West Virginia residents who have suffered heart attacks often wonder if they will thereafter qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. The answer is it depends. Many cases that are filed due to a myocardial infarction, the medical phrase for a heart attack, are eventually approved for benefits, but many of them are not as well. Whether or not a particular claim will be approved depends on the same factors as other claims. The individual who is applying for disability benefits must be unable to work for a period of 12 months or must be expected to be unable to work for 12 months.
The reason for the inability to perform gainful and substantial work activity must be a medically determinable impairment. In cases where a heart attack leaves the person with a genuine inability to work for 12 months, the claim may be approved. In cases where there was little damage to the heart as a result of the attack, though, approval is less likely.
When the claim is submitted, the disability examiner will look to see if the claimant meets the requirements listed in the Social Security list of impairments. There is a listing for ischemic heart disease, and the judge or examiner will want evidence that the claimant has high occlusion levels or narrowing of arteries. The examiner will also want evidence that the effects of the heart attack have negatively impacted the person’s ability to dress, clean, shop, prepare meals or perform other activities of daily living.
An attorney who has experience with Social Security Disability claims might be able to help interested parties secure benefits. An attorney might draft and file the necessary documents to initiate a claim or communicate with government officials on behalf of the client. In cases where a claim has been initially denied, an attorney might be able to help appeal that decision.