Enlarged Heart and Receiving Disability Benefits

Enlarged Heart and disability benefits

In this article we will unpack the definition of an enlarged heart, as well as discover what (if any) benefits for this common disability you may be entitled to. To begin, an enlarged heart can also be categorized by Cardiomegaly. Simply defined, an enlarged heart is when the size of the heart has reached the capacity of restricting the blood flow and circulation that can lead to eventual congestive heart failure. Blood needs to flow into, through, and around the heart. When the muscle increases in size (due to damage) where that flow is restricted, it creates a domino effect that contains the potential for you to suffer chronic, dibilitating, and even lead to fatal conditions.

What are the conditions I need to look for?

An Enlarged Heart will be created by several conditions. In this portion of the article, we will take a closer look at some of them.

Dialated Cardiomyopathy (most common): when the walls of the heart or the ventricles (veins) stretch and become thin
Hypertrophy: enlargement of the left ventricle
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: inherited and genetic condition

What causes an Enlarged Heart?

There are several causes of an Enlarged Heart, below we have listed out a few of the most common:

infections
pregnancy
kidney failure
drug abuse
alcohol abuse
HIV infection
abnormal heart valve

If you have suffered from any of these common causes, you may have possibly also struggled with the symptoms below:

shortness of breath (specifically with exertion or lying flat)
leg swelling
increased abdominal girth
weight gain
fatigue
palpitations or skipped heartbeats

What would Social Security Disability look like with an Enlarged Heart?

The United States Social Security Administration typically requires the person seeking to claim disability and seeking to retain benefits to be diagnosed with a severe condition, one that does not allow for them to perfom substantial activity (while gaining income) for at least twelve continual months. In order to qualify for these benefits offered by the SSDI, you must also have enough work credits to be considered insured by the Social Security Administration.

How do I know if I qualify as disabled for the benefits?

The Social Security Administration has two specific ways to qualify potential beneficiaries for disability:

SSA Listing of Impairments: do your specific conditions meet or exceed any listed on their qualified list of impairments?
Medical Vocational Allowance: are you capable of having the residual capacity to continue to work?

The very first step in gaining credibility within the Social Security Administration for an Enlarged Heart, or really any common disabiltiy, is to get good medical care and a professional medical diagnosis. Specifically, for an Enlarged Heart, you would gain this official documentation through an Echocardiography. This means that you would recieve an ultrasound of the heart, and it will measure the heart's pumping efficiency, size, and thickness. It is important to note that the Social Security Administration does have a listing for cardiovascular conditions that are listed in the SSA Listing of Impairments under Listing 4.00 Cardiovascular System. If your condition has caused chronic heart failure, it is possible that you may meet this listing and could automatically be granted Social Security Disability Insurance. However, if you do not meet the SSA Listing, you would still be potentially eligible for benefits with this common disability if you were able to prove your age, work history, education, and health condition you do not have the ability to work. Also, if you are an older claimant above the age of 55, you may also qualify for disability benefits as it would be easier to prove especially if you have only performed heavy labor and do not have the ability to retrain for sedentary work. As with all your medical concerns, you will need to be current in your medical care and treatment, as well as have all medications and diagnoses documented as soon as you suspect anything unnatural. This will become key in your persuit of any common disability benefits, and will show that you are proactive in your approach for health and wellness. Documentation is everything.

Conclusion

As with any common disability, you will face specific challenges that are not all that common. For your best possible outcome, it is in your best interest to retain the services of an experienced and professional attorney to represent you and your particular needs. They will have multiple resources as well as knowledge to attach to their understanding of not only the law but of your specific rights due to your circumstances. This goes whether you think you qualify for Enlarged Heart Disability benefits or not, and will serve you well to have the support and confidence to seek the best possible solution to your needs with a reliable attorney at your side.

(Tags - common disabilities - disability and applying - disability and conditions - disability denials )