Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and SSD benefits

Tennessee residents who have been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease could qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Though the SSA Blue Book does not specifically list Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, the disease is still considered a valid neurological impairment that could be a qualifying factor on a person’s disability application.

People with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease have chronic difficulty walking, standing up and using their arms and hands. The impairment could limit a person’s ability to work, especially if the person has other limiting factors such as age and lack of transferable job skills. If a person is no longer able to perform any of their past jobs because of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, they may qualify for disability benefits.

When the SSA looks at a person’s application for disability, information from the person’s medical records is examined closely. In addition to test results, the SSA will also consider statements from the applicant’s physicians. The physician statements must be detailed and list the specific ways that the applicant’s disease limits their mobility. Information about past job history will also be evaluated so that the SSA can determine how much the applicant’s impairment affects their ability to work.

Some applicants for disability benefits are denied because they fail to present all of the necessary paperwork for the SSA to consider in their case. If an applicant for disability was denied although they have a neurological condition like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, the individual may want to seek help from a Social Security Disability attorney. An attorney may be able to help an applicant for SSD to appeal their denial or file a new application.