Living with neuropathy in your feet can be a daily struggle. The burning pain, tingling sensations, numbness, and difficulty walking can significantly impact your ability to work and maintain your quality of life. At Seelig Law Offices, we frequently receive questions from clients wondering: can you get disability for neuropathy in your feet? The answer is yes, it is possible—but the process requires careful documentation and understanding of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) evaluation criteria.

Can You Get Disability for Neuropathy in Your Feet?

The answer to “can you get disability for neuropathy in your feet” is yes—it is possible to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits with this condition. However, success depends on:

1. The severity and documented impact of your neuropathy
2. How thoroughly you can demonstrate its effect on your ability to work
3. The quality and consistency of your medical evidence
4. Your age, education, and work background

At Seelig Law Offices, we understand the challenges of living with neuropathy in your feet and the importance of securing the financial support you need. We’ve helped numerous clients navigate the complex disability application process, gathering the right evidence and building persuasive cases that demonstrate how neuropathy limits their ability to work.

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy occurs when nerves outside the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves) are damaged. When this affects the feet, it can create symptoms including:

• Numbness or reduced sensation
• Tingling or pins-and-needles sensations
• Burning or stabbing pain
• Extreme sensitivity to touch
• Muscle weakness or atrophy
• Balance problems and increased fall risk
• Difficulty walking or standing for extended periods

Neuropathy in the feet can stem from various underlying conditions, including diabetes, autoimmune disorders, infections, vitamin deficiencies, alcoholism, or exposure to toxins. The cause of your neuropathy can impact how the SSA evaluates your disability claim.

How the SSA Evaluates Disability Claims for Foot Neuropathy

The SSA evaluates disability claims through a five-step sequential process. For neuropathy in your feet to qualify for disability benefits, you’ll need to demonstrate that:

1. You are not engaged in substantial gainful activity
2. Your condition is severe and medically determinable
3. Your condition meets or equals a listing in the SSA’s “Blue Book” of impairments, or
4. You cannot perform your past relevant work, and
5. You cannot adjust to other work available in the national economy

How to Meet a Disability Listing with Foot Neuropathy

The SSA’s Listing of Impairments (often called the “Blue Book”) contains several listings under which neuropathy in your feet might qualify:

Listing 11.14: Peripheral Neuropathy This listing specifically addresses peripheral neuropathy and requires:

• Disorganization of motor function in two extremities resulting in an extreme limitation in the ability to stand up from a seated position, balance while standing or walking, or use the upper extremities; OR
• Marked limitation in physical functioning AND one of the following: understanding, remembering, or applying information; interacting with others; concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace; or adapting or managing oneself.

Listing 1.02: Major dysfunction of a joint If neuropathy has led to joint problems in your feet or ankles, this listing may apply.

Listing 9.00: Endocrine Disorders If your neuropathy is caused by diabetes, you may qualify under this section, especially if you have other diabetic complications.

Listing 4.11: Chronic venous insufficiency If vascular problems contribute to your neuropathy, this listing might be relevant.

Qualifying Through RFC Assessment

If your foot neuropathy doesn’t meet a specific listing, you can still qualify through a “medical-vocational allowance.” This requires demonstrating that your condition prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity. The SSA will assess your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)—what you can still do despite your condition—considering:

• Your ability to stand and walk throughout a workday
• Any limitations on sitting for extended periods
• Your need for assistive devices (canes, walkers, etc.)
• Restrictions on climbing, balancing, stooping, or crouching
• Environmental limitations (avoiding uneven surfaces, etc.)
• Your need for unscheduled breaks due to pain or fatigue
• Side effects from medications used to treat neuropathy

The SSA then compares these limitations to the requirements of your past jobs and other jobs available in the national economy. Your age, education, and work experience also factor into this determination—generally, it’s easier to qualify as you get older, particularly after age 50.

Medical Evidence Needed to Prove Disability for Foot Neuropathy

To successfully answer “can you get disability for neuropathy in your feet” with a yes, you’ll need strong medical evidence. This includes:

Objective Testing Results

• EMG (electromyography) and nerve conduction studies documenting nerve damage
• Comprehensive neurological examinations showing sensory loss, reflex abnormalities, or muscle weakness
• Quantitative sensory testing demonstrating reduced sensation
• Blood tests confirming underlying conditions like diabetes or vitamin deficiencies
• Imaging studies if relevant to your specific case

Treatment Records

• Detailed documentation of all treatments attempted (medications, physical therapy, etc.)
• Records showing the progression of your neuropathy over time
• Notes regarding the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of various treatments
• Medication side effects that might further limit your ability to work

Functional Assessments

• Statements from treating physicians specifically addressing your limitations
• Detailed RFC forms completed by your neurologist or other specialists
• Physical therapy evaluations documenting limitations in walking, standing, or balance
• Documentation of assistive devices prescribed or recommended

Daily Activity Documentation

• Personal journals tracking pain levels and limitations
• Third-party statements from family or friends describing your difficulties
• Information about accommodations needed for basic activities

Common Challenges When Seeking Disability for Foot Neuropathy

When pursuing disability benefits for neuropathy in your feet, several common challenges may arise:

Subjective Nature of Symptoms

Pain, numbness, and tingling are inherently subjective and difficult to quantify. Objective medical testing like EMGs can help, but they don’t always capture the full impact of your symptoms on daily functioning.

