Multilevel degenerative disc disease is a chronic spinal condition involving the progressive deterioration of cushioning discs between vertebrae. Many individuals with this diagnosis experience significant symptoms that interfere with daily activities and work. Understanding its impact and how it is evaluated under disability criteria can provide clarity.
Understanding How the Condition Affects Daily Life
Multilevel degenerative disc disease involves the deterioration of multiple spinal discs. These discs, which act as shock absorbers between vertebrae, can wear out, compress, or break down. This degeneration often causes chronic back and neck pain, ranging from a dull ache to sharp pangs. Pain can fluctuate, lasting weeks or months, and often intensifies with activities like sitting, bending, or lifting.
Beyond localized pain, individuals may experience radiating pain, known as radiculopathy, extending down their arms or legs. This results from nerve compression, which can also cause numbness or tingling in the extremities. Muscle weakness is another common symptom due to nerve disruption. Diminished flexibility and mobility make routine actions like bending, twisting, or performing everyday tasks challenging.
The constant discomfort and physical limitations from severe multilevel degenerative disc disease can make it difficult to maintain employment. Many individuals with this condition explore disability benefits when their ability to work becomes compromised.
Meeting Disability Criteria
The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines disability as the inability to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to a medically verifiable physical or mental impairment. This impairment must be expected to persist for at least 12 months or result in death. The SSA uses a five-step process to determine if an applicant meets these criteria.
The first step assesses if the applicant is working at an SGA level; if earnings exceed a certain monthly amount, the claim is generally denied. Next, the SSA evaluates if the impairment is severe enough to significantly limit basic work activities and is expected to last for at least 12 months. An impairment is severe if it meaningfully restricts one’s ability to perform work-related functions.
The third step compares the impairment to conditions listed in the SSA’s “Blue Book,” which details medical criteria. For multilevel degenerative disc disease, claims may be evaluated under Section 1.04, Disorders of the Spine, or Section 1.15, Disorders of the skeletal spine resulting in compromise of a nerve root(s). Meeting a listing requires specific medical evidence like nerve root compression, spinal arachnoiditis, or lumbar spinal stenosis.
If the condition does not precisely meet a listed impairment, the SSA assesses the applicant’s Residual Functional Capacity (RFC). An RFC determines what an individual can still do despite limitations, including physical abilities like sitting, standing, or lifting, and mental abilities such as understanding instructions or maintaining concentration. This assessment helps determine if the individual can perform any past relevant work.
Finally, if the individual cannot perform past work, the fifth step considers whether they can adjust to other work available in the national economy. This evaluation considers the RFC, along with vocational factors like age, education, and work experience. The focus remains on the severity of functional limitations rather than solely on the diagnosis.
Navigating the Application Process
Applying for disability benefits requires thorough medical documentation. This evidence includes detailed notes from treating physicians, imaging results (MRIs, CT scans, X-rays), and physical therapy records. Medication lists or surgical procedure reports are also important components.
Applicants can submit claims online, by telephone, or in person at a local Social Security office. The initial application review period is typically three to six months. About 75% of initial applications are denied at this stage.
If an initial application is denied, applicants can request reconsideration, where a different set of evaluators reviews the claim. If denied again, the next step is requesting a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Providing complete and consistent information regarding symptoms and functional limitations is important throughout each stage.
Strengthening a Disability Claim
Maintaining consistent medical treatment and following recommended therapies is important for strengthening a disability claim. Regular doctor visits establish a continuous medical history, demonstrating the condition’s ongoing nature and severity. This consistent engagement with medical care provides valuable documentation for the claim.
Medical records should contain detailed notes from treating physicians outlining the applicant’s functional limitations. These notes should describe how multilevel degenerative disc disease impacts daily activities and work-related tasks. Objective evidence, such as imaging reports, helps corroborate the subjective experience of pain and limitation.
Keeping a detailed symptom diary or journal provides a real-time, comprehensive account of symptoms. This diary should include information on the severity, frequency, duration, and specific impact on daily life. A well-maintained symptom diary helps bridge the gap between personal experience and the objective evidence required for a disability claim.
Vocational evidence, such as statements from former employers or reports from vocational experts, illustrates how the condition affects an individual’s ability to perform job duties or adapt to other work. This evidence is particularly relevant for older claimants or those whose past work involved specific physical demands. Legal representation from a disability attorney can also be beneficial, as they can navigate the complex process, assist in gathering evidence, and present the case, particularly during appeals.