Marc Whitehead & Associates

Parkinson’s Disease Disability Claims

Marc Whitehead & Associates has reviewed hundreds of claims for Parkinson’s disease disability that were turned down. Denials happen for a variety of reasons throughout the disability process. We have significant experience helping claimants appeal their denied claims whether is it for Veterans disability compensation, Social Security Disability benefits, or long term disability insurance.

About Parkinson’s Disease Disability

Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the nervous system that interferes with the ability to walk, talk or engage in even simple activities. In severe cases, Parkinson's causes the complete loss of effective movement of the limbs.

Parkinson's symptoms include:

• Uncontrollable tremors or trembling in the hands, arms, head, face and legs
• Stiffness of the arms, legs and upper body
• Changes in speech
• Impaired balance
• Coordination problems

Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, meaning these symptoms will worsen over time. In many cases, Parkinson’s symptoms become so severe that the patient can no longer go about his or her everyday activities. Further effects of Parkinson's disease include

• Loss of ability to chew and swallow
• Insomnia
• Urinary incontinence or inability to urinate
• Depression
• Dementia

Medications used to help those living with Parkinson's disease cause an additional set of complications for the patient, with severely disruptive side effects.

Was Your Parkinson’s Disease Disability Claim Denied by Social Security?

Claim denials by the Social Security Administration (SSA) are common, and the reasons are widespread. If your claim was rejected, do not give up hope – there are ways we can help you prove your claim and win the benefits you need.

You can prove your disability to the SSA in one of two ways.

The first way to secure Social Security disability benefits for Parkinson's disease is to meet or be equal to their medical listing. You can look online to find the Social Security Listing of Impairments for Parkinson’s disease disability under Neurological Listing 11.06, Parkinsonian Syndrome. SSA may determine – from the documentation that was sent in your claim – that your condition is not severe enough according to their medical listing.

When this is the case, SSA will then determine whether your physical or mental Residual Functional Capacity disables you from working. They will evaluate whether, and to what extent, Parkinson's disease has limited your ability to stand, walk, sit, lift, and concentrate – all tasks which would keep you from being able to hold down a job. They will also take into account factors such as your age, education, and work history.

It is a terrible shock to be denied by SSA, especially when your doctor has diagnosed that you indeed have Parkinson’s disease, and has recommended that you apply for disability benefits. However, critical evidence and details documenting your condition is often a key factor in denials. It is our experience that SSA commonly denies claims initially due to errors and omissions.

Board Certified in Social Security disability law, Marc Whitehead understands how the Social Security disability system works, and what each unique claim must contain. A simple mistake in paperwork or missing documents can lead to an automatic denial. Many other claims are highly complex, and require strategic thinking.

Our firm can help you develop evidence to help prove your case, work with your doctors, file legal documentation explaining to the judge why you can no longer work, and represent you in court in an Administrative Hearing or in Federal Court. We have helped hundreds of victims of Parkinson’s disease disability and other neurological disorders fight back when Social Security Disability denies the benefits they so desperately need.

Assisting Veterans with Parkinson’s Disease Disability

To decide the level of a veteran’s service-connected disability, the VA rater uses the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Parkinson’s disease is listed in the schedule under Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders. Disability is rated according to loss of function and the effect on a veteran’s ability to work and earn a living.

On August 31, 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) added Parkinson's disease to the list of health disorders related to exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides during Vietnam War service. The VA refers to this as a "presumption of service connection" for disabled Vietnam veterans living with Parkinson's.

Veterans who suffer from Parkinson’s disease disability will become entitled to service-connected disability compensation from the VA if they served in Vietnam during active duty at any time between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975. Other veterans who suffer from Parkinson’s disease will qualify for VA disability benefits if they can show that they were exposed to Agent Orange during active duty.

If you were denied VA disability benefits for Parkinson’s disease on a claim you filed before August 31, 2010, you are entitled to compensation back to the first date you filed a claim for disability for Parkinson’s, as well as benefits from this point forward. These retroactive benefits can make a significant difference in the amount of income awarded.

Marc Whitehead & Associates are Accredited Veterans Claim lawyers. We can ensure that you are awarded the correct amount of retroactive compensation, receive the proper current rating for Parkinson’s disease disability, and assist you at all levels of the Veterans disability claim system.

Was Your Claim for Parkinson’s Disease Disability Denied by Group or Private Insurance?

Even if your doctors have diagnosed you as having Parkinson’s disease, or Social Security has awarded you benefits, you still may be challenged by the insurance company. Insurers may send you endless notices that they need more time, or continually request more information, hoping you will give up. They may deny your long-term disability insurance altogether.

Most insurance companies hire their own doctors to review patients' claims without ever meeting the claimant, or performing an examination. Any small piece of evidence that supports denying the claim, such as the opinion of an in-house doctor, becomes ammunition for open-ended clauses in the policy that would support a denial of the claim. They may also charge that there is not enough evidence to support a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, and disability is denied on the basis that the claimant is able to return to work.

If you have been wrongly denied benefits for Parkinson’s disease under a disability plan through your job, as ERISA claim attorneys we can help you take legal action. Our firm focuses in this area of the law.

If your private insurance company denies your claim, we can help you fight back. A thorough knowledge of long-term disability law is necessary to successfully prove these types of claims.

You Can Contact Us for a Free Consultation

Call our attorneys toll free at 800-562-9830 or contact us here to discuss your Parkinson’s disease disability claim.

We represent the disabled across the United States. If you choose to hire us to represent you in a disability claim, the majority of our cases are handled on contingency fee - meaning we don't get paid until you do.

Learn more about Who We Help.