The Social Security Administration has added 5 new diseases and conditions to their Compassionate Allowance list, which helps fast track the Social Security Disability process.
The Social Security Administration has labeled numerous diseases as compassionate allowances. (ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/conditions.htm) These conditions allow the administration to quickly evaluate and likely grant disability for people identified with these diseases and conditions. Social Security recently added several conditions under the compassionate allowance:
Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors (DSRCT): a rare, highly aggressive soft tissue cancer, which primarily affects children and young adults. Unfortunately, DSRCT is often not detected until the cancer is advance. It is often resistant to treatment and has a low survival rate.
- Social Security reviews the individual’s clinical history and examination that describes the cancer results from cytogenic analysis or FISH testing and results from immunohistochemical staining.
- GMI – Gangliosidosis -Infantile and Juvenile Forms: a rare lysosomal storage disorder. The disorder has a wide range of variable neurovisceral, ophthalmological and dysmorphic features. There is a wide clinical spectrum of the disease, which creates difficulty be diagnosed. There are 2 types of GMI gangliosidosis and the symptoms can appear very early in life up to age 5. In addition, depending on the type, the range of life expectancy varies. Social Security reviews clinical history and examination that describes diagnostic features, the results of genetic testing, and other definitive results from other diagnostic testing.
- Nicolaides-Baraitser Syndrome: a rare condition characterized by severe intellectual disability and physical features that can worsen over time. Genetic testing will show mutations in the SMARCA2 gene. Unfortunately, all cases reported have been sporadic with no family history. A common feature is epilepsy. Symptoms vary case by case, as does the severity. Treatment focuses on the individual’s symptoms and may include medication and therapy. Social Security reviews the clinical history and examination that describes the diagnostic features and the genetic testing showing the gene mutation.
- Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome: a rare genetic disorder, which affects multiple organ systems and marked mental disability and physical abnormalities. The syndrome has significant effects on intellectual development. Diagnosis relies heavily on the combined presence of intellectual disability, broad thumbs and big toes, and unique facial features. Genetic tests may confirm mutation, but there can be false negatives. Treatment is specific for symptoms. Social Security reviews clinical history and examination that describes the diagnostic features and laboratory testing confirming mutation or deletion on chromosome 16p13.3.
- Secondary Adenocarcinoma of the Brain: a brain lesion caused by the spread of cancerous cells from a malignant tumor in another organ. The diagnosis is established by examination, brain imaging, lumbar puncture, neurological testing, or blood tests. In addition, there are common physical findings such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting, seizure, cognitive decline, slurred or confused speech, impaired vision, numbness, or weakness. The prognosis is poor.
