Disability Benefits For Prostate Cancer
Social Security Disability Lawyers: OC, Riverside & San Bernardino
Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer and Disability in Younger Men
Prostate cancer typically affects older men, but young men get it too. The average age at diagnosis is 66 years, but about 40% of men are diagnosed with prostate cancer below the age of 65 and 10% of men under the age of 55. Even young men in their 20’s and 30’s develop prostate cancer, which is often more aggressive than in older men The 5-year survival is 30% in men diagnosed with prostate cancer when they are 15 to 24 years old, 50% in those aged 20 to 29 years, and 80% in those aged 25 to 34 years.
Therefore, men under the age of 65 may require disability benefits for prostate cancer under the Social Security Administration and/or under a private long-term disability group plan governed by ERISA.
Diagnosis
Prostate cancer is frequently diagnosed in men after a blood test called the PSA starts going up. That can lead to a needle biopsy of the prostate gland, which is the only definitive way of diagnosing prostate cancer.
It is important to note that an elevated PSA does not automatically mean a man has prostate cancer. Elevations of the PSA may occur with benign enlargement of the prostate gland that occurs with age.
For example, men who are in their 40’s usually have a PSA from 0 to 2.5. In the 50’s, it can go up to 3.5. In the 60’s, up to 4.5, and in the 70’s, up to 6.5.
Gleason Score
Risk Groups
Treatment
Monitoring
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Agent Orange And Prostate Cancer Veterans Disability Benefits
Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and developed prostate cancer may be eligible to receive VA disability benefits. Some veterans receive over $2,900 a month. Some veterans will also be eligible for VA Aid & Attendance benefits, money for dependent children and parents, and healthcare.
Prostate cancer is one of the;Agent Orange presumptives. That means that the VA should approve claims of veterans exposed to Agent Orange who develop prostate cancer. However, you should still present lots of evidence and prove your claim to the VA. Unfortunately, even though prostate cancer is presumed to have come from Agent Orange exposure, the VA does not grant every claim.
If you were denied prostate cancer veterans disability benefits, you should consider filing a VA benefits appeal. The VA regularly denies veterans who later win their appeals. Do not let a prostate cancer veterans disability benefits denial discourage you.
Because There May Be No Early Symptoms Regular Exams Bloodwork And Biopsies Are Important Tools In The Diagnosis Of Prostate Cancer
Treatment depends on the patients overall health, how fast the cancer is growing, whether the cancer has spread and the benefits and side effects of treatment. In some cases, treatment may not be needed immediately or ever. Doctors sometimes recommend surveillance with regular blood tests, exams and prostate biopsies. This approach is often followed when the cancer is not causing any symptoms, is expected to grow slowly and is confined to a small area of the prostate. This strategy may also be recommended when the patient has another serious health condition or is at an advanced age. In more advanced cases, treatment may include surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted drug therapy.
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Probably Don’t Apply If:
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Your cancer isnt having a severe impact on your life, OR
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Your doctor expects you to recover within the year, OR
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You’re working and don’t plan to stop
Whether you decide to apply now or later, the best thing you can do in the meantime is to get as much medical care as possible. Build a good relationship with your oncologist , try the treatment they recommend, and make sure your doctor understand the impact your condition has on your life. This will help build the paper trail you need to get benefits. And more importantly, its critical for your health.
Prostate Cancer Qualifies For Disability Benefits Heres How
Are you unable to work because of prostate cancer? If so, there’s a good chance you qualify for monthly payments and free health insurance from the U.S. government. Well help you figure out whether you qualify and what to do next.
Lots of prostate cancer patients rich and poor alike get benefits from Social Security Disability. For patients and their families, this help can be life-changing. But not everyone with prostate cancer is eligible, and government rules can make qualifying a nightmare. At Atticus, we help people cut through the red tape and get the benefits they need. Well explain clearly how this program work for people with prostate cancer, then tell you what to do if you want to qualify.
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Applying For Disability With Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a physical, mental, and emotional hardship. As with any diagnosis, such as cancer, it can also be a;financial hardship. Cancer treatment is expensive, and it takes a heavy toll on a persons body. It can also affect your ability to maintain a steady job.;To help ease the burden, diagnosed patients can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance . This income allows patients to focus on their health while still having money to support themselves and their family. As we celebrate National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September, make sure you are aware of the disability options available.
Social Security Disability Benefits And Cancer
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If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you may be wondering if youll qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Unfortunately, the answer may not be a simple yes or no. The Social Security Administration has different eligibility criteria for each applicant. Some people will qualify for disability benefits with just a cancer diagnosis, but others will need biopsy reports or physicians notes proving the cancer is advanced or recurrent to be approved. Your eligibility will depend on your unique form and stage of cancer.
