Fortunately There Is Help
If you or a loved one is suffering from advanced Parkinsons Disease and can no longer work, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability for Parkinsons Disease. If approved, you will receive a monthly payment, early Medicare, and quite possibly, a lump sum of accrued back pay. These benefits can provide you and your family with a much-needed financial lifeline and some peace of mind.
Getting Social Security Disability for Parkinsons Disease isnt a sure thing, however. You will need to file a detailed, persuasive claim backed up by strong medical evidence.
Dont know where to begin? Start with us. The Disability Team at McDonald Law Firm devotes our time and energy to helping people just like you. We will fill out your application and handle the entire Disability process for you. Its what we do.
What If I Have More Questions About My Va Claim
I understand you want your VA claim to be done as quickly as possible. But remember the ultimate goal to win your VA disability compensation claim.
You may eventually get there on your own, but it may be after a series of decisions by the Regional Office and Board of Veterans Appeals. Sometimes claims are appealed and remanded several times, which can cause a claim to drag on for years. If you are interested in avoiding unnecessary delay in your claim and want to do everything you can to maximize your chances of success, it is probably a good idea for you to consult with an accredited veterans disability attorney.
We would be happy to talk to you. If you would like a free consultation with our Perkins Studdard veterans disability attorneys just click here or give us a call to begin the process.
Travis Studdard is an attorney who focuses on representing veterans in VA disability compensation claims. He regularly writes about issues that are important to veterans and their families.
Eligibility For Social Security Disability Benefits For Parkinsons Disease
The Social Security Administration has Parkinsons disease in the Blue Book 11.06 listing which means that after it has been diagnosed, the victim may qualify for SSDI benefits.
The main requirement is not being able to go to work. You have to be able to prove that you have lost control of two extremities which could be one arm and one leg, two arms or two legs.
Also, limitations to your ability to think clearly, difficulties when interacting with other people and concentration problems can all be used to determine your eligibility for SSDI benefits.
If your symptoms do not quite qualify you for benefits you may be considered under the medical-vocational rules.
To qualify for benefits under these rules you need to provide evidence to show your medical condition limits your ability to undertake basic activities related to a job. If you are at least 50 years old, your chances of being eligible for benefits are higher.
Additionally, if you have less education and have mostly worked in unskilled jobs you have a better chance of your SSDI benefits claim being approved.
An SSA doctor will study your medical records and assign a physical residual functional capacity . This determines what type of work you could do and to get SSDI benefits you will be classified as unable to perform even light duties.
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As He Battles Parkinsons Ex
This post is available in: Spanish
During 12 standout years in the NBA, former Miami HEAT Brian Grant was known for his hustle and toughness as a power forward or center, sometimes shaking off injuries and maneuvering his 6-foot-9-inch frame to block shots or leap for rebounds.
But his battles on the basketball court would pale in comparison to what awaited him shortly after his retirement from the NBA. One day in 2008, a neurologist in Portland, Oregon told him he had Young Onset Parkinsons disease , which occurs in people younger than 50. He was 36 years-old at the time. He was diagnosed with tremor dominant Parkinsons. Yet, there were signs even in his playing days of what was to come.
My journey started, actually, when I got traded to the Lakers, recalls Mr. Grant. I noticed that I couldnt jump off my left leg as well as I used to. And then I got to Phoenix, retired, and I went through nine months of depression, which I later found out many Parkinsons patients go through because of the loss of dopamine in the brain. And so thats how I got to that point. And then I moved back to Portland in 2008 and was diagnosed.
Miami will always hold a special place in my heart, he says. Memories still rebound of his South Florida days playing for the HEAT, and he has many fans here. During his NBA career, he also played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.
Im a Believer and This is What I was Dealt With
What Types Of Programs Do We Fund
The Foundation funds programs that make an impact in local PD communities. We fund programs that are impactful, sustainable, scalable and measurable. In addition, the programs we fund serve new and existing grant-supported areas and/or pilot programs through:
- Wellness and Exercise Programs
The three focus areas for the 2021 application cycle include:
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What Benefits Can You Claim If You Have Parkinsons
There are a couple of benefits you can claim if you have Parkinsons, which are SSDI benefits and Medicare. The first being Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI.
SSDI benefits are one of the two programs that the Social Security Administration offers and it is for those who at one point were able to work, but can no longer work for at least 12 months because of a disability or a severe ailment like Parkinsons Disease.
In order to qualify for SSDI benefits, you need to be deemed disabled by the SSA and you need to have a sufficient amount of work credits.
