Neck injuries can leave you suffering from debilitating pain and significant financial losses. Depending on the extent and severity of your neck injuries, you might be permanently unable to return to work. After all, most jobs and activities require you to move your neck without pain. If your neck injuries are severe and expected to last for 12 or more months, they might entitle you to Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits. However, it can be hard to win Social Security for neck injuries. Scroll down to learn what you can expect when you apply.
Pursuing Social Security for Neck Injuries
Types of Neck Injuries that Might Qualify for SSDI
Neck problems can qualify for disability if they significantly limit your ability to perform work activities. Conditions that could lead to a strong claim include the following:
- Cervical disc disease or herniation
- Cervical spondylosis (arthritis)
- Spinal stenosis
- Cervical radiculopathy (nerve root compression)
- Myelopathy (spinal cord compression)
- Post-surgical complications, like those from spinal fusion.
Relevant Symptoms
The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates claims based on how symptoms impact work capacity. Symptoms that are typically relevant include the following:
- Severe neck pain that limits mobility or requires frequent rest
- Radiating pain, numbness, or tingling in the arms or hands
- Muscle weakness or loss of grip strength
- Headaches or dizziness stemming from neck problems
- Limited range of motion in the neck, impacting the ability to look up, down, or side to side
- Balance issues caused by nerve compression or instability
- Spinal cord involvement, leading to impaired motor skills or incontinence
Exertional Limitations
For a claim to be meritorious, your neck condition must prevent you from engaging in even sedentary work. Examples of exertional limitations include the following:
- Inability to lift or carry objects weighing up to ten pounds (sedentary level)
- Needing to change positions frequently (e.g., from sitting to standing) to manage pain
- Difficulty with fine motor tasks (typing, writing) due to radiating nerve pain
- Limited ability to hold your head in a fixed position (like looking at a screen or document) and/or the inability to look down on a frequent basis
- Inability to sustain concentration due to pain or medication side effects
For your claim to be successful, medical evidence is key. This includes imaging (like MRIs or X-rays), surgical records, physical therapy notes, and opinions from your doctors about your functional limitations.
How to Prove You Need SSDI for a Neck Injury
The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires your condition to meet a specific definition of what counts as a qualifying disability. To qualify as an eligible disabling condition, your neck injury must be severe enough to prevent you from performing any substantial gainful activity, be expected to last 12 months or more, or be expected to result in death.
One way to show that your condition qualifies is to show that your injury is listed on the SSA’s list of impairments. This list includes conditions the SSA considers severe enough to qualify. However, having a condition that isn’t listed doesn’t mean that you will be denied SSDI. It’s possible to get approved for Social Security for neck injuries with unlisted conditions.
You’ll need to present substantial medical evidence that demonstrates the severity of your injuries and their impact on your ability to perform the activities of daily life. This might include showing that your neck injury prevents you from moving, inhibits your ability to move major muscle groups required to sit, stand, or walk, or limits a major life activity in another way. You’ll need to present medical evidence, including MRIs, x-rays, physicals, doctors’ notes, diagnostic information, and other medical records that demonstrate the impact of your condition on your ability to perform work and on your life.
If your condition is unlisted, the Social Security Administration will examine your symptoms and assign you a residual functional capacity rating. They do this by having your records reviewed by medical consultants. This rating indicates the work you can perform with your health limitations.
Talk to Our Experienced Disability Lawyers
If you have a neck injury that is severe enough to keep you from working, you might be entitled to Social Security for neck injuries. To learn more about your rights and legal options, contact the experienced team at Ellis & Associates today for a free consultation by calling 800-MR-ELLIS or sending us a message online.