If you cannot work due to a heart condition, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Obtaining these benefits is challenging because the medical and technical eligibility requirements are strict. Unfortunately, the majority of initial claims are not successful. That is where an experienced disability attorney can help. At the Law Office of Carey Thompson, PC, we assist clients in Dallas-Fort Worth and throughout Texas with disability claims for all types of conditions, including heart disease.
When you meet with us, we will take the time to learn about your heart condition, explain the Social Security system, and provide you with reliable advice and guidance.
We offer free consultations and will charge no attorney fees until we obtain disability benefits for you. Contact our office today to get started with a caring Fort Worth disability attorney.
Defining Heart Disease
Heart disease (cardiovascular disease) includes a group of diseases affecting the heart and related arteries, veins, and capillaries. The most common heart condition is coronary artery disease, in which blocked blood vessels can cause heart attacks and other ailments.
Cardiovascular disease may also involve conditions, such as:
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Infections
- Defects
The cause of heart disease depends on the specific condition; however, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high blood pressure, and congenital heart defects are the leading causes. While treatments such as diet and exercise, blood thinners, and other medications can help, a severe heart condition may require surgery. In many cases, heart disease can be severely disabling.
Since obtaining benefits is not easy, it takes an experienced Fort Worth disability attorney to protect your rights. That’s where the Law Office of Carey Thompson comes in. We know the ins and outs of the Social Security system and will guide you through the process.
Heart Disease and the Blue Book
The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a list of qualifying medical impairments (the Blue Book) that include several heart conditions, such as:
- Chronic heart failure is when the heart is weakened due to heart attack, defects, or other cardiovascular conditions and cannot pump sufficient blood to the body. Chronic heart failure can result in severe fluid retention, referred to as congestive heart failure.
- Ischemic heart disease is when the heart muscle lacks sufficient blood supply, often resulting from coronary heart disease.
- Arrhythmias, such as tachycardia (too rapid) or bradycardia (too slow), can cause fainting or cardiac arrest.
- Symptomatic congenital heart disease includes heart defects in newborns that cause malfunctions.
- Aortic aneurysm involves swelling in the aorta or other major arteries.
- Peripheral arterial disease involves the impaired function of outlying arteries.
While the Blue Book includes these heart conditions, you must meet the technical and medical eligibility requirements to obtain benefits. For this reason, you need an experienced disability lawyer to handle your disability claim.
How Our Firm Can Help with Your Heart Condition Claim
Applying for disability benefits is difficult, especially if you have heart disease. Let our attorneys handle all the details so you can focus on getting the medical treatment you need. Once you become our client, we will:
- Review your work history to verify that you have acquired enough work credits to qualify for benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program
- Determine whether you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits
- Assist with submitting your claim
- Compile a medical record that supports your heart disease claim
- Communicate with disability examiners
If the SSA finds that your heart condition does not meet the criteria, you may still qualify for benefits based on your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC). The SSA will assess the physical limits your heart condition places on your ability to perform any type of full-time work. A disability examiner will look for symptoms, such as:
- Exhaustion
- Breathing difficulty
- Angina
Our legal team will work with your doctor to develop a medical report showing your work-related limits, focusing on your ability to stand, sit, walk, carry, and climb. In addition, we will ensure that the medical evidence includes other heart-related conditions if necessary, for example, hypertension or diabetes.
We have established longstanding working relationships with disability examiners and Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) that can make the process easier. You can trust our disability attorneys to work in your best interests and handle your claim with the personal attention it deserves. Our legal team will guide you through all aspects of the disability claims process, including your disability appeal and hearing, and work to protect your rights.
Contact Our Experienced Texas Disability Attorneys
At the Law Office of Carey Thompson, we know that living with heart disease means that you are facing physical, emotional, and financial burdens. We can help to lift those burdens by providing compassionate representation and caring, efficient service. Above all, we will fight tirelessly for the disability benefits you need and deserve. Contact our office today so we can start working on your claim in Forth Worth or Dallas.