BONE CANCER & WINNING SSD BENEFITS
UNDERSTANDING BONE CANCER AND SSD BENEFITS
Bone cancer is rare, but it can change your life overnight. Sarcoma of the skeletal system causes pain and weakness. The symptoms and cancer treatments make even simple daily tasks difficult to do. Many people with bone cancer cannot work. If you can’t work for over one year, then you can file an application for disability benefits through Social Security’s website.
When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits, the SSA will determine if you meet their rules for disability payments. There are three ways for the SSA to make this determination.
First, they can find that you meet Listing 13.11 under step three, which is the rule for bone cancer. Second, they can find that you equal the listing. Finally, if you don’t meet or equal Listing 13.11, then they can find that you cannot work because there are no jobs available to you through a job analysis.
To make their decision, the SSA looks at your medical records, your work history, and how your health keeps you from working. SSA uses the listing to decide whether you are disabled without having to look at your job options. In order win benefits under the listing, you must submit medical evidence proving your bone cancer meets all of the listing criteria.
BONE CANCER QUALIFIES FOR SSD BENEFITS UNDER LISTING 13.11
SSA has a list of disabilities called the Blue Book. The listing includes bone cancer. Listing 13.11 covers bone cancers that are too severe for surgery or spread to other parts of the body. If your cancer cannot be removed, has come back after treatment, or has spread, then the listing says you are disabled.
If your cancer was treated with surgery and has not come back, then the SSA will still look at your health for at least one year. Many people continue to have serious pain, fatigue, or nerve damage after treatment. The SSA will decide if those problems keep you from doing your past work or any other work. If you submit complete medical records and the opinion of your doctor that you can’t work, then you increase your chances of winning benefits.
Listing 13.11 covers cancers that start in the bones. It is part of the section for malignant growths in adults. If you have a bone tumor that cannot be removed, or if your cancer has returned or spread, you may meet this rule. The SSA will also consider you disabled for at least one year if you receive treatment, such as surgery, radiation, or drug therapy. After that year, the agency will look again to see how much your body has recovered and what limits remain.
Listing 13.11 recognises that even when treatment ends, there can be lasting pain, weakness, and fatigue. Many people do not regain full strength. When the cancer or its treatment keeps you from working you may qualify for benefits.
SYMPTOMS OF BONE CANCER
The symptoms and signs of bone cancer can appear slowly or suddenly. Pain is often the first symptom. The pain may start as a dull ache that grows stronger with time. It may get worse at night or when you move the affected limb. Swelling is common. Some people notice a lump or mass near a joint. The skin may feel warm or tender around that area.
Bone cancer can also cause weakness and fatigue. Some people lose weight or run fevers. If the bone becomes weak, it may break, even if all you have is a small fall. Movement becomes harder and walking or lifting can cause sharp pain. These bone cancer symptoms affect every part of life. Many people stop working because they cannot stand, walk, or use their arms for eight hours a day.
At our SSD law firm we understand that you need benefits. We are ready to help you gather the right evidence and improve the chances of a positive outcome. If you or a loved one have bone cancer, then hire the best SSD law firm to help you.
TREATMENT FOR BONE CANCER
The treatment for bone cancer depends on where your tumor is and how far it has spread. Surgery is often the first step. Doctors try to remove the tumor and any nearby tissue that might contain cancer cells. In some cases, the tumor cannot be safely removed. When that happens, radiation or drug therapy may be used to shrink or slow the cancer.
Doctors use radiation treatment to kill cancer cells. However, it can cause skin irritation, fatigue, or nausea. Drug therapy uses powerful medicine that travels through the blood to attack cancer cells. These drugs can cause side effects like vomiting, weakness, and nerve pain. Recovery is often long. Even when the cancer is gone, many people may have lasting pain and fatigue.
MEDICAL EVIDENCE NEEDED FOR YOUR CLAIM
Your medical records must clearly show that you have bone cancer. The diagnosis usually comes from a biopsy and imaging scans, like an MRI. The reports must show where the tumor started, whether it spread, and how your body responded to treatment. The progress notes from your doctor should describe any surgery you have had. The records should also include radiation treatment or drug therapy and whether the cancer returned.
You should request copies of hospital records, test results, and treatment notes. If your cancer has spread, then make sure that is stated in the reports. If you still have pain, fatigue, or weakness, tell your doctor at every visit.
The SSA relies heavily on what is written in your medical file. Trust us. Whatever you tell the doctor ends up in the progress notes. Therefore, tell the doctor your symptoms and reaction to treatment. Simple but detailed notes about how your symptoms affect your daily life can help you win SSD benefits.
BONE CANCER CASE EXAMPLES
To illustrate how Listing 13.11 is applied in real cases, please review some realistic scenarios. These examples help clarify how you should frame your evidence and arguments.
