It may be somewhat difficult to qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits if you have Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) alone. However, your disability case may get stronger if your DVT is assisted with a condition called Chronic Veinous Insufficiency (CVI).
Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the veins in your legs block the flow of blood back to your heart. Normally, the valves in your veins guarantee that blood flows toward your heart. When these valves fail, though, blood can flow backwards. This may cause blood to collect in your legs.
- - Pain
- - Swelling
- - Leg Ulcers
- - Varicose Veins
- - Cramps
Chronic venous insufficiency poses no major health risks. However, it can be unpleasant and incapacitating.
Prolonged sitting or standing causes high blood pressure in the leg veins.
- - Smoking
- - Insufficient physical activity
- - Swelling and inflammation of a vein close to the skin, usually in the legs (phlebitis)
- - A blood clot that develops in a deep vein, typically in the calf or thigh (deep vein thrombosis)
How Does the Social Security Administration view Chronic Vein Insufficiency
Chronic Vein insufficiency may impact your daily functioning levels up to the point of being unable to perform work under Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).
Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency may include:
- - Brown skin, typically around the ankles
- - Symptoms of varicose veins
- - Swollen legs or ankles
- - Leg ulcers that might be difficult to treat
- - Tight or itchy and unpleasant calves
- - Walking discomfort that subsides as you relax
- - Excruciating leg cramps or muscle spasms (charley horse)
- - Feeling unpleasant in your legs and the want to move them (restless legs syndrome)
Although it can be treated with compression stockings, medications, sclerotherapy, endovenous thermal ablation and surgery – for some people, the condition may not improve or recover at all. Some extreme treatments may include Some extreme treatments may include
Vein replacement: Your doctor replaces the problematic vein with a healthy vein from another part of your body.
Vein occlusion: Only in the most severe situations is this done on veins in the upper thigh. A healthy vein from another portion of your body is extracted by your doctor. They'll utilise it to redirect blood away from the damaged vein. You will normally be in the hospital for 2 to 5 days.
Your disability examiner (DE) assigned by the SSA will look into your detailed reports on how your condition with chronic veinous insufficiency causes Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) limits.
Filing for Chronic Vein Insufficiency with Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has identified Chronic Venous Insufficiency as one of the disabling diseases that may qualify a person for Social Security Disability benefits. The SSA's impairment listing guide lists CVI as a cardiovascular ailment (more colloquially known as the "Blue Book of Impairments"). To qualify for benefits, the condition must meet particular diagnostic criteria pertaining to the severity of the disability it causes. These are the requirements:
The deep venous system and one of the following conditions are involved in chronic venous insufficiency of a lower extremity: surface varicose veins, stasis dermatitis (an inflammatory skin disease), and recurring or chronic ulcerations that have not responded to at least 3 months of recommended therapy.
CVI is often identified in its early stages by a review of symptoms. Ultrasound studies of blood flow patterns can be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Your Chronic Venous Insufficiency Disability Case
If you are unable to work due to the complications of Chronic Venous Insufficiency, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. Because the condition must be in an advanced stage to qualify, proper documentation in the exhibit file is essential. As a result, you should consult with a Social Security disability advocate or attorney about your situation.
When applying for disability benefits for the first time, nearly three out of every four applications are refused. While it is encouraging to know that the government is sincerely attempting to prevent benefits from being granted to people who do not deserve them, access to these monies for individuals who do have a true need for them can be extremely difficult to get. The sole alternative for applicants whose disability claims are refused is to appeal the first judgement. While this may appear to be a straightforward answer, the appeals procedure can be lengthy. The unfortunate thing is that many of these instances are refused because of mistakes in the application form. What's more tragic is that in many cases the disability case takes so long to get approved that those on the receiving end of benefits can no longer benefit from it. It is unsurprising that some claimants withdraw before their case is resolved. Even worse, some people do not survive long enough to receive any awards that may have been due to them.
Get Professional Help
An expert Social Security Disability attorney at The Law Office of Irene Ruzin may collaborate with you and your team of healthcare providers to ensure that your application is completed correctly the first time, saving you the time and stress of a lengthy appeal.