SSDI Lawyers for Degenerative Joint Disease

If you are looking for SSDI lawyers for degenerative joint disease, we invite you to contact Pekas Smith Disability Attorneys. Degenerative joint disease may qualify you for disability benefits, but how you approach the claims process may significantly impact the success of your application. Our experienced legal team represents people in the process of claiming benefits.

Lawyers for Degenerative Joint Disease Disability Benefits

Degenerative joint disease may prevent you from working. It can be painful, and it can limit you in many areas of your life. If you are unable to work because of your medical condition, disability payments may be available to you. These are the benefits that you have earned with a qualifying work history.

Understanding if you qualify for benefits, and how to go about claiming them, isn’t always easy. Our SSDI lawyers for degenerative joint disease are available for consultations, and we are taking new cases. Contact our SSDI lawyers to talk about your situation.

Understanding Degenerative Joint Disease and Osteoarthritis

Degenerative joint disease is the breaking down or wearing down of the joints. The joints lose their resilience. As the joints degrade, they don’t work like they should. Degenerative joint disease often occurs with age, but it is not caused by aging.

Symptoms of degenerative joint disease vary. Symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Tenderness
• Stiffness
• Locking up of the joints
• Effusion
• Loss of ability to use the joints
• Muscle spasms
• Contraction of the tendons
• Bony enlargements that limit mobility

Degenerative joint disease may occur throughout the body. It is especially common in weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips. The spine, hands and feet are also commonly afflicted. Osteoarthritis is often referred to as degenerative joint disease.

SSDI for Degenerative Joint Disease

Degenerative joint disease is most examined under one of two provisions of the Blue Book Listing of Impairments: Section 1.17 – Reconstructive surgery or surgical arthrodesis of a major weight-bearing joint and Section 1.18 – Abnormality of a major joint in any extremity. You might use Section 1.17 if you have had surgery. Otherwise, Section 1.18 is likely the medical standard that will apply to your application.

Section 1.18 – Blue Book Listing of Impairments – Degenerative Disc Disease

To receive disability benefits based on degenerative disc disease under Section 1.18, you must show that you have:

• Chronic joint pain or stiffness.
• Abnormal motion, instability or immobility in affected joints.
• Physical examination or imaging that reveals the abnormality of the impacted joint. Examples may include subluxation, contracture, body or fibrous ankylosis, joint space narrowing, bony destruction, ankylosis and arthrodesis.
• Physical limitation of musculoskeletal function lasting, or expected to last at least 12 months.

To show your physical limitation, you must present medical documentation. Documentation may include the use of a mobility device like a walker, cane or wheelchair. It may be shown by an inability to use one upper extremity while needing a hand-held assistive device. Alternatively, it may be shown by not being able to use either of the upper extremities to complete work-related fine and gross movement.

You must prove all facets of the medical condition as outlined in the Listing of Impairments to show your qualification for benefits. Missing information can slow your application or result in a denial of benefits.

Lawyers for SSDI Degenerative Joint Disease – Now Taking New Cases

Pekas Smith Disability Attorneys offers free consultations for people seeking disability benefits. You may be at the stage of considering if applying is right for you. You may be ready to apply. Even if you need to appeal a denial of benefits, our lawyers may assist you. We represent people at all stages in their SSDI claims.

Call or message us today for your consultation and to start your case today.

Degenerative Joint Disease SSDI FAQs