Liver disease is when the liver is damaged or diseased and either unable to function or is significantly less functional than a healthy liver.

Diagram of liver suffering from liver disease.

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The liver can be compromised in many ways, some of which include the inflammation of cells, obstructed bile flow, high cholesterol, irregular blood flow to the liver and damage to the liver by chemicals in the body.

These abnormalities are caused by a variety of factors, some of which include:

  • Alcohol Abuse: This is the most common form of liver disease in America today. The liver processes alcohol and excessive use of alcohol can cause permanent damage to the liver. Alcohol abuse can cause liver inflammation, which does not allow the organ to function properly.
  • Cirrhosis: A late stage liver damage that occurs as a result of scarring within the liver. The scarring due to cirrhosis then causes loss of ability of the liver cells to function properly, causing the liver to fail.
  • Drug Induced Liver Disease: Using over the counter as well as prescription drugs on a regular basis can be a cause of liver disease. The liver processes many over the counter drugs and excessive use can lead to inflammation and cirrhosis of the liver. Autoimmune drugs are also processed by the liver and can cause cirrhosis.
  • Hepatitis: The term hepatitis means inflammation, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. There are vaccines that can prevent these most strains of this disease but for some strains, it is not preventable.
  • Viruses: Viruses that can cause liver inflammation or hepatitis are mononucleosis (Epstein Barr), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, adenovirus and cytomegalovirus. Liver inflammation and hepatitis caused by these viruses can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and ultimate failure of the liver.
  • Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The accumulation of fat within the liver can cause slow deterioration of liver function. This disease is also known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
  • Hemochromatosis: A disease within the metabolism that occurs when the body stores excessive amount of iron. This disease is a genetic disease that that leads to excess iron in the liver, pancreas and heart.
  • Wilson’s Disease: Wilson’s disease is a genetic disorder where the body does not properly process copper. This can lead to liver failure and cirrhosis of the liver.
  • Cancer: Metastatic cancer can occur as a secondary form of cancer. When some lung, breast, stomach or other form of cancer spreads to the blood stream, generally it spreads to the liver, which can cause liver failure.
  • Blood Flow Irregularities: This can occur when there are blood clots stopping blood from leaving the liver. The increase in blood pressure can lead to inflammation and cirrhosis of the liver.
  • Bile Flow Irregularities: Gallstones are largely the cause of irregular bile flow because the bile flows from the liver to the gallbladder to help with food digestion. When there is an irregularity in the flow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder, it causes scarring in the bile ducts which results in a slower flow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder and ultimately can cause liver failure.

This list is not a comprehensive list of all of the liver problems that can lead to a person receiving Social Security Disability, but rather are the more common reasons. These diseases fluctuate in severity and the Social Security Administration looks into every person’s case. The process for applying for Social Security Disability can be confusing at first and most first time applicants are denied, not because their disability is not one recognized, but rather because the process was not followed or documented correctly. An experienced Social Security Disability advocate can make this process a very smooth one. Given that this is a traumatic and stressful time in the life of either yourself or a loved one, easing the stress of this process is beneficial. An experienced Social Security Disability lawyer can help you to make extremely difficult decisions within your personal life.

A graph of the stages of liver disease.

If you have liver disease and your doctor tells you that you are no longer able to work, it is important for you to contact a Social Security Disability lawyer immediately. A Social Security Disability attorney who is an expert at navigating the processes of the Social Security Administration and has helped many others succeed in receiving benefits is important to a successful claim. Approximately 75% of first time applicants for Social Security Disability are denied, hiring an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer can nearly double your chances of being approved for benefits.

Contact the Law Offices of d’Oliveira & Associates

A personal injury lawyer is discussing a case with his two clients.If you have a lawyer prior to filing a claim with the Social Security Administration, your chances of succeeding are nearly doubled. Not only are your chances of success greater, but you will begin receiving your benefits more quickly. If you plan on, or are currently doing business with the Social Security Administration, call The Law Offices of d’Oliveira & Associates now. We can help to ensure that your claim is processed quickly, efficiently, and successfully. We at d’Oliveira & Associates are highly skilled in the area of Social Security Disability law and have helped many clients successfully. Please contact The Law Offices of d’Oliveira & Associates at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form for a free legal consultation.