Key Points of This Article:

• When diagnosed with a physical or mental impairment, and unable to work, Social Security will review several factors before approving disability benefits.
• Your credibility may be jeopardized if you’re filing for benefits and don’t seek treatment for your impairment or have the proper documentation to support the criteria needed to make a claim.
• The Social Security Administration’s list of common qualifying impairments for 2020 includes bone diseases, cancers, breathing disorders, heart problems, and dozens of nervous system and autoimmune conditions.
• To receive benefits, a person’s health status must meet the specified criteria for a listing.

A List of Medical Conditions That Qualify for Social Security Disability in Kentucky

The Social Security Administration’s impairment manual, more commonly known as the Blue Book, includes a listing of the most often claimed impairments, both physical and mental, that typically qualify an individual for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Having been diagnosed with one of these conditions doesn’t always mean that you will automatically qualify or be eligible for SSDI. Some conditions may have to be severe, have caused a chronic-related condition, begun to affect your organs, and significantly limit your daily activities, social functioning, or the ability to work or care for yourself.

The Blue Book listings for 2020 highlights only some of the common impairments that typically qualify a person to receive SSDI or SSI benefits.

• Musculoskeletal Problems and Bone Disorders

• • Osteoarthritis
  • Shoulder Pain
  • Degenerative Joint Disease
  • Neck Pain
  • Bilateral Hip Replacement
  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
  • Amputation or Orthopedic Limb Injuries
  • Torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
  • Sciatica
  • Soft Tissue Injuries or Burns
  • Avascular Necrosis
  • Bone Spurs and Bone Growths

• Heart Problems

• • Coronary Heart Disease
  • Arrhythmia or Fibrillation
  • Heart Transplant
  • Valvular Heart Disease
  • Pacemaker
  • Implanted Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD)
  • Stable Angina
  • Coronary Bypass
  • Heart Attack
  • Marfan Syndrome (if caused an aneurysm or serious heart murmur)
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Some Blood Disorders
  • Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
  • High Blood Pressure

• Vision and Hearing Loss

• • Vertigo (vestibular balance disorder, Meniere’s Disease, or an unspecified inner ear problem)
  • Acoustic Neuroma (disturbances of labyrinthine-vestibular function)
  • Speech Disorders (if speech can’t be understood)
  • Partial or Total Blindness
  • Loss of Peripheral Vision
  • Macular Degeneration
  • Glaucoma
  • Palinopsia
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa Damage

• Breathing Disorders

• • COPD
  • Sleep Apnea (that has caused heart, pulmonary, or cognitive health issues)
  • Asthma
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Lung Cancer
  • Chronic Lung Infections (Bronchiectasis or Pneumoconiosis, including Black Lung Disease)
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chronic Asthmas Bronchitis
  • Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV)

• Neurological Problems and Neurological Disorders Related to the Spine and Peripheral Nervous System

• • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Huntington’s Disease
  • Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Vascular Dementia
  • Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
  • Muscular Atrophy
  • Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) or Shy Drager Syndrome
  • Stiff Person Syndrome
  • Spinal Cord Injury or Paralysis
  • Syringomyelia
  • Myelitis
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Chronic Migraines
  • Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth

• Mental Illness, Mood Disorders and Developmental and Learning Diagnoses

• • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Anxiety Disorder
  • Depression
  • Bipolar Depression
  • Autism
  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
  • Borderline Personality Disorder
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

• Immune System and Autoimmune Disorders

• • Sarcoidosis
  • Lupus
  • Sjogren’s Syndrome
  • Scleroderma
  • Grave’s Disease
  • Addison’s Disease
  • Hashimoto’s Disease (the most common form of hypothyroidism)
  • Diabetes (if caused organ damage or further medical complications)
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) or Cholangitis
  • Psoriasis
  • Severe Allergies
  • Scleroderma
  • Advanced Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • HIV/AIDS

• Medical Syndromes

• • Asperger’s Syndrome
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS, CFIDS)
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
  • Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
  • Down Syndrome
  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
  • Epstein-Barr Virus
  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
  • Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS)

• Skin Disorders

• • Severe and Recurring Infections
  • Psoriatic Arthritis and Joint Pain
  • Hidradenitis Suppurativa
  • Eczema (Dermatitis and Skin Lesions)
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Scar Tissue from Soft Tissue Injuries or Burns
  • Dupuytren’s Contracture

• Digestive Tract Problems and Intestinal Disorders

• • Crohn’s Disease
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Diverticulitis
  • Celiac Disease
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Gout
  • GERD (if leading to more serious health problems)
  • Severe Gastroparesis
  • Hiatal Hernia

• Kidney Disease

• • Kidney Failure
  • End State Renal Disease

• Cancer

• • More than 20 forms of cancer are listed in the updated Blue Book for 2020, and some qualify for expedited processing with automatic approval. Whether you are eligible for Social Security benefits will still depend on the type, location, and prognosis of your cancer, and how well it responds to treatment.

• Blood Disorders

• • Hemophilia
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Von Willebrand

To review a full list of impairments included in the 2020 Blue Book, visit the SSA here.

Preparing, Filing and Appealing a Disability Claim

In Kentucky, Social Security has specific measurements to meet before disability benefits are automatically granted or denied, in which you can appeal a decision. For this reason, it is suggested to use an experienced SSD lawyer when you start your initial application. Even if you don’t meet the disability listing criteria, your lawyer can help determine if you might qualify based on other conditions related to your health condition that limits your ability to work. The Social Security attorneys at Rhoads & Rhoads law firm will make sure no steps are missed and there are no legal or technical reasons that prevent your claim from being approved.

We also recognize that we are living in challenging times. While we all have concerns about our families, health, employment, and more – please be assured that our team is still accommodating our clients through phone calls and virtual meetings. Our job is to protect the clients we serve, including the many who have underlying medical conditions and financial hardships related to their disability.

Western Kentucky Social Security Disability Lawyers — No Recovery, No Fee

Attorneys at Rhoads & Rhoads represent Social Security applicants who are seeking to file or appeal for benefits throughout Western Kentucky. We offer free initial consultations, and all cases are taken on a contingency fee basis. That means there is no payment required up front, and we get paid when we win or settle your case. Call us at 888-709-9329 to schedule an appointment with one of our Madisonville or Owensboro lawyers.

Watch: How to File for Social Security Disability