The risk of developing cardiovascular conditions like heart disease or even heart failure dramatically increases as we age. Despite ongoing medical advancements, heart conditions will continue to be one of the leading causes of disability this century.
The heart is responsible for distributing blood flow across the entire body. When a problem like heart failure occurs, daily tasks and work become impossible to do. This makes receiving Social Security disability benefits due to heart and cardiovascular problems absolutely essential.
What Makes Cardiovascular Problems Like Heart Failure A Disability?
Cardiac impairments prevent the heart from receiving the proper amount of oxygen it needs to function. Arteries can slowly become blocked, which lowers a person’s stamina among other functioning abilities. There are a number of disabling heart conditions that qualify for social security disability benefits.
According to the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book listing for Cardiovascular impairments, test results for your condition must show one or more of the following results:
- Chronic heart failure or ventricular dysfunction.
- Discomfort or pain due to myocardial ischemia. This can also involve necrosis of the heart muscle.
- Syncope, or near syncope, due to inadequate cerebral perfusion from any cardiac cause. This includes obstruction of flow, disturbance in rhythm, or conduction resulting in inadequate cardiac output.
- Central cyanosis due to right-to-left shunt, which would reduce the oxygen concentration in the arterial blood, or pulmonary vascular disease.
While abnormal cardiac episodes can occur, it’s important for the Social Security Administration to receive an extended medical record of your heart problems. This documentation can help your case be better assessed for the severity, duration, and impact of your heart problem.
More specifically, this record should include your diagnosis, details of your symptoms, management, and any treatments. One example of a test that should be present in your claim includes an angiogram, which would demonstrate the presence of any blockages in your heart.
Regulations on Cardiac Impairments
Several years ago, the Social Security Administration updated the regulations on heart conditions. The changes added information on new tests and treatments. There are now Blue Book listings for heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral artery disease – any disorder that affects the proper functioning of the heart or the circulatory system.
Disability Law states that in order to find a disability based on any heart impairment, there must be evidence of “symptoms, signs, laboratory findings, response to a regimen of prescribed treatment, and functional limitations.” The illness must also result in “very serious limitations in the ability to independently initiate, sustain, or complete activities of daily living.” Any remaining ability to function is carefully assessed and a major part of the key to getting your disability claim approved.
Even though a person may not exactly meet the criteria in the regulation, a disability case may still be won through developing evidence based on the functional and emotional impact of a heart condition.
Discover Our SSD Attorneys In Portsmouth and Norfolk
When an individual faces a cardiovascular condition like heart failure, they need to focus on taking care of themselves. Pursuing your social security disability case alone means you’ll be placing even more stress on your heart and body than it’s already facing.
Whether you’ve been denied or are filing your first claim, our social security disability attorneys at O’Neil and Bowman Disability Group are ready to help you. Our team of social security disability lawyers have won cases across the Hampton Roads, including in Portsmouth, VA. We’re ready to help you get approved for the benefits you rightfully deserve.
Get your disability claim approved! Contact our law firm today to book your free consultation for legal advice and to see if you qualify for SSDI.
Call Us Today!