Genitourinary Disorders And Social Security Disability

Living with genitourinary disorders can significantly impact your daily life, potentially hindering your ability to work and support yourself. This blog post delves into how these conditions may qualify you for Social Security disability benefits.

The Listing of Impairments for Genitourinary Disorders

Social Security rules acknowledge genitourinary issues that, if severe enough, could make you eligible for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Some genitourinary problems are listed in the Listing of Impairments. Conditions like these that could qualify you for Social Security disability benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:

6.01 Category of Impairments, Genitourinary Disorders

6.03 Chronic kidney disease, with chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis (see 6.00C1).

6.04 Chronic kidney disease, with kidney transplant. Consider under a disability for 1 year following the transplant; thereafter, evaluate the residual impairment (see 6.00C2).

6.05 Chronic kidney disease, with impairment of kidney function, with A and B:

A. Reduced glomerular filtration evidenced by one of the following laboratory findings documented on at least two occasions at least 90 days apart during a consecutive 12-month period:

1. Serum creatinine of 4 mg/dL or greater; or
   
2. Creatinine clearance of 20 ml/min. or less; or
   
3. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 20 ml/min/1.73m2 or less.

AND

B. One of the following:

1. Renal osteodystrophy (see 6.00C3) with severe bone pain and imaging studies documenting bone abnormalities, such as osteitis fibrosa, osteomalacia, or pathologic fractures; or
   
2. Peripheral neuropathy (see 6.00C4); or
   
3. Fluid overload syndrome (see 6.00C5) documented by one of the following:
   
   1. Diastolic hypertension greater than or equal to diastolic blood pressure of 110 mm Hg despite at least 90 consecutive days of prescribed therapy, documented by at least two measurements of diastolic blood pressure at least 90 days apart during a consecutive 12-month period; or
      
   2. Signs of vascular congestion or anasarca (see 6.00C6) despite at least 90 consecutive days of prescribed therapy, documented on at least two occasions at least 90 days apart during a consecutive 12-month period; or
      
4. Anorexia with weight loss (see 6.00C7) determined by body mass index (BMI) of 18.0 or less, calculated on at least two occasions at least 90 days apart during a consecutive 12-month period.

6.06 Nephrotic syndrome, with A and B

A. Laboratory findings as described in 1 or 2, documented on at least two occasions at least 90 days apart during a consecutive 12-month period:

1. Proteinuria of 10.0 g or greater per 24 hours; or
   
2. Serum albumin of 3.0 g/dL or less, and
   
   1. Proteinuria of 3.5 g or greater per 24 hours; or
      
   2. Urine total-protein-to-creatinine ratio of 3.5 or greater.

AND

B. Anasarca (see 6.00C6) persisting for at least 90 days despite prescribed treatment.

6.09 Complications of chronic kidney disease (see 6.00C8) requiring at least three hospitalizations within a consecutive 12-month period and occurring at least 30 days apart. Each hospitalization must last at least 48 hours, including hours in a hospital emergency department immediately before the hospitalization.

Section 6.00 Genitourinary Disorders

What If My Genitourinary Disorder Does Not Meet the Listing Requirements?

If you have a genitourinary disorder but don’t meet the requirements in the Listing of Impairments, you can still qualify for Social Security disability benefits. In such cases, the key is providing detailed medical evidence demonstrating how your condition affects your ability to work. You must show how your symptoms limit your daily activities and impact your capacity to perform job-related tasks.

Focus on obtaining strong documentation from healthcare providers, including test results, treatment history, and their opinions on your functional limitations. Additionally, gathering statements from people who witness how your condition hinders your work abilities can further support your case.

Remember, the more comprehensive and compelling your evidence, the better your chances of securing the benefits you deserve. If you can prove that your genitourinary disorder prevents you from working and you satisfy the one-year rule, you may be eligible for disability.

Get Help with Your Social Security Disability Claim

Social Security disability attorney Nick Ortiz founded the Ortiz Law Firm. Since 2005, he has dedicated his practice to helping individuals seeking the disability benefits they deserve. He offers a free case review and a zero-fee guarantee to each client. You only pay a fee if there is a recovery. Call (888) 321-8131 to schedule your free case review today.