Heart Problems

Chronic Heart Failure

Heart failure means that the heart's pumping power is weaker than normal. With heart failure, blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, and pressure in the heart increases. As a result, the heart cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs. The chambers of the heart respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body.

This helps to keep the blood moving, but in time, the heart muscle walls weaken and are unable to pump as strongly. If signs or symptoms after treatment remain in place, an individual has chronic heart failure. In order to qualify for benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) requires some proof of vascular congestion that has been documented. Children must show the same signs of vascular congestion at some point in their medical history. However children's growth tends to be affected because of this congenital heart disease.

For this condition to be severe enough to meet the Social Security Administration's listing, the claimant must have either:

• Current cardiac enlargement, or
• function of the left ventricle of the heart, and
• an inability to perform on an exercise test at a workload equivalent of five METs (Metabolic Equivalent) or less, due to symptoms of chronic heart failure and marked limitation of ordinary physical activity by symptoms such as palpitations, fatigue, dyspnea, or angina.

Chronic Heart Failure sounds clear enough to the layman, but when you read the listing above which defines what it is by the Social Security Administration, the definition of Chronic Heart Failure can be difficult to understand. In order not to slip through the cracks, it is important to have legal assistance. You will need a lawyer to explain all the technicalities of medical terms and make sure that you receive Social Security Disability claims that are due to you as quickly as possible.

A Jacoby & Meyers professional can help you at all levels of the administrative process to:

• Assist you with your initial SSI & SSDI application, with filing your request with the Social Security Administration for reconsideration, requesting a hearing before an administrative law judge or filing an appeal with the Appeals Council
• Analyze your case under federal Social Security Disability regulations. Obtain a copy of your file from the Office of Hearings & Appeals to ensure that it reflects all your past medical treatment and that all records and documents contained therein are admissible as evidence
• Ask that any prior SSI & SSDI applications for benefits be reopened
• Protect your right to a fair hearing
• Make any necessary Social Security appeals

      We are not retained until the contract is countersigned.

Please contact our SSDI lawyers today to schedule your free initial consultation. Jacoby & Meyers has offices nationwide.