Pittsburgh
Chronic Granulocytopenia or Agranulocytosis Lawyer

On This Page

1. Disability Benefits, Chronic Granulocytopenia, and Agranulocytosis
2. Getting Disability Based on an Impairment Listing
3. Getting Disability Benefits Based If You Cannot Work, But You Do Not Meet a Listing
4. Understanding the Technical Qualifications for Disability
5. Let Us Handle Your Disability Appeal If the SSA Denies Your Claim.
6. Talk to a Lawyer About Getting Disability for Chronic Granulocytopenia or Agranulocytosis in Pittsburgh

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

February 02, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Disability Benefits, Chronic Granulocytopenia, and Agranulocytosis

If your chronic granulocytopenia or agranulocytosis prevents you from working and earning a living in Pittsburgh, you might qualify for monthly cash disability benefits. Depending on your work history and financial situation, this could include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

The disability lawyers from Berger and Green will help you fight for Social Security Disability for chronic granulocytopenia or agranulocytosis. We can review your application or appeal your case if the Social Security Administration (SSA) denied your initial claim for disability. Call our office today at 412-661-1400 for your complimentary consultation.

Getting Disability Based on an Impairment Listing

The SSA has a published list of impairments that might qualify you for benefits if you meet specific criteria. Known as the Blue Book, this publication covers chronic granulocytopenia, agranulocytosis, and similar conditions in Section 7.10 – Disorders of Bone Marrow Failure.

Under this section, you might receive approval for disability if you require frequent hospitalizations because of your condition. To qualify, you must satisfy the following requirements:

• You needed three or more hospitalizations in a one-year period; and
• Your hospitalizations occurred at least a month apart; and
• Each hospital stay lasted at least 48 hours.

You could also receive approval if you suffer from a myelodysplastic syndrome or aplastic anemia that requires you to undergo a transfusion once every six weeks or more.

You will need to ensure your medical records and other evidence in your medical file reflect your regular hospitalizations or treatments, so we recommend discussing your application with your doctor before you file your claim. Getting your doctor to help is also important because the Office of Disability Determination Services might ask them for additional information. Ensuring your doctor cooperates and provides any necessary information is crucial for getting the benefits you need.

Getting Disability Benefits Based If You Cannot Work, But You Do Not Meet a Listing

Meeting the criteria under an impairment listing is not the only way to qualify for disability benefits. Many people cannot work because of their chronic granulocytopenia or agranulocytosis symptoms, but do not require the frequent hospitalizations or treatments that would allow them to meet the impairment listing. If you do not meet a Blue Book listing, you might qualify based on your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) instead.

Your RFC is an evaluation of your remaining abilities despite your impairment. With your RFC, the Office of Disability Determination Services can better understand:

• The type of work you can do; and
• How long you can work; and
• How often you can work.

If your RFC shows you cannot work your last job or any other job you might qualify for, you could receive benefits.

Understanding the Technical Qualifications for Disability

Many people focus on meeting the medical requirements for their disability program, but it pays not to overlook the technical requirements. Before the claims representative from the local Social Security field office forwards your application to the Office of Disability Determination Services, they will evaluate your case to ensure you meet the technical qualifications for SSDI or SSI. If you do not, you will receive a technical denial.

Some of the most common reasons we see technical denials occur include:

• Blanks left on the application form; or
• Incorrect information on the application; or
• Answers entered in the wrong box on the application form; or
• Problems with the name, birthdate, or Social Security Number
• Earning too much or not having enough work credits to meet the requirements for SSDI; or
• Having too high of an income or too many assets to qualify under the requirements for SSI.

Let Us Handle Your Disability Appeal If the SSA Denies Your Claim.

The SSA issues denial letters to many disability claimants, so this is a possible outcome for you. If you do receive a denial, do not panic. Many people who receive full benefits get them through the appeals process. You have 60 days from the date on your letter to request an appeals hearing, so you should not delay your appeal.

We encourage you to give us a call when you receive a denial. We can request your appeals hearing in front of a local Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and handle the entire process for you. We know how to navigate the steps of appealing a denial, and we can fight to get it overturned. When we take on your case, we will:

• Analyze your application and denial to understand why the SSA did not approve your claim; and
• Help you understand the evidence necessary to prove your impairment; and
• Work to collect additional medical evidence or support documents, when necessary; and
• Represent you to the ALJ during your appeals hearing; and
• Fight for the ALJ to overturn your denial and approve you for benefits.

We understand how frustrating this process can be, especially how long it takes to get a decision on your claim. In addition to representing you during your hearing, we will also aggressively pursue the full amount of back pay you deserve, dating back to the date of your original application. In some cases, we can also help you get retroactive benefits.

Talk to a Lawyer About Getting Disability for Chronic Granulocytopenia or Agranulocytosis in Pittsburgh

If you cannot work because of a bone marrow disorder, the attorneys from Berger and Green will review your case for free. We might be able to help you fight for the disability benefits you need to help make ends meet.

If you suffer from an impairing condition because of injuries suffered in a Pittsburgh personal injury accident, we might also be able to help you hold the negligent party accountable for your compensatory damages.

Call our Pittsburgh office today at 412-661-1400 for your complimentary consultation.