Donations to Hadit.com are tax-deductible. 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. I've begun paperwork for it, but I know it can be hard to receive it for vision issues. Top answers from doctors based on your search: Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Hiii chaavi.. you need to be a little more specific here. To meet the requirements for Social Security's listing for loss of visual acuity (listing 2.02), the vision in your better eye, when you're wearing glasses or contacts, must be 20/200 or worse. It is important to know your rights as an employee that may require special accommodations. Tim Moore represents claims at the application, reconsideration appeal, disability hearing, and appeals council levels in primarily the Raleigh, Durham, Garner, Wake Forest, Henderson, Oxford, Butner, Creedmoor, Warrenton, and Louisburg areas. For the period from April 22, 2009, the Veteran's keratoconus was productive of best corrected visual acuity of 20/400 in the right eye and ranging from 20/100 to 20/150+2 in the left eye. You can file the Claim for Disability Insurance (DI) Benefits (DE 2501) (PDF) claim by mail or even faster with SDI Online. For those who are blind, the SGA limit is $2,460 per month. ", Social Security considers symptoms that affect vision under listings 2.02, 2.03, and 2.04 for vision loss or blindness. Others say that as long as I am diagnosed, my eyes automatically are both 20/40 and, therefore, result in a 0% rating. It's also very important that you refrain from rubbing your eyes. "My case only took 23 days for an answer," one myRAteam member shared. The cornea becomes weaker and changes shape over time. To learn more about the author: Tim Moore. I know you're only trying to help by answering my questions. 6035 Keratoconus. Here you can share your keratoconus stories, post photos and videos, ask questions, talk about available treatments and latest breakthroughs, post memes, and show everyone how you see the world by sharing KC vision simulations. Approval can take even longer. In a corneal transplant, a donor cornea replaces the patients damaged cornea. For more information, see our article on how Social Security uses your RFC to decide whether there are jobs you can do. Instead, Social Security approves the majority of claims because the applicants' symptoms and limitations make them unable to perform their previous jobs, and they're unable to transition into another type of work. 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. Disability-Benefits-Help.org is not a lawyer or a law firm. In our eye cornea acts like a lens and focuses light on the retina. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Example of How Social Security Assesses Whether You Can Work, Medical Conditions - Eligibility for Disability Benefits, After You're Approved for Disability Benefits, Workers' Compensation Benefits Information, State-Specific Information for Workers Compensation, Medical Conditions - Eligibility for Disability Benefits, getting disability for peripheral vision problems, how Social Security uses your RFC to decide whether there are jobs you can do, applying for Social Security disability benefits, Medical Conditions - Eligibility For Disability Benefits, After Youre Approved For Disability Benefits, State-Specific Information For Workers Compensation, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, no operating hazardous machinery or driving, or. Does computer use make Keratoconus worse? My initial vision was determined to be 20 / 1250 in the right eye and 20 / 850 in the left eye. Upload or insert images from URL. Making ends meet in the meantime only adds stress to an already stressful life transition. No need to apply for it if you're rated at 0% SC for the eye, just request an increase. For more information, see our article about how Social Security decides if you have the ability to perform some other type of work. and his orphan." Tiny fibers of protein in your eye called collagen help hold . avoid working in locations with dim lighting, avoid working around dangerous moving machinery, and, a diagnosis of keratoconus by an ophthalmologist (a doctor who specializes in eye and vision problems), imaging results such as a topography that measures the curve of the cornea, perimetry (visual field) testing to check your peripheral vision, doctor's notes reflecting the frequency and severity of your symptoms, and. Our experienced specialists diagnose keratoconus using AI-powered technology. its only rated at 10% but if you have a lot of other contentions/conditions that will add up your rating. The solution causes new collagen bonds to form, recovering and preserving some of the corneas strength and shape. Although Gulf War Syndrome does not have a diagnostic code in the VA disability rating schedule, you can receive VA disability benefits if you are a Gulf War veteran who is diagnosed with certain conditions. A common finding in keratoconus is the loss of collagen in the cornea. 