Medical Qualification with the Blue Book
The SSA uses a medical guide called the Blue Book to evaluate every cancer applicant to determine if he or she is eligible for financial assistance. Fortunately, the entire Blue Book is online, so you may be able to see if you qualify today.
Cancers that are aggressive or historically hard to treat will qualify with just a diagnosis. If you have been diagnosed one of the following cancers, you should automatically, medically qualify for disability benefits:
- Esophageal cancer
- Any small cell cancer
- Thyroid cancer
All cancer listings can be found in Section 13.00 of the SSAs Blue Book. Be sure to review the medical resource with your oncologist to get a good idea as to whether or not youll be approved.
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Prostate Cancer Common Among Veterans
Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer for male veterans after skin cancer. There are over 200,000 prostate cancer cases in the United States every year. African-American veterans are at an even greater risk for developing prostate cancer than the average population. About one-in-six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
The good news is that nearly 100% of men diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer are still alive nearly five years after diagnosis. Prostate cancer grows very slowly, often causing no symptoms until its in an advanced stage. Most veterans with prostate cancer die of other causes and many veterans with prostate cancer never know they had it.
Medically Qualifying For Benefits For Prostate Cancer
There are two ways in which you can qualify for benefits medically with prostate cancer. The first is to meet the SSAs prostate cancer listing. The second is to show through a residual functional capacity analysis that youre disabled despite not meeting the Blue Book disability listing for the disease.
If your cancer is advanced, recurrent, or terminal, then you meet the SSAs listing requirements. Otherwise, your prostate cancer does not qualify under this listing. This is because most men are able to return to work after treatment, if their cancer is found early and treated appropriately.
Specifically, to meet the SSAs prostate cancer listing, your medical records must show one of the following:
- The disease has progressed or returned despite initial treatment
- Your cancer has metastasized to internal organs
- You have oat or small-cell carcinoma
If your prostate cancer has recurred or metastasized, then your application for benefits will be flagged for expedited review and approval under the SSAs compassionate allowances program.
The SSA will still need to see minimal medical evidence before approving your claim, but very few applications are denied for medical reasons under the CAL program.
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When You Have Long
Many cancer survivors suffer permanent side effects from their treatment for cancer; often these complications do not appear for months or years following the successful treatment of their cancer. When the long-term side effects of chemo or radiation are disabling, it’s easier to get Social Security disability benefits than for the short-term effects.
Chemotherapy has been associated with the following long-term impairments:
- heart problems
- cognitive dysfunction, and
- bone weakness.
If you develop any of these conditions as a result of your cancer treatment, the SSA will evaluate the impairment on its own, without consideration of the cancer. For instance, if you have heart problems following chemo, your condition would be evaluated as a cardiovascular disability.
Individual Unemployability & Special Monthly Compensation
For Blue Water Navy veterans who are finally able to take advantage of the presumption of service connection for prostate cancer based on Agent Orange exposure, it is important to make sure that the VA has rated your condition correctly and has not reduced your benefits if you are still entitled to them. It is also important to apply for a secondary service connection for any conditions that are caused by your prostate cancer. You should also apply for;Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability;if your prostate cancer prevents you from obtaining and maintaining a gainful occupation. If you are unable to work because of prostate cancer, it is important to file a claim for individual unemployability with the VA, not only so you receive benefits at the 100 percent rate, but so you can receive Special Monthly Compensation as well.
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Military Burn Pit Exposure
Military burn pits;are large areas of land in which the military and its contractors incinerated all waste generated by military bases, including plastics, medical waste, rubber, human waste, and more.
The U.S. Military used burn pits as part of their waste disposal protocol in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan in the post-9/11 era during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. ;While the practice was effective in reducing large quantities of waste, burn pits emitted plumes of toxic smoke. ;This was especially problematic in places such as the Middle East, as the desert wind carried the smoke for miles.
Many U.S. Military veterans have suffered;health consequences due to burn pit exposure. ;Most of the negative effects involve temporary ailments of the respiratory system, though limited evidence suggests a link between burn pit exposure and the long-term deterioration of lung health.
These burn pits were used extensively throughout the Middle East and have affected veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.
Research continues to be done to link burn pit exposure to a variety of different conditions, such as cancers and respiratory conditions. ;While further research will need to be conducted, it has indicated that one of the known chemical compounds which was found in Agent Orange, called TCDD, was also released by burn pits.
New Proposed Burn Pit Legislation 2021
Prostate Cancer: Survival And Beyond Navigating Short Term And Long Term Disability
A prostate cancer diagnosis is a devastating moment that 1 in 8* men will experience in their lifetime. But its the many moments after the initial shock when the disease can truly takes its physical, mental and emotional toll.
