Facts about Hypothyroidism and Filing for DisabilityThese selected pages answer some of the most basic, but also some of the most important, questions for individuals who are considering filing a claim for disability benefits. Facts about the condition 1. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland is under active, by not producing enough of the hormones that regulate metabolism. 2. Symptoms and problems typically develop gradually, and may at first be ignored or attributed to something else. These include fatigue and feeling sluggish, weight gain, muscle weakness and tenderness, joint pain or swelling, heightened sensitivity to cold, constipation, pale and dry skin, brittle nails and hair, puffiness in the face, and depression. As the condition progresses without treatment, symptoms become more severe. 3. Myxedema is untreated, advanced hypothyroidism and is a medical emergency. Symptoms include decrease in blood pressure, body temperature and breathing, as well as unresponsiveness or coma. Since the symptoms of hypothyroidism progress slowly, the condition rarely becomes this advanced. 4. Hypothyroidism is caused by a variety of conditions, most commonly Hashimoto thyoiditis, which is an autoimmune disease. Radiation therapy, thyroid removal, and medications including lithium also commonly affect the functioning of the thyroid gland. 5. Risk factors include being a woman over the age of 50, having a close relative with an autoimmune disease, thyroid surgery, and treatment with radioactive iodine, anti-thyroid medication, or radiation particularly to neck and chest. 6. A simple blood test is all that is needed to test for hypothyroidism. This may be done routinely in women over the age of 50. It may also be done for those seeing a doctor with several symptoms indicating a possibility of the condition. 7. Treatment is simply a daily dose of synthetic hormone that mimics the thyroid hormone, restoring and maintaining the proper balance of hormones in the body. 8. Complications include goiter, heart problems, mental health problems, infertility and birth defects. However, if treated properly with the right dose of medication, and monitored regularly for necessary dose changes, complications are usually minimal. 9. Hypothyroidism is also prevalent in dogs too, particularly in breeds of mid to large size. Qualifying for disability benefits with this condition Whether or not you qualify for disability and, as a result, are approved for disability benefits will depend entirely on the information obtained from your medical records. This includes whatever statements and treatment notes that may have been obtained from your treating physician (a doctor who has a history of treating your condition and is, therefore, qualified to comment as to your condition and prognosis). It also includes discharge summaries from hospital stays, reports of imaging studies (such as xrays, MRIs, and CT scans) and lab panels (i.e. bloodwork) as well as reports from physical therapy. In many disability claims, it may also include the results of a report issued by an independent physician who examines you at the request of the Social Security Administration.
Qualifying for SSD or SSI benefits will also depend on the information obtained from your vocational, or work, history if you are an adult, or academic records if you are a minor-age child. In the case of adults, your work history information will allow a disability examiner (examiners make decisions at the initial claim and reconsideration appeal levels, but not at the hearing level where a judges decides the outcome of the case) to A) classify your past work, B) determine the physical and mental demands of your past work, C) decide if you can go back to a past job, and D) whether or not you have the ability to switch to some type of other work. The important thing to keep in mind is that the social security administration does not award benefits based on simply having a condition, but, instead, will base an approval or denial on the extent to which a condition causes functional limitations. Functional limitations can be great enough to make work activity not possible (or, for a child, make it impossible to engage in age-appropriate activities).
Why are so many disability cases lost at the disability application and reconsideration appeal levels? There are several reasons but here are just two: 1) Social Security makes no attempt to obtain a statement from a claimant's treating physician. By contrast, at the hearing level, a claimant's disability attorney or disability representative will generally obtain and present this type of statement to a judge. Note: it is not enough for a doctor to simply state that their patient is disabled. To satisy Social Security's requirements, the physician must list in what ways and to what extent the individual is functionally limited. For this reason, many representatives and attorneys request that the physician fill out and sign a specialized medical source statement that captures the correct information. Solid Supporting statements from physicians easily make the difference between winning or losing a disability case at the hearing level. 2) Prior to the hearing level, a claimant will not have the opportunity to explain how their condition limits them, nor will their attorney or representative have the opportunity to make a presentation based on the evidence of the case. This is because at the initial levels of the disability system, a disability examiner decides the case without meeting the claimant. The examiner may contact the claimant to gather information on activities of daily living and with regard to medical treatment or past jobs, but usually nothing more. At the hearing level, however, presenting an argument for approval based on medical evidence that has been obtained and submitted is exactly what happens. About the Author: Tim Moore is a former Social Security Disability Examiner in North Carolina, has been interviewed by the NY Times and the LA Times on the disability system, and is an Accredited Disability Representative (ADR) in North Carolina. For assistance on a disability application or Appeal in NC, click here. Most popular topics on SSDRC.com Social Security Disability in North Carolina Common Mistakes to avoid after being denied for Disability Tips to Prepare for Filing for Social Security Disability or SSI Advice to Win SSD and SSI Benefit Claims Social Security Disability SSI Questions What is the difference between Social Security Disability and SSI? How to get disability for depression Getting disability for fibromyalgia SSI disability for children with ADHD What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? Social Security Disability SSI Exam tips More Social Security Disability SSI Questions What makes you eligible for Social Security Disability or SSI? Related Body System Impairments: Addison's disease and Filing for Disability Peripheral Neuropathy and Filing for Disability Peripheral Neuropathy, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits Cushing's Syndrome and Filing for Disability Gastric Bypass and Filing for Disability Hypothyroidism and Filing for Disability Hyperthyroidism and Filing for Disability Inflammatory bowel disease and Filing for Disability Irritable bowel syndrome and Filing for Disability Morbid Obesity and Filing for Disability Pancreatitis and Filing for Disability POS, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Filing for Disability Type 2 Diabetes and Filing for Disability Diabetes, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits Getting a Disability Lawyer in Minnesota Will I need a Social Security Disability Lawyer in Michigan? |
