Get Social Security Disability & SSI Benefits With Elbow Pain

Winning Your Case

You or your child can win a Social Security disability or SSI case with an elbow condition if you satisfy two critical criteria:

1. Non-Medical Criteria, and
2. Disability Criteria.

Satisfying the disability criteria means –

1. You learn how Social Security assesses elbow conditions (explained on this page), and
2. You satisfy an elbow-related Social Security Listing (also explained here) or you have disabling Functional Limitations (explained on the next page), and
3. You Submit Winning Evidence (explained on the last page).

Elbow Pain & Disability

Social Security can find that your elbow condition disables you. An elbow impairment can be caused by an injury or a long list of medical conditions and diseases. Whatever it is that caused your elbow condition, a finding of disability can only be made if you supply Social Security with medical records and additional evidence proving your case. You will need to provide evidence of 1) your diagnosis which needs to be done with objective testing (e.g., MRI, CT, EMG, or x-ray), 2) regular medical treatment, and 3) a description of your limitations which are usually problems reaching, handling, and lifting.

Common Elbow Conditions That Social Security Sees

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. This is the most common elbow impairment which we discuss specifically here – Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

Tennis Elbow or Elbow Epicondylitis. This is damage to an elbow tendon caused by overuse – tendonitis (acute overuse) or tendinosis (chronic overuse). There are two types of surgeries available wherein the damaged section of the tendon is removed and replaced by a graft tendon: 1) open (your elbow is cut open), or 2) arthroscopic (a small cut is made for the insertion of a camera into you arm and another cut small cut is made for the tool to perform the surgery).

Radial Head (Olegranon) Fracture. The radius is the smaller forearm bone. The radial head is at the top of the bone just under the elbow. There are three common surgeries: 1) the fractured radial head is removed (resection) and not replaced, 2) the fractured radial head is put into a new position with hardware [open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF)], and 3) the radial head is replaced with an artifical metal implant (arthroplasty).

The Importance Of An Elbow Surgery

Social Security normally deems you more disabled if you have had an elbow surgery than if you have not. If your surgery does not help you, or your elbow condition becomes worse even with surgery, Social Security then normally deems you even more disabled. In some circumstances, you may need multiple surgeries which indicates a very significant disability and ultimately extents your period of disability over a longer time period.

Other Major Elbow Conditions

There are a variety of other medical impairments that can serve as the basis of a Social Security disability and SSI case:

1. Breaks/Fractures,
2. Burns,
3. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/RSD,
4. Deformities,
5. Gout,
6. Ligament tears;
7. Neuropathy,
8. Osteoarthritis/Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD),
9. Psoriatic Arthritis,
10. Rheumatoid Arthritis, and
11. Skin Conditions.