Marc Whitehead & Associates

Epilepsy Disability Claim Attorney

Obtain Epilepsy Disability Benefits Under Social Security, Veterans Disability, or Long Term Disability Insurance

Epilepsy affects over 3 million Americans. Despite all available therapies, many people live with persistent epileptic seizures, and must deal with complications from the side effects of treatment.

At Marc Whitehead & Associates, we are dedicated to obtaining disability benefits for clients across the U.S. who have epilepsy and other medical conditions that cause serious seizure disability.

We understand that proving epilepsy to be a disabling condition can be highly problematic. We act with great determination to do all that is required for our clients in order to win epilepsy disability benefits under long term insurance policies, the Social Security Disability program, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits program.

About Epilepsy

Epileptic seizures occur when permanent changes in a person’s brain cause the brain to be overactive or erratic. The brain sends out sudden, abnormal signals, which result in repeated, unpredictable seizures. Epilepsy may stem from a medical condition or injury that affects the brain, such as stroke, abnormal blood vessels, dementia, traumatic brain injury, or infections. Sometimes the cause is unknown, which is referred to as idiopathic.

Every person who has epilepsy will experience seizures, but not everyone who has a seizure has epilepsy. A single seizure that does not happen again is not epilepsy.

Individuals who suffer from epilepsy disability can be severely limited from daily activities and working. Symptoms vary from person to person. Some people may experience staring spells associated by a brief loss of consciousness, while others suffer from violent convulsions and unconsciousness. The type of epileptic seizure and exact symptoms depends on the part of the brain affected and cause of epilepsy.

Epilepsy and Social Security Disability

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes epilepsy disability in the SSA Listing of Impairments under the following section 11.00 Neurological Listings:

• § 11.02 – Epilepsy – convulsive epilepsy (grand mal epilepsy, psychomotor epilepsy)
   
• § 11.03 – Epilepsy – Nonconvulsive epilepsy (petit mal epilepsy, psychomotor, or focal epilepsy)

The SSA will examine your medical records for the frequency of epileptic seizures, and blood work that demonstrates the level of epilepsy medication in your blood. They will also consider testimony from a family member, friend or co-worker who has witnessed your epileptic seizures. If your claim meets the SSA medical listing of impairments, you will quality for disability.

However, many epilepsy disability claims fall short of meeting the medical listings. When this happens, Social Security will examine the overall effect of your epilepsy disorder on your ability to work an 8-hour day, five days a week. The basis for the majority of successful Social Security Disability claims is that a person cannot consistently perform basic functions of work such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, concentrating, and interacting in the workplace.

Social Security claims for seizure disorders are routinely denied at the first stage of the process. The claimant may not have provided sufficient medical records or seizure histories in terms the SSA requires. Claimants also may not consider the importance of proving their vocational limitations according to SSA standards.

Never give up. If your claim for Social Security Disability benefits for epilepsy disability was denied, we are able to act as your legal representative.

We are Board Certified Social Security attorneys, ready to fight on your behalf beginning with the initial application. Appeals for social security claims begin at the administration level, and may progress to the final appeal, which is a lawsuit filed in the federal court system. We are prepared to take your case at any level.

VA Claims for Epilepsy Disability Benefits

The VA uses a schedule for rating service-connected disabilities when determining the level of a veteran’s impairment. Epilepsy disability claims are reviewed under the section for Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders, and specifically under the section entitled The Epilepsies. VA rating specialists will rate epilepsy disorders according to loss of function and the effect of the epilepsy disorder on your ability to work.

Grand mal epilepsy and some psychomotor seizures are rated under the VA rating formula for “major seizures.” A major seizure is identified as tonic-clonic (convulsion with unconsciousness).

Petit mal epilepsy and most other seizure are rated under the VA rating formula for “minor seizures.” A minor seizure is distinguished by a brief interruption in consciousness or conscious control associated with staring or rhythmic blinking of the eyes or nodding of the head (“pure” petit mal), or sudden jerking movements of the arms, trunk, or head (myoclonic type) or sudden loss of postural control (akinetic type).

If your VA claim for epilepsy disability was denied or underrated, or if you have questions about your case, please request a free consultation or call us toll free from anywhere in the country at (800) 562-9830.

Our experience with Veterans claims will save you from many complications that can endanger your claim and obstruct an accurate rating, and considerably increase your chance of securing the benefits your country owes you. We are ready to represent you at any level of your claim, including the VA Regional Office, the Board of Veterans Appeals, and the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Winning Epilepsy Disability Benefits on a Disability Insurance Policy

Individuals living with epilepsy who apply for long-term disability benefits are often unfairly denied by their insurance providers.

Insurance companies resort to various reasons for denial. For instance, the may claim that your epilepsy is a pre-existing condition, or challenge the legitimacy of your epilepsy disability (inferring that your are “not disabled enough”) or claim that you should be able to control the epilepsy with medication.

In addition, disability insurance claims are very fact-specific, and approvals are based on how the contract is written. You must be able to prove that you are disabled under the terms of the policy.

Our firm is a respected advocate in the fight against denied ERISA (Group) disability insurance, and private long-term disability insurance that is denied in bad faith. We will help you perfect your claim so you can get the benefits you deserve.

Never assume that a denial of benefits is the end of your claim. The insurance companies hope that you abandon your claim in response to their delay tactics and claim denials. The truth is, when unfair denials are challenged by recognized legal representation, the facts of your disability will emerge so that justice can be served.

When Epilepsy Disability Keeps You From Working, Contact Us

We want you to know that our attorneys will provide you with powerful and ethical legal support. Our number one goal is to be your greatest asset, by securing the disability compensation you are entitled to receive.

To learn more, call our disability attorneys toll free at 800-562-9830 or contact us here to discuss your epilepsy disability claim. This is a free consultation, and you are never under any obligation to hire us.

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