Lung Transplant – Tallahassee Disability Attorney

The major news stations have been giving much attention to a particular story recently; the story of Sarah Murnaghan, a 10 year old American girl who was granted a spot on the adult lung transplant list. 

The first lung transplant operation was done in 1963 and was, unfortunately, unsuccessful. Since then, medical advancements have allowed for safe lung transplants with the first successful long-term lung transplant being done in 1983. In a lung transplant, a donor lung replaces the patient’s old lung, either partially or totally. The most common reasons for a lung transplant are cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and the replacement of a previously transplanted lung. While lung transplants have many dangers, they generally lead to a higher quality of life.

Having had a lung transplant is considered a disability under the Social security disability listing blue book listing 3.11 (ssa.gov). The listing states that the lung transplant is a disability for 12 months following the date of surgery, after which point the patient is evaluated for residual impairment.

Having a disability such as a lung transplant can be impairing, both at home and in the workplace. If you have had a lung transplant and are looking for social security disability benefits, Tallahassee disability attorney Matt Liebenhaut serves North Florida and South Georgia and may be able to help.