ADDISON’S DISEASE & SSD BENEFITS
WHAT IS ADDISON’S DISEASE?
Addison’s disease is a rare medical condition in which your adrenal glands don’t produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. The adrenal glands are small glands that are located on top of each of your kidneys. These glands play a very important role in your health because they produce hormones that you need to regulate your body.
Cortisol is a hormone that helps your body respond to stress. This could be any kind of stress, including pain, illness, injury or surgery. Additionally, Cortisol helps maintain your blood pressure and heart function. It also helps maintain your immune system, blood sugar levels, and reduce inflammation. Cortisol helps your body respond to stress.
Aldosterone is another important hormone. Aldosterone maintains the balance of salt and potassium in your blood. Sodium and potassium work together to help keep your blood pressure stable. This helps your body maintain normal nerve and muscle function. Finally, this hormone also helps controls the amount of fluid your kidneys remove as urine. If you lack these hormones, then your body doesn’t function properly.
If you treat Addison’s disease with the right balance of daily medication, then you can have a normal life. However, Addison’s disease is also known as primary adrenal insufficiency. If you have acute adrenal failure, then your life expectancy may be shorter than normal. For women, on average, adrenal failure shortens life expectancy by three years. For men, it may shorten life by 11 years. Remember, if you replace the missing hormones by taking medications, then you can lead a healthy life.
WHAT CAUSES ADDISON’S DISEASE?
The most common cause of Addison’s disease is an autoimmune response. This occurs when your immune system attacks the healthy tissue of the body for an unknown reason. With Addison’s disease, your immune system attacks the outer portion of your adrenal glands where cortisol is made.
Women are more likely than men to be found to have Addison’s disease. Additionally, the disease usually occurs in people between the ages of 30 and 50. However, it can occur at any age, even in children.
The most serious problem of adrenal insufficiency is called adrenal crisis. If you do not seek treatment right away, then an adrenal crisis can cause death. Your body needs more cortisol during times of stress such as illness or injury. The lack of enough cortisol during times of stress can cause severe problems with low blood pressure, low blood glucose, low blood sodium, and too much potassium.
Additionally, the lack of aldosterone in Addison’s disease can cause hyponatremia. This occurs when you don’t have enough sodium in your blood. Hyponatremia has specific symptoms, like confusion, fatigue, and even seizures. If you lack aldosterone, then it can cause you to have too much potassium in your body. The reason this matters is that too much potassium can cause life threatening changes in your heart rhythm.
If your doctor suspects that you have Addison’s disease, then you will have a blood test to measure the levels of sodium, cortisol and potassium in your body.
SYMPTOMS OF ADDISON’S DISEASE
Because the hormones produced by your adrenal glands are critical to your health, the symptoms of Addison’s disease vary widely. Some can be mild symptoms, while others can be so severe that they result in death. Addison’s symptoms can include:
- weight loss
- appetite loss
- changes in blood pressure or heart rate
- extreme fatigue
- chronic diarrhea
- nausea or vomiting
- dizzyness
- joint and muscle pain
- anxiety
If you have these symptoms, then your doctor will do blood work to check for hypoglycemia, electrolyte abnormalities, and adrenal insufficiency. Likewise, your doctor will do a urine test to check for markers of high blood pressure. Your doctor should also perform a physical exam and check for anemia. Thyroid function tests may follow in order to check for low thyroid hormone production. Finally, your doctor may also check your heart by doing an electrocardiogram (EKG). An EKG is used to diagnose an enlarged heart or abnormal heart rhythm.
Other medical conditions can also come from Addison’s disease. For example, Addison’s disease, because it is an endocrine disorder, can contribute to diabetes. Likewise, osteoporosis and high blood pressure can also stem from the disease.
DOES ADDISON’S DISEASE QUALIFY FOR SSD BENEFITS?
