Is Degenerative Disc Disease a Disability?

Disc degeneration is a normal part of aging. That’s why as we grow old, our back pains also seem to worsen. In fact, some people show degenerative disc disease symptoms as early as 35 years old.

But is degenerative disc disease a disability?

Well, not necessarily. The SSA doesn’t consider degenerative disc disease itself as a disability. But if your symptoms are so severe that it prevents you from making a living or if it leads to other disorders that meet the SSA’s listing, then you might be able to claim disability benefits.

To increase your chances of getting disability for degenerative disc disease, you need to understand more about the disease and how the SSA evaluates disability claims.

Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease isn’t technically a disease. It happens when the cushioning in your spine wears away. This cushioning prevents the bones in your spinal column (vertebrae) from rubbing against each other. When it erodes, the bones can start to rub together, causing back pain that:

• comes and goes and lasts for weeks or months
• worsens as you bend or lift things
• travels down your buttocks and lower butt

When your vertebrae rub together, it can pinch the nerves in your spinal column too. This can cause numbness and tingling in your arms and legs. It can also weaken your leg muscles, affecting your mobility. It can also lead to other spine disorders, like:

• herniated disk
• spinal stenosis
• scoliosis
• spondylolisthesis

Since the severity and stages of spinal disc degeneration vary per person, the symptoms can also vary widely. Some people may only experience mild back pain that lasts for a week. While others may become paralyzed by the pain, preventing them from working or even doing simple tasks.

Because of this, the SSA will only consider degenerative disc disease a disability if it meets certain requirements.

When is Degenerative Disc Disease a Disability?

According to the SSA, a medical condition can only be considered a disability if it:

• prevents you from engaging in a substantial gainful activity
• is expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death

Substantial gainful activity (SGA) refers to the level of work you can do, given your condition. In short, if your degenerative disc disease prevents you from doing a certain level of work for at least 12 months or is fatal, you might be able to claim benefits.

However, you need to remember that degenerative disc disease symptoms are sporadic. The pain typically lasts for a few weeks, then dies down and comes back again after a few months. This makes it difficult to prove that your symptoms will last for 12 months or more.

In addition, this type of condition isn’t generally considered fatal. This makes claiming disability all the more challenging.

Besides, most cases of degenerative disc disorder only affect your mobility. If you can still do sedentary work and earn above the SGA limit, your claim might be denied.