Ataxia Disability Claims

In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the intricacies of ataxia disability claims, providing insights and tips to help you secure the disability benefits you deserve.

What Is Ataxia?

Ataxia can be a symptom of certain diseases or a group of diseases. It’s pretty common as a symptom and refers to a lack of coordination in your movements, causing you to move awkwardly or clumsily. It usually indicates a problem with your brain, ears, or other parts of your nervous system. However, ataxia as a condition is less common and typically occurs with specific genetic disorders or diseases.

Types of Ataxia and Associated Symptoms

The symptoms of ataxia vary depending on the age of onset and the type of ataxia, but many patients experience decreased muscle coordination, including control over their legs and movement. As such, they must use a cane, walker, or wheelchair to get around. Depending on the type of ataxia, the symptoms can remain the same, progressively worsen, or slowly improve.

The main types of ataxia are described below:

Friedreich’s ataxia is the most common hereditary ataxia, affecting around 1 in 50,000 people. Symptoms usually appear before age 25 but can develop later. Signs include balance and coordination problems, slurred speech, leg weakness leading to wheelchair use after 10-20 years, swallowing difficulties, curved spine, vision and hearing loss, diabetes, thickened heart muscles causing chest pain and irregular heartbeat, and loss of sensation in hands and feet. Symptoms gradually worsen over years, and life expectancy is shorter than usual, though many live into their 30s or beyond.

Ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) is a rarer hereditary ataxia with symptoms starting in early childhood or later. Symptoms include walking difficulties that usually require a wheelchair by age 10, slurred speech, swallowing problems, red spider-like blood vessels in eye corners and cheeks, slow eye movements, weakened immunity, and increased cancer risk. Symptoms worsen quickly, and life expectancy is typically 19-25 years, though some live into their 50s.

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are hereditary ataxias that often begin in adulthood, between ages 25 and 80. Symptoms vary but can include balance and coordination issues that eventually require a wheelchair, slurred speech, swallowing difficulties, muscle stiffness and cramps, loss of sensation in hands and feet, memory and language problems, slow eye movements, and bladder control issues.

Episodic ataxia is a rare hereditary type that causes episodes of ataxia with symptoms like balance problems, slurred speech, muscle spasms, involuntary eye movements, vertigo, migraines, and tinnitus, with few or no symptoms between episodes. It usually starts in teens, with episodes triggered by sudden movement, stress, exercise, caffeine, or alcohol. Symptoms may disappear with age or worsen gradually. Medication can control attacks, and life expectancy is average.

Other types of ataxia also have similar symptoms, such as:

• Acquired ataxia, which develops quickly over days or hours at any age, with potential improvement, stability, or gradual worsening;
• Idiopathic late-onset cerebellar ataxia, which begins around 50 and slowly worsens; and
• Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency is similar to Friedreich’s ataxia but controllable with vitamin E supplements.

Causes of Ataxia

A congenital disability usually causes genetic ataxia, while the causes of idiopathic ataxia are still unknown. Currently, there are no cures or means of slowing down ataxia, meaning the conditions usually worsen with time. Fortunately, several medications, when coupled with therapy, can be used to manage symptoms such as loss of muscle coordination and improve the quality of life. 

Ataxia Disability Claims

Living with ataxia is often a struggle. It makes daily tasks challenging, even the simple ones like getting out of bed or showering. The severity of the condition and its resulting symptoms can make it impossible to work and earn a living. However, not everyone with ataxia qualifies for disability benefits. The severity of your symptoms makes you disabled, not the name of the disease. Your symptoms and limitations must be well documented in your medical records. It also depends on who decides you are disabled – a disability insurance policy will have different requirements than the SSA.

Long-Term Disability

Before you apply for long-term disability benefits, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the process. The underlying factor of whether or not you get long-term disability for ataxia is whether or not you can work. For a disability insurance case to succeed, the claimant has to prove that their ataxia has had such a severe impact on the claimant that they cannot sustain employment. The insurer assigns a claims specialist and maybe even an independent medical consultant, who then reviews your medical records and work history to determine what you can do despite your limited motor skills. If your long-term disability claim is denied, you may need the help of an experienced disability lawyer.

Social Security Disability

The Social Security Administration recognizes ataxia as a disabling condition. Therefore, if you have ataxia, you can apply to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. However, you have to meet specific criteria to qualify for disability benefits. According to the Blue Book, you must have one of the following: 

• Disorganized motor functioning such that you can’t stand or balance while walking 
• Limited physical functioning 
• Inability to adapt or manage oneself, understand, apply or remember information, concentrate, persist, or maintain pace, and interact with others

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has also identified three types of ataxia that qualify for expedited benefits under the Compassionate Allowances program: Friedreich’s ataxia, cerebral ataxia, and ataxia telangiectasia. If you file a claim for one of these forms of ataxia, it will be put on a fast track for processing.

Applying for SSDI can be a never-ending and tiring cycle, especially if you don’t understand the rules and procedures. To navigate the process with ease, you should consider seeking professional help. We have helped countless claimants get Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, and we believe we can help you, too.

Get Help from an Ataxia Disability Lawyer

Led by experienced disability attorney Nick Ortiz, our team will be with you every step of the way. We are committed to helping our clients recover the disability benefits that they are entitled to. With our skilled advocacy, you can rest assured that your case is in the best hands. We help claimants nationwide with the following:

• Long-Term Disability Appeals
• Long-Term Disability Lawsuits
• Social Security Disability Claims

Working with us will put you one step closer to winning your case. The reviews from our past clients speak for themselves. And you don’t pay us a cent unless we help you win your case. If you need assistance with a disability claim for ataxia, call us at (888) 321-8131 for a free case evaluation.