UPDATE: Can I Get Social Security Disability if I Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

 Posted on June 27, 2023 in Social Security Disability

Update: For those who are seeking Social Security disability benefits because of carpal tunnel syndrome, it is important to understand the factors that may be considered when determining whether a condition qualifies as a disability. Social Security will evaluate a person's residual functional capacity (RFC) to determine whether a condition will limit the types of work they can perform. During medical examinations, there are multiple types of tests that may be used to determine how carpal tunnel syndrome has affected a person's ability to use their arms, wrists, and hands, including:

• Tinel's sign test - When the skin over a nerve is tapped in a certain way, this may cause a tingling feeling, which is a sign that the nerves have been damaged. This test may be used to determine whether carpal tunnel syndrome has affected the ability of nerves to transmit signals to the wrists and hands.

• Phalen's maneuver - In this test, a person will press the backs of their hands together with their fingers pointed down, and they will hold that position for around one to two minutes. If they begin to experience numbness or tingling in the fingers, this is an indication that they have carpal tunnel syndrome that may affect their ability to perform tasks with their hands.

• Two-point discrimination test - To test a person's ability to feel sensations in their hands, a doctor may press two different points on the skin at the same time. Carpal tunnel syndrome may affect a person's ability to distinguish between these two different types of sensations.

• Manual carpal compression test - When direct pressure is placed on the median nerve in the wrist for 30 seconds, a person with carpal tunnel syndrome may experience pain, tingling, or numbness.

• X-rays - Images of a person's hands and wrists may determine whether there has been compression on the nerves that has led to carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Electromyogram and nerve conduction tests - These tests can be used to determine whether signals are being sent through the nerves in the wrists to the muscles in the hands. When nerves are damaged, signals will not be sent properly, and this can affect a person's ability to use their wrists and hands to perform tasks.

Contact Our Dallas SSDI Lawyers for Carpal Tunnel Injuries

If you have experienced issues in your wrists or hands that have affected your ability to work, you will need to understand whether you may be able to receive Social Security disability benefits for carpal tunnel syndrome. At The Law Offices of Coats & Todd, our dedicated Collin County Social Security disability attorneys have extensive experience helping individuals with SSD claims involving carpal tunnel injuries. We will work closely with you throughout every step of the process, and we will help you determine how to maximize your chances of receiving the benefits you need. Contact us at 972-671-9922 to arrange a free case evaluation today.

There are many types of impairments that can affect a person’s ability to maintain gainful employment. A person who has experienced an injury that makes it difficult or impossible to perform work-related activities may qualify for disability benefits through Social Security, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Carpal tunnel syndrome is one issue that can affect people in multiple industries, including those who regularly type on computers or people such as auto mechanics who use their hands to complete work-related tasks. Those who have experienced these types of repetitive stress injuries can take the correct steps to apply for Social Security disability benefits by working with an attorney who is experienced in these types of cases.

Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Considered a Disability?

To qualify for SSD benefits, an applicant must meet a number of requirements, including showing that their health conditions have lasted or are expected to last for at least one year. A person must be unemployed or working at a level below substantial gainful activity. An applicant will also need to provide medical evidence showing that their condition is severe enough to be considered a disability.

A person will usually qualify for disability if their condition is defined in Social Security’s Listing of Impairments. However, carpal tunnel syndrome is not included in this listing. To prove that they are disabled, a person will either need to show that their condition is equivalent to a condition in the listing, or they must demonstrate that carpal tunnel syndrome has made it impossible for them to do work they had done in the past or find other jobs.

Depending on the severity of a person’s symptoms and whether they are related to other health issues, a person may be able to show that their carpal tunnel syndrome is equivalent to one of the following listings:

• Peripheral neuropathy - This condition involves nerve damage that affects a person’s ability to use their extremities. Carpal tunnel syndrome may meet the requirements of this listing if it interferes with a person’s ability to move their hands, wrists, or fingers on both arms. A person must show that their condition has led to extreme limitations of the ability to carry out work-related activities, such as not being able to pinch or manipulate objects with the fingers. A person’s condition may also qualify as a disability if it has resulted in a “marked” limitation in physical functioning and the ability to maintain concentration and pace while working.

• Inflammatory arthritis - If carpal tunnel syndrome has led to an inflammation of the joints in a person’s wrists, hands, or fingers, this condition may qualify as a disability if it has persistently affected both of a person’s wrists/hands. The inflammation must be severe enough to prevent the person from beginning or sustaining work-related activities involving either fine motor or gross motor skills.

Contact Our Dallas County SSD Application Attorneys for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If carpal tunnel syndrome has caused you to be unable to work and earn a sufficient income, The Law Offices of Coats & Todd will work with you to determine whether you qualify for Social Security disability benefits. We make sure you provide the correct information in a disability application, and if your disability claim is denied, we can help you file an appeal. Contact our Plano SSD claim lawyers by calling our office at 972-671-9922 and setting up a free case evaluation.

Sources:

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/11.00-Neurological-Adult.htm#11_14

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/14.00-Immune-Adult.htm#14_09