Representing People With Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure is a serious medical condition that can have a dramatic impact on your ability to work. At the law firm of Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates, we represent people seeking Social Security benefits throughout northern Illinois from our five office locations, including one in Chicago.

Congestive Heart Failure — A Disabling Disease Under Social Security

No matter if atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, or rheumatic or congenital heart disease causes your heart condition, you may still be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These illnesses result in your heart's inability to pump enough oxygenated blood to the rest of your body, which causes fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness or dyspnea.

To prove to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that you suffer from congestive heart failure, you must provide objective medical evidence from qualified cardiologists. Some of the evidence that will help prove your inability to engage in gainful employment includes:

• Medical imaging like an x-ray, echocardiography, radionuclide studies or cardiac catheterization
• Your medical history and physical examination that demonstrates symptoms related to cardiac distress or limited cardiac output
• Your employment history, demonstrating your inability to hold down steady employment

Systolic and Diastolic — Types of Congestive Heart Failure

The two types of heart failure listed under the SSA guidelines include systolic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction. Systolic dysfunction is the heart's inability to pump out adequate amounts of blood; one way to evaluate the severity of this condition is by measuring the heart's ejection fraction. Diastolic dysfunction is the heart's inability to relax and draw more blood into the heart after contraction.

No matter what causes congestive heart failure, you still may be eligible to receive SSDI or SSI. The important thing is to speak to an experienced attorney immediately. Contact the law firm of Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates to schedule your consultation with an experienced lawyer.