COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the term given to a blanket category of several lung diseases that includes emphysema. This is a progressive condition, and symptoms can become worse as the disease progresses. Persons suffering from COPD will have breathing problems because of obstructed airflow to the lungs.
If you want to file a Social Security COPD disability benefit claim, there are several pieces of medical documentation that you must provide in support of your claim. First you must have a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. You must also provide results of certain tests that can confirm the intensity of your symptoms. A lung function test must indicate that your airflow is severely restricted, making it very difficult for you to breathe and perform routine activities. The spirometry test, for example, can specifically measure the amount of air that you can exhale in the course of a single second.
But even if your spirometry test results do not specifically indicate that you’re eligible for benefits, you may still continue to claim benefits by proving that you have other lung problems that make it difficult for you to breathe. Additionally, you may be able to qualify for benefits if you’re able to prove that your breathing is so impaired by the COPD that is it is impossible for you to perform any productive or gainful work.
Speak to Galveston Social Security disability benefits lawyer M. Stanley Whitehead about filing a claim for compensation and discuss the types of medical evidence that you must provide in support of your claim. Call 713-993-7311 to discuss your case with attorney Whitehead, or fill out the contact form and schedule a consultation.