Unfortunately, most of the disability claims filed for carpal tunnel come back as denied. If you suffer from the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and the Social Security Administration (SSA) has denied your claim, you have the right to file a carpal tunnel denied disability appeal. A Social Security attorney may help you file a much stronger claim the second time around.
How to File a Persuasive Appeal
A team of medical examiners from the SSA evaluates your original claim to determine whether you qualify for financial assistance. The team of medical examiners refers to a medical guide called the Blue Book to evaluate your claim.
Many carpal tunnel disability claims come back denied because the Blue Book does have a specific listing for the medical condition. The best way to qualify for disability benefits with carpal tunnel is to link your symptoms to the symptoms caused by peripheral neuropathy.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel often start as benign, such as experiencing mild numbness or tingling of the arms and/or legs. Carpal tunnel symptoms turn serious when you begin to feel a throbbing pain in the joints that move the hands, wrists, and arms. Proving you suffer from acute pain can help you overturn a denied Social Security with carpal tunnel claim.
Medical Evidence Can Reverse Denied Disability Benefits
Your physician puts you through a series of tests that determines whether you suffer from carpal tunnel. Many of the symptoms of the medical condition mimic the symptoms of other bone-related diseases, such as osteoporosis. Your doctor will look at your history of contracting symptoms before conducting diagnostic tests that expose any damage done to the joints and/or ligaments that surround your arms and legs.
X-rays can exclude other factors that cause pain, such as a fractured bone or a sprained ligament. However, your physicians must conduct additional tests to link your symptoms with carpal tunnel. An electromyography test measures the minute electrical discharges that muscles produce. The test can detect damage done to the muscles surrounding your wrists that is caused by repetitive motions like typing and lifting heavy objects.
Complete a Residual Functional Capacity Assessment
Because most carpal tunnel disability claims come back denied by the SSA, you should prepare to complete a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment. An RFC assessment puts you through a series of tests that measure your ability to work while dealing with the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. A member of a medical examiner team from the SSA might ask you to squeeze a tennis ball repeatedly to determine the strength and stamina of your hands and wrists. Other tests that comprise an RFC assessment for carpal tunnel include pushing and pulling objects with your arms.
Meet the Deadline for Filing an Appeal
You have just 60 days after getting the denied with carpal tunnel letter from the SSA to file an appeal. During the time you have to file an appeal, you should gather and organize more convincing medical evidence, as well as obtain testimony from co-workers that can verify the difficulty you have at work.
Working with a Social Security attorney may help ensure you meet the filing deadline for an appeal. Your lawyer is also there for you to monitor the progress of your appeal for denied carpal tunnel disability benefits. To discuss your appeal with an independent, participating attorney who subscribes to the website, complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page.
