The Social Security Administration (SSA) compiles a list of disorders that are considered to be sufficiently severe to keep a person from engaging in any gainful activity, which is an important factor in determining whether a person qualifies for Social Security disability (SSD) benefits. Knoxville and all U.S. residents may be interested that effective September 29, 2016, neurological disorders were added as an independent category to the Listing of Impairments.
Neurological disorders listed include epilepsy, vascular insult to the brain, benign brain tumors, Parkinsonian Syndrome, cerebral palsy, spinal cord disorders, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), post-polio syndrome, myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, peripheral neuropathy, neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, traumatic brain injury, coma or persistent vegetative state and motor neuron disorders other than ALS. Some of these disorders may have fallen under other categories in the past but are now included as their own separate listing.
The Social Security Administration requires both medical and non-medical evidence, including laboratory test findings, symptoms and signs, in order to assess whether an applicant has one of the aforementioned neurological disorders. Medical evidence includes the applicant’s medical history, anything found during an examination, related laboratory tests and the results of any x-rays or other types of imaging.
For those suffering from neurological disorders, everyday tasks can be challenging. Should one’s impairment be so severe as to lead to an inability to work, seeking Social Security disability benefits may be one way to cope with one’s financial needs. Residents of Knoxville in such situations should carefully work through their application for benefits. It may help to seek aid in doing so, to ensure one’s application is as thorough as possible before submitting it for consideration.