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. Non-blind disabled workers can earn up to $1,470 per month. What Eye Problems Qualify for Disability? To qualify for Social Security disability, you must expect to be disabled for at least 12 months. A blind individual can work more and put in more hours for his or her business and still receive disability benefits just so long as his or her net profit averages the SGA or less. Central visual acuity is how clearly you can see straight ahead. The earnings limit usually changes from one year to the next and those figures are based on the cost of living and inflation. This process does not take long. If you do not plan to stop working, this site cannot assist you because you will not qualify for the program. Claimants are blind can earn more than disabled workers who arent blind and keep their disability benefits. What is keratoconus? If you're partially blind, legally blind, or totally blind, you may be able to qualify for Social Security disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). Keratoconus is often discovered in the teenage years. A decrease in average earnings or total loss of income from work after vision loss is common too, with workers often being unable to continue employment in their traditional field. Those who are blind can receive up to $2,460 for per month in 2023 from disability benefits. Those 9 months which dont have to be consecutive allow a disabled individual to determine if he or she is capable of earning a living again. The procedure takes about 15 minutes. Your vision may be okay looking straight ahead, but you might have a loss of your "visual field" (the total space you can see including your peripheral vision). Individuals with keratoconus often experience near-sightedness, blurry vision, distorted images, and . Stages of Keratoconus Symptoms In the early stage, keratoconus symptoms can include: Eye redness or swelling The mild blurring of vision Distorted images, where straight lines look wavy Increased sensitivity to glare and light But if you're experiencing significant vision loss, you might be able to get benefits. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. Does the applicant plan to stop working soon and stay out of work for at least 12 months? Scleral lenses fetch a much higher fee than other contact lenses because these lenses are custom-made to fit the exact eye specifications of the wearer. My other eye is 20/20 uncorrected. Copyright 2022 Social Security Disability Resource Center - All rights reserved. If not, the agency will then consider your RFC, age, education, and prior work experience to determine if you could do some other type of work. If you apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) however, you must do so through an interview process with an SSA representative and this is usually done at the local office. The change in corneal shape prevents this focusing action. Out-of-Town Patients. Keratoconus occurs in approximately one in 2,000 individuals, typically beginning in puberty and progressing into the mid-30s. If you'd like help with your application, consider working with a legal professional. Increased photophobia (light sensitivity) Nearsightedness may develop slowly. 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. There are two ways Social Security can approve you for Social Security disability benefits: based on looking at the medical evidence alone and based on looking at medical and vocational (job) evidence. Keratoconus typically affects both eyes, with one being more severely affected than the other. Veteran Compensation Benefits. This examination of the cornea can help detect abnormalities in the outer and middle layers of the cornea. Can I have LASIK if I have Keratoconus? How can I get help? JAN What is the probability of developing keratoconus? Learn more: Vaccines, Boosters & Additional Doses | Testing | Patient Care | Visitor Guidelines | Coronavirus. To learn more, please visit our. Social Security might also send you for an independent exam by a doctor who works for Social Security, or might ask your doctor to complete a questionnaire about your limitations. 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 . Keratoconus causes the corneal tissue to de Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea, or front of the eye, is very steep. Keratoconus can affect both eyes differently, leading to contrasting vision between the two eyes. Signs and symptoms of keratoconus may change as the disease progresses. In this article about VA disability for Gulf War Syndrome You can find a description of the vision loss or blindness listing requirements here. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for keratoconus, for the period prior to April 22, 2009, are not met. In other words,keratoconusitself is not a disability, but vision loss caused by keratoconus may be severe enough to qualify as a disability. Some eye problems that qualify for disability include legal blindness, partial sight, glaucoma, macular degeneration, ocular melanoma and Sjgrens Syndrome. 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. Early stages can be treated with glasses, but with progression of the disease into late childhood and early adulthood, corneal transplantation may be needed to restore sight. Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea of the eye where the cornea thins and bulges outward, causing blurred vision. [3] 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. Not sure how else to describe it, I just stare at people in the waiting room . Medicare, Medicaid, and Keratoconus. Subscribing lawyers and advocates are not employees, owners, operators or agents of this website. 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