Work credits are calculated by your age and how long you have worked. If you are SSDI benefits, under certain conditions, your family members like children under the age of 18 or your spouse.
The other benefit that you can claim if you have Parkinsons is Medicare. Medicare is a federal program for those with disabilities and for people 65 and over.
If you qualify for SSDI benefits with Parkinsons, you will also qualify for Medicare as well. You automatically get Medicare Part A and Part B after you get one of these:
- Disability benefits from Social Security for 24 months
- Certain disability benefits from the RRB for 24 months
Free Case Evaluation For People With Parkinsons Disease
All too often, claimants are denied Social Security benefits based on missing, inaccurate, or incomplete paperwork. As a result, the applicant must then begin on the arduous disability appeal process. Unfortunately, the this process is long and slow, resulting in excruciating delays.
A Social Security Disability lawyer can make sure you have the documents you need the first time, saving you the hassle and the delay of a lengthy disability appeal process.
To speak with a qualified Social Security Attorney about your chances of getting Social Security benefits, request a free disability evaluation today.
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Qualifying For Benefits Because You Can’t Work
You can still qualify for Social Security disability even if your symptoms of Parkinson’s disease don’t meet the precise guidelines of listing 11.06.
You will have to show that your condition is:
- Severe enough to limit your ability to perform basic, work-related activities resulting in a residual functional capacity that keeps you from working.
- Equal in severity to another condition in the Listing of Impairments.
The Social Security Administration will consider eligibility evidence such as your medical records, doctor’s report, age, education, and prior work experience to evaluate your ability to work consistently and determine if there is any type of job that you can do, given your limitations.
Proving Service Connection For Parkinsons Disease Without A Presumption:
As for any other non-presumptive conditions, veterans with Parkinsons who did not serve in a location listed above may still qualify for VA compensation. You will need to submit additional evidence to show that your exposure was during military service, and link the exposure to your Parkinsons.
Because PD is progressive, the VA does not make veterans wait for the disease to slowly evolve. So medical documentation of symptoms should pave the way to service connection. The first thing you need to provide is documentation that you have symptoms of Parkinsonism.
You will need to provide the VA with your
- Military separation records
- Service treatment records
- Medical evidence of diagnosis and treatment of Parkinsons
Timing and sufficient evidence of Parkinsons are critical, as a timely filing for VA compensation properly ensures that you can start receiving benefits from the date VA has your claim in hand.
You will also need your physicians opinion saying that your PD was caused by exposure to toxins in service, or by a service-connected traumatic brain injury . We recommend providing a statement detailing your exposure or event.
Regarding Parkinsons in particular, various instances exist by which veterans may qualify for service-connected VA compensation, including
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What Treatment Does My Long Term Disability Insurer Want To See
The insurance company will require proof you are seeking appropriate treatment fr ur Parkinsons. Even if your symptoms are stable, your long term disability insurer will want to see that you are regularly visiting your doctors and following their treatment recommendations.
Parkinsons is treated most often with Levodopa , carbidopa, or a combination of the two called Sinemet. Your doctor may prescribe other medications that cause your body to make more dopamine. And your doctor may also prescribe medication that imitates the effects of dopamine or that stop your body from breaking down dopamine. Providing your long term disability insurer with proof of your prescribed medications is important. Your long term disability insurer will require that your doctor is regularly reviewing, and if needed, adjusting any medications you take.
Your doctor may also refer you to a physical therapist to improve your balance and ability to move. Physical therapy may also include muscle-strengthening exercises to help you speak or swallow. Your long term disability insurer will require that you keep consistent appointments with your physical therapists.
Other treatments may include deep brain stimulation, implants, or experimental treatments to spur the creation of dopamine. Again, your long term disability insurer will require that you are regularly visiting your doctors and that you are following their recommendations.
Ssdi And Parkinsons Disease
The SSA may not award SSDI benefits based on your Parkinsons disease diagnosis alone. In fact, many are able to work for a long time after receiving a diagnosis. Thus, if you are filing a claim, it is important that you provide medical evidence that your Parkinsons disease symptoms are of a level of severity that prevent you from working. Even if you are still working and not ready to make a claim, be sure that your doctors are documenting your symptoms in your medical records. If your symptoms progress to the point of disability, having the symptom progression documented in the medical records can help you prove your claim and explain what changed over time to render you disabled.
The SSA publishes the Blue Book online, which explains the SSAs disability determination process and the listing of impairments that it will consider when making a disability determination. The SSAs listing for Parkinsons disease is found in the Blue Book at 11.06 Parkinsonian syndrome. To meet listing 11.06, despite adherence to prescribed treatment for at least three consecutive months , you must have:
A. Disorganization of motor function in two extremities , resulting in an extreme limitation in the ability to stand up from a seated position, balance while standing or walking, or use the upper extremities.
