Which Medical Conditions Qualify for Long-Term Disability?


Minnesota Long-Term Disability Lawyers

Long-term disability can happen to anyone by accident, environment, or genetic predisposition. The single tragic thing that all LTD cases have in common is that the subject can no longer work full-time and may struggle to work at all after the disabling condition takes effect. Qualifying for and successfully being approved for LTD support through Social Security or private/employer-provided disability insurance is one of the best things you can do to take care of yourself if you become disabled after once holding a full-time job.

Today, we’re here to answer the very important question of which medical conditions can qualify for long-term disability. Realistically, there are too many to contain in a single article because there are so many ways that medical disability can occur. So we will do our best to cover the categories of condition that qualify and give you a few revealing examples.

From here, you can consult with your doctor and insurance policies in-detail to determine if your disabling condition is on the list. As a rule of thumb, if your medical condition is effectively preventing you from working or achieving your previous earning capacity, the condition has a high chance of being on the qualified list.

PRELIMINARY REQUIREMENTS FOR LONG-TERM DISABILITY

We’d like to take just a moment to note that long-term disability qualification is based on more than the condition itself. There are a few other qualifiers that must be met first including having held a full-time job before the disability, no longer working after the disability, and proving that you are continually disabled. Pre-existing conditions and their consequences may be excluded and you may be required to use up all sick leave and short-term disability before LTD will be approved.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE CONSIDERED IN LONG-TERM DISABILITY CASES

Now let’s take a comprehensive look at the types of conditions that qualify for long-term disability with a few important examples for each.

CANCER AND MALIGNANT NEOPLASTIC DISEASES

Cancers are auto-immune conditions that cause the body to form malignant masses and/or where the body continually attacks it’s own cells. Cancers are long-term

  • Cancers (Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Liver Cancer, etc.)
  • Leukemia (Acute, Chronic Lymphocyte, Chronic Myelogenous)
  • Lymphoma
  • Mesothelioma
  • Myelofibrosis
  • Hodgkin’s Disease
  • Malignant Tumors

PERMANENT INFECTIONS AND PARASITIC DISEASES

There are some types of infections or parasites that never leave the body once exposed. In addition to leaving patients weakened and fighting a constant battle, you must also protect others from infection for the rest of your lifetime.

SENSES AND SPEECH DISORDERS

Any condition that permanently or chronically impairs your senses or prevents you from speaking to your full capacity may qualify for long-term disability coverage.

IMMUNE SYSTEM DISORDERS

Conditions that permanently or chronically affect your immune system are serious and often disabling. Whether this happens naturally or as the result of environmental toxins, immune system disorders often qualify for LTD.

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM CONDITIONS

Musculoskeletal disorders and conditions are often diagnosed with x-rays and accompanied with chronic disabling pain and movement limitations. These are among the most common types of approved LTD conditions as they can be diagnosed without room for interpretation.

  • Tendonitis
  • Sciatica and Scoliosis
  • Ruptured Disc and Herniated Disc
  • Amputation
  • Arthritis (Inflammatory, Rheumatoid, Osteoarthritis)
  • Back Pain
  • Fibromyalgia and Fibromyositis
  • Spina Bifida
  • Mixed or Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Diseases
  • Degenerative Joint or Disc Diseases

CARDIOVASCULAR AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEM CONDITIONS

Conditions that affect your heart or blood flow can permanently affect your ability to safely become active or achieve a healthy heart rate.

  • Heart Attack or Heart Failure
  • Heart Transplant
  • Aneurism or Stroke
  • Hypertension
  • Heart Disease (Coronary, Ischemic, Symptomatic Congenital)
  • Phlebitis
  • Ventricle Assist Device
  • Recurrent Arrhythmia

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISORDERS

Respiratory system disorders are often the result of environmental toxins or poor air quality and can permanently damage a patient’s ability to breathe and exercise.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISORDERS

The body’s energy and nutrition come from the digestive system. Digestive disorders often prevent a person from retaining healthy nutrients from the food they eat or make eating itself a painful and debilitating experience.

