Can You Get Disability for Fainting (Syncope)?
If you suffer from syncope, you may be eligible for Social Security disability. Syncope is a medical term used for loss of consciousness, which is brief and free of any after effects. Often called fainting, syncope occurs when there is a decreased blood flow to the brain which causes the brain to get a limited supply of oxygen.
What is Syncope and What Are Its Types?
To benefit from social security disability allowances or disability advantages, it is important to know the details about Syncope and what happens in it. In simple terms, syncope means fainting, but unlike fainting there is not always a pathological condition or any kind of injury; it can happen any point of time with or without a pathological reason. The loss of consciousness in syncope occurs for a very short duration and does not have any kind of after effects. The reasons behind any syncope attack can be one or more of the following:
- Fasting for too long.
- Lack of water in the body.
- Insomnia.
- Hypoglycemia.
- Over exercising.
- Suddenly standing up.
There are various types of syncope which may cause the patient to faint for different reasons. One of them is Vasovagal Syncope. Also known as Neurocardiogenic syncope, it occurs when there is an overreaction in your body due to some unusual stimuli like the sight of bleeding or intense emotional distress. This stimulus causes the drop of the heart rate and blood pressure. This decreases the amount of blood flow to the brain and ultimately the loss of consciousness. This type of syncope is not harmful and there is no need of any type treatment, but if there is any kind of injury during the syncope episode, it needs to be treated. This type of syncope is related to the nervous system disorder and may cause repeated sessions of fainting. This syncope makes you liable for the disability benefits.
Syncope can be caused by another serious reason and that is arrhythmias meaning irregular heart beat or other vascular disorders. To qualify for the disability benefits, you need to have syncope or something near to syncope (nearly fainting). If you have syncope because of arrhythmia, then there are more chances of getting the disability benefits.
Eligibility for Social Security Disability
As per the Social security administration Vasovagal Syncope comes under dysautonomia functions. Dysautonomia means any disorder or the malfunctioning of the Autonomic Nervous System. Because the ANS controls many vital functions of the body like temperature regulation, blood pressure, digestion, heart rate etc. The Neurocardiogenic syncope falls under it. There are other dysautonomic disorders which cause permanent disability of the body and are sometimes fatal. You can take advantage of the social security benefits only if your body symptoms are similar to those of the specific disability listing of the SSA. The listing includes symptoms related to neurological, cardiovascular and digestive systems. You can take help of your doctor to check out the listing and match them with your symptoms and to procure them prominently during the hearing.
If in case your symptoms do not match with those of the Social security administration listings, the SSA team will analyze those symptoms and they prevent you from working. The team will carefully review the medical records and make a residual functional capacity evaluation which contains the details of how your medical condition is disabling you from working.
If you are suffering from syncope due to arrhythmias, the SSA team will first check your eligibility under the non-medical disability criteria and whether you are working or not. You need to show that the arrhythmias are severe and will last for at least 12 months and they cause ill-effects on your working. Once determined, your benefits will be approved.
SSD Attorney
It is better to get a disability SSA lawyer who can help in the process of claiming disability benefits for syncope condition.
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