Chronic pulmonary insufficiency has several causes and can result in debilitating symptoms. If your condition keeps you from sustaining gainful employment and making a living, you could be eligible for disability benefits.
The ailment falls under the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) listing for chronic respiratory disorders, which means the organization considers it a qualifying condition to receive disability. That said, applicants must meet several stringent requirements for approval. An error on your application or the omission of an important piece of evidence, even if it seems small, can result in a denial.
Working with a skilled disability attorney can maximize your chances of getting disability for chronic pulmonary insufficiency. The team at the Disability Advantage Group, have helped many clients win benefits, including those with this condition. We want to put our experience to work for you. For a free consultation, call 865-566-0800 today.
What Is Chronic Pulmonary Insufficiency?
Chronic pulmonary insufficiency results when your lungs take in too little oxygen when you inhale or expel too little carbon dioxide when you exhale. The result is that your body does not get the oxygen it needs to operate efficiently. As a result, several symptoms can manifest, such as shortness of breath, coughing, mucus production, and chest pain. These effects can often be severe, limiting your ability to work or even carry out normal daily living activities.
The potential causes of chronic pulmonary insufficiency are many, and can include exposure to harmful chemicals or smoke, birth defects, emphysema, air pollution, and more.
How Can I Qualify for Disability for My Chronic Pulmonary Insufficiency?
There are two ways to qualify for disability benefits. The first is by demonstrating to the SSA that your condition meets one of its Blue Book listings.
The Blue Book is a proprietary manual listing the various conditions the SSA considers disabling. If we can show that your condition meets all the criteria for a listing in the Blue Book, you can win approval for disability benefits.
According to listing 3.02, chronic pulmonary insufficiency is an approved respiratory disorder. However, simply having a diagnosis for a chronic respiratory disorder is not enough on its own to win benefits. In addition to a diagnosis, we have to prove that your condition meets one or more of the following four criteria:
- Your FEV1, or volume of air exhaled per second, must be lower than the accept figures for your height and gender;
- Your FVC, or the amount of air you can exhale after taking the deepest breath possible, is lower than a the accepted levels for someone of your gender and height;
- You have a chronic impairment of gas exchange—and have DLCO, ABG, or SpO2test results that prove it; or
- You have had complications from your condition requiring at least three hospitalizations in the last 12 months. The SSA requires that each stay occurred at least 30 days apart and must have lasted at least 48 hours.
These criteria can be confusing to understand and difficult to meet. To win approval on your behalf, you must present the SSA with hard medical evidence showing you meet one of these requirements. If you do not provide the necessary proof of your chronic pulmonary insufficiency, the SSA could deny your claim.
Our attorneys can help you prove your condition meets the SSA’s criteria. Working directly with your doctors, we can build a case and argue that you deserve benefits based on a Blue Book listing.
What If I Do Not Meet the SSA’s Blue Book Listing?
If your condition does not meet one the criteria above, we can build our case based on the residual functional capacity (RFC) test. An RFC test measures the degree to which your condition impacts your daily functioning.
The RFC test consists of a series of objective questions that your treating physician fills out. The purpose of the test is to demonstrate how your condition impairs your ability to do everyday tasks, like walk, stand, sit, or lift objects. It may also evaluate your ability to understand and remember information and interact with others.
Ultimately, the SSA’s chief concern when approving or denying benefits is whether or not your condition prevents you from sustaining meaningful gainful employment. If you cannot work and earn a living for yourself—and we can prove this to the SSA—your chances of approval are high.
Other than meeting a Blue Book listing, the RFC test is the best piece of evidence we have. We make sure it is thorough and compelling before we submit it to the SSA.
Are There Other Qualifications I Must Meet to Get Disability?
You can qualify for disability whether you have worked your whole life or are needy and have zero income. That is because the SSA offers two separate disability programs.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is for workers who become disabled and can no longer do their job. To qualify, you need a sufficient work history and you must have paid into the Social Security system. You must also be unable to earn more than the SSA’s monthly income limit—$1,170 for 2017.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a welfare program for those with low income and limited assets. You do not need a work history to qualify, but you must earn below the SSA’s established income limits.
Our attorneys understand the differences between SSDI and SSI. As your legal team, we will look at your financial records and work history to determine which program requirements you meet before you apply.
Contact the Disability Advantage Group, for a Free Consultation.
Are you ready to apply? The legal team at the Disability Advantage Group, has helped many disabled Americans win Social Security benefits. Let us put our skills and experience to work for you.
The sooner we begin working on your case, the sooner you can receive your approval and start collecting benefits. The consultation is always free, so there is no risk in coming to speak with us.
We are ready to start working for you. Call us today at 865-566-0800 to set up your appointment.