i have lyme diesase and need long term disability. how can i find an attorney lawyer

by Prof. Johnson Hegmann PhD 6 min read

Contact a Social Security disability attorney at 512-454-4000 for a free consultation and see if you can get disability benefits while suffering from Lyme Disease. If you have been denied disability don’t give up! Experienced Long-Term disability lawyer Lonnie Roach will fight for you. Don’t give up, get the benefits you deserve.

Full Answer

What is Lyme disease and disability benefits?

Hiring a lawyer who specializes in Social Security benefits can often ease and shorten the process and relieve a burden that you may not be able to handle alone in the face of the many physical and mental challenges associated with Lyme disease. Peter H. Burke is a long term disability and Social Security Disability attorney with Burke Harvey, LLC.

What qualifies as a diagnosis of Lyme disease?

Dec 20, 2017 · Careful planning and proactive development of the evidence are the keys to success for Lyme-related long-term disability claims. Through years of experience, our office has developed several proven strategies to build stronger claims. These strategies include: . Obtaining A Statement from Your Treating Doctor.

Why is it so hard to get a Lyme disease diagnosis?

We help to ease the stress that our clients encounter while appealing a denied long-term disability claim. We may be able to assist you. Consultations are always free. Contact our office at: 401-331-6300. Understanding Lyme Disease: Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that manifests itself as a multisystem inflammatory disease.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

Lyme disease can make it difficult, if not impossible, to work. You owe it to yourself and your family to get help today! Nancy Cavey can review your policy and your medical records, and explain to you what your policy says and how to get your disability benefits. Call today for a free consultation at 727-894-3188.

Is Lyme disease a permanent disability?

Can Lyme Disease Be Disabling? Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that ranges widely in presentation and severity. The infection can cause a diverse number of physical and mental symptoms, which can vary in severity from mild to debilitating. Yes, for many, the condition results in short and/or long term disability.

What is the most an attorney can charge for disability?

$6,000
First, the basics: Federal law generally limits the fees charged by Social Security disability attorneys to 25% of your backpay, or $6,000, whichever is lower. Back payments are benefits that accrued while you were waiting for Social Security to approve your case.

What are examples of long term disability?

Some of the medical conditions that may qualify for long-term disability benefits include:
  • Bipolar disorder.
  • Cancer.
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome.
  • Crohn's disease.
  • Degenerative disc disease.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • HIV/AIDS.
  • Lupus.

How long does it take to get approved for disability?

Depending on the provider, attaining these records can take 4-6 weeks. A frequently-overlooked document that you should make sure to request and submit along with your application is your pharmacy records from the time of your disability onset until present-day.Jan 17, 2020

How far does SSI back pay go?

Retroactive benefits might go back to the date you first suffered a disability—or up to a year before the day you applied for benefits. For SSI, back pay goes back to the date of your original application for benefits.

What are reasons for long term disability?

6 of the most common reasons for a long-term disability
  1. Arthritis. Musculoskeletal issues, including arthritis, lead to about 33 percent of all disabilities. ...
  2. Back pain. Back pain can remain an issue for life after a serious injury. ...
  3. Cancer. Cancer takes many forms. ...
  4. Depression. ...
  5. Diabetes. ...
  6. Heart disease.
Nov 9, 2017

Is Long Term disability worth it?

Long-term disability is a good investment for most people because it dramatically reduces the risk of financial setbacks if you become disabled. Without a policy, that period without income could make it hard to afford everyday necessities, support your family, or keep up with savings and retirement goals.Mar 30, 2022

How do you get long term disability?

  1. Step 1 – Request the Proper Claim Forms.
  2. Step 2 – Read And Understand Your Long-Term Disability Policy.
  3. Step 3 – Understand What You Are Ultimately Trying To Prove.
  4. Step 4 – Submit a Complete and Well-Supported Claim.
  5. Step 5 – Understand What You Are Up Against.

Can lyme disease be ignored?

Symptoms of Lyme are not easily ignored, and can greatly impact a person’s ability to continue working. Your insurer may not understand that the symptoms associated with Lyme can be long-lasting and very troublesome, even after treatment. Recovery time for Lyme Disease can vary greatly from person to person. If you are suffering from PTLDS, we will ...

Can lyme disease worsen if left untreated?

If Lyme disease is left untreated, symptoms can worsen as the disease progresses. Symptoms that one may encounter, and their severity, vary on a case-by-case basis. The CDC categorizes Lyme Disease progression and symptoms into stages: localized acute symptoms, early disseminating symptoms, and late-stage symptoms:

Is lyme disease a bacterial infection?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that manifests itself as a multisystem inflammatory disease. Lyme Disease mostly affects the skin in its early, localized stage, but can spread to joints, the nervous system, and other organ systems as the disease progresses. [1]

How many cases of lyme disease are there in the US?

[1] Researchers estimate that about 329,000 cases of the condition occur annually in the United States. [2] .

How long does it take for a tick to transmit lyme disease?

In order to transmit the condition to a human, the infected tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours. [4] [5]

What are the symptoms of a flu like rash?