B. Marked limitation in physical functioning , and in one of the following:
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Qualify To Get Benefits As Per Reduced Rfc
If your Parkinsonism problem fails to meet the aforementioned guidelines, as mentioned in this list, you may even potentially qualify to get benefits under various medical vocational rules. In order to receive these benefits, you have to prove that your medical condition is severe enough to limit your physical ability significantly to perform basic activities related to work.
A doctor works for the SSA i.e. Social Security Administration will review the medical records, reports associated with symptoms, doctors opinions, any consultative examiner and other evidence in the claim file. Later on, doctor will assign you a physical residual functional ability, which is the highest work classification that SSA may feel that an individual can perform.
If a person deals with mental problem because of Parkinsonism, person may receive mental RFC based on psychologist or psychiatrist working on behalf of SSA. SSA will later on, will send a vocational analyst to consider the candidates age, education level and previous work experience to determine in case you may return to the work. If not, analyst may decide if such patients may do any other job.
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Required Medical Evidence To Prove Pd
The SSA must have access to your recent medical records if you are applying for disability benefits due to PD. These should include your specific diagnosis of having Parkinsons, doctor-provided documentation on the nature and persistence of your symptoms, and confirmation of your diagnosis via the results of neuroimaging tests. Its also important that you provide testimony in addition to formal medical records, such as how your symptoms affect everyday activities, negative side effects from medications, or any depression or anxiety youve experienced as a result of PD.
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Factors Outside Of General Requirements
Outside of the general requirements to qualify for VA disability benefits in the first place, there are several factors the VA looks at.
These factors, taken as a whole, dictate the compensation rating you will receive. The benefits are distributed using a rate between 0% and 100% at 10% increments.
The VA uses a complex formula to make their determination. You can find the relevant factors . Still, here are some of the more notable factors that can increase your disability rating if applicable:
- If you are suffering from more than one disability at the same time
- If your Parkinsons disease worsens
- The way and degree to which Parkinsons is impeding your life and ability to work
- Your age
- Changes in Social Security benefits to counter inflation
- If you have children, a spouse, and other dependents
- If your spouse or dependents have a disability and
- If you lose a limb or the ability to use a bodily function .
All of those factors will impact your VA disability compensation rating. After your initial rating, you can periodically apply to increase your rating.
Similarly, there are some circumstances in which the VA can lower your rating. Typically, rate reductions dont apply to Parkinsons disease claims because Parkinsons worsens over time. Still, it is something you should be aware of.
Disability Benefits For Veterans With Parkinsons Disease
The minimum VA disability rating for Parkinsons disease is 30%. However, you must consider other important factors that can increase this rating to 100%. While you may be awarded 30%, that rating alone may be incomplete.
The 30% rating is the starting point. It is vital to make sure the VA completes its rating and evaluates each of your symptoms associated with PD. The VA then should calculate your rating using the combined rating for each symptom. These may include:
- Tremors, rigidity, and slowness of movement in both upper and lower extremities
- Cognitive problems
- Facial muscle paralysis
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What If I Dont Match The Listing
If you do not match the above description, dont panic. You may still be able to qualify through other means. In fact, because the Listings requirements are often so complex, most disability claimants are approved not by matching the Listing, but by qualifying for a medical-vocational allowance. If you qualify with a medical-vocational allowance, it means that your condition dramatically interferes with your ability to perform work, even though you dont necessarily match the relevant description in the Listing.
Additionally, claimants who have been diagnosed with ALS Parkinsonism Dementia Complex, also known as Lytico-Bodig Disease, may be eligible for a special program called Compassionate Allowances . Claimants with CAL conditions receive the same disability payments as non-CAL applicants, but are eligible for significantly expedited claims processing. Instead of waiting months or more, CAL claimants can receive an answer in just a few weeks.
Talk To A Disability Lawyer
Need a lawyer? Start here.
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You May Need The Assistance Of A Veterans Disability Lawyer
Even if you do everything right in your veterans disability compensation claim, the VA may still deny your claim. Or they may not give you the disability rating that you deserve. At this point, you should seek a lawyer to assist you with the appeals process. At Jackson & MacNichol, we will stand by your side and advocate forcefully for the right outcome at every step of the appeals process. You have only one year to appeal the VA disability claim decision, so call us now at 1 492-2941 for your free consultation.