What Medical Conditions or Illnesses Qualify for Long-Term Disability?

A Surprising Answer to This Question

There are many different types of illnesses or medical conditions that may qualify for long-term disability benefits.  If you are reading this, you are likely wondering if you qualify for long-term disability benefits.

Here’s one thing that may surprise you – your specific medical diagnosis is less important than you think. Regardless of what your particular diagnosis is, the more important question to ask is:  how do your injuries or medical conditions prevent you from working?

Our Kansas City Long-Term Disability Law Firm is Different

At our Kansas City long-term disability law firm, we understand that your disabling injuries and illnesses are best understood in a comprehensive manner. Many of our clients' disabilities are not due to a single illness or injury. Instead, they're a result of a combination of injuries or conditions that render him or her totally disabled.  

Many illnesses or injuries are compounded by other illnesses or injuries. In addition, a client's medical problems may be result in chronic pain, fatigue or depression. Side effects from certain medications can also amplify existing impairments.  

We aim to understand not just what your diagnoses or symptoms may be but also how the combination of your illnesses and/or injuries affect your ability to perform average daily living activities or work duties.

Your Medical Records Are Usually Not Enough

Long-term disability insurance companies often fail to appreciate the total impact an illness, injury, or combination thereof has on your life. The reason is that each of your medical specialists will treat a particular illness, condition or injury separately. As a result, your medical records may not adequately convey the holistic pain or limitation that results.  This may be one reason why your benefits were denied.

Our Kansas City long-term disability law firm understands this and is ready to help you assimilate all the medical information and opinions that are necessary to get your benefits approved either on appeal or through litigation.

Conditions That May Qualify for Long-Term Disability Benefits

A list of disabling conditions that may be considered by a long-term disability insurance company to qualify a claimant for benefits is below. These conditions often significantly interfere with one's ability to obtain or maintain gainful employment. As a result, an individual may be eligible for disability insurance benefits. 

Cardiovascular System

• Aortic Aneurysm
• Arrhythmia
• Chronic Venous Insufficiency
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension
• Heart Attack/Heart Failures
• Hypertension
• Ischemic Heart Disease
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
• Phlebitis
• Stroke

Blood/Hematological Disorders

• Anemia
• Chronic Granulocytopenia
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Granulocytopenia 
• Hemophilia
• Hemochromatosis
• Polycythemia Vera
• Spleen Disorders
• Telangiectasia
• Thrombocytopenia

Cancers

• Cancer, including Blood, Bone, Breast, Colon, Esophageal, Gastric, Kidney, Lung, Liver, Ovarian, Pancreatic, Prostate, Skin, Thyroid Cancer
• Hodgkin’s Disease
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Mesothelioma
• Multiple Myeloma
• Tumors 

Cognitive Impairments/Mental Disorders

• Agoraphobia
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Anxiety Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Depression
• Drug Addiction
• Neurocognitive Disorders (whether caused by brain injury or medical condition like Alzheimer's)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic Attacks
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Sleep Disorders

Digestive Systems

• Cirrhosis of the Liver
• Crohn’s Disease
• Colitis
• Diverticulitis
• Hernia
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Kidney Failure
• Liver Disease
• Wilson’s Disease

Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders

• Adrenal Gland Disorders, such as Addison’s Disease
• Diabetes
• Gout
• Malnutrition
• Obesity
• Parathyroid Gland Disorders
• Pituitary Gland Disorders, like Cushing’s Disease
• Thyroid Gland Disorders, such as Hashimoto’s or Grave’s Disease

Immune System

• Allergic Reactions
• Immune Deficiency Disorders, such as Ataxia-telangiectasia, Chediak-Higashi syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Leukocyte adhesion defects, Bruton’s disease, Selective deficiency of IgA, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, Lupus
• Poisoning or Chemical Sensitivity
• Polymyositis
• Scleroderma

Musculoskeletal System

• Arthritis
• Bone Fractures (ie. Leg/Femur, Hip/Pelvis, etc.)
• Burns
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Chronic Neck or Back Pain
• Degenerative Disc Disease or Degenerative Joint Disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Herniated Disc
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Reflex Sympathetic Disorder
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Ruptured Disc
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Spina Bifida
• Spinal Arachnoiditis
• Spine Disorders
• Stenosis (Cervical, Lumbar, etc.)
• Tendinitis

Neurological or Nervous System

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Bell’s Palsy
• Cerebral Palsy
• Dystonia
• Epilepsy
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome
• Lou Gehrig’s Disease or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Neuropathy (often, Peripheral Neuropathy)
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Paralysis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Seizure Disorder
• Strokes
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Respiratory System

• Asthma
• Bronchiectasis
• Chronic Lung Infections, including Mycobacterial and Mycotic
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Chronic Restrictive Ventilatory Disease
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Emphysema
• Lung Transplant
• Pneumonia
• Pneumoconiosis
• Sarcoidosis

Sensory Impairments

• Burns
• Meniere’s Disease
• Hearing Loss or Tinnitus
• Loss of Speech
• Vision Loss or Disorders, including Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Degeneration

Other Symptoms

• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Sleep Disorders

How Our Long Term Disability Attorney Can Help

If you or a loved one have one of these disabling conditions and has been denied long-term disability, here's what you should do right now:

1.  Contact our office today and get the information you need so you can be prepared to fight for your disability benefits. We will review your denial letter for free and give you a strategy to get back on claim.  

2. Instantly download our free guide, Danger: Proceed at Your Own Risk.  This book is packed with helpful tips and information about long-term disability, including on how to file an appeal and get back on claim.

3.  Call us at 816-203-0143 or fill out the form below to schedule a consultation.  

Regardless of what you do, don't wait.  ERISA long-term disability policies have very short deadlines and the failure to act can destroy your right to receive benefits. Contact our Kansas City long-term disability insurance lawyer today.