Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is a highly complex and poorly understood illness involving autonomic dysfunction. Its primary symptom is having a heart rate much higher than normal relative to the activity being performed. Symptoms worsen upon standing. When a POTS patient stands up or performs even light physical activity, their heart rate can drastically increase and their blood pressure can plummet, causing dizziness, severe headaches, and syncope. POTS often develops after the patient has a viral illness. Many post-COVID patients develop POTS. Living with this syndrome can make it extremely difficult to maintain a job. Many POTS patients are largely housebound, or have “bad days” where they cannot leave their bed. Even those who are generally higher-functioning can experience difficulty trying to work, as they will likely need to take more sick days than their employer allows. In many cases, people with POTS qualify for Social Security Disability payments. If you are living with POTS, an attorney may be able to help you secure the benefits you need. 

How Disability is Defined by the Social Security Administration

The Social Security Administration’s operational definition of a disability may differ from what we as a society generally consider a disability. A person can be considered disabled for purposes of receiving Social Security Disability payments if they are unable to “engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment.” The medically-identified condition must either be expected to result in death or to last more than one year. 

While POTS is not generally considered a life-threatening illness, it is a chronic condition, meaning it may affect the patient for many years or even the rest of their life. This generally meets the “expected to last more than 12 months” requirement. 

Update: For those who are seeking Social Security disability benefits because of carpal tunnel syndrome, it is important to understand the factors that may be considered when determining whether a condition qualifies as a disability. Social Security will evaluate a person's residual functional capacity (RFC) to determine whether a condition will limit the types of work they can perform. During medical examinations, there are multiple types of tests that may be used to determine how carpal tunnel syndrome has affected a person's ability to use their arms, wrists, and hands, including:

• Tinel's sign test - When the skin over a nerve is tapped in a certain way, this may cause a tingling feeling, which is a sign that the nerves have been damaged. This test may be used to determine whether carpal tunnel syndrome has affected the ability of nerves to transmit signals to the wrists and hands.

• Phalen's maneuver - In this test, a person will press the backs of their hands together with their fingers pointed down, and they will hold that position for around one to two minutes. If they begin to experience numbness or tingling in the fingers, this is an indication that they have carpal tunnel syndrome that may affect their ability to perform tasks with their hands.

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There are numerous reasons why people seek disability benefits. Serious injuries, illnesses, or mental health issues can affect a person's ability to work, and if long-term disabilities will limit their ability to earn an income and support themselves, public benefits may be an essential form of financial support that will allow them to meet their ongoing needs. While Social Security disability benefits can be invaluable in these situations, many people with disabilities struggle to have their claims approved.

Issues Affecting Social Security Disability Applicants

Every year, around two million people apply for disability benefits through Social Security. These cases are supposed to be evaluated based on specific criteria used to determine whether a person has experienced a serious condition that has limited their ability to maintain gainful employment. However, a large number of disability claims are improperly denied, and in many cases, applicants will need to pursue appeals in federal courts and demonstrate that they meet the qualifications to receive disability benefits.

In recent years, concerns have been raised about the number of cases in which federal judges have overturned the decisions made by Social Security. In 2021 and 2022, federal judges found fault with nearly 60 percent of the decisions that resulted in Social Security disability appeals. In most cases, new hearings were ordered to ensure that all evidence in a case would be considered correctly, although there have been some situations where federal judges have overturned the decisions made by Social Security and ordered benefits to be paid.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, causing muscle weakness, fatigue, coordination problems, and a variety of other symptoms. It can be a debilitating condition that can greatly impact a person's ability to work and carry out daily activities. As a result, many MS patients apply for Social Security disability benefits to help support themselves and their families. However, navigating the Social Security disability application process can be daunting, and those who are seeking benefits will need to understand the criteria considered by Social Security in order to maximize their chances of being approved for disability benefits.

Factors Considered by Social Security for People With MS

To qualify for Social Security disability benefits, an applicant must demonstrate that they have a medically determinable impairment that prevents them from engaging in substantial gainful activity. This means that their condition must be severe enough to significantly limit their ability to work and earn an income. When it comes to MS, the Social Security Administration (SSA) includes this condition in its Listing of Impairments, and if certain criteria are met, a person will be considered to be disabled, allowing them to qualify for disability benefits.

The Listing of Impairments categorizes multiple sclerosis as a neurological disorder, and a person will be considered disabled if they have an interference in the ability to move at least two extremities, including the legs, feet, shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, or fingers. These issues must cause extreme limitations in the ability to move from sitting to standing or to maintain balance while standing or walking without the assistance of items such as crutches or a walker. Extreme limitations may also affect the ability to perform movements with the arms and hands and complete work-related tasks, such as an inability to grip, pinch, handle objects, reach in different directions, push and pull, or lift and carry items.

Social Security is one of the most critical aspects of the American social safety net. In addition to providing benefits for people who have reached retirement age, it also provides essential financial support to many people with disabilities. Numerous physical and mental health conditions can affect people's ability to maintain employment and make enough money to support themselves and their families, and Social Security disability benefits address this by providing assistance to those who are considered to be totally disabled.

In many cases, those who apply for disability benefits will do so through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which may be available based on the number of years a person has worked, their age, and other factors. However, applying for SSDI benefits can be a long and complicated process, and unfortunately, many applicants are denied. In these situations, it is important to remember that denial is not the end of the road. In fact, there are several options for appealing a denied Social Security disability claim. By understanding your rights and the procedures that will be followed, you can increase your chances of success.

The Social Security Disability Appeals Process

If you believe that your SSDI claim has been incorrectly denied, you can do the following: