Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemic Heart Disease and Social Security Disability

Ischemic Heart Disease is a condition in which blood supply to the heart is drastically reduced. A blockage in the coronary arteries is responsible for the illness; coronary arteries are responsible for supplying blood to the heart, so a blockage of these arteries is bound to cause complications. Symptoms of the illness include chest pain and decreased tolerance for exercise (fatigue). Ischemic heart disease is the most common cause of death in western countries.

Those suffering from ischemic heart disease develop angina (chest pain) after standing or walking for prolonged periods. This pain is often so severe it incapacitates an individual. Stress can also put additional strain on the heart.

Ischemic Heart Disease and Social Security Disability Help

If the applicant’s impairment falls within any of the following categories set forth by Social Security’s Listing 4.04, then a strong claim may exist. The Listing is as follows;

A. Sign-or symptom-limited exercise tolerance test demonstrating at least one of the following manifestations at a workload equivalent to 5 METs or less:

1. Horizontal or downsloping depression, in the absence of digitalis glycoside treatment or hypokalemia, of the ST segment of at least -0.10 millivolts (-1.0 mm) in at least 3 consecutive complexes that are on a level baseline in any lead other than aVR, and depression of at least -0.10 millivolts lasting for at least 1 minute of recovery; or
2. At least 0.1 millivolt (1 mm) ST elevation above resting baseline in non-farct leads during both exercise and 1 or more minutes of recovery; or
3. Decrease of 10 mm Hg or more in systolic pressure below the baseline blood pressure or the preceding systolic pressure measured during exercise (see 4.00E9e) due to left ventricular dysfunction, despite an increase in workload; or
4. Documented Ischemia at an exercise level equivalent to 5 METs or less on appropriate medically acceptable imaging, such as radionuclide perfusion scans or stress echocardiography or

B. Three separate ischemic episodes, each requiring revascularization or not amenable to revascularization (see 4.00E9f), within a consecutive 12-month period (see 4.00 a3e). or

C. Coronary artery disease, demonstrated angiography (obtained independent of Social Security disability evaluation) or other appropriate medically acceptable imaging, and in the absence of a timely exercise tolerance test or a timely normal drug-induced stress test, an MC, preferably one experienced in the care of patients with cardiovascular disease, has concluded that performance of exercise tolerance testing would present a significant risk to the individual, with both 1 and 2:

1. Angiographic evidence showing:

a. 50% or more narrowing of a nonbypassed left main coronary artery; or

b. 70% or more narrowing of another nonbypassed coronary artery; or

c. 50% or more narrowing involving a long (greater than 1 cm) segment of a nonbypassed coronary artery; or

d. 50% or more narrowing of at least two nonbypassed coronary arteries; or

e.70% or more narrowing of a bypass graft vessel; and

2. Resulting in very serious limitations in the ability to independently initiate, sustain, or complete activities of daily living.

Individuals who have ischemic heart disease are unable to stand or walk for very long without experiencing angina, thus barring them from many types of work. Stress can also upset the condition of the sufferer, and in this day and age, there is no such thing as a “stress-free” job. If you have any questions concerning your eligibility, please contact us at 1-800-882-5500 or submit your application for a free claim evaluation.