For some folks with this diagnosis, it's possible to continue to function well with the use of glasses or contact lenses. The cause of keratoconus is generally unknown, but some factors can increase your chance of getting it, including: A diagnosis of keratoconus alone is not enough to get Social Security disability benefits. Claims are often initially denied disability, so working with a lawyer my help increase your chances. Total blindness (the absence of light perception in both eyes) qualifies automatically for disability benefits. It takes an average of three to five months to process an application for disability benefits. To qualify for Social Security disability, you must expect to be disabled for at least 12 months. Donations to Hadit.com are tax-deductible. I had a corneal transplant in 2001 because of the disease and my corneal surgeon recently told me that the drastic change in my vision during my time in the military should have been easily diagnosed as . These costs include transportation fees, home modifications, and expensive technologies that allow the blind to live independently and perform essential job duties. Some eye problems that qualify for disability include legal blindness, partial sight, glaucoma, macular degeneration, ocular melanoma and Sjgrens Syndrome. However, there is an income requirement that anyone applying for SSI benefits must meet before the application for benefits will be . 104. To qualify for disability benefits, your vision loss or blindness must meet one of the following listings: If you are blind and receive disability and you are older than 55, the determination rules that are used by the SSA arent the same ones that are used for those who arent blind. If you'd like help with your application, consider working with a legal professional. Patients with keratoconus are often very near-sighted and have as Corneal collagen crosslinking (www.Cxlusa.Com) is a procedure that can stop the progression of keratoconus this is a first line treatment for patient At the moment there are current treatments available like intacs and cxl. Is applicant receiving treatment from a doctor? If you are blind and receive disability benefits, but you are thinking of returning to the workforce and you are interested in using your 9-month trial work period, you should consult with a disability advocate or attorney who handles such cases in your area. The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers legal or statutory blindness as a qualified disability. Social Security has a disability evaluation handbook that outlines the criteria for disability for various medical conditions. On average, it takes three to five months to process an application for disability benefits. This is called keratoconus. Chronic eye rubbing is associated with developing keratoconus. Learn more: Vaccines, Boosters & Additional Doses | Testing | Patient Care | Visitor Guidelines | Coronavirus. Every 60 months, disabled workers have a 9-month trial work period. Keratoconus, sometimes abbreviated as KC, is an eye condition in which the shape of the eye changes causing blurry, cloudy, or distorted vision as well as sensitivity to light and problems with glare. Can eye rubbing cause Keratoconus? Social Security might request this type of testing if, for instance, your eyes show no abnormalities during an examination and you have no history of neurological damage, yet you scored 20/200 on your Snellen chart test. Keep all your receipts, so you can provide them to the SSA when you upload your records that show your earnings, work activity, and your associated costs and expenses. If you could show that no other family members (if you aren't adopted) don't have the same issue, or better yet, a DNA analysis, to bolster it, that would be iron clad. The changes in the shape of the cornea occur over several years, but at a more rapid rate in younger patients. Once your application is complete, Social Security will send your file to your state's Disability Determination Services (DDS) office. An RFC from someone suffering from severe keratoconus might include the following limitations: First, Social Security will compare your RFC to tasks you had to do at your previous work to decide if you're still able to do that kind of work. If you're blind and applying for SSI benefits, there are certain types of expenses that you can exclude from your earned income, including. A disability application requires more than just medical evidence. According to the Guide Dog Foundation, the cost of raising and training a single service animal is about $50,000. In some cases, keratoconus is diagnosed at a later age, but usually only when it is mild. If you meet the medical criteria outlined by the SSA for the respective Blue Book listing, as well as meet the work requirements for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), the SSA will consider your eye problem as a disability and you will be able to start earning Social Security disability. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a set earnings amount that is called substantial gainful activity (SGA). This is done through a residual functional capacity analysis or RFC. Code 6035: Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea gradually changes its shape, causing significant vision problems. Keep reading for some treatment options to consider if you have keratoconus! You can apply for Social Security disability in person at your local SSA office (after the COVID-19 pandemic ends), by calling Social Security at 800-772-1213, or online at www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability. See a c What makes keratoconus difficult to treat? Disability benefits can additionally be an ongoing source of financial support for blind workers, allowing them to continue employment while simultaneously receiving monthly disability payments. If one of your eyes meets the requirements of a listing and the other eye does not (this would be the better eye), you don't "meet the listing.". Use our disability calculator to see how much