Variability of Symptoms

Neuropathic symptoms often fluctuate in intensity, with good days and bad days. The SSA needs to understand your overall functioning, not just how you feel on your best days.

Medication Management

Many medications for neuropathy can cause side effects like drowsiness, cognitive impairment, or dizziness. These side effects can further limit your ability to work but must be well-documented.

Proving Your RFC

The SSA may underestimate how your symptoms affect your ability to function in a work environment. Detailed statements from treating physicians are essential to overcome this challenge.

Underlying Condition Focus

Sometimes the SSA focuses too much on the underlying condition (like diabetes) and not enough on the neuropathic symptoms themselves. You need to ensure your application emphasizes how the neuropathy specifically limits your functioning.

Strategies to Strengthen Your Disability Claim for Foot Neuropathy

To improve your chances of receiving disability benefits for neuropathy in your feet, consider these strategies:

Consistent Medical Treatment

Maintain regular appointments with your treating physicians, especially neurologists or other specialists. Gaps in treatment may suggest your condition isn’t as limiting as claimed.

Specialized Testing

Request appropriate neurological testing to document the severity of your neuropathy objectively. EMGs and nerve conduction studies are particularly valuable.

Detailed Physician Statements

Ask your treating physicians to provide detailed statements specifically addressing your functional limitations related to standing, walking, and maintaining balance. These statements should explain why the neuropathy prevents you from working.

Medication and Side-Effect Documentation

Keep a detailed log of all medications taken, their effectiveness for managing symptoms, and any side effects experienced. These side effects can be considered additional limitations.

Daily Activity Journal

Maintain a journal documenting your daily pain levels, activities attempted, limitations encountered, and any assistance needed. This creates a longitudinal record of how neuropathy affects your life.

Work with a SSDI Attorney

Consider working with an attorney familiar with neuropathy disability claims. The right legal representation can significantly improve your chances of approval.

How a SSDI Lawyer Can Help Your Approval Odds

Navigating the Social Security Disability system with neuropathy in your feet can be overwhelming, but professional legal representation substantially increases your chances of securing the benefits you deserve.

• Case Evaluation: A qualified SSDI lawyer assesses the strength of your neuropathy claim, identifying potential weaknesses and developing strategies to address them before submission.
• Medical Evidence Development: Your attorney works to gather comprehensive medical documentation that clearly demonstrates how neuropathy in your feet meets SSA’s disability criteria, including securing appropriate testing and detailed physician statements.
• Listing Analysis: SSDI lawyers understand exactly how to frame your foot neuropathy symptoms within the context of relevant disability listings, particularly Listing 11.14 for peripheral neuropathy.
• RFC Documentation: Your lawyer ensures that all functional limitations from your neuropathy are thoroughly documented, helping physicians complete Residual Functional Capacity assessments that accurately reflect your inability to stand, walk, or maintain balance.
• Application Preparation: SSDI attorneys prevent technical denials by ensuring all paperwork is completed correctly and submitted with supporting evidence that specifically addresses how neuropathy prevents substantial gainful activity.
• Communication Management: Your disability lawyer handles all interactions with the SSA, preventing potentially damaging statements and ensuring your neuropathy case is presented consistently throughout the process.
• Hearing Representation: At disability hearings, SSDI attorneys present compelling arguments about how your neuropathy symptoms meet medical listings or prevent you from performing any available work.
• Expert Witness Management: Your lawyer effectively questions medical and vocational experts, countering any testimony that minimizes the impact of your foot neuropathy on your ability to work.
• Appeals Strategy: If your initial claim is denied, SSDI attorneys develop targeted appeals strategies that address specific reasons for denial while strengthening evidence of how neuropathy limits your functioning.
• Deadline Compliance: Your attorney ensures all appeals and documentation are filed within strict SSA deadlines, preventing claim dismissals that would force you to restart the entire application process.

Don’t Navigate This Journey Alone

The path to securing disability benefits for neuropathy can be complex and frustrating, but you don’t have to face it alone. Our SSDI attorneys at Seelig Law Offices have the knowledge and experience to guide you through each step of the process, from initial application to appeals if necessary. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your specific situation and explore how we can help you obtain the benefits you deserve.