Polycythemia Vera and Social Security Disability

Polycythemia Vera is a rare disease that can have fatal consequences. Those who live with the condition are oftentimes faced with a significant impact on their quality of life. When symptoms are severe, it can be difficult to manage a normal daily routine, let alone full-time work activity. When an individual is unable to work due to this condition, the resulting lack of income can result in severe financial stress. If you have been diagnosed with polycythemia vera and are wondering how the condition qualifies you for Social Security Disability benefits, the following information will help you understand the Social Security Disability claim process and how the Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews claims based on this diagnosis.

Polycythemia Vera - Condition and Symptoms

Polycythemia vera is a disorder affecting the marrow of the body's bones. When an individual is affected by this condition, the bone marrow creates too many red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The over-production of red blood cells that is caused by the disease can result in a variety of symptoms, and some can be life-threatening.

The condition itself is very rare. Although progressive in nature, polycythemia vera develops very slowly and in the beginning stages of the disease most patients will experience few, if any symptoms at all. The condition is usually discovered during routine blood tests that have been taken for other reasons so treatment often begins early.

The symptoms that this condition causes vary widely depending on the stage of the disease and the severity of the case. As stated above, in the beginning stages very few symptoms are ever present. However, as the disease progresses common symptoms include headaches, itchiness after bathing, dizziness, a redness of the skin, and shortness of breath, numbness and tingling in the extremities of the body, upper-abdominal bloating and chronic fatigue.

While some of the symptoms of polycythemia vera are nothing more than an inconvenience, others can be life-threatening. Untreated polycythemia vera or a case that does not respond to treatment can result in skin problems, spleen enlargement, blood disorders, open sores on the small intestine, peptic ulcers, gout and deadly blood clots.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for polycythemia vera. Instead, a doctor will focus on addressing the patient's blood count and may take blood out of the veins or prescribe medication that hinder the bone marrow's ability to create red blood cells.

Filing for Social Security Disability with Polycythemia Vera

Polycythemia vera is included in the SSA's Blue Book of disabling conditions under Section 7.09 of the Medial Listings. According to this listing, in order for a patient to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits due to this condition, he or she must suffer from polycythemia vera with erythrocytosis, splenomegaly, and leukocytosis or thrombocytosis.

Because all cases of this condition are different, a diagnosis of the disease itself will not be enough to qualify an individual for disability benefits from the SSA. The adjudicator reviewing your file will evaluate your resulting impairment under the criteria for the affected body system.

When filing your claim for Social Security Disability benefits, make sure that you include as many medical records as possible to support your claim for benefits. Diagnostic imaging of blood clots, lab results and other medical records will all help support your disability case. Also include written statements from treating physicians and be sure to fill out the residual functional capacity forms with detailed answers when completing the disability application paperwork. The goal is to make the adjudicator who is reviewing your file understand how severe your condition is and how it prevents you from performing any type of substantial gainful activity.

Polycythemia Vera and Your Social Security Disability Case

It is important to note that nearly 70 percent of the disability claims received each year are denied by the SSA in the initial stage of the application process. If your application is not perfect and does not prove beyond a doubt that you are incapable of working, you will likely be among the denied applicants. That does not mean, however, that you will not be able to obtain the Social Security Disability benefits that you may be entitled to. In order to overturn a denied Social Security Disability claim you will need to pursue the disability appeal process.

While you are allowed pursue a disability claim on your own, it is in your best interests to hire the services of a qualified disability attorney. The professional you hire can point out any weak spots in your claim and how they can be fixed. He or she can also represent you before the administrative law judge at your disability hearing, providing additional medical evidence and retaining expert medical and vocational witnesses if necessary.