Crohn’s disease is a condition marked by chronic inflammation of the entire digestive system, all the way from the mouth through the alimentary canal. The condition causes ulcers along the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the large and small intestinal areas. Crohn’s disease is not the same as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD. Rather, the term IBD refers to a condition that includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Crohn’s disease is not easily curable, and treatment of the condition may involve management over the course of the person’s life. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease could include the following.
- Frequent diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Blood in the stool
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Severe weight loss
Treatment may include a course of antibiotics, immune suppressors, and anti-inflammatory medications to manage the symptoms.
Filing for Social Security Disability Benefits for Crohn’s Disease
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will evaluate your eligibility for disability benefits for Crohn’s disease under the Irritable Bowel Disease impairment listing. However, to qualify for benefits under these criteria, you must establish the presence of stenotic obstructions in the colon that have caused you to be hospitalized at least twice over a period of 60 days. Evidence that you can provide in support of your disability benefits claim for Crohn’s disease can include imaging scan results.
If you do not meet these criteria, you may continue to qualify for benefits. The SSA may consider you eligible for benefits if you suffer from at least two of the following.
- Severe anemia
- Low serum albumin levels
- Perianal disease accompanied by fistula and painful abscesses which do not respond to pain medications
- Severe weight loss
You may also qualify if you are receiving supplemental nutrition through a gastrostomy.
There are additional challenges you may face when applying for Social Security disability for Crohn’s disase. The SSA will only consider a disability claim if the condition has been present for a minimum of 12 months or is expected to last for 12 months. Crohn’s disease is a condition that is frequently in remission, and as symptoms begin to appear and disappear, you may find that it’s hard to meet the 12-month mandatory requirement. To ascertain your options for disability benefits for Crohn’s Disease under the Social Security Disability Insurance program, speak to a Social Security disability attorney at LaVan & Neidenberg (888) 234-5758.
