Winning Disability Benefits for Diabetic Neuropathy
It is possible to receive Social Security disability benefits for diabetic neuropathy, but not everyone who has the condition will qualify.
You need to show the Social Security Administration that your diabetic neuropathy meets Social Security Administration Listing 6.02C2 for renal dysfunction due to any chronic renal disease, including Diabetic Nephropathy, or that your symptoms prevent you from keeping a full-time job, taking into account your age, education, and experience.
Meeting a Listing
The regulations define neuropathy as a problem in peripheral nerve function that causes pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in various parts of the body. In order to be classified as disabled on the basis of diabetic neuropathy, your medical records must show that the neuropathy is a severe impairment that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.
Diabetic neuropathy can serve as the basis for showing impairment of the renal function due to any chronic renal disease that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months. Technically, the records must show a persistent elevation of serum creatinine to 4 mg per deciliter (dL)(100 ml) or greater, or reduction of creatinine clearance to 20 ml per minute or less, over at least 3 months accompanied by persistent motor or sensory neuropathy in order to meet the definition in the listing. If you meet this standard, you will be found disabled.
If You Don’t Meet a Listing
Even if you don’t meet Listing 6.02C2, you may be disabled if your diabetic neuropathy keeps you from working. The SSA will look at your “residual functional capacity,” or RFC. This basically means your ability to work despite your disability. The SSA will consider things like how job duties affect your neuropathy.
Winning benefits by meeting a listing mostly depends on medical evidence and test results. Proving you cannot work requires you to give more specific information about how your disability affects you. Keeping a diary of your limitations due to diabetic neuropathy may be helpful. A disability lawyer can help you figure out other ways to present your claim to the SSA based on the available evidence.
A seasoned New York disability lawyer can be the key to presenting an effective claim for disability benefits based on your diabetic neuropathy. For a free consultation, call New York disability lawyer Herbert Forsmith today.
