Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, actually consists of several different chronic lung disorders. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, but it also leaves many other victims disabled due to their inability to inhale the necessary amounts of oxygen. COPD can prevent you from getting enough oxygen to work and perform other normal tasks.

If you have COPD, you may be entitled to long-term disability payments to help with medical bills, costs of living, and other expenses. For help with filing for the long-term disability coverage that you deserve, contact an experienced Indiana long-term disability lawyer from Hankey Law Office, today at (800) 520-3633.

What is COPD?

As you breathe, airways called bronchial tubes and air sacs called alveoli expand and contract to accommodate the oxygen. If these airways become narrowed or collapsed, it can prevent you from getting a lungful of air. Common types of COPD include emphysema, which occurs when the air sacs collapse, as well as chronic bronchitis, which happens when the bronchial tubes become inflamed and narrowed.

Testing for Disability

To determine if your COPD presents a long-term disability, doctors must test the function of your lungs. You may have to undergo tests to assess FEV, or forced expiration volume, and FVC, or forced vital capacity, to see if your lungs are capable of reaching normal capacity. Additionally, doctors may perform tests to check the percentage of oxygen and carbon dioxide that you have in your blood. This shows whether or not your lungs perform sufficient gas exchange.

Contact Us

If your medical tests show that you qualify for disability, it is important that you file for these benefits as soon as possible in order to receive the help you deserve. To learn more about the long-term disability filing process, you should contact a knowledgeable Indiana long-term disability attorney from Hankey Law Office, at (800) 520-3633 today.