A Charlotte Disability Lawyer Discusses COPD and Social Security Disability

For more information about COPD and Social Security disability, contact a Charlotte disability lawyer by calling Bridgman Law Offices at (704) 815-6055.

What Is COPD?

As your Charlotte disability lawyer can inform you, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a broad term for several diseases that affect the lungs, primarily emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These diseases cause excessive inflammation that eventually lead to limited airflow and lung structure abnormalities. COPD progresses, or gets worse, the longer you have it.

According to your Charlotte disability lawyer, COPD can also cause other symptoms, including wheezing, tightening of your chest, coughing that produces large amounts of mucus, and shortness of breath. The leading cause of COPD is smoking cigarette smoking. Most people diagnosed with COPD either used to smoke or currently smoke. Another possible factor that contributes to people developing COPD is long-term exposure to other lung irritants like dust, chemical fumes, or air pollution.

How Can I Qualify For Social Security Disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a Listing of Impairments, or conditions and requirements it uses to determine if a person is disabled and eligible for Social Security disability benefits. As your Charlotte disability attorney will tell you, to qualify for disability based on COPD, you have to be diagnosed with COPD and qualify for one of three following requirements as listed in SSA’s Listing of Impairments:

1. Very limited airflow;
2. Poor supply of oxygen in your blood which causes a poor diffusing of carbon monoxide in your lungs (DLCO); or
3. Reduced capacity to work.

Contact Us

For more information about COPD and Social Security disability, contact a Charlotte disability lawyer by calling Bridgman Law Offices at (704) 815-6055.