Normally, high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can be controlled with medications.  It would be a rare case in which the claimant’s uncontrolled blood pressure is the basis for the disability claim.  However, there are exceptions to this general rule.  Hypertension, if left untreated, [...]

It is almost impossible to prove that a person has stomach ulcers to such an extent that they are unable to work.  Medications control and cure ulcers in many patients.  However, there may be unusual conditions or complications from surgery that could be relevant to [...]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is really a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine.  Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the major types of IBD.  Ulcerative colitis is a colon  inflammation that will last a long time, while Crohn’s Disease is inflammation of any other part [...]

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).  Many times, a person with hepatitis C may not even know they have the virus since they may not have symptoms. Some claimants with Hepatitis C, have a history [...]

Cirrhosis is a result of chronic liver disease. The liver tissue is replaced by fibrosis or scar tissue and this leads to a loss of liver function. A person suffering from cirrhosis typically feels weak and tired. Some pain, nausea, and vomiting may be associated [...]

Chronic PancreatitisChronic pancreatitis is a long-standing inflammation of the pancreas that changes the normal structure and functions of the pancreas.  Many times there is abdominal pain because the fat in foods is not being absorbed.  There is normally a good deal of weight loss since food [...]