Asthma

Serving the Western United States

Asthma and Social Security Disability Benefits

Asthma is a condition in which the airways to the lungs swell, causing these airways to narrow and even close. The ensuing symptoms are coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.  Asthma attacks are a common, but dangerous, occurrence for the illness. The muscles of the airways tighten up and restrict airflow, incapacitating the individual until the incident passes. These attacks can either last a few minutes or even a few days. The attacks can become fatal if the airway is completely closed up, and immediate medical attention should be sought if this were to occur.

Anyone who suffers an asthma attack would be disabled until it passes, and even for some time afterward. Also, any environment containing dust, smoke, and fumes would aggravate asthma or its symptoms.

Asthma and Social Security Disability Help

If the applicant’s impairment falls within any of the following categories set forth by Social Security’s Listing 3.03, then a strong claim may exist. The Listing is as follows;

A. Chronic asthmatic bronchitis. Evaluate under  the criteria for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 3.02A; or

B. Attacks (as defined in  3.00C), in spite of prescribed treatment and requiring physician intervention,  occurring at least once every 2 months or at least six times a year. Each inpatient hospitalization for longer than 24 hours for control of asthma counts as two attacks. And an evaluation period of at least 12 consecutive months must be used to determine the frequency of attacks.

If the asthma is so severe that medication will not relieve the symptoms, there may be a strong claim. Frequent asthma attacks are enough to keep individuals from many lines of work. The dust, smoke, and fumes that are common in most work places will prove too cumbersome for asthma sufferers, thus disqualifying them from many occupations.

To increase your chances of winning your Social Security Disability claim it is important for you to hire an experienced Social Security Disability attorney to get you the Social Security Disability help you deserve. Please call us at 1-800-882-5500 or fill out a form on our website for a FREE claim evaluation.