Long-Term Disability for Kidney and Bladder Disorders

Kidney disease and bladder problems are common in adults. According to the CDC, 15% of adults in the USA have some form of chronic kidney disease or bladder condition. This means that one in seven adults has a kidney and bladder disorder. Some of these individuals, such as those who suffer from chronic kidney disease, could be impacted so severely that they are unable to work and qualify for long-term disability for kidney and bladder disorders.

What Are Kidney and Bladder Disorders?

Kidney and bladder disorders are any of the diseases that affect the kidneys and bladder. Many kinds of kidney and bladder conditions exist, such as kidney disease and neurogenic bladder. Some are chronic, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure, and may cause long-term disability. Others are mild and can be treated easily. However, most of them usually appear and affect the patients similarly. Most problems that affect the kidney translate to the bladder and vice versa. Other diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, can cause some kidney and bladder diseases. Other causes of kidney and bladder problems include obesity, smoking, abnormal kidney structure, and having a history of kidney disease.

Disability Benefits for Kidney Disease and Bladder Problems

Disability Insurance

Disability insurance is a type of insurance coverage intended to help individuals who cannot work due to disabling injuries or illness. Since many individuals would be unable to survive without an income for an extended period, disability insurance replaces a percentage of your income in such situations. If the insurance company approves the claim, the affected parties will receive assistance through their tough times so they can concentrate on healing. Most policyholders have both short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) insurance.

However, you may need a disability lawyer to ensure you get the best outcome in your long-term disability insurance claim. Even though insurance companies have billions of dollars, some will still deliberately deny people’s disability claims to increase their profits. Some insurance companies play hard to get with your disability benefits and may deny your claim from the start. Alternatively, benefits may be paid for a time and then terminated before the claimant is ready to return to work.

Working with an attorney will help ensure you get the benefits you deserve and continue to receive those benefits for as long as possible. Even if you think you meet all the eligibility requirements, you may consider working with a long-term disability attorney to avoid unnecessary delays in your claim.

We know the law and are experts in long-term disability insurance claims for kidney and bladder diseases. We will use our experience and skills to ensure you get the benefits you deserve for your condition. Long-term disability is an institution set in place to help people, and your case deserves to be heard.

Social Security Disability

It is also possible to obtain disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for kidney disease or bladder problems. The SSA has its own rules for what qualifies people as disabled. Kidney disease or bladder conditions fall under the broader category of genitourinary conditions, and as such, they are evaluated under listing 6.00 – Genitourinary Disorders. In fact, chronic kidney disease is specifically listed under listing 6.00. You may meet the SSA’s listing for genitourinary impairments if you suffer from:

• CKD with chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis,
• CKD that has required a kidney transplant or
• CKD with impairment of kidney function.

Another one of Social Security’s rules is that to qualify for benefits, you must be disabled or be expected to remain disabled for 12 months or more. As such, you may be eligible for disability insurance benefits but not Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.

If you do not have a disability policy with an insurance company, you may receive Social Security Disability benefits. However, certain work requirements must be met. Typically, people must have worked five out of the previous ten years to meet the SSA’s work requirements. If you believe you meet the SSA’s rules and requirements but need help with your claim, you can hire a Social Security Disability lawyer to represent you.

Qualifying for Disability Due to a Kidney or Bladder Disorder

The symptoms of and treatments for various kidney diseases and bladder problems can make working challenging for many people. If you cannot work due to your condition, you should qualify for disability benefits.  Whether you are seeking LTD or SSD benefits, you will need objective evidence to support your claim. Objective evidence will show that the disease affects the claimant’s quality of life and ability to work. Objective evidence is crucial in determining whether a person qualifies for disability for kidney and bladder conditions.

If you are unsure what information you need to submit, you should consider consulting with an attorney. Many attorneys offer a free case evaluation to people who may need to hire a lawyer to determine if it is a case they can help with.