Flu-like symptoms: fever, chills, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, headache, and swollen lymph nodes. Appears as a target, or “bulls-eye,” shaped rash and can manifest anywhere on the body. Approximately 70% to 80% of people infected with Lyme Disease will develop an erythema migrans (EM) rash.

How does lyme disease spread?

If left untreated for months or years, Lyme Disease can spread through the blood to other parts of the body and manifest in more severe ways: Facial palsy similar to Bell’s Palsy: a form of temporary facial paralysis in which muscles on one side of the face weaken or become paralyzed.

Is Lyme disease considered a disability?

Depending on the stage , your individual or group long-term disability insurance company may consider Lyme disease a physical disability, mental health disability, and/or a self-reported disability. It’s more difficult to claim individual or group long-term disability benefits for mental health and self-reported conditions than for physical ...

Does Lyme disease work?

Treating Lyme disease with antibiotics at this early stage is the best medication to try and prevent the illness from worsening, but it does not work for all patients. Many patients only realize they may have Lyme disease when over-the-counter cold and flu treatments don’t work, and their symptoms worsen.

Is lyme disease a serious disease?

Disabling Lyme Disease. Lyme disease is a serious health issue, and it’s not just New England’s problem anymore. The blacklegged tick is present in all 50 states. During the last ten years, cases of Lyme disease have increased by 80 percent, mostly in the populous states of Florida and California. At its core, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection ...

Is lyme disease a problem in New England?

Lyme disease is a serious health issue, and it’s not just New England’s problem anymore. The blacklegged tick is present in all 50 states. During the last ten years, cases of Lyme disease have increased by 80 percent, mostly in the populous states of Florida and California.

Where is the blacklegged tick?

The blacklegged tick is present in all 50 states. During the last ten years, cases of Lyme disease have increased by 80 percent, mostly in the populous states of Florida and California. At its core, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by the blacklegged tick, commonly called a deer tick. A tick bite spreads the disease, ...

How long does it take for a tick to spread lyme disease?

A tick bite spreads the disease, but it can take 30 to 60 days to manifest after infection. Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed due to this delay.

How long does it take for a tick bite to spread?

A tick bite spreads the disease, but it can take 30 to 60 days to manifest after infection. Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed due to this delay. Furthermore, only 20 to 30 percent of cases present with the notorious bull’s-eye rash associated with the condition.

Is it difficult to diagnose lyme disease?

Lyme Disease Is Difficult to Diagnose. It’s often difficult to diagnose early Lyme disease since not everyone develops the telltale bull’s-eye rash. Currently, doctors use a two-stage blood test that looks for Lyme disease antibodies.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

Signs of late-stage Lyme disease may include arthritis, swollen joints, muscle and joint pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, and loss of facial muscle tone. Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome: (PTLDS) Even after treatment, some people struggle with chronic fatigue, headaches, damage to their nervous system, muscle and joint pain, dizzy spells, ...

Where does lyme disease occur?

Many cases occur near the Lake Michigan shoreline , and the disease has also been found in Lake County and Chicago. Common Symptoms of Lyme Disease. Lyme disease is caused by an infection from the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi.   People contract the disease after being bit by a black-legged or deer tick.

Can lyme disease cause heart problems?

In rare cases, Lyme disease can create a heart problem called Lyme carditis. This issue occurs when the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria enter your heart muscles and cause a “heart block,” which interferes with your heart’s electrical signals. Some people who contract Lyme carditis require a pacemaker.

Can antibiotics help with lyme disease?

Antibiotics Can Help Treat Early Lyme Disease but Don’t Help With Advanced Cases. When doctors reach a diagnosis of Lyme disease, they often start treatment by prescribing a short course of an antibiotic like amoxicillin or doxycycline.

What is the most common tickborne disease in the United States?

Lyme disease is the most common tickborne disease, making up 82% of all confirmed tickborne diagnoses in the United States. Due to a variety of factors, including climate change, Lyme disease has become increasingly common in Illinois and throughout the United States.

Can Lyme Disease Be Disabling?

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that ranges widely in presentation and severity. The infection can cause a diverse number of physical and mental symptoms, which can vary in severity from mild to debilitating. Yes, for many, the condition results in short and/or long term disability.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease are Unpredictable

Most victims of Lyme disease suffer an unpredictable combination of physical and/or mental symptoms.

Challenges in Diagnosing Lyme Disease

According to the Center for Disease Control (“CDC”), Lyme disease is diagnosed by:

The Required Proof of Diagnosis

While serological testing is not necessary to confirm Lyme disease, the results may certainly be helpful.

How We Prove Disability Due to Lyme Disease

There are many challenges in proving a short or long term disability claim for Lyme disease. These include: (1) getting the insurance company to acknowledge your diagnosis; (2) demonstrating the frequency and severity of your symptoms; and (3) proving how your specific symptom set prevents you from working.

Did you test negative for lyme disease?

