Deep Vein Thrombosis in a Patients LegDeep vein thrombosis occurs when blood clots form in one or more of your veins. Typically, these blood clots occur in the legs. For some people, deep vein thrombosis causes no symptoms. Other people, however, suffer from swelling and pain in their legs and potentially life-threatening complications.

If a blood clot breaks loose from a vein, then it can become stuck in various parts of the body, including the brain, lungs, and heart, and it may cause an embolism. Deep vein thrombosis can also increase the risk of stroke. Both stroke and embolisms are potentially life-threatening conditions.

Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosis

Before you receive Social Security disability benefits for deep vein thrombosis, you must show that you were diagnosed with the condition. Doctors diagnose deep vein thrombosis with x-rays, blood tests, or ultrasounds, or by measuring the blood flow through the legs.

Your condition should be diagnosed and documented by a qualified medical professional. Many people with deep vein thrombosis can continue to work. For them, blood-thinning medications or surgery may control their condition. These people are not eligible for Social Security disability benefits.

However, some people with deep vein thrombosis are advised not to work, or they develop complications that prevent them from working. These people may qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

Social Security Disability Eligibility for Deep Vein Thrombosis

After you are diagnosed, you may seek Social Security disability benefits if you meet the requirements in the Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments, if your condition is equal in severity to another listing in the Listing of Impairments, or if you can’t work for at least 12 months or are you are likely to die from your condition.

Section 4.11 of the Listing of Impairments

The Social Security Administration includes chronic venous insufficiency, a complication of deep vein thrombosis, in its Listing of Impairments. Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when deep vein thrombosis damages the veins in your legs. You may qualify for Social Security disability benefits for chronic venous insufficiency pursuant to Section 4.11 of the Listing of Impairments if you have incompetency or obstruction of the deep venous system in your leg(s) and one of the following is true:

  • You have extensive brawny edema involving at least two-thirds of the leg between the ankle and knee or the distal one-third of the lower extremity between the ankle and hip.
  • You have superficial varicosities, stasis dermatitis, and either recurrent ulceration or persistent ulceration that has not healed following at least three months of prescribed treatment.

Other Ways to Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits

Some people are diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and can’t work. Yet, they don’t meet the requirements in the Listing of Impairments. They may still qualify for Social Security disability benefits, however, if they can prove that:

  • Their deep vein thrombosis is equal in severity to another listing in the Listing of Impairments. The Blue Book Listing of Impairments is not meant to be a completely inclusive list of medical conditions that qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Other conditions, not included in the Blue Book, may be just as disabling. Therefore, if you can prove that your deep vein thrombosis is equal in severity to any other listing, then you are eligible for Social Security disability benefits.
  • They can’t work for at least 12 months, or their condition is likely to result in death. If you can prove that you can’t do the work that you did before your diagnosis (or any other work for at least 12 months) or that you are likely to die from deep vein thrombosis, then you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.

Remember, you just need to prove eligibility for Social Security disability one way to get the benefits that you deserve.

Don’t Take a Risk With Your Social Security Disability Benefits

Not everyone with deep vein thrombosis qualifies for Social Security disability benefits. Instead, you must prove to the Social Security Administration that you qualify for benefits in one of the ways described above. A simple error on the application or a missing piece of documentation can prevent you from getting the benefits you deserve. Don’t take this chance with your financial future. Instead, contact the experienced New England Social Security disability lawyers of Keefe Disability Law today to learn more about your rights and to protect the disability benefits you’ve earned.

Are You Looking for a Social Security Disability Attorney in Boston, MA?

If you are looking to apply for social security disability, you need to speak with an experienced social security disability lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Natick Office directly at 508.283.5500 to schedule your free consultation.

 

John L. Keefe
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Founding Attorney, Massachusetts Social Security Disability Lawyer
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Jeremy 05/25/2018 01:05 AM
How can you win benefits for having blood clots? I have a few chronic blood clots in my leg that make standing, walking, and even sitting in a regular chair painful. I spend all day with my right leg elevated on an ottoman. It still hurts, but only about half as much as it hurts to sit with my leg touching the floor. I have to climb stairs with only one leg still after over six years. The only thing that makes my leg feel better that doesn't include painkillers is to lay in bed all day. My leg is good while in bed, but as soon as I start using it, the pain sets in. I was denied disability because my leg only swells after I've been standing for a few hours. I also do not have varicose veins or open wounds on my leg. I can stand on my leg, and even walk around for four hours if I double up on my painkillers and preserve my energy. I went back to work for 8 months as janitor and I had to plan every move of my shift in order to not run out of energy before my shift was over. I was doubling and even tripling up on pain medications in order to make it through my shifts. I was also slower and less productive than my co-workers and that is why I ultimately had to quit. I would be so wiped out from the four hour a day five day a week job that even sitting on a couch all day on the weekend would not make me feel better again. My job prior to getting blood clots was a long haul truck driver. I can only handle about an hour or two behind the wheel these days and that is on painkillers. I was rated that I cannot perform past work but that I can do light duty work. I would have to have an ottoman to elevate my leg if I was to even work in an office and I don't see an office relenting to this type of request. I have a failed lung function test that almost meets the listing from COPD, but normal looking lungs on all scans. Doc thinks it's small airways issues from the clots. I also have a moderately enlarged heart, moderate sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure when standing. I can have a completely normal blood pressure when sitting, then it will jump to 170/12 when standing. I only have this semi-controlled as the meds only work for a few hours, then my standing BP goes back to 140/100. If I take a second dose of Clonidine, my BP will normalize when standing, but then be dangerously low when sitting. No doctor knows what to make of this problem. I have headaches and feel like I constantly have a hangover. I have muscle cramping in hands and weakness in both legs. I have pain and soreness all over my body but no one believes it's due to my Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome which is known to cause pain all over the body. None of my doctors will help me get disability and none of them understand what APS can do. I have high APS antibodies on two tests taken 2 years apart and 1 clinical event of extensive DVT and large Saddle PE. I also have a lesser recognized genetic blood clotting disorder called Factor 2 Mutation which is a lesser version of the Factor 5 Mutation. The scans on my right leg show chronic blood clots and scar tissue in one of the deep veins and a very narrowed vein. This is where all of my pain cones from. I worked for 8 months and never got any of my physical strength back. I was actually becoming weaker. The problem is that no one believes how had this and I am very young at age 42 so the judge had bias because of my age. I don't see how such a serious medical condition can be blown off by the SSA, but they say it is not serious enough to warrant benefits. What do you think?
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