Battling prostate cancer and coping with the residual effects of treatment can be very taxing. During and after treatment many men of working age who want to return to work encounter a variety of challenges.
Sometimes a survivor may not able to return to his previous job or take on any form of employment as physical, cognitive or psychological limitations might make certain tasks difficult or impossible to complete. If the work is labour intensive, requires heavy lifting or is otherwise physically demanding, some survivors may no longer be able to perform their previous tasks as effortlessly as they used to.
Many survivors also struggle with cognitive or psychological issues. They might have difficulty keeping pace with their colleagues, concentrating, processing data and/or providing analysis and they may struggle when faced with learning new tasks.
If it is determined that return to work is not possible, either in the short-term or the long-term, a survivor may be entitled to receive disability benefits available to them through their employer or private health benefits they have purchased on their own.
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Blue Water Navy And Thailand Veterans
Blue Water Navy veterans who served in Vietnamese waters within the specified zone will finally be eligible for presumptive service connection under the expected changes to VA law so it is important to know what benefits are available to you so you do not leave any benefits that you are owed on the table. Additionally, it has been shown that there was Agent Orange use in Thailand where some of our US Air Force veterans were exposed to the herbicide. If you were in Thailand during the Vietnam War you may be eligible for Agent Orange-related VA disability benefits.
The attorneys at Hill & Ponton are available to help U.S. military veterans seek VA disability compensation for conditions connected to military service. If you are a Vietnam veteran experiencing prostate cancer, contact us today for a;free case evaluation.
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How Is Prostate Cancer Work
Prostate Cancer can be work-related in a variety of manners. Prostate Cancer can be work-related with respect to certain:
- Worksite Exposures:;Certain Pesticides, Chromium
- Occupations:;Administrative and Management Positions, Firefighting and Law Enforcement, Pilots, and Agriculture
- Work Activities:;Shift Work
- Labor Code Sections:;Labor Code Presumption for Cancer 3212.1
See;Cancer Med. 2018 Apr; 7: 14681478, Published online 2018 Mar 1. doi:;10.1002/cam4.1358;Prostate cancer surveillance by occupation and industry: the Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort
Jeavana Sritharan,;Jill MacLeod,;;Shelley Harris,;Donald C. Cole,;Anne Harris,;Michael Tjepkema,;Paul A. Peters,;and Paul A. Demers; and;J Cancer Prev. 2019 Jun; 24: 91111.
Published online 2019 Jun 30. doi: 10.15430/JCP.2019.24.2.91,;Occupational Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer: A Meta-analysis,;Srmena Krstev and Anders Knutsson
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Applying For Social Security Disability Benefits With Prostate Cancer
The Journal of The National Cancer Institute reports there are nearly 2 million men living in the America today who are prostate cancer survivors, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation reports more than 220,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S.
While prostate cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related death for American men as well, it is also among the most treatable and curable forms of cancer, which is why it may or may not qualify you for disability benefits.
If your prostate cancer was advanced when diagnosed or has recurred after initial treatment, then you automatically medically qualify Social Security Disability. If it is not advanced, you will need to meet Blue Book listing 13.24 to qualify. Either way, you;will need to apply and provide medical records to back up your claim though.
If your prostate cancer is caught early and responds to treatment, then you wont qualify for benefits through the typical review process. Instead, youll have to show that your cancer symptoms, treatments, and complications severely disrupt your ability to function on a daily basis.
What To Do If You Feel You Have Been Discriminated Against
You have some options if you feel you have been discriminated against because you have cancer.;It’s always best to start by talking to the person involved about your concerns. This might be your employer, tutor or landlord. It helps to keep a record of what happened and when.
You could speak with your union or human resources officer if the problem is with your employer. There is a scheme called Access to Work that can help with making changes at your place of work. This is for people in England, Scotland and Wales.
You can also get advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau;if you can’t resolve the problem by discussion.
Some people who cant resolve the problem might want to go further and take legal action. Before you do this, take advice and get as much information as you can. You’ll need to think about the cost, because taking legal action can be very expensive. Most people are able to resolve problems without taking any legal action.
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Impact On Everyday Activities
If you have no symptoms, prostate cancer should have little or no effect on your everyday activities. You should be able to work, care for your family, carry on your usual social and leisure activities, and look after yourself.
However, you may be understandably worried about your future. This may make you feel anxious or depressed and affect your sleep.
If your prostate cancer progresses, you may not feel well enough to do all the things you used to. After an operation or other treatment, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy, you’ll probably feel tired and need time to recover.
If you have advanced prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of your body, you may have symptoms that slow you down and make it difficult to do things. You may have to reduce your working hours or stop working altogether.
Whatever stage your prostate cancer has reached, try to give yourself time to do the things you enjoy and spend time with those who care about you.