Arthritis can be caused by a number of different conditions such as the aging process, inflammation, deficiency in the autoimmune system and traumatic injury.  There are many types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, gout, pseudo gout, rheumatoid arthritis, Reiter’s syndrome, ankylosing arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Behcet’s disease, Whipple’s disease, Lyme disease, inflammatory bowel disease and traumatic arthritis.  Whatever the cause or condition, arthritis can cause chronic pain and limitations in the affected area of the body which may impact an individual’s ability to work and perform daily activities.

SSA recognizes that an individual may be entitled to social security disability benefits based on arthritis that impacts one or more body parts or body system.  SSA has special rules that SSA uses to evaluate arthritis.  For example, if SSA determines that the impacted body part or body system meets or equals one of the Listing criteria found in SSA’s special Listing rules, SSA should award benefits.  Generally, SSA’s special Listing rules for arthritis are found under Listing Section 1.00 and Listing Section 14.00.  Under some circumstances, an individual’s arthritic impairment may satisfy SSA’s special Medical-Vocational Guideline Rules under Step 4 and Step 5 of SSA’s 5-Step Sequential Evaluation process warranting an award of benefits.

To improve an individual’s chances of winning disability benefits because of an arthritic condition, the condition and affected body part(s) or system should be well documented with objective medical findings and treatment records should show that there has been no improvement despite appropriate treatment with specialist(s).  An individual seeking disability benefits because of a form of arthritic impairment should speak with a representative or attorney who has represented individuals in front of SSA who cannot work because of the arthritic impairment.

The knees are weight bearing joints.  In most jobs, standing, walking, bending, climbing and squatting are important aspects of a job.  SSA recognizes that in some cases, severe knee impairments may prevent an individual from working.  SSA also recognizes that obesity or other impairments may contribute to the severity of a knee impairment preventing an individual from working.

SSA has special rules that SSA uses to evaluate whether a knee impairment warrants a finding of disability as “disability” is defined under the Social Security Act.  For example, if SSA determines that a knee impairment meets or equals the Listing criteria found in section 1.00, SSA should award benefits. Under some circumstances, an individual’s arthritic impairment may satisfy SSA’s special Medical-Vocational Guideline Rules under Step 4 and Step 5 of SSA’s 5-Step Sequential Evaluation process warranting an award of benefits.

To improve an individual’s chances of winning disability benefits because of a knee impairment, the severity of the impairment should be well documented with objective medical findings and treatment records should show that there has been no improvement despite appropriate treatment with specialist(s).  An individual seeking disability benefits because of bad knees should speak with a representative or attorney who has represented individuals before SSA who cannot work because of knee impairment.

A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) usually results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body.  As a result of a TBI, an individual may have physical, cognitive or mental deficits that seriously impact an individual’s functioning ability both at work and outside of work.  A person that has suffered a blow or jolt to the head should immediately seek out medical care.

SSA recognizes that an individual may be unable to work and entitled to social security disability benefits because of symptoms related to a TBI.  Depending on an individual’s symptoms, SSA has special rules that SSA uses to evaluate the severity of TBI symptoms.  For example, if SSA determines that an individual’s cognitive ability is severely impaired from a TBI, SSA will evaluate whether the severity of the symptoms equals or meets Listing 12.02.  Other Listing criteria that SSA may consider is Listing 1.00, and 11.00.   Under some circumstances, an individual’s TBI symptoms may satisfy SSA’s special Medical-Vocational Guideline Rules under Step 4 and Step 5 of SSA’s 5-Step Sequential Evaluation process warranting an award of benefits.

To improve an individual’s chances of winning disability benefits because of a TBI injury, TBI symptoms should be well documented with objective medical findings and treatment records should show that there has been no improvement despite appropriate treatment with specialist(s).  Given the complexity of a TBI as it relates to disability benefits, an individual seeking disability benefits because of symptoms related to a TB should speak with a representative or attorney who has represented individuals before SSA who cannot work because of a TBI.

There are many causes of chronic back pain that may impact an individual’s ability to work.  Some causes of chronic back pain are:  degenerative disc disease (damage to one or more vertebral discs), herniated disc (problem with one of the cushions (discs) between the individual vertebras that stack up to make the spinal column), stenosis (narrowing of a root canal), nerve root impingement (one or more of the nerve roots contacting another part of the vertebrae) and failed back surgery.

SSA recognizes that an individual may be entitled to social security disability benefits based on a severe back impairment.  SSA has special rules that SSA uses to evaluate a back impairment.  For example, if SSA determines that an individual’s back impairment meets or equals one of the Listing criteria found in Section 1.00 of SSA’s special rules, SSA should award benefits.  There may be some situations in which an individual’s back impairment does not meet or equal the Listing criteria but a finding of disabled is warranted under SSA’s special Medical-Vocational Guidelines pursuant Step 4 and Step 5 of  SSA’s 5-Step Sequential Evaluation process.

To improve an individual’s chances of winning disability benefits because of a severe back impairment, the back impairment should be well documented with recent objective medical findings and treatment records should show that there has been no improvement despite appropriate treatment with specialist(s).  An individual seeking disability benefits because of a back impairment should speak with a representative or attorney who has represented individuals before SSA who cannot work because of a severe back impairment.