Upon the impact of a catastrophic accident event, you may have incurred a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury. However, your lingering symptoms may be anything but mild, to the point that your ability to work and earn a living is being negatively affected. Your research may lead you to the Social Security Administration’s listing of impairments for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, in which a traumatic brain injury is set as Listing 11.18. With this, though, you may fear that your “mild” case will jeopardize this opportunity for you. Well, please read on to discover whether you are eligible for benefits after receiving a concussion and how one of the seasoned lawyers of physical disability SSDI benefits in New Jersey, at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur, can help you prove you meet the SSA’s eligibility criteria.
Can I get SSDI benefits for a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury?
First of all, you may be interested to learn that a concussion is a mild form of a traumatic brain injury. With this, the only reason your treating doctor diagnosed you with a “mild” traumatic brain injury is because of its early clinical markers. That is, at the time of your catastrophic accident event, you may not have lost consciousness. Then, your CT and MRI imaging results may not display visible bleeding, swelling, or bruising.
With that being said, the SSA cares less about the label of your physical condition than about how it impacts your life. That is, even a mild traumatic brain injury may consist of symptoms severe enough to prevent you from participating in substantial gainful activity. What’s more, these may be long-term impairments that have lasted, or are predicted to last, at least 12 months. Lastly, these conditions may even hinder you from pivoting to other types of work for the time being, as well.
What are common symptoms of a concussion that may qualify me for SSDI benefits?
Namely, if you suffer from “post-concussion syndrome,” then you likely qualify for SSDI benefits. This is because, with this diagnosed syndrome, your symptoms may persist beyond the normal recovery window of a minor head injury (i.e., possibly for longer than 12 months). And so, they may also be symptoms that are debilitating enough to hinder your working capabilities. Common examples of post-concussion symptoms that the SSA may be interested to learn about through your submitted medical records include the following:
- You may have difficulty remembering, concentrating, or making decisions on the task at hand.
- You may be unable to increase your physical and cognitive activities gradually before symptoms worsen.
- You may have trouble regulating your emotions and tolerating natural stress that comes with your workload.
- You may experience poor balance, slowed movement, coordination problems, and/or altered muscle control.
- You may have chronic migraines, fatigue, nausea, etc., that prevent you from communiting, staying on task, or maintaining attendance.
If you are ready to step foot into this legal path, do not do so until you have retained one of the competent lawyers in SSDI eligibility in New Jersey, from The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur. We look forward to your phone call and to taking on your case.