There are many factors that determine whether or not you will be paid SSD benefits. One of the main factors is whether or not the person has a physical or mental condition that results in being unable to work for more than 12 months.
If you are suffering from Addison’s disease, then you may qualify for SSD benefits. However, Addison’s disease can be treated with hormone therapy. If your symptoms are controlled, then you should be able to work. Most people with Addison’s disease will not win disability benefits, because treatment usually solves the symptoms of the disease. Additionally, you do not qualify for SSDI benefits if you are working.
However, if the symptoms of your Addison’s disease keep you from working for over 12 months, then you should file an application for SSDI and SSI benefits. You should also file for benefits if you have other medical conditions in addition to Addison’s disease.
Most of the time, if a person suffers from Addison’s disease, then they may also have some other physical or mental condition such as anxiety. Learn about SSDI benefits for anxiety.
HOW TO FILE AN APPLICATION FOR SSD BENEFITS FOR ADDISON’S DISEASE
You can apply for SSDI and SSI benefits for Addison’s disease online at the Social Security’s website. This is the easiest way to apply for benefits. If you have questions about how to apply, then you can contact us for help with your application.
You can also file an application for SSD and SSI benefits in person at your local Social Security office. However, you should call and schedule an appointment to make sure that an SSA worker is available to help you with the application. It is not a good idea to show up to your local office without an appointment. If you do so, you will wait in a long line. Additionally, it is possible to file an application by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778).
After you file your application, the SSA will ask you to fill out a medical release form. This form allows SSA to gather your medical records. You will also need to sign your application. Finally, you will need to submit your medical records. Learn about the importance of medical evidence to prove your SSD case.
MEETING AN SSA LISTING FOR ADDISON’S DISEASE
Addison’s disease is under the SSA listing for endocrine disorders because it’s a type of adrenal gland disorder. The listing for endocrine disorders is a bit different than other SSA rules, because it includes other medical conditions. For example, the listing refers you to the other medical conditions, because the SSA examines your disease under the body system that are impacted by your illness.
Depending on the symptoms that are caused by your Addison’s, you might meet the elements of one or more of the following Blue Book listings:
Cardiovascular System: Section 4.02- Chronic heart failure and Section 4.05- Recurrent arrhythmias
Digestive System: Section 5.08 Weight loss due to a digestive disorder
Mental Disorders: Section 12.06- Anxiety disorders
Immune Disorders: Section 14.11 – Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV)
If your condition doesn’t meet one of the above medical rules, then you might still qualify for SSD benefits if the SSA finds you can’t work. They will decide this issue by looking at how your symptoms affect your physical and mental abilities.
ADDISON’S DISEASE AND YOUR RESIDUAL FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY
In order to determine if you cannot work, the SSA will assess your physical and mental limits. This is your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC). Your RFC is what you can do during an 8 hour work day despite your Addison’s disease.
Your RFC includes both your physical and mental limits. In terms of physical ability, the SSA tries to define your ability to sit, stand, walk, and lift, during the course of an 8 hour workday. Likewise, the SSA will include your ability to carry, pull, and push. Find out how the SSA defines work.
Your RFC also includes your mental symptoms. The SSA looks at whether your Addison’s disease creates problems in your ability to focus and whether you can get along with other people. They look at how your mental symptoms affect your ability to work. For example, are you able to respond to criticism from your boss and can you handle stress and pressure in a work setting. For those with Addison’s disease, anxiety and depression can make working a 40 hour work week very difficult.
HOW DOES THE SSA FIGURE OUT YOUR RFC WHEN YOU HAVE ADDISON’S DISEASE?
In order to determine your RFC, the SSA first looks to the medical evidence in your case. That is why it is so important for the SSA to have all of your medical evidence. It is your “burden” or responsibility to provide all of your medical evidence to the SSA. Even though the SSA will try to collect your records, it is up to you to make sure they have everything.
