The liver is a large, meaty organ located just above the stomach. Responsible for over 500 vital functions, the liver generally regulates chemical levels in the body. Once food, medicine, alcohol, and everything else are digested by the stomach and intestines, it enters the liver, which separates nutrients from toxins. The toxins are then released through urine and stool, while the nutrients are released into the bloodstream. 

Liver diseases, including hepatitis C, can compromise the functioning of the liver, leading to significant disabilities. Individuals who cannot work due to liver disease may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. If you are suffering from a liver disease that has affected your ability to work, you should contact our Washington DC or Baltimore Social Security disability lawyer. 

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is one of the most common causes of liver disease. It is a viral infection that spreads through contact with contaminated blood, such as through intravenous drug use and the use of unsterilized tattoo and piercing equipment. It can also spread through sexual contact. Symptoms of hepatitis C usually take decades to appear but include bleeding and bruising easily, fatigue, poor appetite, jaundice, and swelling of the legs. Left untreated, it can eventually lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. 

Other Liver Diseases 

Hepatitis C is merely one of many common liver diseases. Some others include: 

• Alcohol-related liver disease: Long-term excessive alcohol consumption can damage the liver and lead to a variety of liver diseases, including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcohol-related cirrhosis. 
• Hepatitis B: This is a viral infection found in the blood, semen, and other bodily fluids. It is spread from person to person through sexual contact, shared needles, accidental needle sticks, and from mother to child. While preventable with a vaccine, it can become chronic. 
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: While the exact cause is unknown, it occurs when there is an excess accumulation of fat in the liver that is not due to alcohol consumption. 
• Hemochromatosis: This is a hereditary condition in which excess iron is stored in the liver, causing it to become toxic.

Many liver diseases can lead to cirrhosis, a condition in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, eventually leading to significantly decreased liver function. 

Our Baltimore Liver Disease Disability Lawyer Answers the Question: Are Liver Diseases Covered by Social Security Disability? 

The Social Security disability program covers several types of liver diseases and conditions. To be eligible for benefits, a claimant must demonstrate that they have been diagnosed with a chronic liver disease (lasting at least six months), with one of the following complications: 

• Esophageal or gastric hemorrhaging 
• Ascites or hydrothorax
• Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
• Hepatorenal syndrome 
• Hepatopulmonary syndrome 
• Hepatic encephalopathy
• End-stage liver disease

Social Security benefits are also available for disabilities caused by liver transplants. 

Contact Our Washington DC or Baltimore Social Security Disability Lawyer for Help With Your Claim

If you are unable to work because of liver disease, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. To maximize your chances of success on a claim, please contact Baltimore Social Security disability lawyer Emmett B. Irwin by calling 443-839-0818 or using our online contact form.  We also provide service to clients located in Washington DC.