When Is Vertigo Considered a Disability With Social Security?

Vertigo is typically associated with Meniere’s disease, a condition disturbing the inner ear structures. Causing severe dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ear (tinnitus) and loss of balance, vertigo may also reduce hearing in the affected ear. Attacks of vertigo can last several hours or several days, forcing people with vertigo to remain in bed or sitting still for long periods. Medications such as benzodiazepines may offer some relief from symptoms of vertigo, such as nausea, vomiting and headache. However, there is no cure or standard treatment for vertigo. To receive vertigo disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, applicants will need to prove they suffer from significant hearing loss and frequent, disabling episodes of vertigo.

What are the SSA Rules for Vertigo

The SSA’s Blue Book of medical conditions eligible for Social Security disability says that if vertigo is caused by labyrinthine-vestibular dysfunction (inner ear damage) and the applicant meets certain requirements of vestibular balance disability listings in the Blue Book, the SSA will grant disability benefits automatically. However, meet these listings, applicants must prove they have balance problems, tinnitus and at least partial hearing loss.

The SSA considers disabling hearing loss when average hearing threshold sensitivity is below 90 decibels and bone conduction hearing threshold is under 60 dB in the better ear. If an applicant for vertigo disability benefits takes a word recognition test, they must not be capable of repeating over 40 percent of a standardized word list.

What Kind of Medical Documents Can Prove a Diagnosis of Vertigo?

Social Security disability applications for vertigo will not be approved unless submitted with detailed documentation. For example, applicants should provide neuro-otolaryngologic exam reports and physician descriptions of the severity of vertigo episodes. Pure speech and tone audiometry are also necessary per SSA rules for vertigo disability benefits. Acceptable diagnostic imaging scans include computerized axial tomographies, x-rays and MRIs. Radionuclear scans of the bony structures of the inner ear will help support a vertigo disability claim.

If you suffer from vertigo and need assistance with getting approved for disability benefits, please contact London Disability today to schedule an appointment with a disability representative.