Example 1 – Inoperable Bone Sarcoma
You have osteosarcoma of the femur. The tumour is located adjacent to major nerves and the surgeon deems they cannot operate. The treatment plan involves chemotherapy and radiation. You cannot walk without assistance. So, you need to use a cane. You develop neuropathy from chemo and cannot return to your former job. This scenario aligns with Listing 13.11 A (inoperable/unresectable). When medical records show inoperability and functional loss, then the SSA may approve benefits under the listing.
Example 2 – Recurrent Bone Sarcoma
You have surgery for removal of a sarcoma in the pelvis, followed by radiation. Eight months later imaging shows a new lesion in an adjacent pelvic bone (but not just at the surgical margin). Your doctors state the bone cancer is recurrent disease. You report chronic pain, problems walking, and fatigue from therapy. You cannot perform your prior work as an office manager because of treatment. This fits Listing 13.11 B. Documenting recurrence of the cancer along with the functional impact supports the listing.
Example 3 – Bone Sarcoma with Metastases
The doctor tells you that you have Ewing sarcoma of the humerus, initial treatment fails, imaging shows spread to lungs and other bones. You undergo multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Afterward, you are unable to use the dominant arm for lifting. Also, you have low stamina and cannot work. This fact situation meets Listing 13.11 C with distant metastases. The strong evidence of the spread of bone cancer and the functional incapacity places approval within reach.
Example 4 – Multimodal Therapy without Metastases
You have a primary bone tumor in the tibia. You are treated with surgery, radiation and chemo, but there is no metastases. However, you remain very limited. For example, you use crutches, have chronic pain, and cannot perform seated work because of fatigue and pain. Listing 13.11 D could apply: “all other cancer originating in bone with multimodal anticancer therapy”. The SSA considers disability at least 12 months from diagnosis and then they examine your residual functional capacity. This example shows you the need to document your physical capacity to work.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR BONE CANCER CASE IS DENIED
Even with strong medical evidence, many claims for cancer are initially denied. We know this is hard to believe, but it is true. Therefore, understanding the next steps is critical.
REVIEW THE DENIAL AND IDENTIFY ANY GAPS
When you get a denial notice, check whether the SSA found you did not meet the listing. Or, check to see if they found you don’t meet the listing and your RFC allows for you to work. Once you have figured out why the SSA denied the claim, then gather the missing records that proves the SSA wrong. Gather new medical evidence, treating physician letters, and job evidence.
MAKE SURE YOU FILE A TIMELY APPEAL
When you receive a denial, you must act quickly. You have 60 days from the date of the denial notice to request an appeal or a hearing. Hiring a disability attorney early can improve your chances of winning your case. On appeal and at the hearing level you can present new evidence.
WE OFFER A FREE REVIEW OF YOUR SSD BENEFITS
If you need help filing for SSD benefits due to bone cancer, then call our SSD law firm. Take the first step by calling us. All you need to do is reach out to our legal team.
Additionally, we offer a free review of your case. What that means is that you can call us and explain your situation. At that point, we will look at the merits of your case for free. Also, we will let you know if you have a chance to win benefits. We do not charge you for our review of your case.
In the past 30 years, we have won over $100 million in SSDI and SSI benefits for our clients. We are experts at what we do and we will put our knowledge to work for you. Hire us to be your Social Security legal team.
We help clients win benefits in many states, including Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and California. Find out about your benefits and how to apply in your state:
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No matter where you live, we want to be your legal team. Hire the best Social Security legal team with no money down. Also, there will be no attorney fee unless we win your case. Contact us today. We will do our best to help you win SSDI and SSI benefits for bone cancer.
HIRE THE BEST SSD LAW FIRM FOR YOUR BONE CANCER CASE
Facing bone cancer is daunting. But when you understand how the SSA evaluates bone cancer under Listing 13.11, then you can prepare a strong case. If you hire an experienced SSD attorney, then you can also improve your chances of winning SSDI and SSI benefits.
Hire our SSD law firm to give you legal advice and walk you through the application process. In the past 30 years, we have won millions of dollars in ongoing and past due benefits for our clients.
If you want to win SSD benefits, then hire an attorney with the legal experience to win your case. We do not charge you any money up front to help you or for you to become our client. You only pay us an attorney fee when you win benefits. If you don’t win, then you don’t pay an attorney fee. For help, contact us.
If you want to learn about our lawyers and staff, then review our About Us page. For example, you can learn about Andria Summers, who has 23 experience working on SSD cases. She can also help you with your Medicare advantage plan. She has won thousands of SSDI and SSI cases.
Additionally, Dianna Cannon has been helping her clients win benefits for over thirty years. Ms. Cannon has years of Federal Court experience. Brett Bunkall also has years of legal experience helping people obtain their SSI and SSDI benefits. We are Social Security law experts. You can trust us to help you win your benefits for bone cancer.
