Creola, AL SSD Lawyers   

Back pain is an incredibly common condition in the United States, with approximately 80% of people suffering from back pain at some point in their lives. However, for some people, it goes beyond simple aches, pains, and pinches. For some, it takes them out of careers they love and away from the job stability they’ve spent decades building. 

When back pain keeps you from being gainfully employed, you may be entitled to Social Security disability benefits. To learn more about applying and creating the strongest application possible, contact Walton Law at 251-455-5819 to schedule a consultation. 

Back Pain That Keeps You Out of Work   

To receive SSDI benefits for your back pain, you will need to prove that it is severe enough to keep you from working. There are several ways to demonstrate this. First, you’ll need to prove the extent of your disability through medical records and documentation. Second, you must show how your injuries have impacted your work. This may involve showing records of days missed from work due to pain, days that you left early due to pain, or periods of time that you were put on light duty due to back pain. 

Demonstrating your disability medically can be done in several different ways. If your back pain is caused by one of the conditions listed in the Social Security Listing of Impairments (more commonly known as the Blue Book) and you meet the diagnostic criteria listed under the diagnosis, you can receive benefits. If your diagnosis is not in the Listing of Impairments, you can apply for benefits using a medical-vocational allowance. 

Qualifying Conditions  

If your back pain is caused by a specific diagnosis, you may qualify for benefits by meeting the requirements in the Listing of Impairments. Quite a few people get approved for benefits under the category of musculoskeletal disorders, which includes disorders of the skeletal spine resulting in damage to a nerve root. It also includes lumbar spinal stenosis. 

Diagnoses that may allow you to get SSDI for back pain include: 

• Spinal osteoarthritis, also known as spondylosis 

• Vertebral slippage 

• Degenerative disc disease 

• Facet arthritis 

• Fracture or dislocation of the vertebra 

Since these fall under the general category of disorders that result in the compromise of a nerve root, you have to meet a wide range of qualifications to get benefits. Under this listing, there are four categories of qualifications you must meet. 

The first is the radicular distribution of pain, paresthesia, or muscle fatigue in a manner consistent with the damaged nerve root. On top of that, you must have a radicular distribution of neurological signs as displayed on a physical examination or test. You must have both muscle weakness and signs of nerve root irritation or tension. In addition, you must have either sensory changes or decreased deep tendon reflexes. 

The third is medical imaging that shows a compromised nerve root in the cervical or lumbosacral spine. The fourth is a physical limitation of musculoskeletal functioning that lasts at least 12 months with medical documentation of one of the following: 

• Medical need for a walker, bilateral canes, bilateral crutches, or seated mobility device 

• Inability to use one upper extremity for fine and gross motor movements related to work 

• Inability to use both upper extremities to initiate or complete work activities 

As you can see, meeting the qualifications for a diagnosis in the Blue Book requires exhaustive documentation of your medical needs. Even if you are certain that you meet these qualifications, it is helpful to talk to an attorney to ensure that you have provided enough documentation for the SSA. 

Meeting Medical Qualifications with the Medical-Vocational Allowance  

Perhaps the reason for your back pain is not listed in the Blue Book, but it is still severe enough to keep you from working. In that case, you can still try to qualify for benefits using the medical-vocational allowance. This involves the SSA taking a long, thorough look at your medical records to determine what you are and are not physically capable of doing. It also requires an analysis of your current work duties and a determination of whether or not you can execute those duties properly.  

If you cannot carry out your current work duties, the SSA will try to determine whether or not there are other types of work that you are physically able to do. This is known as your residual functioning capacity, or what you are physically able to do on a regular basis as part of your work. If you cannot do any type of work with your disability, you may receive SSD benefits. 

This can be more complex than applying under one of the conditions listed in the Blue Book, so it is crucial to discuss your options and the best path forward with a disability attorney. 

How We Can Help You with Your Application   

Whether you’ve already started the application process for SSDI benefits or you are still weighing your options, it’s a good time to talk to the team at Baker & Baker. Our exclusive focus on disability law means that we are always on top of new SSDI requirements, changes within the SSA, and other news that could change the outcome of your application.  

We know that SSDI, for many people, is the only hope of meeting their financial obligations. We also know that getting approved for disability benefits is a significant challenge for many, due to the massive number of applications received by the SSA every year. 

Due to our focus on disability law, we have a thorough understanding of what the SSA looks for in applications and what it takes to get your application considered. While denials are common, they are often the result of incomplete applications or insufficient medical documentation. By taking a thorough look at your application and supporting documentation, we can help strengthen your application and ensure that your disability is fully documented. 

Contact Walton Law to Discuss Your Disability Claim Today 

Whether you are working on an SSDI application or appeal, our team is here to help you present the strongest case possible. Contact Walton Law today at 251-455-5819 for a free consultation and case assessment. We look forward to serving you!