you could be able to earn in disability benefits. EIN 92-2360268, VA Disability Claims Community Forums - Hadit.com. Keratoconus is a condition which affects the cornea. Plus there are much more glare and halos at nighttime. Collagen makes the cornea strong and flexible, and helps keep its regular, round shape. If your total visual field falls below a certain level, in the better eye, Social Security will find you disabled. here is the code rating for'' Keratocounus'' Conditions of the Cornea Code 6035: Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea gradually changes its shape, causing significant vision problems. Approval can take even longer. Age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetes (and diabetic retinopathy) are the most common causes of vision loss. For people who lose their sight later in life, the costs of blindness include not only adaptive expenses like those mentioned above, but also astronomical medical bills. I understand that keratoconus typically takes place over time and usually in teen agers and adults in their 20s. In a corneal transplant, a donor cornea replaces the patients damaged cornea. Keratoconus is, of course, a condition that affects your eyesight. This is especially important to realize if you are unable to work due to legal blindness for at least 12 months. During the trial period, you must report your earnings, work activity, and your expenses to the SSA. Yes, I've had it from mere glare from an oncoming automobile, sunlights, and indoor lighting. Keratoconus is a leading cause of corneal transplantation in the United States. About half of people who go to an appeal hearing win their claims, and applicants who go to a hearing represented by a lawyer have a higher approval rate than applicants who represent themselves. Eye irritation or headaches associated with eye pain. Remember, you only have 9 trial months in any 60-month timeframe, so you dont want to inadvertently use those months up before you intend to do so. Keratoconus is an eye disease that affects the structure of the cornea, resulting in loss of vision. On 2/26/2019 at 6:49 PM, gypsyking46@yahoo.com said: Eligibility - Veterans Compensation Benefit Claims, General VA Disability Compensation Benefits Claims Forums. To get approved for disability for vision loss caused by keratoconus, your records should include the following, at a minimum: An easy way to apply for Social Security disability benefits is to file your claim online at www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/. During that time, you arent required to reapply for disability benefits, and you dont have to wait for review of your medical condition to have your benefits reinstated. Copyright 2023 | Hadit.com | Hadit.com is exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Advice given is in no way a substitute for consulting with a competent Veterans law firm, such as one on the NOVA advocate website !! After the claims examiner feels that your file has sufficient evidence to make a decision, a medical consultant (doctor or optometrist) decide whether you are legally blind. This eye is 20/100 uncorrected and 20/25 corrected. This gives members a starting point to ask clarifying questions like. To prove youre disabled without meeting a listing means you must show your decreased vision or blindness prevents you from working in any job. Keratoconus generally begins at puberty and progresses into the mid-30s. People born blind usually learn to live and thrive in a world dominated by sighted individuals, but they still experience ongoing adaptive living expenses as working adults. The info that I've found online has been contradictory. The procedure may require the removal of the thin outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) to allow the riboflavin to more easily penetrate the corneal tissue. Since the VASRD clearly states that this condition is to be rated on visual acuity, it cannot also be rated for visual field or muscle dysfunction unless they are caused by an entirely different condition. Adults who are medically unable to work and have always been unable to work can also apply for SSI benefits. Astigmatism is more like a warp or bend in the surface of the cornea in a specific location. My other eye is 20/20 uncorrected. Others may be able to self-accommodate if given flexibility to adjust the lighting near their workstation. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Crosslinking can stop the progre Corneal disorder in which the cornea is abnormally thin and progressively becomes distorted. All testing is done without your glasses or contactsyour doctor will use lenses that are part of the testing equipment to come up with your "best corrected" vision. 600. What is Keratoconus? In fact, most claims that Social Security approves don't meet the criteria of one of the listings. How does one treat slight keratoconus with intacs? If someone who is blind receives disability benefits and he or she is self-employed, the time spent working in his or her business isnt evaluated the same as it is for those who do not have vision loss. Vision Loss Can Qualify for Disability. In the United States, if a person's best-corrected visual acuity in both eyes is 20/200 or worse whether caused by keratoconus or some other condition that person is consideredlegally blindand may qualify for disability benefits. You can be blind and one eye and could qualify for Social Security disability benefits Even if you dont meet the SSAs criteria for blindness, such as being blind in one eye, you may still qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you being blind in one eye makes it impossible for you to work full time. As of 2023, that is $1,470 per month for those who are disabled but arent blind. Masks are required inside all of our care facilities. Central visual acuity is how clearly you can see straight ahead. Cone vs warp: Keratoconus is an abnormal conical shape of the cornea--sometimes severe enough that glasses cannot fully correct and surgery is considered. If you're blind and over the age of 55, your earnings won't be considered SGA even if they rise over the blind SGA limitas long as the work requires a lower level of skill and ability than the work you did before the age of 55 or when you became disabled, whichever is later. Social Security will consider the effect of your vision loss (and any other symptoms) on your ability to perform daily activities and work functions. Privacy Policy. For instance, if you worked as a truck driver before you applied for benefits, with the above RFC, you wouldn't be able to do that job anymore. SSDI claimants who are legally blind can work and receive up to $2,460 in 2023 and still be considered disabled. 