Medical conditions that qualify for long-term disability include musculoskeletal injuries, neurological disorders, mental health issues, and major illnesses such as cancer. A qualifying health condition must interfere with your ability to work and hold a job.
You must provide documentation to prove your claim. Even so, insurance companies may sometimes deny benefits. The guidance of a skilled attorney is essential for understanding the process, minimizing errors in your application, and effectively contesting denials.
Our Virginia long-term disability lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience advocating for sick and injured people who are unable to work. Call today to schedule a free case evaluation and discuss your claim.
What Is Long-term Disability?
Long-term disability is income replacement insurance that provides financial assistance if you are unable to work. It may be a plan offered by your employer or purchased separately. If you qualify, it typically pays between 50% and 70% of your pre-disability income.
To qualify, you must be able to show documentation that you can’t perform your work duties due to an injury or illness. Therefore, it is not only important to consider what medical conditions qualify for long-term disability, but also how your conditions impact you specifically.
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Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders have the potential to significantly impair your physical functions, resulting in pain, stiffness, weakness, and reduced range of motion.
Common musculoskeletal issues that can lead to long-term disability include
- Chronic back pain
- Arthritis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic bursitis
These conditions can make it difficult to do physical jobs, but can also limit or impair your ability to walk, stand, or sit for long periods. If these issues persist and are not treated, your last remaining option could be to apply for long-term disability.
Mental Health Disorders
Physical issues are not the only medical conditions that qualify for long-term disability. Mental health conditions can impact your ability to interact with co-workers and perform in a job setting. Some of the typical conditions that can qualify are:
- Major depressive disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
These conditions can have a severe impact on cognitive and emotional functions. You may have trouble concentrating, experience extreme mood swings, struggle with inexplicable feelings of fatigue, and have difficulty managing stressful work situations.
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Neurological Disorders
Neurological disorders often exhibit progressive symptoms that impair coordination, speech, memory, or motor skills. These challenges can make work unsafe or unmanageable, particularly in jobs that require focus and manual dexterity.
Some common neurological disorders that can impact your work performance include:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Epilepsy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Traumatic brain injury
- Alzheimer’s
Documentation needs to demonstrate that the neurological condition is chronic and substantially impacts job-related tasks. If the condition leads to cognitive decline, seizures, or motor impairment, it may result in a successful long-term disability claim.
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Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases cause the immune system to mistakenly target healthy tissues, leading to significant inflammation, pain, fatigue, and organ dysfunction. These symptoms can be debilitating, unpredictable, and difficult to manage, especially over prolonged periods.
Conditions include:
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Crohn’s disease
If an autoimmune condition causes ongoing flare-ups, joint damage, or fatigue that significantly impacts work performance, it could be eligible for long-term disability. Providing documentation of limitations can help the claim.
Cardiovascular Conditions
Cardiovascular diseases can impact your stamina and energy levels. Symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue can limit your ability to perform even basic daily tasks.
This includes:
- Heart failure
- Coronary artery disease
- Arrhythmia
Post–heart attack complications or limitations from surgeries like bypass or stent placement can also support disability claims. If heart function is severely impaired, it often meets the criteria for long-term disability.
Respiratory Disorders
Respiratory disorders can impair lung function and oxygen intake, resulting in breathlessness, fatigue, and an increased susceptibility to infections. Common workplace factors, such as exertion, stress, or exposure to environmental irritants, may exacerbate your condition.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Severe asthma
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Cystic fibrosis
If you have any of these conditions, you might find it difficult to walk short distances, engage in lengthy conversations, or carry out simple physical activities. In cases of severe impairment, you may qualify for long-term disability.
Cancer
Cancer may be eligible for long-term disability because of the illness itself as well as the treatment’s side effects. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery frequently lead to severe fatigue, cognitive problems, nausea, and pain, all of which can compromise your work capacity.
Even when in remission, issues such as nerve damage and lymphedema can restrict your ability to work. Advanced or metastatic cancer almost always qualifies for long-term disability, but it is important to include documentation to illustrate your condition.
Get Help Qualifying for Long-Term Disability
In addition to those listed above, many other conditions may qualify for long-term disability. Consider how your injury or condition impacts your ability to participate in gainful employment. If it does, and you can show proof, there is a good chance that it will qualify.
Of course, whether or not you qualify will also depend on specific factors such as your policy and whether you can prove your case through significant documentation. This is where the assistance of a skilled disability lawyer is invaluable.
At BenGlassLaw, we have been helping injured individuals since 1995. If you need assistance with your case or if you have been denied benefits, contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Call or text (703) 591-9829 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