  • Wilson’s Disease
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Bowel Disease (Short, Inflammatory, Irritable)
  • Cirrhosis
  • Colitis and Ulcerative Colitis
  • Hernia
  • Gastritis or Gastroparesis
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disease (TMJ)
  • Diverticulitis

NERVOUS SYSTEM AND NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS

Nervous system and neurological disorders are among the most tragic because a patient can progressively lose their ability to think and make decisions with lucidity. Rapid neurological disorders may require the patient to retain help from others to maintain their LTD status in the face of adversity.

  • Epilepsy and Seizure Disorder
  • Parkinson’s
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Paralysis
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Dystonia
  • Palsy (Bell’s, Cerebral)
  • Neuropathy
  • Guillian-Barre Syndrome
  • Empty Sella Syndrome

MENTAL DISORDERS

Mental disorders are often brought on by types of stress and environmental factors, or these factors trigger a latent predisposition that was otherwise being managed by the patient. When a mental disorder becomes severe, it can qualify as a long-term disability.

  • Extreme Anxiety
  • Post-Traumatic Stress
  • Manic Depression
  • Schizophrenia
  • Panic Attacks
  • Drug Addiction
  • Obsessive-Compulsive
  • Mood Disorders

HEMATOLOGICAL (BLOOD) DISORDERS

Blood disorders occur when the blood does not produce correctly from the bone marrow or becomes sick in the bloodstream. People with blood disorders often experience weakness, pain, and other internal imbalances because blood is essential to the immune system and waste management process.

  • Sickle Cell Disease
  • Anema (Chronic, Aplastic)
  • Polycythemia Vera
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Systemic Vasculitis
  • Spleen Diseases
  • Hemophilia
  • Chronic Thrombocytopenia

KIDNEY & GENITOURINARY  IMPAIRMENTS

Kidney, urinary, and genetic organ impairments are often connected and difficult to talk about. But they are just as disabling as other severe organ conditions. Some create constant and extreme pain and they often require very strict diet and activity regimes to manage.

  • Endometriosis
  • Interstitial Cystitis
  • Genital Organ Disorders
  • Kidney Failure or Bladder Disorders
  • Nephrotic Disorder
  • Prostatitis
  • Urinary Tract Infections
  • Cervicitis

SKIN DISORDERS

Skin disorders can become so severe that working full-time is impossible. Any condition that covers a significant portion of the skin or creates extreme discomfort can qualify as a disability.

  • Severe Psoriasis or Eczema
  • Ichthyosis
  • Cellulitis
  • Bullous Diseases
  • Photosensitivity Disorders
  • Sebaceous Cyst
  • Burns
  • Dermatitis and Dermatomyositis

ENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC DISORDERS

Endocrine and metabolic disorders are among the most common and often occur with older patients who have not been able to live healthy lives due to harsh or stressful conditions.

  • Diabetes
  • Gout
  • Gland Disorders (Thyroid, Pituitary, Parathyroid, Adrenal)
  • Obesity
  • Malnutrition

MULTIPLE BODY SYSTEM IMPAIRMENTS

Multiple body system impairments occur when more than one system in the body fails and the system failure set each other off.

  • Trisomy X Syndrome
  • Fragile X Syndrome
  • Caudal Regression Syndrome
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU)

SUBJECTIVE CONDITIONS

Finally, there are conditions that are medically apparent but may have multiple possible causes or no clear cause. However, when these occur, there is no medical question that they can become or are inherently disabling.

  • Coma
  • Anorexia
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Chronic Headaches or Migraines
  • Insomnia
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Chronic Radiation Enteritis

We Can Help Fight For Your Rights in Rochester, MN

If you or someone you know is suffering from one of these conditions or a severe condition within these categories, you may qualify for long term disability. Of course, getting approved for the disability insurance settlement you need is often more challenging than a disabled patient is prepared to tackle. When this happens, the help of an experienced disability attorney to fight your battles can make the difference you need. Contact us today to find out how the Patterson Dahlberg law office can help you with your long term disability application or appeal.