Symptoms

Although a regular checkup is recommended, some signs will show that you may have problems with your kidneys or bladder. With over 37 million Americans with the disease, it is vital to be on the lookout for any symptoms. Early diagnosis is crucial and will help ensure that treatment is more effective and takes place at the right time to preserve bladder and kidney function.

Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of kidney and bladder problems:

• Fatigue and trouble concentrating – When you have kidney problems, toxins build up in your blood. This will make you feel tired and have difficulty concentrating. Kidney and bladder problems can also lead to anemia, which causes fatigue.
• Lack of sleep – The buildup of toxins in blood can make a person have trouble sleeping. There is a link between obesity, sleep apnea, and chronic kidney and bladder conditions.
• Dry and itchy skin – The kidney helps to excrete excess fluids and toxins, which help keep red blood cells, skin, and bones healthy. Dry and itchy skin anywhere on your body can be related to chronic kidney and bladder problems.
• Urge to urinate more – When a person has kidney and bladder problems, there is the urge to urinate more. However, the passing of urine can be in low volumes each time.
• Blood in urine – Blood in the urine is a common sign of kidney and bladder conditions.
• Foamy urine – With kidney disease and bladder conditions, the urine can be frothy and bubble-like.
• Swollen feet and ankles – One of the most common symptoms of kidney disease and bladder problems is swollen feet and ankles. Kidney failure leads to sodium retention in the body, which tends to collect in the feet and ankles. Swelling throughout the body often results in pain.
• Shortness of breath – Acute kidney failure may lead to a buildup of fluid in your lungs, which can cause shortness of breath.
• Pain, numbness, and tingling in the feet and legs.
• Weight loss and lack of appetite.
• Eventually, a person with chronic kidney failure may begin to feel bone pain. This pain occurs because kidney function is important in maintaining bone health.

You must discuss all of your signs and symptoms with your doctors so that the information can be documented in your medical records. Disability claims are only approved if there is medical evidence to document your condition and its resulting impairments.

Treatment

Most kidney and bladder disorder treatments involve treating the symptoms and the actual cause of the disease concurrently. Whether you suffer from kidney disease, bladder problems, or a combination of the two, a comprehensive treatment plan is needed for the best results. It is of the utmost importance that your treatment plan is included in your medical records and that the medical evidence proves that you have followed the recommended treatment plan. If you have undergone dialysis, be sure to obtain records from the dialysis center. If you suffer any side effects from your treatment that affect your ability to work, then you should also ensure that information is documented in your medical records.

Dealing with the symptoms while slowly eliminating the cause is an effective way of treating kidney and bladder diseases. There are several specific treatments: antibiotics are commonly used to deal with infections, and training the bladder to increase its urine capacity can be helpful. In some cases, kidney function is so limited that machines are used to perform the essential kidney functions for the patient, such as with dialysis. Treatment typically takes place over long periods and requires regular visits to your medical practitioner or hospital of choice. If you suffer from chronic kidney disease, your doctor may consider a kidney transplant.

How Will an Attorney Help with Your Disability Claim

You are probably asking yourself why you would need a disability attorney. After all, you know that the symptoms of your kidney disease prevent you from working. You may already be undergoing dialysis to try to extend the life of your kidneys while you await a kidney transplant. Despite these factors, there is a high probability that the insurance company or SSA will deny many LTD or SSD cases. At this point, a claimant must appeal the insurance company’s denial.

One of the benefits of hiring a disability lawyer is that you get help filing appeals. Many people do not look to attorneys for assistance with their case until the case has been denied. Legitimate cases are denied daily, but you don’t have to face the appeal process alone. The Ortiz Law Firm will help you make an appeal so compelling that the insurance company will have no choice but to approve your claim.

Tell Us About Your Case

If you have problems with your kidneys or bladder and have been denied benefits, you should seek out legal advice. We encourage you to tell us how the insurance company has wrongfully denied your claim so that we can help you fight for your benefits. We offer a free case evaluation to disability insurance claimants who have been wrongfully denied or terminated. We also offer a free case evaluation to any Social Security Disability claimants at any point from the initial application through the hearing stage. Call us at (888) 321-8131 for a free case evaluation.