Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of the lungs that affects a person's ability to breathe normally. According to WebMD, COPD is typically a blend of two other diseases - chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Bronchitis is a condition in which the bronchial tubes fill with mucus, narrowing the airways and causing difficulty breathing. Emphysema is caused by air sacs in the lungs losing their ability to stretch, resulting in shortness of breath.
Symptoms of COPD include a chronic cough, heavy mucus coming up with the cough, and shortness of breath. The symptoms and shortness of breath will often get worse when people attempt to exercise.
The Mayo Clinic notes that COPD is almost always caused by smoking, but secondhand smoke, breathing in toxic chemicals, air pollution or dust can also contribute to COPD. There is no way to repair the damage done to the lungs, only to treat the symptoms and effects of the disease.
Social Security's Determination of Disability
To determine whether a person is disabled and entitled to Social Security disability benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will ask five questions.
- Are you working? According to SSA's Fact Sheet, working means engaging in some "substantial gainful activity" and earning at least $1,000 per month.
- Is your medical condition severe? Meaning that it significantly limits your ability to do basic work activities - such as walking, sitting and remembering - for at least one year.
- Is your medical condition on the List of Impairments? This is a list of conditions so severe that they automatically meet the definition of disabled. COPD is listed under the Respiratory System impairments.
- Can you do the work you did before? If the state agency determines you cannot perform the same job, they ask if you can do any type of work.
- Can you do any other type of work? To determine this, the agency will look at your medical condition, age, education level, past work experience and any other relevant skills.
While COPD is on the list of impairments, workers who make disability determinations look at many factors in each phase of their decision, including whether you currently smoke. If you have been diagnosed with COPD and are considering applying for disability benefits, it is important to work with an experienced Social Security disability attorney. Mistakes in the application or incomplete documentation can cause a delay in receiving your benefits or result in an outright denial by SSA.
