Is degenerative disc disease a disability?
Degenerative disc disease is a disorder of the spine. This category can be found in SSA’s Listing of Impairments and includes osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, herniated nucleus pulposus, spinal arachnoiditis, as well as degenerative disc disease. Degenerative disc disease is a common impairment seen on disability applications of claimants of all ages. The general rule of thumb is, the younger the claimant the more difficult the case is to win. The problem is that SSA seems to have difficulty in being able to understand how debilitating back pain can be to an individual, and, therefore, how difficult it might be for that individual to perform the requirements of his or her job while at the same time dealing with back pain. That is why it is extremely important to have medical evidence such as doctor’s reports indicating a treatment, x-rays, MRIs, CAT scans. SSA generally requests an examination by one of its physicians when an applicant alleges a disorder of the spine.