Typically, hiring a lawyer to help you obtain your medical evidence is a wise choice. Learn how to obtain your medical evidence for free. If you do not have enough medical evidence for the SSA to make a decision, then they will arrange for your to have a free doctor exam. A exam can be done for your mental and your physical conditions, including Addison’s disease. The SSA will set up an appointment time for you to visit their doctor. They will inform you by letter or the place and time of your doctor visit. Do not miss the exam. If you do, then they will deny your case. Find out information about SSA’s doctor exams.
HOW WE HELP YOU WIN SSD BENEFITS
You do not need to try to win SSDI and SSI benefits by yourself. Our law firm can help file your SSD application. Also, we can help you appeal every SSA denial. That way, you can focus on your health. For example, our attorneys and staff can:
- Send you the paperwork and forms you need to become our client
- Help you file your application for SSDI and SSI benefits
- Inform the SSA they should pay you benefits under the Compassionate Allowance Rules
- File an appeal if you receive a denial
- Help you confirm your attendance at a free SSA doctor exam
- Request a Hearing with an Administrative Law Judge
- Prepare you to testify at your ALJ hearing
- Represent you at your hearing and question the expert witnesses
- Read about the role of a job expert at your SSA hearing
- Learn about medical expert testimony
- Request review of an SSA decision with the Appeals Council
- Request review of an Appeals Council denial in Federal Court
If you file your application for benefits online at Social Security’s website, then you have 6 months to complete the application. Once you submit your application online, the SSA sends you an application summary in the mail. You must sign the summary and mail it back. Send it in quickly.
Additionally, once you receive a denial, you have 60 days to file an appeal. You must also meet the time limit set by the SSA. If you do not, then you will have to start the process over again. That means you will lose any benefits you could receive on any prior application.
CONTACT US IF YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR ADDISON’S SSD CASE
To learn about your legal options, contact
Our attorneys practice in Utah, California, and Nevada. We also represent clients in Idaho, Colorado and other states. Find out more information about Utah SSD benefits here. Also, learn information about Nevada SSDI and SSI benefits. We have helped many clients file their SSD application who have Addison’s disease.
Our main office is in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, there are also hearing offices in Las Vegas, Boise, San Francisco and Oakland. Review information about California SSD benefits. Our office represents clients in court in all of these places.
We are also familiar with the Social Security laws where you live. Additionally, understanding the medical evidence that the judge needs will help you win your case. It also helps us present the best arguments in court. If we accept your case, we will drive or fly (at no cost to you) to the SSA office nearest you for your hearing. Therefore, we can help you no matter where you live. If you need to apply for SSD benefits, then contact us today.
HIRE THE BEST SSD LAW FIRM TO WIN YOUR BENEFITS
You also need an attorney with experience to represent you in court. Find out what medical evidence you need to submit to win your SSD hearing.
Our law firm has won over 20,000 SSDI and SSI cases. We have the experience that you need to win your SSDI and SSI benefits for Addison’s disease. If you need a lawyer to help you win your SSD benefits, then contact Cannon Disability Law. Put our experience to work for you.
If you want to learn more about the lawyers and staff at our law firm, then you can go to our About Us page. For example, Andria Summers can help you prepare for your hearing. She has also won thousands of Social Security cases. Dianna Cannon has been helping her clients win SSD benefit for over thirty years. Brett Bunkall also has years of legal experience helping people win their SSI and SSD benefits.
In the past 30 years, we have won over 20,000 SSDI and SSI cases for our clients. Our lawyers and staff can help you apply for SSD benefits. Likewise, if you need an appeal, we can help you do that too. You can learn about SSA’s appeal forms.
In the past 30 years, we have won over $100 million in SSD and SSI benefits for our clients. If you need our help, then call us. We are experts at what we do and we will put our legal knowledge to work for you. Hire us to be your Social Security legal team for your Addison’s case. There is no attorney fee for you to pay until we win your benefits. Call us for a free review of your SSD case today.
