Minnesota Asthma Disability Diagnosis


Asthma Disability Benefits

Asthma Social Security Minnesota

Asthma disability benefits are very difficult to get based on a claimant meeting the social security impairment listing for asthma. A diagnosis of asthma will not by itself entitle you to asthma disability benefits. A claimant suffering from disabling asthma needs to present documentation of the functional severity of their asthma. Essentially social security is going to base your right to asthma disability benefits on the severity of your asthma and whether it prevents you from working. Proper documentation along with presentation of evidence of other medical conditions is the key to gaining social security benefits based on an asthma disability.

What Are the Symptoms of Asthma?

Common asthma signs and symptoms include:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Faster breathing or noisy breathing.

Not all people have every symptom, and symptoms may vary from one asthma attack to another. Symptoms can also vary in how severe they are: Sometimes symptoms can be mildly annoying, other times they can be serious enough to make you stop what you are doing, and sometimes symptoms can be so serious that they are life threatening.

Symptoms also differ in how often they occur. Some people suffering from asthma have symptoms once every couple of months, others have symptoms weekly, and still other people have symptoms every single day. With proper treatment most people with asthma can expect to have few or no symptoms. However, certain people’s asthma is severe enough (even with medication) that it is disabling. Because asthma symptoms can vary it is important to have medical documentation of your symptoms and asthma attacks over an extended period of time along with your response to medications that have been prescribed. This will make your argument for asthma disability benefits stronger especially if you have other documented medical conditions that contribute to your inability to work.

How is Asthma Disability Diagnosed?

Respiratory disorder such as asthma are diagnosed and evaluated based on a claimant’s medical history, physical examination, medical imaging (x-ray) and spirometry tests. The first thing a doctor will do is take your history including: the frequency of your symptoms, family history of asthma, medications and things that seem to trigger your asthma symptoms or make them worse.

Having symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath aren’t enough to diagnose asthma. Most respiratory (breathing) disorders, such as asthma, are diagnosed by spirometry. In fact, even if you have already had a spirometry test social security will probably send you to a consultative examination for another spirometry.

Spirometry Asthma Test

Your doctor will use a device called a spirometer to check how well your lungs are working. After taking a deep breath and blowing out the spirometer measures how much air you can blow out of your lungs and fast you can do it. The results will be lower than normal if your airways are inflamed an narrowed, or if the muscles around your airways have tightened.

If your spirometry test are normal your doctor will look to other causes for your asthma symptoms. These tests include:

• Allergy testing to find out if and what allergens affect you.
• A test in which you use a peak flow meter every day for 1-2 weeks to check your breathing. A peak flow meter is a hand-held device that helps you monitor how well you are breathing.
• A test to see how your airways react to exercise.
• Tests to see if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease.
• A test to see if you have sinus disease.

Based on the results of your medical history, physical exam, and lung function tests (spirometry), your doctor will determine how severe your asthma is. This is the same documentation that you will need to present to social security when you are making your case for asthma disability benefits. Again, documentation over an extended period of time is the best evidence for showing that your disability is persistent and ongoing.

Fields Law asthma disability benefits attorneys will assist you in getting the correct diagnosis and documentation for your asthma disability. If you are unable to work because of kidney problems we can help you apply for social security benefits. If you have been denied disability benefits we can appeal your case.

We offer a Free case review. Our Minnesota asthma disability lawyers understand how frustrating it is to suffer from asthma and be denied disability benefits when you are unable to work. There are never any fees unless we win your disability case.

Fields Law MN Disability Center

We are a Minnesota Disability Law Firm dedicated to helping people in Minnesota get the Social Security Disability benefits they deserve.

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