16 Medical Conditions Qualify for Long Term Disability

Getting approval for long term disability benefits is not that easy. The entire process can be frustrating. Individuals often find it difficult to figure out the medical conditions that disability insurance offers coverage on and which medical conditions are not included.

List of the Medical Conditions That the Disability Insurance covers

There is no stable list that can assure you of disability benefits. It is not possible to create a complete list. It depends on the severity of your condition and how much effect it has on your daily life. However, here is an abstract list of the conditions disability benefits can cover.

What Medical Conditions Qualify for Long Term Disability

What Medical Conditions Qualify for Long Term Disability – List of the Medical Conditions That the Disability Insurance covers

1. Cancer

Cancer has affected almost every person directly or indirectly. Any type of cancer can qualify you for disability benefits if severe. Some cancers can be eligible beyond stage three, whereas others can be eligible just with a diagnosis.

Here is a list of the conditions that qualify you to receive the benefits.

  • Various stages and types of cancer subject to specific policy conditions
  • Acute Leukemia
  • Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
  • Mesothelioma
  • Tumors
  • Lymphoma
  • Hodgkin’s Disease
  • Macroglobulinemia
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • myelofibrosis

2. Musculoskeletal Disorders

The musculoskeletal system includes bones, muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. These conditions can be hereditary or acquired as well. An injury can also cause musculoskeletal disorders sometimes.

Here is a list of the conditions that can offer you long term disability insurance coverage.

  • Arteritis
  • Chronic back pain
  • Consequences Amputation
  • Cervical Stenosis
  • Anterior Poliomyelitis
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Dislocations
  • Chiari Malformation
  • Joint disorders
  • Degenerative joint problems
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Fibromyositis
  • Labor stenosis
  • Fracture of the tibia, femur, or pelvis
  • Herniated disc
  • Fracture of an upper extremity
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Mixed connective tissue disease
  • Marfan syndrome
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Pectoralis major injury
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction
  • Reflex sympathetic disorder
  • Polychondritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Sciatica
  • Scoliosis
  • Ruptured disc
  • Spine disorders
  • Spinal arachnoiditis
  • Tendonitis
  • Spina Bifida
  • Soft tissue injury
  • Undifferentiated connective tissue disease

3. Cardiovascular Disorders

Cardiovascular disorders are also known as heart disease. They generally indicate any condition that includes blood vessels and the heart. Heart disease is often very common and sometimes can cause death.

Here is a list of the conditions that can pass the eligibility criteria for disability benefits.

  • Chronic venous insufficiency
  • Aortic aneurysms
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Heart attack
  • Cor pulmonale secondary chronic pulmonary hypertension
  • Hypertension
  • Heart transplant
  • Congestive heart failure
  • The left ventricular assist device
  • Ischemic heart disease
  • Orthostatic hypertension or hypotension
  • Phlebitis
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or POTS
  • Stroke
  • Recurrent arrhythmia
  • Symptomatic congenital heart disease

4. Mental Illness

Around 20% of people with Social Security disability insurance benefits suffer from mental health issues like mood disorders or autism. Individuals with these conditions may also be eligible for long term disability benefits. However, if the person is involved in any substance abuse or drug addiction, it can be hard to receive any benefits.

Here is a list of the conditions that can pass the eligibility criteria for disability benefits.

  • Autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger’s, and anxiety disorders like agoraphobia
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or ADHD
  • Anxiety disorder
  • Mood disorder
  • Drug addiction
  • Depression
  • Dysthymic disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD
  • Panic attack
  • Organic mental disorders
  • Schizophrenia

5. Respiratory Disorders

Most people with long term disability insurance benefits often have some form of chronic breathing. This condition will prevent you from working a full-time job. These conditions can damage the ability to breathe and perform simple tasks, permanently.

Here is a list of the conditions that can cause long term disability:

  • Respiratory disorders such as severe asthma and asbestosis
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Influenza
  • Lung transplant
  • Chronic Restrictive Ventilatory Disease
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Emphysema
  • Pneumonia
  • Mycobacterial infections
  • Mycotic and other chronic lung infections
  • Sleep-related breathing disorders
  • Sarcoidosis

6. Neurological Disorders

Most neurological disorders can make it nearly impossible to work full-time employment and lead a normal life. Neurological issues generally occur anywhere in your central nervous system, including the peripheral nervous system and spinal cord.

Disability benefits cover multiple conditions.

  • Neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and ataxia
  • Bell’s Palsy
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
  • Dementia
  • Dystonia
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Epilepsy
  • Empty Sella Syndrome
  • Neuropathy
  • Meralgia Paressthetica
  • Myasthenia Gravis
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Non-epileptic Seizures
  • Paralysis
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Syringomyelia
  • Stroke (Cerebrovascular accident)
  • Seizure disorder

7. Autoimmune System Disorders

Autoimmune disorders can cause an overactive or underactive immune system. If your immune system is not in the right condition, it can attack the wrong thing or not attack at all. Disability benefits cover multiple conditions.

  • Autoimmune disorders like severe allergies and Graves’ disease
  • Graves disease
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Chemical sensitivity
  • Lupus
  • Immunodeficiency disorders
  • Scleroderma
  • Polymyositis

8. Special Senses and Speech Disorders

Special senses and speech disorders are the medical conditions that qualify for LTD eligibility most of the time. Any permanent or chronic problems or impairment in your special senses and speech can prevent you from working to your full capacity.

  • Severe burns and significant eye disorders affecting vision
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Macular degeneration
  • Vision loss
  • Loss of speech
  • Otolaryngology or hearing loss
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Retinopathy

9. Hematological Disorders

Hematological disorders are also known as blood disorders. When blood cannot be produced from the bone marrow, several hematological conditions can occur. Therefore, they are always considered chronic conditions.

Here is a list of the conditions that are covered by disability benefits.

  • Blood disorders such as chronic anemia and aplastic anemia, potentially requiring bone marrow transplantationSickle cell disease
  • Chronic Granulocytopenia
  • Chronic Thrombocytopenia
  • Coagulation defects and Hemophilia
  • Liver transplantation
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Hereditary telangiectasia
  • Polycythemia Vera
  • Systemic Vasculitis
  • Spleen disease

10. Digestive Disorders

The digestive system is the source of your body’s energy and nutrition. Any impairments in the digestive system can prevent you from obtaining the energy and nutrients from the food you intake. Multiple conditions can cause chronic impairment and come under disability benefits coverage.

  • Digestive disorders, including colitis and cirrhosis
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Gastritis
  • Diverticulitis
  • Hernia
  • Gastroparesis
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Liver disease
  • Necrotizing colitis
  • Kidney and bladder disorders
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Short bowel syndrome
  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis
  • Primary biliary cirrhosis
  • Wilson’s disease
  • Ulcerative c colitis
  • Temporomandibular joint disorder

11. Infections and Parasitic Diseases

Here is a list of the conditions that come under the coverage of disability insurance plans:

  • Infectious diseases like Epstein-Barr virus and autoimmune hepatitis
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Hepatitis C
  • Hepatitis B
  • Polio
  • Meningitis
  • Tuberculosis
  • salmonella

12. Genitourinary Impairments

Here is a list of the conditions that come under the coverage:

  • Genitourinary impairments such as kidney failure and conditions affecting the prostate
  • Endometriosis
  • Cervicitis
  • Kidney and bladder disorders
  • Interstitial cystitis
  • Genital organ disorders
  • Prostatitis
  • Nephrotic disorder
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Uterine prolapse

13. Skin Disorders

Here is a list of different skin impairments that can qualify for disability benefits:

  • Skin disorders including severe burns and bullous diseases
  • Eczema
  • Dermatitis
  • Cellulitis
  • Chronic skin disease
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Psoriasis
  • Ichthyosis
  • Genetic photosensitivity disorders
  • Lymphedema
  • Sebaceous Cyst

14. Disability for Endocrine, Immunity Disorders, and Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Several conditions qualify for disability insurance:

  • Endocrine and metabolic disorders such as diabetes and adrenal gland dysfunction
  • Obesity
  • Malnutrition
  • Gout
  • Pituitary gland disorders
  • Parathyroid gland disorders
  • Thyroid gland disorders

15. Multiple Body System Impairments

Here is a list of the conditions that qualify for disability benefits:

  • Genetic and chromosomal disorders, including Trisomy X syndrome and Down syndrome
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU)
  • Fragile X syndrome
  • Fetal alcohol syndrome
  • Caudal regression syndrome

16. Subjective Conditions and Some Other Signs and Symptoms

Some other conditions can come under the disability benefits:

  • Conditions impacting nutrition and mental health, such as anorexia, and severe conditions like coma
  • Chronic radiation enteritis
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Insomnia
  • Seasonal affective disorder
  • Headaches
  • Migraine headaches
  • Sleep apnea

Conclusion

Any disorder or impairments affecting your regular life and preventing you from working your job qualify for disability benefits. However, you must submit your medical records and documents to prove your disability to receive the benefits.

See Also

Signs That You Will Be Approved for Disability

Social Security Disability Benefits Pay Chart

Current Version
November 30, 2022
Written By
Shubham Grover
March 15, 2024
Updated By
Andrea Morales G.

Follow us