If you have trouble breathing, there’s a good chance your lung disease is grouped under the umbrella term of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The most common conditions classified under COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which generally cause shortness of breath, wheezing, excess mucus, frequent respiratory infections, and tightness in the chest. The most common cause of COPD? Smoking tobacco. If you think you might qualify for Social Security disability, contact a Social Security attorney. Camp Hill and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania residents have found great success working with the attorneys at Schmidt Kramer.
In order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits for your COPD, you must be officially diagnosed by your doctor, and a consulting doctor hired by the Social Security Administration must perform a lung function test. The lung function test will show how limited your airflow is, and from there, the SSA will determine whether or not that means you are unable to work at all. The lung function test, more officially called a spirometry test, will look at the amount of air you can exhale in one second. If you exhale less air than an average person of your height, it will show how poor your lung function is. If you are able to get enough air out of your lungs, you could have a problem oxygenating blood—more tests will be performed to determine if that is the issue causing your respiratory troubles.
COPD also affects the body in other ways, so if it’s also causing things like high blood pressure or coronary artery disease, those can also be considered when you are being evaluated for SSDI.
If you need assistance with disability benefits, contact Schmidt Kramer to speak with an experienced Social Security attorney. Harrisburg residents can reach us to schedule a free consultation at (717) 888-8888.