Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can cause vertigo, hearing loss, nausea, and even vomiting. For some patients, attacks come on quickly, and then symptoms disappear for an extended period of time. For others, multiple attacks can occur more closely together and last over many days. Some people who suffer from Ménière’s disease have extreme cases of vertigo that cause them to fall. These types of episodes are known as “drop attacks.”
While it’s possible for people of all ages to develop Ménière’s disease, it’s more likely to occur in adults between 40 and 60 years old. According to The National Institute on Deafness more than 600 hundred thousand people in the U.S. have Ménière’s disease, and each year more than 40 thousand new cases are diagnosed.
If you suffer from Ménière’s disease, you may eligible for Social Security disability benefits.
To qualify for benefits, your condition must be characterized by a history of frequent attacks of balance disturbance, tinnitus, and progressive loss of hearing. You must have your hearing loss documented with tests performed by an audiologist. And you must present medical test results which show a disturbed function of your vestibular labyrinth. The vestibular labyrinth is a system of fluid filled tubes in our inner ear which helps us maintain our balance. This system provides the brain with information about head movement. If the function of the labyrinth is disrupted for any reason, defective signals are sent to the brain and we will have trouble maintaining our balance.
Finally, the symptoms of the disease must be so severe that even with treatment you are unable to work. Your impairment must have lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months.
Although total disability based on a diagnosis of Meniere’s Disease can be difficult to prove compared with other disabling conditions, working with a qualified Social Security disability attorney will give you the best chance of success. At Cuddigan Law you have a dedicated team of professionals in your corner who understand the system and who will fight for your rights. Call us for a free evaluation of your situation.
