
  • Soft-tissue injuries

Affecting Special Senses

  • Loss of visual acuity
  • Contraction of visual fields
  • Loss of visual efficiency
  • Vestibular dysfunction
  • Loss of speech
  • Loss of hearing treated with a cochlear implant

Respiratory Disease

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Asthma
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Chronic pulmonary hypertension
  • Pneumoconiosis (brown lung, black lung, etc.)
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Tuberculosis, fungus, chronic infections
  • Respiratory failure

Cardiovascular System Conditions

  • Chronic heart failure
  • Ischemic heart disease
  • Recurrent arrhythmias
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Heart transplant
  • Aneurysm of the aorta or other major branch of the heart
  • Chronic venous insufficiency
  • Peripheral arterial disease

Digestive System Conditions

  • Gastrointestinal hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Short bowel syndrome
  • Liver transplant

Kidney Disease

  • Chronic kidney disease with dialysis
  • Kidney transplant
  • Chronic kidney disease with impairment of kidney function
  • Kidney nephritis
  • End-stage kidney disease

Hermatology or Blood Disease

  • Anemias such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia or other variants
  • Disorders of thrombosis and hemostasis
  • Disorders of bone marrow failure
  • Need for bone marrow or stem cell transplant

Skin Disorders

  • Ichthyosis
  • Bullous disease
  • Chronic skin infections
  • Chronic dermatitis
  • Hidradenitis suppurativa
  • Genetic photosensitivity
  • Extensive burns

Endocrine Disorders

  • Thyroid disorders
  • Parathyroid disorders
  • Pituitary gland disorders
  • Adrenal disorders
  • Diabetes and complications related to diabetes

Congenital Disorders

  • Down syndrome
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Tay-Sachs disease
  • Trisomy X syndrome
  • Fragile X syndrome
  • Caudal regression syndrome

Neurological Conditions

  • Epilepsy or seizure disorder
  • Stroke
  • Brain tumor
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Spinal cord disorders affecting the central nervous system
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease
  • Polio
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Huntington’s chorea

Psychiatric Disorders

  • Brain diseases affecting psychiatric health
  • Depression or depressive disorders
  • Schizophrenia, paranoia
  • Affective or mood disorders
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder or other stress-related disorders
  • Autism and mental retardation
  • Anxiety and related disorders
  • Somatoform disorders
  • Adult personality disorders

Cancer and Cancer Treatment

  • Breast cancer
  • Bone cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Skin cancer
  • Soft-tissue sarcoma
  • Lymphoma
  • Leukemia
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Cancer of salivary glands
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Cancer of the central nervous system
  • Stomach cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Renal cell carcinoma
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Cancer of the liver
  • Malignant melanoma
  • Side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy

Immune System Disorders

  • Lupus
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Other inflammatory arthritis
  • Systemic sclerosis
  • Systemic vasculitis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Connective tissue disorder
  • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
  • Complications of HIV and AIDS
  • Sjogren’s syndrome

Understanding Social Security Disability

SSD vs. SSI

Learn the difference between social security disability and supplemental security income.

Submitting Claims Process

The social security claimes process can be confusing but we’re here to help.

Qualifying Coditions

Understand how to determine elgibility for social security disability claims.

Veterans Law

We are proud to support military veterans and help them claim the benefits they’ve earned.

Social Security Law resources from RQP Law

Schedule a FREE Consultation

The best way to confirm your Social Security disability eligibility is to seek the advice of an experienced law firm. At RQP Law, we can help determine your eligibility and build the strongest case around your situation to prove to Social Security why your condition qualifies you for benefits.

We are pleased to meet with you in our Pottstown, PA primary office or any of our satellite offices

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Ft Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 399-6400

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Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 670-7367

New Jersey

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Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 503-7355

North Carolina

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Suite 410
Charlotte, NC 28209
(704) 594-1876