Can You Get SSDI for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

November 19, 2022 | Social Security Disability

Can You Get SSDI for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)?

A worker may sustain an injury in an accident or develop a health condition that makes it impossible to work. If you cannot work because of a disability, you might qualify for disability benefits. 

Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, pays benefits to individuals who become disabled and cannot work. Before receiving SSDI benefits, you must meet the Social Security Administration (SSA) definition of disabled. Many disabilities can meet the definition of disabled, including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

What Is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)?

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome’s primary symptom is orthostatic intolerance. The condition results in an excessively lower volume of blood returning to the heart when a person stands up after lying down. However, POTS can also cause other conditions depending on the type of POTS a person develops. 

The symptoms of side-effects of POTS can include, but are not limited to:

  • Chest pain
  • Weakness
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Anxiety
  • Nausea
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Shaking or tremors
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Overly sweaty
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Chronic headache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Heart palpitations

POTS can cause the autonomic nervous system to stop functioning correctly. The result is the inability to regulate heart rate and blood pressure. 

A person might experience mild symptoms from POTS. However, the symptoms could also be extremely severe and debilitating. The POTS symptoms can make it impossible for a person to stand for a short duration because it drastically increases their heart rate. 

What Are the Different Types of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome?

The different types of POTS include:

  • POTS Causing Low Blood Volume, resulting in reduced blood flow.
  • POTS Causing Hyperadrenergic, resulting in an overactive sympathetic nervous system from high levels of norepinephrine in the blood system. The result is increased heart rate while standing and high blood pressure.
  • POTS Causing Neuropathic symptoms, including weakened blood vessels, especially in a person’s core and legs.

Some patients could develop POTS because of other conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, auto-immune disorders, and Lyme disease. 

You must have medical records detailing a diagnosis of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. The medical records need to include your symptoms, the severity of the symptoms, and the treatment your doctor recommended for POTS.

When you seek medical treatment, always report all symptoms you experience. Then, explain how the symptoms impact your daily activities. This information could be important when proving that your POTS condition prevents you from working.

Can You Get SSDI Benefits for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome?

To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must meet the definition of disabled. The SSA defines a disability condition as:

  • Having a medically determinable mental or physical impairment;
  • That prevents you from performing or engaging in any substantial gainful activity (work); and,
  • Which is expected to result in your death or last at least 12 months.

The SSA lists many disabling conditions in the Blue Book. The Blue Book lists conditions that often result in disability and the requirements for each condition that must be present to qualify as a disabling condition. The Blue Book does not explicitly mention Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

Even though POTS is not listed in the SSA’s Blue Book, it does not mean you cannot qualify for Social Security Disability Income. However, you have the burden of proving that the POTS diagnosis meets or exceeds the requirements for a disabling condition.

Do I Need an SSDI Lawyer To File for POTS Disability Benefits?

Because it can be difficult to prove your case without expert witnesses and medical specialists, it is generally best to hire a Harrisburg Social Security disability lawyer to handle your case. An SSDI attorney understands the evidence necessary to prove your case and the potential sources of that evidence. 

For example, your lawyer can arrange for a residual functional capacity assessment. An RFC assessment can help prove your POTS prevents you from working. 

Your lawyer also understands how to use other conditions to help prove your disability. Your attorney and physicians can work together to prove to the SSA that the symptoms of POTS are similar to symptoms of other conditions that qualify as disabilities. 

Furthermore, the SSA denies many SSDI applications on the first attempt. A Social Security disability lawyer in Harrisburg can help you prepare and file a timely appeal to fight the denial. Your lawyer prepares your case for reconsideration and a hearing by an administrative law judge.

What SSDI Benefits Could I Receive for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome?

If the SSA grants your disability application, you can receive SSDI benefits if you cannot work. SSDI benefits are paid monthly. 

The amount you receive is based on several factors. An experienced Harrisburg Social Security disability attorney can review your case and advise you about the benefits you should be entitled to receive if you are a disabled worker. 

If you’ve been injured in a social security disability, please contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today:

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