The liver, the largest organ, is vital to proper functioning of the body. There are many different liver diseases, some caused by viruses, such as Hepatitis, and others caused by toxins, (including alcohol). Chronic liver disease is characterized by liver cell necrosis, inflammation or scarring including fibrosis or cirrhosis. Liver cancer is another form of disease that can attack the liver as can hemochromatosis (a genetic liver disease). Other chronic liver diseases may result in portal hypertension, cholestasis (suppression of bile flow), or extrahepatic manifestations. Some liver diseases are caused by the use of prescription medications that are needed to treat other conditions, radiation or chemotherapy. Examples of liver disease include chronic Hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic liver disease steatohepatitis (NASH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), autoimmune hepatitis, and Wilson's Disease. Symptoms of liver disease include jaundice, enlarged liver or spleen, adema (swelling), itching (prurtis), fatigue, nausea, appetite loss, sleep disorder and mood or memory changes.
Liver disease is documented with CAT scan, MRI, ultrasound, laboratory and blood work, and liver biopsy. Treatment often includes medications which may have equally disabling side effects including interferon, and ribavirin treatments.
Kidney disease is considered a genitourinary condition. Kidney or renal disease may be related to heredity, illness, injury, toxic exposure, or disease. Kidney disease may affect other organs including the muscles and nerves in the legs, the blood system and the bones. When the kidneys do not work, an individual may be required to undergo dialysis which is the removal of toxic materials from the blood by an artificial kidney machine or transplant may be required. Kidney disease affects your kidneys' ability to filter waste products and extra water in the body. Kidney disease occurs when nephrons in the kidneys are damaged. Genetics, diabetes and high blood pressure often account for damage to the kidneys but there may be no symptoms initially. Symptoms can include: changes in urination, fatigue, skin rash/itching, metallic taste in mouth, swelling in hands and feet, shortness of breath and feeling cold.
Social Security will review documentation of the severity of liver or kidney disease but will also review the symptoms caused by the liver and kidney dysfunction and the side effects of the medications on daily functioning in determining disability.
In order to prove your disability to Social Security, you need to either document that your condition or conditions meet or equal in severity the criteria found in the Social Security Commissioner's regulations or, if you are an adult, that your condition and symptoms are so severe that you are unable to work. If you are a child under 18, you must similarly show that your condition or conditions meet or equal in severity the criteria in the Social Security Commissioner's regulations or that your condition or conditions functionally equals the Commissioner's regulations. The law firm of Sheryl Gandel Mazur has experienced disability attorneys and has been representing individuals in their Social Security disability appeals for over twenty five years. Let us help you receive your Social Security disability benefits.
Our disability law firm represents individuals:
- In filing their initial disability applications
- In handling cases at the initial level including appealing initial denials
- In handling cases at the reconsideration level including appealing reconsideration denials
- In handling cases at the hearings level
- In appealing and handling cases at the Appeals Council level
- In appealing and handling cases at the Federal Court level
This firm also handles SSI child's disability cases at all levels.
Organizations: National Kidney Foundation (http://www.kidney.org/), American Liver Foundation (http://www.liverfoundation.org/).
