could someone let me know how to get social security to reconize my disability. i am at 60% disabled and unable to hold a job due to my disability. however i have tried to apply for social security and have been denied. they said that they do not reconize migrains or acute bronchitis as a disability. while i was in the navy i had to have my left lung scraped and when they was doing this they ripped a hole in the lung. i can get around ok however i do have hard time breathing during very hot or cold weather. in the 12 years since i got out my medical condition has went from 30% up to 60% because of my lungs and head. i also underwent facial reconstruction and not have 5 metal plates in my face. this cause my head to feel like it is going to explode if the temperature gets below 40. so as you can see it would be hard to hold a job down during the winter time. i have lost so many jobs because of this i have stopped even trying to find one. for the past 2 1/2 years i have tried to make ends meet with the money that i recieve from the va but as time goes on that gets more and more difficult. at present time i am awaiting yet another evaulation of my medical status due to increased breathing problems and other problems from meds taken for headaches. so if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.
Pretty hard to get SSDI because you have to be totally disabled (not be able to do any work). It is usually easier to be rated for unemployability first and then use this as evidence towards your SSDI request. But right now you don't even qualify for unemployability because you need at least 60% on one disability or 70-90% total with multiple disabilities with at least one being at least 40%. Steve
You need to get your lung problems upgraded with the VA. Have you had a pulmonary function test done. You should have an FEV1 and FVC number (liters) or percent. If that number is low enough you can upgrade your disability. You could get 60% or more with a low FEV1 or FVC. And that would get you eligibility for IU. Also if it is low enough for 100%, then that would qualify you for SSDI.
Just an additional note...You said that you were in the Navy,if you were on shipboard, it would be presumed that you were exposed to asbestos..that could be also added to your S/C and if so, look for an asbestos law firm to assist you with claims outside of the VA.
From what I heard while applying for social security disability is that they will deny you at least two or three times unless you have an obvious disability. I went through three denials and an informal court type hearing to get mine. I would also suggest listing everything you can think of that might cause employment problems....depression...medications...etc. Now with at least that income I can concentrate on my VA claims....its not much money but it can mean the difference in paying a light bill or getting your meds for the month.
As to a dignosis to asbestosis..the reason for contacting a law firm, is with a history of lung problems,and shipboard exposure, a good law firm would have a "B " reading of his lung x-rays which can only be done by a certified "B" reader,showing small irregular opacities of ILO Grade 1/1 and a pulmonary function testing that shows a FVC <80% of predicted with FEV-1/FVC>72%(actual value) or if veteran is at least 68 years old testing with FEV-1/FVC.65% (actual value) or TLC ,80% of predicted.This can be used to facilitate his claim for COPD. The VA will accept a positive "B" reading diagnosis, but to my knowledge they do not preform "B" readings in VA medical facilities.
Asbestosis Lung Disease II or ALD-2, means a dignosis by a qualified physycian that indicates other abnormalities or the parenchyma or pleura attributed to prior asbestos exposure,including pleural plaques, Pleural thickening, pleural encasement and mild parenchymal fibrosis not meeting the definition of ALD-1.Here again I must stress this must be done by a QUALIFIED physician.
thank you all for the info. will see what happens with my re-eval and then try and re-apply for ss. hopefully my inability to breath will help lol. and as for the asbestos yes i was exposed to it while at the amphib base in coronado, ca the duty bunkroom celing was filled with it and was there for over a year before they started ripping it out because it was falling out of the overhead. hmmm never thought about it but that was about the time i had to have my first lung operation. because of a collapsed lung which they could find no reason why it collapsed. i think i will look into that. thanks again you have all been a great help.
Another note...If you contact an asbestos law firm,and they think your case has merit,all the test that I mentioned "B" reading etc. will be paid for by them (deducted from any future settlements)..however that will give you copies that you can use in filing your claim. They tend to work at a faster pace than the VA, and this information can be added to your claim.I never heard of "scraping your lung" which leads me to "suspect" what they told you as to your condition...Best wishes.
Yeah they deny everyone... they have presumptive conditions, and even i know people who have been denied for those.
My mother went through this 30 years ago, and she had to sue them.. took 3 years.
At least get an opinion concerning refiling.. eventually if and when you do win against SSI, you want the money to go back to your first claim.. so make sure you get the legal scoop on that before you refile again and again, and lose your retro.
I did a little research and it is used to help damaged lungs heal or to remove some foreign matter. I would try to get hold of the medical records of the procedure and have the reviewed by a pulmonologists (a lung doctor).
