Cardiovascular Disabilities

Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. It also disables many persons who can be eligible for Social Security Disability. Social Security Disability Attorney and Lawyer Randy Zeldin, Esq. represents Claimants who are suffering with heart disease and is disabling and preventing engagement in employment.

1. Cardiovascular Impairment means any disorder that affects the proper functioning of the heart of the circulatory system. The disorder is either congenital or acquired. Heart disease impairment results usually from one or more of the following consequences:
   1. Chronic heart failure or ventricular dysfunction.
   2. Discomfort or pain due to myocardial ischemia, with or without necrosis of heart muscle.
   3. Syncope or near syncope, due to inadequate cerebral perfusion from any cardiac cause, such as obstruction or flow or disturbance in rhythm resulting in inadequate cardiac output.
   4. Central cyanosis due to right-to-left shunt, reduced oxygen concentration in the arterial blood or pulmonary vascular disease.
2. Chronic Heart Failure impacts 5 million people in the United States and Florida. This disease impairs the actually “pumping” of blood, with “systolic” failure or diastolic failure. Persistent symptoms dramatically limit physical activities. Typical limitations include anginal chest pain; shortness of breath (dyspnea); weakness; fatigue; arrhythmias and limitations from environmental factors.
3. Ischemic Heart Disease means that there is an insufficient level of oxygen in the heart tissue in order to maintain normal functioning. It appears to be largely a genetic disease. A “heart attack” can frequently be a consequence of ischemia. Relevant cardiological testing includes Chest X-ray; fluoroscopy; Adenosine MRI Adenosine Stress Radionuclide Imaging; Ambulatory Blood Pressure; Amyloid Alpha and Apex Cardiograph.
4. Recurrent Arrhythmias are abnormalities in the rate or rhythm of the heart beat. Electrical (neurological) failures are at the root cause of arrhythmia. There are several variants, known as tachycardia; ventricular arrhythmias; atrial fibrillation and heart blocks.
5. Aneurysm of Aorta or Major Branches: This condition is due to causes such as atherosclerosis or cystic medial necrosis or Marfan syndrome. It is typically diagnosed by appropriate imaging techniques, with dissection not controlled by either prescribed medical or surgical treatment. It is usually proven by magnetic resonance angiography.
6. Chronic Venous Insufficiency of a Lower Extremity: Most cases occur in the lower extremities. This condition results from incompetent veins in the deep system. Standing increases lower extremity congestion with blood and worsens the condition, including swelling and ulcers. Some individuals also suffer from blood clots.
7. Peripheral Arterial Disease: These are diseases which impact arteries in the upper or lower extremities. The symptoms are mostly pain occurring in the lower extremities or pelvis as a result of poor blood flow to skeletal muscle. Prolonged standing or walking are the most typical residual limitation.

Unfortunately, millions of U.S. adults suffer from some form of heart disease and many of these are middle age persons. Of these afflicted individuals, a myriad of manifestations persists, including heart failure, high blood pressure, angina or chronic chest pain, congenital heart issues or a stroke. Heart disease is more common among the geriatric population, but not exclusively.

Heart disease results in many individuals disabled from work. Absence from work because of heart disease is a prevalent cause of disability and an inability to work. Hospitalization is increased dramatically among individuals with heart disease, sometimes for prolonged periods.

Other heart conditions which can result in Social Security Disability include valvular heart disease; endocarditis, pericarditis, myocardial infarction, bypass surgery, ventricular arrhythmias, heart valves, pacemakers, heart transplant, syphilitic heart disease, aortic aneurism, cardiomyopathy, ischemia.

If you have a category of heart disease or cardiovascular disability which is disabling and preventing you from engaging in employment, please contact Social Security Attorney and Lawyer Randy Zeldin, Esq. of Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Attorney Randy Zeldin, Esq. has successfully represented many claimants with heart disease, to obtain Social Security Disability.