J. Cogburn Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers | September 26, 2024 | Personal Injury
While many people with disabilities can participate in the labor force, many rely on disability benefits. Many disability programs are available, including private and employer-sponsored disability insurance, state programs, and Social Security programs. Some people are entitled to benefits through workers’ compensation for workplace accidents or Veterans Affairs (VA).
In Nevada, there are 57,412 workers receiving SSDI benefits. More than 2,200 also filed for workers’ compensation.
Here are the ten most common types of disabilities in Nevada according to the SSDI Annual Statistical Report for 2022.
1. Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders of the bones, joints, and muscles are the leading cause of disability.
Common types of musculoskeletal disorders are:
- Loss of limb (amputation)
- Arthritis
- Chronic back pain
- Severe burns
- Complex and non-healing fractures
- Degenerative disc disorders
- Tendonitis
These conditions account for 30% of SSDI beneficiaries, including 20,901 in Nevada. Nearly 65% of workers’ compensation claims involve a musculoskeletal disorder or injury.
2. Depressive Disorders
Major depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, and other depressive disorders can be severe enough to significantly affect the ability to work. These conditions account for 12% of SSDI beneficiaries, including 6,729 Nevada workers.
3. Nervous System And Sensory Disorders
These disorders affect the nervous or sensory systems, which include the eyes, ears, nose, and skin.
Common conditions are:
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Vision loss
- Neuralgia (nerve pain)
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Nervous system and sensory disorders affect the senses, motor function, and bodily functions. These conditions represent 10% of SSDI beneficiaries, including 7,215 workers in Nevada.
4. Intellectual Disorders
Intellectual disabilities like Down syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome are usually diagnosed in childhood. These conditions qualify for Social Security disability in certain cases. The condition must result in significantly below-average intelligence and impaired learning and adaptive functioning.
Intellectual disorders represent 9% of SSDI beneficiaries and 3,874 workers in Nevada. Overall, 14% of SSDI and SSI beneficiaries of working age have an intellectual disorder.
5. Circulatory Disorders
Cardiovascular or circulatory disease affects the heart, arteries, and veins. Stroke and heart disease are two common types of cardiovascular disease.
Heart disease is a general term that includes many specific conditions like:
- Heart attack
- Arrhythmia
- Atherosclerosis
- Heart failure
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is responsible for one out of every five deaths. The circulatory disease represents 6.7% of SSDI beneficiaries and 4,490 workers in Nevada.
6. Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic disorders are characterized by altered perception of reality, delusions, disordered thinking, and extreme confusion. Common disorders are schizophrenia, postpartum depression (PPP), psychotic depression, and schizoaffective disorder.
These disorders account for 4.7% of SSDI beneficiaries and 3,350 workers in Nevada.
7. Other Mental Disorders
About 4.5% of SSDI beneficiaries (and 2,784 workers in Nevada) have another form of mental disorder not listed above.
Common qualifying conditions include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety or social anxiety
- Eating disorders like bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa
A mental disorder can qualify as a disability when it significantly impairs at least one major area of life and the ability to work.
8. Injuries
Injuries that cause disability account for 3.4% of SSDI beneficiaries and 2,471 workers in Nevada. About 6% of workers’ compensation claims involve acute injuries, the second leading cause of workers’ comp claims.
According to a recent study, injuries related to disability claims include:
- Sprains and strains – 52.9
- Contusions (including brain contusions) – 14.2%
- Lacerations – 5.7%
- Fractures – 3.1%
- Burns – 1.8%
- Puncture injuries – 1.7%
- Multiple injuries – 3.5%
These injuries are usually sustained in car accidents and falls. Workers injured on the job are often hurt in a traffic accident, a fall, being struck by an object, or in an accident involving machinery.
9. Neoplasms Or Tumors
Most of these cases involve malignant cancer like lung, ovary, breast, or prostate cancer. Benign brain tumors also qualify for disability benefits.
10. Dementia Or Major Neurocognitive Disorder
Major neurocognitive disorder or dementia accounts for 3% of SSDI beneficiaries and 1,768 workers in Nevada. Alzheimer’s represents 70% of cases. Other major forms of dementia include vascular (15%), Parkinson’s (10%), and Lewy body dementia (5%).
A Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help With Your Disability Claim
While workers’ compensation and Social Security benefits can help disabled adults and their families, benefits are capped. These programs do not compensate victims for all of their losses. They rarely provide enough to maintain the individual’s previous quality of life. Sadly, disabled adults are twice as likely to live in poverty compared to adults without disabilities.
If you have been left disabled by a serious accident, a personal injury lawyer can help you explore your legal options to recover the compensation you need. You may be entitled to compensation outside of workers’ compensation and Social Security if your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing.
Contact the Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyers from J. Cogburn Car Accidents and Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Help Today
For more information, please contact our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at J. Cogburn Car Accidents and Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Clark County and throughout Nevada:
J. Cogburn Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Las Vegas
2300 W Sahara Ave Suite 800-816, Las Vegas, NV 89102
(702) 710-0198
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J. Cogburn Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Henderson
2580 St Rose Pkwy Suite 330, Henderson, NV 89074
(702) 541-9766
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