Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Social Security Disability

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disorder that is mainly known to lead to extreme fatigue that cannot be explained or pinned down to a known medical condition. The level of fatigue may increase as a result of a physical or mental exertion but even when the individual takes rest, the fatigue does not lessen.

With no clear causes for chronic fatigue syndrome, scientists believe it is caused by psychological stress or viral infections. It could also be a combination of various factors.

There is no treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, but there is treatment for its symptoms. Symptoms for chronic fatigue syndrome include:

  • Loss of memory
  • Loss of concentration
  • Fatigue
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after an activity
  • Poor sleep

If a patient is showing some or all of these symptoms, tests are done to rule out other diseases with similar symptoms. If no other problem can be diagnosed, the patient is diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Qualifying for Benefits with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is not a condition that qualifies someone for Social Security benefits. He or she needs to prove to the Social Security Administration that the symptoms make meaningful work impossible.

There are various items involved to prove that someone cannot work as a result of your symptoms. First, he must have suffered from the symptoms for a period of 6 months or more. This has to be backed by medical records so as to prove that that the chronic fatigue syndrome has been present for more than 6 months.

The various records and items are needed in order to prove a claim include:

  • Doctor visit records
  • Lab test results
  • List of medications
  • Recorded hospitalizations

Why it is Important to Have an Attorney

The Social Security Administration application process is challenging due to the fact that it takes a lot of medical support to prove that somebody qualifies for disability benefits. This makes it necessary to have a disability attorney who will assist a claimant with the application process, especially if the case goes to court.

Get a disability attorney because:

  • The attorney knows how to fill out disability forms
  • The attorney has experience in court
  • The attorney raises an applicants chances of winning to approximately 90%

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating disorder that affects thousands of people across the world. Because chronic fatigue syndrome is not listed in the SSA’s Blue Book, it is not always easy to prove to the Social Security Administration that the disability makes work challenging. To prove your case and get the benefits you need, it is always beneficial to hire a disability attorney.