Did you falsely test negative for Lyme disease at some point during this exhausting journey? A lot of controversy surrounds the diagnosis when it comes to the tests that ought to reliably detect Lyme disease and give you peace of mind.#N#Canadian tests are notorious for misdiagnosing the illness, and a great proportion of those affected falsely test negative. Many patients turn to laboratories in the US, especially in California, instead. US tests are capable of detecting more strains of bacteria than their Canadian counterparts.#N#If you have been struggling to support yourself financially and are turning to disability benefits, then you are probably one of the many sufferers who went undiagnosed for years – and maybe still are. Left unrecognized und thus untreated, Lyme disease turns into a chronic disease with long-term implications for your health and well-being.#N#If you are struggling with Lyme disease, you never know what the next day will bring. Will you be able to make it out of bed or is the pain going to be too much? You shouldn’t have to worry about how to make it to work on top of that.

Is Lyme disease misdiagnosed?

ALS, Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Sclerosis are only a few of many illnesses that Lyme disease victims are regularly misdiagnosed with. Symptoms are often not connected to their real cause until it’s too late.

Can lyme disease cause headaches?

If you are struggling with headaches, fevers, fatigue, heart palpitations or pain in your joints due to a Lyme disease infection, you are experiencing some of the many symptoms of an illness that is as complex as it is elusive. Lyme disease, a systemic disease, can affect your entire body if left untreated.

Can lyme disease cause bull's eye rash?

The symptoms of Lyme disease vary. Their cause can easily be mistaken for a different illness. If you had a bull’s-eye rash after the tick bite – supposedly the most reliable and distinct indicator of Lyme disease – then, bizarrely, you might be one of the lucky ones.

Is lyme disease spreading?

The disease is spreading slowly but steadily across the country, and with more and more reported cases and numerous unreported or misdiagnosed ones, Lyme disease can no longer be brushed off as the dangerous exception. The numbers will continue to rise.

Is lyme disease on the rise in Canada?

In fact, the risk of contracting Lyme disease – once limited to parts On tario – is on the rise in Canada.

How long does a disability last?

Long-term disability usually starts after 6 months and can last until retirement age. These benefits are usually tax-free if you paid the premiums with your after-tax earnings, but taxable if your employer paid the premiums. Private disability insurance plans (also lasting until retirement age). These benefits are usually not taxable.

How long do you have to be disabled to receive disability?

When the definition of disability “shifts.”. Typically, for the first 24 months you are entitled to benefits if you are disabled from your regular occupation, and after 24 months you have to be disabled from “any occupation.”. Duration of benefits.

How long does ERISA last?

ERISA-governed employee benefit plans (short-term disability then long-term disability). Long-term disability usually starts after 6 months and can last until retirement age. These benefits are usually tax-free if you paid the premiums with your after-tax earnings, but taxable if your employer paid the premiums.

What is the elimination period for disability?

The Elimination Period. This tells you how long you have to be disabled before benefits start. The benefit amount. Typically this is 2/3 of your salary, when all sources of disability income are combined. There is often a “maximum” benefit, which high income earners need to be aware of.

What happens if my insurance is denied?

And, if your application is denied, you must engage in the “appeals process” with the insurance company by the deadline, or you will lose your right to your claim. The appeal needs to contain ample medical and other evidence in support of your claim; it must be more than a letter stating “I appeal.”.

Is Social Security Disability taxable?

These benefits are usually not taxable. State disability insurance that usually last for a year (like California’s EDD). These benefits are usually not taxable. Social Security Disability Benefits (available after being disabled for six months and lasting through retirement age).

Transmission, Signs, and Symptoms of Lyme Disease

  • A bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, which the deer tick transmits, causes Lyme disease. The tick must attach to a person for 36 to 48 hours to transmit the disease successfully. Deer ticks are the size of poppy seeds, so they’re easy to miss. They like to attach to warm, hard-to-reach areas such as the scalp, groin, or underarms. Other than a blood transfusion with infected blood, there …
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The Three Stages of Lyme Disease and Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome

  • Lyme disease typically manifests in three stages, and may develop into (PTLDS). The first stage is called Early Localized Lyme Disease, which typically manifests with fever, sore throat, chills, and a rash. This first stage rash is the distinguishing factor between Lyme disease and the flu. It is normally red and may have a bull’s-eye appearance, but the rash isn’t present in all cases. Almos…
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Lyme Disease as A Self-Reported Condition

  • The lack of reliable Lyme disease testing leads some individual or group long-term disability insurers to categorize Lyme disease and PTLDS as self-reported conditions. Notably, no objective blood test can determine whether a person has PTLDS, and treating doctors typically rely on standardized questionnairesto diagnose it. The answers to these que...
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The Long-Term Effects of Chronic Lyme Disease

  • Many patients with Lyme disease respond well to antibiotics, provided they start taking them within a few weeks of the contact. The complications from undiagnosed Lyme disease and PTLDS, however, can leave you permanently disabled. If you cannot get past the self-reported or mental/nervous limitation for Lyme disease itself, you might successfully claim benefits for one …
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Individual and Group Long-Term Disability Benefits and Lyme Disease

  • Painful arthritis throughout their bodies plagues most patients suffering from chronic Lyme disease. Arthritis itself is common among elderly Americans, and individual and group long-term disability insurers often deny claimants benefits for “age related” arthritis. This is because your individual or group long-term disability insurer suggests age-related or degenerative conditions s…
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