Is POTS A Disability?

Yes, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) can be regarded as a disability if an applicant satisfies the disability definition and criteria from the SSA Blue Book listing. According to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), POTS disability is not specified in the list of disabling medical conditions. 

Qualifying for POTS disability benefits is a matter of proving that the individual has an impairment significant enough to make it impossible for them to effectively maintain employment.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will examine the symptoms that a patient is experiencing due to POTS. This is done to determine if the individual is eligible for disability payment.

Patients with POTS should be sure to have all their symptoms verified and recorded by a licensed medical professional. This is essential to increase the chances of being approved for disability.

The SSA will try to find a job position appropriate for an individual with POTS before approving their disability aid. A combination of the academic background of the individual, past employment experience, and physical abilities will be examined. These details will be evaluated to determine whether there is a job that the person can reasonably be expected to do.

Dealing with the debilitating symptoms of POTS can be difficult. Paying bills becomes extremely challenging for the applicant as well as their family members. Fortunately, sending the SSA a POTS disability letter can result in approval of the disability claim.

Keeping accurate medical records is essential to proving your case and increasing the chances of approval. Seeking medical professionals to complete exams will help to pinpoint symptoms that can be attributed to POTS.

What Is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS Disability)?

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic condition that can dramatically affect quality of life. With the condition, the autonomic nervous system stops functioning properly, resulting in an inability of the body to balance blood pressure and heart rate. The condition is also known as orthostatic intolerance. 

Common POTS symptoms list include the following, but are not limited to: 

• Tachycardia
• Inability to exercise
• Difficulty concentrating
• Chronic headaches
• Extreme fatigue
• Anxiety
• Muscle pain
• Nerve pain
• Sleep disorders

With POTS syndrome symptoms, it’s common that even standing for a short duration leads to heart rate increasing dramatically. Most people with the condition are unable to engage in any significant amount of physical activity.

Types Of POTS

POTS is considered to be one of those medical conditions accompanied by orthostatic intolerance (OI). This happens when a patient observes symptoms of low blood pressure (BP) when standing. The types of POTS include:

• Neuropathic POTS: As the name suggests, it is a nerve-related disease. It is caused by loss of nerve supply, leading to weakened muscles of the blood vessels, especially in the legs and core.
• Hyperadrenergic POTS: The term hyperadrenergic refers to ‘’high adrenaline.” With this type, patients get high levels of norepinephrine in their blood as a result of an overactive sympathetic nervous system. It results in high blood pressure and increased heart rate while standing.
• Low Blood Volume POTS: Reduced blood volume can lead to this form of POTS. Some of the symptoms caused by low blood volume can be similar to those of neuropathic and hyper-adrenergic types.

POTS can also be caused due to another medical condition. When this happens, it is known as secondary POTS. Diabetes mellitus is one of the secondary POTS disabilities that can be chronic. Lyme disease and auto-immune disorders including lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome can also be caused by POTS.

The fundamental treatment for POTS is drinking fluids frequently on a daily basis. It is recommended that most POTS patients have at least 2 to 2.5 liters of water daily. A patient must also add more salt to their diet through salty foods or even salt tablets.

Can You Get Disability For POTS?

POTS and other autonomic nervous system disorders are not explicitly mentioned in the SSA’s Blue Book. However, if applicants prove that their medical condition is extreme, SSA will consider them and they can qualify for disability.  

If you are experiencing extreme POTS syndrome that is preventing you from doing any work for at least 12 months, you may be eligible to apply for SSDI and SSI disability benefits for POTS from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA will evaluate your medical condition based on the criteria mentioned in its Blue Book.  

You will need to complete the disability application and submit it to the SSA at your local social security office or by completing an online application. Many forms must be completed during the application process. 

You also need to submit supporting medical and employment documents to prove your inability to work. Any mistake in the application process can result in denial. Hence, it is advisable to be extremely careful when filing your application.

Even if you do not match the criteria mentioned in the Blue Book, you may be evaluated for medical-vocational allowance (MVA). However, for MVA, you need to prove that you are unable to earn any substantial gainful activity (SGA). Furthermore, you also need to fill out the residual functional capacity (RFC) assessment that will assist you in getting disability for POTS.

Eligibility Criteria For POTS Syndrome Disability

The Blue Book does not have any precise listing for dysautonomia. However, you can file a claim based on similar symptoms that are listed for different disorders. Neurological – Section 11.00, and Digestive System – Section 5.00 are two of the sections in which dysautonomia can be included.

Ultimately, the SSA tends to grant disability if someone is physically not able to perform their job. Thus, conveying the severity of your symptoms and their impact on your life in your application will help for seeking SSD benefits.

Dysautonomia can have many symptoms, so your documentation should include extensive test results. Testing may include a tilt table test, which determines the blood pressure and heart rate fluctuations due to changes in body position. Other tests may be ordered such as digestive system testing, autonomic breathing test, and blood and urine testing.

The medical documentation from all the testing, results and reports, and other lab work should be provided to SSA. Dysautonomia is not listed as a Compassionate Allowances Condition by the SSA, meaning it does not qualify for automatic approval. Patients will be evaluated according to their specific symptoms based on the type and severity.

Disability Insurance Benefits For POTS

Many people choose to have short-term disability insurance and others may choose long-term disability insurance policies. An applicant can also get an individual disability insurance policy from an insurance company. Let’s take a rundown of short-term and long-term disability policies. 

Short-Term Disability Policy: A short-term disability policy allows you to receive 60% to 70% of your income. However, the policy is only for 6 months to 1 year. First, you need to prove that you are disabled, and then after 1 to 2 weeks you can receive payment. However, if your disability has lasted for more than one year, you can go for long-term disability aid. 

Long-Term Disability Policy: In this type of policy, 60% of the income is paid. The aid will be given for years, and some policies may last until you reach your retirement age. However, some policies may limit payment due to various factors.

Want To File A POTS Disability Claim? Contact An Attorney Today

The disability claim procedure is complex and challenging, owing to excessive paperwork and tedious procedures. In most cases, applicants are denied SSD benefits in the first request. 

In such circumstances, you can file an appeal when you can take the assistance of an experienced savannah disability lawyers. Schedule a free case consultation and increase your chances of getting disability.