Mesothelioma and Social Security Disability
Mesothelioma – Condition and Symptoms
Recognized as a rare cancer form, malignant Mesothelioma develops in an individual’s mesothelium, or the lining of the body’s internal organs, and is often caused by asbestos exposure. People who suffer from this disease have often worked in professions where they routinely breathed asbestos particles or were otherwise exposed to asbestos fiber and dust.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma is often initially difficult because the symptoms in the disease’s early stages can be quite similar to other more benign conditions. Mesothelioma diagnosis usually starts with a review of a patient’s medical and occupational history, and any history of asbestos exposure is likely to arouse clinical suspicion of the disease. Normally, the patient will undergo physical examination followed by lung function tests and chest X-ray. A CT scan or MRI may also be performed. In almost all cases, however, it is necessary to perform a tissue biopsy to definitely confirm a malignant Mesothelioma diagnosis.
Mesothelioma symptoms will often not manifest until 20 to 50 or more years after asbestos exposure. Coughing, chest pains and shortness of breath are at times considered to be pleural Mesothelioma symptoms. Peritoneal Mesothelioma symptoms include cachexia, weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling. Other symptoms may include anemia, bowel obstruction, fever and blood clotting abnormalities. Should the Mesothelioma become severe and metastasize to parts of the body outside the Mesothelium, symptoms may include swelling of the face or neck, pain and difficulties in swallowing foods.
Filing for Social Security Disability with a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
According the Social Security Administration’s impairment listing manual, or “blue book,” obtaining Social Security Disability benefits based on a Mesothelioma diagnosis is fairly simple, requiring medical documentation of “malignant Mesothelioma of the pleura,” “malignant tumors, metastatic to the pleura,” or “malignant primary tumors of the mediastinum, not controlled by prescribed therapy.”
Basically, while it is important to work closely with your physicians and medical specialists to gather the appropriate records before submitting your application as the Social Security Administration will require detailed medical evidence documenting the extent, type and location of the main metastatic or recurrent lesion, any claimant applying for SSDI/SSI benefits with a Mesothelioma diagnosis is likely to have a strong case for disability benefits.
In the case that a biopsy or other operative procedures have been performed, claimants should provide a copy of the pathology report and operative note. If these documents cannot be presented to the Social Security Administration, however, the office will accept other medical reports or the summary of hospitalization. In some cases, the Social Security Administration may also require evidence regarding persistence, recurrence, malignancy progression and any important residuals in addition to these documents.
In many cases, seeking the legal assistance of a Social Security Disability lawyer or disability advocate can make an enormous difference in the ease and efficiency with which claimants with Mesothlioma can receive an award of benefits.
Your Mesothelioma Disability Case
Early Mesothelioma diagnosis is important to prevent the disease from remaining undetected and untreated into an advanced phase. If you have developed Mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure, you are likely entitled to seek compensation for all your sufferings and losses by pursuing legal action.
Getting Social Security Disability on the basis of a Mesothelioma diagnosis is entirely possible according to the listings in the SSA blue book used by state Disability Determination Services, and individuals suffering from malignant Mesethelioma will likely have a strong case for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Suppelemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility. If you believe you have a claim to disability benefits, but find the Social Security Disability application process intimidating or difficult to understand, it would be wise to consult a Social Security Disability attorney or advocate who can help you to ensure that your disability claim is approved as quickly and efficiently as possible.