6035 Keratoconus. You can apply for Social Security disability in person at your local SSA office (after the COVID-19 pandemic ends), by calling Social Security at 800-772-1213, or online at www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability. Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea of the eye where the cornea thins and bulges outward, causing blurred vision. This test is used to measure the thinnest areas of the cornea. Social Security will notify you of the decision by mail. To discover what you're able to do, a claims examiner will determine your residual functional capacity (RFC). To file for a tax extension with the IRS, you can follow these steps: Obtain IRS Form 4868: You can get a copy . Every verifiable disability is worth claiming. In fact, the SSA must review information about your education, job training, and employment history as well as your financial circumstances. here is a link that may help you understand your code 6035, I could be wrong about the 10% that was for cornea transplant. For people with decreased vision, your RFC might include: If you have a detached retina or are at risk of a detached retina, your doctor may also give you a restriction on heavy lifting. The solution causes new collagen bonds to form, recovering and preserving some of the corneas strength and shape. Age. A common finding in keratoconus is the loss of collagen in the cornea. Medicaid: Eligibility and Vision Benefits. This may be caused by some imbalance between production and destruction of the corneal tissue by the corneal cells. Cookie Notice In fact, the blind can qualify for disability and still continue to work while receiving monthly benefits, provided they meet all SSA requirements. 6042 Retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa, wet or dry macular . If there is also pain and sensitivity to light, the minimum rating for this condition is 10%. National Keratoconus Foundation Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other abusable medications. Your link has been automatically embedded. The SSA is Proposing a Change to SSI Benefits: Excluding Food From Their Calculations of Disability Benefits, Changes in Social Security Republicans Claim They Want to Enact, Qualifying For Disability Benefits as a Paralyzed Veteran, April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month. Because you can't do your past work, Social Security looks to see if you can do another kind of work, given your age, education, and work experience. A new treatment called corneal crosslinking is being investig Crosslinking is the only procedure that stops the progression of keratoconus. If a claimant is older than 55, even if their earnings are in excess of $2,460 per month the benefits are only suspended and not terminated if the work that you do requires a lower level of ability and skill than the work you did before you were approved for disability benefits. Keratoconus is a condition of the cornea (the window at the front of the eye) in which the protein molecules lose some of their adhesive strength and Keratoconus is thought to affect 1 in 1000 to 1 in 2000 patients. Even after your 9-month trial work period has expired, you can still receive disability benefits for any month that you do not earn more than the SGA amount of $2,460. With severe keratoconus, a standard contact lens may become too uncomfortable to wear. Schedule a free case review by completing the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page. I did not have keratoconus when I entered the U.S. Air Force in June 1964, but was diagnosed with keratoconus after I was honorably discharged in February 1969. If you are at-least 10 percent disabled as a result of your military service, the VA can pay you monthly compensation. Sometimes the structure isn't strong enough to hold its round shape and it bulges outward, like a cone. How can I check the status of my Social Security disability application? If your keratoconus causes more than a minimal effect on your vision, it's enough to pass this screening test. To learn more about the author: Tim Moore. The patient cannot have proper functioning of eyes. The content on this site is for informational purposes only. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. Is polycystic kidney disease a disability. Need for new eyeglass prescription every time you visit eye doctor. So, even if you don't meet one of Social Security's listings, you might still be found disabled under Social Security's other rules. Since that time I've had 4 corneal transplants: right eye in 1981 and left eye in 1983. How can I get help? Those receiving disability benefits for vision loss have some different financial limits than those receiving benefits for other reasons. Type 2 Diabetes and Filing for Disability, How to get disability with Plantar Fasciitis, How to file for disability in Massachusetts. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. I'm 30% SC for an eye condition called Keratoconus. A need for frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions. The first noticeable symptom of keratoconus is mild blurry vision (or progressively worsening vision) that's not easily corrected by glasses or contacts. After taking 90 days of short-term disability, a person may need to apply for long-term disability. 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