CTE and receiving Disability Benefits
CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) and disability benefits
In this article we will unpack the definition of CTE, as well as discover what (if any) disability benefits you may be entitled due to this disease. There are many common disabilities that have the capacity to change the quality of life you experience, as well as alter (however big or small) your daily routine as you now know it. CTE, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is a rather mysterious disease that has only ever been diagnosed after death, making preventative measures very hard to subscribe to patients.
We will first begin by defining CTE, which is a degenerative brain disease that became famous due to its alignment with football players. Patients suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encophalopathy generally have this common disability from repetitive or frequent blows to the head. This damaging repetition causes damage to nerve fibers, subsequently releasing proteins in the brain that kill the cells that directly assist emotion and critical thinking. Most often this disease finds its way into the lives of athletes and soldiers who have undergone head trauma on a regular and consistant basis.
The first discovery of CTE was in the 1930's, after boxers began to show signs of suffering from the unraveling of mental stability. There is a three stage process that has recently come to the center of understanding this common disability:
- Stage One: intense mental disturbances and symptoms of psychosis
- Stage Two: erratic behavior, mental loss, unusual symptoms of Parkinson's disease (like keeping their balance)
- Stage Three: speech disorders and dementia; slow movements, tremors, difficulty in concentration
Because no one living has ever been successfully diagnosed with CTE, it is still not clear how severe repeated concussions need to be in order to qualify as the result of this common disability, nor is is clear how unique or general the symptoms may be across the board. Equally unknown, is how long after head trauma occurs does CTE take root within the patient. It has been determined, that CTE is not going to be a concern with a single or occasional blow to the head. This is only caused by violently repetitive head injuries, and will most certainly cause long-term mental illness and suffering. Some of the general symptoms that have been recorded are as follows:
- ears ringing
- nausea
- vomiting
- headaches
- difficulty balancing
- fatigue
- blurred vision
- staggering gait
- confusion
- deafness
- impaired speech
Many patients have been concerned that they are to blame for their condition when it was brought on by their work. This should not be, and to help assist you in understanding if your specific case qualifies for disability provisions, it would be in your best interest to retain the services of a profesisonal and experienced lawyer who is well versed in these specific common disability cases. The most common issue when filing for Social Security benefits in these CTE cases, is being able to prove that you have a severe mental or physical impairment that prevents you from working a consistant eight hours per day, five days a week job. For the majority of those suffering from this disease, it is a resounding yes. If you, or your loved one, is suffering from CTE your best case scenario is to rely on the experience and professionalism of your lawyer, as they will be able to most successfully help you navigate through your specifics and answer any questions you may have.
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