Individuals who suffer from severe disabilities often have to wait months, if not years, before seeing their first disability payment from the Social Security Administration. This is largely due to the fact that these individuals must pursue a lengthy and complex disability appeal after waiting three to six months for a denial of their initial disability claim. For some individuals, such a wait is unfair due to the severity of their condition. The SSA has recognized this fact and as a result implemented the Compassionate Allowances program. Under these guidelines, individuals who suffer from certain disabilities can qualify for disability benefits in a matter of weeks. Those who suffer from chondrosarcoma with multimodal therapy are now some of the individuals who may qualify for benefits under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
Chondrosarcoma with Multimodal Therapy Condition and Symptoms
Chondrosarcoma is a type of cancer that involves the cells that are created from the transformed cells that produce cartilage. This particular type of cancer falls into the category of sarcoma cancer, which involves tumors of the bone and soft tissue of the body. Nearly 30 percent of cancers that affect the skeletal system are classified as chondrosarcomas.
Treatment for chondrosarcoma may vary depending on where the cancer originated and what stage the cancer is in. Because this type of cancer tends to be aggressive in nature, a combination of therapies is often used, such as surgery combined with radiation and/or chemotherapy. When an individual is suffering from chondrosarcoma he or she must not only face the symptoms of the cancer itself, but must also deal with the symptoms associated with the treatments that are being administered. Because the combination of symptoms can leave a person completely disabled, a case of chondrosarcoma with multimodal therapy may qualify an individual for claim processing under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
While the exact cause of chondrosarcoma is unknown, it is thought that patients who have a history of osteochondroma or enchondroma are at an increased risk of developing this type of cancer. In addition, patients who suffer from Ollier disease and Maffucci syndrome may also be at an increased risk of developing chondrosarcoma.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Chondrosarcoma with Multimodal Therapy
When you file a Social Security Disability claim based on a diagnosis of chondrosarcoma and you are undergoing multimodal therapy to treat the condition, you will need to provide very detailed answers to the SSA regarding the affect the condition has had on your daily lifestyle. Be sure to answer all of the questions on the claim forms in their entirety and be as detailed as you possibly can. The goal is to get the adjudicator to understand exactly how much of an impact the condition and treatments have had on your ability to perform work.
In addition to properly filling out the claim forms, the SSA will need copies of your medical records. In the case of chondrosarcoma with multimodal therapy, this will include lab results, imaging results, treatment histories and written statements from your treating physician. All of these things will need to be included with your initial application for benefits if you hope to have your disability claim approved during the initial stage of the application process.
Chondrosarcoma with Multimodal Therapy and Your Social Security Disability Case
When applying for disability benefits based on a case of chondrosarcoma with multimodal therapy you may want to enlist the assistance of an attorney who specializes in disability cases. An attorney will know what information the SSA needs to see in order to approve your disability claim during the initial stage of the application process and will ensure that you have furnished the SSA with enough medical evidence to support your claim for disability benefits.
If your claim for disability benefits has been denied you should contact a disability attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can help you begin the disability appeal process, ensuring that the SSA handles the appeal as a Compassionate Allowances appeal (meaning the appeal will be given higher priority and you will not have to wait as long as you would with a standard appeal).