What is Spine Disorder?
Definition of Spine Disorder
The Spine Disorder listing can include various spinal disorders ranging from hemiated nucleus pulposis to spinal stenosis. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will be looking for results for various types of tests on the severity of the spinal disorder or disease. These tests include reflexes, squatting, bending down, standing on your toes etc. The pivotal aspect of this type of disorder falls square on pain the claimant is experiencing. Clearly, the more severe the pain the better the chance the SSA will find the claimant disabled. In order to determine a claimant’s pain levels the SSA will look at many factors including; how many times the claimant visited the doctor with reported back pain, and what treatments the doctor has prescribed. Any reason that may negatively affect a claimant’s chances of recovery must be adequately documented and explained to the SSA. While spinal disorders are not as common in children as they are adults, there are a few disorders of the spine the SSA has recognized as legitimate disorders worthy of receiving benefits. For example infections in the spine and developmental disorders resulting in incomplete growth of the spine have been classified as disorders within the Social Security disability meaning.
For this condition to be severe enough to meet the Social Security Administration's listing the claimant must have:
- Evidence of pressure on the spinal nerve root or spinal cord as evidenced by pain, loss of motion, muscle weakness etc; OR
- Spinal arachnoiditis evidenced by burning in the abdomen or pathology report indicating such; OR
- Lumbar spinal stenosis resulting in pseudoclaudication evidenced by proper documentation.